Impact in Education: Analisa McMillan, PhD

Analisa McMillan, PhD, will be the recipient of the Innovative Practices in Education Award at the Impact in Education Awards March 14. The award recognizes an individual or team that demonstrates ingenuity, courage and creativity in teaching, including innovations in use of educational technology, experiential learning, adoption of simulation and/or creative use of the classroom.

• Name: Analisa McMillan, PhD
• Title: Director of the Office of Teaching and Learning, UNMC College of Public Health, and assistant professor of health promotion.
• Joined UNMC: 2012
• Hometown: Aurora, Colorado

You are the recipient of the Innovative Practices in Education Award. How has innovation played a part in your teaching career?

Innovation is at the heart of everything I do, resulting in improved teaching effectiveness and student success. I love seeing learners reshape their thinking and engage in active learning with or without technology in ways that are meaningful to them.

Describe your proudest moment as an educator.

I have had many proud moments witnessing “aha” moments during and after learning experiences. One standout was receiving emails from students after the fall semester Public Health Teaching and Training course. They shared how the course benefited them and how they are applying the teaching and training practices in their work, teaching and training. The emails put a smile on my face, lit up my heart and made me proud to be an educator of educators.

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

Start small. Every step toward innovation leads to the next and builds your innovation pathways. Not all educational innovations will work out the way you thought, but you might discover they lead to refined or new innovations. Finally, collaborate and share your ideas, teach innovatively and, most of all, have fun.

Do you have a favorite quote or philosophy on teaching?

As W.B. Yeats said, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” This perfectly captures the foundation of my teaching innovations, which aim to guide student and faculty success.