College to Welcome New Dean
 Dr. Montserrat Fuentes has been named dean of the College beginning July 1st, 2016. Dr. Fuentes currently serves as the head of the Department of Statistics and James M. Goodnight Distinguished Professor of Statistics at North Carolina State University (NCSU). Staff are invited to meet Dr. Fuentes on May 4th from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm, and faculty from 12:30 - 1:00 pm in Hibbs 308. Read more about Dr. Fuentes at VCU News. |
NOTICE: Planning a 2016-17 Event?
 Several of VCU's event spaces will not be available next year, which will leave only academic buildings and the University Student Commons to host our events. The rest of the university will also be hosting their events in these few spaces. The system for reservations opens in a few weeks and we would like to reserve as many spaces as possible. Please be aware that if you wait too long all spaces could be booked and you will need to find event space off-campus. If you know you will be having a lecture, reception or any event next school year please notify Janelle Scutt, in the Dean's Office, by Wednesday April 27th. |
Your Voice Counts, So Speak Up!
 This month, students, faculty and staff can help shape VCU’s next Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Action Plan by completing the Diversity and Inclusion Climate Survey. Offer your feedback on existing diversity and inclusion efforts and help impact the direction in which VCU proceeds. The survey is open until Apr. 29th and enters you into a drawing to win prizes. Read more. |
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Humphrey Fellows Presentations
 Psychology presents The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program Spring Presentations on April 19th, 26th and 29th. Each year the fellows give presentations on a project they would like to accomplish upon returning to their home countries. Admission is free and all are welcome. For more information on the schedules, click the sessions below.
April 19th 
April 26th
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Faculty Award Winners to Be Honored
 Congratulations to our Faculty Award winners! They will be honored at the upcoming Faculty and Staff Awards ceremony on Thursday, Apr. 28th from 8:30 - 10:30am in the Richmond Salons. If you want to attend the ceremony please RSVP here by Friday, April 22nd.
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Thinking About the Two-Hour Marathon
 Kinesiology and Health Sciences presents the Health and Physical Activity Lecture on Wednesday, Apr. 20th featuring Dr. Michael Joyner. His lecture on Thinking About the 2 Hour Marathon will begin at 6:00pm in the Harris Hall Auditorium. View the flyer for more information or contact Robert Franco.
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Institute on Inclusive Teaching in May
 The 2016 Institute on Inclusive Teaching will be held from Monday, May 23rd through Friday, May 27th. This event will expose faculty, staff and graduate students to a range of opportunities, strategies, and techniques for addressing the inclusiveness of their courses, curricula, programs, and services. This will be an intensive week-long engaging experience where participants and facilitators together uncover strategies for becoming more inclusive teachers, learners, and leaders. They will also be featuring daily meals from local and minority-owned businesses. Learn more. |
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Symposium on Global Garveyism
 African American Studies will be sponsoring the Global Garveyism Symposium from Apr. 21st - 23rd featuring keynote speaker, Robert Hill (UCLA) at 7:00pm in the Academic Learning Commons. For the schedule of speakers and locations for the rest of symposium please click here.
