James Madison University - Alumni Association - Awards
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JMU Alumni association Awards
Ronald E. Carrier Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
The Ronald E. Carrier Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated significant achievements of enduring value to society. Created in 1977, the award is given on an annual basis to an individual for exemplary accomplishments, both personal and professional, in any field or endeavor and/or demonstrated success in the area of research or innovation. All JMU alumni are eligible.
The award is named in honor of James Madison University’s fourth president, Dr. Ronald E. Carrier. A true visionary, Dr. Carrier transformed 3,800-student Madison College into 14,000-student James Madison University during his presidential tenure from 1971 to 1998, taking the school from a primarily women’s teachers college to a nationally-recognized coeducational institution in less than three decades. Carrier grew JMU by more than 100 acres, invested more than $200 million in facilities, constructed a major athletics program, developed the university’s first doctoral degrees and presided over the creation of the College of Integrated Science and Technology. Nomination form
Recipients
For Sarah Lemmon (’34) the undergraduate experience was just the beginning of her academic career. Lemmon earned a B.S. in foreign languages, literatures and cultures from JMU and continued on to earn an M.A. in American history from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in American history and social and intellectual history from the University of North Carolina.
For 35 years, Lemmon worked at Meredith College, as a professor of history, chairman of the Department of History, dean of continuing education and special programs, professor emerita and college historian.
Lemmon was active in a number of professional organizations in North Carolina and the south. From 1977 to 1980 she served as chairman of the North Carolina Historical Commission. After retirement, Lemmon returned to school to earn a B.A. in art history from Meredith College and was ordained an Episcopal deacon in 1993.
Born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley, Marylou Barnes (’52, ’68M) graduated from Madison College with a B.S. in physical education and returned to James Madison University years later to earn a master’s in counseling. As an undergraduate, Barnes played field hockey, basketball and softball.
She was the founding director of the physical therapy program at Georgia State University and West Virginia University. Under her direction, both programs and their faculties achieved national recognition. Barnes was chair of the Athletic Council at MVU and is a Professor Emerita at Georgia State.
Barnes’ leadership and inspirational talent as an educator earned her many recognitions including the 1995 American Physical Therapy Association Leadership in Education, the 1995 APTA Service Award for the Section on Neurology, the 1994 Catherine Worthingham Fellow, a 1993 Honorary Doctorate from the University of Indianapolis, the 1992 Mary McMillan Award (the highest award bestowed by APTA), and the 1988 APTA Lucy Blair Service Award.
Beverly McGinnis Lowe studied hospitality and tourism management at Madison College and went on to earn a master’s degree at the University of Iowa. Lowe was a school and district nutrition manager in Richmond, Va. for six years and in Hampton, Va. for 19 years. Through her consulting group, Beverly Lowe and Associates, this Madison grad works with schools and training services to promote nutrition education.
Dedicating her life to the field of dietetics, Lowe served as national president of the School Nutrition Association, the first female president of the International Food Service Executives Association, chair of DPG42 American Dietetic Association, and was a registered dietician for Certified Food Executives.
Recognized throughout her career for her accomplishments in the field of nutrition, Lowe received the Colby Award for Dietetics and Child Nutrition in 1990, the Ivy Award of Distinction, the ADA Excellence in Management Dietetics, and the Golden Star Award for best practice.
After becoming a physical therapist in 1943, Margaret Moore (’42) taught at the Medical College of Virginia (now VCU), the University of Colorado (Denver) and the University of Wisconsin. She developed the first physical therapy clinical program at North Carolina Hospital in 1952 and served as chief of the department until 1954. From 1957 to 1974 Moore was director of the Division of Physical Therapy. Moore also served as an educational consultant on the APTA staff and was later elected to first vice president and secretary of APTA.
UNC School of Medicine describes Moore as a “driving force behind promoting and fostering legislative contacts and involvement for physical therapy.”
In honor of her career, UNC created the Margaret L. Moore Award in 1989 to recognize outstanding new faculty members who pursue careers as academicians and who have demonstrated excellence in research and teaching.
After earning a B.A. in English and education from Madison College, Mary Steward Hammond became the founder and principal of a school in Roanoke Va. Hammond later returned to school to earn her master’s in education from the University of Virginia in 1963.
From 1948 to 1952, Hammond was a writer and producer for Treasure Chest. Hammond also worked as a writer and producer for Treasure Chest. Upon moving to Clearwater, Fla. with her retired husband, Kirk, Hammond become the owner and CEO of Travel-4-U.
Martha Boaz (’32) was the assistant librarian at the Madison Memorial Library from 1940 to 1949. As an undergraduate, she worked in the school’s library, which ultimately led her to pursue a master’s degree in Library Science.
Boaz wrote several books on library science and management and from 1995 to 1978 she was the director of the School of Library Science at the University of Southern California. Boaz also served as president of the California Library Association in 1962. The reference room of Carrier Library is named in her honor.
1984 - Anna Pence Keller ('42)
Gill Temple Hanlon inspired thousands of students with her passion for education. After all, a good teacher is one who loves teaching and teaches her students to love learning.
After earning a B.S. in education from Madison College, Hanlon taught at schools throughout Virginia and Florida from 1951 to 1995. In 1975 she received the Outstanding Secondary Teacher of America award. She later was twice named Teacher of the Year (1981 and 1990), and was recognized on the “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” list in 1996.
