Jaclyn A. Athmann, MSN, RN, has been selected by the student body as the 2017 Faculty of the Year at Inver Hills Community College. The college’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter organizes the voting process. Jackie is an instructor in the Nursing program. She started teaching at Inver Hills in 2007 and became unlimited full-time faculty in 2011.
Jackie earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) from the College of St. Benedict in 1989. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing Education (M.S.N.) at Metropolitan State University in 2011. She has 17 years of experience as a critical care float registered nurse (RN).
Before she started teaching at Inver Hills, Jackie worked at United Hospital in St. Paul for nearly two decades, first as a telemetry and critical care RN and then as a critical care and emergency room float RN. She also served as an NICU RN at Minneapolis Children’s Hospital.
Jackie’s volunteer work includes founding the Burnsville Police/Juvenile Diabetes Charity Golf Tournament. She supports the Juvenile Diabetes “Walk to Find a Cure” and the CAP Agency Meals on Wheels program in Lakeville, Minnesota.
Jackie’s husband, Dan Athmann, served as a police officer with the Burnsville Police Department for 25 years. He taught Law Enforcement at Inver Hills for two years and now works as a financial planner. Jackie and Dan reside in Lakeville and have three children, Charlie, 22, a senior majoring in finance at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Jennifer, 20, a junior majoring in graphic design at UMD, and Faith, 18, a senior at Lakeville North High School with plans to study criminal justice at UMD. The family dog, Rudy, is a nonallergenic 20-pound mutt.
In her free time, Jackie enjoys playing golf with her friends. She plays at least once a week at a variety of courses, including Crystal Lake Golf Club. She also likes to spend time by her swimming pool, listening to music and tending her 130 perennials. Her Foxy Roxy rosebushes are her favorites.
The Bon Jovi Lady
Jackie is a huge fan of Bon Jovi and her students learn that early on. She makes sure they are more than familiar with her number one Jon Bon Jovi quote: “But remember these three P’s: Passion plus persistence equals possibility.” John Francis Bongiovi, Jr.
Jackie Athmann Q & A
Jackie at Management of Care Day 2017What is your advice to future nurses?
If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of others. Dream big. What is your favorite part about teaching at Inver Hills?
The students. We spend two days a week in a hospital setting and the rest of the week on campus in labs. I like to play music when we’re studying at Inver. Students have to want to come to class and the music really works. They show up early, listen to music, talk and laugh. Nursing students are dedicated and they work hard. They are a topnotch group. I love seeing my students when the lights come on, when they see they can really do it. They are so proud of themselves. Watching that happen is addictive. What is your teaching philosophy?
Everyone is trying to improve themselves and everyone has goals. I’m such a big advocate of adult learning. Adult learners bring four important things to the classroom:
They need to be there.
They need to be engaged.
They need to know what they’re learning is relevant.
They need to use and master technology.
My job is making sure my students get everything they need to become registered nurses.
To learn more about the Nursing program and MANE at Inver Hills, contact:
