HHS Alumni Awards 2026-27

The Dean’s Award for Excellence is given at the discretion of the dean for exceptional service, scholarship, or other exemplary contributions to the mission and advancement of HHS and UNCG. This year’s recipient, Dr. Kate Barrett, was named an honorary alumna of the School of Health and Human Performance (now HHS) in 1998 in recognition of her many years of dedicated service to the School, department, and UNCG. 

Barrett was hired to develop a new program in physical education-teacher education and served the Department of Physical Education (now Kinesiology) as a faculty member from 1970 to 1997. She dedicated her career to education in the field of children’s physical education, working in close partnerships with public schools. She’s renowned as a teacher-scholar, and influenced generations of UNCG students through her commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring. Many of her former students credit her guidance and encouragement as instrumental in their professional success. 

Her contributions to UNCG continued after her retirement in 1997. Barrett established the Kate R. Barrett Student Professional Development Fund, which continues to support graduate students’ academic and professional growth. She also established the Ed.D. Professional Development Award for students. A dedicated supporter of the department, Barrett remained actively involved in Kinesiology programs and events, providing encouragement and mentorship to students and faculty. Barrett is well-known throughout Greensboro for her efforts to help students be more active, and to train others to excel as teachers. 

Barrett is a longtime docent at the Weatherspoon Art Museum, where she collaborated with faculty and museum educators to create interdisciplinary learning experiences for Kinesiology students. Through observation-based training activities, she helped students develop critical thinking skills, consider multiple perspectives, and strengthen the careful observation skills essential to health and education professions.  

From 2005 to 2013, Barrett further served the University as a member of the UNCG Board of Trustees, completing two terms and contributing to the Academic Affairs and University Advancement Committees.  

Barrett has left an indelible mark on UNCG, constantly encouraging others to hold themselves accountable to high expectations, while also providing mentorship and scaffolding to succeed. Her legacy influences generations of students, educators, and leaders. 

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor given to an outstanding alumnus. It recognizes a person with national/international stature through their achievements in teaching, scholarship, service, administration, leadership, creative endeavors, human relationships, or inspiration. 

Dr. David Troutman is this year’s recipient, having earned his M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from UNCG in 2002 and his Ph.D. degree from the department in 2007. 

He is recognized for his far-reaching, meaningful work related to student success and post-graduation student outcome in Texas and across the nation. For nearly 20 years, Troutman has forged impactful collaborations in higher education, federal and state agencies, foundations, professional organizations, and the private sector. 

Troutman began his career at the University of Texas at Austin, followed by seven years with the University of Texas System’s Office of Institutional Research and Analysis. He is the deputy commissioner for academic affairs and analytics at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, where he oversees collaborators with educational institutions, states, districts, high schools, and organizations, offering data outcome reporting to support better policy decisions and student outcomes. He coordinates the work of Academic and Health Affairs, Workforce Education, College and Career Advising, Student Success, Digital Learning, and Data Management and Research. 

He is widely regarded as a state and national authority on leveraging higher education and workforce data to guide strategic decisions, translating complex information into meaningful insights that shape policy and support workforce development. 

In addition, Troutman has served on the Technical Review Panel for ACE Carnegie Classifications Revisions, the board of directors with the Association for Institutional Research, and as the Technical Advisor for Strada Educational Foundation’s State Opportunity Index. He also founded and chairs the Postsecondary Employment Outcomes Coalition, which analyzes U.S. Census data to demonstrate the value of higher education by degree level, major and institution. 

He is the recipient of several large internal and external grants. Troutman has also authored or co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and reports, given several keynote addresses, and dozens of professional and community presentations, and previously served on the National Student Clearinghouse Research board of directors. 

Troutman does all this while still maintaining ties with UNCG. He is actively engaged with HDFS faculty to support student initiatives and opportunities for the department’s students. 

The Public Service Award is given to a person who has made an extraordinary contribution to the mission and advancement of the school. They are not required to be an HHS alum. Dr. Kathryn Schmitz earned her Bachelor’s of Art in Economics from UNCG in 1984, then continued her educational journey with a master’s in exercise physiology, a Ph.D. in kinesiology and an MPH in epidemiology. 

Since her schooling, Schmitz has maintained an impressive commitment to public service and scholarship, focused on public health and access to care. The third-generation UNCG alumna exemplifies the University’s mission to educate and empower females to lead. Through rigorous and sustained scientific inquiry, Schmitz has established exercise that is safe for people living with and beyond cancer, fundamentally reshaping cancer care. Her work has helped transform a field that increasingly recognizes physical activity as a core component of survivorship care. She has also been instrumental in ensuring this evidence is used in clinical and community settings. 

Schmitz’s leadership has elevated exercise oncology, positioning it alongside pharmacologic and procedural interventions as a form of cancer treatment through both national and international initiatives. Schmitz also consistently designs programs and interventions to reach underserved populations. These include rural communities and those with limited access to supportive care services, expanding access beyond traditional healthcare settings. 

As previous president of the American College of Sports Medicine and founding president of the International Society of Exercise Oncology, Schmitz has shaped clinical guidelines, research agendas, and policy worldwide. She is also the founder and director of the Moving Through Cancer initiative, enabling the advancement of exercise screenings, referrals, and programming into healthcare systems. 

She has also authored nearly 400 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and secured more than $50 million in research funding as a principal or co-investigator. 

Schmitz also maintains a commitment to future scholars and researchers, having mentored over 40 individuals, including doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty. 

The Emerging Leader Award recognizes an alumnus who exemplifies outstanding professional and personal development through traditional channels or innovative approaches. This award is given within 10 years of the person’s graduation. 

Dr. Alexis “Lexy” Ganesh earned her Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2019. Since then, she has consistently shown enthusiasm for her career and a commitment to serving and advancing the scientific community. 

While a doctoral student at UNCG, she took it upon herself to pursue training of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, new on campus at the time. Through multiple training opportunities, she became an expert in it and used neuroimaging in her dissertation work. Ganesh worked as a postdoctoral fellow on Professor Dr. Jenny Etnier’s research study where she was responsible for the development of MRI data collection protocols and collection, reduction, and analysis. Her success with the development of automated protocols resulted in an invitation to serve as a co-investigator/co-author on studies conducted by scientists at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Ohio University. 

Ganesh went on to serve as an associate research scientist at Emory University School of Medicine, working to understand neural mechanisms of sports-related head impact. She co-developed an automated MRI segmentation tool for thigh muscles, making it easier for researchers to explore the role of muscle-health in aging and metabolic disease. Ganesh also pioneered the use of task-based functional MRI to map brain activity during multi-joint movements. 

Ganesh has been a co-investigator on several grants, two of them National Institutes of Health grants. In fall 2025, she was hired as faculty member at N.C. A&T State University. 

In addition, she has more than 40 publications and more than 50 scholarly presentations. Despite her busy schedule, Ganesh still makes time to support MRI training for students, as well as serving on dissertation committees for doctoral and master’s students beyond her own university and research group, including UNCG. 

Alexia Blair moved to the U.S. from Jamaica several years ago to attend undergraduate and graduate school. After obtaining her M.S. degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from UNCG in 2019, she moved back to Jamaica, where she is one of the few speech-language pathologists in the country. Blair’s now the director of Hello! Speech Therapy Ltd., where she provides services for adults with dementia, traumatic brain injury, and dysphagia, and facilitates the use of augmentative communication devices for children with cognitive, physical, and/or developmental disabilities. She also hosts coaching sessions for parents to support language development in children with speech delays. She is also the director of Camp Hello!, Jamaica’s first speech therapy summer camp for children with complex communicative needs. 

In addition, Blair has presented at several conferences and serves as the secretary of the Jamaica Speech and Hearing Association. She’s also recently authored a children’s book. 

Isabelle “Belle” Downing earned B.S. in 2021 and her M.S. in 2022, both in Parks and Recreation Management in what is now the Department of Sport Management and Recreational Therapy. While at UNCG, Downing was active in numerous organizations. She has continued this pace of activity in her professional career, serving as a recreational therapist at Novant Health before transitioning to a supervisory role at Spring Arbor Senior Living, serving as the community program director. Downing now works as a recreational therapist at Duke Health, where she conducts patient assessments, therapy interventions, and manages behavioral health patients. In this role, Downing also created the first collaboration between Duke Behavioral Health and Duke Gardens with a therapeutic gardening program. 

Downing has also maintained a connection with UNCG, returning to speak with Recreational Therapy students about best practices in assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation (APIE) with patients. 

Elizabeth “Liz” Mizerik has made a significant impact on genetic counseling since earning her degree from the Genetic Counseling Program in 2017. Through her work as an inpatient genetic counselor at Texas Children’s Hospital, she has developed and implemented novel clinical protocols, expanded access to critical genetic services for patients, and helped shorten the diagnostic journey for people with complex conditions. Mizerik reviews about 700 patient cases annually, identifying those who may need additional genetic testing, while developing partnerships to improve access for medically complex patients. She has also developed hospital-wide practice guidelines and protocols, including a new genetic testing protocol for stillbirth evaluation. 

Mizerik previously served as co-chair of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Inpatient Special Interest Group and was a speaker at the organization’s annual conference. She has disseminated her work widely through numerous conferences, publications, and her work in professional appointments. Additionally, Mizerik has contributed to national practice guidelines through the NSGC Monogenic Diabetes Practice Guidelines Committee. 

In addition to clinical practice, she co-directs and teaches a course at Baylor College of Medicine and provides training to residents, fellows, and students, as well as having served as thesis chair. Mizerik also serves on the Texas Children’s Hospital Clinical Ethics Committee. 

