Nursing faculty Hui Zhao recognized as Outstanding Junior Faculty in CHBS

Hui Zhao, PhD, RN, in the School of Nursing, is the recipient of the Outstanding Junior Faculty Award from the College of Health and Behavioral Studies (CHBS).

The Outstanding Junior Faculty Award recognizes a junior faculty member who has demonstrated an exceptional performance and/or potential for regional or national recognition in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service. 

Zhao teaches a variety of nursing courses, including those focused on pain management, population-centered care and health assessment. She fosters an innovative and inclusive environment where students feel empowered to engage in their learning, in addition to providing guidance and support through academic advising. Furthermore, Zhao mentored undergraduate students across disciplines in research and actively involved them in abstract submission for a national conference.

Zhao was recognized as the Center for Faculty Innovation’s (CFI) Engaged Teacher-Scholar for the 2023-2024 school year for her focus on gerontological and geriatric education in undergraduate and interdisciplinary education. In alignment with the goals of CFI, Zhao submitted a proposal to the Geriatric Training and Education Initiative, sponsored by the Virginia Center on Aging, which aims to train undergraduate nursing students and family caregivers of individuals with dementia to use advanced technology to enhance dementia care.

Also, an accomplished researcher, Zhao has made significant contributions to the field of nursing and public health, particularly in relation to pain management, care for individuals with dementia and the impact of climate change on older adults.

She has presented her work at numerous nationally recognized conferences, including the Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Transform Conference, the American Public Health Association Annual Conference and Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

Zhao actively participates in service within her department, college, university and the broader community. She has served on various committees, facilitated workshops and been involved in professional organizations that focus on equity, diversity and inclusion. Zhao also collaborated with the National Consortium for Family Caregiving in Nursing Education to develop family caregiving competencies for nursing curricula.

Alongside colleagues, Zhao led a workshop at the JMU madiSTEM conference in 2024, teaching high school students the importance of CPR training and how to perform it effectively. Zhao also played a pivotal role in facilitating various CHBS workshops and events, including the Building Cultural Humility Workshop, an interdisciplinary learning experience for CHBS majors, multiple Poverty Simulation events, the Roundtable on Equity in Evaluating Teaching, and the Minority Health Month Panel Discussion.