Where she belongs Out-of-state scholarship recipient finds her place at VCU and beyond
Why I give ... “I spent 28 years at VCU in a number of roles within the Department of Chemistry, and when I retired, my colleagues established the Albert T. Sneden III Scholarship in Chemistry as a sort of ‘gold watch.’ That’s a great honor, so I’ve tried to help build the scholarship ever since. I like to give a little bit back for all the support and the faith that the department has placed in me, and I hope that it helps ameliorate some of the financial considerations of the recipients’ education.” Albert T. Sneden III Black & Gold Loyalty Society member, 32 consecutive years of giving
The Black & Gold Loyalty Society honors donors 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.
Hallie Chametzky (B.F.A.’19/A) performs “22 Percent: A Disintegrating Data Visualization.” See article, Page 14. Photo Zephyr Sheedy
Features come true 2 Dream Medical student receives a scholarship established to
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memorialize a man who never achieved his dream of becoming a doctor.
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Thriving by design
The extra investment of going to college out of state pays off in the confidence and skills a mass communications student needs to take her career in an unexpected direction.
On the cover Crystal Douglas (B.S.’18/MC)
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Set up to succeed
First-generation business student finds financial support and help navigating his new environment as a part of the Altria Scholars program.
Culture club
Members of the School of the Arts’ Pollak Society help fuel and advance the creative pursuits of faculty and students through their unrestricted financial support.
Photo Jud Froelich
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Jay E. Davenport, CFRE • Assistant Vice President, Strategic Marketing and Engagement Melanie Irvin (B.S.‘96/H&S), irvinms@vcu.edu Development and Alumni Communications Kristen Caldwell (B.S.’94/MC), kcaldwell2@vcu.edu; Emma Coates, ekcoates@vcu.edu; Mitchell Moore (B.S.’07/MC; M.S.’08/E), mooreml3@vcu.edu; Jud Froelich, ajfroelich@vcu.edu; Brelyn Powell, blpowell@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. © 2019, Virginia Commonwealth University. VCU is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 1
DREAM COME TRUE A scholarship established for economically challenged medical students lightens the financial and mental load for an aspiring doctor BY JULIE YOUNG
2 • Impact
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Photo Jud Froelich
idan Morrell’s path from tending animals on his family’s Prineville, Oregon, farm to researching how to prevent infections after joint replacement surgery as a Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine student wasn’t easy. Morrell was an academic success, graduating as a high school valedictorian and earning a biochemistry degree from his hometown college, George Fox University. But family support and funding for his dream of a medical career were hard to come by. “I came into medical school interested in orthopaedics, but there are no doctors in my family,” Morrell says. “Trying to figure out what factors are important in choosing a career path and specialty has been a pretty steep learning curve.” Morrell interviewed at a number of medical schools and was particularly impressed by VCU. He applied and was accepted. He and his wife, Sierra, moved across country and settled into a small apartment near the MCV Campus. The School of Medicine provided career counseling and advice on choosing a specialty, but finances remained a concern. “The prospect of student debt is kind of this ominous feeling that’s constantly in the back of my mind,” Morrell says. He is now in his third year at the School of Medicine, where out-of-state tuition is more than $57,000 annually. “It’s a reality once you’re actually signing the loans.” Morrell remembers the exact date — July 3, 2018 — when his fortunes changed. While working in a lab, he glanced at his email and saw a message from the medical school financial aid office that began, “Congratulations.” He had been awarded the Penroase S. Forman Scholarship for academically talented, economically disadvantaged students in the School of Medicine. The Forman Scholarship was established in 1983 by Mildred Brynberg Forman, M.D. (M.D.’34/M), in memory of her father, who aspired to be a doctor but couldn’t afford to pursue his dream. “At first, I thought it was a mistake because I hadn’t applied for anything,” Morrell says. “But when I confirmed it, my wife and I were both just super thankful and really excited. Getting a scholarship has been a really big blessing.” Receiving the renewable scholarship also enabled Morrell to delve deeply into orthopaedic surgery, the specialty he would like to pursue. The funds allow him to attend medical conferences, where he learns cutting-edge research from top
orthopaedic specialists and networks with other medical students. It also meant that his wife, a technician at Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation Center in Richmond, could return to school. She was accepted into VCU to study physical therapy this past spring. “The scholarship was a big thing for us as a couple,” Morrell says. “It helps us feel more sure about going to school at the same time, and that helps our relationship and our stress levels.” Peter F. Buckley, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine and interim CEO of VCU Health System, says Mildred Forman’s tribute to her late father stands as an early model of the school’s outreach mission. “As dean of the medical school, I feel strongly that it’s our responsibility to make sure financial obstacles don’t close the door on a student’s dream of becoming a physician,” he says. “Dr. Mildred Forman was grateful she had the chance to follow her ambitions, so she’s given academically excellent students who face financial challenges a helping hand.” Half of the students with debt in the medical Class of 2018, Buckley says, graduated with educational debt of $200,000 or more. This year’s incoming class received a third more than previous classes in scholarship funds. “This is very encouraging, though our medical students need and deserve more of our support,” Buckley says. “Generosity like Dr. Forman’s helps. It’s why we launched the 1838 