Tondra L. Moore, PhD, JD, MPH
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Feb. 5, 2026) – January proved to be a milestone month for Dr. Tondra L. Moore, executive director for Health Services and clinical associate professor in Prairie View A&M University’s School of Public and Allied Health. Through national publications, conference leadership, and multiple prestigious awards, Dr. Moore’s work elevated not only her own professional contributions but also the impact and excellence of Prairie View A&M University on a national stage.
On Jan. 12, NASPA Region III announced its 2026 slate of honorees celebrating excellence across the region. Dr. Moore was selected as the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding HBCU/Minority-Serving Institution Professional Region III Award, an honor she will formally receive at the 2026 NASPA Annual Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
Dr. Moore was recognized for a body of work that spans national scholarship and campus-wide innovation, including her leadership in securing a special edition of the Journal of American College Health (JACH) dedicated to highlighting health and wellness efforts at historically Black colleges and universities. Her efforts to expand the visibility and reach of health and well-being initiatives at Prairie View A&M, along with the development of innovative, student-centered programming, such as the inaugural Sickle Cell Warriors program, distinguished her among nominees. As a graduate of an HBCU herself, Dr. Moore has emphasized the importance of ensuring that “others know of the greatness on HBCU campuses.”
Just days later, on Jan. 16, Dr. Moore received another national honor at the NASPA Strategies Conference, where she was named the NASPA Wellness and Health Promotion Knowledge Community 2026 Outstanding Professional. Earlier that week, she also participated in the conference’s opening keynote fireside chat alongside her fellow co-authors, discussing their contributions to Well-Being Leadership in Higher Education: A Guide for Successful Well-Being Programs. The publication provides foundational resources, frameworks, and strategies for institutions of higher learning responding to critical health care challenges.
Her work as a guest editor of JACH, author, and collaborator, particularly her commitment to ensuring HBCUs are represented in the national conversation around collegiate health and well-being, served as the foundation for this recognition.
The month concluded with yet another honor. On Jan. 29, Dr. Moore was named the recipient of the 2026 Exemplary Assessment Work at Minority-Serving Institutions Award by the Student Affairs Assessment Leaders. The award recognized her leadership in advancing assessment-based strategies to improve health and well-being across her departments, as well as her role leading the Student Affairs SACSCOC standards response to highlight the impactful work taking place across the Prairie View A&M campus.
Reflecting on the significance of these recognitions, Dr. Moore shared, “It is rewarding to be honored for the work I do to support others. It is even more rewarding to know that it is appreciated. People take for granted that everyone needs to have a sincere word of appreciation, honor, and gratitude.”
She also reflected on the reception she received during the NASPA Strategies Conference. “I was not prepared for the reception I received at NASPA Strategies,” she said. “I shared the relevance of HBCUs in the national discourse and found my message struck a chord with young professionals across the country from all walks of life.” Dr. Moore added that she left the conference “in awe of what I had experienced while understanding my assignment had expanded in three days’ time.”
One moment, in particular, stood out. “I cannot tell you how many times I was nearly brought to tears by comments shared,” she recalled. “But one stuck out in particular, a young woman shared, ‘Thank you for sharing what you did in such a large space because when you did that, you gave me permission to take up space.’”
Dr. Moore noted that her work now includes a national assignment to support and mentor young professionals in higher education, an expansion of impact that reflects both her leadership and Prairie View A&M University’s growing presence in shaping health, wellness, and assessment practices nationwide.
-PVAMU-