The Hendrix College Alumni Association will honor four award recipients at its awards brunch Saturday, April 5. Starting at 10 a.m. in Worsham Student Performance Hall in the Student Life and Technology Center, the event is part of the College’s Alumni Weekend festivities.
Honorees for 2025 are Harvell Howard ’03, Director of Operations Sharron Russell, Laura Gressler ’15, and Chad Clay ’03. In addition, 2024 Alumni Association Awards recipients Glenn Dalton ’74 and Brian Koss ’08 will also be recognized during the brunch.
The 2025 Alumni Association Award honorees are:
Distinguished Alumnus Award – Dr. Harvell Howard ’03
Harvell Howard is a 1999 graduate of Conway High School. In addition, he is a 2003 graduate of Hendrix College with a degree in economics and business and holds a Master of Public Service degree from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. Dr. Howard has had several job experiences in which he has lived and worked in New York, Arizona, Africa, and now, back home in Arkansas.
He received a PhD in leadership studies from the University of Central Arkansas and most recently was an Arkansas Food Systems Fellow in its 2024 inaugural class through the Wallace Center at Winrock International. Through a consulting company, Essential Solutions, Inc. (2015), and a nonprofit, Arkansas Summits (2018), both established by him and his family, Dr. Howard supports individuals, organizations, and communities to build the necessary capacity needed for health, wellness, and success.
He was instrumental in the formation of the Bridging Alums of Color (BAC) at Hendrix. Dr. Howard has served as chair of the board since August 2018. BAC@HDX seeks to develop policies and funding for minority alumni, in on and off campus events, assist in the recruitment of faculty of color, and promote admission and retention of students of color through mentoring and engagement opportunities.
Dr. Howard believes that helping people is the key to success and self-fulfillment. He and his wife, Rosa, have three sons, Harvell II (10), Harrison (8), and Harland (5). They reside in central Arkansas.
James E. Major Service Award – Sharron Russell, Director of Operations for Hendrix Facilities
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Born in Flint, Michigan, Russell spent most of her life in Conway, where she grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, working in her family’s furniture and grocery stores from an early age. She enrolled at Hendrix in 1977 but left in 1979 to pursue other opportunities, building a diverse career in manufacturing and distribution with companies such as FMC (now Snap-on), Champs Sports, and Jason International.
In 2001, Russell returned to Hendrix as a warehouse supervisor, steadily expanding her role across all areas of facilities. Her dedication and leadership led to her appointment as director of facilities in 2016. She also plays a vital role as the special events coordinator for major campus events, including commencement, convocations, and inaugurations. In 2019, she was honored to be elected as the inaugural staff representative to the Hendrix College Board of Trustees, serving proudly from 2019 to 2022.
Outside of work, Russell and her husband, Brian, have shared 25 wonderful years together. She is a proud mother to her daughter, Alex Powell, and son-in-law, Josh Powell, as well as a loving stepmother to Jeremy (Meagan) Russell and Seth (Ashlee) Russell. She is also a devoted grandmother to five grandchildren, including Alex and Josh’s son, Caleb Powell.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, crafting, and shooting sports. Last year alone, she read over 100 books. Recently, Russell has begun working with faux stained glass as well as other art projects including painting. She is also deeply involved with her church, New Life Church of Greenbrier, and has a passion for mission work. In 2024, she traveled to Alaska on a mission trip, and this summer, she is planning to serve in the Dominican Republic.
Through her dedication to her work, her love for her family, and her unwavering commitment to serving others, Russell continues to leave a lasting impact at Hendrix and in her community.
Outstanding Young Alumna Award – Dr. Laura Gressler ‘15
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Dr. Laura Gressler is an assistant professor in the Division of Pharmaceutical Evaluation and Policy within the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Her research leverages real-world data to evaluate medical devices, opioid use in vulnerable populations, and women’s health. Shaped by her fellowship at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health, her work focuses on augmenting real-world databases to enhance regulatory processes, inform healthcare decision-making, and improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Gressler earned her undergraduate degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from Hendrix in 2015. She went on to complete a Master of Science in the Division of Pharmaceutical Evaluation and Policy at UAMS and a Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Her research has led to collaborations with the Department of Defense, FDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, and the Veterans Administration on high-impact projects addressing critical public health challenges.
Dr. Gressler has been awarded research grants from the Department of Defense’s Military Health System Research Program and the Health Resources and Services Administration, supporting her investigations into healthcare utilization and policy impacts. With over 40 peer-reviewed publications, her work has been featured in high-impact journals, including JAMA Network Open, JAMA Health Forum, and The Lancet. In addition to conducting innovative research, she serves as a reviewer for multiple medical journals, teaches in the PEP Ph.D. program and Pharm.D. curriculum, and mentors Ph.D. students.
Hendrix College Humanitarian Award – Dr. Chad Clay ‘03
K. Chad Clay, Ph.D., is the director of the Center for the Study of Global Issues (GLOBIS) and an associate professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia. He is also the co-founder and methodology research and design lead of the Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI). Dr. Clay’s research focuses on the measurement, causes, and consequences of governments’ human rights practices.
Due to governments’ reluctance to report on their own human rights abuses, Dr. Clay has played a key role in various projects to overcome this problem by producing valid and reliable quantitative data on human rights worldwide. This work led to the co-founding of HRMI, a global initiative that produces data through collaboration between human rights advocates, practitioners, and scholars. His research has been published in several peer-reviewed outlets and cited by numerous publications and institutions, including the Washington Post, The Guardian, the World Bank, Amnesty International, the U.S. State Department, and the United Nations. HRMI’s data and visualizations are freely available on the HRMI Rights Tracker (rightstracker.org).
As the director of GLOBIS, Dr. Clay also created the GLOBIS Human Rights Research Lab. This selective program provides hands-on experience with real-world human rights projects like HRMI and teaches students to conduct cutting-edge human rights research.
Dr. Clay studied chemistry and history at Hendrix before earning master's degrees in political science and sociology from the University of Memphis in 2008. He completed his Ph.D. in political science at Binghamton University in 2012.
About Hendrix College
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is featured in “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges” and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts colleges for academic quality, engaged learning opportunities and career preparation, vibrant campus life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors compete in 21 NCAA Division III sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.
“… Through engagement that links the classroom with the world, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice, and sustainable living, the Hendrix community inspires students to lead lives of accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.” —Hendrix College Statement of Purpose