West Virginia native Marcia Brand has been awarded the 2011 Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive, the highest level of recognition for federal government employees. Dr. Brand is the Deputy Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the division of HHS that works to expand access to health care to U.S. residents, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay. Over a 20-year career at HHS, she has provided national leadership to develop better health policy for rural areas; increase and improve the quality of the nation’s health workforce; improve access to health care for children; and, raise awareness to the importance of oral health.

Brand grew up in Martinsburg and is a graduate of Martinsburg High School. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University in Virginia and was the first to earn a Master of Science from the School of Dental Hygiene there. She went on to a doctoral degree from the University of Pennsylvania, but returned to her roots and her home outside of Shepherdstown, where she lives today.

One way that she is giving back is through service to Shepherd University.

“We have benefited greatly by having Dr. Brand serve on our Board of Governors,” said Shepherd President Suzanne Shipley. “It is a privilege to have a person of her caliber associated with Shepherd. We extend hearty congratulations to Dr. Brand on her career achievement.”