NAU–Yuma Teachers of the Year 2022
Please join me in congratulating our NAU Yuma Teachers of the Year for 2022!
Ms. Kara Ahearn, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Social Work
Kara Ahearn holds a BSW and MSW in Social Work from Florida State University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Kara spent 18 years practicing social work in the Florida panhandle prior to moving to Yuma in 2015. She worked at a juvenile correctional facility as a mental health therapist where she earned her hours for licensure. She then served as the Statewide Reform Coordinator for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice coordinating statewide prevention projects and received a Georgetown University fellowship in Juvenile Diversion programming. From 2015-2020, she was promoted to Chief Clinical Officer overseeing the clinical functions of 13 integrated care clinics across southern Arizona and developed networks with local agencies, including Social Services and Yuma County Adult Probation. She presented nationally on integrated care and worked with Arizona agencies to reduce recidivism. This work garnered state and national recognition and received several statewide awards including the Arizona Association of Counties Summit Award and Merritt Award. Kara’s work with adult probation was also recognized with the 2019 Strategic Agenda Award. Currently, Kara serves as the Coordinator of Field Education for Yuma and Imperial Counties and as Assistant Clinical Professor of Social Work at NAU-Yuma Branch Campus. Her years of experience have led her to emphasize the importance of macro social work and research methods amongst the other classes she teaches to aspiring social workers. Most recently, Kara partnered with the Psychology Department at Autonomous University of Baja California to develop an interdisciplinary and international course taught in collaboration with faculty in Mexico. This project was supported by COIL (collaborative online international learning). Kara’s other responsibilities include serving as a board member and Treasurer for the local P-Flag organization and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from NAU.
NAU Yuma 2022 Part-Time Teacher of the Year
Dr. Faviola Villegas Romero, Adjunct Professor, Business Department
Dr. Faviola Villegas has been teaching in undergraduate and graduate programs for 17 years in the United States and Mexico. The classes she has taught include Global Marketing, Principles of Marketing in a Global Economy, Business Ethics, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, Managing for Organizational Quality and Excellence, Management Information Systems, Strategic Operations, and Supply Chain Management. She received her Bachelors in Marketing Management and graduated Magna Cum Laude in her MBA program and Summa Cum Laude in her doctoral program in Business. Born and raised in México, Dr. Villegas has worked in the academic and service sector for over 17 years. Marketing and business administration are her passion, as is helping her students to succeed in life and their careers. She designed a program for Haitian refugees to learn Spanish and develop skills to help them find employment in México. Among other things, Dr. Villegas won the Award for Business and Academic Relationships in México in 2018 and 2020. She has been recognized as distinguished professor in México and in the United States. She has been a business consultant for small business and industry, a social media instructor, speaker, and entrepreneur. Her two children are her motive to achieve, suc
This year’s TOY Banquet recognition event where they will be recognized will be held at 5:00 pm on April 19th at the Yuma Civic and Convention Center. Tickets ($25) can be obtain from Susan Lauer or me until April 5th. The event includes dinner and a no host bar. Please join us if you can to support our colleagues. It will be a fun event and a great opportunity for us to get together and cheer on our Teachers of the Year !
Again, Congratulations to Professor Ahearn and Professor Villegas !