Dr. Pamela Linton Norcross has been a leader in the field of Human Development and Family Studies since earning her M.S. in 2016 and Ph.D. in 2019 from UNCG. She is a certified child life specialist with early career experience in clinical research. She bridges infant development and parenting relationships to understand the effects hospitalization has on children and families.

Norcross is a tenured faculty member at Meredith College, and is the first at Meredith to receive a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant. Her research focuses on maternal social support during pregnancy on postpartum depression. She’s involved in numerous committees and organizations at Meredith College and the Raleigh area dedicated to professional development and improving education. Norcross serves as a reviewer for the journal Emotion, from the American Psychological Association, and the Journal of Child and Family Studies. She has co-authored several articles and presented at several national conferences.

In addition, she serves as a dissertation committee member at Purdue University, and is a founding member of both the Child Life Academic Society National Cohort of Academicians and the Triangle Child Life Coalition.

Sloan Johnson leads by example in her work. Upon graduating in 2021 with a M.S. from the Department of Kinesiology with a concentration in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology, she has shown she is an experienced speaker, facilitator, and mental skills coach with a passion for using psychology and experiential learning to develop mental strength and resilience. Johnson has years of experience supporting group and individual clients in high school and college settings, as well as helping executives seeking skills as a keynote speaker. 

Most recently she’s served as a mental performance and leadership coach at IMG Academy, helping others achieve their goals and strengthen their growth mindset. The program is delivered internationally and domestically to K-12 students, staff, coaches, parents, and administrators. 

Johnson has also been a speaker at the National Junior College Athletic Association and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics conventions, discussing the impact of intentional mindset and character development within collegiate athletics. She is a member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology Membership and Retention Committee and serves as a mentor for other mental performance consultants with IMG Academy. 

Kimberly “Kim” Correa has been a star in the field of nutrition upon earning her B.S. in Human Nutrition and Dietetics in 2021 and completing her Dietetic Internship with the Department of Nutrition in 2022. After graduation, Correa served as a clinical dietitian at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salisbury, before creating the company Carolina Core Nutrition in High Point. Her company pioneers a local approach to the Food is Medicine movement, which is an evidence-based intervention to improve health outcomes and lower healthcare costs for patients. Correa provides medically tailored meals customized to a patient’s diagnosis, accompanied by personalized nutrition coaching, teaching clients how to create long-term behavioral changes.  

She advocates accessible, sustainable nutrition care, and gives back to the community by providing nutrition education and wellness initiatives with a partnership with the Community Clinic of High Point. 

Correa has maintained her connections to UNCG, hiring and mentoring UNCG students to help with all aspects of her business. This includes meal preparation, managing coding and billing, and preparing education materials. She has also served as a preceptor for the Dietetic Internship Program and hired alumni to join her business as registered dietitian nutritionists. 

Desiree Gorbea-Finalet founded Peace and Conflict Studies’ first student group, C.O.N.F.L.I.C.T. Alliance, while earning her M.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies with a concentration in International Peace Development at UNCG. Since then, she has continued her passion for taking classroom knowledge into the field, joining Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) as the brain injury researcher and project manager. She is the agency’s expert on brain injury research and resources in the state, providing support to staff, community partners, survivors, and their families. While at DRNC, she’s created the nation’s first national database centralizing information on criminal legal system-related brain injury screening and supportive service programs from the last 30 years. 

Gorbea-Finalet also created and implemented the statewide public awareness campaign, NC BRAINS (North Carolina, Brain Resources And Injury Needs Screening), centered on screening for brain injury, providing training to professionals, and offering classes in community-based service settings. She has also established the state’s first screening system in two of North Carolina’s jails. 

She is part of the state’s Brain Injury Advisory Council, serving on the Operations Committee. Recently, she was appointed to the Narcolepsy Network board of directors. 

Gorbea-Finalet has been a presenter and trainer at numerous conferences in North Carolina. 

C. Kelly Kelly has more than 30 years of experience serving her community through social services work since earning her B.S. in Social Work from UNCG in 1994. She has remained committed to strengthening families, protecting vulnerable individuals, and building partnerships that improve the quality of life. 

This January she was selected as the director of Harnett County Department of Social Services. Prior, she served the department for 16 years in other positions, including as deputy director and program manager. Kelly uses progressive leadership to strengthen child welfare services, support adults and families in crisis, and ensure programs are administered with compassion, professionalism, and accountability. 

Kelly has gained extensive leadership and supervisory experience in many areas of social services, focusing on supporting staff, building strong relationships with community partners, and creating an environment where teamwork and accountability can thrive. 

Kelly is passionate about working with community agencies, healthcare providers, schools, law enforcement, and local organizations to ensure people and families receive the resources and support they need. 

She remains deeply committed to the future of social services and ensuring the needs of the community are met.