News

Robert Sims, who recently retired as a professor in the School of World Studies, joined VCU’s foreign languages department in 1976. (Contributed photo)

Robert Sims, an architect of VCU’s Spanish studies, retires after a half-century

July 3, 2025

The School of World Studies professor influenced countless students – and donated thousands of books to VCU Libraries.

VCU undergraduates awarded Gilman Scholarships for 2025

May 6, 2025

The federal program supports study abroad for students with financial need.

Felicia Fowler will graduate in May with a degree in religious studies from VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences. (Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2025: Felicia Fowler relishes the long journey to her VCU degree

May 5, 2025

The Residential Life and Housing staff member, who is graduating more than three decades after starting her studies, represents ‘a remarkable story of persistence.’

Merilyn Arikkat, who will graduate in May, is co-executive director of VCU Votes, a student-led, nonpartisan initiative. (Contributed photo)

Class of 2025: VCU Votes co-leader Merilyn Arikkat drives civic engagement among fellow students

April 28, 2025

The biology major and aspiring doctor is among national honorees for championing democracy.

VCU alum Martin Townes has been working at Virginia’s Executive Mansion since 2019. (Photo by Rosa Woodring, a co-worker and VCU alum)

At Virginia’s Executive Mansion, Martin Townes serves the present and preserves the past as butler-historian

April 28, 2025

Longtime passions come together for the VCU alum, who also serves on the state Board of Historic Resources.

Cloud Easterly, a second-year communication arts major at VCU, said the Graphic Narratives Lab fellowship was the push they needed to bring their ideas to life. Here, their character Suko poses with some sidekicks. (Contributed by Cloud Easterly)

Undergraduates flex their comics creativity in VCU’s Graphic Narratives Lab

April 24, 2025

The initial cohort of students explores visual storytelling and scholarship.

Jenna Hallinger (right) during an Outdoor Adventure Club outing. Hallinger was a student leader for the group. (Contributed photo)

Class of 2025: Jenna Hallinger gets her hands around history

April 23, 2025

Her path to archaeology was molded by VCU classes, a VMFA internship and field work in Romania.

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.