Donna Fabry Receives MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success

Now in its seventh year, the award recognizes faculty members across MAC institutions who make a meaningful impact on students’ growth and development throughout their collegiate experience. Unlike traditional academic or research honors, the award focuses on faculty who foster a holistic environment where students are supported both inside and outside the classroom.

From the MAC announcement:

As a 16-year veteran clinical faculty member and Program Director for the Undergraduate Prelicensure Program, Dr. Fabry carries a significant teaching, administrative, and advising load, yet consistently exceeds expectations in her dedication to students. In this leadership role, she is directly responsible for shaping the academic and clinical experiences of undergraduate nursing students, ensuring programmatic rigor while prioritizing student success and well-being. Her contributions frequently extend beyond traditional measures of faculty productivity, making this award an especially meaningful opportunity to recognize the extraordinary impact of her work. 

At the core of Dr. Fabry’s work is a deeply student-centered philosophy. She maintains an open-door policy and is widely known for her accessibility and willingness to meet students where they are. Dr. Fabry routinely meets with students individually to review exams, helping them identify strengths, address areas of difficulty, and develop concrete strategies for improvement. These individualized interactions are thoughtful, supportive, and empowering, reinforcing students’ confidence and capacity for growth. Her commitment extends well beyond scheduled office hours and reflects a genuine investment in each student’s academic and personal success. 

She consistently engages with the latest literature not only in nursing practice, but also in nursing education, ensuring her teaching strategies are evidence-based and responsive to the evolving needs of student nurses. As Program Director, she skillfully bridges curricular and co-curricular learning, fosters collaboration among faculty, and promotes instructional practices that support student retention, progression, and success. Her excellence in teaching is further strengthened by her engagement in scholarship and creative activities that directly inform and enrich the classroom environment.