Congratulations to VCU’s 2024 NIRA Scholars!
Dear Colleagues:
I am very proud to announce and congratulate the 2024 class of the National/International Recognition Award (NIRA) scholars. These colleagues represent the best of the best, personifying the uncommon excellence across VCU.
This annual award was created in partnership with the 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 the last year.
Winners performed at the top of their academic unit and were recommended for the award by their dean. The NIRA includes a financial incentive.
The NIRA is an important 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.”
2024 NIRA Scholars
School of the Arts
Hala Auji, Ph.D., Department of Art History
Laura Battaglia, Department of Interior Design
Susie Ganch, Department of Craft and Material Studies
Kate Sicchio, Ph.D., Department of Kinetic Imaging, Dance & Choreography
School of Business
Lindsay Andiola, Ph.D., Department of Accounting
Sven Kepes, Ph.D., Department of Management and Entrepreneurship
Jason Merrick, Ph.D., Department of Supply Chain Management & Analytics
School of Education
Christine Bae, Ph.D., Department of Foundations of Education
Michael Broda, Ph.D., Department of Foundations of Education
Luciana de Oliveira, Ph.D., Department of Teaching & Learning
Daniel Gutierrez, Ph.D., LPC, CSAC, Department of Counseling & Special Education
Christine Spence, Ph.D., Department of Counseling & Special Education
College of Engineering
Lane Carasik, Ph.D., Department of Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering
Ibrahim Guven, Ph.D., Department of Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering
Ravi Hadimani, Ph.D., Department of Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering
Jennifer Jordan, Ph.D., M.S., FSCMR, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Milos Manic, Ph.D., Department of Computer Science
Rodrigo Spínola, Ph.D., Department of Computer Science
College of Health Professions
Carolyn Hawley, Ph.D., CRC, Department of Rehabilitation Counseling
Leland Waters, Ph.D., VA Center on Aging
College of Humanities & Sciences
Rosalie Corona, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
Hani El-Kaderi, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry
Alaattin Kaya, Ph.D., Department of Biology
Jennifer Rhee, Ph.D., Department of English
Michael Southam-Gerow, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
Baobao Song, Ph.D., Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture
Cristina Stanciu, Ph.D., Department of English
Dewey Taylor, Ph.D., Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
Katharine Tibbetts, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry
Xuewei Wang, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry
L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
Jay Albanese, Ph.D., Department of Criminal Justice
School of Medicine
Ananda Amstadter, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry and VA Institute for Psych and Behavioral Genetics
Paula Bos, Ph.D., Department of Pathology
Bernard Fuemmeler, Ph.D., MPD, Department of Family Medicine
Kurt Hauser, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Anatomy and Neurobiology
Devanand Sarkar, Ph.D., MBBS, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
School of Pharmacy
Shijun Zhang, Ph.D., Department of Medicinal Chemistry
School of Public Health
Nolan Wages, Ph.D., Department of Biostatistics
VCU Arts Qatar
Maryam Al-Homaid, M.F.A., Department of Graphic Design
Jörg Determann, Ph.D., Department of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Please join me in congratulating this outstanding collection of scholars. They, along with outstanding faculty throughout the university, contribute to VCU’s rapidly rising national and international reputation.
Best regards,
Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D.
Provost and senior vice president for academic affairs