As an undergraduate, Christine Shelton was very active around campus, blending a natural athletic ability and a keen interest in leadership, She studied kinesiology at JMU and took advantage of almost every athletic opportunity on campus. Shelton was a member of the varsity fencing, field hockey, basketball and tennis teams.
With just as much determination in the academic arena as on the ballfield, Shelton returned to JMU and earned a master’s in kinesiology in 1978. She has served as a professor and chair of the exercise and sport studies department at Smith College. Shelton primarily teaches within the graduate program, specializing in women and sport, pedagogy, and international women’s sport. She also coordinates the coaching practicum and serves as the director of the “Project on Women and Social Change” — an interdisciplinary faculty research group.
Garnet Hamrick Owen is a gem among the alumni community and one Madison is honored to call its own.
After graduating from the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg, Garnet worked as a social worker in New York City, where she also attended Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. Following a period of teaching English and social studies at various schools in Virginia, Garnet earned her master’s in sociology and English from Duke University (1943). After teaching in Massachusetts, she was a lecturer of English at the University of Southern California from 1946 to 1949.
When her husband, Dr. John Owen, was appointed visiting professor at the University of Helsinki in Finland, Garnet followed and gave lectures to the Finnish-American societies and to the U.S. Information Service. She later became a professor of English for the University of Maryland at U.S. Air Force bases in England. She then moved on to become a faculty member of English and Biblical Literature at Florida Southern College and McDill Strategic Air Command Base.
Garnet spent four years in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) with her husband, who was under Fulbright and United Nations auspices. During this time she lectured at women’s clubs and U.S. Information Services throughout the country. She is the author of three volumes of poetry, all of which received favorable reviews throughout the world. Her second volume, Grapes on the Moon, was published in East Pakistan. Garnet was the first American poet to be published in the country.
Garnet has been included in the “World Who Who’s of Women,” “International Authors’ and Writers’ Who’s Who,” “International Who’s Who in Poetry,” and in Cambridge, England’s “Dictionary of International Biography.” She also holds the distinction of being the author of the original alma mater for the Harrisonburg State Teacher's College.
Dolores Phalen Lescure graduated from Madison College with a degree in English and then joined the staff of the Richmond News Leader, where she worked as a journalist for 15 years. In 1957, she moved to Staunton, Va. with her family to assume the role of director of information and editor of publications for Mary Baldwin College. After retiring in 1980 Lescure served on the Staunton City Council for seven years and soon became an icon of leadership in the community. She also served as mayor in 1983 and vice mayor in 1986.
From 1973 to 1993, Lescure was president of the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Foundation and later served as honorary chair of the foundation. She was instrumental in taking the foundation from a local landmark to a point of national prominence as the location for the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. In 2004, the Woodrow Wilson museum building was renamed the Dolores Lescure Center in recognition of Lescure’s efforts to honor the 28th president of the United States and to serve as a faithful steward of his legacy.
Dorothy Harris was a pioneer in sport psychology, a role model for all women involved in sports, and an inspiring educator. It all started at Madison College, where Harris earned her degree in kinesiology and was a member of the basketball, field hockey, swimming and tennis teams.
With a desire to teach others, Harris became a professor at Penn State University, where she developed one of the first graduate programs in sport psychology. Harris was the first American and first woman to become a member of the International Society of Sport Psychology. She was also the first recipient of the Women’s Sport Foundation’s award for contribution to women in sport, and organized the first research conference on women in sport in 1972.
Harris is a 1990 inductee of the JMU Athletics Hall of Fame and is the first woman to be awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in sort psychology.
With a friendly smile and a paintbrush in hand, David Gill (’76) repeatedly has honored James Madison University with his talents. The 6-foot-2 Richmond native always fostered a love for both the arts and sports. He majored in art education as a student at Madison College and was a forward on the men’s basketball team.
After graduation, Gill taught art at Lancaster High School and painted between his teaching and coaching duties. Now a full-time painter, Gill owns an art gallery in Richmond and exhibits his work in 25-30 shows a year from Miami to Cleveland. He specializes in watercolor, offset lithographs and limited edition prints, and has compiled more than 150 awards throughout his career.
1991 - Anne Duncan ('84)
Dorothy Crowder Coffey (’51) is an example of the prime quality and merit of a Madison education. She graduated with the intention of becoming a teacher before an unexpected turn of events led her to become the CEO of Crowder Corporation/United Van Lines in Alexandria, Va.
The English and history double major and a Spanish and music double minor taught sixth grade for one year in Falls Church, Va. before joining the family business, Crowder Transfer and Storage.
Coffey became active in industry affairs, served as President of the Northern Virginia Household Carriers Association and served two terms as President of the Virginia Movers and Warehousemen Association (VMWA).
In 1992 Coffey won the City of Alexandria’s Outstanding Women in Business Award and in 1995 she received the VMWA Commonwealth Award. After her retirement, Coffey served on the District 7610 Ambassadorial Scholarship Committee as well as the JMU Foundation’s Board of Directors.
With more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Joe Damico’s (’76, ’77M) career is one to be admired. As a founding partner and co-chairman of RoundTable Healthcare Partners, Damico is a prime example of why James Madison’s College of Business continues to garner national attention as one of the country’s finest.
