Paula Belknap, PhD, MSN, RN, CMSRN, CNE, assistant lecturer with University of Wyoming’s Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, is this year’s recipient of the Wyoming Innovations in Teaching Award.
About the Award
The Wyoming Innovations in Teaching Award recognizes not only excellence in teaching, but also innovative ways in which teaching is delivered to students. Whether in the classroom or through distance learning, successful innovations in teaching help students—from entry level through completion of their program of study—to become competent, critical thinkers, able to achieve their academic goals and pursue career options in their chosen fields.
The award is generated from the Wyoming Department of Education and will be formally presented at The Wyoming Innovations in Learning Conference in Gillette, Wyoming on November 7, 2019.
About Paula Belknap
Paula describes her love of teaching:
"I love seeing students light up when they 'get it'. It is a wonderful feeling to see them go from entry nursing students to beginning critical thinkers upon graduation."
Originally from Southern California, Paula grew up in Montana, married Air Force, and moved in 1986 to what is now her Cheyenne, Wyoming home. She joined UW Nursing faculty in 2018 following a 15-year career increasingly focused on education. Her first educational position was as Department Chair for Health Occupations, Cheyenne East High School; she then became Clinical Development Specialist/Educator at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, General Surgical and Ortho-Neuro Units. She served as NCLEX-RN review course instructor for Kaplan University, and as nursing instructor for Laramie County Community College.
In November 2018, Paula completed the National Nurse Educator Certification exam, and most recently, her research poster presentation--"Differences in Critical Thinking with Simulation Accompanying Lecture in Associate-Level Classrooms"--was recognized and featured at the 2019 Wyoming Nurses’ Association Conference in Lander.
Education Background
In 2000, Belknap received her BSN from Graceland College; in 2007, Masters Clinical Nurse Specialist in Family Nursing, Nurse Educator focus and Post-Masters Certificate for Nurse Educator from Graceland University; in 2017, PhD in Education with specialty in Nursing from Capella University.
Page updated 10/14/2019
