Faculty Research News

Carolyn Eastman, Ph.D., is a historian of early America with a special interest in 18th- and 19th-century histories of political culture, the media and gender. (Contributed photo)

History well-spoken: VCU professor Carolyn Eastman to explore speechifying in the Revolutionary Era

July 5, 2023

Oratory – and how it shaped the early American identity – will be the talking points of July 20 address at St. John’s Church in Richmond.

Marco Aldi, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, leads students in a braiding activity. (Contributed photo)

Twisted in knots? That’s a good thing at VCU Geometry Camp for middle-schoolers

June 23, 2023

The weeklong summer day program uses hands-on learning to make math meaningful at an impressionable age.

Nicholas Farrell, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Chemistry, is retiring from VCU after a decorated career. (Contributed photo)

Nicholas Farrell, VCU chemist with a major legacy in cancer treatment, retires after 30 years

June 15, 2023

Professor helped develop Triplatin, a drug with the potential to treat ‘some of the most aggressive cancer types’ – and helped develop countless student researchers.

Trisko Darden UNOCT: Jessica Trisko Darden, Ph.D., records an informational video for the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism during a visit to Doha, Qatar. (Contributed photo)

U.N. counterterrorism program features VCU’s Jessica Trisko Darden

June 14, 2023

At inaugural Behavioral Insights Academy, associate professor of political science shares expertise on women’s role in political violence.

Rima Franklin, Ph.D., who will serve as interim vice provost of VCU Life Sciences, conducts research in microbial ecology, wetland and soil biogeochemistry, nitrogen cycling, and environmental and public health microbiology. (File photo)

Rima Franklin named interim vice provost of VCU Life Sciences

June 12, 2023

Franklin, who will continue to serve as chair of the Department of Biology, joined the VCU faculty in 2007.

One of the seven small waterfowl bone aerophones discovered at the Final Natufian site of Eynan-Mallaha that can be described as a notched flute (Andean quena type). Detail of the play-holes (in green), the marks (in blue), the mouthpiece, the distal part and the red ochre residues that decorated the instrument. (Davin et al., 2023)

VCU forensic science professor Tal Simmons, team discover 12,000-year-old flutes made from bird bones

June 9, 2023

Found in northern Israel, they are the first prehistoric sound instruments identified from the Near East – and the oldest imitating a bird call from any ancient civilization.

Albert Farrell, Ph.D., (left) and Catherine Ingrassia, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, pose for a photo after Farrell won the College of Humanities and Sciences Distinguished Mentoring Award this spring. Farrell, founding director of the Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development at VCU and longtime psychology professor, is retiring after 43 years at VCU. (Courtesy Alexis Finc, College of Humanities and Sciences)

Albert Farrell, mentor, researcher and founder of VCU’s Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development, retires after 43 years

June 8, 2023

Psychology professor has spent decades supporting Richmond and the study of youth violence prevention.

McKenna Brown (second from left), shown on a recent visit to Guatemala, served as the founding director of VCU’s School of World Studies in the College of Humanities and Sciences. He retires this year after 28 years on VCU’s faculty. (Courtesy McKenna Brown)

College of Humanities and Sciences