Remembering his purple and gold roots, Damico — who completed an eight-year term of service on the JMU Board of Visitors in 2001 — is a regular on the Madison campus and a generous supporter to the College of Business.
Elected as rector to the BOV in 2006, Damico successfully led the search for Madison’s sixth president as chairman of the JMU Presidential Search Committee. In 2004, Damico and his wife Pamela ('77), an education graduate, donated $1 million to the Jackson E. Ramsey Eminent Scholars Centennial Chair in Business.
Grounded in the Madison way of initiating change through education, film producer Steve James (’77) helped revitalize the documentary genre. Along the way, he won the Director’s Guild of America award, a Peabody award and the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism award, Oscar nominations, and continuing national acclaim soon followed.
His breakthrough documentary Hoop Dreams (1994) won nearly every major critical award and brought James the MTV Movie Award for “Best New Filmmaker.” For his next documentary titled Stevie (2002), James retuned to Southern Illinois to reconnect with a boy he mentored 10 years earlier as a “Big Brother.” The film won festival awards at Sundance, Amsterdam, Yamagata and Philadelphia and also was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.
James recently appeared in These Amazing Shadows, a documentary investigating what makes the films listed in the National Film Registry the treasures of American cinema — a fitting topic for this distinguished filmmaker.
If you’ve listened to the Washington Wizards during the past decade, you probably recognize the signature “Daggggggger!” call from play-by-play announcer Steve Buckhantz (’77). After 37 years of broadcasting experience, Buckhantz, a four-time Emmy winner, is one of the longest-tenured sportscasters in the D.C. Metro area.
Before television, Buckhantz was the voice of the morning radio show on DC 101 and AM 1260, was the official play-by-play announcer for Navy football and was a freelance play-by-play announcer for professional and college teams, including an occasional JMU game, on HTS.
For the past 15 years Buckhantz has been the spokesman for the Steve Buckhantz/St. Jude Celebrity Golf Tournament, which to date has raised close to $3 million to benefit research at the children's hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
While mopping her kitchen floor one afternoon, Sue Dickson brainstormed about ways to incorporate her musical talent in the classroom to enhance reading lessons. Dickson, who studied early elementary and reading education at Madison, had 27 years of teaching experience when she created the nationally recognized musical curriculum “Sing, Spell, Read & Write.” Designing reading and writing lesson plans that integrate repetition though singing makes learning fun for students. Founded on the phonics approach, “Sing, Spell, Read & Write” has been introducing children to the joys of reading and writing for more than 35 years.
In 2005, Dickson won the Teachers' Choice Award from Learning Magazine for her singing curriculum and in 2007 she received the Patrick Groff Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Right to Read Foundation. Visit www.SueDickson.com to sample the five other musical lessons Dickson created since her first success with “Sing, Spell, Read & Write.”
Steve Leeolou (’78) earned a B.S. in communications and was developing a successful broadcasting career when he changed gears completely. With an instinct for entrepreneurship, Steve co-founded Vanguard Cellular Systems in 1984 — one of the largest non-wireline cellular carriers in the 90s before it merged with AT&T at a value of $1.5 billion.
In 2000, Steve and his wife Dee Dee Collins (’78) funded the JMU alumni center — named in their honor — and became the first alumni to make a $1 million gift to the university. Six years later at the Madison century capital campaign kickoff, Steve announced a second seven-figure donation, stating that they know it will be “an investment with compounded returns on producing people who can make a real contribution to society going forward.”
Steve was a member of the Board of Visitors for eight years and was co-chair of Madison’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign.
According to Philip Bigler (’74, ’76M), the classroom is a battleground and a place to inspire. A high school teacher, historian and author, Bigler gained national attention as the 1998 National Teacher of the Year.
For 23 years Bigler turned his classroom into a place of exploration rather than a place for teachers to practice oration and students to practice listening. He went with a hands-on approach incorporating historical and interactive lessons into his curricula.
"In teaching, we sow the seeds of a harvest unseen,” Bigler said.
With the ultimate goal of igniting a lifelong thirst for knowledge, Bigler —the director of the annual Virginia Teachers of Promise Institute ¬— is a frequent speaker and presenter at conferences throughout the nation. He recently retired as the director of the James Madison Center for Liberty & Learning.
Clint Heiden is a long way from his undergraduate years as a computer information systems major. Today he occupies the top tier of a growing industry.
Heiden began his career at InterCon Systems in 1991. He soon was promoted to vice president of sales and was successful in implementing a worldwide distribution strategy. In 1994, Heiden joined UUNET and served as vice president for U.S. sales, during which the company grew from $6 million in revenue a year to an annualized run rate of $2 billion. UUNET went public in 1995 in the third most successful initial public offering in NASDAQ history.
A distinguished alumnus and benefactor to the JMU, Heiden has held numerous executive level positions throughout his career, including chairman of his own company, The Heiden Group.
With a comedic edge and stern determination, Phoef Sutton (’81) rose to the top of one of television's most popular and highly acclaimed comedy series in history, and he has continued to find success on the movie screen, the stage and in the book store ever since. The two-time Emmy-Award winning executive producer of Cheers also is a celebrated playwright, screenwriter and novelist.
