VCU Presents Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment

By Michael Ford
University News Services

Virginia Commonwealth University President Eugene P. Trani has recognized members of both campuses who have made significant contributions toward enhancing VCU’s commitment to diversity.

Four Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment are given annually to recognize an administrator, a faculty member, a member of the classified staff and a student.

This year’s awards were presented April 21. The administrator award went to Wally R. Smith, M.D., associate professor and chair of the Division of Quality Health Care in the Department of Internal Medicine; the faculty award to Kevin W. Allison, Ph.D., a professor and director of applied and outreach scholarship in the L. Douglas School of Government and Public Affairs; the staff award to Agnes L. Mack, director of the Office of Admissions for the School of Medicine; and the student award to Latoya C. Asia, ‘06, criminal justice major.

“The recipients of these awards are making very real, material contributions to the ability of our academic and health care community to attract and retain exceptional talent and commitment to the mission of higher education and to VCU’s vision of diversity,” Trani said.

The PACME awards each come with a $500 gift. In addition, Allison was presented with $250 and the Riese-Melton Award, a capstone honor, given for contributions to cross-cultural relations.

The Honorees
Allison, winner of the faculty award, has shown a commitment to diversity through his roles as a teacher and scholar, and as a member of the university and greater community. Upon his arrival eight years ago, he got involved with the Carver Partnership and helped secure a federal grant to support the initiative, now regarded as a national model of university-community partnership. He also has provided leadership for the East End Partnership with Families and the Aspen Project, which focuses on four city neighborhoods.

Allison thanked administrators and colleagues who recognized his contributions to VCU and the surrounding community. “It is important to feel good about the work you do, but it is gratifying to know you have the support of the people you work with,” he said.

Smith, winner of the administrator award, was described as a physician on a mission to improve health care for the poor and minority populations who are traditionally underserved in the United States. Specifically, he has focused his efforts in the area of treatment for sickle cell anemia – a disease that primarily affects African-Americans. He has conducted federally funded research of pain epidemiology in patients with sickle cell disease and provides comprehensive clinical care for sickle cell anemia patients. Last summer Smith convened a national summit to address the significant issues that contribute to health disparities and as a result of this conference, he is planning to form a Center for Health Disparities at VCU. As associate professor and chair of the Division of Quality Health Care in the Department of Internal Medicine, he oversees several federally-funded research studies and clinical trials.

Smith said there are about 77,000 people with sickle cell anemia in the United States who should not be overlooked.
“These Americans are underrepresented, usually poor and not well researched,” he said. “We have one drug to treat the disease. There is more work to be done.”

Mack, winner of the staff award, was ill and did not attend the PACME ceremonies, but sent her daughter Shondra Hawkins in her place. Mack is a 30-year employee of VCU and a staff favorite among medical students. The director of the Office of Admissions for the School of Medicine, she was described as a driving force to increase minority enrollment at the School of Medicine, which has doubled in the last four years. She has stayed involved beyond recruitment, maintaining relationships with students throughout their medical school experience. She is referred to as the “mother” of the medical school student body and is known for her accessibility.

“People will forget what you said and what you have done, but not how you make them feel,” said Hawkins, reading from her mother’s prepared remarks. “When I talk to someone, I try to keep it real and share from my heart.”
Asia, the student winner, is a volunteer in the Carver Promise and participates in a mentoring project at Richmond’s John B. Carey Elementary School. A junior majoring in criminal justice, she spent her spring break on a volunteer project in Michigan. Recently, she was selected to serve as an international student volunteer in Costa Rica and will spend this summer working in the areas of conservation and community development. She plans to attend law school after graduation next year.

Asia said diversity was important to her and one of the reasons she chose to attend VCU. “I’ve learned a lot from all the cultures and communities on campus,” she said.

The PACME awards were first presented in the 1994 and are given by the president to members of the university community in recognition of their contributions to the principles, goals and ideals of affirmative action and to the enhancement of the institution’s commitment to diversity. They were created to recognize and encourage such activities as promoting civility, building community, establishing effective cross-cultural initiatives, advocating equity and nurturing openness and inclusion within the university community.