Mandy Stelz

Originally from Florida’s Panhandle, Keiser University Clinical Coordinator/Radiologic Technology Instructor Mandy Stelz relocated to Jacksonville after completing a hospitality degree. She had been accepted to Mayo Clinic’s School of Radiography in Jacksonville and decided to realize a childhood dream.

“As a kid, I broke a lot of bones and had a lot of x-rays. Despite being in pain, I was fascinated by my x-rays and wanted an explanation of what those x-rays meant,” Mandy said.

Following completion of the Mayo program, Mandy left Jacksonville and worked at a Pensacola Hospital as an X-ray Technologist. There, she helped train college radiography students. Mandy moved back to Jacksonville to work in MRI, but the spark for teaching was lit. So, when a former professor reached out with an adjunct teaching opportunity, Mandy’s career path changed. This led to Keiser University, where she’s taught for six years.

Mandy realized “There’s a lot to education. You’re not just standing in front of a classroom.” So, she pursued her master’s degree in Education with Keiser University and is now in the process of earning her Doctorate in Educational Technology from Walden University. Those doctorate studies have added tremendous value to her teaching approach during the pandemic, as she implemented strategies learned into her own classroom. She also continued use of a pre-pandemic strategy of asking students to record themselves executing learned skills, followed up by self-assessment. This has now become a best practice in her teaching repertoire and ensures that students are ready for clinical experiences.

One of her favorite moments while teaching is when a student’s learning all comes together. “We study medical terminology, positioning, radiation physics, and anatomy and physiology. When that lightbulb moment happens, I have genuine excitement for students.”

In her role as Clinical Coordinator at Keiser University, Mandy visits over 20 clinical sites to assess students in action. These sites are top healthcare systems in the region who hire students following degree completion. Mandy follows students in the field as working techs. She said, “I want students to go into their clinicals and love it.” However, she will encourage them to continue their education via Keiser’s Bachelor in Imaging Science program.

“Teaching is one of the most rewarding things you can do, so it takes time to know yourself and develop your style. It’s okay to question yourself and feel overwhelmed, “claims Mandy. She encourages new teachers to find a mentor and keep a journal. She sees the role of the teacher as being a perpetually positive leader who easily adapts to change, someone who ensures that students are seen and heard, and someone who illuminates the “why” and “how” to students so they can put learning into practice. One of Mandy’s favorite quotes speaks to this philosophy and comes from William Butler Yeats: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

Ultimately, broken bones have led to a fulfilling career pathway as a college educator.