Come together A state-of-the-art new building is set to unify and invigorate the College of Health Professions
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“As engineering alumni and former student-athletes, VCU has given us so much: friends, family, work ethic and a world-class education. We are incredibly proud to be able to give back to the university. Our gifts help ensure that students get to experience the same innovative learning, rich culture and highly competitive athletic programs that we did. What a great time to be a Ram – let’s go, VCU!” Brian Marshall (B.S.’07/E) and Amy Marshall, M.D. (B.S.’05/E; M.D.’09/M) Black and Gold Loyalty Society members with 11 years of consecutive giving
The Black & Gold Loyalty Society honors alumni and their partners who have made gifts to VCU for five or more consecutive years. To learn more about the Black & Gold Loyalty Society, visit support.vcu.edu/loyalty.
Community members and donors flocked to private and public events in the days up to and including the opening of the VCU Institute for Contemporary Art. See article, Page 14. Photo Clement Britt
Features 2
Reaching new heights
18
Preventive measures
8
History in the making
22
It takes two
When it opens to students and faculty in fall 2019, the new College of Health Professions building will revolutionize teaching and research for students and faculty. The gift of a website chronicling the history of social welfare in the United States attracts sizable attention and spawns a second successful companion site.
Funds raised at the annual VCU Health Shining Knight Gala support a series of initiatives designed to prevent injuries caused by violence or abuse. Alumni couple Jane and Will Hatcher have established scholarships to benefit students in arts and social work, the two schools from which they graduated.
On the cover Artist’s rendering of a nurse anesthesia space in the new College of Health Professions building, set to open in 2019
Photo EYP Architecture & Engineering
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Jay E. Davenport, CFRE • Development and Alumni Communications Melanie Irvin Seiler (B.S.‘96/H&S), miseiler@vcu.edu; Mitchell Moore (B.S.’07/MC; M.S.’08/E), mooreml3@vcu.edu; Emma Coates, ekcoates@vcu.edu; Brelyn Powell, blpowell@vcu.edu; Jud Froelich, ajfroelich@vcu.edu Impact is published quarterly by the Virginia Commonwealth University Office of Development and Alumni Relations. The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the editorial staff or the university. © 2018, Virginia Commonwealth University, an equal opportunity, affirmative action university campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 1
2 • Impact Renderings EYP Architecture & Engineering
REACHING
NEW
HEIGHTS
The new College of Health Professions building will unify faculty, staff and students for greater success BY ANNE DREYFUSS
campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 3
I
n the winter, recently graduated physical therapy student Carlin Tettelbach, D.P.T. (D.P.T.’18/HP), often saw sunlight for only an hour of her day. “We are pretty happy and positive people, but it can be gloomy at times,” the 26-year-old said of herself and her classmates at the time, who spent weekdays together at the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Physical Therapy, which is housed in the basement of West Hospital on the MCV Campus. The perpetually cold and windowless basement is prone to flooding. “It is a little dreary and very old, but we deal with it because we have such great professors and great classmates,” Tettelbach said. For 16 years, students have endured the dark, damp and dreary environment in exchange for the opportunity to learn
Renderings of the new building’s improved spaces for (clockwise from top left) radiation science, acute care and clinical laboratory sciences
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from the world-renowned faculty that the department recruits. But soon, students will not have to sacrifice sunlight for academic pursuits. In spring 2015, the Virginia legislature and the VCU Board of Visitors approved plans for a new College of Health Professions building that will bring the college’s nine academic units, the doctoral program in health-related sciences, the dean’s office and the Virginia Center on Aging under one roof. Construction for the new building is scheduled to be completed in spring 2019, and by the start of the fall semester in 2019, the building will be fully equipped and ready for students and faculty. “I have always had it as my goal to get a building,” says College of Health Professions Dean Cecil B. Drain, Ph.D. “It is a phenomenally deserving school.” A H I S T O R I C U N D E R TA K I N G When Drain began leading the then-School of Allied Health Professions in 1997, the previous dean showed him an architectural rendering of a new building for the school that had been drawn in 1985. “That was the last time we had a shot at a new building,” Drain says. Creating a unified space for the college and its top-ranked programs is a priority of VCU’s Master Site Plan, which was developed by university officials with stakeholder input. The plan includes development, renovation and construction on the MCV Campus that enhances academic instruction and health sciences research. VCU began planning for the new building in fall 2013 with a study led by a committee that included faculty, staff and student representatives. In 2014, the committee conducted a preliminary study to develop a conceptual design of the building. Support from university leadership provided the necessary boost to turn the plan into a reality. “Our nationally premier College of Health Professions needed space that matched the remarkable talent of the faculty, staff and students who compose it,” says VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. “Having these renowned researchers, educators and practitioners together under one roof will foster the interprofessional collaboration that represents the future of health care.” The new $87.3 million facility will unite the college’s units and offices, which have occupied 13 buildings in the past 49 years and are now scattered among five buildings on two campuses.
A NEW ERA In May, the VCU School of Allied Health Professions became the VCU College of Health Professions. The new name reflects the expanding breadth and level of academic programming as well as the college’s increase in research, faculty and student enrollment.
