Distinguished Alumni Award  

Mia Kelly, ASN ’82, BSN, MSN 

Dr. Kelly, a dedicated nursing leader in the San Francisco Bay Area and Oakland native, has shaped nursing education through teaching Gerontology, Pharmacology, Medical Surgical Nursing and Nutrition at Merritt Peralta College and as the Peralta District Health Director. As former President and member of the Eden Rose Chapter of Links Incorporated, Dr. Kelly authored Making a Positive Impact Together, a curriculum for a mentorship and enrichment program for adolescent that received President Obama’s Volunteer Service Award.  

Jeffrey DeSantis, DPM ’90  

Throughout his 30-year career as a podiatric surgeon and advocate for practitioners in the field, Dr. DeSantis has participated in legislative advocacy as President of the California Podiatric Medical Association and as a member of the claims committee for Pica malpractice insurance. Passionate about innovative healthcare programs that help providers work together to coordinate care, Dr. DeSantis is also a co-founder of Talar Medical, a Podiatric GPO that supports DPMs on the business side of medicine and funds scholarships to the APMA educational foundation.  

Distinguished Friend of the University  

Marshawn Lynch, Vice President & Cofounder, Fam 1st Family Foundation 

Marshawn Lynch is a Super Bowl–winning NFL running back, entrepreneur, and philanthropist best known for his time with the Seattle Seahawks and his deep ties to Oakland, California. Through his Fam 1st Family Foundation, he has dedicated years to mentoring underserved youth, hosting free football camps, providing scholarships, and creating opportunities for young people facing limited resources. His community impact has been nationally recognized, including receipt of the Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic contributions. 

Julia Liou, MPH, CEO, Asian Health 

An accomplished, mission-driven executive and systems change leader with 20+ years of experience in the healthcare industry, Julia Liou has led strategic fund development initiatives, pioneered patient and community advocacy campaigns, spearheaded statewide coalitions on health equity and worker health, as well as regional and local initiatives; including the Revive Chinatown Campaign, California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, and California AA&NHPI Health Equity Coalition. By building coalitions, advancing advocacy, and elevating patient voices, Ms. Liou continues to champion health equity for vulnerable communities locally, statewide, and nationally. 

Innovative Leadership Award  

Alvin McLean Jr., PhD, SMU Board of Regents Past President 

A healthcare leader who has shaped innovative changes to healthcare education at Samuel Merritt University through his role as former President of the Board of Regents, Dr. McLean received his doctorate in Psychophysiology and Clinical Psychology the University of Wisconsin and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He has held teaching and leadership rolls at University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Paradigm Health Corporation, and National University System, where he now serves as Dean of the JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences. 

Outstanding Service Award  

Paulina Van, PhD, RN, CNE, HMCT, FADLN, FAAN, SMU Professor Emeritus 

A nurse scientist and healthcare executive with a nearly 40-year association with Samuel Merritt University, Dr. Paulina Van has dedicated her career to strengthening the nursing workforce pipeline and elevating faculty and student performance in high-need communities. Model of Coping After Pregnancy Loss for Diverse Women has served as an important framework used by more than 30 interdisciplinary research teams worldwide and cited extensively in perinatal health literature. 

Recent Graduate Impact Award  

Lemuel “Pete” Haynes Jr., ELMSN-FNP ’23, DNP ’24, MHA ’27  

A clinician and educator whose work spans patient care, healthcare leadership, academia, and community impact, Dr. Lemuel “Pete” Haynes’ commitment to clinical excellence and systems-level innovation spans across work in patient care, healthcare leadership, academia, and community impact. As an active member of the SMU community, Dr. Haynes participated in SMU’s Nursing Faculty of Tomorrow program and was frequently tasked by SMU leadership to support peers who had not passed medication calculation exams or the NCLEX boards, providing individualized guidance and mentorship to help them succeed 

Spirit of SMU Award  

Corina Aguilar, ELMSN-CM ’25 

Raised in San Francisco’s Mission District among generations of passionate community advocates and organizers, Corina Aguilar brought her commitment to service and collective wellbeing to her time as an SMU student. Serving asCo-President of Advocating for Childbirth, Obstetric, Reproductive, and Neonatal Health (ACORNH) and a charter member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., Ms. Aguilar helped the SMU Beta chapter and with it the legacy of service, scholarship, and professional excellence. 

Julia Golub, MOT ’26 

A scholar athlete in Tennis and cum laude graduate of Holy Names University, Ms. Golub has shaped student and community engagement with the field of Occupational Therapy through her “Why Choose Occupational Therapy” campaign. By leading workshops and partnering with more than 20 high schools in her area, she has championed early exploration of the career and provided high school students with exposure to adaptive equipment, creative therapy exercises, and information about the field of Occupational Therapy.  

Madeleine Nagle, DPM ’28 

A passionate advocate of bridging language barriers to provide quality health care, Madelein Nagle founded the Medical Languages club at SMU with the goal of educating future practitioners about the medical terminology and cultural nuances needed for effective understanding and treatment. As organizer and co-Director elect of Suitcase Clinic, Ms. Nagle is working to bring podiatric services to the homeless and underserved in the Berkeley area while providing a place for students to practice and improve their skills.