As an undergraduate, Sutton’s first full-length work, “The Pendragon Institute,” won acclaim at the American College Theatre Festival. His play went on to win the Norman Lear Young Playwrights competition, earning Sutton an internship in Hollywood that would lead to a lifelong fascination with entertainment.
Sutton has worked as a writer, producer and creative consultant on shows including two Bob Newhart sitcoms, Almost Perfect, Kristin, Boston Legal, Valentine and Terriers.
Sutton, who earned degrees in communication arts and theatre, is a two-time JMU commencement speaker. With a comedic and inspiring speech, Sutton told 2007 December graduates that “the future doesn’t start 27 years after you’ve graduated — it starts every second of every day. … There, it just started.”
Music wasn't Phil Vassar's first love. That honor went to sports. In fact, Vassar attended JMU on a track and field scholarship and studied business administration as an undergraduate. But to satisfy his craving for a creative outlet, Vassar enrolled in as many music classes as his schedule would allow, paving the way for his future as a country music star.
In 1987 Vassar moved to Nashville to start his music career, and over the next few years expanded his following throughout the city. Before he knew it, country celebrities including Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, JoDee Messina and Colin Raye were coming to Vassar for new songs. Stepping outside the box to stretch the limits of the genre, Vassar earned the 2002 Academy of Country Music Award for top new male vocalist.
Vassar also has captured two ASCAP Songwriter of the Year awards and top honors from Billboard and MusicRow. On Sept, 8, 2010, he returned to JMU and performed at the opening of the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts.
Jeff is an experienced inventor, entrepreneur, leader and business builder. Today, he’s the President & CEO of buySAFE, Inc. -- a $30 million VC-backed ecommerce trust company that provides Guaranteed Shopping programs for online merchants and buyers. Jeff is also the Executive Chairman of CrimePush, a revolutionary mobile safety app which makes users safer through better information and two-way emergency communications and empowers law enforcement professionals with better situational awareness, evidence gathering and emergency response capabilities.
Jeff co-founded PayMyBills.com, an online bill management service, in 1998. The company was a success story in the dot com era, growing to more than 200 people prior to its sale for $67 million. Jeff has also worked as an eBusiness Builder and Strategy Consultant for McKinsey & Co., as an EIR Professor at James Madison University and as a Regional Manager for Travelers P&C’s bond organization where he co-led the development of a new division that wrote large bond guarantees for technology companies.
Jeff also serves on the Board of James Madison Innovations, Inc., on the Executive Committee of YPO’s Washington, DC Chapter and is an advisor to a number of emerging companies in the Washington, DC area.
Jeff earned his Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University, where in 2002 he was the youngest person in the school’s history to win James Madison University’s Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.
Cited in Time as one of the top 25 most influential Americans, Dr. Marcia Angell (’60) has a reputation in the medical community that few can match. This Madison College alumna went on to become a Fulbright Scholar, a graduate from Boston University School of Medicine, a board-certified pathologist and the first woman to serve as editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Today, Angell is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is the author a highly acclaimed book, Science on Trial: The Clash of Medical Evidence and the Law in the Breast Implant Case, published in 1996. She also co-authored Basic Pathology with Dr. Stanley Robbins (revised in ’78 and ’81), now considered a must-read in the medical school community.
Angell is a member of the Association of American Physicians, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of the Sciences, the Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Medical Society and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
A versatile and ferocious defender, Charles Haley (’87) brought JMU football to new heights in the mid-1980s. A two-time All-American and a three-time Defensive MVP, Haley’s 506 career tackles are the most in Madison history. He had three seasons of more than 100 tackles and was named the Virginia Division I defensive player of the year in 1985.
In 1986, Haley was selected in the fourth round of NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers — the highest-selected player in JMU history. After two Super Bowl titles in San Francisco, Haley was traded to Dallas in 1992. The 28-year old defensive end, known for his aggressive and practically unstoppable presence on the field, helped turn the Cowboys into a dynasty, with Super Bowl victories in 1992, 1993 and 1995.
In 12 pro seasons, Haley — the only player in NFL history with five Super Bowl rings — totaled 100.5 sacks, appeared in five Pro Bowls and was named the 1990 NFC defensive player of the year.
Haley is a 2011 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, a 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist, and recently was inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor.
As a major contributor to the Apollo moon missions, NASA pioneer and Madison College alumna Elizabeth Wilson Gauldin (’50)played an important role in the development of the American space program.
Gauldin helped redesign and fabricate fire-resistant furnishings and materials for the interior of the Apollo command module following the Apollo 1 fire in 1967 — a critical step toward getting Apollo back on the path to the moon.
In 1970, when the Apollo 13 mission developed life-threatening problems, Gauldin played an instrumental role in engineering the solution that saved the lives of Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert, finding a way to transfer the carbon dioxide canisters — which scrubbed the air of deadly CO2 — from the command module to the lunar module.
Aside from her career with NASA, Gauldin was a tutor at the shelter, Open Door Mission, where she encouraged people to work toward their GED and liberation from a hopeless life on the street. She also volunteered as a tutor for elementary school children, became involved with the volunteer program at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital, and was a mentor at the Krause Children's Center and at the Harris County Boot Camp.
Fascinated by storytelling since childhood, Barbara Hall (’82) found a way to turn her passion into a career.
