Toasting Three Outstanding Alumni

We were thrilled to honor three extraordinary alumni at the School’s annual alumni awards luncheon April 13 at the Forum Hotel who were honored before their families, colleagues, mentors, and current and former faculty members and administrators at the School of Nursing.

After remarks by Dean Marianne Baernholdt and Alumni Council Joshua James, the celebrants were presented with awards recognizing their achievements.

The Decade Award recognizes alumni who've been practicing fewer than 10 years and have distinguished themselves in scholarship, leadership, and clinical practice, showing “promise for the future and an expectation of sustained excellence.”

JAMES O. HOWELL III, PMHNP-BC, CPNP-PC
(COL ’12, MSN ’15, MSN-PMHNP/PNP ’21)
2025 Decade Awardee

Howell, who’s earned four degrees from UVA, is a dually board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. He earned an undergraduate degree in psychology before enrolling in UVA’s award-winning Clinical Nurse Leader master’s program, then, during the COVID pandemic, earned two post-master’s specialty certifications. An advocate who’s worked to expand access to mental health services in Charlottesville and across Central Virginia, Howell, with his wife, fellow alumna and pediatric nurse Mary Oden Howell (COL '12, MSN ’15), a clinical instructor at the School, owns and operates Mental Fitness Matters, a pediatric mental health practice in Charlottesville, where he and a growing team of clinicians work with children, teens, and young adults.

Howell, former punter for the UVA Cavaliers football team, was voted the “best mental health professional” in Charlottesville in 2024 by C-VILLE Weekly readers.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is awarded annually to alumni who demonstrate excellence and impact in teaching and scholarship, leadership, research, clinical practice, and contributions to the School’s Alumni Association.

PAMELA N. SPATES, PMP, NE-BC
(BSN ֹ’94)
2025 Distinguished Alumni Awardee

Spates, who earned a master’s degree in human and organizational learning from the George Washington University after graduating from UVA, is board-certified in project management and as a nurse executive.

Currently a senior program analyst for the Magnet Recognition Program® within the American Nurses Credentialing Center, Pam began her nursing career as a pediatric nurse on the hematology-oncology and bone marrow transplant units before moving into clinical and program leadership roles.

She guides healthcare organizations in creating and sustaining a culture of nursing excellence and in promoting positive practice environments in which nurses are empowered to improve patient outcomes and transform healthcare delivery.

The Alumni Achievement Award recognizes a distinguished alumna or alumnus who has demonstrated exceptional achievements in areas of education, service, and leadership outside the traditional nursing profession. This award honors individuals who have applied the skills, compassion, and knowledge cultivated through their nursing education to make a profound impact in their communities, professions, or other fields.

JANICE ROSSER ALLEN, CEO and President, ICM
(BSN ’75)
2025 Alumni Achievement Award Winner

After graduating from UVA’s BSN program, Allen earned an MSN from Duke University and began her professional career as an oncology clinical specialist. Founder of Alachua General Hospice in north central Florida, now part of Chapters Health, Allen was a clinical professor at Boston University before assuming a leadership role of International Cooperating Ministries (ICM) in 2006, an organization based in Newport News, VA, founded by her father, Dois Rosser, in 1986.

Now ICM’s president and CEO, Allen oversees the multi-national Christian organization that works with more than 300 in-country national organizations across 107 countries and so far has constructed more than 13,000 churches, children’s hope centers, schools, and training centers worldwide. ICM’s goal is to “[partner] globally with indigenous ministries to put a healthy church within walking distance of everyone in the world.”

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Know an alumna/us who deserves recognition from UVA School of Nursing? NOMINATE THEM for one of the School's three annual alumni awards!