Nancy Mullen was recently honored as Education in Action’s 2012 Educator in Action for her support of the organization’s Exchange City Program. Exchange City is an experiential-learning program that offers students a basic understanding of government, economics, financial literacy and workforce skills. Mullen, who began teaching in the 1970s, most recently served as principal of Matthew J. Kuss Middle School in Fall River, where she worked to turn the once-struggling school around. She holds a B.A. and an M.A. in English and education from the University of Rhode Island, in addition to a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from Boston University. more

David Easterbrooks, director of marketing and business development for Pare Corp., was recently named 2012 marketing professional of the year by the Boston chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. Easterbrooks has worked as a marketing professional at architectural, engineering and construction firms for more than 25 years. As a member of SMPS Boston, he has served as an educational speaker, committee member, president, vice president, treasurer and director of education. He is a certified professional services marketer and holds a B.A. in English from Rutgers University. more

Brad Read, along with his brother Ken, was recently presented the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association’s inaugural Anchor Award. The award recognizes those who make a significant contribution to Rhode Island and its marine trades. Read is executive director of Sail Newport, a public-access sailing center that creates affordable sailing opportunities and draws regattas to Newport. Read, who was chair of the America’s Cup World Series Host Committee, was a central player in drawing this summer’s America’s Cup event back to Rhode Island waters. more

Kelly Whaley, program manager of Cranston Community Learning Center, was recently selected to serve as an after-school ambassador by the Afterschool Alliance. Whaley is one of 12 ambassadors selected from across the country who will serve a one-year term assisting the alliance in creating additional support for after-school programs. Whaley, who serves 200 students in Cranston’s public schools, holds bachelor’s degrees in public relations and communications, and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Rhode Island. more

Mark Freel, a litigation partner in Edwards Wildman’s Providence office, was recently named a recipient of the William G. McLoughlin First Amendment Award, which will be presented by the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union in November. The award is named for a former chair of the Rhode Island ACLU who was also a historian and faculty member at Brown University. Freel holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of New Hampshire, and received his law degree from the University of Connecticut. more

Dr. Peter Karczmar, a pulmonologist and sleep specialist, was recently named the 2012 recipient of the Charles C.J. Carpenter, Outstanding Physician of the Year award by his peers at The Miriam Hospital. Karczmar is a partner in Coastal Medical’s pulmonary and internal-medicine group and serves as director of the Coastal Medical Sleep Disorders Center. A native of Warsaw, Poland, Karczmar received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and completed his internal-medicine residency and fellowships in pulmonary and critical-care medicine at Brown and Rhode Island Hospital. more

Yadira Gilchrest, a senior computer scientist at Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport, was recently named a winner of Women of Color magazine’s Technology Rising Star award. The award recognizes minority women who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in their workplace and communities. Gilchrest currently works in NUWC’s sensors and sonars systems department, where she’s particularly interested in studying the effects of undersea testing on marine species. She holds a B.S. and an M.S. in mathematics from University of Central Florida. more

Richard Salit, an environment and health reporter at The Providence Journal, was recently named co-director of the Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting. In this role, he will provide guidance on institute programs and share his professional experience with journalists who are new to environmental reporting. He holds a B.A. degree in English with a concentration in journalism and creative writing from the State University of New York at Binghamton. more

Dr. Adam C. Levine was recently honored as the inaugural recipient of the Global Emergency Medicine Academy’s Humanitarian Service Award. Levine is an emergency physician at Rhode Island Hospital and an assistant professor at Brown University’s medical school. His award recognizes his commitment to serving distressed countries, primarily as a volunteer physician with International Medical Corps. During the last few years, he has worked in Haiti, Libya and Sudan, providing clinical care, running a trauma field hospital and managing a medical clinic. He holds an M.D. from University of California, San Francisco and master’s of public health from the University of California, Berkeley. more

Mark G. Griffin was recently appointed to the board of directors for Children’s Friend, after being selected for his corporate experience and knowledge of the Rhode Island nonprofit community. Griffin brings more than a decade of organizational and human resources experience to the board and currently serves as senior vice president for corporate human resources at CVS Caremark Corp. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial psychology and human resources from the University of Rhode Island. more