A screenwriter, executive producer and story editor, Hall’s name is synonymous with Hollywood success. Judging Amy, Joan of Arcadia, Northern Exposure and I’ll Fly Away are just a few of the hit shows that demonstrate her talent.
An English major at Madison, Hall wrote constantly — "for every possible genre," she told Montpelier in 2004 — and transformed herself into a literary tour de force. Her long list of accolades includes two Humanitas Prizes for television — for writing that promotes human dignity, meaning and freedom — the Television Critics Association Award, a Golden Laurel from the Producers Guild of America, the Catholics in Media Award and four Emmy nominations.
Hall is a devoted Madison grad. “I'm constantly bumping up against people who didn't get how I got here,” she said. “People ask me, ‘how do you know this?’ Or ‘how do you know that?’ I tell them, ‘I went to JMU.’”
Beach escapades inspiring fantasies of groundbreaking discovery aren't figments of the imagination for Carole Baldwin ('81).
A childhood filled with memories of beach explorations and shoreline critter investigations helped Baldwin, a South Carolina native, cultivate an early love for the ocean, and launched her career in marine biology.
A well-respected authority on marine biology, Baldwin brought her childhood games to fruition as a systematic ichthyologist (a scientist who studies the diversity of and relationships among fish species). She discovered new species of fishes in Belize, Tobago, the Cook Islands, Australia, El Salvador and the Galápagos Islands, and earned advance degrees (M.S. in Marine Biology) from the College of Charleston and (Ph.D. in Marine Science) the College of William and Mary.
The author of five dozen scientific articles, Baldwin currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Aquarium, D.C. Venue, and is a Museum Specialist in the Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes, at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History.
Army general and College of Business graduate Raymond Mason (’78) was among the first cadets to enroll in JMU’s ROTC program and has been instrumental in its sustained success — setting a high and honorable standard for all future participants.
Mason was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps in December 1978 and went on to graduate from the Quartermaster Officer Basic and Advanced Corps, the Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He received an M.S. in Procurement/Contract Management from the Florida Institute of Technology and an M.S. in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University.
In 2009, Mason stepped down as Commander of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command based out of Fort Shafer, Hawaii to assume the role of Deputy Chief of Staff, G4, U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) located in Fort McPherson, Ga.
For more than 20 years, Gay Finlayson (’76) has fought an uphill battle for funding to improve the support and care for those challenged by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The former philosophy major never imagined public policy would become an interest, “much less a passion,” Finlayson told JMU’s Be the Change. But things changed when two of her children, Marit and Neil, were diagnosed with autism.
A heath educator and family specialist for the Center for Development and Disability and the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Finlayson works with legislators crafting legislation to help improve the lives of the 1.5 million Americans who live with autism.
The advancement of education is woven into JMU’s DNA. It also has been the life’s work of Methodist University President Ben Hancock (’74, ’75M).
Dr. Hancock grew up near Petersburg, the son of blue-collar factory workers, and was the first person in his family to attend college. He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at JMU, where he fell in love with the campus atmosphere.
His career in higher education has been characterized by distinction and impact. He served as vice president for university advancement at Ball State University, vice president for institutional advancement at Albion College, executive director of the Boise State University Foundation and university advancement positions at Penn State and Maryville College.
From 1977 to 1979, Dr. Hancock worked in a capacity familiar to many in the Madison community — as the Director of the JMU Office of Alumni Relations. During his career in higher education, he has received fellowships from the University of Edinburgh, Oxford and the University of Auckland.
In an 24/7 news industry, there is no substitute for accurate reporting. Jeff Gammage ('82) is living proof that legwork is a powerful asset when used for the public good.
Gammage, a staff writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, was part of a team of reporters honored with the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for exploration of pervasive violence in Philadelphia city schools. The series of news stories, called "Assault on Learning," was cited for using powerful narratives and multimedia to shine light on crimes committed by children against children and to help bring about safety reform for teachers and students.
A city reporter, Gammage previously worked for the Inquirer's Sunday magazine and as a national correspondent, covering eight states from the paper's Pittsburgh bureau. He published "China Ghosts" in 2007, about Chinese adoption — a project brought about after he and his wife, Christine, adopted two girls from China, one in 2002 and one in 2004.
Inez Graybeal Roop ('35) Distinguished Alumni Service Award
The Inez Graybeal Roop Distinguished Alumni Service Award recognizes alumni who have performed notable service to the university and/or the alumni association. Created in 1971, the award is given on an annual basis to an individual on the basis of distinguished service, meritorious achievement and/or meaningful contributions in promoting the mission of either James Madison University and/or the JMU Alumni Association. This includes, but is not limited to, serving on official university boards and providing effective support of the university, its students, faculty, staff and alumni. All JMU alumni — with the exception of current university students, employees and trustees — are eligible.
The award is named in honor of Inez Graybeal Roop (’35), a former member of the JMU Board of Visitors and the JMU Alumni Association Board of Directors, who in 1977 made the formal motion to change the name of Madison College to James Madison University. A State Teachers College alum who graduated with degrees in English and History, Roop’s public service work included serving as chair of the Alumni Fund Drive, president of the Richmond Chapter of the JMU Alumni Association and an officer in the Bluestone Society. In 1994, the university named Roop Hall in her honor. Aside from participating in almost every university milestone — including representing the Class of 1935 at JMU’s centennial celebration in 2008 — Roop and her husband, Ralph (’05H), demonstrated their commitment to JMU through a lifetime of giving, providing funds for student scholarships and faculty advancement. At the time of her death in Nov. 2010, 142 Roop scholarships had been awarded to students. Nomination form
Recipients
1971 - Helen Mugler White ('25)
A lifelong Harrisonburg resident, Mary Spitzer Etter (’34) taught in Waynesboro and Harrisonburg for 39 years, never ceasing to educate and contribute to the community.
