OAKWOOD, VA (MAY 2, 2026) – Forty-four members of the Appalachian College of Pharmacy (ACP) Class of 2026 received their Doctor of Pharmacy or Doctor of Public Health degrees Saturday during the college’s nineteenth commencement exercises.
Dr. Derek Webb, a 2008 alumnus of ACP, delivered the commencement address. Webb is the first alumnus of ACP to be a featured speaker at commencement. Emma Chandler Mullins, who was chosen by members of her class to deliver remarks on behalf of students at the event, was the student speaker at the ceremonies.
ACP President Mickey McGlothlin welcomed all to the ceremonies held inside the ACP gymnasium, noting the graduates in the Class of 2026 join the ranks of 1,119 current ACP graduates already practicing pharmacy throughout the United States. He challenged members of the Class of 2026, as they prepare to take the NAPLEX exam to become licensed pharmacists to meet or exceed the pass rates of prior ACP students who have graduated.
McGlothlin noted ACP holds the distinction of having had more than 95 percent of its graduates take and pass the NAPLEX exam. ACP also holds the distinction of having the highest pass rate for first time test takers of the NAPLEX in the Commonwealth and the second highest pass rate of any accelerated pharmacy program in the United States.
“Be the best pharmacist you can be,” McGlothlin told the graduates. “Always seek that first and foremost and to serve the healthcare needs of your fellow man. “I hope you remain students of pharmacy for life,” he added, stressing the importance of continuing education in an ever-evolving profession.
McGlothlin noted ACP is proud to be the pharmacy component of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine through its affiliation with VCOM under the parental guidance of the Harvey Peters Foundation.
“Each of you worked hard to obtain your Doctor of Pharmacy or Doctor of Public Health degree and we are proud of your accomplishments at ACP and will follow your professional progress with vested interest,” he added.
ACP Provost and Dean Susan Mayhew introduced commencement speaker, Alumnus Derek Webb, who graduated from ACP in its inaugural class. Webb is the current director of government affairs-East for Empower Pharmacy based out of Houston, TX. In that capacity, he leads multi-state legislative and regulatory strategy to expand access to high-quality, affordable compounded medications while enabling licensure, facility expansion and business growth. He joined Empower Pharmacy in October 2025, where he has worked to advance legislative and regulatory priorities supporting patient access, pharmacy operations and growth.
He continues to serve on the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, to which he was first appointed in July 2024. There, he is the chair of the regulatory committee, leading updates to state pharmacy by-laws and oversight of disciplinary actions. He was recently elected as the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) District 2 president and serves on the NABP law and legislation committee. He is also engaged with NAIC leadership to explore multi-state policy collaboration. Webb earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from King College in 2005 prior to enrolling at ACP. He also previously served as the Mayor of the Town of Abingdon from July 2020 to January 2023 and currently serves as a member of its Town Council. Webb and his wife, Rebecca, reside in Abingdon with their daughter, Eleanor, age 14.
Webb emphasized that graduation is not the finish line for members of the Class of 2026.
“It’s where the real work begins,” he said, telling them to always look for ways to grow, to be a part of the global conversation surrounding pharmacy and to be willing to explore unexpected opportunities.
“Success is not about having everything planned; it comes from embracing opportunities,” Webb said.
He noted pharmacists hold a position of trust with patients confiding not only their health needs, but also their fears.
“Don’t take it lightly – this is both a responsibility and an opportunity to make an impact,” he said.
He urged graduates to use their voices to advocate for the profession and to help shape healthcare policy and practices.
“Stay grounded in service – focus on people, not just transactions; build relationships because opportunities arise from trust built over time; be willing to lead early – leadership is about stepping forward, not waiting until everything is figured out; and don’t limit yourself to traditional roles — be bold, advocate for change and help define the future of pharmacy,” he said.
Mayhew also introduced Mullins, the commencement student speaker, a native of Wise, VA, and the wife of Tre Mullins and daughter of Ashley and Jerred Chandler.
Mullins attended the University of Virginia’s College at Wise prior to her time at ACP where she pursued a major in biochemistry as a part of a dual degree program offered through a partnership between ACP and UVA-Wise.