“With the new building, we will be a unified force,” Tettelbach said, adding that the only time she interacted with students from other departments was during monthly student executive board meetings. The majority of her classmates never met students from other departments. “It will be a great way for students to interact interprofessionally and practice what the professors preach to us about working with other professions,” she adds. THE HIDDEN CURRICULUM The 154,100-square-foot College of Health Professions building is at 10th and Leigh streets in the space previously occupied by the Bear, Rudd, Warner and McRae residence halls. The
LEED Silver-designed building is L-shaped, with a west-facing eight-story wing and a south-facing four-story wing. Each of the building’s eight floors includes two informal spaces with tables, chairs and electrical outlets, where students can mingle and work collaboratively. The building also features plentiful outdoor space, with a deck and garden on the fourth floor that will be open year-round for students to gather and study. The dean’s office will be housed in one of the lower levels, and departments will mostly be located on the upper floors. “The hidden curriculum of this building is to bring people together so that they have a chance to understand one another’s profession,” Drain says. “One of the major goals of the building campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 5
is to facilitate interactions among the various professions.” The first-floor lobby features an open-concept space with a student-centric focus and an auditorium capable of seating 160 students. Classrooms will be furnished to maximize flexibility and to accommodate various teaching styles and methods. Tables and chairs on wheels will allow a changing architecture depending on needs for each class. The new classrooms will also have advanced telecommunications technologies, including two-way synchronous videoconferencing and satellite transmission technology. The college is a recognized leader in distance education both within the VCU
with a state-of-the-art simulation center, including operating rooms, recovery rooms and patient exam rooms. The center will have lifelike mannequins that simulate heartbeats, breathing and other vital signs to replicate real-life patient care situations. Increased space for laboratory teaching and student research opportunities are long-needed additions. A C O L L A B O R AT I V E E F F O R T The construction of the building was financed by state bonds and university debt. Private philanthropy will enhance the interior of the facility with equipment, technology and resources that allow
Renderings (clockwise from left) of lecture hall, improved spaces for physical therapy and nurse anesthesia and one of several areas for open study
community and nationally, having offered distance-learning programs for the past 22 years. Full programs are available in eight of the school’s nine departments, and all departments have courses available to distance learners. The new classroom technologies will increase the school’s distance-learning capabilities and will make it even more appealing for students who don’t live in Richmond, Virginia, to enroll in VCU’s programs. The technological advances extend beyond the classrooms 6 • Impact
students to receive a top-quality education and prepare them for careers in health care. “Our donors care about students and want them to have the best education possible,” says Alexander F. Tartaglia, D.Min., senior associate dean of the College of Health Professions. “They play a huge role in helping us deliver an educational experience that reflects what professionals in these fields do.” The building’s educational spaces mirror the environments
in which health profession students will work after graduation. This objective was important to donors such as Cathy Saunders (B.S.W.’76/SW; M.S.’82/AHP). “This project is more than just the physical bricks-and-mortar building,” says Saunders, an alumna of the college’s gerontology program whose gifts in support of the building total $30,000. “It’s an environment that will help students collaborate across disciplines, master their studies and get valuable hands-on experience with the equipment and technology they will use on the job.” Suggestions for new technologies, as well as other input for the building’s design, came directly from students and faculty, who have been involved in planning from the beginning. “They listened to us, and they knew what students would like to have and what would benefit them,” said Tettelbach, who advocated for physical therapy students’ needs during the monthly student executive board meetings. Teresa Nadder, Ph.D. (B.S.’78/AHP; M.S.’89/AHP; Ph.D.’98/M), chair and associate professor in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, helped develop the proposal that was sent to the Virginia General Assembly four years ago. She met with the building’s architects regularly to advocate for the specific needs of students and faculty from her department. “I wanted to make sure that the needs of our students and faculty were met and to ensure that there would be room for our programs to grow,” she says. The main benefit of moving to the building is for students and faculty to have the opportunity to interact with other departments, Nadder says. Her department has been housed at Randolph Minor Hall, at the farthest edge of the MCV Campus at 301 College St., for more than 50 years. Interactions among departments will be as beneficial to students from other departments as they will be to clinical laboratory sciences students, Nadder says. Her department has the expertise to conduct clinical laboratory testing on research studies that students and faculty from other departments might be working on. “We can be helpful with any type of research project that may involve correlation of laboratory results with patient diagnosis, prognosis or treatment monitoring,” Nadder says. “But we have to advertise what skills we possess and what services we can offer to other departments. This task will be easier when we are in one building.”
ROOM TO GROW As with every other department in the school, the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences will benefit not only from the change in location but also from the increased space. The new building allows for separate instructional and research spaces, which currently overlap in the department’s 7,000-square-foot facility. A recent study by an outside firm recommended an increase to at least 11,000 square feet for the department to adequately meet the existing need. The increase in space will allow for expanded enrollment throughout the school, which is currently limited primarily by space restrictions. Drain estimates that the school will have about 20 percent more assignable space with the new building than it currently occupies across its myriad homes. The Department of Health Administration, which is now housed in the William H. Grant House on the MCV Campus, is limited literally by the number of chairs that can fit into the classrooms. With the new building, the department can increase enrollment by 10 percent. The appeal of the new building combined with the ability to accept ONLINE EXTRA more students will increase the To watch a video from the building’s school’s ability to attract and retain groundbreaking ceremony, visit the best students and faculty in a support.vcu.edu/HPgroundbreaking. variety of health sciences fields. “We get the top students now, but we are going to get even better students with the new building,” Drain says. “We are going to be able to play in the big leagues in terms of faculty recruitment.” Five of the school’s nine programs are ranked among the nation’s top 25 by U.S. News & World Report: nurse anesthesia at No. 1, health care management at No. 3, rehabilitation counseling at No. 4, occupational therapy at No. 17 and physical therapy at No. 20. The benefits of consolidating into one building will bolster the success of those programs while further improving the other departments in the college. “Having the new building is going to enhance the stature of the college immensely,” Drain says. “We are headed into exciting times.” Additional reporting by Brelyn Powell. To learn more about the College of Health Professions, contact T. Greg Prince, senior director of development, at (804) 828-7247 or tgprince@vcu.edu.