Etter earned her M.A. from the College of William & Mary and completed graduate work at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Virginia. She was president of JMU’s Bluestone Society and founded several scholarships at Shenandoah University and Bridgewater College.
With a passion for art and history, Etter donated garments and ephemera to the JMU Historic Clothing Collection as part of the “The Fashionable Mrs. Etter” collection. She also donated her family’s historic residence, a few blocks west of Court Square, to Central Shenandoah Arts to establish a community art center and gallery.
Etter was president of the Madison College Alumni Association from 1964 to 1966. She served as chaplain of the Retired Teachers Association and scholarship chair of the Delta Kappa Gamma's Key Women Teachers Community and was an honorary member of the Bridgewater College Alumni Association.
1973 - Chester Lee Bradfield ('62)
1974 - Thelma Lee Crenshaw ('47)
1975 - Jean L. Shelley ('49)
1976 - Mary McNeil Willis ('28)
For more than 75 years, Inez Graybeal Roop (’35) made her mark on JMU as a student, teacher, graduate and benefactor.
In 1977, as a JMU Board of Visitors member, Roop made the motion to change the name of Madison College to James Madison University. She served on the BOV for eight years (1974-78; 80-84) and on the JMU Alumni Association Board of Directors — as chair of the Alumni Fund Drive, president of the Richmond Chapter and an officer in the Bluestone Society.
Roop and her husband, Ralph, demonstrated their commitment to JMU through a lifetime of giving, providing funds for student scholarships and faculty advancement. At the time of her death in Nov. 2010, 142 Roop scholarships had been awarded to students.
1978 - Mary Wright Thrasher ('41)
1979 - Faye Morgan Dundore ('60)
One year after graduating from Madison College with a home economics degree, Emily Lewis Lee (’43) moved to Atlantic City. But she wasn’t there for vacation — Lee was carrying out her basic training to became a dietician in the Army Medical Corps and working in the hotels that served as hospitals to ships unloading the wounded from Europe’s battlefields.
During World War II, Lieutenant Lee worked at a hospital station where she supervised nearly 60 employees. She later was stationed at Ft. Bragg, in North Carolina.
In 2003 Lee donated $50,000 to establish the World War II Garden Patio at the Leeolou Alumni Center in honor and remembrance of JMU alumni and friends who served in WWII.
From 1980-83, she served on JMU’s Board of Visitors, where she chaired the Education and Student Life Committee and the Alumni Relations Committee. Lee also served as Secretary for the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
1982 - Herman W. Hale ('73)
1983 - Mrs. Nellie Lantz Long ('49)
1984 - H. Dan O'Donnell ('60)
1985 - Francis E. Turner ('51)
1987 - Ruth P. Stephenson ('39)
1988 - Dario Savarese ('86)
1989 - William McAnulty ('81, M.P.A. '87)
1990 - Jeffrey Harper ('87)
1991 - David Caldwell ('75)
1992 - H. Daniel O'Donnell ('60)
1993 - Judith S. Strickler ('60)
1994 - Frank Ridgway ('80)
1995 - Deborah Tompkins ('78)
1996 - Paul Weber ('80)
1997 - Dr. Carl Lentz ('73)
1998 - Jennifer Norvell ('85)
1999 - Gregory S. Dawson ('84)
2000 - Jon D. Craver ('83)
2002 - Hugh ('73, M. Ed. '80) & Nancy Bowman Lantz ('71)
2003 - Thomas A. Carr ('85)
2004 - Elizabeth Keane Martin ('85)
2005 - David L. Grimm ('74) and Kenneth R. Bartee ('83)
2006 - Mr. Matthew A. Miller ('98)
2007 - Mary G. Jones ('91)
2009 - Lois Forbes ('64)
Emmy-award winning news reporter Tracey Neale ('89) is living proof that sometimes the work you do becomes bigger than you and bigger than the task.
Neale creates social impact. In 2000, she won the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for a documentary she produced on AIDS in Africa. During her coverage, she walked into an orphanage in South Africa and met a little girl named Veronica who changed her life. Veronica was HIV-positive, and could not be adopted. After her documentary aired, and after it received unanimous praise from her peers in the news community, Tracey received the World Health Organization's Pan-American Award for Excellence in International Reporting. With it came award money, which Tracey used to create the Africa Action Fund, collecting thousands of dollars to benefit Pediatric AIDS clinics and orphanages.
Today, through her hard work and dedication to children worldwide, Tracey Neale has created Veronica's Story, an organization dedicated to preserving the memory of the little girl she met years ago — and one that gives hope to orphans and vulnerable children worldwide.
Involvement in Madison's future is a hallmark of the alumni experience, and Mike Thomas ('76, '77) has been involved in countless capaticities.
