Milestones: July 23, 2024

Sandra Peart, dean of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond, has been named a 2024 Fulbright specialist. This program offers U.S. academics and professionals the opportunity to engage in two- to six-week project-based exchanges at host institutions around the world. This summer and fall, Peart will travel to the Universidad del Desarrollo in Santiago, Chile, to support the development of a philosophy, politics, and economics undergraduate program. Scholarship in this field has a long tradition in North America and Europe, but it is still new in Chile and Latin America. Peart was selected by UDD leadership given her expertise in the history of economics, experience in interdisciplinary curriculum design, and engagement as dean of the Jepson School. Over the course of two visits, Peart will work with faculty and staff in the School of Government and Center for Social Sciences and Humanities at UDD to build a cohesive interdisciplinary program that can foster democratic ideals and values and establish faculty collaboration and student engagement across diverse academic perspectives.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced additional key administration and board appointments: Board of Trustees of the Senator Frank M. Ruff Center for Rural Virginia – Elizabeth Povar of Henrico and Middlesex, principal of RiverLink Group; Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology – Dr. Wayne Shaia of Henrico, president and owner of Balance and Ear Center; Board of Directors of the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority – Douglas Bierly of Henrico, senior vice president for commercial banking at Truist; and Small Business Commission – Jay Atkinson of Henrico, CEO of AIS Network.

The following local students recently graduated from Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va.: Thomas Myers, Hazell Valdivia, Taion Clanton, Shane Coriaty, Malique Hughes, Danielle Caldwell, Chelsea Goode, Dori Mouris, Mary Reynolds-Nguyen, Emily Tuck and Evan Walker, of Henrico; and Madeleine Tran, Catherine Henss, Peter Marshall, Cameron Mewhirter and David Munoz, of Glen Allen.

The following local students at Shenandoah University were named to the 2023-24 Old Dominion Athletic Conference All-Academic Team: Caden Sherman, Braxton Snead and Sydnee Flores, of Glen Allen; and Xavier Thompson and Evan Walker, of Henrico. For student-athletes to qualify for the ODAC All-Academic Team, they must have a 3.25 or higher grade point average for the 2023-24 school year.

Eric Owens Jr. of Henrico was named to the spring 2024 dean’s list at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. To be eligible for the dean’s list, students must earn a 3.4 grade point average for the semester.

Elizabeth Zehmer of Glen Allen has enrolled at Troy University in Alabama for the fall 2024 semester.

Russell William Richards of Glen Allen graduated May 4 with a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from Furman University in Greenville, S.C.

Diamond Lightfoot, Lexi Pasternak and Nate Pfeffer of Henrico were named to the spring 2024 dean’s list at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. To qualify for the dean’s list, students must earn a semester grade point average of 3.4 or higher.

Adam P. Brooks of Glen Allen was named to the spring 2024 dean’s list at Fairfield University in Connecticut. To be eligible for the dean’s list, students must earn a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher.