Professional Activities

HONORS AND AWARDS:
List title, date, and location of award in reverse chronological order.

1991-1993	Sigma Phi Omega Gerontological Honor Society: Secretary. Miami University.
1991	Phi Kappa Phi: Member. Virginia Tech.
1991	Psi Chi:  National Psychology Honor Society: Member. Virginia Tech.
1995	Graduate Research Award, Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (Greater New Orleans Chapter): May 1995.
2008	Rising Star in Gerontology (Southern Nursing Research Society): Nominated
2008	University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for Aging Behavioral Science Poster Award Competition
2008	Bussee Award for Excellence in Gerontology: Nominated
2009	Sigma Theta Tau International, Nu Chapter: “Friend of Nursing”
2010	2010 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentorship – At the University of Alabama at Birmingham, 12 mentors, one selected from each of the 12 schools, are nominated by their doctoral students and early career colleagues each year and recognized in a special, university-wide assembly acknowledging their assistance and accomplishments (e.g., papers, grants, presentations) with their mentees.

2010	2010 President’s Award for Teaching Excellence – At the University of Alabama at Birmingham, 12 teachers, one selected from each of the 12 schools, are nominated by their peers for this award that includes $2,500 and a Steuben crystal apple trophy.
2010	White House Invitation to Attend a Forum on HIV and Aging – As a part of President Obama’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy, a series of discussions were convened at the White House by the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) covering a range of topics (e.g., Women and HIV, Youth and HIV).  This special forum on HIV and Aging was held on October 27, 2010 where I was invited and attend this special event.
2011	Working Group on HIV and Aging, Office of AIDS Research – Invited by Dr. Jack Whitescarver, NIH Associate Director for AIDS Research & Director, Office of AIDS Research (OAR), to serve as a member of the newly established Working Group to HIV and Aging.  This is a special initiative of the OAR with the mandate to provide independent expert advice and guidance to AIRA and NIH on the critical scientific opportunities and priorities in the area of research on HIV and aging. Subgroup Leader – Societal Infrastructure/Mental Health/Substance Abuse – Group 4.
2011-2012	UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy – I was selected with 23 others from UAB to participate in monthly workshops (full days with outside projects) to improve my leadership skills in relation to emerging healthcare issues.  Our project was the submission of a grant submitted to UAB on the “Evaluation of Sutter Health’s Advanced Illness Management (AIM) Program: Implication for Adaptation and Implementation at UAB”.  I graduated May 16, 2012.
2011	Grant Reviewer for HIVERA (Harmonizing Integrating Vitalizing European Research on AIDS/HIV – I was chosen to attend a conference in Frankfurt (all expenses paid) to review grants on aging with HIV.
2012	Grant Reviewer for NIH/NINR Centers of Excellence in Symptoms Science: Building Research Teams for the Future (P20s and P30s) – I was selected to review center grants for the National Institute of Nursing Research which met in Rockville, Maryland June 28-29, 2012.

2014	Grant Reviewer for Pilot Grant, Center for AIDS Research, Emory University – I was asked to review a grant on aging with HIV and caregiving.
2014	Grant Reviewer for  Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council – I was asked to review a grant on promoting better cognitive functioning in adults with HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorder.