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

Get to know Ashley Jones: Fun facts and more

April 22, 2024

Introducing the College of Humanities and Sciences alumni engagement officer

Read the October '22 alum newsletter

Oct. 12, 2022

Enjoy the latest articles about the research, achievements and successes of our students, faculty and alums. Feel the Ram pride!

The Jenas give to honor VCU’s impact on their family

April 26, 2021

Tripti Jena, M.D., and Purusottam “Puru” Jena, Ph.D., credit much of their family’s well-being to the careers and community they found when they joined Virginia Commonwealth University in 1980.

15 faculty and staff members honored at annual awards ceremony

Oct. 29, 2021

The awards celebrate excellence of faculty and staff in the College of Humanities and Sciences.

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.

Heather Caslin, Ph.D. (B.S.’12, M.S.’14, Ph.D.’18) trains the next generation of physiology students

Jan. 30, 2026

An alumna of both the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences and the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability, Caslin’s career in teaching and research was inspired by her time on the Monroe Park campus.

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.

Celebrating the famous French philosopher in ‘Badiou’

April 13, 2026

VCU professor Rohan Kalyan brought a creative, “open-ended imagery” approach to his film about Alain Badiou.

CHS welcomes Corey Moore to the Dean's Office

Jan. 9, 2026

Corey will serve as associate dean for enrollment and student success.

Five Questions with international studies major Eva Burcher

March 6, 2026

The sophomore was inspired to choose her major because of its interdisciplinary nature.

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

Five questions with GSWS and sociology double major Dani Schiff

April 21, 2026

Schiff is set to expand on their undergraduate education by pursuing a master’s degree in sociology after graduation

Five questions with GSWS and sociology double major Sara Steingruber

April 21, 2026

Five questions with GSWS and sociology double major Sara Steingruber

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

Kiffy Werkheiser (B.A.’07, M.S.’08) combines her passion for philanthropy with theater

Oct. 28, 2025

Werkheiser’s studies as an undergraduate in the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, and as a graduate student in the Department of Sociology laid the groundwork for a career in nonprofits and philanthropy.

Five Questions with Math, Physics, and Biology Student Rehan Adatia

Feb. 24, 2026

The triple major is expected to graduate in May 2026.

Five questions with philosophy and psychology double major Sterling DeMascio

April 22, 2026

The Colorado Summer Seminar in Philosophy is one of the top seminars in the country and only offers 20 spots each summer. Sterling DeMascio earned one of them.

J. Kim Penberthy, Ph.D. (Ph.D.’98) pursues innovative therapies to expand patient freedom

Jan. 30, 2026

The Department of Psychology alumna recently returned to campus to speak on prolonged grief disorder and the feasibility of psilocybin treatment

Peter Zucker, Ph.D., (M.S. ’81, Ph.D. ’83) is paying it forward with gratitude

Sept. 22, 2025

The Department of Psychology alumnus reflects on his educational journey, its influence on his career in organization attunement and the joy of helping current students

Alumni Q+A: Stephanie Violante, Ph.D., (M.S. ’18, Ph.D. ’23) utilizes her training from VCU to treat childhood anxiety

Sept. 16, 2025

The Department of Psychology and CREATE Lab alumna works to support and empower children.

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.

Nardos Iyob (B.A. ’20) raises awareness for a major adolescent development study

Nov. 10, 2025

Iyob’s survey of the humanities as a Department of Political Science and Department of African American Studies double major prepared her to work in research

Five Questions with African American studies and political science major Queani Johnson

April 21, 2026

Queani Johnson will pursue law school after the completion of her undergraduate studies

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

Clinton McFeely, Ph.D. (B.S. ’14, B.S. ’17, Ph.D. ’22) experiments at the molecular level in search of new treatments

Oct. 22, 2025

The Departments of Physics and Chemistry alumnus found his niche in theoretical science, experimenting in VCU’s labs to prepare for his professional career.

Physics alum instrumental in distribution of liver treatments to patients

April 22, 2026

Amy Chavis (B.S.’14, M.S.’16) credits her time in the Department of Physics in preparation for leading an engineering team at Beam Therapeutics

Marina Pugh (B.A. ’20) uses professional and volunteer experience to enhance political campaign operations

Oct. 17, 2025

The School of World Studies and Department of Philosophy alumna worked in political campaigns across Virginia and served in the Peace Corps in Kosovo.

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

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

Adriene Marshall (B.S. ’91, M.T. ’94) is making mathematics more accessible for K-12 students

Sept. 29, 2025

The Maryland-based educator works in every level of the state’s education system to decrease students’ anxiety around mathematics

From the River City to Grind City, Jarred Boyd, D.P.T. (B.S. ’12) directs rehabilitation for the Memphis Grizzlies

Feb. 17, 2026

The HPEX graduate from the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences provides high-end rehabilitative care for the Grizzlies’ players.

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.

Mikaela Romanelli (M.S. ’14) protects her community using forensic chemistry

Oct. 9, 2025

The Department of Forensic Science alumna continues to use her training from her graduate program as a senior forensic chemist with the Drug Enforcement Administration

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.

Five Questions with Department of English graduate student Cael Sinclair

March 4, 2026

Sinclair is obsessed with old books, a topic he plans to explore more fully in a doctoral program after graduation.

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.

Alumni Q+A: Devleena Samanta, Ph.D. (M.S. ’12) is guiding the next generation of nanoscientists

Sept. 15, 2025

The Department of Chemistry alumna utilizes her experiences at VCU to guide her own students in her lab at the University of Texas at Austin.

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.