School of Public Health director, assistant professor recognized for service and mentorship
To recognize her positive impact on West Virginia University Health Sciences and the state of West Virginia through her mentorship and service, Heather Henderson will be receiving two Chancellor’s Awards in an upcoming ceremony.
Henderson is the director of accreditation, planning and evaluation for academic and student affairs and an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership.
The Chancellor’s Awards honor faculty and staff who have been recognized by their peers for their outstanding accomplishments.
At the ceremony, she will be recognized with the Mentor Award–for her oustanding commitment to mentoring faculty across the Health Sciences–and the Women in Science & Health (WISH) Mid-Career Award, which celebrates a woman faculty member who demonstrates achievements in inclusion, education and leadership and represents the values of West Virginia University.
“Heather has provided mentorship across the spectrum. This includes students, colleagues, and faculty,” said Nicholas Castle, chair of the Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership. “She goes beyond my expectations in her mentorship role.”
In addition to her duties as an assistant professor and director, she is also involved with institutional entities such as the AHEC Scholars, the Office of Health Affairs, WVU ADVANCE, the WVU Teaching and Learning Commons and the Women's Leadership Initiative, as well as national efforts with the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health.
“It's a great honor to be recognized by my peers for my mentoring. But the honor should extend to the numerous colleagues that I have collaborated with across health sciences,” Henderson said. “Without their willingness to open their classrooms, their labs [and] their clinical rotations to me, I would not have had the opportunity to witness the wonder of what our faculty do.”
Henderson has served on the University Assessment Council, the WVU Health Sciences Faculty Development Advisory Committee and the S.T.E.P.S. EQI Committee.
“The time and energy Dr. Henderson devotes to elevating women in STEM is inspiring,” said Audra Hamrick, the director of undergraduate studies for the School of Public Health. “She fosters growth and challenges others, including me, to reach their full potential. She will stop everything to support others even when her plate is overflowing.”
For Henderson, the formal recognition reflects a larger, collective effort.
“Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with such amazing colleagues that shine in the areas of diversity and inclusion, education and mentorship, research and scholarship, leadership and service that I feel the WISH Award is a reflection of the impact they have had on me,” she said. “I have been molded by the notion that our worth is not in what we achieve for ourselves, but in how we support others. I do my best to live a worthy life.”
The Chancellor’s Awards ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on Aug. 31 in the Pylons Lobby at the Health Sciences Center.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Nikky Luna
Director of Marketing and Communications
WVU School of Public Health
304-293-1699; nikky.luna@hsc.wvu.edu