Jo Taylor, chair of Southeast Community College’s Food Service/Hospitality program, was awarded the Dietetics Educator of the Year Award on April 12 at the Nebraska Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics annual meeting in Nebraska City.
“Last year when the award came out I thought I should nominate (SCC instructor) Erin (Caudill),” Taylor said. “This year she and a former student nominated me, so that was sweet.”
Caudill, who was selected as the Area 2 Outstanding Dietetic Educator a year ago, praised Taylor.
“She is more than deserving, and I am very glad they recognized her in this way,” Caudill said.
Taylor worked eight years as a dietician at the former Bryan Memorial Hospital in Lincoln before becoming chair of the then-Food Service Management and Dietetic Technology program at SCC in 1982.
“It will be 30 years in August,” she said. “We had 30 students when I started. Now we have five focus areas and about 170 students.”
Focus areas are Baking/Pastry, just added for 2012-2013; Culinary Arts; Dietetic Technician; Food Service Management; and Lodging.
What also made Taylor proud in receiving the award is former student Elaine Farley Zoucha, current NAND president, presented her the award.
“That made it even more meaningful,” Taylor said.
Amber Pankonin, a 2002 graduate of SCC’s program, was presented the award for Young Dietician of the Year.
“Jo was instrumental in introducing me to that program,” said Pankonin, a Lincoln native who also is an adjunct instructor for SCC’s program. “I remember the first time I met Jo Taylor. I had no clue what I was doing, but she had such confidence in me, as she does with all her students. She was a huge inspiration for me as a student.
Criteria for the Dietetics Educator of the Year Award includes: Being a member of the American Dietetic Association, being a faculty member with academic or supervised practice appointments or preceptors in Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education-accredited programs, demonstrated innovative teaching skills and techniques, demonstrated mentoring as documented by letters from students, and demonstrated leadership on the national, state or district dietetic association level.
Taylor said she loves what she’s doing.
“Truly it’s been a fun ride,” she said. “It’s fun to teach. I love our clientele. I love our students and who they are. I see the world better because of them. They make you see a whole different side of life.”