Campaign: to build the medical school’s scholarship endowment into a fund on par with our peer schools so that we can recruit talented applicants, reward excellence and reduce student debt. Scholarships like the one Aidan Morrell holds are lifechanging.” The scholarship, Morrell says, has had a validating effect. “It’s just really encouraging to feel like you’re noticed and not just another face in the crowd,” he says. He is inspired by Forman’s story of using one’s good fortune to help others realize their ambitions. “It’s a good reminder that I’m here to help as many patients as possible,” Morrell says. “And it’s encouraging to remember that in the future I might have the opportunity to use my own resources to make a big impact on another student’s life.” To learn more about the Penroase S. Forman Scholarship or the 1838 Campaign, contact Amy Lane, Ph.D., director of major gifts in the School of Medicine, at (804) 827-4937 or amy.lane@vcuhealth.org. campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 3
Crystal Douglas at Colab
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THRIVING
by DESIGN
WITH HELP FROM SCHOLARSHIPS, A N O U T- O F - S TAT E ST U D E N T D I S COV E R S TA L E N T S T H AT G U I D E H E R C A R E E R PAT H IN AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION
B Y B R E LY N P O W E L L PHOTOS BY JUD FROELICH
campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 5
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ith her knack for visual aesthetics, 22-year-old Crystal Douglas (B.S.’18/MC) turns heads, whether she’s creating designs on a computer screen or modeling them on the runway. She refined her talents for both during her time on campus at Virginia Commonwealth University. Douglas, who grew up in South Carolina, describes herself as a woman with “small-town roots and a New York City hustle.” That energy fuels everything she does and played a significant role in helping her choose where to attend college. She fell in love with VCU’s diverse campus culture early in her search. “I remember watching videos online about what it meant to be a Ram and getting really emotional,” Douglas says. “I knew I would get claustrophobic if I didn’t go to school in an urban environment. I wanted to be somewhere where I could get valuable experience in anything I wanted to try.” Douglas enrolled in the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture in the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences in 2015, sensing that the opportunities to explore new interests would be worth the cost of tuition, which is significantly higher for out-of-state students. Scholarships, including the Chandra Broadnax-Payne Scholarship, the Martin Agency Endowed Scholarship and one from the Advertising Club of Richmond (Virginia), helped reduce the financial burden so she could focus on her studies and experiences. “It touches my heart that someone recognized my potential and wanted to invest in me,” she says. “I felt so loved and supported, especially as an out-of-state student without family nearby.”
TO O L S O F T H E T R A D E
In her academic courses at VCU, Douglas honed her skills in graphic design, branding and marketing as a mass communications major in the strategic and creative advertising sequence. Outside the classroom, a lifelong love for fashion led her to join GroupMODA, VCU’s student-run fashion organization and modeling troupe. “GroupMODA is all about diversity, body positivity and making space for models who aren’t traditionally accepted in the fashion industry,” Douglas says. “The group is a big melting pot of fierce, fabulous people. Being a part of that taught me confidence and was a huge influence on the woman I’ve become.” Today, that confidence colors everything, from Douglas’ 6 • Impact
bold personal style to the digital designs she develops for her clients as a user experience and interface designer at Colab, a Richmond, Virginia-based agency specializing in digital design, development and strategy, whose founder and president is alumnus Eddie O’Leary (B.A.’07/H&S). As a UX/UI designer, Douglas develops digital assets such as websites and applications for Colab clients. Strategic thinking and creative flair, she says, are key components for success in this role. “The products we design need to look nice, but they also have to be effective and functional,” she explains. “If you don’t have a strategic mindset, your designs are just going to fall flat.” Douglas applies this principle to every project. In meetings with the Colab team, she asks detail-oriented questions to ensure that each element of a project serves a purpose and appeals to the intended audience. When she meets with clients, she comes prepared with mood boards or other visual samples of color schemes and design options to communicate her ideas and to encourage feedback. As one of Colab’s newer designers, Douglas welcomes feedback openly as an opportunity for growth. “I’m learning so much as I go along,” she says. “The team has been so helpful. They’ve recommended awesome resources like books, blogs and podcasts to help me get my footing and learn best practices. They know that I’m young and new to this, but I’m thankful that they see something in me and are confident that I can succeed.”
THE PROMISE OF OPPORTUNITY
With an academic background in advertising, a career in the tech industry was not what Douglas expected. She pictured herself working at a traditional advertising agency until her academic adviser in the Robertson School recommended her for an internship with a local digital consulting firm. “I really loved that environment,” she says. “I started to gravitate more toward the digital space — building apps, designing websites and stuff like that.” Robertson School Interim Director Marcus Messner, Ph.D., is grateful for the generosity of donors like Chandra BroadnaxPayne (B.S.’98/MC; M.S.’02/B), whose support makes it possible for students like Douglas to discover their talents during their time at VCU. “Crystal’s success speaks volumes about the positive impact our donors and their scholarships have on our students,” he says.
Douglas and a Colab colleague
VCU recently launched a new initiative to support more students like Crystal Douglas. Invest in Me aims to raise $50 million in new scholarship funds by Dec. 31, 2022, and to make a college education at VCU accessible to anyone motivated enough to pursue one.
