College of Humanities and Sciences

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Alums and Donors

The College of Humanities and Sciences is not an ordinary educational enterprise. We are the foundation of educational and intellectual life at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Our goal is not just the education, but also the transformation of the students who move through their experiences here with our encouragement to explore opportunities they may have never imagined, and providing them the tools to pursue these opportunities.

Our students represent the world at large; many are the first in their families to attend college. From our humble beginnings we have advanced to a place of distinction in American education.

We are not an ivory tower, quiet and removed from our surroundings. We were born and bred in a city and we are immersed in its energy.

We transform lives in an urban environment that is both nurturing and challenging. We are the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences. Together, we make it real.

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Get to know Ashley Jones: Fun facts and more

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VCU Alumni expanded its team this past fall with the addition of a new role: the alumni engagement officer. With six AEOs onboard, they’re now busy planning and executing dynamic programming for VCU’s colleges and schools, all geared toward boosting alumni involvement and support.

Ashley Jones, director of alumni engagement for the College of Humanities and Sciences, gives us a glimpse into who she is beyond her CV.

Learn more about Ashley

Alum and Donor News

Payton Hardinge, an alum and grad student at VCU, has embraced the critical importance of fundraising to health care in her position as senior director of development for Children’s Hospital Foundation. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Feb. 24, 2026

As her VCU roots deepen, so does her fundraising for pediatric care

Payton Hardinge went from student to staff in 2011, and her work at Children’s Hospital Foundation is funding advances in muscular dystrophy research, family support and other areas.

“Echoes of a Dream,” a documentary that examines Martin Luther King’s relationship with Richmond, debuted in the fall. (The Newviews Agency)

Feb. 18, 2026

Documentary explores MLK’s relationship with the Richmond community

Filmmaker Tyrone Nelson Jr., a VCU alum, says ‘Echoes of a Dream’ tells the overlooked story of how Richmond ‘shows up in the arc’ of King’s rise, while attempting to help reset the city’s understanding of its importance.

The panel discussion accompanies an ongoing exhibit at Cabell Library, “Voices of Change: Student Advocacy and Action from the Archives.” (Photo by Isiah Mejia, VCU Libraries)

Feb. 16, 2026

‘Voices of Change: Stories from Alumni’ to highlight campus activism

The Feb. 26 panel discussion accompanies an ongoing exhibit at James Branch Cabell Library on VCU’s history and legacy of student activism.

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