Western New England University’s College of Pharmacy made a remarkable impact at the 2025 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Annual Meeting held in Chicago this July, demonstrating outstanding leadership, scholarship, and innovation on a national stage.
Dr. Daniel Kennedy was honored with the prestigious 2025 Distinguished Teaching Scholar Award, recognizing his exceptional contributions to pharmacy education. Dr. Janet Kennedy showcased her research with multiple poster presentations, one of which earned an honorable mention from the Laboratory Instructors’ Special Interest Group.
The college’s commitment to experiential learning was highlighted by Dr. Melissa Mattison and Heather DeMar, who led a poster presentation spotlighting the accomplishments of the Distance Learning Pathway experiential education program. Dr. Mattison also facilitated a roundtable discussion on an interprofessional global health Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE), underscoring WNE’s focus on collaborative and global health education.
Faculty members actively engaged in national conversations about pharmacy education, including Dr. Courtney Doyle-Campbell’s panel on distance education with peer institutions, and Dr. Kimberly Pesaturo’s dynamic debate-style presentation on competency-based education and assessment. Dr. Pesaturo also led a roundtable session addressing strategies for advising Generation Z pharmacy students and served as an administrative delegate for the school.
Adding to the leadership presence, Dr. Arianna Bonzagni served as a faculty delegate, while Dr. Natalia Scherbakova concluded her tenure as chair of the Social and Administrative Sciences Section. First-time attendee Dr. Timothy McMath also contributed to the college’s vibrant participation at the conference.
“We are incredibly proud of our faculty’s dedication to excellence in pharmacy education,” said Dean John Pezzuto. “Their leadership, innovative approaches, and commitment to student success continue to advance our mission and elevate the profession as a whole.”
This strong representation at AACP reflects Western New England University’s ongoing dedication to advancing pharmacy education, fostering leadership, and driving innovative transformation within the profession.