“Crystal is just one of many talented and hardworking students who have benefited from donor-established scholarships. Each of them is as grateful as Crystal for our donors’ generosity. But we still have many other bright and in-need students for whom scholarships would make a huge difference.” Author and motivational speaker Broadnax-Payne established her scholarship in the Robertson School in 2010 because she knows firsthand how it feels to face financial uncertainty as a student. “My sister and I were raised by a single mom, and there wasn’t always a lot of extra money floating around,” she explains. “When it came time for me to go to college, I carried a lot of the financial responsibility. If I hadn’t gone through that, though, I wouldn’t know what it feels like to worry that your financial constraints might keep you from something you want to achieve. Those experiences gave me a passion for giving back to others in similar situations.” Broadnax-Payne often receives letters of gratitude from the students who, like Douglas, are achieving their goals with help
Part of the Make It Real Campaign for VCU, Invest in Me is focused on raising funds for scholarships in three key areas: excellence, opportunity and talent. To learn more about Invest in Me, visit go.vcu.edu/invest.
from her scholarship. “Reading their letters is pure joy,” she says. “They tell me their dreams and all the things they hope to do in their communities or in their careers. I remember being in their position, knowing there was so much I wanted to achieve.” Douglas’ achievements so far, she says, would look a lot different if she had ended up anywhere other than VCU. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if I’d gone to any other school,” she says. “I’m so grateful for the way things have worked out for me. None of it is what I expected, but it all feels like it’s how it was meant to be.” To learn more about the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture in the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences, contact KaCey Jackson (M.P.A.’17/GPA), major gift officer, at (804) 828-7053 or jacksonk7@vcu.edu.
campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 7
SET UP TO
SUCCEED Altria Scholars program levels the playing field for first-generation VCU students by JULIE YOUNG
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nawat Laohakanchanasiri (B.S.’19/B) was a senior at Westfield High School in Chantilly, Virginia, the first time he heard the phrase “first-generation student.” “I started applying to colleges and my guidance counselor was like, ‘Oh, you’re considered first generation, right?’” Laohakanchanasiri says. “I didn’t know what that meant.” Laohakanchanasiri is indeed a first-generation student: His parents emigrated to the United States from Thailand with high school educations. Because of this, he had no guidance at home on financial aid, college applications or the unique language and culture of higher education. “Going into it, I really didn’t know what I was doing,” says the 22-year-old recent graduate of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business. He chose VCU because of its diversity and because he loved Richmond, but he arrived in fall 2015 burdened with uncertainty. A self-described shy person, Laohakanchanasiri could have been overwhelmed trying to navigate his new environment. But an email from Daphne Rankin, Ph.D. (M.S.’88/H&S; Ph.D.’04/H&S), associate vice provost for strategic enrollment management, put him on the right track.
8 • Impact
Anawat Laohakanchanasiri Photo Jud Froelich
Rankin invited Laohakanchanasiri to apply for the Altria Scholars program for first-generation students in engineering or business. The four-year program, established in 2015 with a $500,000 gift from the Altria Group and administered by the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management, is designed to help first-gen students in designated majors succeed in their studies and graduate on time with minimal debt. Selected students receive guidance from a progress coach, a graduate student from the VCU School of Education, during their freshman and sophomore years. They meet with their progress coach one-on-one and in small groups to discuss study habits, social and emotional health, time management, public speaking and other skills. In the third and fourth years, Altria Scholars who excel academically and have significant financial need can apply for scholarships as part of the program. In some cases, students are invited to apply for internships or networking opportunities. Laohakanchanasiri became a member of the first cohort of 28 Altria Scholars in 2015-16. “I went to my first session, and it was really eye-opening,” Laohakanchanasiri says. “I got to meet other people in similar situations. We talked about how to study, how to allocate time and mindfulness, which sounds cheesy but was actually very helpful.” Amelia “Mia” Liadis (B.A.’14/A; B.S.’14/H&S; M.Ed.’17/E), also a first-generation student, was Laohakanchanasiri’s progress coach. During her two years as coach, Liadis says, she assessed each student’s needs at the beginning of the semester to set short- and long-term goals. “We’d check in on those during our appointments,” she says. “Each of us had setbacks. I’d work closely with each student to frame ideas of ‘failure’ as feedback.” Liadis says Laohakanchanasiri took advantage of the self-improvement ideas and activities offered through the program. He was awarded a $3,500 Altria scholarship before his junior and senior years based on his GPA and financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 9
“This cohort of students allowed me to understand that I am not the only one who doesn’t know how to navigate college as a first-generation student.”
