Impact in Education: Maurice Godfrey, Ph.D.

Maurice Godfrey, Ph.D., center, with Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dele Davies, M.D., left, and UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., right.

Maurice Godfrey, Ph.D., is one of the recipients of the Office of Academic Affairs inaugural Impact in Education Awards.

Visionary Leadership in Education Award

This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated the ability to skillfully establish or administer an educational initiative or role at UNMC or a national organization.

  • Name: Maurice Godfrey, Ph.D.
  • Title: Professor, Munroe-Meyer Institute
  • Joined UNMC: 1990
  • Hometown: Born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; moved to New York (my father’s home town) and later New Jersey suburbs; have lived in Omaha longer than anywhere else.

You are the recipient of the Visionary Leadership in Education Award, which is given for establishing or administering an educational initiative. Tell us about the benefits of the initiative you oversee.
For more than a decade, I have had the privilege to work with an extraordinary team at UNMC. Our focus has been to bring a wide range of educational programs and opportunities to the most underserved communities in our country. Working with American Indian tribes in the Great Plains has given me an abundant appreciation for their cultural values. While we cannot correct generational wrongs, we can and have moved forward to bring health and science education possibilities to increase the representation of American Indians in tomorrow’s workforce.

Describe your proudest moment as an educator.
The most interesting and memorable one is the “mailbox story.” I lived on a corner lot, and one snowy day, a young man slid into my mailbox with his car and knocked it down. He came to the door to notify me and apologize. After talking with him, I encouraged him to apply for an American Heart Student Grant between his junior and senior years of high school. He got the grant and came and worked in my lab at MMI all through high school and UNO. He was then accepted to and graduated from UNMC’s College of Medicine.

What advice would you give other faculty members who want to have an impact in education?

Have high standards and higher expectations and realize that you will impact not just that student but others who follow.

Do you have a favorite quote or philosophy on teaching?
Treat everyone the way you would like to be treated and have high standards and expectations.

10 comments

  1. Gary Beck Dallaghan says:

    Congratulations, Maurice! Well deserved award for some amazing work!

  2. Lisa Spellman says:

    No one deserves this award more than you Maurice. You are truly Ikce Wicasa! Pilamayaye for all you have done for Native People.

  3. Peter Iwen says:

    Maurice…Congratulations! A well deserved award!

  4. Ted Roche says:

    Congratulations, Maurice. A wonderful recognition for your work on behalf of Native People.

  5. Shelley Smith says:

    Congratulations, Maurice! This is a great achievement!

  6. Dan Grice says:

    Congratulations, Dr. Godfrey. Love your "mailbox story"!

  7. Ellen Duysen says:

    This is a well deserved honor. Dr. Godfrey is a superb educator!

  8. Tom O'Connor says:

    Congrats, Maurice. The "mailbox story" is the BEST! Thanks for all you do. You're a class act.

  9. Rebecca Rae Anderson says:

    Kudos, Maurice. I'm glad your steady and inspired work has received recognition.

  10. Sonja Russell says:

    Well deserved, Maurice! Thank you for your tireless efforts to help bring about a more just-world by inspiring some of our most disadvantaged young people to pursue a career in science.

Comments are closed.