Alum and Donor News

Alumni Q+A: Samantha Clavel (B.S. ’21) is empowering local adolescent girls to be more active

Aug. 26, 2025

Clavel uses the lessons from her health, physical education and exercise science curriculum to promote healthy living in local girls and mentor current students.

Alumni Q+A: Karishma Singh (B.S. ’20) is a storyteller and marketer inspired by literature

Aug. 21, 2025

Singh’s studies in the Department of English created the foundation to pursue roles in marketing and communications.

Alumni Q+A: Ella Balasa (B.S. ’14) is a voice for fellow patients

Aug. 21, 2025

Balasa’s interest in biology put her on a path to better understanding her chronic disease and helping others navigate their treatments.

Alumni Q+A: Denver Supinger (B.A. ’14, M.P.A. ’15) is an advocate for community betterment

Aug. 11, 2025

Supinger’s career of public service in the region was launched in the Department of Political Science.

Alumni Q+A: Jeff MacDonald (B.S. ’10, M.S. ’12) is directing AI’s evolution in creative advertising

Aug. 5, 2025

The creative advertising alumnus reflects on his time at VCU and how it influenced his career path as an industry trailblazer in AI integration

Emma Cummings processes a bird as part of her responsibilities during an internship at Assateague Island National Seashore off the coast of Maryland. (National Park Service)

Recent VCU grad Emma Cummings is bonding, and banding, with the birds

July 24, 2025

In Yellowstone this season, the National Park Service staffer is powered by a lifelong interest in nature and avian ecology lessons from the Rice Rivers Center.

Fulbright recipients from VCU will travel to Argentina, Bulgaria, Germany, Nigeria and Taiwan during the 2025-26 academic year. (File photo)

Five recent graduates receive prestigious Fulbright awards for the 2025-26 academic year

July 23, 2025

The selections continue VCU’s upward trend of honorees in the federal cultural exchange program.

VCU alum Martin Townes has been working at Virginia’s Executive Mansion since 2019. (Photo by Rosa Woodring, a co-worker and VCU alum)

At Virginia’s Executive Mansion, Martin Townes serves the present and preserves the past as butler-historian

April 28, 2025

Longtime passions come together for the VCU alum, who also serves on the state Board of Historic Resources.

(Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Three undergraduates and one recent alum earn distinguished awards for international summer study

April 15, 2025

The four, who have ties to the Honors College, will pursue programs related to diplomacy and science.

Sam Ulmschneider, a VCU history alum, has coached three Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School teams to national titles in the annual We the People competition. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Meet-a-Ram: History Department alumni honoree was a close call – geographically

April 2, 2025

At the Maggie Walker School near VCU, teacher Sam Ulmschneider is instilling wisdom and winning titles in a national civics program.