VCU news

Virginia Commonwealth University has announced its inaugural class of National/International Recognition Award scholars.

The new award, which will be given annually, honors VCU faculty members who were nationally or internationally recognized for exceptional accomplishments during their current evaluation period. Winners performed at the top of their academic unit and were selected from a list of faculty members recommended by each dean. The NIRA includes a financial incentive.

VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., said the NIRA recipients “represent the best of the best, personifying the uncommon excellence across VCU.”

“The NIRA is an important new way for VCU to show appreciation to professors who demonstrate excellence in their academic discipline, elevating not only their own profile but that of the entire university,” Rao said.

The NIRA aligns with VCU’s Quest 2028 strategic plan goal to “retain and attract a diverse community of highly qualified faculty and staff that reflects a culture where everyone matters and belongs, and ensure the culture supports career satisfaction and growth.” Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, created the NIRA in partnership with Marlon Levy, M.D., interim senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences.

“VCU has amazing faculty excelling in teaching, research and service,” Sotiropoulos said. “Many of our faculty go far beyond every year with scholarship, research, artistic creation that distinguish them nationally and internationally. The NIRA seeks to recognize their excellence, placing a spotlight on their achievements which inspires and motivates us in what we do for our students and our entire community. I am immensely proud to call these NIRA honorees my colleagues at VCU.”

2023 NIRA SCHOLARS

SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

Hope Ginsburg, Department of Kinetic Imaging
Massa Lemu, Ph.D., Department of Sculpture
Semi Ryu, Ph.D., Department of Kinetic Imaging

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Seong Byun, Department of Finance Insurance and Real Estate
Jose Cortina, Ph.D., Department of Management
Xiaojin Liu, Ph.D., Department of Supply Chain Management & Analytics
Christopher Reina, Ph.D., Department of Management, School of Business
Jeffrey Smith, Ph.D., Department of Academic Technologies
Victoria Yoon, Ph.D., Department of Information Systems

SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY

Anthony Faber, Ph.D., Department of Oral Biology

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Irfan Ahmed, Ph.D., Department of Computer Science
Jayasimha Atulasimha, Ph.D., Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Carlos Castano Londono, Ph.D., Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Nibir K. Dhar, Ph.D., Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Priscilla Hwang, Ph.D., Department of Biomedical Engineering
Jennifer Puetzer, Ph.D., Department of Biomedical Engineering

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Kevin Sutherland, Ph.D., Department of Counseling and Special Education
Yaoying Xu, Ph.D., Department of Counseling and Special Education

COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS

Virginia Chu, Ph.D., Department of Occupational Therapy
Benjamin Darter, Ph.D., Department of Physical Therapy

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES

Indika Arachchige, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry
Carolyn Eastman, Ph.D., Department of History
Rocio Gomez, Ph.D., Department of History
Matthew Hartman, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry
Gina Longo, Ph.D., Department of Sociology
Fantasy Lozada, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
Bryce McLeod, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
Allison Moore, Ph.D., Department of Mathematical Sciences
Jan Rychtar, Ph.D., Department of Mathematical Sciences
Terri Sullivan, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
Arnethea Sutton, Ph.D., Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences

DOUGLAS WILDER SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

RaJade Berry-James, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs
David Webber, Ph.D., Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Melanie Bean, Ph.D., Department of Pediatrics
Javier González-Maeso, Ph.D., Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Gretchen Neigh, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Leslie Randall, M.D., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Nicholas Thomson, Ph.D., Department of Psychology and Surgery

SCHOOL OF NURSING

Jane Chung, Ph.D., Department of Family and Community Health Nursing
Amy Salisbury, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research, Scholarship & Innovation

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

Qingguo Xu, Ph.D., Department of Pharmaceutics
Yan Zhang, Ph.D., Department of Medicinal Chemistry

SCHOOL OF POPULATION HEALTH

Anika L. Hines, Ph.D., Department of Health Policy and Behavior

VCUARTS QATAR

Maysaa Almumin, Art Foundation