By Mindy Ayala-Diaz

The National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) selected Tammi Dice, interim dean of the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies at Old Dominion University, as the recipient of the 2021 Lenore McNeer Award. The award is presented to an NOHS member or a person who has made a distinctive contribution to the field of human services as a practitioner or educator.

Dice received the award at the NOHS national virtual conference on Oct. 21.

"It is a distinct honor to be recognized by the National Organization for Human Services for my scholarship and service contributions to the field of human services," Dice said. "I am passionate about investing in efforts that help to improve the human condition. This translates to my current work as interim dean of the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies. It is truly humbling to be honored for these efforts."

While Dice currently serves the College as interim dean, she is also an associate professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Services. She has maintained involvement in her field through research and leadership endeavors.

In her research, Dice has published extensively on human services topics, most focused on professional development and addressing the needs of marginalized individuals. She has also given more than 100 international, national, regional, state and community presentations.

In addition, she has been awarded over $2.2 million in grant funding from many federal agencies and foundations, including the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation, for programming designed to serve underrepresented and marginalized children. As a result of the grants and contracts she has earned, thousands of elementary, middle and high school students received in- and after-school programming focused on building character, resilience and academic achievement for over 10 years through CARE Now, and close to 400 GenCyber summer camp attendees gained exposure to career opportunities in cybersecurity.

Dice has served the National Organization of Human Services in multiple capacities, including as president. She also served as the undergraduate program director for the nationally recognized human services program at ODU. During that time, the program became accredited. She has also made significant contributions to the Darden College that impact faculty, students and staff of the human services program and all programs across the college. As interim dean, Dice has launched several initiatives that prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion as primary goals for the college.

NOHS is a nonprofit organization representing human service practitioners, educators, students and future human service professionals. NOHS works to support human service professionals, and its primary purpose is to assist individuals and communities to function as effectively as possible in all major domains of living. Learn more about the organization's goals, mission and the Lenore McNeer Award at www.nationalhumanservices.org/


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