2019 Murphy Award recipient: Pamela Karagory

Pamela Karagory, recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award in Memory of Charles B. Murphy. (Purdue University photo/Charles Jischke) Download image

Five professors have received the 2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award in Memory of Charles B. Murphy. This week, Purdue Today will feature profiles on each of the recipients. Today's profile features Pamela Karagory, clinical associate professor of nursing and interim head of the School of Nursing.

Years at Purdue: I will begin my 10th year at Purdue this fall (2019).

Teaching interests: I am committed to working with students in capturing their passion in developing knowledge, skill, meta cognition and competencies surrounding their focused areas of professional development. Leadership, self-efficacy and advocacy are the areas that I believe bring value to learning in and of itself. Effective teaching and learning assists students in recognizing what they learn, how they learn, and the ultimate lesson of discovering who they are and what they can contribute to their profession. Nursing is truly a STEM discipline. As nursing faculty, we work tirelessly to build an academic ecosystem that identifies, promotes and educates a nursing profession that is “thinking” versus “doing” profession. Purdue nursing graduates are first and foremost leaders whose greatest professional currency is their ability to understand the system they are working within and interpret and synthesize data that results in optimal patient and system outcomes on a local and national platform.

On goals as a faculty member: One of my goals is to work with my colleagues in recognizing and responding to the learning and development needs of our students. We must assess and define the necessary direction and standards surrounding competency-based education. This demands us to rethink how, what and the why of our teaching pedagogy and content. It is a new generation of learners and we must recognize and honor their learning needs, expectations, contextual awareness and interest framework. Higher education learning and teaching expectations are changing and the added value we bring in promoting, inspiring and empowering our students in owning their learning experience is a win-win for all.

On lessons she wants her students to take away from her classes: I want them to know they are empowered to build the foundation and structure of their professional endeavors and future. Purdue graduates will impact the national and global ecosystem through their ability to adapt and support exemplar building. Our graduates know how to identify tough issues, synthesize big data and collaboratively develop, implement and lead problem-solving solutions. They are expected to be bold and tireless advocate for innovative and positive change.

On interacting with students: I have the incredible opportunity to prepare the next generation of professional nurses. A new generation whose knowledge, skills and attitudes are so very different from how I was educated and socialized. This requires me, as a Purdue educator, to be flexible, inclusive and innovative to assure that this generation of Purdue professional nurses are prepared to empower, inspire, promote, shape and lead the health care system well into the future. I truly believe that a future graduate of the Purdue School of Nursing will lead the U.S. health care system and eradicate inefficacies, waste and care inequity. That is the vision of all Purdue nursing faculty, and it brings me teaching joy every day.

What her students say: You are by far the most inspiring instructor I have ever met (and Purdue has some of the best out there). Every single time I am around you my passion for nursing grows exponentially. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity to have this class with you. … It was so apparent she cared about each of her students and wanted to push us to help us perform to our highest level. She was always available to help outside class time for one-to-one assistance when it was needed.

Writer: Matthew Oates, 765-496-2571, oatesw@purdue.edu, @mo_oates
Source: Pam Karagory, 765-496-6397, pkaragor@purdue.edu