Nearly 50 VCU faculty honored for their research and teaching

By David Slipher
Office of the Provost

Honoring faculty who challenge conventions, open pathways to discovery and transform student potential, two Virginia Commonwealth University award programs are recognizing dozens of educators who push the boundaries of their disciplines, forge collaboration and catalyze new ways of thinking and learning.

The National/International Recognition Awards honor faculty whose scholarship has earned acclaim across borders and disciplines through groundbreaking research, global partnerships and leadership in their fields, elevating both their own profile and VCU’s reputation on the global stage.

The Pedagogical Excellence and Innovation Awards honor faculty who are transforming the learning experience through student-centered approaches to teaching, curriculum design and accessible pedagogy.

Here are the NIRA and PEIA honorees for 2026, who will be recognized at the VCU Faculty Recognition Gala on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Jefferson Hotel.

2026 NIRA recipients

“Every day, our NIRA faculty recipients are pushing boundaries in the creation of new knowledge and helping us understand the world in different ways,” said Arturo P. Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., VCU’s executive vice president and provost. “These world-class faculty members perform at the very top of their discipline, serving as internationally acclaimed academic leaders and contributing to VCU’s continued global prominence and record-breaking growth of our research enterprise.”

College of Humanities and Sciences

• Kai Bosworth, associate professor, School of World Studies
• Andrew Crislip, professor, Department of History
• Matt Hartman, professor, Department of Chemistry
• Heather Jones, associate professor, Department of Psychology
• Daeha Joung, associate professor, Department of Physics
• Danielle Kirkman, associate professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
• Olivia Landry, associate professor, Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies
• Fantasy Lozada, associate professor, Department of Psychology
• Amy Rector, professor, School of World Studies
• Michael Reshchikov, professor, Department of Physics

School of the Arts

• Sasha Waters Freyer, professor, Photography and Film
• Yiwen Wei, assistant professor, Art Education

School of Business

• Carrie LeCrom, professor, Center for Sport Leadership
• César Zamudio, associate professor, Marketing
• One-ki Daniel Lee, associate professor, Information Systems

School of Dentistry

• Shillpa Naavaal, associate professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry

School of Education

• Luciana de Oliveira, professor, Teaching and Learning
• Jennifer LoCasale-Crouch, associate professor, Foundations of Education
• Kamden Strunk, professor, Foundations of Education

School of Nursing

• Lisa Shah, assistant professor, Adult Health and Nursing Systems

School of Pharmacy

• Dr. Karolina Aberg, professor, Pharmaceutics

School of Public Health

• Dipankar Bandyopadhyay, professor, Biostatistics

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

• Hayley Cleary, professor, Criminal Justice
• Christopher Whyte, associate professor, Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

2026 PEIA recipients

“Shaping the leaders and visionaries of the next generation starts in the classroom,” Saavedra said. “Our PEIA winners ignite curiosity, foster deep learning and transform the lives of students every single semester. Through classroom creativity and care, they elevate the excellence of our entire university and demonstrate how teaching is both an art and a craft.”

College of Engineering

• Reza Mohammadi, associate professor, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering

College of Health Professions

• Jenny Inker, associate professor, Gerontology

College of Humanities and Sciences

• Jessica Brown, associate professor, Department of Psychology
• Ellen Carpenter, associate professor, Department of Psychology
• Allison Tharp, assistant professor, Focused Inquiry
• Stephen Vesely, assistant professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
• Jonathan Waybright, associate professor, School of World Studies
• Susan Zacharia, associate professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences

Honors College

• Christy Tyndall, associate professor, Honors College

School of the Arts

• Sara Reed, assistant professor, Interior Design
• Eric Rivera, associate professor, Dance and Choreography
• Hilary Wilder, associate professor, Painting and Printmaking

School of Business

• Katie Gilstrap, professor, Marketing

School of Dentistry

• Alexandra Howell, assistant professor, Oral Diagnostic Sciences

School of Education

• Beth Bukoski, professor, Educational Leadership
• Serra De Arment, associate professor, Counseling and Special Education
• Katherine Dabney, associate professor, Teaching and Learning
• Kaitlin Hinchey, assistant professor, Counseling and Special Education
• Carol Schall, associate professor, Counseling and Special Education

School of Nursing

• Cate Matzke, assistant professor, Adult Health and Nursing Systems

School of Pharmacy

• Cait Gibson, associate professor, Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Science

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

• Chernoh Wurie, associate professor, Criminal Justice