News

Esha Sharma, an Honors College student, has participated in more than a half-dozen research projects as an undergraduate at VCU. (William Lineberry, Honors College)

Class of 2025: Esha Sharma finds harmony through humanities and hard science

April 21, 2025

From diverse research projects as an undergraduate, the aspiring ER physician embraced the link between anthropology and medicine.

Pope Francis, pictured here in 2014, was the first Latin American pope elected in the Catholic Church’s history. (Getty Images)

Pope Francis’ legacy may be a ‘bridge between tradition and modernity’

April 21, 2025

Religious studies professor Andrew Chesnut outlines the history-making pontiff’s impact – and where the Catholic Church may turn next.

VCU undergraduate Brooklyn Griffin takes a 3D scan of a grave in Richmond’s Woodland Cemetery. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

One scan at a time, VCU researchers give life to history in Richmond’s Black cemeteries

April 11, 2025

With 3D scanning technology, the Virtual Curation Lab is documenting the deceased and giving descendants a chance to connect with their families’ pasts.

During a semester of educational leave from VCU, Laura Middlebrooks, Ph.D., took thousands of photos and videos of public art throughout Spain. (Contributed photo)

Connecting art, protest and local history, professor Laura Middlebrooks steps outside the classroom to make an impact inside it

April 8, 2025

A fall research trip to Spain is yielding more ideas to further integrate language instruction, public art and student engagement.

In her new book, “Cervantes y las joyas” (“Cervantes and Jewels”), VCU author Mar Martínez-Góngora (Davis) explores the 16th- and 17th-century writer’s use of jewels and gems. (Contributed photo)

VCU author examines symbolic use of jewels in Cervantes’ work

March 27, 2025

In her new book, School of World Studies professor Mar Martínez-Góngora highlights the many facets of the ‘Don Quixote’ author’s works.

The Academy Awards will be held on March 2. (Getty Images)

At the movies: Professors review Oscar-nominated films through the lens of their expertise

Feb. 27, 2025

Ahead of the Academy Awards, professors discuss what worked – or didn’t – in five of the 2025 nominees.

Iman Sikandar (left) and Samantha Mendoza-Hernandez (right) didn’t know each other when they became roommates freshman year, but now they are inseparable. (Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Unbreakable bonds: Just random roommates at first, Iman Sikandar and Samantha Mendoza-Hernandez are now united by ‘invisible string’

Feb. 14, 2025

An early falling-out helped the undergrads realize how much they’d miss without each other’s sisterhood.

Jatia Wrighten, Ph.D. and Alexandra Reckendorf, Ph.D., talked to students about political and social movements during their session in the U.S. Democracy United/Divided course. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

For the many layers of American democracy, new course taps into the many layers of VCU faculty expertise

Feb. 13, 2025

Nearly three dozen specialists in the College of Humanities and Sciences are collectively teaching U.S Democracy United/Divided this semester – and organizers think the concept will evolve.

Paige Dossett and Samuel Dobbs, who married in 2016, met as students near VCU’s Monroe Park Campus. (Contributed photo)

Unbreakable bonds: Their time at VCU was ‘a real blessing’ for alums Samuel Dobbs and Paige Dossett — even if their first date was a bit of a stretch

Feb. 11, 2025

The couple, who married in 2016, met by chance as students and never looked back.

In December, members of the VCU community organized a clinic to provide free vaccinations to uninsured residents. (Getty Images)

At free clinic, Latinx students at VCU promote good health and community

Jan. 29, 2025

The event at Richmond’s Sacred Heart Center reflects ‘an exceptional demonstration’ of care and outreach, one of its leaders says.