The Jacksonville chapter of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy Student National Pharmaceutical Association, or SNPhA, was recognized by the National Pharmaceutical Association with the 2025–26 National First Place Small Chapter of the Year Award.
The honor recognizes the chapter’s impact, programming, community service, professional development and overall excellence. For Victoria Marshall, SNPhA Jacksonville’s immediate past president and a fourth-year student pharmacist, the award reflects an academic year’s worth of impactful programming, which included a professional development showcase of ambulatory care and diabetes management experts, participation in the American Heart Association’s 2025 Heart Walk and a partnership with Feeding Northeast Florida, a Jacksonville food bank where students volunteered over several semesters. She also credits the invaluable guidance of the chapter’s founding faculty advisor, Chardaè Whitner, Pharm.D., a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy education and practice and the college’s director of community engagement.
“To me, this award validates the work our entire executive board and membership put into rebuilding the chapter. As president, I am incredibly proud of the role I played in helping establish that foundation, but I am even more proud that this became something much larger than me,” Marshall said. “Our growth created opportunities for other students to lead. We expanded from five initiatives to nine, and those positions were held by different students. That meant more students had the opportunity to develop an idea, lead a program, communicate with other professionals, organize events and see something they were responsible for become successful. There is something incredibly rewarding about watching someone become more confident because you gave them the space and the support to lead.”
Third-year pharmacy student and incoming SNPhA Jacksonville Chapter President Jenaya Simmons accepted the award at the SNPhA National Convention in Maryland this summer alongside second-year pharmacy student Chelsea Chiedo and third-year pharmacy student Josiah Leggett, who will serve as vice-president of the chapter for the 2026-27 academic year.
As Marshall passes the president’s baton to Simmons, the chapter will begin preparing for the SNPhA Regional Conference this spring, when the UF College of Pharmacy will welcome student pharmacists and pharmacy leaders from across the eastern seaboard to Florida. Simmons said the upcoming conference and the chapter’s recent award serve as testaments of the power of pharmacy to transform communities.
“Every time the SNPhA comes together, I learn something new. I am empowered to make a difference, and I am reminded of my roots and why I pursued pharmacy in the first place,” Simmons said. “This award means that we are participating in the SNPhA mission: to advocate for and serve minority pharmacy professionals and minority patients. SNPhA helps us develop empathy for patients dealing with difficult conditions and reminds us of the privileges we have, which should be extended to all communities and all patients.”