Each year, 28 scholarships are offered to qualifying Altria program juniors and seniors. The guidance, support and networking components of the program set up Laohakanchanasiri to succeed. “My progress coach acted as a facilitator on behalf of the program,” he says. “The scholarship went toward my tuition and the cost of living, books and school supplies. It alleviated the need for my parents to fund a majority of my expenses as a student. This cohort of students allowed me to understand that I am not the only one who doesn’t know how to navigate college as a first-generation student. I met a lot of similar individuals, and we were able to bond over that.” Kathryn Fessler, senior director of corporate citizenship at Altria, says the company is pleased to provide first-generation VCU students with scholarships, networking opportunities, coaches and professional development programs. “By supporting first-generation students, we’re helping build a robust and diverse talent pipeline for our companies and other enterprises throughout the commonwealth,” Fessler says. Altria’s support gives VCU first-gen students the help they need to stay in school and graduate, Rankin says. “A third of our first-year class is first-generation,” she says. “And we know from the data that generally, first-generation students’ retention rates are lower and their graduation rates are lower. So giving them that support just helps to put them on a more level playing field.” CATALYST FOR CHANGE The Altria Scholars program has been a catalyst for helping VCU identify and address the needs of first-generation students. For example, Summer Scholars, a five-week invitation-only program for incoming first-year students, is now devoted to first-gen students. Participants get a head start on their path to graduation by taking university classes, earning course credits and building community and class unity before their first full semester on campus. The students also become better acquainted with Richmond, Virginia, and the VCU community. After learning about the Summer Scholars program, Warren G. Karesh, D.D.S. (D.D.S.’70/D; Cert.’72/D), gave $10,000 10 • Impact
in 2017 to establish a VCU First Generation Fund to fund programs, scholarships and academic opportunities. Additionally, in 2017, the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management created You First at VCU, a network for programs and initiatives including Altria Scholars that serve first-gen students and their families. The You First at VCU website provides information on scholarships and financial aid, programs such as Summer Scholars and more. The division began partnering in fall 2018 with a You First at VCU student subgroup to provide monthly dinners and information sessions on topics of interest to first-gens. In May 2018, first-generation graduating seniors began receiving You First at VCU pins to wear at Commencement. DEEP INVESTMENT Altria’s investment in VCU’s engineering and business schools runs deeper than the scholars’ program. The Richmond-based Fortune 200 company gave $1 million in 2017 to support construction of the Innovation Maker Facility in the School of Engineering. The VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation, a collaboration among the schools of Arts and Business and the colleges of Engineering and Humanities and Sciences, received $1.5 million from Altria in 2012 to support interdisciplinary innovation. Altria funds other scholarships at VCU and employs numerous graduates of VCU engineering, business and other disciplines. “Altria has been a great partner to the School of Business, and we have hundreds of alumni employed there,” says Dean Ed Grier. “They are committed to the success of our students and ensuring that we have a vibrant community.” Laohakanchanasiri plans to pursue a master’s in accounting at VCU. “I don’t think I’d be in the best position I am today if I didn’t join the program,” he says. To learn more about Altria Scholars or You First at VCU, contact Daphne Rankin, Ph.D. (M.S.’88/H&S; Ph.D.’04/H&S), associate vice provost for strategic enrollment management, at (804) 827-8204 or dlrankin@vcu.edu. To learn more about the VCU First Generation Fund, contact Michael P. Andrews (M.S.’05/E), executive director of annual giving, at (804) 828-0236 or andrewsmp@vcu.edu.
Photo Terri Curtis
— ANAWAT LAOHAKANCHANASIRI (B.S.’19/B)
Power Over Parkinson’s founder Gary Rogliano (left) and Gordon Smith, M.D., chair of the Department of Neurology in the School of Medicine
Pledge establishes endowed chair to advance Parkinson’s research A new endowed chair will help VCU Health recruit a clinician-scientist to explore how exercise and physical activity can reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Power Over Parkinson’s, a nonprofit organization focused on providing resources to people with Parkinson’s in central Virginia, established the endowment with a $750,000 pledge. Local business executive Gary Rogliano founded Power Over Parkinson’s shortly after his diagnosis with the disease in May 2018. “I basically had to realign my whole life at that point,” Rogliano says. “I figured out pretty quickly that there are not a lot of places to go for education about it. One thing I did learn is that exercise and physical activity are very good for reducing effects and slowing the progression of Parkinson’s.” Activities like boxing and tae kwon do helped ease Rogliano’s symptoms, but he and his family knew that managing Parkinson’s was going to require more comprehensive care than his diagnosing doctor was providing. He became a patient at the VCU Health Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Wellness Center in Henrico, Virginia, at the suggestion of his daughter, Margaret Preston (B.S.’05/B). “My gut was telling me that VCU was the place for him to be,” says Preston, director and vice president of Power Over
Parkinson’s. “I knew he needed to be where his neurologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist and other specialists are all in one centralized place. It’s a great benefit to patients when doctors can speak to each other and access the same notes to see the whole picture.” The Rogliano Family Endowed Chair is the first result of a strategic partnership between Power Over Parkinson’s and VCU Health. The Rogliano family hopes to continue working with VCU Health to find ways to help improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s. “A lot of people with Parkinson’s need financial help,” Rogliano says. “Many have to retire earlier than they planned, so suddenly it is harder for them to afford their normal living expenses on top of their medical care. Copays, special medical equipment, exercise classes — it all adds up. There’s a lot of money invested in finding a cure, but not many people are doing something to help the people who need immediate help managing Parkinson’s.” To learn more about VCU Health, contact Carrie Bickford, interim director of development, at (804) 828-3652 or carrie.bickford@ vcuhealth.org. To learn more about Power Over Parkinson’s, visit poweroverpd.org.
campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 11
Community engagement leader honored with scholarship in her name A new scholarship established in honor of a recently retired VCU leader will support community-engaged internships. The former vice provost of the VCU Division of Community Engagement, Catherine W. Howard, Ph.D., retired June 30 after 31 years of service. The division has now merged with the VCU Center for Urban Communities to become the VCU Center for Community Engagement and Impact. Throughout her tenure at the university, Howard served as an integral force of connection among VCU, surrounding neighborhoods and the greater community. “Over the years, I have learned that the needs of the community are not based on a sole discipline,” Howard says. “When you bring Cathy Howard with a portrait of herself given as a retirement gift people together from across campus, show them the challenges and the opportunities in the community and then support them in their work, you start to see them become excited about the connections and the possibilities. That’s when the magic happens.” Division of Community Engagement leadership established the Catherine W. Howard Scholarship to provide students with meaningful internships in nonprofit settings. With several thousand dollars already in the fund, there are plans to award the scholarship for the first time in fall 2020. “We recognize that for a lot of students, especially first-generation students, they don’t have the expansive network to connect with internship and job opportunities,” Howard says. “This scholarship will help further those connections and experiences while addressing critical community needs in a nonprofit setting.” To learn more about the Catherine W. Howard Scholarship, contact the Center for Community Engagement and Impact at engage@vcu.edu.
