Meet Ana Todd, PhD, RN, clinical assistant professor and assistant dean for academic affairs at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing.
Todd co-leads nursing students in the faculty-led UT Austin School of Nursing education abroad program, “Engaging in Global Health in Costa Rica.” Students from multiple disciplines promote health in underserved Costa Rican communities in this immersive experience.
“Engaging with my students in experiential learning and connecting with them is central to my teaching philosophy,” she said. “Part of connecting with students is getting to know the students as a person and understand their needs as learners. I am passionate about giving the students the best opportunity to learn by allowing them a psychologically safe learning environment. Demonstrating care to students is our obligation as faculty. I love teaching! My motto that I tell students is, ‘It’s a good day when I get to see you (students).’ It makes me smile.”
Her research focuses on health promotion in faith-based settings for various populations in Austin, Texas, to improve mental health and physical health outcomes, especially the African American population.
In her spare time, she is active in the community as a public health nurse.
Todd is also an alumna of the School of Nursing, completing her PhD in 2013.
From her nomination:
“Dr. Todd has an outstanding commitment to educating the next generation of nurses. In addition, she had made a major contribution to improving the health of the Austin community. During COVID-19, she took the lead in getting people who have difficulties getting to vaccination clinics vaccinated at their worksite or in their homes.”