President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., received the 2015 Francis Asbury Award for fostering United Methodist ministries in higher education from the Virginia Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministries.
According to the organization, Dr. Fitzsimmons “has been a supporter of the office of Spiritual Life since she started at Shenandoah University over a decade ago. Additionally, her continual vision to provide an atmosphere and a community of care has permeated through the campus culture.”
The release notes how Fitzsimmons has been highlighted on the United Methodist website for her dedication to a Wesleyan theology as she leads a growing university. “Fitzsimmons often uses the three simple rules when she leads the university. The first two parts of the simple rules, ‘do no harm, do good’ are also used in many health professions. Therefore, when she leads with this distinct Wesleyan theology, she is also speaking the language of students, faculty and staff, giving them a spiritual education alongside their academic one.”
Fitzsimmons has been an at-large member of the Virginia Annual Conference for many years and “can often be found sitting with the youth and young adult delegation during plenary sessions. At night, after the long day is over, she can be found dancing with the students exemplifying God’s call to be joyful. She learns names, hears their stories and encourages the members to use their voices, to stand up and be heard.”
The organization also noted that as president of the Association of Educational Institutions (AEI) in the Virginia Conference, Fitzsimmons “has been on the front lines of sharing the stories of what United Methodist institutions have been doing in their communities, and of the caring and compassionate graduates that walk across the stage and into the world to make a difference for Jesus Christ.”