Top of page
Calendar News Request Info Apply Give
Home »  Alumni & Friends »  News Archive

Dr. Eric Coley Named 2022 E&H Alumni Award Honoree

Posted by Monica Hoel
Dr. Eric Coley, E&H Class of 2004, has been named by the E&H Alumni Association as the 2022 recipient of the James A. Davis Faculty Award.

Dr. Eric Coley graduated from Emory & Henry in 2004 and earned a doctorate in Physical Therapy from Duke University. He then completed his Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida.

Dr. Coley returned to Emory & Henry in 2012 as a founding faculty member of the College’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. His close community ties, innovative thinking, and dedication to excellence enabled him to establish the clinical education portion of the developing program. This included establishing contracts with local, state, and national facilities while ensuring compliance with regional and professional accrediting bodies.

He also is known as an education professional who contributes his professional expertise as a course instructor, student mentor, and collaborative member of the faculty. His peer reviewed scientific presentations help elevate recognition of the E&H Physical Therapy program through American Physical Therapy Association conferences and the Appalachian College Association Annual Summit.

In 2021, after an open national search, Dr. Coley was named the Chair of the Physical Therapy Program at Emory & Henry and still serves in that role today.

The James A. Davis Faculty Award is given annually to an E&H faculty member to recognize excellence in teaching. See other honorees here.

Watch for a video presentation about this year’s honorees to be launched on YouTube on March 24, 2022.

The full list of 2022 Outstanding Alumni Award honorees includes:
Carl and Ruth Looney Humanitarian Award:
Charlie Phillips, E&H Class of 1960
Retired attorney, proponent of pro bono assistance for his community

Distinguished Achievement:
Mike Young, E&H Class of 1986
Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Virginia Tech

A.L. Mitchell Young Alumni of the Year:
Stephen and Jessica Curtis Callahan, E&H Class of 2011
Owners and proprietors of Tennessee Hills Distillery

Fred Selfe Service to Emory & Henry:
Cyndi Jennings, E&H Class of 1991

James A. Davis Faculty Award:
Dr. Eric Coley, E&H Class of 2004
Emory & Henry School of Health Sciences, Physical Therapy Department Chair

Please consider making an alumni award nomination!
 Read more about the awards.
Use this form to make a nomination by Jan. 31 in any given year.

Open gallery

Dr. Eric Coley E&H Class of 2004 Chair of the Physical Therapy Department at the Emory & Henry School of Health Sciences
Dr. Eric Coley
E&H Class of 2004
Chair of the Physical Therapy Department at the Emory & Henry School of Health Sciences

Save & Share:

