Undergraduate Student News

Fosua Adu-Gyamfi is a senior biology major at VCU. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

How I found my research: Fosua Adu-Gyamfi learns from undergrad experiences at both VCU and the National Cancer Institute

Feb. 17, 2025

The senior, who serves as a research assistant in a VCU lab studying alcohol use disorder, embraces research’s potential to improve the world ‘one question at a time.’

Iman Sikandar (left) and Samantha Mendoza-Hernandez  (right) didn’t know each other when they became roommates freshman year, but now they are inseparable. (Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Unbreakable bonds: Just random roommates at first, Iman Sikandar and Samantha Mendoza-Hernandez are now united by ‘invisible string’

Feb. 14, 2025

An early falling-out helped the undergrads realize how much they’d miss without each other’s sisterhood.

Jatia Wrighten, Ph.D. and Alexandra Reckendorf, Ph.D., talked to students about political and social movements during their session in the U.S. Democracy United/Divided course. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

For the many layers of American democracy, new course taps into the many layers of VCU faculty expertise

Feb. 13, 2025

Nearly three dozen specialists in the College of Humanities and Sciences are collectively teaching U.S Democracy United/Divided this semester – and organizers think the concept will evolve.

Aashka Patel was one of four VCU undergraduate student researchers to present their work as part of an inaugural showcase at the General Assembly Building. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Hoping to inspire change, VCU undergraduates highlight their research for Virginia lawmakers

Feb. 12, 2025

Three projects, which touched on health and the environment, were part of a statewide showcase Feb. 6 at Capitol Square during the annual General Assembly session.

Erin Washington and Myia Graves were just looking for a roommate when they met. What they ended up finding was a best friend. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Unbreakable bonds: How Myia Graves and Erin Washington went from roommates to besties

Feb. 11, 2025

What started as a DM on Instagram turned into a friendship full of musicals, late-night videogames and endless fun.

Political science major Brianna Cobbs spent the fall semester traveling back-and-forth from Washington, D.C., for a communications internship with CNN. (Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

VCU student Brianna Cobbs gets semester-long crash course in political reporting

Feb. 5, 2025

During CNN internship, the second-year political science major contributed to the newsroom and even helped out on Election Day.

Fourth-year biology major and track and field star Guðru´n Hallgrímsdóttir is hoping to step onto the Olympic stage. (VCU Athletics)

VCU track and field All-American has come a great distance – and throws one, too

Jan. 28, 2025

Hammer in hand, Iceland native Guðru´n Hallgrímsdóttir competes on the world stage and is setting her sights on the Olympics.

Lauren Moncayo, a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, is balancing her scientific education and passion for modeling (Photo by Arda Athman, School of Medicine)

From the lab to the runway: Ph.D. candidate finds confidence through research

Jan. 24, 2025

Graduate student Lauren Moncayo said pursuing a doctorate has made her reevaluate other goals she considered ‘out of reach,’ like becoming a model.

VCU student Danielle Beale, a certified peer recovery specialist, has worked to bring VCU Rams in Recovery services, such as the free naloxone bike, to area community colleges. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

From a perspective of experience, VCU student Danielle Beale links Rams in Recovery to local community colleges

Jan. 21, 2025

The transfer student who 'messed up a lot' earlier in life is helping extend the program’s benefits.

Biology student Naeem Ahmad hopes to pursue a career in the medical field after graduation. (Contributed photo)

Through science, medicine and empathy, junior Naeem Ahmad hopes to serve across borders

Jan. 8, 2025

Influenced by a pre-college experience and VCU’s Diversity P.A.T.H.S. office, the biology major is nurturing his commitment to health care and humanitarianism.