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“Singing Solidarity Forever, Passaic County, 1926.” Courtesy of the American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark, via the Social Welfare History Image Portal
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History in the making Pioneering social worker donates his passion project, chronicling the history of social welfare in America, to VCU Libraries By Brelyn Powell
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fter a 45-year career in social work, John E. “Jack” Hansan, Ph.D., wanted to share what he had learned working in public welfare and poverty programs at the local, state and national levels. Soon after retiring, he began compiling materials to create the Social Welfare History Project, a website chronicling the complex history of social welfare movements, policies and programs in the United States. He recruited scholars and colleagues to write essays, collected chapters from books and wrote biographical briefs about prominent figures in the profession. “Compiling and archiving these materials helps others learn more about those who have been marginalized or disadvantaged throughout history,” Hansan says. With links and references to key archives, scholarly websites and other sources of reliable information, the site, which officially launched in 2010, aims to appeal to students, researchers and scholars as well as the general public. “Our nation’s social welfare programs have taken shape largely as a result of economic, political, cultural and religious forces that have interacted, sometimes violently, over the years,” Hansan explains. “In many respects, social welfare programs represent the intersection of these conflicts that are a major part of American history.” In 2016, Hansan sought a capable partner to assume responsibility for the growth and maintenance of the website. He chose Virginia Commonwealth University for its strong library system and its commitment to bold initiatives that serve the broader community. “I trusted them to preserve my work, and I knew their staff had the talent and resources needed to build on it and take it to a new level,” says Hansan, whose sons,
John E. “Jack” Hansan, Ph.D.
Photo Jay Paul
Kevin (B.S.’81/H&S), Mark (B.S.’84/ H&S) and Robert (B.A.’86/H&S) Hansan graduated from VCU. The site now receives the same number of visitors as VCU Libraries’ website – as many as 10,000 per day. VCU Libraries’ expertise and resources have been used to enhance the original site, most notably with the addition of a companion site, the Social Welfare History Image Portal, which presents primary sources such as photographs, pamphlets, postcards and ephemera. Together, the Social Welfare History Project and Image Portal serve more than 1 million visitors during the academic year. The Social Welfare History Image Portal is a national partnership among VCU and a growing group of notable library and museum collections from across the nation. New partners continue to join the project, expanding VCU’s reputation as a center for collaborative scholarship. “VCU is big enough to have the necessary resources to host a site like this but still small enough to do it with a personal touch,” says digital outreach and special projects librarian Alice Campbell, who manages the site. “We want to get to know our partners and their collections so that we can tell the story of social welfare reform in America while encouraging curiosity and rewarding investigation.” This spring, the Social Welfare History Image Portal received the Center for Research Libraries’ Primary Source Award for Access. The award recognizes the project’s success in promoting discovery, appreciation and use of primary source materials to enhance research and instruction. Because the Social Welfare History Project and Image Portal are free and open to the public, they have become
helpful resources for middle and high school students participating in National History Day, Campbell says. Students use the Social Welfare History Image Portal, among other assets, to conduct research for a yearlong project and then present their findings in district, state, regional and national competitions. More than 500,000 students participate each year. “There is no subscription fee to use the site, so we are able to benefit those in our immediate community and beyond,” says Campbell, who has corresponded with students from Wisconsin, Iowa, New York and Hawaii to offer help on their National History Day projects. “This is important because, as a public research university, we look to have a broad impact and support a wide range of intellectual pursuits.” The site’s growth in scope and complexity is timely, Campbell says, given a recent surge in activism and engagement across the country. “Many people are talking about nation-
al identity and community responsibility these days, and some are interested in learning how to make changes in society,” she says. “At a time when such issues are very much part of public discussion, the Social Welfare History Project and Image Portal meet a need for primary source materials providing historical context.” Campbell hopes that the site continues to fulfill Hansan’s intentions to educate and inspire those who work to promote the public good. “It’s important to see that America has wrestled for years with issues like poverty, immigration, working conditions and public health,” she says. “Just look at the headlines – these ideas still come up every day. If we don’t understand how we’ve journeyed to the present, how can we hope to make progress in the future?” To learn more about VCU Libraries, contact Kelly Gotschalk (B.F.A.’90/A; M.A.’97/A), director of development and major gifts, at (804) 827-1163 or kjgotschalk@vcu.edu.
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VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., with Dabney and Joe Cortina (top left). Development and Alumni Relations VP Jay E. Davenport, CFRE, addresses guests (bottom center). Guests try out Cortina Productions’ technology (bottom left and right).
D.C. donors get taste of augmented reality at presidential reception More than 60 donors from across the Washington, D.C., metro region gathered March 6 at the offices of Cortina Productions in McLean, Virginia, for a presidential campaign reception hosted by Dabney (B.S.’75/MC) and Joe (B.F.A.’76/A) Cortina. Cortina Productions is a multimedia company that serves an international client list of museums and halls of fame. Among the reception’s highlights was a showcase of interactive museum displays as well as virtual and augmented reality technology created by Cortina Productions. VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., addressed attendees and discussed the progress made so far in the Make It Real Campaign for VCU. The Cortinas shared their reasons for establishing the newly endowed Dabney and Joseph Cortina Scholarship in 10 • Impact
the School of the Arts. The program also included a panel discussion moderated by Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Jay E. Davenport, CFRE, that featured College of Humanities & Sciences Dean Montse Fuentes, Ph.D., and University Librarian John Ulmschneider, who discussed the challenges and opportunities within their units. To learn more about regional programming, contact Chad Krouse, Ed.D., (Ed.D.’18/E), executive director of regional giving, at (804) 828-2346 or cmkrouse@vcu.edu. O N L I N E E X T R A To see more photos from this event, visit support.vcu.edu/donors/events.
