Mercy Jesudoss receives 2025 Chancellor’s Award for Student Undergraduate Teaching

Five women stand together smiling at an indoor event; one woman in the center holds a plaque. People are mingling in the background in a large hall with rows of chairs and banners on the walls.

Carolina Nursing student Mercy Jesudoss has been recognized with the 2025 Student Undergraduate Teaching Award at this year’s Chancellor’s Awards Ceremony. The award honors outstanding undergraduate instruction and is one of the highest student-recognized honors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jesudoss served as a teaching assistant for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) cohorts of 2023 and 2024, assisting with NURS 351 and NURS 352: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology Across the Lifespan I and II. She worked alongside faculty members Dr. Suja P. Davis and Dr. Bethany Lynn Davis.

Jesudoss credited her mentors for creating an engaging and supportive learning environment that helped shape her teaching approach. “Dr. Suja P. Davis was incredible. Her detailed teaching and helpful suggestions for office hours, student teaching, and assignments fostered a supportive learning environment,” Jesudoss said. “This really influenced how I view student education and mentorship.”

Reflecting on her experience, Jesudoss shared that working with Carolina Nursing students deepened her appreciation for education and the profession. “I thoroughly enjoyed every moment I spent interacting with the students. Their enthusiasm and perspectives on nursing and health made each conversation memorable.”

She also acknowledged the influence of Dean Valerie Howard, referencing her frequent affirmation that “nursing is the most trusted profession.” Jesudoss said this message continues to inspire her to uphold the standards of care, compassion and educational excellence that define the field.

Students who nominated Jesudoss for the award praised her for her dedication and ability to connect with learners. One student wrote, “In every way, Mercy embodies the qualities of an exceptional teaching assistant. Her commitment to student success, her passion for teaching, and her ability to create a welcoming, engaging, and intellectually stimulating environment have left a lasting impact on our entire cohort.”

The Student Undergraduate Teaching Awards were established by student referendum in 1989 and later expanded in 2004 to include a staff award. Recipients are selected by a student committee and are honored for excellence in teaching, contributions to student learning, and the creation of dynamic learning environments.

To read more about the 2025 Chancellor’s Awards, visit chancellorsawards.unc.edu.