VCU College of Humanities and Sciences

Undergrad Aleah Nguyen embraces the chance ‘to write my own story’ in pediatric cancer research The rising junior in VCU’s Honors College participated in a summer program that paired her with a School of Medicine researcher.

Today we celebrate three amazing faculty members – Charlene Crawley, Xuiwei Wang, and Shelli Fowler – at VCU’s 42nd Annual Faculty Convocation.

An associate professor in the Department of English, Shelli Fowler’s focus is on active learning in all environments, with her teaching based around interactive, inclusive and discussion-based engagement. Fowler has created new courses, mentored graduate students and colleagues, and is constantly adapting to the technological changes that shape teaching – while remaining committed to equity in the classroom and to the success of her students.

Her teaching is aligned with the tenets of Quest 2028, VCU’s strategic plan to prepare students to thrive in and beyond the university. She also co-created and co-facilitates a monthly pedagogy colloquium to address teaching strategies and to build community among students in Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts programs.

Today we celebrate three amazing faculty members – Charlene Crawley, Xuiwei Wang, and Shelli Fowler – at VCU’s 42nd Annual Faculty Convocation.

Within his first five years at VCU, Xuiwei Wang, associate professor of chemistry, has established an interdisciplinary research program that is globally recognized for the groundbreaking science that could dramatically improve human health.

He is a leader in the field of portable, wearable, implantable and microfluidic chemical sensors for monitoring health and diagnosing illness, and also an expert in designing nitric-oxide-releasing nanocarriers and bioimplants, especially 3D-printed patient-specific stents, urinary catheters and intravascular catheters. He and his team of students apply chemistry systems in ways that allow testing the tiniest blood droplets at patients’ homes or monitoring critical care chemicals in hospitals.

Today we celebrate three amazing faculty members – Charlene Crawley, Xuiwei Wang, and Shelli Fowler – at VCU’s 42nd Annual Faculty Convocation.

For over 25 years, Charlene Crawley, associate professor of chemistry and director of the Interdisciplinary Science Program, has consistently dedicated her life to VCU and its students.

Her leadership on the college’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee resulted in the development of sustainable initiatives that strengthened the college’s commitment to equity and inclusion. She has won numerous awards, including the Presidential Award for Community Multicultural Enrichment in 2017 along with the 2017 Riese-Melton capstone award designation.

Check out our student researchers on the annual COHD retreat from this summer!

Rice Rivers Center hosts VCU Center on Health Disparities retreat - Rice Rivers Center - Virginia Commonwealth University Rice Rivers Center hosts VCU Center on Health Disparities retreat Aug. 23, 2024Author: Lynne McCarthyFaculty and students from Monroe Park and Health Campuses discuss intersection between human and environmental health.A group of faculty and students from VCU Center on Health Disparities come togeth...

Reel at the Ram photo dump! 🎥✨ In our dreams, Kat and Patrick are still going strong! Thanks for coming out. Next up: STEM Scavenger Hunt, this Wednesday from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Another chance to win awesome prizes!

Special thanks to Fries in Disguise and Jiji Frozen Custard for providing us with some treats! 🍦🍟

The College of Humanities and Sciences had our Welcome Back Social for faculty and staff yesterday, and despite the storms, everyone was all smiles! We are so lucky to have such a special group of people in our College. Swipe to see some moments captured during all the fun.

The National Weather Service is calling for heavy rain and thunderstorms this afternoon. Out of caution for our community’s safety, VCU’s New Student Convocation will be held via livestream at vcu.edu. The Ram Spirit Walk has been canceled.

We encourage all new students to join live at 4 p.m. to hear from President Rao, the Provost, your Student Government President and VCU leadership! VCU leaders are continuing to monitor the forecast and will communicate any additional changes. As of now, the Weeks of Welcome Block Party is still scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on the Commons Plaza.

The Institute for Democracy, Pluralism, and Community Engagement, housed in the department of Political Science, has launched Election 2024, a website with essential voting information and insights for the upcoming election. Make sure to visit it this fall.

Election 2024 - Institute for Democracy, Plurality and Community Engagement - Virginia Commonwealth University Vice President Kamala Harris has succeeded President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee and faces challengers such as former President Donald Trump, and a number of third-party candidates. The balance of power in Congress is also at stake, with all 435 House seats and 33 Senate seats up for electi...

We are excited to share that one of our partner institutions, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University's United International College (UIC), has resumed its internship program for the first time since the pandemic!