During her time at ACP, Mullins has been a part of several organizations, including serving as the secretary of the Class of 2026 Student Government Association. Through her education at ACP, she said she has gained a passion for patient advocacy and empowerment and looks forward to joining her fellow classmates in the profession of pharmacy after graduation.
Mullins noted the profession of pharmacy is one full of opportunity where each can find his or her own way to make a difference.
“I can confidently say this class is determined, strong-willed, passionate, hardworking and dedicated to becoming the best pharmacists we can be for our patients,” Mullins said. “I know this class can and will change lives because of how we have treated patient care in the classroom and in person.”
Mullins encouraged her fellow classmates to remember the connections and friendships formed in pharmacy school and stressed the importance of being there for each other in the future.
“I hope we never forget our time at ACP, the lessons we have learned and the memories we have shared,” Mullins said. “I hope we never forget that beyond professional networking, we have built a network right here within this class — one we can lean on for years to come. And, I hope we never forget to advocate for our patients and empower them so that they can obtain the healthcare they deserve.”
After the presentation of degrees and hooding ceremony concluded, Mayhew administered the Oath of the Pharmacist to members of the graduating class, who promised to devote themselves to a lifetime of service to others through the profession of pharmacy.
Members of the Class of 2026 who earned their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees were as follows: Audrey Rose Allison, of Abingdon, VA; Saraf Anim Haque, of Fort Lauderdale, FL; Olivia Abigayle Arnett, of Draper, VA; Francis Obinna Asogway, of Enugu, Nigeria; Dylan Hugh Barrett, of Honaker, VA; Moin Bhuiyan, of Dhaka, Bangladesh; Micah Quin Blankenship, of Hurley, VA; Lara Cali Campbell, of Stanville, KY; Mary Elizabeth Chumley, of Tazewell, TN; Kacie Dawn Click, of Pounding Mill, VA; Samantha McKenzie Cool, of Pikeville, KY; Donald Amanfo Danson, of Accra, Ghana; Chrystal Dawn Dickens, of Bluefield, VA; Alysa Jaren Etter, of Burkes Garden, VA; Destinee Eve Fannon, of Wise, VA; Makayla Ann Fields, of Jenkins, KY; Dalton Lane Frye, of Saltville, VA; Ryan Carlton Gobble, of Lebanon, VA; Steven Ty Hollon, of Ary, KY; and Adam Christopher Hotelling, of Hindman, KY.
Additional members of the Class of 2026 who earned their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees were Khubaib Iqbal, of Jersey City, NJ; Umar Mahmood Janjua, of Toronto, Ontario; Laci Janie-Vee Jordan, of Erwin, TN; Brady Kirklin Justice, of Hurley; Amanda Alliene Keen, of Cedar Bluff, VA; Jacob Carter Lee Kendrick, of Richlands, VA; Joseph Winston McCall II, of Richlands; Brianna Dawn Moore, of Shelby Gap, KY; Emma Chandler Mullins, of Wise; Brionnah Marie O’Quinn, of Bristol, VA; Farid Oulahrir, of Laurence Harbor, NJ; Hannah Paige Ratliff, of Honaker; Alexia Brooke Rowe, of Tazewell; Brittany Jade Russell, of Banner, KY; Amber Grace Stumbo, of McDowell, KY; Jesse James Tackett, of Harold, KY; Jeannelyz Valle Gonzalez, of Puerto Rico; Rakeem Malik Wright, of Appomattox, VA; Dalton Robert Younce, of Melvin, KY; and Hassan Zubair, of Brooklyn, NY.
The Doctor of Public Health degree was awarded to four students, including Emmanulal Kwaku Oppong, of Ghana and Bronx, NY; Tracie Worrell Rinehardt, of Abingdon; Mark Allen Sanders, of Fort Worth, TX; and Sisay M. Wagnew, of Seattle, WA.
A reception on the lawn followed the conclusion of the commencement exercises.
ABOUT ACP:
The Appalachian College of Pharmacy is the only three-year Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Founded in 2003, the college accepted its first students in 2005. It is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Its mission is to cultivate a learning community committed to education, community outreach and the professional development of pharmacists. Its graduate pharmacists are now practicing throughout the United States. Learn more at www.acp.edu.
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