VCU National/International Recognition Award (NIRA)
The National/International Recognition Award (NIRA) recognizes VCU faculty who were nationally or internationally recognized for exceptional accomplishments during the course of their current evaluation period, performing at the top of their academic unit, and were recommended by their dean. The NIRA includes a financial incentive, which is entirely outside of and separate from the university’s standard performance and compensation review process. The NIRA is one way that VCU shows appreciation to professors who are demonstrating excellence in their academic discipline, elevating not only their own profile but that of the entire university.
The NIRA Class of 2026
College of Humanities and Sciences
- Kai Bosworth, associate professor, School of World Studies
- Andrew Crislip, professor, Department of History
- Matt Hartman, professor, Department of Chemistry
- Heather Jones, associate professor, Department of Psychology
- Daeha Joung, associate professor, Department of Physics
- Danielle Kirkman, associate professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
- Olivia Landry, associate professor, Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies
- Fantasy Lozada, associate professor, Department of Psychology
- Amy Rector, professor, School of World Studies
- Michael Reshchikov, professor, Department of Physics
School of the Arts
- Sasha Waters Freyer, professor, Photography and Film
- Yiwen Wei, assistant professor, Art Education
School of Business
- Carrie LeCrom, professor, Center for Sport Leadership
- César Zamudio, associate professor, Marketing
- One-ki Daniel Lee, associate professor, Information Systems
School of Dentistry
- Shillpa Naavaal, associate professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry
School of Education
- Luciana de Oliveira, professor, Teaching and Learning
- Jennifer LoCasale-Crouch, associate professor, Foundations of Education
- Kamden Strunk, professor, Foundations of Education
School of Nursing
- Lisa Shah, assistant professor, Adult Health and Nursing Systems
School of Pharmacy
- Dr. Karolina Aberg, professor, Pharmaceutics
School of Public Health
- Dipankar Bandyopadhyay, professor, Biostatistics
L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
- Hayley Cleary, professor, Criminal Justice
- Christopher Whyte, associate professor, Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness