Courtney Hughes named winner of 2024 MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success

Courtney Hughes, professor of public health in the College of Health and Human Sciences, has been named the 2024 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success award winner. This accolade celebrates the commitment to student success demonstrated by a selected full-time faculty member from each MAC institution.

“I am not surprised Courtney won the MAC Award,” said CHHS Dean Kelly Fiala. “She is a phenomenal faculty member who always goes above and beyond for her students. I am grateful that MAC recognized her contributions in this way.”

Hughes was first selected as NIU’s winner before being named as the overall MAC conference winner, marking the first time that the university’s nominee has earned the top spot since the award was created five years ago.

“I am incredibly grateful for this award, and it motivates me to redouble my efforts to foster an environment where students can thrive,” Hughes said. “It also underscores the significance of teamwork in the academic community – my colleagues and mentors have been instrumental in shaping my approach to teaching and mentoring, and I greatly value their collaboration.”

Hughes is dedicated to improving population health and cultivating the next wave of public health scholars. Her research examines health behavior risks and enhancing quality of life for seriously ill individuals and their caregivers. Of her 38 papers since joining NIU in 2019, 25 include student authors. She teaches undergraduates through doctoral-level students and her grants have funded 24 students during her time at NIU.

“I find joy in igniting the spark of curiosity and passion for learning within my students,” Hughes said. “Witnessing those ‘aha’ moments and seeing a student’s confidence grow is so rewarding. Whether in the classroom or on research projects, facilitating students learning from one another and understanding different viewpoints is incredibly gratifying.”

Hughes is the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) at NIU, where she brings experience as a former collegiate tennis player at the University of Notre Dame and her expertise in health and wellness to focus on student-athlete well-being. After graduating from Notre Dame, she earned her master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Michigan and her doctorate in health services from the University of Washington School of Public Health.

Hughes is currently working on a dozen projects, all with student researchers, with a main goal for each student to discover their passions and experience success.

“I firmly believe in the power of education and its profound impact on students’ lives and the broader community,” Hughes said. “Thank you to the leadership at NIU and the MAC for shaping a student-centered educational landscape where we can all work together to make a difference.”

Source: NIU Today CHHS News