Nursing prof Renae Boss Potts named Professor of the Year

Calvin nursing professor Renae Boss Potts is Calvin's 2011 "Professor of the
Year," an honor bestowed upon one faculty member each year by Calvin's outgoing
senior class.

Boss Potts is the 14th recipient of the award. And, like colleagues who have
won the award in recent years, she was surprised by the honor.

On Tuesday, May 3, 2011, dozens of Boss Potts' students filled the DeVries
Hall Atrium and, when they saw her coming down the stairs, they began
serenading her. She then spotted her husband and entire family at the bottom of
the stairs.

"I had no idea. I saw my husband with flowers, and I thought, 'My anniversary
isn't for months yet,'" Boss Potts said.

Then she spotted three posters on easels: Congratulations to/Renae Boss
Potts/Professor of the Year.

The honoree laughed and announced: "I have 60 hugs to give!" and she went
through the crowd of students, thanking each of them in turn.

"She makes class a lot of fun," said senior nursing student Renae Sybesma, who
voted for Boss Potts. "She cares about her students."

Senior nursing student Alyssa Krudy agreed: "She’s hilarious, and she makes
pharmacology fun, and that's a tough call."

A 1984 grad--and the first graduate of the combined Calvin-Hope nursing
program--Boss Potts has been teaching nursing strategies, pharmacology and
leadership management at Calvin, both part-and full-time, since 2000. She takes
nursing students to Belize every year to give them greater understanding of and
compassion for how people in poorer countries live.

Boss Potts will be presented with a clock commemorating her award at the
annual Senior Brunch on Saturday, May 21, 2011.

For the full story, including a list of previous professors of the year, see
http://www.calvin.edu/news/archive/professor-of-the-year-renae-boss-potts

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Received on Wed May 4 14:36:22 2011