Professor Kyle Hodgen presented FSU Innovation in Teaching award
Professor Kyle Hodgen, a faculty member in the FSU Panama City Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program, recently received the 2025-26 University Teaching Award for Innovation in Teaching.
According to an announcement from James J. Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs at Florida State University, Hodgen was selected by a committee of faculty and students.
The University Teaching Awards recognize excellence as multi-faceted, involving areas such as serving as a positive role model to students, imparting a respect for truth and a love of learning, challenging students’ thinking and assumptions, demonstrating respect for all persons, and employing innovative instructional techniques.
“You should be very proud that your teaching exemplifies these important areas,” Clark told Hodgens. “We thank you for your expert and dedicated teaching service to the students of Florida State University and wish you continued success in all of your scholarly endeavors.”
Hodgen, DNP and a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, said the award was deeply meaningful, “not only as a personal honor, but as recognition of the time, effort and creativity that my fellow anesthesia faculty and I invest in our program. This award reflects our shared commitment to our students, their education and the future of our profession.”
He added that that meaningful innovation in teaching is never the work of a solitary person: “It grows out of collaboration, dedication and a genuine desire to prepare students to become excellent anesthesia providers. I am proud to share this recognition with my colleagues, whose hard work and commitment help make our program strong.”
The University Teaching Award carries an honorarium of $2,000 and was awarded during a reception on April 21 at the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center.
DNAP Program Administrator Stacey VanDyke said she was incredibly fortunate to have Hodgen on the team.
“He is deeply committed to our students and consistently looks for ways to improve how we teach and prepare them for practice,” VanDyke said. “His integration of point-of-care ultrasound into the curriculum has been a game changer for student engagement and clinical readiness. He brings both vision and follow-through, and that combination makes a real difference for our program.”
Hodgen joined the faculty following his military retirement after 23 years of service in both the USAF and the U.S. Army. His major military awards include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Defense Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation medals, and multiple other Army and Air Force Achievement Medals.
He has been a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) since 2007. He is also a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society and numerous other academic honor societies.
“Ultimately, this award is important to me because it affirms the value of the work we do together in service of our students and our profession,” Hodgen said.