MCV Society celebrates planned giving donors The MCV Foundation recognized MCV Society members for their crucial support of the MCV Campus at a reception this past spring. About 130 members of the MCV Society attended the event at the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Contemporary Art. “Because of your forward thinking, your incredible generosity will create a lasting impact for our students, faculty, research and programs,” said Margaret Ann Bollmeier, MCV Foundation president. “Thank you.” The MCV Society comprises more than 600 individuals who have included the MCV Campus in their estate plans. In the 2018-19 year, the MCV Society added 39 new members
12 • Impact
who donated more than $10 million in new planned gifts that will provide future support to a range of efforts across the MCV Campus. In total, MCV Society members’ philanthropic impact exceeds $100 million in future gifts.
Attendees VCU Massey Cancer Center founding Director Walter Lawrence Jr., M.D. (left), with Judy Brown and Richard Clary, M.D. (M.D.’74/M), at the event.
To learn more about the MCV Society, contact Brian Thomas, MCV Foundation vice president and chief development officer, at (804) 828-0067 or brian.thomas@vcuhealth.org.
Photo Sandra Sellars
Presidential events engage alumni and donors nationwide
Erma Freeman, D.D.S. (center), accepts her First 100 Trailblazer Award from Olivia Croom, D.D.S., and dentistry Dean David C. Sarrett, D.M.D.
Dentists of Color event honors trailblazing and achievements
To learn more about the School of Dentistry, contact Gloria Callihan, associate dean for development, at (804) 828-8101 or gfgreinercal@vcu.edu.
To learn more about regional giving and events, contact Chad Krouse, Ed.D. (Ed.D.’18/E), assistant vice president for university development, at (804) 828-2346 or cmkrouse@vcu.edu.
VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. (center), with Northern Virginia reception guests Neena Singh (H.S.’83/M) and Gurpal Bhuller
Photo Jud Froelich
Erma Freeman, D.D.S. (D.D.S.’77/D), was recognized as the VCU School of Dentistry’s first African American female graduate at the First 100 Dentists of Color Celebration Brunch earlier this year. Held at the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia in Richmond, it was a celebration of achievements and trailblazers. Freeman, a retired oral health professional and a longtime community health volunteer, was the first African American female dentist to serve on the Virginia Board of Dentistry. The First 100 Dentists of Color initiative helps pave the way for the next 100 by providing scholarships for students who are members of the VCU chapter of the Student National Dental Association. The event also honored donors and friends involved with the initiative for their generous support of students and the school. Darriel Cannon, D.D.S. (D.D.S.’19/D), the school’s first African American class president, shared his experiences and vision for the future of African Americans in the oral health profession.
The VCU Office of Development and Alumni Relations launched a new regional event series this year, inviting small groups of donors to dinner with VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., to learn more about the Make It Real Campaign for VCU. Salon-style dinners have taken place in West Palm Beach, Florida; San Francisco; Columbia, South Carolina; Dallas; Baltimore; Philadelphia; and Boston. In addition, four campaign receptions have been hosted in Raleigh, North Carolina; Northern Virginia; Los Angeles; and New York City. The latter, co-hosted by VCU donors Elizabeth “Beth” Mason (B.S.’84/H&S) and Richard “Ricky” Mason (B.S.’83/H&S), coincided with the VCU men’s basketball team’s participation in the Atlantic 10 tournament in Brooklyn, New York. The campaign receptions of 50 to 100-plus alumni and donors serve as opportunities for VCU to engage a broader donor group and share information about the purpose and success of the Make It Real Campaign for VCU.
campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 13
Culture club
VCU School of the Arts’ giving society funds innovative projects that leverage the creative talents of students and faculty By Brelyn Powell
F
rom dance students who use movement to explore their identity to artists who lend their creativity in interdisciplinary research collaborations, a range of bold, visionary work is taking place in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, thanks to an influential circle of donors who make up the Pollak Society. “When I first joined the Pollak Society, I just thought it seemed like a great way to become involved in what was going on in the arts in Richmond,” says Deborah Valentine, a VCUarts donor since 2003. “VCUarts has become so vital to what the city is about. The Pollak Society has been a great way to learn about what’s going on there and meet some fabulous professors and students.” The Pollak Society was formed in 2005 to uphold the principles of its namesake, VCUarts founder Theresa Pollak, and to give local arts advocates an inside look at how the school is making waves in the arts scene in Richmond, Virginia, and beyond. Annual giving from Pollak Society members like Valentine provides more than $100,000 each year in
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unrestricted financial support for all 16 departments and programs within VCUarts, as well as the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU. At the discretion of the school’s dean, a variety of funds benefit from the support of Pollak Society members, including student scholarships, visiting artist lectures and workshops, study-abroad opportunities, research, collaborative partnerships and more. “The Pollak Society, with their passion for VCUarts and commitment to our students’ success, is at the very heart of our community,” says VCUarts Interim Dean Nancy Scott. “Our members’ support, advocacy and enthusiasm translates into real opportunities each and every day for our students and faculty. We are ever-grateful to the members of the Pollak Society for believing in VCUarts and helping us reach our fullest potential.” Here, several projects are highlighted to demonstrate how Pollak Society funding has strengthened the education, artisanship and service of VCUarts students and faculty and supported them to become pioneers in their fields.