Open studio builds ‘Momentum’ for 2018 fashion show
Photos Jud Froelich
Arts alumni connect cross-country
Photo Nick Davis Photography
Pollak Society donors met the next generation of fashion designers and merchandisers in February at an open studio offering an advance look at the VCU School of the Arts fashion show “Momentum.” An array of fashion collections, preliminary work and muslins were on display, with students available to answer questions. VCUarts Dean Shawn Brixey and department Chair Patricia Brown spoke about the interplay between merchandising students, who organize the annual runway show, and design students, who contribute their knitwear, dresses, menswear and denim collections. The night also featured a drawing demonstration with Stephen Alcorn, assistant professor of communication arts, and a presentation of the department’s library of exemplary clothing, which students use to study the history of fashion.
Joan Lunden (center) with 2019 event Chair Mary Malone and 2018 Chair Karen Higgins
Women & Wellness raises almost $200,000 for cancer research
The annual College Art Association conference, held this year Feb. 23 in Los Angeles, offered VCU School of the Arts alumni from around the country the chance to reconnect with the school’s arts faculty over cocktails and conversation. “It is a fantastic opportunity for generations of alumni to catch up and build on the personal and professional relationships that make VCUarts such a unique and successful institution,” says Department of Sculpture + Extended Media Chair Matt King. The CAA reception was one of several chances for alumni to connect with VCU that week. Two days earlier, alumni gathered at the Bel-Air Country Club, where VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., delivered remarks on the state of the university, and VCUarts Dean Shawn Brixey and other university leaders spoke about innovations in their programs. Brian Roberts (B.F.A.’97/A), a co-executive producer at DreamWorks Animation, led a site tour of the studio’s feature-film campus.
Renowned journalist and breast cancer survivor Joan Lunden was the keynote speaker at the 23rd Annual Women & Wellness Breakfast and Luncheon in February. Held at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, the event attracted more than 600 guests and raised nearly $200,000 to support the Women & Wellness Cancer Research Fund at VCU Massey Cancer Center. The signature event of the yearlong Women & Wellness Forum Series was presented by the Anthony F. and Susan M. Markel Foundation in memory of Sue Markel, who lost her battle with peritoneal cancer 10 years ago. Karen Higgins, luncheon chair and Massey advisory board member, led a dedicated committee in creating a memorable experience that linked Lunden’s powerful story of surviving triple-negative breast cancer with the innovative research and compassionate care for women’s cancers happening at Massey. “Joan Lunden’s story was a powerful reminder that no one is immune to cancer and that we all have the ability to make a difference in the options available for the next generation,” Higgins says. “Women & Wellness is such a great way to remind our community of the incredible resources we have at Massey.”
To learn more about the School of the Arts, contact Julia Carr, executive director of development, at (804) 828-4676 or carrj@vcu.edu.
To learn more about Women & Wellness, contact Lisa Randolph, assistant director of development events, at (804) 827-2195 or lrandolph3@vcu.edu.
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On the eve of the annual Capstone Design Expo, the VCU College of Engineering Dean’s Society reception gave the program’s friends and benefactors a first look at the studentdesigned innovations that would dazzle hundreds of visitors the next day. Held April 26 at the Siegel Center, the event also announced the renaming of VCU’s engineering program to the VCU College of Engineering. The new name reflects the program’s growth in research, faculty and student census and supports its mission to advance a collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial engineering culture. That growth continues to make VCU engineering a major player in workforce development for the state, said Barbara D. Boyan, Ph.D., Alice T. and William H. Goodwin Jr. Chair and dean of the College of Engineering, at the event. “This is Virginia’s workforce,” Boyan said. “More than 90 percent of our students come from Virginia, and 75 percent stay in Virginia. Our engineers have the creative instinct that VCU is known for, and they’re in demand throughout the state.” The Capstone Design preview showcased more than 90 inventions and designs, including those for a Hyperloop transport pod vehicle that participated in the finals of the 2018 international Hyperloop competition.
Dean Andrew Daire, Ph.D., and his wife, Darnetta, with Shanelle Williams, 2018-19 recipient of the A. Gaynelle Whitlock Scholarship
Education event celebrates philanthropy, scholarship
To learn more about the School of Education, contact Ed Kardos, senior director of development, at (804) 828-4692 or egkardos@vcu.edu. 12 • Impact
To learn more about the College of Engineering, contact Philip O’Connor, corporate relations officer, at (804) 828-9551 or oconnorpl@vcu.edu.
Photo VCU Engineering Marketing and Communications
School of Education students, families, faculty and staff gathered in March at the VCU Student Commons Ballroom to celebrate student scholarships and awards. “We are very excited to be able to award 59 scholarships to 41 of the school’s top students,” said Dean Andrew P. Daire, Ph.D. “We are so proud of our students, who are on their way to making an impact in our urban and high-needs schools and communities. We are also incredibly grateful to the generous donors who make these scholarships possible.” The Scholarship and Awards Ceremony enables the school to publicly honor the student recipients of the awards and the donors who established them. Two new scholarships were among those awarded: the Stephanie, Rebecca and Norris Holt Scholarship, for students pursuing a career in urban secondary public education, and the Andrew and Darnetta Daire Dissertation Scholarship, available for students conducting impactful doctoral dissertation research work addressing the requirements of a high-needs population.
Photo Chris Ijams
Engineering reception gives supporters a look at the future
Emiley Allison at the VCU Endowed Scholarship Dinner
Students thank donors at VCU Endowed Scholarship Dinner “Giving is a form of leadership; it is a form of hope,” said Marianne Burns Brown Memorial Scholarship recipient Emiley Allison (B.S.’18/H&S) in her speech at the 19th Annual Virginia Commonwealth University Endowed Scholarship Dinner in March at the Science Museum of Virginia. Allison, a psychology and dance student who graduated in May, and about 120 other scholarship recipients had the chance to thank their benefactors during a reception in the Rotunda and dinner in the DeweyGottwald Center. The event also featured remarks by VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., and VCU Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Jay E. Davenport, CFRE, as well as a medley from TheatreVCU’s “Into the Woods” and a video recorded at VCU’s Thank a Donor Day last fall. O N L I N E E X T R A S To watch the video shown at this event, visit support.vcu.edu/thanks. To see more photos from this event, visit support.vcu.edu/donors/events.
