Karen George, coordinator of the RN to BSN program at Mississippi University for Women, was named Faculty Member of the Year during the 2023 spring commencement ceremonies.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Scott Tollison, MUWAA President Symone Bounds, Dr. Karen George, and SGA President Mackenzie Pearce

“Karen George is well deserving of the Faculty Member of the Year award.  Each year as the line of march for Commencement forms, we see the pictures of former Faculty Members of the Year – Karen’s photo will be in good company,” said W President Nora Miller.

The award includes a $1,000 grant from the Alumni Association. It honors faculty members who exhibit excellence in teaching, advising and professional activities — in particular, those who go beyond all expectations to support The W’s students and academic programs.

“I am truly humbled to be selected as the Faculty Member of the Year for the University. This award is such an honor and one I will always treasure,” said George.

Since 2018, George has served as the coordinator of the RN to BSN program at The W. The program is designed for the working nurse who needs a more flexible option to complete requirements. It has been consistently ranked as one of the top hybrid-online and campus-based classroom experiences in the nation.

Said George, “Working in healthcare for 32 years helped me to understand and value the caliber of graduates from The W. I had the opportunity to work with many wonderful nurses over the years, and I decided I wanted to be part of something so great. Becoming a faculty member at The W was one of the best decisions I ever made for my professional career.”

George is a member of the BSN Faculty Committee, the BSN Curriculum Committee and the College of Nursing Advisory Board. She is past president of the Mississippi Hospital Association – Organization for Nursing Leadership, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) – Zeta Rho Chapter and the Mississippi Nursing Association (MNA).

“Dr. George is a wonderful asset to both The W and our students. She works diligently to ensure student success responding timely, often times after hours, to answer student requests. She communicates effectively with other staff and faculty across the campus to assist with students’ needs. She is a team player that is always willing to assist coworkers with various responsibilities,” said Amy Mobley, instructor of nursing at The W.

Outside of campus, George previously volunteered with the Stroke Screening and Education Team of North Mississippi Medical Center of Tupelo, St. Jude, Girl Scouts of the USA and Project Hope.

George holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Samford University, a Master’s of Science in Nursing from Delta State University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of North Alabama.

About The W

Located in historic Columbus, Mississippi, The W was founded in 1884 as the first state-supported college for women in the United States. Today, the university is home to 2,227 students in more than 70 majors and concentrations and has educated men for 40 years. The university is nationally recognized for low student debt, diversity and social mobility which empowers students to BE BOLD.

Be Bold. Tower with Blue.