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VWU Honors 2020 Alumni Awards Recipients
Graduates were celebrated virtually as part of the University’s annual Founders Day celebration
University News | September 10, 2020
Virginia Wesleyan University's 2020 Alumni Awards recipients were recognized September 10 as part of the University’s virtual Founders Day Convocation.
Celebrated for their outstanding professional and personal accomplishments, this year's honorees are Lee Stevenson '85 (Distinguished Alumnus Award), Dr. James Embrey '72 (Alumni Service Award), and Dominique Fowler '12 (Graduate of the Last Decade Award). A surprise award was also presented to Lori L. (Simpers) Harris '94, VWU Associate Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of Alumni Relations, for Outstanding Service to Alma Mater.
Congratulations to the following alumni on this well-deserved distinction that recognizes their many accomplishments since graduation. Watch the awardees' virtual acceptance speeches as part of the full Founders Day Convocation.
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Lee T. Stevenson '85 is a VWU Board of Trustees member and President of LineSlip Solutions, Inc. a software company at the heart of the commercial insurance industries digital transformation. Prior to joining LineSlip in January 2020, Lee spent 25 years in a variety of operational and strategic leadership roles at the global firm Marsh & McLennan Companies. Most recently he served as Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director for Marsh North America where he helped oversee day-to-day business and served on the division's Executive Committee. He was responsible for driving and implementing strategic, financial and operational initiatives as well as managing operations and technology. Lee started his career at Marsh in the Private Equity Mergers and Acquisition group where he spent 16 years. He is a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Turnaround Management Association, is an active angel investor and sits on numerous boards. He is a native of Virginia's Eastern Shore and lives in Chicago with his wife, Lara (D'Domenicus) Stevenson '88. They have three children, Taylor, Jack and Natalie.
Alumni Service Award
Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award
Outstanding Service to Alma Mater
Lori L. (Simpers) Harris earned her B.A. in 1994 as part of the Liberal Arts Management Program (LAMP) at Virginia Wesleyan, where she was also a Founding Sister of Tri Sigma Sorority's Zeta Pi Chapter and a member of the Marlin field hockey team. Prior to her arrival at Wesleyan, Harris worked for Robert Half International, a management consulting company, from 1998-2001 and at Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads from 2001-2007, empowering young people to own their economic success. A veteran major-gifts officer and member of the Advancement team at Virginia Wesleyan since 2007, Lori has led the revitalization of the Alumni Council, increased giving to The Excellence Fund and other University funding priorities, and strengthened alumni engagement through various events and initiatives. She was instrumental in the establishment of Founders Day and Spring Alumni Weekend, both annual traditions. Harris was most recently appointed as the Associate Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of Alumni Relations. She and her husband Joe Harris, Class of 1994, have five children – Zac McCarel ’18, Kylea McCarel, Betsy Harris, JoeJoe Harris, and Connor McCarel.