2027 Alumni Service Awards

The Douglas N. Morton ’62 Alumni Service Awards recognize alumni who are consistently working to engage and support alumni, connecting them to each other and the university. The W&M Alumni Association Board of Directors will present this year’s awards at a ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2027, during Charter Day Weekend.

See all W&M Alumni Association awards and submit nominations for deserving individuals. Learn more about this year's ceremony.

Alison Dwier-Selden ’86

Much of Alison Dwier-Selden’s service to William & Mary revolves around her passion for education, a love that was sparked during her time in Williamsburg. That love of learning helps inform both her support of the W&M School of Education and her role leading the Charlottesville-Highland network of the William & Mary Alumni Association.

After graduating from W&M, Dwier-Selden spent 35 years in public education, retiring as a principal from the Albemarle County Public Schools system in 2021. Since then, she’s devoted her time to supporting the university in various ways. That includes serving on the School of Education Development Board, which helps shape the school’s fundraising plan.

“Serving on the board has been a really rewarding experience for me,” Dwier-Selden says. “It’s been remarkable to sit down face-to-face with the dean, hear his direction for the School of Education and provide my feedback.”

Dwier-Selden is also a member of the Society of 1918, which advances leadership and philanthropy for women at W&M. Working with the engagement chair, Dwier-Selden’s focus is building excitement and energy around the group’s initiatives.

Dwier-Selden’s background in education makes an impact in more tangible ways, too. As president of the Charlottesville-Highland network of the William & Mary Alumni Association since 2023, she’s worked to engage alumni in Central Virginia via events and programs aimed at a broad audience. Examples include an architectural tour of Monroe Hill at the University of Virginia, notable for its connections to presidents Thomas Jefferson 1762 and James Monroe 1778, both W&M graduates.

In her position, Dwier-Selden has also promoted W&M’s connection with Monroe’s estate, Highland, affectionately known as W&M West. Highland celebrated the 50th anniversary of its affiliation with William & Mary in 2025, and Dwier-Selden led the charge in commemorating the milestone.

“Highland is such an amazing research center,” Dwier-Selden says. “We feel that part of our role is to promote it any way we can and get people to understand the great work being done there.”

With her leadership in the Charlottesville community, on the School of Education Development Board and as a member of the Society of 1918, the throughline is her commitment to future generations of W&M students.

“I look back at my time at William & Mary and think that it was really a foundational experience for me,” Dwier-Selden says. “I’m just trying to make sure I’ve done my part so everyone else can have that too.”

Katie Clark ’24 & Alston Harwood ’24

Katie Clark and Alston Harwood met before they even enrolled at William & Mary.

“We both applied early decision the same year,” Clark says. “We joined a group chat when we were accepted. And then we were lucky and both ended up in Monroe freshman year.”

Since then, their friendship and their bond with William & Mary have both continued to grow. Now, just a few years after their respective graduations, Katie and Alston are being honored together for their contributions to the Williamsburg-Peninsula network of the W&M Alumni Association.

Katie and Alston were each active members of the William & Mary community as students. Katie was part of the first undergraduate cohort at the Institute for Integrative Conservation, and Alston served as vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion for her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. When both remained local after graduation — Alston enrolling at William & Mary Law School, Katie starting a job as a data systems analyst with the City of Williamsburg — they stayed involved with W&M, attending events with the Williamsburg-Peninsula alumni network.

“They had one of the ‘Welcome to The City’ events in the fall of 2024, and both of us went,” Harwood says. “We both thought it was a good idea to meet some fellow alumni in the area.”

Little did they know that, within a couple months, both Katie and Alston would dive into leadership roles. Both now serve on the board of the Williamsburg-Peninsula network, helping to attract Young Guarde members by pitching and executing events geared toward recent graduates. Avid trivia players themselves, the pair has put on successful trivia nights for local alumni.

“I think one of the reasons the board was excited to have us was because we wanted to think of events that would draw a younger crowd,” Clark says.

For the network’s fall 2025 kick-off event, Katie used her connection to the Institute for Integrative Conservation to invite Rob Rose, the Institute’s executive director, as the keynote. Katie and Alston also run the group’s social media channels.

With their tireless efforts, outgoing spirit and love of W&M, Katie and Alston have helped the Williamsburg-Peninsula network achieve a longstanding goal to increase Young Guarde participation.

“Looking back at our first event, we didn’t know anybody and we were trying to integrate ourselves,” Clark says. “But now, we’re the welcoming committee for the younger crowd that’s coming in. We’re able to introduce new people at events so they feel comfortable in the room.”

Mike Carron M.A. ’76, Ph.D. ’80, P ’04 and Susan Shiver Carron ’72, P ’04

Mike and Susan Carron each had long, successful careers — Mike as a globally renowned marine scientist, including extensive service with the Navy, and Susan as an emergency room nurse. Their professional lives took them around the world, from Williamsburg to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to Italy and beyond. In 2014, they came back to Williamsburg and their alma mater, beginning lives of deep and active service to William & Mary.

Their passion for the university began over five decades ago. Susan transferred into W&M halfway through her undergraduate degree. Mike joined her after serving in the military, receiving an M.A. and Ph.D. from what is now W&M’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences. In the early 1970s, the Carrons became “house parents” for Project Plus, a community-based group of W&M students and faculty that lived and learned together. “We’ve stayed close to a lot of them,” Mike says. “A significant number of them became lifelong friends.”

Today, the Carrons are leaders in the W&M community, on campus and in Williamsburg. The couple actively participates in and plans events for the Williamsburg-Peninsula network of the William & Mary Alumni Association, and the pair supported the Alumni House expansion project.

Lifelong learners, they enjoy the academic environment and the opportunity to build connections with students, faculty and staff. This passion leads to a weekly calendar packed with W&M programs and activities. They are often found at women’s basketball games, theatre programs or Virginia Institute of Marine Science events, or at the Muscarelle Museum of Art, where they both volunteer each week.

Susan is a dedicated member of the Muscarelle Board, serving her second term and contributing on the Nominating & Governance and Development committees. Through her philanthropy, she supports the highest priorities of Director David Brashear HON ’07. Susan and Mike have graciously hosted museum events in their home and Susan has devoted countless hours to supporting the annual Wine & Run for the Roses fundraiser.

The couple also supports W&M’s VIMS & Batten School. Mike is currently in his second term on the VIMS Foundation Board and serving on the Board Experience and Governance Committee and the Audit Committee. In 2022, he led the creation of an endowment with two fellow VIMS alumni to support student fieldwork, honoring beloved former professor Robert Byrne.

Mike and Susan are also active volunteers in the Williamsburg community. The couple directs their time and energy to organizations like the Williamsburg Community Foundation, the Williamsburg Neighborhood Council and the Community Leadership Service of Greater Williamsburg. Susan has also served on the City of Williamsburg’s Social Services Advisory Board.

Through serving W&M and Williamsburg, the Carrons bring people together.