Banjos, Beers & Butts raises funds, awareness for VTCC The fourth annual Banjos, Beers & Butts event, held in March at Historic Tredegar, raised $10,000 for the Virginia Treatment Center for Children, which opened its new facility in April. Hosted by the VCU School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, the event attracted more than 200 for a casual evening of bluegrass music and barbecue. As well as funds, the event aimed to raise awareness of children’s mental health. Attendees heard from Robin Church of the Children’s Mental Health Resource Center at the VTCC, who explained how she connects families dealing with a child’s mental illness to essential resources throughout the community.
“The more we speak up about mental Event Co-Chairs Nena health, the more others will feel they can Meurlin and Lollie Lawson talk about it too,” said event Co-Chair Nena Meurlin (B.F.A.’02/A). “We hope to reach even one person in here tonight, because chances are we all know someone suffering from some sort of mental illness. It is important for people to feel comfortable discussing these issues.” To learn more about the VTCC and the VCU Department of Psychiatry, contact Lynn Meyer, director of development, at (804) 827-6297 or lynn.meyer@ vcuhealth.org. campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 13
MODERN WONDER Richmond’s first major institution dedicated to contemporary art opened to the public April 21 with a celebratory block party welcoming more than 7,000 people. The VCU Institute for Contemporary Art is a significant new cultural resource for Richmond, Virginia, and offers a vital dimension to the research university. “Beginning with our inaugural exhibition, ‘Declaration,’ our programming demonstrates the significant role the ICA will play in our vibrant community,” says Interim Director Joseph H. Seipel. “Given our location on a major research university campus and our commitment to free admission, the ICA is a forum for open dialogue, collaboration and the exchange of perspectives.” Located at the intersection of Richmond’s Belvidere and Broad streets, the ICA anchors one of the city’s busiest gateways with dual 14 • Impact
entrances to the city and campus. “We opened an incredible new resource for our community in an iconic building that will become a new landmark for Richmond,” says VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. “The ICA will significantly extend VCU’s reach, creating a new destination for art lovers from around the world and a space where art can help facilitate engagement with important issues of our time.” The ICA is open Tuesday-Sunday, with late hours on Wednesdays and First Fridays. Three levels of membership are available, including Member Free, with discounts on paid levels for VCU alumni. To learn more, visit www.icavcu.org. O N L I N E E X T R A To watch a video of the ICA’s opening day, visit support.vcu.edu/ICAopening.
Exterior bulding photo Iwan Baan, all other photos Clement Britt.
VCU celebrates the opening of its new Institute for Contemporary Art with a block party
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True Farr Luck and ICA Interim Director Joe Seipel at the ICA Patrons’ Preview
Steve and Kathie Markel at the ICA Founders’ Gala
Artist Lee Mingwei discusses his installation “The Mending Project” with guests at the ICA Patrons’ Preview
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Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam at the ICA Founders’ Gala
Candy Osdene and guest at the ICA Patrons’ Preview
PREVIEW of ATTRACTIONS In the days leading up to its opening, the ICA hosted a number of events to thank donors and to offer a first look at the venue and the inaugural exhibition FOUNDERS’ GALA
At the ICA Founders’ Gala on April 12, those who had made gifts of $100,000 or more to the capital campaign and key corporate sponsors were honored as founding donors. VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., joined VCU ICA Interim Director Joseph H. Seipel in welcoming Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. Campaign Co-Chairs Pam Kiecker Royall and Bill Royall and Steve and Kathie Markel served as co-hosts for the gala, which drew nearly 200 guests, including building architect Steven Holl. True Luck and Joe Seipel photo Jay Paul, all other photos Dan Currier
PATRONS’ PREVIEW
The ICA Patrons’ Preview on April 13 celebrated donors of $10,000 or more to the $37 million capital campaign as well as artists in the opening show, “Declaration,” with a cocktail party. The tented parking lot was transformed into a club for the evening, complete with a DJ and dance floor.
BENEFACTOR AND MEMBERS’ PREVIEW
Nearly 300 ICA capital campaign donors and new paid members of the institution celebrated the grand opening with a sneak peek April 14, a week before the public opening.
ICA Founders’ Gala
ICA Patrons’ Preview
Bill Royall and Pam Kiecker Royall at the ICA Benefactor and Members’ Preview campaign.vcu.edu • 17
Ade Mason of Bridging the Gap, one of the initiatives under the umbrella of VCU Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program
O N L I N E E X T R A To watch a video about Bridging the Gap and VCU Health’s other IVPP initiatives, visit support.vcu.edu/IVPP.
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PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Photo Jud Froelich
BY BRELYN POWELL
A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF CARE PROVIDERS DRAWS ON DONOR FUNDS TO REDUCE AND PREVENT TRAUMATIC INJURIES IN THE RICHMOND COMMUNITY campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 19
E
ach spring at the annual Shining Knight Gala, the VCU Health community recognizes the first responders and trauma care providers who helped a specific trauma patient in their time of need. The evening’s honorees provided lifesaving care in a critical situation, but the beneficiaries of the event’s proceeds are the service providers who aim to keep such incidents from occurring at all. Funds raised during the gala support a multidisciplinary coalition of VCU Health Trauma Center providers and programs dedicated to reducing and preventing injury and violence throughout central Virginia. Among them, they lead eight initiatives under the umbrella of the VCU Health Trauma Center’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program. Each offers services designed to target common causes of traumatic injuries, such as youth violence, distracted driving, sexual and domestic violence or substance abuse. Coordinators for each program are notified whenever a patient who qualifies for their services is admitted to the trauma center. After meeting with and assessing each patient, the coordinator encourages them to enroll in the program best suited to provide resources to educate and prevent re-injury. Enrollment is free thanks to grants, sponsors and contributions from donors such as those who attend the Shining Knight Gala.