A double graduate (BBA and MBA) from JMU's College of Business, Thomas — a senior vice president at Booze Allen Hamilton — has served on Madison's COB Advisory Council for more than a decade, currently as its chairman. He has made significant financial investments in JMU, including providing gifts for faculty and program support and scholarships. In July of 2012, he was appointed to the JMU Board of Visitors.
Thomas has worked closely with the intelligence community, is a member of the boards of the Intelligence & National Security Alliance and the US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, and was a fellow of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI on Foreign Politics, International Resources, and the National Interest.
JMU Distinguished Alumni Award for Teaching
Created in 2007, the award honors the founding principles of the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, now James Madison University. The respected career path of present and past classroom teachers has had a multi-faceted influence on youth. This award to one gifted classroom teacher elevates and honors all JMU teachers for their contribution to society. This award is given to a JMU graduate who is an exemplary classroom teacher, pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, who has shown by spirit and professionalism to be outstanding in her/his profession. All members of the JMU Alumni Association who are classroom teachers, pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, with at least five years of teaching experience, are eligible. Nomination form
Recipients
2007 - Lisa Melroy ('94, '95)
2010 - David Savino ('78)
Crystal Smith bases her teaching methods on the needs and interests of the student. She believes one of the most important aspects of teaching is getting to know the children she works with.
That mentality — of breaking down barriers and building a family-like community in her classroom, led to Smith — the math department chair at Christiansburg Middle School — being named Montgomery County Teacher of the Year.
A commitment to students is at the core of her teaching philosophy. As a JMU undergraduate, she worked in the tutoring center, providing support to her peers with one-on-one instruction. Smith puts in extra time before and after school — and even during lunch — to help students.
It's a mentality created by her family, who placed an emphasis on education — an emphasis this Madison graduate continues to live by today.
Education is a blend of academic rigor and innovation, and Eula Louise Snedegar-Spicer (’81) has found the perfect balance.
Snedegar-Spicer has spent her 31-year professional career in the Loudoun County Public School system, teaching world and U.S. history, geography and government. For more than a decade, she has taught A.P. World History, delivering a thorough and challenging curriculum while also remaining innovative regarding teaching methods and classroom tools.
Snedegar-Spicer received the Governor's School Outstanding Teacher in Virginia recognition nine times between 2001 and 2010. She is a member of the National Education Association and the Alpha Delta Kappa teaching honor society, and was named Teacher of the Year at Woodgrove High School in 2011. As a cross country and track and field coach, she piloted programs at Park View High School and Loudoun Valley High School to 10 district championships in 14 years.
James Madison Distinguished Faculty Award
Created in 1996, the award recognizes professional achievement in and outside of the classroom. The recipient will have demonstrated a consistent pattern of excellence in classroom teaching and student motivation, and will have enriched this experience through participation and professional activities outside of the classroom. The recipient will receive $500 to be used for professional development and departmental expenses. All full-time faculty with a minimum of five years of service at the institution are eligible. Nomination form
Recipients
1996 - Dr. Harold Teer
1997 - Dr. John Patrick Rooney
1998 - Dr. Mark Warner ('79, M.A. '81, Ed.S. '85)
One of Ron Carrier’s eyebrow-raising decisions was the move to launch a football program at Madison College in the early 1970s. The task of building that program fell to a 30-year-old coach who believed the game between the ears was as important as the one on the field.
Dr. Challace McMillin (’03H) served as Madison's head coach from that inaugural season in 1972 to 1984, piloting the Dukes to an undefeated season in 1975, a transition from Division III to Division I-AA in 1980 and a win over Virginia in 1982. McMillin coached future NFL Pro Bowlers Charles Haley, Scott Norwood and Gary Clark, and ended his coaching tenure with 67 career wins — a program record that would stand for 24 years.
McMillin, a kinesiology and sports psychology professor, is the namesake of the athletic program’s academic center, the university’s center for sports psychology, and is a 1994 JMU Athletic Hall of Fame inductee.
2000 - Dr. Clarence R. Geier
2001 - Dr. Carmenza Kline
2002 - Dr. Lennis G. Echterling
2003 - Dr. Robert Kolvoord
2004 - Dr. In Dal Choi
2005 - Dr. Joanne V. Gabbin
2006 - Rustin P. Greene
2007 - Dr. Susan E. Kruck
2010 - Dr. David Jones
As a child, Jonathan Monroe never predicted he would turn into a leader. Yet the confidence he gained through teaching and research, and the desire to help others, led to a series of leadership roles at JMU and nationally.
He has held several positions in the American Society of Plant Biologist (ASPB), at both the regional and national levels. He initiated a national award called the CUR Fellows to honor highly successful mentors of undergraduate researchers. He co-initiated a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program that supports up to 15 international students each summer. This program currently is in its 11th year and is permanently funded by ASPB.
Dr. Monroe’s 19 years at JMU have been trademarked by continuous efforts to providing the best learning experiences for students and improving teaching and learning practices at the university and on a national scale.
As Chair of the Political Science Department, Dr. Charles Blake is no stranger to achievement, both inside and outside the classroom.
He has helped create several programs during his faculty tenure at Madison. In 1997 he coordinated the pilot version of the Washington Semester program. He has directed the JMU in Argentina program since 2002 and has served as the coordinator of the Graduate Certificate Program in International NGO Management since 2006. From 2006-09 he co-chaired JMU's Phi Beta Kappa application committee.
