Sam
Sommerness
May 2020
Sam
Sommerness
University of Minnesota School of Nursing
Minneapolis
,
MN
United States
Dr. Sommerness represents our University very well and has strong professional relationships with her colleagues and students.
It is with great pleasure that I strongly support the nomination of Dr. Samantha A. Sommerness, Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota, for consideration for the DAISY Award. This nomination is reflective of Dr. Sommerness’s exceptional mentorship and leadership qualities.
Over the past few years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to observe and work alongside Dr. Sommerness in academia. In the last two years, she has also taken on the responsibility as the coordinator for our Rochester campus within the UMN School of Nursing. As a result, Dr. Sommerness has played a pivotal role in many students’ lives, as she connects with students from both the Twin Cities and Rochester campuses. Along with the instruction she provides the students at both campuses, she travels to Rochester each week to meet with students individually. She is an exceptional asset to the program, and she goes above and beyond her calling in order to provide the students with the tools they need to be successful.
Each week, Dr. Sommerness arrives at work with enthusiasm and positive energy. She interacts with the students and keeps them engaged as she incorporates real-life personal, clinical, and professional experiences into her instruction. She has a special way of connecting with her students which creates a feeling of belonging for all. Dr. Sommerness is known to take a special interest in her students, as she takes the time to get to know them as individuals, and not just as students. As a mentor, she provides helpful feedback, advice, learning pearls, both academically and clinically, and allows for open discussion if students have concerns of any kind. She mentors them in such a way that helps reassure them they are supported and can be successful in whichever direction they choose to pursue as future nurses. Dr. Sommerness makes strong contributions to the future of nursing by helping and mentoring nursing students so they can grow and develop in a positive learning environment. Not only does she care for her students, but she is a special mentor to me; as she has given me insights, feedback, advice to overcome challenges, feelings of encouragement and support, and helps us grow as a faculty. Dr. Sommerness has mentored me while I worked as her TA for four semesters and continues to grow with the knowledge she has bestowed upon me. Moving forward after my DNP, I now feel confident I could walk into a beginning teaching role and be successful because of her guidance and leadership.
Dr. Sommerness represents our University very well and has strong professional relationships with her colleagues and students. She has expertise in Midwifery, Child, and family health. She has given many presentations and is actively involved in many leadership projects, She continues to gain knowledge by pursuing a PhD in nursing. With her dedication to her profession, she has received many accolades, including publications in numerous journals. Additionally, she is presenting her health research in many avenues including several conferences. Dr. Sam Sommerness is continuously positive, passionate, and dedicated to teaching while being a dedicated mother of four children as well.
With these tremendous attributes, she continues to cultivate the most positive environment for all; something every student and staff member should emulate. She goes above and beyond as a faculty member, mentor, and instructor. She is an inspiration and a role model to all who have been touched by her. I am very grateful to have her as a coordinator in Rochester for the UMN and am proud to say I work alongside her.
Over the past few years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to observe and work alongside Dr. Sommerness in academia. In the last two years, she has also taken on the responsibility as the coordinator for our Rochester campus within the UMN School of Nursing. As a result, Dr. Sommerness has played a pivotal role in many students’ lives, as she connects with students from both the Twin Cities and Rochester campuses. Along with the instruction she provides the students at both campuses, she travels to Rochester each week to meet with students individually. She is an exceptional asset to the program, and she goes above and beyond her calling in order to provide the students with the tools they need to be successful.
Each week, Dr. Sommerness arrives at work with enthusiasm and positive energy. She interacts with the students and keeps them engaged as she incorporates real-life personal, clinical, and professional experiences into her instruction. She has a special way of connecting with her students which creates a feeling of belonging for all. Dr. Sommerness is known to take a special interest in her students, as she takes the time to get to know them as individuals, and not just as students. As a mentor, she provides helpful feedback, advice, learning pearls, both academically and clinically, and allows for open discussion if students have concerns of any kind. She mentors them in such a way that helps reassure them they are supported and can be successful in whichever direction they choose to pursue as future nurses. Dr. Sommerness makes strong contributions to the future of nursing by helping and mentoring nursing students so they can grow and develop in a positive learning environment. Not only does she care for her students, but she is a special mentor to me; as she has given me insights, feedback, advice to overcome challenges, feelings of encouragement and support, and helps us grow as a faculty. Dr. Sommerness has mentored me while I worked as her TA for four semesters and continues to grow with the knowledge she has bestowed upon me. Moving forward after my DNP, I now feel confident I could walk into a beginning teaching role and be successful because of her guidance and leadership.
Dr. Sommerness represents our University very well and has strong professional relationships with her colleagues and students. She has expertise in Midwifery, Child, and family health. She has given many presentations and is actively involved in many leadership projects, She continues to gain knowledge by pursuing a PhD in nursing. With her dedication to her profession, she has received many accolades, including publications in numerous journals. Additionally, she is presenting her health research in many avenues including several conferences. Dr. Sam Sommerness is continuously positive, passionate, and dedicated to teaching while being a dedicated mother of four children as well.
With these tremendous attributes, she continues to cultivate the most positive environment for all; something every student and staff member should emulate. She goes above and beyond as a faculty member, mentor, and instructor. She is an inspiration and a role model to all who have been touched by her. I am very grateful to have her as a coordinator in Rochester for the UMN and am proud to say I work alongside her.