More News

  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2674-shew-property-holdings-is-more-than-just-a-realty"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,750,750/13031_shew.rev.1672948323.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,750,750/13031_shew.rev.1672948323.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,750,750/13031_shew.rev.1672948323.jpg" alt="Monica Halsey-Shew (E&H Class of 2007) with son Rory and husband Daniel Shew." width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,750,750/13031_shew.rev.1672948323.jpg 2x" data-max-w="750" data-max-h="750" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2674-shew-property-holdings-is-more-than-just-a-realty">Shew Property Holdings is More Than Just a Realty Company</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> It’s a for-profit company with a non-profit vibe.</p><a href="/live/news/2674-shew-property-holdings-is-more-than-just-a-realty" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2227-get-ready-to-recognize-the-college-campus-in-dw"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/870,0,3001,2133/10760_13373_164208764950684.rev.1643394162.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/870,0,3001,2133/10760_13373_164208764950684.rev.1643394162.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/870,0,3001,2133/10760_13373_164208764950684.rev.1643394162.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/870,0,3001,2133/10760_13373_164208764950684.rev.1643394162.JPG 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/870,0,3001,2133/10760_13373_164208764950684.rev.1643394162.JPG" alt="D.W. Saur E&H Class of 2005 Author" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/870,0,3001,2133/10760_13373_164208764950684.rev.1643394162.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/870,0,3001,2133/10760_13373_164208764950684.rev.1643394162.JPG 3x" data-max-w="2131" data-max-h="2133" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2227-get-ready-to-recognize-the-college-campus-in-dw">Get Ready to Recognize the College Campus in D.W. Saur’s Latest Book</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> D.W. Saur’s newest book has some familiar locations like “Hillman Hall” and “Van Dyke” – which just makes the storyline that much more impactful. <a href="/live/news/2227-get-ready-to-recognize-the-college-campus-in-dw" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/1122-dr-cortney-halsey-jessee-continues-commitment-to"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,600,600/5791_IMG_1051_1.rev.1546634866.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,600,600/5791_IMG_1051_1.rev.1546634866.JPG 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,600,600/5791_IMG_1051_1.rev.1546634866.JPG" alt="Cortney Halsey and Jeremiah Jessee in full academic regalia." width="345" height="225" data-max-w="600" data-max-h="600" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/1122-dr-cortney-halsey-jessee-continues-commitment-to">Dr. Cortney Halsey Jessee Continues Commitment to Service</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Cortney is an occupational therapist at Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center. <a href="/live/news/1122-dr-cortney-halsey-jessee-continues-commitment-to" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2949-bringing-back-lacrosse-to-emory-henry"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/220,2,636,418/13992_38852.rev.1685473543.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/220,2,636,418/13992_38852.rev.1685473543.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/220,2,636,418/13992_38852.rev.1685473543.jpg" alt="Old photo of guys playing lacrosse" width="345" height="225" data-max-w="416" data-max-h="416" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2949-bringing-back-lacrosse-to-emory-henry">“Bringing Back” Lacrosse to Emory & Henry</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> When Emory & Henry announced in 2023 that the college was adding lacrosse to their athletics lineup, there were a handful of alumni who corrected the word “adding” to “bringing back.”</p><a href="/live/news/2949-bringing-back-lacrosse-to-emory-henry" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/1545-isaiah-rodgers-lands-big-job-with-odac"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/369,0,680,309/9069_Isaiah_Rodgers.rev.1705252474.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/369,0,680,309/9069_Isaiah_Rodgers.rev.1705252474.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/369,0,680,309/9069_Isaiah_Rodgers.rev.1705252474.jpg" alt="Isaiah Rodgers, Emory & Henry Class of 2018." width="345" height="225" data-max-w="311" data-max-h="309" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/1545-isaiah-rodgers-lands-big-job-with-odac">Isaiah Rodgers Lands Big Job with ODAC</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Turns out, it’s not just about polishing trophies. <a href="/live/news/1545-isaiah-rodgers-lands-big-job-with-odac" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/1432-sundi-smith-herring-eamph-97-participating-in"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,39,273,312/8633_denim_and_diamonds.rev.1602017380.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,39,273,312/8633_denim_and_diamonds.rev.1602017380.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,39,273,312/8633_denim_and_diamonds.rev.1602017380.jpg" alt="Sundi Smith Herring E&H Class of 1997" width="345" height="225" data-max-w="273" data-max-h="273" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/1432-sundi-smith-herring-eamph-97-participating-in">Sundi Smith Herring (E&H ’97) Participating in Covid Vaccine Trials</a></h4></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/715-micah-morris-chosen-by-national-leaders-council"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,250,250/6034_Micah_Morris.rev.1551713188.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,250,250/6034_Micah_Morris.rev.1551713188.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,250,250/6034_Micah_Morris.rev.1551713188.jpg" alt="Micah Morris, E&H Class of '09" width="345" height="225" data-max-w="250" data-max-h="250" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/715-micah-morris-chosen-by-national-leaders-council">Micah Morris Chosen by National Leaders Council for 2019 Fellowship</a></h4></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/866-dr-bob-buchanan-receives-award"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,11,280,291/6479_Dr._Bob_Buchanan.rev.1560787959.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,11,280,291/6479_Dr._Bob_Buchanan.rev.1560787959.