Quick Takes - AUGUST 2019

During the Aug. 13 Board of Regents regular meeting, two Del Mar College faculty were recognized for receiving national awards.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education program named John “JJ” Nelson, Lead Instructor of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Programs with the Computer Science, Engineering and Advanced Technology Department, as their 2019 HI-TEC Educator of the Year. The award recognizes Nelson’s exemplary service to DMC students and throughout the United States in the areas of GIS and UAS. He officially received the award during the High Impact Technology Exchange Conference in St. Louis, Mo., in July. Nelson noted that the recognition represented an “evolution” after having taken his first computer science class at the College at age 45 as a former night club owner, moving through his own education to earn a master’s degree and then teaching at Del Mar College. For his time at DMC, he is credited with organizing the annual GIS Day in November to introduce young minds to the world of technology, its impact on our daily lives and their own educational and career possibilities. The event attracts between 600 and 1,000 young students each year. Read the full news release about Nelson and the NSF award at: bit.ly/2zbXG0P

Melissa Stuive, Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Emergency Medical Services Professionals Program with the Public Safety Education Department, has been named by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) as their 2019 Jones & Bartlett Learning EMS Educator of the Year as part of the association’s National EMS

Awards of Excellence program. Stuive will receive the award during NAEMT’s conference and EMS World’s Expo in New Orleans, La., in October, putting her recognition on the national and world stage. NAEMT is the largest professional association for EMS practitioners in the United States. Educator of the Year Award recipients demonstrate committing to provide high quality, professional education for EMS practitioners; serving as an outstanding role model in the classroom and in the community; effectively mentoring EMS students at all stages of their professional development; introducing and incorporating innovative approaches and tools in the classroom that enhance students' learning experiences; and contributing to the development of quality EMS curriculum. Among Stuive’s credits, she serves on the Education Committee of the Texas Governor's Emergency Trauma Advisory Council, chairs the Education Committee for the Coastal Bend Regional Advisory Council and has written questions for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Additionally, as Program Director, Stuive significantly improved the College’s Paramedic Program pass rate to 100 percent.