Welcome to the inaugural edition of “Accolades,” ’s feature celebrating the achievements of its faculty and staff. Here, we’ll highlight the honors and awards they have received, showcasing their dedication, expertise and contributions in their respective fields.
From academic accomplishments to national awards, each feature will provide a glimpse of the successes that make our University exceptional. We are excited to share this good news with you and we look forward to your future submissions. You can find the on the University Communications web page.
Sachin Shetty, the executive director for the Center for Secure and Intelligent Critical Systems (CSICS) at the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center and a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, received the 2024 Impact Award from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative at its annual CCI Symposium on April 15 in Richmond. His work focuses on computer networking, network security and machine learning, which has garnered $20 million in grants and contracts. Under Shetty’s leadership, CSICS participates in federally funded Centers of Excellence. He is the site lead on the DoD Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, DoD Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Department of Homeland Security National Center of Excellence, the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute and the Department of Energy Cyber Resilient Energy Delivery Consortium. He was recently a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Iceland, conducting research on critical infrastructure ܰٲ.
Shaomin Li, Eminent Scholar and professor and chair of the Department of Management, attended a reception by hosted by Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Virginia on May 23. He presented his books, “The Rise of China Inc.: How the Chinese Communist Party Transformed China into a Giant Corporation” and “From Mao’s Art Soldier to Xi’s Cartoonist: Political Cartoons,” to the governor. Li is a scholar of international business focusing on governance, the environment, economic transition, privatization, country risk analysis and China. His research on the global environment of business has appeared in the Harvard Business Review, California Management Review, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of World Business and The Economist. Li’s commentaries have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times and The New York Times.
The Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners (VCNP) installed new state officers and recognized award winners during its 50th anniversary conference in Williamsburg on March 15. Three of the new state officers have ties to . Alysia Pack, an clinical assistant professor, is the president. Olivia Newby, an adjunct faculty member, is the immediate past president. Monique Farrington, who received a doctorate in degree in nursing from the University, is the secretary.
VCNP recognized six individuals for outstanding contributions as nurse practitioners and four work at the Ellmer School of Nursing at .
Deborah Gray received the Distinguished Nurse Practitioner Award from the VCNP for her significant contributions to the profession. She is a clinical associate professor, an entrepreneurial fellow at the Ellmer School of Nursing and is the owner of the nurse-operated business NP SOLNs. She has been the Virginia state liaison for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners since 2019 and is the deputy director of the International Council of Nurses, Advanced Practice Nursing Network Global Academy of Research and Enterprise. She has been a family nurse practitioner and member of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners for 33 years. As a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in sub-Saharan Africa, Gray worked with the World Health Organization and the Advanced Practice Nursing programs at the University of Botswana and University of Ghana to develop telehealth programs and distance education. She received another Fulbright Scholarship and worked in Eswatini in August to support nursing education and increase telehealth opportunities.
In addition to becoming president of the VCNP, Pack received the President’s Award for her commitment to advanced practice nursing and her leadership and communication with legislators during the 2024 General Assembly session. She is a family practice and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and the owner of NPower Health. Pack is a Duke University Johnson & Johnson Advanced Practice Nurse Leadership Fellow and a former Hampton Roads Top Forty Under Forty honoree. She has held state and regional positions with the VCNP including Tidewater Region president. She also serves on the board of the Western Tidewater Free Clinic and the Western Tidewater Community Service Board.
Carolyn Rutledge, a professor, Eminent Scholar and executive director of faculty development, innovation and research at the Ellmer School of Nursing, won the VCNP Nurse Practitioner Advocate Award for her contributions to the advancement of the profession. She is the founder and co-director of the Center for Telehealth Innovation, Education & Research at and was an adjunct professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) where she practiced as a family nurse practitioner for 32 years. Rutledge established a nurse-led, student-run, telehealth-enhanced clinic that offers free healthcare services to homeless and underserved populations. She developed a mobile health clinic that serves the most underserved populations in Virginia. Rutledge authored the first textbook on telehealth for advanced practice nurses and has written 32 grants totaling more than $27 million. She is the 2014 recipient of the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia award and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.
Tammy Speerhas, director of ’s Ellmer School of Nursing, Community Care and a family nurse practitioner at Children's Hospital of The King’s Daughters Pediatric Urgent Care, received the Educational Award from the VCNP. The award honors a member who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to nurse practitioners in education and patient care. Speerhas was part of the founding team that developed the Pediatric Urgent Care Fellowship, a collaboration between Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at and Children’s Specialty Group. She has precepted students in pediatric and family nurse practitioner programs at Hampton University, South University and and physician assistant students at EVMS. She has published research articles, established community partnerships and serves on several boards and committees including NAFC Advisor Board and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care for which she co-directed its 10th annual conference in the spring.
Michelle Simmons, project manager at the Research Foundation and a 757 Regional Internship Collaborative/District C Certified Coach, conducted a weeklong Teamship with students from Virginia universities in May. Teamship is a reimagined internship experience allowing students to address real problems for businesses. The Collaborative is composed of professionals from higher education, K-12 and business communities across Hampton Roads and represents the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership grant initiative under the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Its primary goal is to expand internship and work-based learning opportunities. The Collaborative (Region 5) partnered with District C to host the Teamship as a part of the grant. Students ended the week by delivering a presentation with a workable solution to representatives from the business partner organizations. Participants benefited from the experience by learning components of the design thinking process; collaborating in a team environment; preparing and delivering a pitch; and establishing peer and professional connections.
Dana Childress, assistant professor and program coordinator of Early Childhood Special Education at , was appointed to the Virginia Interagency Coordinating Council by Governor Glenn Youngkin May 31. The state advisory council promotes and coordinates early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Childress has worked in the field since 1995 as an early interventionist, service coordinator, supervisor, training facilitator, author, and consultant. She is the author of “Pause and Reflect: Your Guide to a Deeper Understanding of Early Intervention Practice” and a co-author of “Family-Centered Early Intervention: Supporting Infants and Toddlers in Natural Environments.” Her interests include adult learning and early intervention service delivery, family-centered practices, supporting family implementation of intervention strategies, and finding ways to bridge the research to practice gap through interactive professional development for practitioners.