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International Poetry Readings
 The School of World Studies invites you to attend the 3rd Annual International Poetry Reading with poems read in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Arabic and Vietnamese by World Studies faculty and students (English translations provided). This event is free and open to the public. Thursday, April 21, 2016 from 4:00 to 5:30pm at the Globe - 1030J. More information or contact Eugenia Munoz. |
Lavender Graduation 2016
 On Apr. 22nd, VCU hosts Lavender Graduation, a ceremony that celebrates the achievements of graduating gender and sexual orientation minority students and their allies. All students who participate receive a rainbow cord to wear with their academic regalia during Commencement activities and are invited to join the LGBT and Allies Alumni Chapter. Learn more. |
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Mathematics Professors Receive Grant
 Professors, Dewey Taylor, Moa Apagodu and Ghidewon Abay-Asmerom have been awarded a National Research Experience for Undergraduates Program grant from the Mathematics Association of America, which targets the development of students from underrepresented groups. They will be running their 6-week program this summer from mid-May through June for four female students working in discrete mathematics. The students will be expected to produce original research that they will present next year at regional conferences. Congratulations! |
Robertson Wins Big at SPJ Contest
 Students from the Robertson School recently attended the Society of Professional Journalists' 2015 Mark of Excellence competition, where they won a total of 14 awards, including four first-place honors; Best All-Around Television Newscast, Feature Photography, Editorial Cartooning and Sports Photography. Congratulations Rams! Read more. |
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Faculty Win UROP Mentor Awards
Lesley Bulluck (Biology), Christopher Ehrhardt (Forensic Science) Wendy Kliewer (Psychology) each received a Faculty Mentor Award from the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. For nominations, undergraduate students were asked to select a faculty member who has made a lasting impression through their guidance and mentorship of undergraduates conducting research and scholarship at VCU. They will be acknowledged at the annual Poster Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creativity on Wednesday April 20 in the Commonwealth Ballroom of the Student Commons. Remarks will begin at 12:00 pm. |
Robertson School Faculty Take Bronze
Jay Adams and Marcel Jennings, won two Bronze awards at the 37th Annual Telly Awards. The competition included over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and numerous countries. Their accomplishment comes as part of their professional scholarship, working as freelance Creative Directors at Big River Advertising, located in downtown Richmond. Congratulations! |
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CANCELLED: Faculty/Student Mixer
 The Student/Faculty Mixer planned for Friday, Apr. 29th has been cancelled. We are planning to host this event during the fall semester with our Student Leadership Council, so please be on the lookout. Thank you! |
Langberg Receives Grant for ADHD Study
 Dr. Joshua Langberg is the recipient of a $1.4 million grant from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to study the impact of sleep problems on the functioning of teens with and without ADHD. The new four-year grant, Longitudinal Evaluation of the Impact of Sleep Problems on the Academic and Social Functioning of Adolescents with and without ADHD, aims to shed light on how sleep problems contribute to the educational functioning of adolescents with ADHD and why prevalence rates are so high. Read more. Congratulations Dr. Langberg! |
Lecture on Ancient Migrations in Africa
 Anthropology in World Studies presents Dr. Matthew Pawlowicz on Friday, Apr. 22nd as part of their Spring Speaker Series. Dr. Pawlowicz's talk on Ancient Migrations in Africa? Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Bantu Expansions will start at 3:00pm in the Commons Theater. Admission is free and all are welcome. More information contact Christopher Brooks.
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Do You Have News to Share?
If you have news to share this is a great place to do it! Please submit news and events to Janelle Scutt at jscutt@vcu.edu. We will submit your news and events to the VCU Calendar, Telegram, this newsletter and our social media outlets. Keep your colleagues informed by keeping us informed! |
The Alexandrian Society presents their spring lecture on Wednesday, Apr. 27th featuring Dr. Ibrahima Seck, Director of Research at the 
Dr. Clarence Thomas (Robertson) received the Faculty PACME award at the annual ceremony with VCU President, Dr. Rao. Thomas also serves as the chair of the Robertson School's diversity committee. When asked about his interest in diversity he said, “Any notion of diversity that I have comes from my mother. She taught me that just because someone looks like you doesn’t mean they’re your friend and just because someone doesn’t look like you doesn’t mean they can’t be your friend." 
Tania Valencia, a sociology major and psychology minor, just received the student award at the recent PACME Awards Ceremony. She is also the recipient of the Staff Senate’s 2015 Virginia Caring University Scholarship and a volunteer with the Marquita Aguilar Walk-a-thon, and will graduate in May. “We have to build up our faculty and staff to better reflect underrepresented demographics. We also have to continue to support student organizations that are catered towards cultural enrichment. I am confident that we are headed towards a better direction in embracing our diversity and look forward to the continuing development of such a wonderful university,” she said. 
Gai Nyok (SWS '10) was one of the 20,000 Lost Boys of Sudan before he resettled in Virginia. He then attended high school in Hanover County where he had to learn English and then finish in 3 years. He excelled in school, he got straight-A's and received a scholarship to VCU. Now after receiving his Masters degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Nyok is fulfilling his longtime dream of being a U.S. Diplomat. He is currently working in Washington D.C. and learning Spanish in preparation for his upcoming work in Caracas, Venezuela, where he will serve as a U.S. economic officer. “I miss being on the VCU campus. It’s a great atmosphere. VCU was my home," he said. 
