PUC is happy to recognize Assistant Professor of Nursing and Student Success Coordinator Nicolette Piaubert as the 2024-2025 Educator of the Year. Since joining the faculty in 2021, Nicolette has become a guiding light at the college, bringing excellence, compassion, and purpose to everything she does. From the moment students walk into Nursing 110 to their final clinical reviews in quarter six, she challenges, supports, and uplifts them every step of the way.

When she heard she was Educator of the Year, she recalls being completely overwhelmed and not expecting it. “When I heard the announcement in chapel, I was in shock,” she said.. “I had come ready to support my friend Hannah for her achievement, and God gave me a beautiful surprise.  I am full of gratitude, reflecting on how far God has brought me to this point. When I first stepped into the role of professor, I didn’t have formal training in education—I just had passion, compassion, and a heart full of purpose. For that to be recognized in this way left me speechless. It reminded me that obedience to purpose, even when it’s uncomfortable or unexpected, always leads to divine impact.”

A Family Nurse Practitioner, published author, and founder of the Gab-Nic Excelsior Nursing Tutoring Center, Nicolette is deeply committed to helping students succeed — academically, professionally, and spiritually. She founded the tutoring center in 2021 after seeing many students who were lost, overlooked, or failed by their programs, as they did not meet their needs. Many students had taken the NCLEX multiple times or were struggling in silence, believing they would not pass the exam.

“While I was in school, I too had a time when I wondered what the best way was to study and wished I had someone to guide me to find the right methods,” she said. “The mission of the center is to restore hope, rebuild academic confidence, and empower nursing students to succeed. The center combines strategic tutoring with biblical encouragement and personalized support. Everything is virtual so they can help students across the country and beyond. At Gab-Nic, we don’t just help students pass. We help them rise.” 

Her impact doesn’t stop in the classroom. She founded The Talented Tenth Highlanders Summer Camp in Brooklyn to serve underprivileged youth and reaches more than 22,000 followers across TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram with her faith-infused nursing content. This summer camp was created from her desire to reach inner-city youth in Brooklyn to show them they are more than their environment. 

At the camp, she and her team instill leadership, faith, cultural pride, and life skills in each camper. “We teach that education is power—something no one can take away,” said Nicolette. She also teaches etiquette, how to engage in society, eat at a formal table, and coexist respectfully with others. They visit museums, explore art and history, and learn skills like sewing, crocheting, cooking, and fishing. For fun, they spend time at amusement parks and go on nature walks, “But above all, we build confidence,” said Nicolette. “We remind every camper that they are special, they are capable, and they are worth every beautiful thing life has to offer.”

She has also written books, such as Becoming (2013) and How to Beat a Rigged School System (2020), that speak to her passion for empowering marginalized voices. Despite her demanding schedule — which includes traveling nationwide as an ATI Nurse Educator — she continues to pour into her students with a contagious smile, unwavering support, and a heart rooted in service.

Nicolette kindly took time to tell us about what this award means to her and the many roles she carries. 

What does this recognition mean to you?

Being named Educator of the Year is incredibly humbling. It affirms that the love, time, prayer, and passion I pour into my students daily is being seen and felt. This honor is not just a title—it’s a reminder that my presence matters. It belongs to every student who trusted me with their journey, every heart-to-heart we’ve shared, and every lesson that became a life breakthrough. It tells me that God has been faithful in using me not only to teach but to minister through education.

What is your biggest passion in education, and how does it shape your teaching?

My greatest passion in education is helping students uncover who they truly are—not just as students or future nurses, but as individuals created with divine purpose. I believe that education should not only inform but also transform. I want my students to feel seen, safe, and spiritually grounded. That’s why I begin each class with a devotional—it creates space for peace, reflection, and connection. 

I don’t just want them to pass exams. I want them to heal, to grow, to learn how to advocate for themselves and their patients, and to know that they are loved—by me and by God. My teaching is shaped by empathy, clarity, and a deep desire to reach the heart before reaching the head.

How do you stay motivated and passionate about teaching?

My students inspire me. Their resilience, determination, and dreams keep me going. I stay motivated by remembering my why: I’m not just here to lecture—I’m here to restore confidence, to speak life into someone who feels like giving up, and to remind someone that failure is not final. I stay grounded through prayer and reflection.  Every time a student walks away encouraged or equipped, I know I’m walking in purpose.

What do you enjoy the most about teaching your students at PUC?

I absolutely love the relationships I build with my students. PUC is a space where I can combine faith, compassion, and academic excellence all at once. Seeing my students grow—from confusion to clarity, from anxiety to confidence—is one of the most fulfilling parts of this role. 

What brings me even deeper joy is the opportunity to bring students closer to God—or to introduce them to Him for the first time. Watching them discover His love, especially in moments of academic or personal struggle, is sacred. These are not just students—they’re future world-changers, and I get to be a small part of that journey.

What inspired you to become a nurse and educator? Did you always know you wanted to take this career path?

I didn’t always know I wanted to be a nurse—or a nursing educator. In fact, seeing my aunt struggle with burnout made me want to run the other way. But the pull to serve others and to teach kept tugging at me. It wasn’t until I began tutoring my peers in nursing school and saw them succeed—some for the first time—that I realized this was my gift. I didn’t just understand the content; I could also help others understand it. And more than that, I could encourage them. I could speak victory, just as my name indicates. Nicolette means “little victorious one of the people”. God guided me gently into this calling, and now I can’t imagine being anywhere else. Teaching is where my compassion, intellect, and purpose align. It’s where I see God move—in every lecture, every one-on-one, every late-night text from a student saying, “I passed.

What are some of the most rewarding moments you’ve experienced as an educator at PUC?

There are so many. The most rewarding moments aren’t always loud or public. Sometimes, they happen in a quiet conversation in my office. Sometimes, it’s a tearful thank you. Sometimes, it’s a student telling me they feel seen for the first time. 

I remember students who were on the brink of giving up. I remember their breakthroughs. I remember praying with them, laughing with them, and mentoring them. Some of them are etched into my memory forever because of the role I played in their transformation. 

Then there’s Pathfinders. It was my first time being a director, and it filled my heart in ways I didn’t expect. I love children—deeply. I’m still connected to my younger self, the girl who battled feelings of inadequacy and fear but who carried hope because of my aunt’s influence. I want to be that kind of light to every child I meet. I may not have children of my own yet, but my pathfinders and even students—especially the younger ones—have become like my children. They remind me that I am living with purpose, pouring love and faith into the next generation. Whether it’s teaching, serving at church, singing on stage, or sharing long, spirit-filled conversations—I’m reminded over and over again: this is the life God has called me to live. And I am honored.

What is your favorite thing about being a part of PUC? What keeps you here?

What I treasure most about PUC is the sense of community. I’ve learned to love and be loved by a group of people who see me, support me, and reflect the values I hold dear. That affirmation fuels me. Coming from New York City, where buildings are stacked tightly, and nature is scarce, I never imagined how healing it would be to teach in a place surrounded by forests, mountains, and rivers. It’s a daily reminder of God’s creativity and peace. It keeps me grounded—and it keeps me here. 

Serving at church, attending student events, going on church and Pathfinder campouts, singing on stage, taking walks in the Back Forty with friends, or just having heartfelt conversations in my office—all of these moments allow me to enjoy being here.