JAMESTOWN — Three of University of Jamestown’s faculty members recently received high honors in their fields.
Penny Briese, Ph.D., RN, simulation lab coordinator and associate professor of nursing,
received the Sigma Excellence in Nursing Research Award, as well as the 2023 North Dakota State Nurse Educator of the Year award.
This award was developed by the Nursing Students’ Association of North Dakota, a pre-professional student-run organization comprised of nursing students from institutions across
the state, to recognize outstanding nursing educators.
Briese, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and minor in theater from University of
Jamestown, said she received the NEDY award 20 years to the day after she was named the
North Dakota Nursing Student of the Year in 2003.
“I would not be sitting here with all these awards and accolades without the education I got her at University of Jamestown,” she said. “I have the career I have because of being a Jimmie.”
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Raegen Hartman is one of Briese’s nursing students who nominated her for the award.
“I think what truly shows how much Penny deserves the award was her reaction,” she said.
“Right after receiving the award, Penny hugged the students there, including myself, and with
joyful tears, said it was ‘for us.’ Penny is fully dedicated to her students in and outside of school in all aspects of life.”
Briese advocates on behalf of nurses in North Dakota through her service as the North Dakota Nurses Association Director of Advocacy.
Ultimately, though, her favorite role is being a nurse educator.
“I’m here for the students and to turn out the best possible nurses that I can,” she said.
Another UJ nursing professor recently honored is Teree Rittenbach, Ph.D., NP, who was selected to receive the Center for Rural Health’s Outstanding Rural Educator/Mentor Award.
This award is presented to a professional who has made outstanding contributions to the education, development and placement of new health care professionals in rural North Dakota communities.
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“It is an incredible honor to receive this award,” Rittenbach said. “To have influenced the
lives and careers of 45 classes of JC/UJ nursing students has been an incredible care experience. I know that these graduates have gone on to influence our health care system and provide quality care for countless patients!”
Fellow University of Jamestown faculty member Chris Mahoney, assistant professor and chair
of the department of kinesiology, received the 2022 ND SHAPE (North Dakota Society for
Health and Physical Educators) Honor Award, which recognizes meritorious service by
members of the group.
“I was completely humbled by the recognition,” said Mahoney, who’s in his 26th year of teaching at the university and a two-time ND SHAPE University Professor of the Year.
Mahoney hopes the award will further aid his work with students.
“I hope to inspire them that teaching is a worthwhile profession and that it can be a very
rewarding decision for them,” he said.
Christopher Redfearn, D.A., associate provost and dean of the undergraduate college, said the university is proud of the three award recipients, "all of whom work tirelessly for the success of their students here at UJ. It is gratifying to see them recognized for their excellence by their peers. Penny, Teree and Chris help make the University of Jamestown the special place that our students and alumni know it to be."
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