For the second time in two years, Yavapai College Nursing Professor Dr. Jennifer Ritter is the winner of the college’s top teaching award -- the Teaching and Learning Committee (TLC) Fellowship.

Dr. Ritter shared the award with two colleagues in 2022. This year she was honored solo after multiple students and colleagues submitted written tributes to the TLC touting her “rare gift” of connecting with students while imparting the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

“She’s the first person I felt believed in me – enough to open doors and create opportunities for me to grow as a nursing student,” wrote one student in her TLC Fellowship nomination.

“Dr. Ritter is in a league of her own,” wrote another student. “Every day she brings to class a wealth of knowledge wrapped in her fun and engaging personality. Teaching for her is natural, and I’m convinced only she could present complex material concerning various medications, cardiac disorders, and renal function in a way anyone could understand.”

The TLC Fellowship award was announced during a faculty luncheon during the last week of spring semester. Dr. Ritter was in clinicals with her students at the time, but she shared a videotaped message with her colleagues about her teaching philosophy.

Because students are in the nursing program for at least two years, Ritter said she is able to develop what she described as a “therapeutic relationship” with them. That relationship is nurtured with honesty, transparency, responsiveness, and with “seeing them as a holistic individual who is not just there to take a class,” she said.

“Knowing that their life extends beyond the classroom, I like to be empathetic as an educator to their circumstances, but I also like to be firm and follow policies and I think that nursing students appreciate this in an educator.”

Dr. Ritter told her colleagues she strives to instill confidence and professionalism in her students by being “tough yet gentle” and making sure they know they are worthy of a nursing career. “Each individual has a lot to offer. I do want students to know that they have value and meaning.”

Along with being a two-time TLC Fellowship award winner, Dr. Ritter is a previous winner of another top employee honor -- the YC Way award for Learning Excellence.

Dr. Ritter closed her video message for fellow faculty members saying, “Education – it is just like customer service. I like to serve students. I do think that since they’re going into healthcare I need to be that best role model for them by promoting a professional, therapeutic, empathic and yet firm relationship. And I so enjoy what I do.”

For information about YC’s acclaimed nursing program, visit yc.edu/nursing.

Yavapai College operates six campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers more than 100 degrees and certificates, two baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities.

To learn more about YC, visit yc.edu.