Photo Kevin Morley, University Marketing
Shining Knight Gala 2018 Honorary Co-Chair Brenda Hancock
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“We rely on our donors to maintain these vital programs,” says Amy Vincent, assistant director of IVPP. “Their generous contributions support staff, provide assistance to patients in crisis and allow us to remain a sustainable program for the hospital and community at large.” One program included in VCU Health’s IVPP is Bridging the Gap, which serves Richmond, Virginia-area youth who have been shot, stabbed or assaulted. Research shows that a significant number of youth hospitalized for an intentional injury continues on a trajectory that puts them at high risk for re-injury. Bridging the Gap aims to break that cycle by helping survivors of violent crime change their paths through hands-on case management and support services. Bridging the Gap coordinator Ade Mason serves as a case manager and victim advocate. He works with individuals in the program to set personal goals and connects them with community resources that can help them find housing, enroll in educational and vocational programs, identify positive social outlets and access mental health services. Each participant receives intensive case management services for one year before transitioning to an “after-care” phase, during which Mason checks in with them on a quarterly basis for an additional year. Some patients are hesitant to enroll at first, but Mason often finds that it helps to assure prospective participants that assistance
VCU HEALTH HOSTS 10TH ANNUAL SHINING KNIGHT GALA VCU Health’s 10th annual Shining Knight Gala, held in April, raised funds for VCU Trauma Center’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program. More than 500 guests attended this year’s event, which included a cocktail reception, dinner and an awards ceremony. During the awards ceremony, 51 first responders, medical professionals and others were recognized for their role in saving the life of the event’s featured trauma survivor, Malina Richardson, who suffered life-threatening injuries last March when her car flipped and pinned her beneath it. “Few people survive such a catastrophic crash,” said Michel Aboutanos, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., VCU Trauma Center medical director, during his remarks at the gala. “For patients whose lives hang in the balance, only orchestrated, seamless care from experts can make a difference. This is what we do.”
To learn more about the VCU Trauma Center, contact Leslie Stewart, senior major gift officer, at (804) 828-3291 or leslie.stewart@vcuhealth.org.
O N L I N E E X T R A To hear about other trauma survivors who received lifesaving care at VCU Medical Center, visit support.vcu.edu/gala.
Malina Richardson and her sister, Maya, with Lynn Wagner (second from left) and Belinda Bowles (right), two nurses who witnessed the crash and pulled over to help
ing the Gap helped him find employment and begin earning a GED diploma. He has since stayed on track with his goals and has avoided re-injury, Mason says. Part of what makes Bridging the Gap effective, Mason says, is the program’s holistic approach. Mason is frequently out in the community, in participants’ homes or wherever they feel comfortable meeting him to talk. He mediates to repair bonds between Bridging the Gap participants and their families and provides referrals to counselors and other services as needed. “You can’t just help the patient and then send him or her back into the same adverse environments that they came from,” he says. “It’s important to go into those environments and help everyone within the household.” The Shining Knight Gala, now in its 10th year, has raised more than $1.1 million to support IVPP initiatives. Mason is eager to put donors’ investments to good use. “Our youth need programs like this, and our donors make it all possible,” he says. “As long as we have their support, I know our hard work can keep making a difference and, ultimately, make our city safer.” To learn more about VCU Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program, contact Leslie Stewart, senior major gift officer, at (804) 828-3291 or leslie. stewart@vcuhealth.org, or visit vcuhealth.org/services/injury-andviolence-prevention.
VCU Trauma Center Medical Director Michel Aboutanos, M.D.
Photos Tom Kojcsich, University Marketing
will be available free of charge. “Being able to tell these young people that someone is willing to help them and resources are available at no cost – that’s a tremendous pitch to get someone to enroll,” Mason says. “I do what I can to let them know that I’m invested in their well-being and willing to do whatever it takes to help them.” A little effort on his part to get to know each patient goes a long way, too, Mason says, and he makes a concerted effort to become a familiar face. He recalls daily visits with a young patient who was admitted to the VCU Trauma Center after being shot in the leg. Their conversations were casual at first, but after a couple of visits, Mason urged him to enroll in Bridging the Gap. “I could tell he wasn’t ready to open up yet, but I still explained to him that his odds of being injured this way again were high unless things changed,” Mason says. “He was combative while we talked about it, but I didn’t want to give up on him. I visited with him every day until he was discharged.” Less than a year later, the patient was back with additional gunshot wounds. This time, he was ready to make a change. “Because I spent so much time trying to get to know him, he remembered me,” Mason says. “He was paying attention to the things I said to him even when he was fighting back and I was sure he wasn’t hearing me.” After the patient was discharged from the trauma center, Bridg-
Dancing at the gala
campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 21
Robert “Will” and Jane Hatcher on the Monroe Park Campus in June
IT TAKES TWO Alumni couple honor their roots with equal merit-based scholarships in Arts and Social Work BY BRELYN POWELL
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Photo Jud Froelich
f there’s one thing that Jane (B.F.A.’68/A) and Robert “Will” (M.S.W.’69/SW) Hatcher have learned in their 54 years of marriage, it’s that their partnership is stronger when they make joint decisions. “Good compatibility improves our relationship, and our compatibility scores go up with every decision we make together,” Will says. One choice in particular has strengthened not only the bond they have with each other but also the one they have with their alma mater. In 2000, the Hatchers created two endowed scholarships in the Virginia Commonwealth University schools from which they graduated. “Social work and the arts share some of the same core values,” explains Jane, who majored in art education and taught middle and high school art after graduation. “Both fields encourage freedom of expression and finding unity in diversity.” Will, who applied his social work background to his career in mental health, agrees. “Both disciplines serve to increase our understanding of the human experience, whether that’s through art exhibits, music or working with people struggling through challenging circumstances,” he says. Will’s career goals would have been