Ruby Bryant, Randolph’s director of health services, honored with VFIC Distinguished Service Award for Pandemic Support

Health Center Director Ruby Bryant during one of the College’s COVID testing events this spring.

The Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) is recognizing Randolph Health Center Director Ruby Bryant for her dedication to students and the College community.

Bryant was recently named recipient of the VFIC’s Pandemic Service Award, for showing great commitment to support the college and university community in overcoming the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020-21 academic year.

Bryant, who began as Randolph’s director of student health services in 2014, is a registered nurse with more than 25 years of nursing experience. She also serves the College as advisor to the WildCat Wellness Council and as coordinator of the student health insurance plan.

She’s been an active member of Randolph’s COVID-19 Task Force since its formation in March 2020, along with many other local and state organizations that were formed to develop best practices related to the pandemic.

VFIC members schools were invited to nominate one outstanding faculty or staff member for the award, which comes with a $2,500 check for professional development activities.

In a letter nominating Bryant for the award, Randolph President Bradley W. Bateman wrote that she has been at the forefront of virtually every aspect of the College’s pandemic response, from helping write the reopening plan to developing and running COVID testing and contact tracing programs.

“The reason that I am nominating Ruby over all the other deserving people whom I might nominate is the unique way that’s has been central to our highest level decision making, then ran much of the programming she had helped design, while all the while continuing to provide one-on-one personal care for each of our students who needed it,” Bateman wrote. “Ruby seems to have worked 24-7, at every level, without ever tiring or faltering.”

Read more about Bryant’s pandemic-related work here.