Hallie Chametzky
Hallie Chametzky performs “22 Percent: A Disintegrating Data Visualization.”
VCUarts Undergraduate Research and Innovation Grant recipient
This past spring, Hallie Chametzky (B.F.A.’19/A) capped off her undergraduate career in VCUarts’ Department of Dance and Choreography with a solo performance inspired by her quest for a deeper understanding of her Jewish heritage. “22 Percent: A Disintegrating Data Visualization” told a story of geography, loss and identity by exploring the consequences of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “I think a lot of people don’t quite understand how drastic the land shift between Israel and Palestine has been until they see it on a map,” Chametzky says. The emotional performance incorporated music, movement, spoken text, animated projections and symbolic physical items to depict how Palestinian territory has diminished since the founding of Israel. Chametzky realized her complex vision with a $1,550 Undergraduate Research and Innovation Grant, one of several grant programs supported by the Pollak Society. “As an artist, there’s just something about the pursuit of making something that is as close as possible to the vision in your head,” she says. “I wouldn’t have had the money to make the performance The Pollak Society is a select group of arts enthusiasts whose what it needed to be without that philanthropic support creates possibilities for the artists of tomorrow. By supporting scholarships, travel and research, they empower VCUarts to funding. I was even able to pay the ignite creativity and innovation. students who composed and performed an original score for the performance. • Member: $1,000 So often in student work, it’s all about • Patron: $2,500 exchange — students work for free for • Benefactor: $5,000 (includes membership in the VCU President’s Club) other students. It was important to • Arts Advocates: $10,000 me to show them that their work Pollak Society members receive insider access to the country’s top public had value.” university graduate arts and design program. They engage with students, Chametzky is grateful to the Pollak staff and internationally renowned faculty through exclusive trips, exhibit Society, whose contributions have made previews, behind-the-scenes tours and other opportunities. To learn more, it possible for VCUarts to distribute contact Rebecca Blader, assistant director of development, at (804) 828$30,000 in grant funding each year for 9384 or bladerr@vcu.edu. undergraduate projects. “I’m definitely thankful for their generosity,” she says. “It’s great that these are people who have the ability and made the choice to support artists, and especially that they decided to direct that support toward students.”
Pollak Society giving levels
Photo Zephyr Sheedy
campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 15
Semi Ryu
Photo Steven Casanova
Semi Ryu Dean’s Faculty Research Grant recipient
Virtual puppetry had been a major part of media artist Semi Ryu’s performance art for several years when she realized it had potential as a form of therapy. Speaking through a digital avatar in her performances, she says, helped her explore suppressed feelings and provided unexpected emotional release. “I felt a strange sense of relief, as if something clogged had melted away,” Ryu said during a presentation at a 2017 TEDxRVA event. Exploring the relationship between human and virtual bodies and unlocking its therapeutic potential has since become the main focus of Ryu’s research as an associate professor in the School of the Arts’ Department of Kinetic Imaging. In 2016, she debuted an interactive platform that helps users recall and engage with distant memories and emotions by speaking through avatars to tell stories from their lives. As each user tells their story, an onscreen avatar mimics their gestures via motion-sensing technology and lip-syncs with their voice via microphone input. 16 • Impact
The technology these projects require advances rapidly, Ryu says. She’s kept up with help from awards like the one she received in 2017 from the VCUarts Dean’s Faculty Research Grant program, which has been enhanced by the gifts of Pollak Society members. Ryu describes receiving the award as “a great honor, as it is a prestigious recognition of research” and says that the funding helped her replace outdated features while also experimenting with new ones. “Some technology we used in 2016 quickly became obsolete, and some parts of the avatar system became useless,” she says. “Grant funding allowed a seamless flow of the constantly evolving platform by keeping up to date with cutting-edge technology for facial recognition, speech recognition and body detections.” So far, Ryu has worked with colleagues from the VCU College of Health Professions and VCU Massey Cancer Center to introduce the platform to older adults in assisted-living facilities and terminally ill cancer patients receiving palliative care. The project strives to enhance users’ quality of life by improving how they communicate with family, caregivers and friends. Soon, Ryu hopes to expand its reach to include individuals with traumarelated memories, such as combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. “My ultimate goal is to explore this new form of mixed-reality Caroline Meyers performance art and use it to develop an alternative form of psychotherapy that improves mental health, psychosocial care and well-being,” she says.
