Honoring outstanding alumni
Each year, the Wayne State University Alumni Association honors the accomplishments of outstanding alumni who exemplify the Wayne State spirit of achievement, excellence and service through two awards.
The 2019 Alumni Award recipients will be honored in a variety of ways throughout the coming year. Last year's recipients were honored at the Presidential Reception and Alumni Awards event in September.
Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally, recognizing individuals who have made a distinct impact in their field and serve as role models to enhance the visibility of Wayne State and the university community.
The deadline for Alumni Award submissions was Monday, September 30, at 5 p.m. The nominations (complete submissions only) are under review by the WSU Alumni Association's Alumni Awards Committee. Recipients will be announced in early 2020.
Homer D. Strong Award
The Homer D. Strong Award is presented for distinguished service to the alumni association and university as a whole, recognizing individuals who encourage alumni participation and benefit the university through volunteer leadership.
The deadline for Alumni Award submissions was Monday, September 30, at 5 p.m. The nominations (complete submissions only) are under review by the WSU Alumni Association's Alumni Awards Committee. Recipients will be announced in early 2020.
2018 recipients
Dr. James Prochaska '64, M.A. '67, Ph.D. '69
Dr. James Prochaska is the recipient of the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award.
Dr. Prochaska is director of the Cancer Prevention Research Center and professor of clinical and health psychology at the University of Rhode Island. He is the author of more than 400 publications, including four books.
The founder of Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Dr. Prochaska is internationally recognized for his work as a developer of the stage model of behavior change. He also is the principal investigator on more than $80 million dollars in research grants for the prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases.
Dr. Prochaska has won numerous awards, including being named one of the Top Five Most Cited Authors in Psychology from the American Psychology Society, and receiving an Innovator's Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He also is the first psychologist to win a Medal of Honor for Clinical Research from the American Cancer Society.
Robert T. Reaves '11, M.B.A. '15
Robert T. Reaves is the recipient of the 2018 Homer D. Strong Award.
A native Detroiter and first-generation college graduate, Reaves currently serves as director of strategic planning, accreditation and assurance at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. He is a member of the Alumni Association Board and begins his term as vice president on October 1, 2019.
As a board member of Ronald McDonald House Charities Detroit and president of the charity's junior board, Reaves established a partnership between the charity and the WSU School of Medicine that will launch a mobile medical unit to deliver neighborhood health care to inner city children.
He also is ambassador to the Michigan Opera Theatre and an active member on the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Next Generation Committee, where his volunteer work involves fundraising, strategic planning, and community outreach focused on enriching Detroit and increasing audience diversity.