College of Humanities and Sciences

Current StudentsFaculty & StaffGive

News

Divorce or relationship discord between parents is associated with children's risk for the potential of alcohol use disorder as adults, a study co-authored by a VCU Department of Psychology doctoral student found. (Getty Images)

Divorce or relationship discord between parents may indicate children’s genetic risk for future alcohol misuse

Nov. 16, 2022

A study, co-authored by a VCU developmental psychology doctoral student and a Rutgers researcher, found that experiencing adversities around divorce and marital discord can be “one pathway through which genetic risk for alcohol problems is passed from parents to their children.”

"CBS Sunday Morning" correspondent David Pogue (right) interviews Alex Keena, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, at Scott House on VCU's Monroe Park Campus. (Mary Kate Brogan, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

VCU professor shares gerrymandering expertise with ‘CBS Sunday Morning’

Nov. 15, 2022

“What’s clear is that when politicians are drawing the line, then we see partisan gerrymandering,” said Alex Keena, an assistant professor of political science and co-author of two books on gerrymandering.

"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," in theaters this week, centers the stories of Black women as leaders, something pop culture scholar Grace D. Gipson, Ph.D., says has the power to make a difference in how Black girls and women see themselves - and how others see them. “Representation is essential and important because what we see in pop culture influences and offers us a viewpoint into how we make decisions, how we view things, the way in which things are portrayed and people are portrayed,” says Gipson, an assistant professor of African American Studies at VCU's College of Humanities and Sciences. (Courtesy Walt Disney Studios)

The smartest person in the Marvel universe, how ‘Black Panther’ – and its sequel – changed Hollywood and why representation in pop culture matters

Nov. 10, 2022

“‘Black Panther’ has changed the game of saying what can and does sell. It wasn’t just Black people who went to go see ‘Black Panther;’ everybody — the world — went to see it,” says Grace D. Gipson, Ph.D.

VCU grad Summer Lambert's DIYgrrl workshops have attracted participants eager to learn valuable life skills. (Contributed photo)

VCU grad learns the art of the startup through DIY project

Nov. 9, 2022

Summer Lambert, who received a creative advertising degree at VCU, has a new business that holds classes designed to teach women a variety of life skills.

Urban agriculture is among the areas of focus for the Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment. (Getty Images)

VCU launches Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment

Nov. 3, 2022

The institute will help faculty from across the university work on projects that address the climate change crisis.

“Despite decades of efforts to reduce racial pain disparities, the pain of Black patients continues to be underdiagnosed and undertreated,” said Nao Hagiwara, Ph.D., co-lead of a new NIH-funded study. (Getty Images)

NIH awards $2.4M grant to VCU psychology professor to study racial disparities in pain management

Oct. 27, 2022

Nao Hagiwara will co-lead the research effort, saying, “There is an urgent need to address this decades-old issue by taking an innovative approach.”

Connect: Community Engagement Conference's organizers hope community members will share their perspectives on how to address the issues that are relevant to the larger community, including challenges facing the region around health, education, equity and cultural vitality. (Contributed image)

VCU invites community to participate in Connect: Community Engagement Conference on Nov. 2

Oct. 24, 2022

Day of learning, networking and skill development will highlight the impact of successful community partnerships.

Film camp participants Bradley Baawuah, James Dew Hall and Leanna Morris prepare to film a scene under the instruction of VCU School of the Arts graduate student Manavi Singh (center) at VCU. (Photo by Kevin Morley, University Marketing)

East Marshall Street Well Project engages community through film camp, K-12 education and archival research

Oct. 24, 2022

A new grant supports public education, community research and public communication around the East Marshall Street Well and its history of structural and medical racism.

Samy El-Shall, Ph.D., who has been appointed a program director at the National Science Foundation, has had research funded by the NSF since 1990. (University Marketing)

VCU chemistry professor appointed to direct a research program at NSF Chemistry Division

Oct. 21, 2022

Among his areas of emphasis, M. Samy El-Shall hopes to create new funding opportunities in the chemistry of sustainable water and energy.

Chelsea Jones (left) with Julio S. Amador III, executive director, Philippine-American Educational Foundation. Jones has been in the Philippines since June on a Fulbright student scholarship. (Contributed photo)

Through Fulbright, VCU alum applies data science to COVID outbreaks in the Philippines

Oct. 21, 2022

Chelsea Jones, who earned a Ph.D. in systems modeling and analysis from VCU, is spending nine months in the Philippines on a Fulbright student scholarship.