The work of this year’s recipients of 2026 National/International Recognition Awards (NIRA) and Pedagogical Excellence and Innovation Awards (PEIA) exemplify possibility in action. They push the boundaries of their disciplines, forge collaboration and catalyze new ways of thinking and learning.
Congratulations to these VCUarts faculty members who received NIRA and PEIA awards this year, elevating VCU’s reputation and the student learning experience:
Art Education: Yiwen Wei, associate professor (NIRA Award)
Dance and Choreography: Eric Rivera, associate professor (PEIA Award)
Interior Design: Sara Reed, assistant professor (PEIA Award)
Painting and Printmaking: Hilary Wilder, associate professor (PEIA Award)
Photography and Film: Sasha Waters Freyer, professor (NIRA Award)
At Virginia Commonwealth University, excellence is not only measured by achievement; it is defined by the ambition to reach for what others might call the impossible. Every day, our faculty challenge conventions, open pathways to discovery and transform student potential. Their endeavors extend beyond the lab and classroom, creating lasting impacts that contribute to a better world.
2026 NIRA Awards
“Every day, our NIRA faculty recipients are pushing boundaries in the creation of new knowledge and helping us understand the world in different ways,” said Arturo P. Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president and provost for VCU. “These world-class faculty members perform at the very top of their discipline, serving as internationally acclaimed academic leaders and contributing to VCU’s continued global prominence and record-breaking growth of our research enterprise.”
2026 PEIA Awards
“Shaping the leaders and visionaries of the next generation starts in the classroom,” Saavedra said. “Our PEIA winners ignite curiosity, foster deep learning and transform the lives of students every single semester. Through classroom creativity and care, they elevate the excellence of our entire university and demonstrate how teaching is both an art and a craft.”
Read full article on the Office of the Provost website.
