BECKLEY, W. Va. — Dr. Peggy Lambert Fink, an associate professor at the WVU School of Nursing Beckley Campus, was honored with the Dan Crocket Leadership Action and Impact Award during the 2026 Student Success Summit.
The award recognizes Dr. Fink’s 30-plus years of dedicated service to advancing student success at WVU Tech and across the entire state. The Dan Crockett Professional Leadership Award honors an individual who exemplifies lifelong dedication to student success at all levels.
Hosted by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, and the West Virginia Department of Education, the 2026 Student Success Summit brought together more than 500 educators, counselors, administrators, workforce professionals, community leaders, military representatives, parents, and students from across West Virginia.
Fink’s career reflects the award’s emphasis on sustained leadership, meaningful innovation, and lasting impact on students and communities. Through her work, she has improved access to health care services that help students remain enrolled and thrive, strengthened nursing education through innovative teaching and clinical training, and helped prepare generations of nurses for careers throughout the state.
Her leadership in service-learning has also connected students to community health outreach, while her efforts to expand access to scholarships have supported student affordability and degree completion. This recognition honors Fink’s enduring commitment to ensuring that all students have the resources, opportunities, and support needed to succeed in their education, careers, and service to their communities.
The Summit, themed “Enroll. Enlist. Employ.,” served as a collaborative effort focused on strengthening student development and achievement from preschool through postsecondary education and into meaningful careers.
The Higher Education Action and Impact Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to postsecondary access and student success in West Virginia. Recipients demonstrate a commitment to their school and/or community that impacts college and career readiness pathways.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu