Academic Excellence

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The Nelson Order

Norman C. Nelson

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.

2025-2026 Inductees

  • Kayla C. Abraham, MA, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, SHRP

  • Kristen J. Alston, PhD, Associate Professor, Family Medicine and Assistant Dean for Society and Medicine, SOM

  • *Susanna "Asher" Street Beam, DHA, RT(R)(MR), ARRT, MRSO, Professor, Radiologic Science, SHRP

  • Casey M. Boothe, PhD, Assistant Professor, Advanced Biomedical Education, SOM

  • *David T. Brown, PhD, Professor, Cell and Molecular Biology, SOM

  • Alicia M. Ciarloni, DNP, APRN, FNP, CNL, Assistant Professor, SON

  • Amanda V. Clark, MD, Professor, Medicine, SOM

  • Samuel D. Dickinson, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Assistant Professor, SON

  • Lori S. Duke, DNP, APRN, CFNP, Assistant Professor, SON

  • Joshua R. Jefferson Sr., EdD, MHS, HTL(ASCP)CM, Assistant Professor, Medical Laboratory Science, SHRP

  • Melanie H. Lauderdale, PT, DPT, EdD, NCS, Professor and Chair, Physical Therapy, SHRP

  • *Harold Mark Livingston, DDS, MS, Professor and Chair, Advanced General Dentistry, SOD

  • Leneise C. Lynn, DMD, PhD, Professor and Chair, Endodontics, SOD

  • *Carl H. Mangum II, PhD, RN, PMHNP, Associate Professor, SON

  • Praise Matemavi, DO, Associate Professor, Surgery-Transplant, SOM

  • Mary "Melissa" M. McBride, MSN, RN, CNE, Assistant Professor, SON

  • Kimberly "Kim" N. Paduda, MD, Professor, Pediatrics, SOM

  • *Justin J. Sherman, PharmD, MCS, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice, UM SOP

  • *Jeannette Simino, PhD, MS, Associate Professor and Chair, Data Science, SOPH

  • Bulem Yuzugullu Tutunculer, DDS, Associate Professor, Care Planning and Restorative Sciences, SOD

  • Douglas E. Vetter, PhD, Associate Professor, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, SGSHS

  • Kelsey S. Welch, Assistant Professor, Dental Hygiene, SOD

  • *Jan Michael Williams, PhD, Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, SGSHS

*denotes a finalist for the Regions Bank T.E.A.C.H. Prize

For more information, contact the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.