Megan Williams honored with 2026 Tanner Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Associate Professor and Division Chair Megan Williams, EdD, MSN, RN, FNP, of the UNC School of Nursing has been named a recipient of the 2026 Tanner Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, one of the University’s highest honors recognizing outstanding undergraduate instruction.

Selected by the University Teaching Awards Committee, Williams was recognized for her exceptional contributions to undergraduate education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her commitment to teaching and student success has earned praise from both students and faculty colleagues, who cited her ability to create a supportive learning environment and serve as a positive role model for future nurses.

“Her commitment to her students, her thoughtful and innovative approach to teaching, and the care she brings to mentorship are truly exceptional,” said Valerie Howard, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, dean of the UNC School of Nursing. “We are incredibly proud to see her recognized with this well-deserved honor.”

In recognition of her achievement, Williams will receive a citation and a $7,500 prize during the spring semester. She will be honored at the 2026 Celebration of Teaching Excellence on April 27 and again during a UNC men’s basketball game at the Dean E. Smith Center in the fall.

Williams’s excellent record of teaching and mentorship in the School of Nursing is truly impressive and worthy of recognition through the Tanner Award. Especially noteworthy is the impact she has had in shaping future generations of nurses through the intentional ways she has designed and delivered instruction in foundational courses. Her instruction is personal; even in large classes, she knows her students well, caring for them as individuals and consistently following up with them. This caring attitude is also manifest in her mentorship of students. 

One of her nominators summarizes this best: “[Dr. Williams] has instilled in me a belief that I can make a meaningful impact in nursing. . . She has shown me that nurses can be leaders, innovators and scholars, and because of her influence, I feel inspired to continue my education. . . Her mentorship has not only shaped the nurse I am becoming today, but it has also opened doors to future possibilities that I might never have considered without her guidance.”

Williams’s recognition reflects the UNC School of Nursing’s commitment to excellence in teaching and preparing future nurse leaders to advance health across North Carolina and beyond.