Jack Jensen Award for Excellence in Teaching

The Jack Jensen Award for Excellence in Teaching is the college’s highest teaching award. It honors a teacher who communicates high expectations and encourages intellectual curiosity within and across disciplines; respects diverse talents and ways of learning and uses variety in instruction; and engages students and inspires them to do their best work. The award is named for the late Professor Jack Jensen who, through his dedication to teaching, inspired faculty and students alike.

Joan M. Huber

Assistant Professor
School of Nursing and Health Professions

Assistant Professor of Nursing and Public Health Joan M. Huber began her career in the U.S. Navy, where she served for 30 years. She served in a variety of nursing positions as a critical care clinical nurse specialist, as a nurse administrator, and in executive medicine positions as the chief operating officer, and finally, the chief executive officer of a naval hospital in California before retiring with the rank of captain. Professor Huber held many high profile jobs during her Navy career, including Senior White House Nurse during the Reagan and Bush administrations. She holds board certification in Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is certified as an Academic Nurse Educator by the National League for Nursing.

Professor Huber returned to New England and began teaching at Colby-Sawyer in 2001. Now, says one student nominator, Professor Huber is the heart of Colby-Sawyer’s nursing program.

“Nobody holds a candle to Professor Huber's skills in the classroom,” writes the senior. “Not only does she work tirelessly to ensure the success of her students in class, she spends hours outside of class editing cover letters and resumes to ensure our long-term success. It is her knowledge that her students take with them to the NCLEX; her knowledge that we draw upon in the clinical setting, and her fundamentals that we apply in every course we take.”

Known for her organization, crystal-clear teaching style, and high expectations, Professor Huber goes above and beyond to prepare her students for their careers. A graduating nursing major writes that Professor Huber is the gold standard. “Thanks to what I learned from her, I am more confident with my nursing knowledge and feel better prepared for the NCLEX … Last but not least, she is always encouraging, especially before we take her exams. She makes us do the ‘power pose,’ take deep breaths, and reminds us of how much we have learned to boost our confidence.”

As is the tradition for the Jensen Award winner, Professor Huber will deliver the Commencement Address, “All About You.”

A resident of Grantham, N.H., Professor Huber holds a B.S.N. from Villanova University and an M.S. as a critical care clinical nurse specialist from the University of California San Francisco.