College of Humanities and Sciences

Current StudentsFaculty & StaffGive

Alum and Donor News

Sean Burns sitting in a chair with headphones on

Turns out, philosophy is pretty good training for software engineering

April 21, 2026

Sean Burns (B.A.’13) credits his background in humanities as the secret sauce for his career

William Strollo studies the inside of an 18th-century corner cupboard made in Salem, North Carolina. (Contributed image)

VCU history alum honored for museum curation and more

April 10, 2026

From tenures at Wilton House, DAR Museum and North Carolina’s Old Salem – and from scholarship on Black artisans – William Strollo wins the History Graduate Alumni Achievement Award.

Patty Smith stands between two students wearing caps and gowns

Creative writing MFA and former VCU instructor leads Appomattox Regional Governor’s School English Department

March 9, 2026

Patty Smith (M.F.A.’01) incorporates what she learned and taught at VCU into her curriculum as Appomattox Regional Governor’s School’s Department of English Chair.

Thomas, Colleen, Mary Reilly and Todd Cecil each majored in chemistry as undergraduates at various schools before doctoral paths diverged between medicine and analytical chemistry at VCU. (Contributed photo)

Meet ‘The Doctors Cecil’ – 1 family, 2 generations, 4 VCU doctoral degrees

March 9, 2026

40 years ago, Todd and Mary Cecil came to VCU, and kids Thomas and Colleen have made it a family affair.

Bryant Mangum's rare book collection features first editions of the works of Alice Adams and F. Scott Fitzgerald, two authors he has studied with particular interest during his career. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Bryant Mangum devoted his career to literature and now he’s sharing his life’s work with VCU

March 5, 2026

Mangum, who taught for 51 years at VCU, is donating not only his personal papers but a collection of rare books, including highly sought-after first editions of the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Courtney LaTourrette

International social justice alum uses law degree to support sustainability and water security

March 4, 2026

International social justice alum uses law degree to support sustainability and water security

Kelly Knight

Focused on making STEM more approachable – IRL and online

March 4, 2026

Kelly Knight (M.S.’08) is a forensic science professor and STEM program director educating undergraduates in forensic science and introducing pre- and teenage girls to STEM-based education.

Morgan Holt Jackson

Math alum analyzes data to make higher education more accessible

March 3, 2026

Morgan Holt Jackson, Ph.D., (M.S.’22, Ph.D.’25) determines the “big picture” for colleges and universities through research and data analysis

Thomas Dunlap speaks into a microphone

Alumni Q+A: SLSS alum Thomas Dunlap fights for the James River and everyone who relies on it

Feb. 24, 2026

A river can’t speak for itself. That’s where Thomas Dunlap (B.S.’11, M.S.’14) comes in.

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)

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

Feb. 24, 2026

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.