Each Thursday, we randomly feature a medical center employee. This week, we learn about:
- Name: Mary Ann Mertz, Ed.D.
- Hometown: Grew up in Tarkio, Mo., which is just a few miles from the Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas borders.
- No. of years at UNMC: Starting my ninth year.
Tell us a bit about what you do here at UNMC.
I am an assistant professor in the College of Nursing and have primarily taught undergraduate nursing courses. Beginning this fall, I also will teach some graduate courses. Since last August, I have been serving as the interim assistant dean for the Kearney Division of the College of Nursing, with day-to-day operational responsibilities for the Kearney Division. This last year much of my time has been focused on the Health Science Education Complex and getting us ready for the move.
Being a trusted resource is one of UNMC’s brand values. Tell us of a time you witnessed a person or group serve as a trusted resource.
Everyone involved in making the dream for an interdisciplinary UNMC health education complex on the UNK campus a reality has demonstrated that when we partner together we can deliver what we promised!
What is your favorite summer activity?
I live year-round on a lake and so summer is all about swimming and boating and just hanging out on the deck.
List three things people may not know about you.
- I am an avid, if not rabid, Nebraska football and volleyball fan. I even moved up the date of my wedding by four months so my then-employer would give me two complimentary season tickets instead of one.
- Since leaving home after high school, I have rescued and adopted 15 dogs, 22 cats, two horses and one squirrel. Right now I have two dogs and eight cats.
- I always wanted to be a nurse (or a surgeon). When I was very young, I used to cut my dolls’ arms and legs off, then sew them back on, with a splash of methylate for good measure.