McHenry County College (MCC) recently announced Paige Lush as its 2025 Faculty Member of the Year and Sabrina Nevler as its 2025 Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year. The award recipients, selected by peers, are chosen based on their commitment to teaching, contribution to the college community, and professional development.
Lush has taught music at MCC for 16 years.
“Dr. Lush believes that every student benefits from thinking critically about music, regardless of their major,” said Dr. Joe Sullivan, Dean of Arts and Humanities at MCC. “She wants to expand her students’ musical horizons while deepening their understanding and appreciation of the music already in their lives.”
Lush currently teaches Concert Band, Music History, American Music, and the “Chiptunes” learning community. She has also taught low brass lessons and Music Appreciation.
“I love teaching music because I can take something that we experience every day and show students how to engage with it more deeply,” Lush said. “I also get to introduce them to music that they wouldn’t encounter otherwise. It’s so rewarding to watch a student fall in love with music that is new to them, whether it be music from another time or another culture.”
Lush is extremely involved in the community both on and off campus. She currently serves as the Chair of the Student Affairs Engagement Committee at MCC. She also prioritizes building relationships with local K-12 music programs. For the past three years, she has taught at the Summer Elementary Band Camp for Woodstock District 200, and has also served as a judge for the District 47 Solo and Ensemble Festival for several years. In 2023, she worked as a clinician with three bands at Lundahl Middle School in Crystal Lake.
Lush earned her Bachelor of Music from the University of Tennessee, her Master of Music from the University of Memphis, and her Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky.
Sabrina Nevler, the Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year, has taught English at the College since 2020.
“Sabrina’s work as an adjunct instructor of English embodies the tenets of excellence to which all teachers aspire,” said Sullivan. “She regularly explores emerging topics such as AI in writing instruction and maintains a dynamic and student-centered learning environment that encourages intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. Her pedagogy is both intentional and inclusive, ensuring that students feel seen, supported, and empowered in their learning journey.”
Group discussions and collaborative learning are a daily occurrence in Nevler’s classroom.
“Students from all walks of life get to share their writing, exchange ideas, establish connections, and show support for one another in a way that fosters a safe learning environment where all can flourish,” she said. “Seeing students witness their own growth and find confidence in their capabilities is the most magical part about being an educator.”
Nevler earned her bachelor’s degree in English with a teacher certification from Eastern Illinois University and her master’s degree in English from Arizona State University.
For more about Lush and Nevler, visit www.mchenry.edu/spotlights/faculty.