College of Agriculture and Life Sciences honors outstanding alumni and friends for 2026
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recognized seven alumni and supporters for their professional achievements, leadership, and service during the 2026 Celebration of Ut Prosim awards program, held March 27 in Blacksburg.
Presented annually by the CALS Alumni Organization, the awards celebrate individuals whose work reflects the university’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), through meaningful contributions to their fields, their communities, and the broader mission of the college.
The 2026 awardees are:
- Lt. William “Will” Boyd ’19, M.P.H. ’23, D.V.M. ’23 — Outstanding Recent Undergraduate Alumni Award
- Anne M. Brown, Ph.D. ’16 — Outstanding Recent Graduate Alumni Award
- William S. “Terry” Swecker Jr. ’80, D.V.M. ’84, Ph.D. ’90 — Alumni Career Achievement Award
- Michael Schwarz, Ph.D. ’05 — Outstanding Alumni in the Global Community Award
- Lester “Les” Myers — Honorary Alumni Award
- Stephen “Steve” Grigg ’77 — Hall of Fame
- E. Phillip “Phil” Hickman Jr. ’74 — Hall of Fame
Lt. William “Will” Boyd, Outstanding Recent Undergraduate Alumni Award
Boyd is a veterinarian in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, advancing public health at the intersection of animal and human systems. Commissioned in 2022 as the only veterinary student nationwide selected for the Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program, he joined a federal workforce prepared to respond to national and global health challenges. He has served with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, supervising inspectors and upholding federal food safety standards, and has contributed to research on rabies, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza surveillance in livestock. Now a public health analyst with the Office for Human Research Protections at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Boyd continues to mentor students pursuing careers in public service.
Anne M. Brown, Outstanding Recent Graduate Alumni Award
Brown is an associate professor in the University Libraries and the Department of Biochemistry and a leader in computational biochemistry and data-driven life sciences. Her research focuses on protein structure-function relationships, amyloid aggregation in human disease, and computer-aided drug design, and she has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications while leading multiple federally funded projects, including a National Science Foundation CAREER award. A dedicated educator, she has mentored more than 170 undergraduate researchers and helps lead the Virginia Tech Discovery Lab, an interdisciplinary innovation space preparing students for scientific careers. She was recently named to the 2026–28 New Voices Cohort for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
William S. “Terry” Swecker Jr., Alumni Career Achievement Award
Swecker devoted more than four decades to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine as a graduate, faculty member, clinician, and administrator. A member of the college’s inaugural graduating class, he later joined the faculty and rose to professor and associate department head of large animal clinical sciences before serving as director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 2015 to 2024. He guided the hospital through the COVID-19 pandemic while expanding clinical services and training future veterinarians. Swecker taught 32 courses, authored 74 refereed publications, secured 40 grants as principal or co-principal investigator, and advised 40 graduate students. His leadership extended nationally through service with the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.
Michael Schwarz, Outstanding Alumni in the Global Community Award
Schwarz is associate director of the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center and co-director of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation and Education Center. An internationally recognized leader in aquaculture, he also serves as president of Quantum Tides Inc., an international consulting firm, and has held leadership roles including president of both the World Aquaculture Society and the U.S. Aquaculture Society. His work advances the sustainable development of aquaculture and coastal resilience through research, Extension, and global partnerships spanning the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Appointed by the governor to chair the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Aquaculture Advisory Board, he contributes to policy development, industry growth, and international collaboration. He was recently named a fellow of the World Aquaculture Society.
Lester “Les” Myers, Honorary Alumni Award
Myers is professor emeritus of agricultural and applied economics who served as department head at Virginia Tech from 1992 to 2003. An expert in agricultural and food policy, he built a distinguished career across academia, government, and industry, including leadership roles with the Florida Department of Citrus, Chase Econometrics, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. At Virginia Tech, he taught agricultural policy and contributed to Extension and industry engagement, including service as a public director for the Virginia Farm Bureau. A respected leader in his field, Myers held national leadership roles with the American Agricultural Economics Association, the Southern Agricultural Economics Association, and the National Association of Agricultural Economics Administrators.
Two alumni were inducted into the CALS Hall of Fame posthumously, recognizing their lasting contributions to the college, their industries, and their communities.
Stephen “Steve” Grigg, Hall of Fame (posthumous)
Grigg was a Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, and longtime leader in the green industry who co-founded Grigg Design Inc., building it into one of Northern Virginia’s leading landscape design/build firms. A licensed tree expert and certified landscape designer, he served in numerous leadership roles within the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, including president, helping guide the industry statewide. A committed supporter of the college, Grigg was a founding member of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council, serving from 2007 to 2025, and was a frequent guest lecturer. Together with his wife, Juanita, he supported students, programs, and the Hahn Horticulture Garden through sustained philanthropy and engagement. Grigg passed away on Dec. 29, 2025. His wife accepted the award on his behalf.
E. Phillip “Phil” Hickman Jr., Hall of Fame (posthumous)
Hickman was a fourth-generation Eastern Shore farmer who helped build Dublin Farms into one of the East Coast’s largest potato operations. After earning his degree in agricultural and applied economics, he returned home to rebuild and expand his family’s farm into a fifth-generation operation serving major retailers from Montreal to Miami. A leader in the potato industry, he was the first Virginian to chair Potatoes USA and served 18 years on the Virginia State Seed Potato Board, including five as chair, along with more than two decades on the Accomack County Planning Commission. A dedicated supporter of Virginia Tech, Hickman and his family advanced scholarships, facilities, and academic programs, including the establishment of a graduate fellowship bearing his name. Hickman passed away on Jan. 23, 2024. His wife, Sandy, accepted the award on his behalf.