hard to reach without the financial assistance he received along the way, he says, so providing such an opportunity to other students is important to him. “I received a scholarship from the South Carolina Mental Health Department, and it made a big difference,” says Will, who worked in the South Carolina State Hospital’s adult psychiatric ward and in a special unit for the treatment of children after he graduated from VCU. “Receiving that kind of support made it possible for me to complete my education, and I know my educational and professional experiences would not have been the same without it.” Over the years, the couple has given more than $50,000 to the Hatcher Merit Scholarships, which are awarded annually to one meritorious, full-time, first-year student from each school and are renewable for three years, provided the recipients remain in good academic standing. “Merit-based scholarships encourage and acknowledge the efforts of exceptional, high-achieving students,” says Shawn Brixey, dean of the VCU School of the Arts. “These awards demonstrate that we recognize their capabilities, respect their achievements and believe in their continued success.” Here, two former Hatcher Merit scholars discuss the paths they have taken since graduating and how scholarship support helped them along the way. campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 23
CAMPBELL ARGENZIO
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the VCU School of the Arts with a degree in interior design, 25-year-old Campbell Argenzio (B.F.A.’15/A) has branched out in ways that combine different facets of her undergraduate education. She describes her work as “varied in scale and interdisciplinary in medium, with an architectural focus.” Many of her latest projects are in digital fabrication, a design and manufacturing process with computer-controlled production machinery. “Digital fabrication is sort of an intersection of interests I discovered in undergrad – design, woodworking and engineering,” she explains. For the past two years, Argenzio has lived in New York City, working at a custom architectural fabrication shop, Associated Fabrication. This September, however, she will travel to Japan to begin a two-year graduate program studying architecture at the University of Tokyo.
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INCE GRADUATING FROM
“The program is research-focused and involves a lot of experimental technology, so I’ll get to take a deeper dive into digital fabrication while I’m there,” she says. As a student at VCU, Argenzio took advantage of the diverse course offerings in the School of the Arts, a facet of her education that she credits with preparing her to take on a challenging architectural graduate program. Receiving the Hatcher Merit Scholarship gave her the flexibility to explore even further through unpaid experiences such as internships and artist assistantships. “It’s nice to know that people care,” Argenzio says. “Knowing that someone believed in me enough to invest in my success motivated me to seize as many opportunities for experience as possible.” To learn more about the School of the Arts, contact Julia Carr, executive director of development, at (804) 827-4676 or carrj@vcu.edu.
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VICTORIA YEROIAN
N HER SMALL HOMETOWN OF McGaheysville,
Virginia, Victoria Yeroian (B.A.’13/H&S; B.A.’13/SW; M.S.W.’14/SW) was a topperforming student. “I guess I sort of felt like a big fish in a small pond,” says Victoria, now 26. But when she arrived on campus at VCU as a freshman, Yeroian found herself in a much larger pond. Receiving the Hatcher Merit Scholarship in Social Work that year renewed her confidence in her academic abilities and compelled her to work even harder. “It reaffirmed what I knew I was capable of achieving, but it also made me feel like I needed to be involved in the community, doing work that was deserving of such an award,” she says. With scholarship support, Yeroian could afford her tuition expenses without having to take a fulltime job, allowing her to make time for valuable internship and volunteer opportunities. For three years, she interned with the Podium Foundation, a local nonprofit that hosts writing workshops for Richmond, Virginia-area students to facilitate exploration in literary arts and help them improve writing and communication skills. After she completed her master’s degree in the VCU School of Social Work, she joined the Podium Foundation full time, as programs director. “A lot of my motivation and confidence stems from the positive reinforcement that comes with being awarded scholarships as a student,” says Yeroian, who also teaches part time in VCU’s political science department. “If not for those, I wouldn’t have been able to afford many of the opportunities I had as a student.”
O N L I N E E X T R A To learn about other donors who have chosen to divide their gifts between two schools, visit support.vcu.edu/ittakestwo.
Photo Jud Froelich
To learn more about the School of Social Work, contact Mary Riddick, director of development, at (804) 828-7166 or riddickm2@vcu.edu.
campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 25
Donors Peter and Kerry Mellette (seated, center) with Susan Mellette Scholarship Fund recipients Benedict Del Buono (left), Danushka Seneviratne, Seth Spencer, John Claiborne and Ali Salman
Donors and scholarship recipients connect at the MCV Campus brunch More than 330 donors, students and leaders attended this year’s MCV Campus Endowed Scholarship Brunch, saying thank you, providing encouragement and discussing plans for futures that will impact lives across the world. The brunch is an opportunity for donors to the five health sciences units of Virginia Commonwealth University to meet the students who are benefiting from their gifts and investments. “There is something very special and unique about having the opportunity to shake hands or hug the person who literally just lifted a weight off your shoulders,” said Brooke Brown, a thirdyear pharmacy student who delivered remarks at the brunch. That weight has been lifted for more students than ever, as the number of endowed scholarships at the MCV Foundation grew to 391 and provided $2.8 million in support this academic year. One of those is the Janice L. Heckel Scholarship at the VCU School of Medicine, which was established with a bequest from 26 • Impact
Janice Heckel (M.D.’80/M; H.S.’84/M), who died in 2014. Heckel’s brother, Steven, spoke at the brunch, saying his sister wanted to support medical students so they could feel empowered to become the types of doctors that they truly want to be. He added that his sister would have wanted the students in the room to keep a sense of humor and perpetuate the kindness that they’ve all experienced. MCV Foundation board Chair Harry Thalhimer added his gratitude for that kindness. “It is exceptionally special to stand with students who are benefiting from generosity and those of you who are providing the support,” he told attendees. “To get through school and medical training is expensive and difficult to manage, so thank you.” To learn more about the MCV Foundation, contact Brian S. Thomas, vice president and chief development officer, at (804) 828-0067 or brian.thomas @vcuhealth.org.
