Dr. Jacqueline Buford was nominated for her dedication, effort, and commitment to her students and to the Loewenberg College of Nursing. She is praised by her students for her mentoring, teaching, and advocacy. One student writes, "She is excellent in instruction as she is always willing to provide not only the necessary materials for our success, but steps outside of the box of conventional instruction to equip us with valuable 'pearls' that have served to further stimulate our thinking. She is an amazing advocate. Dr. Buford does not set back to see if we can swim; she throws out a lifeline before we start treading water and patiently waits to pull us in if we need her." Dr. Buford embodies the role of a true nurse educator.

As a faculty member, she is respected by her colleagues and staff for her organized course design, excellent student engagement, flexibility within curricula, and mastered simulation skills. She is recognized as the Honoree for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educator due to her dedication to nursing education and her commitment to student success.