Excellence in Access and Inclusion Awards

About the Excellence in Access and Inclusion Awards

Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) annually hosts the Excellence in Access & Inclusion Awards reception to recognize faculty, staff, students, teams, and departments for contributing to an inclusive and accessible environment at Virginia Tech. 

SSD honors recipients with the Excellence in Access and Inclusion award. Nominations can also be made for the: 

• Sally Bohland Award for Exceptional Leadership in Access and Inclusion
• Sally Bohland Award for Innovative Service in Access and Inclusion

The Sally Bohland Award for Exceptional Leadership in Access and Inclusion is awarded annually to one teaching faculty member and one student who serves as a model for others in the areas of access, accessibility, and/or inclusion of students with disabilities, and whose leadership fosters a culture of access and inclusion. The award recognizes the often-unacknowledged work that goes into doing more than complying with accommodation requests. It is evaluated on:

1. Personal Impact on Immediate Campus
2. Providing service to students with disabilities in new and original ways, and
3. The impact of their leadership on students with disabilities and helping them reach their full potential

The Sally Bohland Award for Innovative Service in Access and Inclusion is awarded annually to one A/P faculty or staff and one student. Nominees support students with disabilities in new and original ways and influence our campus structure so students with disabilities can demonstrate their true potential. This award recognizes the contributions of individuals who find significant ways to improve the accessibility of Virginia Tech. It is evaluated on:

1. Service to students with disabilities in new and original ways and
2. Influence on campus structure(s) so that students with disabilities can demonstrate their true potential.

Nominations are open until March 20th and can be submitted online or by emailing the Word document version to ssd@vt.edu. 

For 2023, we plan to honor our award recipients via a hybrid event currently planned for April 11th at 2pm in the Graduate Life Center. Please stay tuned to our social media and be sure to follow us @VirginiaTechSSD on Facebook and Twitter. Please register here if you plan to attend.

Please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 540-231-3788 or ssd@vt.edu with any questions.

Previous Access and Inclusion Award Winners

2022 

• Sally Bohland Award for Exceptional Leadership in Access and inclusion: Emily Burns
• Sally Bohland Award for Innovative Service in Access and inclusion: Katherine Hall

2021 

• Sally Bohland Award for Exceptional Leadership in Access and inclusion: Dr. Raffaella De Vita 
• Sally Bohland Award for Innovative Service in Access and inclusion: Alison Cross 

2020

• Sally Bohland Award for Exceptional Leadership in Access and inclusion: Elizabeth McLain
• Sally Bohland Award for Innovative Service in Access and inclusion: Hani Awni

2019

• Sally Bohland Award for Exceptional Leadership in Access and inclusion: Candace Wall
• Sally Bohland Award for Innovative Service in Access and inclusion: Liz Spingola

2018

• Sally Bohland Award for Exceptional Leadership in Access and inclusion: Dr. Gary Long
• Sally Bohland Award for Innovative Service in Access and inclusion: Ken Belcher

2017

• Sally Bohland Award for Exceptional Leadership in Access and inclusion: Bill Holbach
• Sally Bohland Award for Innovative Service in Access and inclusion: Dr. Robyn Hudson

2016

• Sally Bohland Award for Exceptional Leadership in Access and inclusion: Dr. Ashley Shew 

2014

• Sally Bohland Award for Exceptional Leadership in Access and inclusion: Dr. Susan White

2013

• Sally Bohland Award for Exceptional Leadership in Access and inclusion: Dr. Susan Asselin

2012

• Sally Bohland Award for Exceptional Leadership in Access and inclusion: Dr. Leo Piilonen