South Texas College has named nursing educator Teena Jacob as its 2026 Faculty of the Year, honoring her dedication to teaching, student mentorship, and service to the institution’s mission.
Born and raised in India, Jacob attributes her career path to the family values instilled in her during her upbringing. Her mother actively cared for neighbors and relatives, while her grandparents emphasized service and kindness. This family environment influenced Jacob, her sisters, and several aunts to pursue nursing.
“When I reflect on my life, I realize that the foundation of who I am was built long before I became a nurse or an educator. I grew up surrounded by people who believed in serving others, which I believe is why my sisters, several of my aunts and I became nurses,” she told the college newsletter.
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Jacob began her professional journey in India, earning a diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery in 1998 and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2004. During this period, she gained clinical experience across emergency medicine, medical-surgical care, intensive care, and maternal health.
After moving to the United States in 2005, Jacob earned her registered nurse license and spent 14 years specializing in labor and delivery, during which she earned an Inpatient Obstetric Nursing Certification. Jacob continued her higher education in the U.S. while working.
She completed a Master of Science in Nursing Education and a Master of Business Administration from Grand Canyon University in 2019, followed by a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Educational Leadership from Post University in 2026.
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She joined South Texas College in 2019 as an adjunct instructor before becoming a full-time faculty member in 2020. Jacob teaches across all levels of the Associate Degree Nursing program in classroom, clinical, and simulation lab settings.
Her doctoral research at STC focused on using high-fidelity simulations, specifically centered on acute kidney injury cases common in the Rio Grande Valley to improve clinical judgment among graduating nursing students.
Jacob credits the collective effort of STC’s nursing faculty and department leadership for the success of their students, many of whom are first-generation college attendees and working parents.
The Associate Degree Nursing program achieved a 99.43% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), making it the highest pass rate in Texas among nursing programs of comparable size.