University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Assistant Professor and alumna Summer Langston Powers, DNP, CRNP, ACNP-BC, AACC, has received the 2021 President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching from UAB for the School of Nursing.
This annual award recognizes full-time faculty members across the university who have demonstrated excellent accomplishments in teaching, and individuals can be nominated by any members of the student body, faculty or alumni.
“I am both honored and humbled to be receiving this award on behalf of the School of Nursing,” Powers said. “I was speechless to know my colleagues and students thought enough of me to nominate me, and then even more so when I found out that I would be the recipient. The SON is rich with expert clinicians and educators, and many have been past recipients of this award, and I am extremely honored to be chosen to join this elite group of educators.”
Powers is a two-time graduate of the UAB School of Nursing, earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice in the School’s first DNP cohort in 2009 and her Master of Science in Nursing in 2006. She is actively involved with students beyond the classroom, serving as adviser for the UAB Student Nurses Association.
In 2020, Powers also worked to coordinate just in time trainings for faculty and students who took on shifts at UAB Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. When reflecting on the challenges of the year, Powers said the President’s Award is both humbling and the pinnacle of her professional career, but she also adds that the award is also a reflection of the support and encouragement received by her UAB School of Nursing and UAB Hospital colleagues.
“I have been a nurse for 18 years and a nurse educator for 12 years. Of all the years of my career, 2020 most definitely proved to be the most challenging. Through perseverance, resiliency and the amazing support of my colleagues, friends and family, our teams adapted quickly to the ever-changing environment and have continued to produce positive outcomes despite adversity,” Powers said. “They say it takes a village, and I saw over the last year just how true that is. I have never witnessed such a strong sense of comradery, teamwork, and compassion in the SON and in our hospital partners. I have never felt more honored to be a part of the Blazer family.”