College of Humanities and Sciences

Equity, Inclusion and Diversity

As a student in the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS), you will be appreciated for your unique background and perspectives.

You can expect the courses you take, the new friendships you embark on and the clubs and organizations you become a part of to reflect diversity in numerous forms.

We value your different perspectives, life experiences, cultural backgrounds and social identities. These foster our shared principles of inclusive excellence. Our commitment to social justice and equity are further demonstrated through community engagement. You will see our values reflected in activities that promote equity within our local community, whether through experiential learning classes, working on a community-based research project or volunteering.

You can expect resources, such as wellness activities, counseling, training and special events. These resources also include those that are uniquely tailored to your cultural group or social identity. We believe you will feel empowered by the many opportunities available to enable you to be successful.

Get Involved

v.c.u. students walking outside cabell library

As a student at VCU, you'll find multitudes of opportunities to engage with other people—people with similar interests, people who are completely different, people you’d never meet otherwise.

They’ll make your college experience meaningful and help you be a part of something bigger than yourself.

Explore opportunities

Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Highlights

Sheila Hernandez-Rubio will spend two years conducting research with the NIH after graduation, looking into health disparities in Black and Hispanic communities. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

April 30, 2024

Class of 2024: Family and diversity inspire Sheila Hernández-Rubio on her path toward medicine and community

With a NIH project starting soon, pre-med student embraces how undergraduate research and multicultural groups shaped her VCU experience.

At the 2024 PACME ceremony: (from left to right) Faye Z. Belgrave, Ph.D., vice president and chief diversity officer; Austin Ezzard, a social work student; Kim Case, Ph.D., professor of psychology and affiliate professor of gender, sexuality and women’s studies; KáLyn "Kay" Coghill, a media, art and text student; Christina Davis, advisor and instructor in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program; Shawn Utsey, Ph.D., professor of psychology and acting chair of the Department of African American Studies; Brooke Berry, interim associate vice president for strategic initiatives, inclusion & belonging; and VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. (Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

April 18, 2024

‘We are diversity’: Five VCU community members honored at the 2024 PACME ceremony

Shawn Utsey, recipient of the Riese-Melton Award, notes ‘how much work we still have to do. We cannot afford to become complacent in the face of injustice.’

Cecelia Valrie, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Psychology, received the Award for Interdisciplinary Collaboration from the NIH’s HEAL Initiative. (Contributed photo)

Feb. 20, 2024

VCU psychology professor wins NIH award for research into pediatric pain management

Cecelia Valrie’s latest interdisciplinary work aims to help young patients with sickle cell disease.

Equity and inclusion: our core values

Within the College of Humanities and Sciences, inclusion and diverse representation are vital for the continued forward progression of the university. I see these values exemplified through the mentorship I receive from BIPOC faculty with identities salient to my own, diverse representation of students within my program, as well as through the growing recognition of and increasing value placed on community engaged work within my department.

Bianca 
Owens
Health Psychology Doctoral Student