Director of Student Health to Receive Sanders Award from Association of Student Governments
Vinette Gordon, Director of Student Health Services at Fayetteville State University (FSU), has been named the recipient of the John L. Sanders Student Advocate Award.
The Sanders Award is bestowed annually on one or more public figures for service to the students of the University of North Carolina, to recognize those who advocate for the best interests of North Carolina's students and thereby contribute to the quality of their lives. The Sanders Award is the highest honor bestowed by the University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments upon a member of the University of North Carolina community.
Gordon will be honored at an awards dinner on April 12, at North Carolina Central University. This marks the second-consecutive year that an FSU employee has received the award. Dr. Brent Lewis, Director of Cultural Programs and Safe Zone at FSU, received the award in 2018.
Gordon, a retired Army Colonel, received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Medical College of Virginia and later earned her Master of Science Degree as a Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist from Duke University. She also completed a Post Certificate Degree as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from Duke University. In March 2017, Gordon completed nearly 30 years of active duty service as an Army nurse.
Gordon held many executive leadership positions within the Pentagon, the Department of Defense Military Health System, and the Office of The Army Surgeon General (OTSG). She was the Deputy Chief, Army Nurse Corps, the Director Patient Care Integration OTSG, the Chief Nurse Executive Officer Womack Army Medical Center, Assistant Chief Nurse Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the first Transition Critical Care Section Chief Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Staff Officer for Assistant Secretary Army (Manpower & Reserve Affairs), the Head Nurse Burn Intensive Care Unit 28th Combat Support Hospital Iraq, an Army Nurse Corps Career Manager Human Resources Command, and a White House Nurse. During her years of service, she completed a Senior Service College Fellowship at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Gordon's awards and decorations included: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (2 oak leaf cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (5 oak leaf clusters), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Commendation Medal (3 oak leaf clusters), and the Army Achievement Medal (1 oak leaf cluster). The Daughters of the American Revolution named her Army Nurse of the Year 2013. The Army Nurse Corps Association selected her as Senior Nursing Leader 2016. She earned the coveted Expert Field Medical Badge, the Presidential Service Badge, the Basic Crew Member Badge, the Department of the Army Staff Badge, the Public Health Service Badge, and the O2M3 award. She was also the recipient of numerous Certificates of Achievement for physical fitness.
About Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville State University is a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina and the second-oldest public institution of higher education in the state, having been founded in 1867. FSU offers degrees at the baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral levels. With more than 6,300 students, Fayetteville State University is among the most diverse institutions in the nation. To learn more about Fayetteville State University, visit https://www.uncfsu.edu. Chancellor James A. Anderson is the 11th chief executive officer.