Newman University honored three of its faculty members for outstanding teaching, leadership and mission-driven impact during the 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards Banquet on Friday, Nov. 14 at The Vail.
The event recognized all Newman faculty, with special acknowledgment given to the five award finalists: Rachel Cheek, APRN, CNM, assistant professor of nursing; Sumia Ehsan, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry; Audrey Hane, Ph.D., professor of communication; Yelando Johnson, Ed.D., LMSW, MBA, associate professor, division chair and director of the Master of Social Work program; and Patrick Nance, MBA, associate professor of accounting.
Three were selected to receive the 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards: Cheek, Hane and Johnson.
Newman President Kathleen S. Jagger, Ph.D., MPH, expressed gratitude for all Newman professors’ dedication to their pivotal work.
“Your commitment to nurturing the minds, the character, the spirit and the hearts of our students is the foundation of our mission,” Jagger said.
Celebrating the teaching profession
Keynote speaker Ken Stoltzfus, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Friends University, addressed the Newman professors during the banquet. He reflected on the vocation of teaching in today’s higher education landscape — first by sharing how little he knew about the profession before becoming a professor himself.
“The work was so much harder than I could have ever imagined, but it was wonderful work,” Stoltzfus said. “So there were a lot of surprises in those first years, but perhaps the biggest was that I had an unexpected but profound opportunity to be part of my students’ lives.”
Stoltzfus, who quickly fell in love with being a professor and has been for more than 22 years, said he found “a truly powerful version of community in that small liberal arts college” that lived out the Christian faith of its founding.
He emphasized that faculty today face challenges ranging from declining enrollments to shifting student needs and the rise of generative AI. Yet, he told the audience, “What you do is really important. Students come to you often with some vague notion of what they’re called to do with their time here on earth, and the work you do helps them to define and refine that calling until it’s something real that they can go out and live.”
He urged faculty to continue cultivating critical thought, ethical leadership and human connection in a world that’s in “desperate need of those gifts and abilities.”
“We’re developing students who will go on and fulfill workforce needs, but beyond that, we’re developing students who have the capacity to make the world a better place,” Stoltzfus said. “Just thinking about it gives me hope for the future of our students and for all of humanity. I wish you all the best as you continue to pursue this high calling.”
Professor Rachel Cheek: Teaching transformative care
Cheek was honored for teaching that reviewers described as “clear, approachable and deeply meaningful.” Her work in nursing education blends high expectations with a caring, human presence.
Jagger described her as a professor with an ability to take complex material and break it down into approachable and “deeply meaningful” content for students.
“Students regularly report that they feel seen and supported in her courses,” Jagger said of Cheek. “One letter noted that she creates a space where students feel safe enough to take academic risks while also holding them to standards that help them grow in both confidence and competence.”
One nominator summed it up best when they said, “Her students trust her, her colleagues rely on her and our campus is better because she is here.”
Cheek, who joined Newman in 2022, currently teaches Nursing Care of Childbearing Families and Community Health. Beyond the classroom, she contributes to curriculum development and maintains active practice as a certified nurse-midwife at a low-income community clinic.
Cheek wasn’t planning on applying for the award and even argued with her dean before she was finally convinced to do it, she said. When Cheek heard her name called as an award recipient, she was surprised and “nearly started crying.”
“Teaching is a unique blend of all of the activities that gives life purpose,” Cheek said. “It is an opportunity to care for students while expressing creativity. I love to find new ways to express ideas, trigger thought and encourage learning. Learning is so multifactorial that it requires multimodal teaching delivery.”
Beyond that, she said, “I teach because I care about my patients.” Her firsthand experience working in health care made it her mission to ensure that future nurses are competently trained and have access to accurate information so patients receive the best care possible.
“I am so grateful for the dozens of people who have helped me figure out how to do this and humbled knowing how many other excellent teachers there are on campus,” Cheek added.
Professor Yelando Johnson: Advocacy in social work
Johnson was celebrated for her mission-centered leadership as an educator. Nominators praised her as “a model of excellence in her field” whose work “strengthened our students’ experiences” and advanced Newman’s mission.
“Letters emphasize how this faculty member weaves ethical and professional components into her work,” Jagger said. “She stresses responsibility, the importance of relationships and deep knowledge and supporting students as they grow into those expectations.”
Johnson has served at Newman for 12 years in roles including Bachelor of Social Work program director, Master of Social Work program director and division chair. Her leadership has spanned teaching, curriculum development, student advising and community engagement, and she actively creates opportunities for students to grow as ethical, socially conscious leaders.
She described her reaction to the award as both “humbling and inspiring to be recognized.”
“Hearing my name called at the Faculty Excellence Awards Banquet was an unforgettable and deeply moving moment,” Johnson said. “It affirmed the dedication I put into teaching, mentoring and supporting students.”
She was reminded of the students she has guided and the “meaningful impact we can have on their growth as compassionate and responsible social work professionals.”
For Johnson, teaching is her lifelong vocation.
“It allows me to witness students discover their strengths, explore their passions and develop the skills needed to make a real difference in the world,” she said. “Moments when a student has an ‘aha’ realization, gains confidence or steps into leadership roles reaffirm why I chose this path and motivate me to continue creating meaningful learning experiences.”
Professor Audrey Hane: Life-changing mentorship
Hane was recognized as “an innovator” whose work shapes students’ identity, purpose and confidence. Nominators emphasized her intentional course design, strong advising and transformative mentoring.
One student nominator reflected on the link between Hane’s course goals and assignments, which made the work feel relevant and purposeful.
“Instead of just being another task, it became a way to build real skills like clear communication or critical thinking,” Jagger said. “A 2025 graduate wrote, ‘Without your help and support, I don’t think I would’ve been able to pass those classes or even continue in college. I will always be grateful for your support.’”
Now in her 29th year at Newman, Hane has served as a faculty member, department chair, division chair, dean and director of the Navigator program. She said learning she was a finalist made her feel “recognized and appreciated.”
Hane said it’s always been her goal to help students discover their own voice, vocation and confidence. Being asked to stand and accept her award reminded her that “this work matters, not just to me, but to the community we serve,” she said.
“To be recognized for playing even a small part in their formation felt incredibly meaningful,” Hane said of receiving the award. “My teaching has always been rooted in the belief that communication and leadership skills can transform lives — that helping students learn to cultivate healthy relationships and to live with intention by serving others is sacred work.”
Hane discovered her calling when she was a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Kansas. From the moment she stepped into the classroom, she fell in love with teaching.
“When I watch a student who once doubted themselves step into their agency, take a risk or articulate their future with clarity and hope — that’s when I’m reminded that this work is more than a job,” she added. “It’s the work I feel called to do.”
Mission-driven educators
Amid applause and cheers for the 2025 Faculty Excellence Award recipients, Jagger reminded all faculty of the university’s gratitude and mission.
“It is through your work that our university continues to be a beacon of hope, a source of wisdom and a place where students are prepared not only for careers, but for lives of service, leadership, reflection and faith,” Jagger said.
Jagger hopes that every Newman professor continues to find joy and fulfillment in their work with students, knowing their lasting impact on the world around them.
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