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,11,280,291/6479_Dr._Bob_Buchanan.rev.1560787959.jpg" alt="Dr. Bob Buchanan, E&H Class of 1958, is retired from University of California, Berkeley." width="345" height="225" data-max-w="280" data-max-h="280" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/866-dr-bob-buchanan-receives-award">Dr. Bob Buchanan Receives Award</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Dr. Buchanan (E&H ’58) was among a small group of outstanding scientists honored by the American Society of Plant Biologists <a href="/live/news/866-dr-bob-buchanan-receives-award" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/3049-bill-williams-completes-second-term-as-president-of-vir"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/583,36,2382,1837/14302_bill_williams.rev.1691700787.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/583,36,2382,1837/14302_bill_williams.rev.1691700787.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/583,36,2382,1837/14302_bill_williams.rev.1691700787.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/583,36,2382,1837/14302_bill_williams.rev.1691700787.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/583,36,2382,1837/14302_bill_williams.rev.1691700787.jpg" alt="Man with spotting scope for birding." width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/583,36,2382,1837/14302_bill_williams.rev.1691700787.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/583,36,2382,1837/14302_bill_williams.rev.1691700787.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1799" data-max-h="1801" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/3049-bill-williams-completes-second-term-as-president-of-vir">Bill Williams Completes Second Term as President of Virginia Society of Ornithology</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> There are a lot of things Bill would like us to know about the VSO. </p><a href="/live/news/3049-bill-williams-completes-second-term-as-president-of-vir" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2789-dr-dc-cobler-selected-eamph-alumni-association-for"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,600,600/13480_DC_cobler.rev.1678123903.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,600,600/13480_DC_cobler.rev.1678123903.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,600,600/13480_DC_cobler.rev.1678123903.jpg" alt="Dr. D.C. Cobler E&H Class of 1995" width="345" height="225" data-max-w="600" data-max-h="600" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2789-dr-dc-cobler-selected-eamph-alumni-association-for">Dr. D.C. Cobler Selected E&H Alumni Association for James A. Davis Faculty Award</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> This award is given to an E&H faculty member with a distinguished record of excellence in teaching who haas shown exceptional service beyond the classroom thereby helping to promote the good name of Emory & Henry. <em>This award is named for the first E&H alumnus to return to E&H as a faculty member, Professor James A. Davis, E&H Class of 1845.</em></p><a href="/live/news/2789-dr-dc-cobler-selected-eamph-alumni-association-for" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/1988-kenton-williams-business-cant-be-as-usual-in-2021"><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,800,800/10040_Kenton_Williams.jfif" alt=" Kenton Williams Emory & Henry Class of 2014 " class="lw_image" width="345" height="225"/></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/1988-kenton-williams-business-cant-be-as-usual-in-2021">Kenton Williams: Business Can’t Be “As Usual” in 2021</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kenton Williams is back home leading the family business: but it’s not business as it always was.</span> <a href="/live/news/1988-kenton-williams-business-cant-be-as-usual-in-2021" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2774-chris-hatcher-is-teaching-in-bangkok"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,720,719/13426_hatcher.rev.1677274043.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,720,719/13426_hatcher.rev.1677274043.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,720,719/13426_hatcher.rev.1677274043.jpg" alt="Chris Hatcher E&H Class of 2010" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,720,719/13426_hatcher.rev.1677274043.jpg 2x" data-max-w="720" data-max-h="719" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2774-chris-hatcher-is-teaching-in-bangkok">Chris Hatcher is Teaching in Bangkok</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p>Why did Chris Hatcher end up in Thailand? Because of love, of course.</p><a href="/live/news/2774-chris-hatcher-is-teaching-in-bangkok" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2192-victory-ime-is-finding-happiness-and-success-at"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,461,461/10801_Victory.rev.1644336778.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,461,461/10801_Victory.rev.1644336778.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,461,461/10801_Victory.rev.1644336778.jpg" alt="Victory Ime E&H Class of 2020 Business Development Consultant at Oracle" width="345" height="225" data-max-w="461" data-max-h="461" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2192-victory-ime-is-finding-happiness-and-success-at">Victory Ime is Finding Happiness and Success at Oracle</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Life is full of surprises, and Victory Ime is finding a way to succeed not in spite of the curve balls – but because of them.</span> <a href="/live/news/2192-victory-ime-is-finding-happiness-and-success-at" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/1552-coris-fungs-journey-to-the-us-patent-office-was">Coris Fung’s Journey to the US Patent Office Was Unexpected</a></h4></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2374-austen-bells-busy-summer-is-leading-to-an-even"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/30,204,796,970/11406_image.rev.1655252559.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/png" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/30,204,796,970/11406_image.rev.1655252559.png 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/30,204,796,970/11406_image.rev.1655252559.png" alt="Austen Bell Emory & Henry Class of 2020" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/30,204,796,970/11406_image.rev.1655252559.png 2x" data-max-w="766" data-max-h="766" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2374-austen-bells-busy-summer-is-leading-to-an-even">Austen Bell’s Busy Summer is Leading to an Even Busier Career</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Austen is spending the summer of 2022 in Emory, but there are bigger goals on the horizon.</span></p><a href="/live/news/2374-austen-bells-busy-summer-is-leading-to-an-even" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>