MDCC Celebrates Amanda Fondren’s Achievement as MOADN Associate Degree Nurse Educator of the Year
MOORHEAD, MS (Sept. 26, 2024) – Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC) proudly announces that Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Instructor Amanda Fondren has been honored with the prestigious Associate Degree Nurse Educator of the Year Award by the Mississippi Chapter of the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (MOADN). This significant recognition highlights Fondren’s outstanding contributions to nursing education and her unwavering commitment to her students and the nursing profession.
The Nurse Educator of the Year Award was established by the MOADN Board of Directors to recognize an exceptional nurse educator who influences nursing practice through caring, professionalism and excellence in both the classroom and clinical settings. The criteria for this award include employment by an accredited ADN program in Mississippi, active membership in MOADN, promotion of the scope of practice for associate degree nursing and excellence in instructional methods and clinical practice.
Fondren, who has been a full-time instructor at MDCC for 15 years, expressed her gratitude for the recognition, saying, “I was so honored and humbled to be nominated for and receive this award. I work with the most amazing team of nurse educators, all of whom are deserving of this same recognition. I love nursing, and I especially love teaching students to be nurses. It is so important to teach the safe and correct way to be a nurse, but the goal is also to make a difference in the students’ lives and urge them to make a difference in others’ lives. My hope is to always model and instill in them a desire to truly care for others and to take pride in the job they do and in the profession of nursing.”
Fondren’s dedication to nursing was inspired by her mother, Melissa Barrett, a former nurse educator at MDCC and a prior recipient of this same award. Fondren graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Delta State University in 1996 and later earned a master’s in nursing education in 2009. Her nursing experience spans various specialties, including ophthalmology, surgery, medical-surgical units and pediatrics. Before becoming a full-time instructor at MDCC, Fondren taught certified nursing assistants and served as an adjunct clinical instructor at the college. She lives in Cruger with her husband, Jeff Fondren, and is proud to be a mother and grandmother.
Traci Beckham, Director of Nursing and ADN Chair at MDCC, shared her admiration for Fondren’s achievement, “As the Director of Nursing, it is with great pride and admiration that I congratulate Amanda Fondren on being awarded the Mississippi Organization for Associate Degree Nursing’s Educator of the Year. Amanda’s dedication to our students, her passion for nursing education, and her unwavering commitment to excellence have made a profound impact on our program. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure our students are well-prepared for their future careers, embodying the highest standards of our profession. This recognition is a testament to her hard work, innovation and the positive influence she has on both her students and colleagues. We are fortunate to have such an outstanding educator on our faculty, and we celebrate this well-deserved honor with her.”
MDCC is immensely proud of Amanda Fondren and her achievements. Her dedication to nursing education and her students truly embody the spirit of excellence that MDCC strives to instill in all its programs. This award is a testament to her influence in shaping the next generation of nurses who will make a difference in the healthcare industry and the communities they serve.
