Polk State honors two faculty with Endowed Teaching Chair distinction

Polk State College has named two faculty members as recipients of its prestigious Endowed Teaching Chair, a distinction that recognizes excellence in instruction and innovation in the classroom.

This year’s honorees are Maggie Chaffin, Professor of Nursing, and Dr. Austin Zekeri, Professor of Accounting and Finance. These educators represent the very best of Polk State’s mission to transform lives through the power of education.

Chaffin’s classroom innovation drives nursing success

Chaffin has reimagined the way nursing students learn by implementing a flipped classroom model that prioritizes active learning and clinical judgment. Rather than relying on traditional lectures, students engage with course content before class and spend in-person time participating in hands-on simulations and case studies.

Since adopting the model, students have seen an 8–10% increase in exam scores and NCLEX first-time pass rates have climbed from 87.72% in fall 2020 to 100% in fall 2023.

“Our in-class activities produce graduates who are thoughtful, engaged, capable and equipped to lead with confidence,” Chaffin said.

With support from the endowed chair, Chaffin plans to expand her teaching toolkit with immersive tools like virtual reality headsets and a “shock” escape room—an interactive experience designed to reinforce critical care concepts through gamified learning.

She also intends to publish her findings to help other educators implement similar strategies across disciplines.

Zekeri’s passion for engagement and community impact

Zekeri brings a student-first philosophy to his classroom, emphasizing critical thinking, collaborative learning and real-world application. His current research focuses on advancing ethical leadership, fraud prevention and forensic accounting practices within both academic and professional settings.

“I am particularly interested in how valuation methodologies, litigation support and emerging technologies—such as AI and data analytics—are reshaping the forensic accounting landscape,” Zekeri said.

As the MidFlorida Credit Union Endowed Teaching Chair recipient, Zekeri will explore topics such as business valuation, fraud investigation, expert witness preparation and the ethical implications of AI in litigation. 

His participation at the Valuation, Forensic Accounting & Litigation Services (VFALS) Conference will support ongoing research into how forensic accountants can better serve as ethical stewards and strategic advisors in complex legal and financial environments.

Zekeri aims to integrate insights from VFALS into curriculum development, student mentorship and professional training initiatives—ensuring that future accountants are equipped with both technical expertise and ethical judgment.

The Endowed Teaching Chair program, supported by the Polk State College Foundation, provides faculty with resources to pursue professional development, classroom innovation and scholarly research. It is one of the many ways Polk State invests in its educators, students and the surrounding community.