In Fall 2025, two Middlesex Community College nursing faculty were awarded for their service to the community. Professor Diana Namumbejja Abwoye received the New England League for Nurse Educators (NELNE) Doctoral Degree Scholarship Award and Professor Jill O’Meara received the Daisy Award in recognition of nursing excellence at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.
“Receiving this scholarship was an honor,” Namumbejja Abwoye said. “It affirmed the value of my work and came at a moment in my doctoral education journey when I needed it, allowing me to continue my research while supporting my students. As someone who has had a non-conventional path, this award represented possibility and encouragement and it reminded me that my experiences and contributions matter. Most importantly, it strengthened my commitment to inclusive education.”
A Family Nurse Practitioner, Namumbejja Abwoye teaches Community Health Clinical for students in MCC’s part-time option. Holding a bachelor’s in business from Makerere University in Uganda, a bachelor’s in biology from UMass Boston, and a direct entry master’s in nursing from Simmons University, she is a Ph.D. candidate at Yale University. She has received multiple awards for her work.
As both a nurse and professor, Namumbejja Abwoye’s mission is to help refugees, immigrants and underserved communities while working toward global health equity. Throughout her career, she has volunteered with HIV outreach programs, translated books to expand access to reproductive health information, and founded a vocational training program for teenage mothers in rural Uganda. Starting in Fall 2025, she chose to work at MCC to be able to provide a high-quality and immersive education to a population of students who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
“Teaching at MCC allows me to support students who often reflect the very communities I have served throughout my global and clinical career,” Namumbejja Abwoye said. “I encourage my students to think about the role of language access in patient outcomes, or how social drivers of health influence care and health outcomes. Many of my students bring rich life experiences into the classroom – juggling school, work and family responsibilities – and my role is to help them connect those experiences with compassionate, community-centered nursing practices.”
Full-time pediatric faculty member O’Meara has more than three decades of experience as an emergency room nurse, pediatric nurse, and as an off-shift nurse manager at Boston Medical Center. She is master’s prepared with clinical experiences that have proven her commitment to patient care and nursing leadership. She received the Daisy Award for going beyond expectations in providing compassionate care in her work.
“Accepting the Daisy Award has been an honor and a humbling experience for me as it signifies a commitment to nursing excellence,” O’Meara said. “I was nominated for this award by a staff nurse who felt that I consistently exemplified the role of a nursing supervisor through strong clinical leadership, clear communication, and a supportive presence for both staff and patients.”
From Lowell, O’Meara feels a strong connection to the city and appreciates being able to give back to the community by working at Middlesex. As a faculty member, her goal is to bring her background in the field to the classroom and clinical environment, guiding and supporting MCC students through their academic and professional journeys.
“I felt it was the right time in my career to mentor the next generation of nurses,” O’Meara said. “Helping students build confidence, develop clinical judgment, and discover their passion for nursing is incredibly meaningful to me. I strive to prepare students for the realities of nursing practice – emphasizing compassion, critical thinking, and safe, evidence-based care. By supporting student success, I also contribute to strengthening the local healthcare workforce.”