The minimum requirement to apply for this internship is a Bachelor's degree. The package covers campus housing, round trip flight tickets, and a 8000 RMB monthly stipend. Click to learn more about this amazing opportunity! https://bit.ly/3WN9vVz

The sound of science: VCU students compose electronic music that incorporates environmental data gathered at VCU Rice Rivers Center The ear, not just the eye, is a powerful route for experiencing and interpreting data, and a course that unites VCUarts and VCU Life Sciences is finding the harmony in nature.

Join Humanities Research Center at VCU every Monday at noon for Meet VCU Authors!

Need a new book to read this fall? The HRC has you covered! 📖🍂 Join us Mondays at noon for Meet VCU Authors at the Humanities Research Center!

AUG 26: "Race in the Multiethnic Literature Classroom" with Cristina Stanciu and Shermaine Jones
SEP 9: "Isolation and Engagement: Presidential Decision Making on Foreign Policy from Kennedy to Nixon" with Bill Newmann
SEP 23: "Entitled Opinions: Doxa After Digitality" with Caddie Alford
OCT 7: "The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky" with Josh Galarza
OCT 28: "Tales of Koehler Hollow: An African American Family in Rural Appalachia" with Christopher Brooks
NOV 4: "Cyborgs, Ethics, and the Matrix: Simulations of S*x and Gender" with Rebecca Gibson

View and register for all our events here: https://humanitiescenter.vcu.edu/events/meet-vcu-authors/

VCU College of Humanities and Sciences VCU Department of English VCU Department of History VCU Libraries VCU School of World Studies

Have you been wanting to practice conscious consumption but don't know where to start? VCU sociologist Meredith Katz offers insight into the concept, plus tips about the best mindset and potential practices. Click the link to read more. https://bit.ly/3Ak8KvH

How can I practice conscious consumption? VCU sociologist Meredith Katz offers insight into the concept, plus tips about the best mindset and potential practices.

We have a another special Roaming Rams post for you this friday - swipe to see AFAM professor Dr. Grace Gipson travel through West Africa.

She traveled to Ghana and Senegal, where she immersed herself in the culture, history, and all the gorgeous sights it has to offer. Exploring everything from markets to safaris to museums, Dr. Gipson describes her experience as "inspiring time."

Pictures simply don't do this trip justice - make sure to click the link to discover her full journey and experience, in her own words, through her blog. ✈️🌍✨ https://bit.ly/3M0XuXW

We are so excited to announce that our faculty has been recognized as recipients for the 2024 VCU Quest Fund!

The VCU Quest Fund, administered by VCU’s Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, addresses major societal challenges through the support of transdisciplinary pilot and existing projects led by university researchers.

The The 2024 CHS grant recipients/principal investigators and their research projects are:

Robin Everhart, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology in the College of Humanities and Sciences, for the project, “Using EMA to Identify Targets of a To***co Prevention Program for Black Youth with Asthma.”

Christine Cynn, Ph.D, associate professor of women’s studies in the College of Humanities and Sciences, and Michael Dickinson, Ph.D., co-PI and associate professor of history in the College of Humanities and Sciences; for the project, “Afterlives of Medical Racism: East Marshall Street Well Oral History and Memorialization Project.”

Thomas Cropp, Ph.D., professor of chemistry in the College of Humanities and Sciences, for the project, “Genetic Encoding of AGE Modifications.”

To learn more about the VCU Quest Fund as well as additional internal funding opportunities under the One VCU Research Strategic Priorities Plan, visit this link. bit.ly/4cOwqX5

Meet .roca 👋

Isabella is a rising Senior, majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Environmental Studies. At the Sant'Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy, she is studying Archaeology and Marine Conservation (one of the included is from Pompeii and another is from a Turtle Rescue center, both were part of field trips included in the courses she is taking).

Isabella's archaeology class is mostly focused on studying the archaeology of the region, particularly Pompeii and Herculaneum, which are both within an hour train ride of her school. Her marine conservation class is focused on the conservation efforts for the Mediterranean Sea, Marine Protected Areas, and the general Punta Campanella Region.

Thank you so much for sharing Isabella! We hope you are having an amazing times overseas. ✈️🌍✨

VCU political science prof. Michael Ahn Paarlberg, Ph.D. discusses Venezuela’s recent disputed elections, erupting protests, and what happens next. Click to listen now!

