Black text that reads \"2022 Alumni Stars\" over a gold background with stars
Alumni Stars, hosted by the VCU Office of Alumni Relations, celebrates alumni from across the university’s academic units for their extraordinary personal and professional achievements.

Sept. 7, 2022

VCU to celebrate 15 notable alumni at biennial Alumni Stars event

Honorees will be recognized at a Sept. 29 ceremony at the Science Museum of Virginia.

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By Kristen Caldwell
Office of Development and Alumni Relations

Virginia Commonwealth University will honor 15 of its most accomplished alumni at the 2022 Alumni Stars ceremony. The biennial event, hosted by the VCU Office of Alumni Relations, celebrates alumni from across the university’s academic units for their extraordinary personal and professional achievements.

Honorees are selected through faculty recommendations and alumni committees from across the university. Recipients will be honored Sept. 29 at the Dewey Gottwald Center at the Science Museum of Virginia.

This year’s Alumni Stars are:

Danny T.K. Avula, M.D., School of Medicine. A public health physician who led Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination effort.

Curtis Brown, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. A national thought leader in diversity, equity and inclusion in emergency management.

Gregory F. Domson, M.D., School of Education. An orthopaedist and residency director for VCU’s orthopaedic surgery program.

Eric S. Edwards, M.D., Ph.D., School of Pharmacy. A CEO committed to fixing the broken supply chain for essential medicines.

Karen Elizabeth Kimsey, School of Social Work. An independent health-care consultant who enhanced Virginia’s Medicaid system.

Zach McCluskey, School of Nursing, CEO of HCA Florida Fort Walton - Destin Hospital.

Victor Humberto Narro, College of Humanities and Sciences. A nationally known expert on immigrant rights and low-wage workers and project director for the UCLA Labor Center.

Jerry “Jay” Sharpe, School of the Arts. A jewelry designer with two brands, the Jay Sharpe Collection and Henleava.

Marilyn Tavenner, College of Health Professions. Former president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans and former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Niti Vanee, Ph.D., VCU Life Sciences. Co-founder and CEO of iGenomeDx, a molecular diagnostic laboratory.

Tom W. Vines, School of Business. Senior vice president of talent and culture at Active International, a New York City-based corporate trade and media agency.

Allen H. “Trey” White III, D.D.S., School of Dentistry. A dentist, community leader and volunteer in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Michael D. Whitlow, Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture. An award-winning marketing and public relations professional.

Rhonda Williams, College of Engineering. An information technology innovator and an activist on gender issues and identity.

Emily Yeatts, School of World Studies. Reproductive health unit supervisor at the Virginia Department of Health.