Caroline Meyers Dean’s International Study Grant recipient
Caroline Meyers, a double major in sculpture and art history, received a Pollak-funded travel scholarship to visit Ravenna, Italy, in 2018 to take a mosaic workshop and study the work of the late art historian Marilyn Stokstad. Meyers’ time abroad informed her developing multimedia exhibit, “i drop my
blender full of post-it pulp to incite revolution: The Biography of Marilyn Stokstad.” “The Dean’s International Study Grant enabled me to travel abroad and spend invested time in the craft of mosaic-making,” Meyers says. “This experience gave me a studio-based lens into my art-historical research and has had a huge impact on the way I conceptualize my biographical research on Stokstad. It was especially exciting to be able to learn the mosaic craft in a city with several UNESCO monuments that predominantly feature mosaics. I loved being able to take time to explore the city during the week after my intensive studio experience.”
Jill Ware and John Henry Blatter
Photo Steven Casanova
School of the Arts assistant professors and research partners Jill Ware and John Henry Blatter (M.F.A.’09/A) are exploring virtual reality as a teaching tool through their interdisciplinary lab, Embodied Empathy. In 2017, the pair received a VCUarts Dean’s Faculty Exploratory Grant, another grant program supported by the Pollak Society, to establish a partnership with BeAnotherLab, a Barcelona, Spain-based group exploring the relationship between identity and empathy through virtual-reality body-swapping experiences. “We loved how they were using embodied virtual reality experiences and recognized a lot of opportunities to use that technology in the classroom,” Blatter says. “We had already used previous grant funding to bring their team to campus to host a workshop, so the exploratory grant helped us build on that to formalize a working relationship.” Insights from that partnership have helped evolve Embodied Empathy into a tool to help physicians and caregivers gain new perspectives that improve patient care. Ware and Blatter worked with the VCU Department of Neurology
Photo Embodied Empathy
Dean’s Faculty Exploratory Grant recipients
Jill Ware (right) with cinema student Brendan Donahue
in the School of Medicine to create virtual reality experiences that simulate the progressing stages of ALS. Recently, they teamed up with School of the Arts physician-scientist in residence John Nestler, M.D. (H.S.’80/M; H.S.’83/M; H.S.’86/M), to develop a pilot program supported by the VCU Presidential Research Quest Fund using virtual reality to promote empathy and to reduce the bias of first-year medical students toward gerontology patients. Ware, Blatter and Nestler demonstrated the concept to Pollak Society members during a November 2018 behind-the-scenes event. The team is grateful for the Pollak Society’s support, Ware says, and they are eager to continue finding new uses for the technology. “VR is a whole new medium,” she says, “and it’s just full of possibilities.” Additional reporting by Julie Young. To learn more about the School of the Arts, contact Julia Carr, executive director of development, at (804) 828-4676 or carrj@vcu.edu.
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Pauley Heart Center Consortium gathers for friends’ annual dinner Members of the Pauley Heart Center Consortium gathered in May at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia, for the group’s annual dinner. During the event, supporters and faculty of the VCU Health Pauley Heart Center enjoyed a cocktail reception, dinner and remarks from university leaders, including VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. Featured speaker Kenneth Ellenbogen, M.D., chairman of the VCU School of Medicine Division of Cardiology and holder of the Martha M. and Harold W. Kimmerling, M.D., Chair of Cardiology, discussed innovations in treatments for cardiac arrhythmia. Founded in 2008 by a group of dedicated volunteers and faculty members, the Pauley Heart Center Consortium is a society of donors, friends and advocates who are interested in the latest heart-related clinical innovations, research and education in Richmond.
Photo Kevin Morley
To learn more about the VCU Health Pauley Heart Center, contact Carrie Mills, senior major gift officer, VCU Health, at (804) 828-0423 or cmills @vcuhealth.org.
VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. (left), with Kenneth Ellenbogen, M.D., Phyllis Ellenbogen and Pauley Advisory Board Chair Roger Boevé
Student Megan Kuechle (left) and guest Beth McClelland
Spring event raises funds for Rice Rivers Center Scholarship Fund VCU Rice Rivers Center raised $15,000 to support student scholarships at an event this past spring at Upper Shirley Vineyards in Charles City, Virginia. At the event, guests met VCU undergraduate and graduate students who have continued on their educational path with the help of scholarships. Guests learned about specific research students were pursuing through the scholarship recipients’ poster presentations and talked with students about their plans in the field. Guests also could participate in a fun challenge that tested their knowledge of the James River. Funds raised benefited the Rice Rivers Center Scholarship Fund, which will assist future students from across the university who use the center as a source of research and study. To learn more about the Rice Rivers Center Scholarship Fund, contact Catherine Dahl, director of development and special projects for VCU Life Sciences, at (804) 827-7372 or ccdahl@vcu.edu.
holiday ornament
Purchase your handcrafted VCU ornament at go.vcu.edu/alumniornament. While supplies last.
18 • Impact
VCU Health’s 11th Shining Knight Gala honors heroes and raises funds
Photo courtesy Shining Knight Gala
VCU Health’s 11th annual Shining Knight Gala was held in May to raise 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. Clay Reynolds (B.S.’86/H&S) and Randy Reynolds Jr. served as the evening’s honorary chairs and spoke about the VCU Trauma Center’s importance to them and the entire community. Trauma survivor Joyce Johnson and her husband, Richard Johnson (M.S.’77/B), received the Cole Sydnor Trauma Survivor Giving Back Award. They created a nursing scholarship to help care providers, like those who helped Joyce recover after a traumatic injury, continue their education. A gift from the couple to name the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit was also announced during the event. The Shining Knight award ceremony recognized more than 50 first responders, medical professionals and others for their roles in saving the lives of David Johnson and Carter Lewis, the event’s featured trauma survivors. The firefighters with Hanover County Fire/EMS suffered severe injuries in October 2018 when a tractor-trailer struck their fire engine as they were responding to a vehicle collision on Interstate 295 in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Michael.
