Two Wayne Community College faculty members have been honored with the College’s 22nd set of “Distinguished Chair” awards.
Language and Communication Department Chair Allyson Daly and Nursing Simulation Coordinator Bryan Johnson each received a trophy and a monetary prize to use for travel or professional development.
The Distinguished Chair awards recognize outstanding full-time curriculum faculty members who have distinguished themselves at the College and in the community. The awards are made possible by an annual gift to the Foundation of WCC by an anonymous donor.
Daly taught in the public school system before joining WCC as a faculty member, and she has taught at the College for over 10 years. In 2018, she launched WCC’s Scholars of Global Distinction program in partnership with UNC World View, incorporating global learning into the course curriculum for several subjects.
“Her profound impact on students’ lives cannot be over-emphasized,” said Daly’s nominator for the award. Daly was described as “a seasoned professional whose work reflects sustained excellence, a passionate mentor who transforms students’ lives, and a campus and community leader whose influence reaches across institutions and international borders.”
Johnson has taught at WCC for six years. As nursing simulation coordinator, he designed a system to enable students to practice nursing within simulated environments and has successfully integrated virtual reality into the curriculum. “His forward-thinking approach to simulation and technology ensures our students graduate with skills reflective of modern healthcare practices,” his nominator said.
Additionally, Johnson co-advises WCC’s nursing student organization, finding meaningful experiences for students to give back to their community. His nominator said, “Bryan has been a dedicated and transformative member of the nursing faculty, consistently demonstrating excellence, innovation, and leadership in every role he has undertaken.”
About the Foundation of WCC
The Foundation of WCC is a nonprofit organization that works to broaden the base of community support for educational opportunities at the College. It funds program and facility enhancements, provides employee recognition, offers cultural programs for the community, and awards scholarships.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.