Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients Announced for 2025
Each year, the Shenandoah University Alumni Association honors deserving alumni with the Distinguished Alumni Awards. To be selected, alumni must make significant achievements in their chosen profession; contribute to the betterment of their community, state, nation, or the world; or demonstrate ongoing dedication to the university.
The 2025 recipients will be honored at the Distinguished Awards Presentation on Friday, Oct. 24, during Homecoming 2025. Below are the bios for this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.
If you would like to nominate an alum for the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards, click here.
Alice M. Hammel ’87, ’99
Lifetime Achievement Award
Alice M. Hammel ’87, ’99 earned a Bachelor of Music in music education and a Doctor of Musical Arts in music education from Shenandoah Conservatory. In addition, she was awarded a Master of Music Education from Florida State University.
Alice is a music educator, author and clinician who currently serves as faculty member at the University of Arkansas. With experience teaching instrumental and choral music in public and private schools, she also travels to serve as an in-residence scholar. Her expertise in teaching ranges from musicianship, pedagogy and special education.
Kerry Devlin ’14, ’17
Young Career Professional Award
Kerry Devlin ’14, ’17 earned a Professional Studies Program for Music Therapy Certification Eligibility and a Master of Music Therapy from Shenandoah Conservatory. She also was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in music therapy from Aalborg University in Denmark.
Kerry is a senior music therapist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Music and Medicine. Passionate about disability justice, she focuses on inclusion through her clinical and teaching work. Kerry teaches inclusive music education pedagogy at the Peabody Institute and consults on accessible concert design. Her research has been published in Music Therapy Perspectives and Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports.
Nathaniel Gumbs ’09
Professional Achievement Award
Nathaniel Gumbs ’09 earned a Bachelor of Music in organ performance from Shenandoah Conservatory. He completed a Master of Music in organ performance and Certificate in Sacred Music from Yale University. In addition, Nathaniel was awarded a Doctor of Musical Arts in organ performance and literature from Eastman School of Music.
Nathaniel is a renowned concert organist known for his performances at various venues both in the United States and internationally. He served as the director of Chapel Music at Yale University, where he oversaw the music for three worshiping communities: the University Church in Battell Chapel, as well as Marquand Chapel and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale Divinity School. Currently, Nathaniel is the director of Music at Riverside Church in New York City.
Julie Judy ’14
Service to the Community Award
Julie Judy ’14 earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Shenandoah University. She is the co-founder and owner of The Recovery Connection. In response to losing her husband in 2018 due to substance abuse, Julie began fighting for legislation to improve the way emergency departments handle substance use related emergencies. TRC has served over 600 women with integrated substance use treatment.
Jeffrey “Jeff” Harding ’81
Service to the University Award
Jeffrey “Jeff” Harding ’81 earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Shenandoah College & Conservatory. He also earned a Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law.
Jeff is a decorated legal professional and Marine veteran who has had a 40-year career as a prosecutor and private attorney, earning numerous accolades. He is also a dedicated adjunct professor at Shenandoah University, where he founded a national mock trial program and donated the Harding Library of Law and History.
To register for Homecoming, visit su.edu/homecoming
