UM-Flint professor named MASU's Professor of the Year

The Michigan Association of State Universities has named Hiba Wehbe-Alamah, professor of nursing in the School of Nursing at the University of Michigan-Flint, one of three Distinguished Professors of the Year for 2019.

"Since I first met her, Dr. Wehbe-Alamah has demonstrated a passion for teaching and student engagement that promotes deeper learning," said Chancellor Susan Borrego in Wehbe-Alamah's introduction at the 13th annual awards luncheon on May 13. "She is more than a great teacher, she is a transformational one, and very worthy to be named a 2019 Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year."

The award is intended for tenured faculty members who demonstrate sustained commitment to undergraduate instruction and who are nominated by their institutions for excellence in fulfillment of the selection criteria, which include:

• Impact on and involvement with undergraduate students
• Individualized and experiential learning
• Scholarship and innovation in teaching and learning
• Contributions to undergraduate education at the institution, in the community and in the profession/discipline

In a nominating letter, interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Susan Alcock praised Wehbe-Alamah as an "energetic, creative, and innovative faculty member" with an "impressive sustained record as a national and global leader, teacher, researcher, author, and consultant in the fields of transcultural nursing and health care."

She was also praised for her commitment to the UM-Flint campus outside of the classroom.

"And outside of her teaching duties, [Wehbe-Alamah] generously shares her expertise with UM-Flint students, faculty, administrators, and staff through her leadership in campus-wide strategic planning, active participation in faculty governance, and authentic presence as a first generation Lebanese-American Muslim faculty member."

When notified of her selection as a 2019 Professor of the Year, Wehbe-Alamah said, "I am proud to be a member of the UM-Flint faculty and community, and I'm very appreciative of the support and encouragement I received from UM-Flint leadership, my colleagues in the School of Nursing, and from my family. Go Blue!"