Dr. Hammond is an extraordinary person and nurse. COVID was uncharted territory for nurses in both practice and education settings. We did not have a how-to guide and could not predict the future progression of the disease or its impact on families, communities, economies, and workplaces. Dr. Hammond showed incredible compassion and human connection with her students and faculty peers, and she consistently demonstrates commitment to teaching the next generation of nurses to provide compassionate care. She went above and beyond throughout the pandemic to ensure RN to BSN student needs were met and faculty colleagues were supported.

During the pandemic, Dr. Hammond continued to prioritize the needs of the students, providing a listening ear during stressful times, adapting course components to include innovative and flexible learning activities, extending deadlines on assignments, and identifying support resources to promote student success. She also provided weekly motivational quotes to encourage and inspire the students. Dr. Hammond demonstrated the same understanding and compassion for the RN to BSN students when Texas experienced a historical winter storm in 2021.

Students shared that Dr. Hammond “helped us to know that we could do this” and provided support by listening to their personal stories and brainstorming strategies to meet course requirements. She truly believes nursing and nursing education are her calling, and she loves what she does. This is evident in her joyful spirit and unending dedication when working with nursing students, faculty, and staff.