Delgado Nursing Instructor Mia Woodroof Honored with NODNA’s 2025 Academic Nurse Educator Award

June 09, 2025

Delgado Community College proudly announces that Mia Woodroof, assistant professor of nursing, received the 2025 Beyond the Bedside Academic School of Nursing Educator Award by the New Orleans District Nursing Association (NODNA).

The New Orleans District Nurses Association (NODNA) is a professional organization that supports nurses through advocacy, leadership, education, and collaboration within the Greater New Orleans area. NODNA’s annual Beyond the Bedside award honors a nurse educator who has demonstrated excellence in academic teaching, mentoring, and shaping the future of the nursing profession through education and scholarship.

This prestigious honor recognizes not only Woodroof’s exceptional dedication to nursing education but also her unwavering belief in the power of knowledge to transform lives, both inside and far beyond the classroom. Her work reflects the very heart of the mission of Delgado Charity School of Nursing—to shape compassionate, skilled, and empowered nurses who lead with both intellect and humanity.

“I am honored to receive this award recognizing my dedication to teaching our students. I teach pediatrics, bringing students to Ochsner and Children's Hospital. Over the past few years, my coworker Alicia Quirk and I have been working to incorporate innovative technology such as simulations and virtual reality into our teaching methods,” said Woodroof, who has been teaching at Delgado for the past six years.

“I am passionate about nursing, and I am even more passionate about preparing our students to feel confident in their abilities to care for the patients we serve. I entered education with the goal of making an impact and a difference and have been fortunate enough to be supported by our administration, giving all of us the opportunity to expand our program with innovative technology and allowing us to better prepare our students to enter the workforce,” Woodroof said.

The Delgado Charity School of Nursing, founded at Charity Hospital New Orleans in 1894 and a part of Delgado Community College since 1990, offers a highly respected Associate of Science in Nursing program that prepares students for licensure as registered nurses. With a strong emphasis on clinical excellence and hands-on learning, the school continues the legacy of Charity Hospital’s commitment to compassionate, skilled nursing care.

“Woodroof’s passion for teaching, innovative approaches to learning, and deep commitment to student success continue to elevate our program and inspire all who have the privilege of working alongside her,” said Jennifer Fernandez, dean of the Delgado Charity School of Nursing. “She embodies the spirit of academic nursing—fierce in her advocacy, generous in her mentorship, and bold in her vision for the future of our profession.”

“This recognition is a moment of celebration not only for Woodroof, but for our entire Delgado Charity School of Nursing community. It is a powerful reminder of what is possible when we lead with purpose, teach with passion, and believe in the potential of every student we serve,” Fernandez said.

Learn more about Delgado Charity School of Nursing.