UW School of Pharmacy Faculty Member Honored at Shepard Symposium

A longtime faculty member with the University of Wyoming's School of Pharmacy is the recipient of this year's Shepard Symposium on Social Justice Faculty Award.

Melissa Hunter, director of the school's Drug Information Center and a faculty adviser for a pharmacy student organization -- the National Community Pharmacists Association -- and the Canterbury Fellowship was honored at a symposium ceremony May 11 at the Canterbury House, the Episcopal campus ministry at UW.

She also serves as a pharmacist at the Downtown Clinic, where she helps meet the medical needs of many people in the Laramie community.

"I get to learn, share and grow with students at Canterbury Fellowship, and I'm so proud of the community we have developed," Hunter says. "The Downtown Clinic is an amazing place to serve, and I'm grateful to get to be a part of a community of healthcare providers focusing on the health of those with no other access to medical care."

Hunter's research focuses on drug information, medication safety and pharmacy education. She has written reviews and book chapters; co-developed a national drug information resource that is no longer in service; and presented at national meetings. Through this work, she has advanced evidence-based pharmacist training and contributed to safer medication use.

"As an adviser, Melissa has become a trusted and steady presence for many queer young adults navigating questions of purpose, identity and meaning," says one of her nominators. "She offers not only guidance, but genuine care. She listens without judgment and shows up consistently for students in moments of both joy and hardship. I have personally witnessed her walk alongside students during some of the most difficult periods of their lives, offering compassion, stability and understanding."

The mission of the Shepard Symposium on Social Justice, an annual event at UW since 1997, is to spotlight contemporary inequities to promote transformative learning and engagement in the pursuit of justice.

"Dr. Hunter has a tremendous heart for students and consistently goes above and beyond to support their success and well-being," says Kem Krueger, dean of the UW School of Pharmacy. "She brings compassion, humility and genuine care to every interaction, whether in the classroom, the clinic or as a mentor. This recognition is a testament to the meaningful impact she has had on the lives of our students and the broader university community."

"On behalf of the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences, I congratulate Dr. Melissa Hunter on this well-deserved recognition. The Shepard Symposium on Social Justice Faculty Award honors individuals who embody service, compassion and a commitment to improving the lives of others -- qualities that Dr. Hunter demonstrates every day," says Patrick Hardigan, dean of the College of Health Sciences. "Through her leadership in pharmacy education; her dedication to serving vulnerable populations at the Downtown Clinic; and her unwavering support of our students, she exemplifies the values we strive to uphold across the College of Health Sciences. Dr. Hunter's impact extends far beyond the classroom, and we are proud to celebrate her contributions to our university, our profession and the broader Wyoming community."