2020 Alumni Awards

The Virginia Wesleyan University Alumni Council bestows the following alumni awards to graduates of the University in recognition of outstanding professional and personal accomplishments. Congratulations to the 2020 honorees.

Lee Stevenson
Distinguished Alumni Award

Lee Stevenson

Class of 1985

Lee T. Stevenson is a VWU Board of Trustees member and President of LineSlip Solutions, Inc., a software company at the heart of the commercial insurance industry's digital transformation. Prior to joining LineSlip in January 2020, Lee spent 25 years in a variety of operational and strategic leadership roles at the global firm Marsh & McLennan Companies.

Most recently he served as Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director for Marsh North America where he helped oversee day-to-day business and served on the division's Executive Committee. Lee started his career at Marsh in the Private Equity Mergers and Acquisition group where he spent 16 years. He is a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Turnaround Management Association, is an active angel investor and sits on numerous boards.

He is a native of Virginia's Eastern Shore and lives in Chicago with his wife, Lara (D'Domenicus) Stevenson '88. They have three children, Taylor, Jack and Natalie.

Dr. James Embrey
Alumni Service Award

James P. Embrey, Ph.D., CRNA

Class of 1972

James P. Embrey entered the United States Army upon graduation from Virginia Wesleyan and completed training as a medic and Licensed Practical Nurse. He transferred to the United States Army Reserves while completing his Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Augusta University in 1977, then returned to Richmond and received his commission in the United States Army Reserve Nurse Corps.

Dr. Embrey began his nursing career at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals while completing his Certificate in Nurse Anesthesia. From 1980 to 1998, he assumed roles in clinical and didactic instruction and administrative roles in the Department of Nurse Anesthesia at Virginia Commonwealth University. He completed a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (1984) and a Doctorate in Education (1991) from VCU. In 1994, Dr. Embrey retired from the United States Army Reserves at the rank of Major.

He is married to Ann Grayson Price Embrey and they have two adult children and three grandchildren. He and his family live in the Richmond metropolitan area.

Dominique Fowler
Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award

Dominique Fowler

Class of 2012

Dominique Fowler is the Director of Alumni Relations at Virginia Union University in Richmond. He is a founding member of the Virginia Wesleyan Black Alumni organization and currently serves on the VWU Alumni Council and the University's President's Council for Inclusive Communities.

While at VWU, he participated in the Student Government Association, Off the Hook (formerly the Wesleyan Activities Council), and he was a student ambassador as well as the 2011 Homecoming King.

Lori Harris
Outstanding Service to Alma Mater

Lori L. (Simpers) Harris

Class of 1994

Lori L. (Simpers) Harris earned her B.A. in 1994 as part of the Liberal Arts Management Program (LAMP) at Virginia Wesleyan, where she was also a Founding Sister of Tri Sigma Sorority's Zeta Pi Chapter and a member of the Marlin field hockey team.

A veteran major-gifts officer and member of the Advancement team at Virginia Wesleyan since 2007, Lori has led the revitalization of the Alumni Council, increased giving to The Excellence Fund and other university funding priorities, and strengthened alumni engagement through various events and initiatives. She was instrumental in the establishment of Founders Day and Spring Alumni Weekend, both annual traditions.

Lori was most recently appointed as the Associate Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of Alumni Relations. Lori and her husband Joe Harris, Class of 1994, have five children.