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The Provost’s 2023 Outstanding Teaching Awards: Cathy Catlett

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Cathy Catlett is an assistant professor in the UK College of Nursing. She is the traditional BSN program coordinator and chair of UK College of Nursing interprofessional education. Arden Barnes | UK Photo.

Each Thursday, UKNow is highlighting one of the winners of the University of Kentucky’s 2022-23 Outstanding Teaching Awards, given by the Office for Faculty Advancement with the Office of the Provost.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 13, 2023) Cathy Catlett, assistant professor in the UK College of Nursing, is one of 10 winners to receive the University of Kentucky’s 2022-23 Outstanding Teaching Awards.

These awards identify and recognize individuals who demonstrate special dedication to student achievement and who are successful in their teaching. Recipients were selected via nomination and reviewed by a selection committee based in the UK Provost’s Office for Faculty Advancement and the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching.

“I am honored and would not have received such an award without the support from the College of Nursing, specifically from Dr. Ashford, Dr. Welsh, and my colleagues who teach in the undergraduate program,” said Catlett.

Catlett is an assistant professor in the UK College of Nursing. She is the traditional bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN) program coordinator and chair of UK College of Nursing interprofessional education. She is a fellow of the Center for Interprofessional Health Education Center at the University of Kentucky. She currently teaches leadership courses in the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and the accelerated BSN program.

Catlett received both her bachelor's degree and doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree from Eastern Kentucky University and her master's degree from McKendree University. She began her nursing career at the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital in the intensive care unit. She has 35 years of experience working in adult acute care including ICU, med-surg, periop nursing, as well as in nursing management.

Prior to teaching at UK, Catlett taught at the University of Colorado College of Nursing as an instructor specializing in simulation along with maintaining a clinical practice at the University of Colorado Hospital. She joined the College of Nursing in 2011 as a lecturer and has taught in the BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN-BSN tracks. She has experience teaching in health promotion, medical surgical nursing, and health assessment courses.

This year’s Outstanding Teaching Awards were given to four faculty, three lecturers, and three graduate teaching assistants. Each winner received an award certificate, a commemorative engraved gift and a cash award in recognition of their teaching excellence.

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