News

May graduates Tony and Wanda Reynolds, who are married, leaned on each other as they pursued matching undergraduate degrees from VCU. (Sian Wilkerson, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2026: Tony and Wanda Reynolds pursued their degrees side by side

April 30, 2026

The couple, who have been married for more than 30 years, entered school together. Now aged 65 and 58, they will graduate with their psychology degrees.

Samantha Castro Teixeira, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology at VCU, is researching psychological interventions for chronic pain. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

World@VCU: Samantha Castro Teixeira from Brazil

April 29, 2026

‘I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how warm and welcoming people are, not only in Richmond but especially within the pain research community.’

Serpentine forests damaged by Hurricane Maria, like this one in Puerto Rico’s Isabela region, recovered faster than expected after the storm. (contributed photo)

Puerto Rico’s forests recovered in unexpected ways post-Hurricane Maria, VCU research finds

April 29, 2026

Biology professor Catherine Hulshof studies extreme environments, like Puerto Rico’s forests, to find out how they may react as the climate changes.

An analysis of 16 studies found that the scientific literature does not support claims that 60-90% of youth identifying as transgender ultimately desist from that identity. (Getty Images)

Common claim that most transgender youth renounce that identity is not supported by statistics, VCU research finds

April 27, 2026

The argument that studies show transgender youth desist from that identity on average has been used to support anti-gender-affirming care legislation nationwide.

Tara Nikzad Joolhar said the culture of the lab where she conducts research is “uplifting.” “People are always teaching and learning from one another without any judgment.” (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

How I found my research: Tara Nikzad Joolhar loves both the challenges and surprises she finds in the lab

April 27, 2026

Joolhar, a science and philosophy major at VCU, will graduate this spring at the age of 20. A career in medicine is in her sights next.

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

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.

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

(Photo by Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Scenes from a (very) RVA Renaissance Faire

April 22, 2026

VCU students, faculty and alumni teamed with community members to help put on a new event that celebrated both the distant past and what makes the Richmond area so special today.

Harrish Ganesh learned that he had been admitted to medical school at Cornell University while standing outside Cabell Library. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2026: In hopes of sharing more good karma, Harrish Ganesh heads to medical school

April 22, 2026

Ganesh, a biology and bioinformatics major, worked as an EMT and founded a nonprofit during his time at VCU. Cornell University is next.