Academic Excellence
The Nelson Order
The Norman C. Nelson Order of Teaching Excellence (The Nelson Order) was established in 2004 by the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The purpose of The Nelson Order is to honor the best teachers, as selected by students, by their peers, and recommended by the deans of their respective schools annually.
The organization's namesake is Dr. Norman Crooks Nelson, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine from 1973 to 1994. In his first faculty appointment at Louisiana State University, he was named "Most Inspirational Teacher" in 1966 and 1968, "Best Clinical Teacher" each year from 1967 through 1971, and outstanding teacher of the senior class in 1970.
By the time he came to the UMMC faculty in 1973, he had firmly established his reputation as a master teacher. As Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine, he used his native teaching skills and those he developed to set a standard to which many of our faculty have aspired.
The inductees of The Nelson Order are recognized at the annual UMMC Commencement. Additionally, inductees of The Nelson Order are eligible for the Regions Bank T.E.A.C.H. Prize. The Nelson Order past inductees are on display in the Verner S. Holmes Learning Resource Center.
2024-2025 Inductees
- Felix Adah, PT, PhD, Professor, Physical Therapy, SHRP
- Katie E. Barber, PharmD, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice, UM SOP
- Eva M. Bengten, PhD, Professor, Cell and Molecular Biology, SGSHS
- Kathryn E. Cassady, JD, OTD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, SHRP
- William P. Daley, MD, Professor, Pathology, SOM
- Michael D. Fast, DDS, Chair, Comprehensive General Dentistry, SOD
- Angelia D. Garner, PhD, MS, RDH, Professor, Dental Hygiene, SOD
- Charles E. Grogan II, MD, Assistant Professor, Allergy and Immunology, SOM
- Alicia A. Rose Hathorn, DMD, Associate Professor, Advanced General Dentistry, SOD
- Zeb K. Henson, MD, Professor, Medicine, SOM
- Lisa K. Hosey, MSN, RN, CNE, Instructor, Nursing, SON
- Felicitas L. Koller, MD, Associate Professor, Surgery-Transplant, SOM
- Shuying Lin, PT, DPT, PhD, Associate Professor, Physical Therapy, SHRP
- Kendria D. Lyles, DHA, Assistant Professor, Doctor of Health Administration Program, SHRP
- Jarrett R. Morgan, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine, SOM
- Erin W. Norcross, PhD, Professor, Advanced Biomedical Education, SOM
- Kathleen A. Rhodes, PhD, FNP-C, Associate Professor, Nursing, SON
- Susana M. Salazar Marocho, PhD, MS, DDS, Associate Professor, Biomedical Materials Science, SOD
- Stephanie B. Tullos, MSN, RNC-MNN, Instructor, Nursing, SON
- Linda A. Upchurch, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, Associate Professor, Nursing, SON
- Benjamin H. Walker, PhD, MS, Assistant Professor, Population Health Science, SOPH