“As the only comprehensive Level I trauma center in the commonwealth, we are well-prepared to handle multiple casualties simultaneously. We anticipated devastating injuries,” said Michel Aboutanos, M.D. (H.S.’00/M), VCU Trauma Center medical director, at the gala. “It takes a highly orches trated symphony of providers to ensure not only survival but the optimal outcomes that we strive for with every patient, every day.” To learn more about the VCU Trauma Center, contact Leslie Stewart, senior major gift officer, VCU Health, at (804) 828-3291 or leslie.stewart@ vcuhealth.org.
Photo Jud Froelich
Raos host summer gathering
VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. (left), with Ginny Crone, Monica Rao and Charles Crone
Virginia Commonwealth University President Michael Rao, Ph.D., and Monica Rao hosted a reception at their home in August to thank nearly 30 donors for their contributions to the Make It Real Campaign for VCU. During his remarks, Rao gave a special birthday shoutout to guest Richard T. “Dick” Robertson (B.S.’67/H&S; H.L.D.’05) and expressed gratitude to all the donors for their generous support. “You may be giving to different areas, but you are all changing society for the better,” he said. “For that, we are so thankful.”
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Development team welcomes new members Elizabeth Bass (M.S.W.’03/SW)
VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. (center), with Bill and Marsha Ginther
Assistant vice president for Alumni Relations VCU Office of Development and Alumni Relations (804) 828-8192 eebass@vcu.edu Rao with Paul Gross
Anna E. Givens
Ginthers, Gross receive Edward A. Wayne Medal at Commencement
Development specialist VCU School of Social Work (804) 828-7166 givensa3@vcu.edu
Longtime Virginia Commonwealth University supporters Marsha and William “Bill” Ginther (B.S.’69/B; M.S.’74/B) and VCU professor emeritus Paul Gross (M.H.A.’64/HP) were honored with the Edward A. Wayne Medal at VCU’s Commencement ceremony this past May. The award recognizes extraordinary service and generosity to the university over several decades. Bill Ginther has served as rector, vice rector and member of the VCU Board of Visitors. He is a founding trustee of the School of Business Foundation and a member of the VCU Athletics Advisory Board and has served on several other volunteer boards and been president of the VCU Alumni Association. Marsha Ginther has been an active volunteer at VCU Massey Cancer Center, specifically on the Women & Wellness committee. The couple are steering committee members for the Make It Real Campaign for VCU. In 1999, they established the Ginther Family Merit Scholarship in the School of Business. In 2015, they created the Bill and Marsha Ginther Family Endowed Research Fund at Massey. They have generously supported the School of Business and construction of VCU Athletics’ basketball practice facility and the Markel Center. Paul Gross is a professor emeritus and a past executive-inresidence of the VCU College of Health Professions. The Paul A. Gross Conference Center at the MCV Alumni House was named in honor of his 1991 gift. In 1994, he established the Paul A. Gross Distinguished Leadership Speakers Series in the Department of Health Administration in the College of Health Professions. In 2018, he and his wife, Veronica “Roni” Gross, made another generous commitment to establish the Paul A. and Veronica H. Gross Achievement in Nursing Award in the School of Nursing.
Jenny Ramey
20 • Impact
Director of gift planning MCV Foundation (804) 828-4599 jennifer.ramey@vcuhealth.org
Sydney E. Taylor Development specialist VCU School of Nursing (804) 828-5548 taylors11@vcu.edu
Giving Tuesday campaign aims to raise funds for Ram Pantry A new crowdfunding campaign for Giving Tuesday aims to harness the fundraising power of the global day of giving to bolster support for the VCU Ram Pantry. More than 39% of VCU students reported concerns of food insecurity in 2018. Ram Pantry provides in-need students with healthy, culturally appropriate emergency food. Ram Pantry receives donations of food from private citizens and commercial entities, but fresh produce is harder to come by. Financial donations will enable volunteers to stock shelves with more and better provisions. Giving Tuesday is Dec. 3. Learn more at go.vcu.edu /givingtuesday.
“I don’t receive any help from my parents; sometimes that makes me question if I should be at school. Scholarships take some of the weight off financially, but it’s also nice to know that someone wants to help me to keep going, to keep doing well and to give back to my community.”
Zaiendae Smith School of the Arts Class of 2021
VCU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.
With a gift to support scholarships at Virginia Commonwealth University, you can make a college degree accessible for all students. Learn more about Zaiendae and the Invest in Me initiative at go.vcu.edu/invest.
Virginia Commonwealth University Development and Alumni Relations Box 843042 Richmond, Virginia 23284-3042
“Having to work full time and raise a child on top of that has been quite a challenge, but my scholarship is helping me hang in there. It does something for your spirit to have someone believe in you so much that they financially invest in you. That vote of confidence was not something I had anticipated.” Van Vox (B.S.’11/H&S) School of Social Work Class of 2020