Two School of Pharmacy professors named first-ever NIRA scholars
A new VCU initiative highlights faculty members with demonstrated excellence in their academic discipline that not only elevate their national reputation, but enhance the profile of the entire university. Qingguo Xu, Ph.D., left, of the Department of Pharmaceutics, and Yan Zhang, Ph.D., of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry were among the honorees.
President Michael Rao made the following announcement regarding VCU’s first-ever NIRA honorees.
Dear Colleagues:
I am very proud to announce and congratulate the inaugural class of the National/International Recognition Award (NIRA) scholars. These colleagues represent the best of the best, personifying the uncommon excellence across VCU.
This new annual award was created by Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos in partnership with the interim senior vice president for health sciences Dr. Marlon Levy to honor VCU faculty members who were nationally or internationally recognized for exceptional accomplishments during the course of their current evaluation period.
Winners performed at the top of their academic unit and were selected from a list of faculty recommended by each dean. The NIRA includes a financial incentive.
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.
The NIRA also helps VCU fulfill the 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.”
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
L. 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., MPH, Department of Health Policy and Behavior
VCUARTS QATAR
Maysaa Almumin, Art Foundation
Please join me in congratulating this outstanding collection of scholars. They, along with outstanding faculty throughout the university, contribute to VCU’s rapid rise in national and international reputation.