Alum and Donor News

African American studies and political science alum channels research skills to gauge public opinion

April 22, 2026

Dulanda Saintcyr (B.A.’23) focuses her research work in politics and advocacy for Hart Research

Biology and sociology alum’s advocacy work on campus inspires leadership career at Vegan Action

April 21, 2026

Krissi Vandenberg (B.S.’96, M.S.’07) found a way to help animals by pairing her education with her work in community activism

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.

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.

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

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.

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