President applauds donor commitment at May events
Photo Chris Ijams
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BGLS photos Jud Froelich. President’s Reception photos Chris Ijams
VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., hosted two events in May to thank donors for their loyalty and generosity to Virginia Commonwealth University. During an afternoon reception May 12 at their home, Rao and his wife, Monica, honored members of the Black & Gold Loyalty Society who have given to VCU for at least 10 consecutive years. The Black & Gold Loyalty Society was created in 2014 to formally recognize VCU alumni and their spouses/partners who have made gifts for at least five consecutive fiscal years. The group’s total lifetime giving to the university totals more than $125 million and represents more than 23,000 years of combined giving. Rao thanked the 50-plus attendees for their loyal philanthropy and updated them on the status of the Make It Real Campaign for VCU. “You support all areas of the university,” he said. “You are a member of the VCU family and are dedicated to our success.” Additionally, nearly 500 friends of VCU gathered May 31 at the Richmond, Virginia, Main Street Station Train Shed for the President’s Reception, an event to honor members of the Founders’ Society, the President’s Club, campaign committees, the VCU Alumni Board of Directors and planned giving donors for their continued support and to celebrate the progress of the Make It Real Campaign for VCU. At the event, Rao announced that the campaign has passed the $600 million mark, and attendees enjoyed unique project presentations from students in the schools of Business and Arts and the College of Engineering as well as a video illustrating the impact of private philanthropy.
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To learn more about the Black & Gold Loyalty Society, contact Michael P. Andrews (M.S.’05/E), executive director of annual giving, at (804) 828-0236 or andrewsmp@vcu.edu. O N L I N E E X T R A S To see more photos from these events, visit support.vcu.edu/donors/events. To watch the video shown at the President’s Reception, visit support.vcu.edu/reception.
1 and 3 The Raos entertain guests at their home for the Black & Gold Loyalty Society event. 2 Sucharitha Kasirajan, M.D., and Vigneshwar Kasirajan, M.D. 4 Dr. and Mrs. Rao (center) with Shelly and Douglas Arthur
campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 27
Reception recognizes efforts of distinguished education alumni
Development team welcomes new members Trammell Beckmann (B.A.’09/H&S; M.P.A.’12/GPA; Cert.’12/GPA)
A group of 30 distinguished alumni of the VCU School of Education gathered in March at the home of Thomas Beatty, Ed.D. (B.A.’93/H&S), and Diane Simon-Beatty, Ph.D. The event, co-hosted by the Beattys and Stephanie Lawson Holt (B.S.’74/E), who recently stepped down as chair of the School of Education Alumni Council after serving three nonconsecutive terms, was an opportunity to recognize the service of the school’s Education Alumni Council leadership, Alumni Stars and distinguished alumni. “It was wonderful to see friends and meet supporters of the School of Education who are passionate about our students, faculty and our school. We are strategically positioned to have some of our best years ahead,” Holt said, giving special mention to the vision of Dean Andrew Daire, Ph.D., for the school to be a world-class leader in urban education. Daire thanked guests for supporting School of Education faculty, staff and students in their efforts to impact the lives of families and children in the community. Beatty serves as the interim director of the VCU Child Development Center, and Simon-Beatty retired last June after 29 years at the school as assistant dean, special education professor and, most recently, senior associate dean for student affairs. Former School of Education Dean John Oehler, Ed.D., and his wife, Mary Sue, also attended, as well as several other members of the current and past School of Education Alumni Council. To learn more about the School of Education Alumni Council, contact Meredith Melo, development specialist, at (804) 828-3715 or mpmelo@vcu.edu.
Campaign counter (as of July 18)
Ellie Engquist Stewardship assistant Office of Gifts and Records Management (804) 828-0348 meeengquist@vcu.edu
Booth Greene Director of business development and marketing VCU Alumni (804) 828-5658 wbgreene@vcu.edu
KaCey Jackson (M.P.A.’17/GPA) Major gifts officer VCU College of Humanities and Sciences (804) 828-7053 jacksonk7@vcu.edu
Meredith P. Melo Development specialist VCU School of Education (804) 828-3715 mpmelo@vcu.edu
Kyra J.G. Molinaro Stewardship communications specialist Office of Development and Alumni Relations (804) 828-3858 kjmolinaro@vcu.edu
Amber Yancey
$634.5M
$750M GOAL To learn more about the Make It Real Campaign for VCU, visit campaign.vcu.edu.
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Manager of alumni board relations VCU Alumni (804) 828-4240 etbeckmann@vcu.edu
Alumni relations and stewardship specialist VCU School of Nursing (804) 828-2993 berryae@vcu.edu
“VCU was a place I could combine my childhood loves of space and medicine. Scholarships made my dreams less daunting.” At VCU, making an impact is what we do. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why we launched the Make It Real Campaign for VCU. How will you help us support people, fund innovations and enhance environments?
Make your impact at campaign.vcu.edu.
an equal opportunity/affi rmative action university
Brent Monseur, M.D. (M.D.’16/M)
Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Richmond, Virginia Permit No. 869
Virginia Commonwealth University Development and Alumni Relations Box 843042 Richmond, Virginia 23284-3042
“The business school at VCU has helped me so much over the past three years in my personal and professional development. With their help, this past fall I was chosen as the first recipient of the Will Sheffey Kappa Sigma Memorial Scholarship. Being the first recipient of this scholarship and meeting some of those involved in the fundraising for it has provided me with support not only financially but also personally. I cannot thank all of those involved enough.� Charlotte Duke
School of Business, Class of 2019