Contact: Katryn Conlin, Director of Communications
651-385-6364 | kconlin@southeastmn.edu
Southeast nursing instructor Janine Mason named Outstanding Educator of the Year by the Minnesota State Board of Trustees
Red Wing and Winona, MN (April 21, 2025) - Minnesota State College Southeast is proud to announce the selection of nursing instructor Janine Mason, MSN, RN as the college's 2025 Outstanding Educator of the Year. She was among the college and university educators recognized by Chancellor Scott Olson and the Minnesota State Board of Trustees at a statewide awards ceremony held on April 16, 2025.
"Mason's experiences as a nurse, passion for mentoring, dedication to teaching skills, and work to align the nursing program's curriculum with the challenging NCLEX-RN® exam, all help prepare her students to become registered nurses," the Board of Trustees said in a statement.
Mason also been chosen by her peers at the college to serve as this year's Commencement Marshal. She will carry the ceremonial mace as she leads the academic procession at Southeast's Commencement Ceremony, which will take place on Friday, May 16, 2025 (3 pm) at Winona State University.
"While at Southeast Janine Mason is considered one of our most skilled faculty when it comes to accreditation and assessment, she is also careful to always remind us of where assessment has its limits," said Dr. Carrie Travis, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health. "Janine highlights the importance of soft skills and focuses on teaching students to be team players who practice compassion and empathy."
Janine Mason comes to her role as an instructor in the Associate of Science in Nursing program with 20 years of nursing experience, particularly in maternal newborn and neonatal intensive care for mothers and babies. There she discovered a passion for mentoring nurses and patients in need of training and encouragement - a quality that has translated perfectly into her role as an instructor at Southeast.
Mason joined Southeast's nursing faculty in 2018. In addition to her teaching roles, she has served as Interim Director of Nursing, Director of Nursing, and Associate Dean of Nursing. Among her accomplishments at the college, she spearheaded the approval, development and ACEN® accreditation of the Associate of Science in Nursing major, which was launched in 2020. She also played an important role in the design, construction, and opening of the Nursing and Health Sciences Center in Red Wing.
"Janine Mason makes a positive impact every day on her students; they will become the next generation of health care professionals. When we asked them about the program, they told us that Janine makes them feel heard, supported, and connected," said Dr. Marsha Danielson, President of Minnesota State College Southeast. "For her positive impact on her students and her above-and-beyond contributions to the success of Minnesota State College Southeast as a whole, Janine Mason is well-deserving of recognition as an outstanding educator."
Mason holds a master of science in Nursing Education from Walden University; a bachelor of science in biology from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse; an associate degree of nursing from Western Technical; and an associate of science, pre-nursing from Rochester Community and Technical College.
Photo captions
1. Janine Mason
2. Dean Carrie Travis and Janine Mason at the Board of Trustees Luncheon, April 16, 2025
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About Minnesota State College Southeast
Located in the historic river towns of Red Wing and Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast is a community and technical college that provides a flexible, affordable, inclusive, and equitable college environment and offers a clear sense of direction to all students. College faculty and staff genuinely care about students' end goals, whether that be earning an academic award, transferring to university to complete a bachelor's degree, or attaining career skills. Minnesota State College Southeast is a member of the Minnesota State system.