From the Dean
Welcome to VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences 2023-24 Annual Report!
On the cover of this issue is a symbol that holds great significance in the College of Humanities and Sciences: the ampersand. If you happen to come on campus, you may run into our giant ampersand statue, which we often take out on the campus for student photo shoots. Or you may have seen some of the ampersand swag — T-shirts, tote bags, pins, and the like — sported by our faculty, staff, and students. What does it all mean?
In the College of Humanities and Sciences, we like to say that we “Embrace the And.” That expression, along with the symbol of the ampersand, captures the interdisciplinary nature of our college. We connect faculty and students across various departments and areas of expertise to create an intellectual space that transcends traditional academic boundaries. We offer learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom. We pair donors with students with the goal of supporting all higher education journeys. And we honor the multiple interests, passions, and selves within our student body. We hope that you join us when we say, “Embrace the And.”
Bridging Academia and Industry
Student job readiness is very much part of the conversation when we consider the future of the College of Humanities and Sciences. This year we began developing badges and microcredentials, two- or three-course cycles clustered around a specific skill or a thematic area of study.
Two of the badges that evolved out of this discussion were the UX (user experience) and Advertising badge from the Robertson School of Media and Culture, and the Ethics and Philosophy of AI badge from the Department of Philosophy. (Read more about this initiative on p. 4.) We are excited to see how students really use these microcredentials in their job search and upon graduation.
Fostering Intellectual Exchange
We are always looking for ways to build our intellectual community here on campus. In fall 2023, we launched the Dean’s Research Seminar, a new monthly event made up of brief presentations by faculty who were granted research leave the previous semester, followed by an animated discussion with audience members. Over the course of the series, we learned much from our colleagues and found unexpected connections among our departments. This year we plan to capitalize further on the interdisciplinary nature of the College of Humanities and Sciences with our Dean’s Professor program, a new designation that recognizes and facilitates a faculty member’s ability to teach in more than one academic department or school.
Through these new initiatives, we are making sure that faculty also continue to “Embrace the And.” As you can see, we have much to celebrate from this past year, and that doesn’t even include all the student awards, increased grant funding, new publications, and innovative programming we also enjoyed. I invite you to explore this annual report and discover the remarkable achievements and exciting developments that have recently shaped our college.
As we embark on this new academic year, I want to express my gratitude to our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters who continue to drive our college forward. Your dedication and passion are the cornerstones of our success. Together, we are building a stronger, more dynamic College of Humanities and Sciences that will continue to inspire, educate, and lead in the years to come.
Thank you,
Catherine Ingrassia, Ph.D.
Dean
College of Humanities and Sciences