Impact in Education: Bunny Pozehl, PhD

Bunny Pozehl, PhD, is the recipient of the Inspirational Mentor of Educators Award. The award recognizes an individual who has mentored and sponsored junior faculty or trainees at the local, regional or national level, including a consistent track record of fostering future educators.

• Name: Bunny Pozehl, PhD
• Title: Professor and Dorothy Hodges Olson Endowed Chair in Nursing, UNMC College of Nursing
• Joined UNMC: 1980
• Hometown: Ainsworth, Nebraska

Tell us how mentors inspired you.

My first and probably most significant mentor was my grandmother. She was a country schoolteacher and taught me in a one-room school as a first- and second-grade student. She made learning fun at school and in everyday life. The next significant mentor was a high school biology teacher who developed an advanced biology class for those interested in a medical career. I was not able to take the class when it was scheduled due to conflicts with the other courses in my schedule. His free period of the day coincided with mine, and he generously offered to teach me one-on-one during that period. It was amazing, as we were able to delve deeply into anything I didn’t understand about anatomy and physiology of the human body. I have been fortunate to have many significant and influential mentors in my career, but I often reflect on those early experiences and how much they shaped my own teaching and learning philosophy.

Describe your proudest moment as an educator.

The most rewarding and proud moments are to see the many students I have taught over the years be highly successful and productive in their own careers.

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

Allow your own enthusiasm and love for learning to “fuel” your teaching endeavors. Give generously of your time and meet the student where they are in the learning process.

Do you have a favorite quote or philosophy on teaching? A couple of favorite quotes:

The first speaks to what I believe is essential when it comes to teaching and learning — “kindling the flame” of excitement and desire to learn.

• “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”  -Socrates

The second has been important for me to remember over my many years of teaching.

• “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” -John Dewey