Van Leer Honored with Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award
Nursing is a field where care and compassion are at the core, but it’s the educators who mold those qualities in future healthcare professionals.
At East Central College, Jessica Van Leer, Assistant Professor of Nursing, has been guiding eager nursing students for nearly a decade. Now, her dedication and excellence in teaching have earned her the prestigious 2024 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award.
Over the past nine years at ECC, Van Leer has played a vital role in her students’ growth, watching them evolve from enthusiastic learners into confident professionals.
The Excellence in Teaching Awards program, sponsored by Emerson, annually recognizes educators in the St. Louis metropolitan area who exemplify excellence in their field. Recipients are selected by the chief administrators of their school districts or employing educational institutions.
Van Leer holds a master’s degree in nursing education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Maryville University. Before joining ECC, she worked as a pediatric nurse at Mercy Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, where she cared for patients on the medical-surgical pediatric floor.
Her transition into teaching allowed her to bring real-world experience into the classroom.
“Jessica has consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching through her ability to make complex nursing concepts easy for students to understand,” one colleague said. “Her dedication and mentorship have earned her the respect and admiration of her students, colleagues, and the community.”
Beyond teaching, Van Leer is actively involved in the ECC community. She serves as the Student Nurse Organization club advisor and chairs the Faculty Professional Development Committee, fostering an environment of support and growth for both students and faculty.
In 2022, she was also nominated for the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Professionals award, a testament to her ongoing commitment to student success and professional excellence.