Dr. Johnnie L. Early II Honored with AACP 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award

National recognition highlights nearly four decades of extraordinary leadership, instruction, and scholarship in pharmacy education.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) has bestowed its prestigious 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award upon Johnnie L. Early II, Ph.D., R.Ph., FNPhA, of Florida A&M University (FAMU). The national honor recognizes Dr. Early’s lifelong commitment and extraordinary contributions to advancing pharmacy education, research, and professional leadership.

The AACP Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to academic pharmacy and pharmacy education over a minimum of 25 years. Dr. Early was formally presented with the award during the Opening General Session of the AACP 2026 Annual Meeting in Grapevine, Texas.

Spanning nearly four decades of distinguished academic leadership, Dr. Early serves as an AACP Scholar in Residence and is a Fellow of the National Pharmaceutical Association (FNPhA). He has dedicated his career to mentoring future healthcare professionals, building educational pathways, and expanding opportunities for underrepresented youth in pharmacy practice and the pharmaceutical sciences.

By receiving this award, Dr. Early joins a celebrated legacy of academic pharmacy leaders recognized for transformative service at local, national, and global levels.