churchill3333Winona State University of Minnesota announces James Churchill (’94) will be honored as a Distinguished Alumnus during Homecoming 2016.

Churchill served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps before coming to WSU as a first generation, non-traditional student, completing a major and double minors in two and a half years, and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1994. He continued his studies at Indiana University, receiving a Ph.D. in neuroscience and psychology.

He conducted additional post-doctoral research and taught for several years at Saint Louis University before accepting a position at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Churchill has had multiple journal publications, book chapters and reviews in his field of study. At NIMH, he has served as a training program officer, led a national initiative on integrating neuroscience content into the K-12 classroom, served as director of training for the developmental division, served as lead for an Army focused data collection program on suicide in soldiers, leads President Obama’s BRAIN Initiative, is program officer for the Human Connectome Project and serves as co-lead for the NIMH Suicide Research Investment Team.

Churchill and his wife, Karen, have a daughter, Madison, and reside in Thurmont, Md.

Every year the Winona State University Alumni Society recognizes alumni, faculty, staff and community members for the accomplishments they have made in their careers and contributions they have made to Winona State and their communities, living Winona State’s mission to improve the world.

More information on the awards can be found at www.winona.edu/alumni.