Andrea Woodson-Smith ('94) - Distinguished Alumni Award

College of Health & Behavioral Studies

Woodson-Smith was a member of the 2010 U.S. wheelchair basketball team that won the world championship in Birmingham, England. She made the crucial block that gave the US the win in the last 19 seconds of play. The women’s wheelchair basketball team also won gold at the 2011 Parapan American Games and finished 4th at the London 2012 Paralympics. Her husband, Jeremy Smith, is also an avid wheelchair basketball player.

After earning her degree in kinesiology from JMU in 1994 she went on to earn a master’s in physical education from North Carolina Central University in 1999 and a doctorate in physical education from Texas Women’s University in 2006. Andrea Woodson-Smith is a professor at North Carolina Central University, where she helps design adaptive fitness programs. She has also worked hard to raise awareness for colon cancer, following the death of her mother from the disease.

Past Award Recipients

2016: Andrea Woodson-Smith (’94) 
2017: Carrie Owen Plietz (’97) 
2018: Lynette Chappell- Williams (’79)
2019: William Riley (’79)
2020: Lauren Bradley (’02)