Venezuela Election Update — mitúTV VCU political science prof. Michael Ahn Paarlberg, Ph.D. discusses Venezuela’s recent disputed elections, erupting protests, and what happens next.

Feeling stuck in a creative rut? Discover practical tips from VCU psychology professor Richard Bargdill, Ph.D., on reigniting your creativity and getting back into the flow. bit.ly/4c5Uvb9

How do I get out of a creative rut? VCU psychology professor Richard Bargdill outlines the likely causes and potential cures for every artist’s worst nightmare.

On June 27, 2024, we announced the opening of the Reverence & Remembrance exhibit, curated by Maggie Unverzagt Goddard, former postdoctoral fellow for the East Marshall Street Well Project.

The EMSW exhibit contains six cases full of artifacts and research, such as the history of the VCU seal and the merging of MCV and RPI, the response in 1994 from VCU administration to the discovery of the well, the forming of the FRC and the issuing of the recommendations in 2018, and the return of the remains from the Smithsonian in 2019.

The exhibit is open year-round and is available to view on the fourth floor of Cabell Library.

Read more at https://history.vcu.edu/news/newsroom/history-news/reverence--remembrance-exhibit.html

VCU College of Humanities and Sciences Humanities Research Center at VCU

Meet Mal!

She is a junior, and an english major. She is currently in Cork, Ireland, participating in University College Cork’s 42nd International Summer School for Irish Studies where she is learning about Irish history and literature over the course of 4 weeks. The program includes field trips to historic landmarks in Ireland and an Irish language class!

Thank you so much for sending these photos over, and we hope you had an amazing time overseas! ✈️🌍✨

Meet 👋

Mal is a junior, and an english major. She is currently in Cork, Ireland, participating in University College Cork’s 42nd International Summer School for Irish Studies where she is learning about Irish history and literature over the course of 4 weeks. The program includes field trips to historic landmarks in Ireland and an Irish language class!

Thank you so much for sending these photos over, and we hope you had an amazing time overseas! ✈️🌍✨

Congratulations to Patricia Michelsen-King of School of World Studies for being honored by the Persona De Poder 2024 Scholarship. She is being recognized as an individual who has contributed to the advancement and development of Virginia's immigrant and Latinx communities through words, examples, and action. We are so proud to call her part of CHS!

PERSONA DE PODER – Radio Poder 1380 WBTK-AMMount Rich Media, L.L.C.2809 Emerywood Parkway, Suite 540Henrico, VA 23294(804) 353-8544 Office(804) 358-1380 On-Air Studio(804) 571-1380 Text & WhatsApp

genetics research genetics research

We stopped by Project SEED’s Poster Session today! The mission of Project SEED is to provide sustained STEM research, learning, and growth opportunities for high school students with diverse identities and socioeconomic backgrounds so they can be empowered to advance and enrich the chemical science enterprise.

Our SEED students were able to present what they have been working on this summer, with the help of our VCU faculty and graduate assistants. It is so inspiring to watch our youth be so successful in these programs! Swipe to see them in action. 🧪✨

We stopped by Project SEED’s Poster Session today! The mission of Project SEED is to provide sustained STEM research, learning, and growth opportunities for high school students with diverse identities and socioeconomic backgrounds so they can be empowered to advance and enrich the chemical science enterprise. They were able to present what they have been working on this summer, with the help of our VCU faculty and graduate assistants. It is so inspiring to watch our youth be so successful in these programs! Swipe to see them in action. 🧪✨

We are so excited to share Rebecca Gibson's new book "Cyborgs, Ethics, and the Matrix: Simulations of S*x and Gender" with Palgrave Macmillan. It's her 5th book and the first as a full-time Assistant Professor of Anthropology at VCU. Congratulation Rebecca! bit.ly/3Wzk9Au

Cyborgs, Ethics, and The Matrix This book will examines how The Matrix movies have contributed to the discourse on s*x and gender, and influenced the creation of new cyborg technologies.

We have a special Roaming Rams post for you today, featuring our faculty! Dr. Angela Reynolds, from math, and her husband Dr. Cheng Ly, of stats and math, attended the Joint Annual Meeting of the Korean Society for Mathematical Biology & the Society for Mathematical Biology in South Korea. They decided to bring their sweet family along for the fun! Swipe to see some photos from their trip overseas.

Thank you so much to Angela for sending these pictures over. We love seeing how our CHS students and faculty spend their time over the summer! ✈️🌍✨