Southern Miss Faculty Named Distinguished Fellows by National Academies of Practice
Mon, 05/11/2026 - 09:00am | By: David Tisdale
Dr. Kimberly Ward
The National Academies of Practice (NAP) recently announced the election of University of Southern Mississippi faculty members Dr. Kimberly Ward and Dr. Michael Robinson as Distinguished Fellows in the NAP Audiology and Social Work academies, respectively.
Members of the Class of 2026 were inducted into NAP during its Annual Induction Banquet and Awards Ceremony in Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 14.
Founded in 1981, NAP advances interprofessional education, scholarship, research, practice and public policy. It educates and informs its members and others; facilitates collaborative scholarship and research opportunities; recruits, engages, retains and mentors its network of members; and advocates for the value of interprofessional practice while working to improve health care and policy for all.
NAP academies include Athletic Training, Audiology, Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Oral Health, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician, Podiatric Medicine, Psychology, Public Health, Respiratory Care, Social Work, Speech-Language Pathology and Veterinary Medicine.
Membership in the NAP is an honor extended to those who have excelled in their profession and are dedicated to advancing interprofessional education, scholarship, research, practice and policy in support of interprofessional care.
Ward is an associate professor in the Southern Miss School of Speech and Hearing Sciences. She has professional affiliations with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Educational Audiology Association and the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She teaches a variety of courses for the school, including pediatric audiology, audiologic counseling and cochlear implants.
Dr. Michael Robinson
“Receiving the Distinguished Scholar Fellow designation from the National Academies of Practice is both humbling and energizing,” Ward said. She also reiterated her commitment to “advancing multidisciplinary research, education and clinical practice in ways that improve access and outcomes for individuals who experience hearing loss.”
Robinson is a visiting instructor in the Southern Miss School of Social Work. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-BACS), he has more than 25 years of experience in social services, including work in substance abuse counseling, youth counseling and support for incarcerated individuals. He is a frequent guest speaker at public health conferences and leads training sessions nationwide.
“I’m honored to be named a Distinguished Scholar Fellow by the National Academies of Practice,” Robinson said. “This recognition affirms the value of collaborative, interdisciplinary scholarship and renews my commitment to mentoring others and translating research into better patient care.”
Learn more about the NAP.