In 2009, he was elected as the first president of JMU's Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
A 1985 magna cum laude graduate of Davidson College, Dr. Blake earned M.A. and Ph.D degrees from Duke University. His numerous awards include a Fulbright Grant, an Organization of the American States fellowship and the 2009 Madison Award for Community Service & Volunteerism. In 2010, the charter faculty of JMU's Phi Beta Kappa chapter received the Provost's Award for Contributions to the Liberal Arts.
Honorary Alumnus Award
Recognizes non-graduates who have given unselfishly of themselves to James Madison University and significantly contributed to the progress and development of the university. Awarded by the university.
Recipients
A true visionary, Dr. Ronald Carrier transformed 3,800-student Madison College into 14,000-student James Madison University during his presidential tenure from 1971 to 1998, taking the school from a primarily women’s teachers college to a nationally-recognized coeducational institution in less than three decades.
Carrier grew JMU by more than 100 acres, invested more than $200 million in facilities, constructed a major athletics program, developed the university’s first doctoral degrees and presided over the creation of the College of Integrated Science and Technology. During his presidency, JMU received national acclaim as one of the nation's finest comprehensive public universities, with SAT scores for entering freshmen skyrocketing from 9787 to 1,174.
One of Ron Carrier’s eyebrow-raising decisions was the move to launch a football program at Madison College in the early 1970s. The task of building that program fell to a 30-year-old coach who believed the game between the ears was as important as the one on the field.
Dr. Challace McMillin (’03H) served as Madison's head coach from that inaugural season in 1972 to 1984, piloting the Dukes to an undefeated season in 1975, a transition from Division III to Division I-AA in 1980 and a win over Virginia in 1982. McMillin coached future NFL Pro Bowlers Charles Haley, Scott Norwood and Gary Clark, and ended his coaching tenure with 67 career wins — a program record that would stand for 24 years.
McMillin, a kinesiology and sports psychology professor, is the namesake of the athletic program’s academic center, the university’s center for sports psychology, and is a 1994 JMU Athletic Hall of Fame inductee.
The late Zane Showker started his business out of the back of a truck and ended his life as one of the most respected contributors to JMU's growth and prosperity.
From 1950-1973 Showker owned and operated Harrisonburg Fruit and Produce until he merged with Sysco Food Services — the largest food distributor in the United States. He was instrumental in establishing the cancer treatment center at Rockingham Memorial Hospital and was an avid benefactor of Bridgewater College, First Presbyterian Church, Blue Ridge Community College and JMU. He served on the JMU Board of Visitors from 1994-2002 and was a philanthropic supporter of JMU throughout his adult life. Showker Hall and Showker Field (at Bridgeforth Stadium) are named in his honor.
2005 - Ralph Roop
Dr. Linwood H. Rose, the fifth president in James Madison University's history, led the university into a position of national prominence. He began his professional career with JMU in 1975 and his assignments included responsibilities in every division of the university. He was appointed president in 1998 and served through June 2012.
Under Dr. Rose's tenure as president, the university’s budget more than doubled, more than 20 new academic programs were implemented, 25 major buildings were constructed, and 2.4 million square feet were added to the campus. Enrollment grew by 37 percent, a Phi Beta Kappa chapter was installed, the university’s first capital campaign was completed at 40 percent over goal, and the number of admissions applicants grew to more than 26,000 per year.
JMU was identified by U.S. News & World Reports as one of the top public comprehensive universities in the South during each year of Rose’s presidency. The university was regularly listed among the top fifty in the country as a "Best Value" by Kiplinger’s and The Princeton Review.
James Madison Distinguished Service Award
Awarded from 1996 to 2011, the award recognized a staff or non-teaching faculty member whose service to JMU and/or local, national or international communities continually advanced the mission and goals of the institution.
Recipients
1996- Dr. Elizabeth Neatrour (M.A. '60)
1997- Dr. Norlyn Bodkin
1998- Dr. Cecil Bradfield (M.A. '68)
1999 - Ms. Donna Harper ('77, Ed.S. '86)
2000 - Ms. Sherry P. Hood
2001 - Mr. Rich Harris ('77)
2002 - Ms. Glenda Rooney
2003 - Ms. Pat Buennemeyer
2004 - Ms. Christina Updike ('73)
2005 - Ms. Michelle Hite ('88)
2006 - Ms. Hillary Wing-Richards ('94)
2007 - Sheila Santee
2010 - Dennis Barlow
As a faculty advisor for the Student United Way, Dr. Cara McFadden spends much of her free time inspiring others. Last year she took a group of students to a national conference, after which — armed with the tools of knowledge and inspiration —they returned to campus and implemented a plan within the local community.
The result? Nearly $2,000 and more than 300 pounds of canned goods raised for residents in Elkton, providing Thanksgiving dinners to 270 needy families.
The Student United Way organization is the first of its kind in Virginia. But Dr. McFadden’s service doesn’t end there. She embodies the mentality that successful members of communities are ones who are actively involved. Dr. McFadden has participated in community service at the university, local, state and national levels, volunteering her time with the Special Olympics, as a Civic Learning Mentor and as an Assembly Member for the National Intramural-Recreational Sport Association.
- October 12
Politicos Tailgate - October 19
MetroDukes Crabfest - November 1
Homecoming 2013
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Last Modified: 1/14/2013
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