Multitasker
Scholarship lets aspiring doctor pursue her constellation of interests — and graduate early
Why we give ... “When William’s mother, a social worker, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, there was a dearth of information and guidance about elder care. We had to do our homework, and everyone we spoke to was from VCU. We established the Walters-Wilkerson Memorial Gerontology Scholarship and the Rachel Wilkerson Memorial Social Work Scholarship for a Certificate in Aging Studies to honor our parents and help those professions that had given us assistance.” Patty Wilkerson (B.S.’77/H&S) Black & Gold Loyalty Society member with her husband, William Wilkerson Jr., with 13 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.
Fundraisers take part in the Swim Across America Open Water Swim on the James River in Richmond, Virginia. See article, Page 11. Photo Joe Sites
Features to prosper 2 Pathways VCU is leading the way among peer universities in smoothing the transition for students transferring from community college.
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Master of all
A dual degree and a multitude of extracurricular passions: With scholarship help, one recent graduate proves she can do it all successfully.
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Sowing the seeds
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Living the dream
A vaccine for an infectious disease with a high fatality rate is finally within reach, thanks to Blick Scholar Jason A. Carlyon, Ph.D. (B.S.’93/H&S; Ph.D.’99/M). A first-generation nursing student leverages his work ethic, intellect and timely scholarship support to honor his immigrant parents.
On the cover Sneha Krish (B.A.’19/H&S; B.S.’19/H&S)
Message from the president Dear friends, As we face these challenging times together, we have a chance to reflect on and take stock of what’s best about our VCU community. I am so thankful for you — our alumni, friends and donors — always, but especially now. VCU and VCU Health are strong and ready for what’s ahead, and that’s because of your support. Now, we are thinking of you. Please know that during this difficult time, we are here for you. Now and always. Let us know how we can help.
Michael Rao, Ph.D. President, VCU and VCU Health System
Photo Kaitlyn Rose Photography
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. © 2020, Virginia Commonwealth University. VCU is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 1
PATHWAYS
to PROSPER Institutional changes at VCU help transfer students succeed and highlight VCU as a leader among peer universities BY B R E LY N P OW E L L
2 • Impact
Research shows that, nationally, nearly 2 million students enter higher education through community colleges each year. Eighty percent of them know from the beginning, like Pham, that their ultimate goal is to earn a bachelor’s degree. But not every transfer student’s story ends as successfully as Pham’s.
N AV IGAT IN G H A R DSH IP S The highest degree offered by community colleges is an associate’s degree. Most students who attend community college do so as a stepping stone to earning a higher degree, says Seth Sykes, Ph.D., associate vice provost for transfer initiatives and programs at VCU. “The top reason these students go to community college in the first place is to save money, because community college is much cheaper,” Sykes says. Transitioning from community college to a four-year university can be a difficult process to navigate. The first challenge most students face in the transfer process is understanding the details of the admissions agreements their community college has with the universities they are considering. All Virginia public universities have guaranteed admission agreements with Virginia’s community colleges, but the admissions requirements vary in each agreement. Deciding which university to attend and reviewing its agreement as early as possible ensures that students know what they need to accomplish and which classes they need to take to transfer successfully.
Photo Jud Froelich
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hen Tan Pham (B.S.’19/B) immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Virginia in 2014, the Vietnam native knew two things for certain. The first was that he wanted to go to college to prepare for a successful future in his new country. The second was that he would not be able to afford tuition at a four-year university right away. As a new U.S. citizen, Pham would have to establish residence in Virginia for 12 months before he was eligible for in-state tuition. Unwilling to compromise on his goal, Pham found a more affordable option. He enrolled in a two-year associate degree program at Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia. There, he focused on a career in business and worked on campus as an accounting tutor. He transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016 to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the VCU School of Business. “VCU was my goal from the beginning, but I had to do what was best for me financially,” Pham says. Pham graduated debt-free in May 2019 with a double major in accounting and real estate. Now he owns and operates his own real estate company in addition to working full time as a tax associate in the Richmond office of Chicago-based accounting firm BDO. “Reynolds and VCU both provided me with valuable realworld experiences,” he says, “and those experiences really made me feel prepared to succeed.”
“VCU was my goal from the beginning, but I had to do what was best for me financially.” – TAN P HAM (B. S. ’ 19/ B)
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Then, once they’ve arrived on their new campus, transfer students have to adjust to academic differences, such as larger class sizes and faster-paced courses, and figure out how to afford the higher cost of tuition. “These hardships have consequences,” Sykes says. “There has been research showing that students who transfer from community colleges have lower success rates than students who start at four-year universities. A desire to improve those rates has led to a renewed focus on making sure institutions support transfer students the way they should be supported so that they can be more successful.” The transfer experience is common to a significant portion of VCU’s student body. Nearly 40% of students who graduate from VCU come to the university as transfer students, Sykes says, so promoting their success is a key part of delivering on the university’s mission. “Our transfer students are a big part of making us who we are,” he says. “They bring unique perspectives relative to their individual backgrounds. They come from different ethnic, racial, religious and socioeconomic upbringings. Many are pursuing their second or third careers. Some have raised families and are now pursuing the degrees they never got when they were younger. Having their perspectives on campus makes us better. Without them, we wouldn’t be VCU.”
“Many of our peer universities have more scholarships to offer than we do. We simply can’t continue to compete in the market for transfer students without more scholarship funding.” – SE TH SY KE S , P H. D., AS SO CIAT E VIC E P ROVOST FOR T RANSF E R INIT IAT IVE S AND P RO GRAM S AT VCU
M EA NINGF UL PARTN E RS HI P S Philanthropic partnerships have helped VCU stand out as a leader among Virginia public universities in launching initiatives to help transfer students succeed. In 2018, VCU received multiple grants to streamline the transfer pipeline for students coming to the university from Virginia community colleges. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded $868,000 to VCU and $1.48 million to the Virginia Community College System in 2018 to strengthen collaborations among faculty at VCU and Richmond-area community colleges Reynolds and John Tyler. The grants help the partnering institutions improve academic advising services for students transferring to pursue degrees in the arts and humanities and develop guided pathways that provide those students with recommendations for curricular, cocurricular and experiential learning opportunities. Additionally, in 2018, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute selected VCU as one of 57 schools in the U.S. to receive $1 million in grant support over five years as part of its Inclusive Excellence 4 • Impact
initiative. VCU is using the grant to work with Reynolds and John Tyler to develop an inclusive approach to advising and teaching that helps transfer students from underrepresented groups succeed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses. “What these grants have in common is that they aim to unite university and community college faculty for a common goal,” Sykes says. “This funding is making it possible for us to transform the ways we support transfer students in and outside of the classroom.”
A H EL P IN G H A N D Although grant funding has helped VCU enhance its support services for transfer students, funding is still needed in some areas to ensure their success, Sykes says.
Photo Tom Kojcsich, VCU University Marketing
“Affordability is the primary reason that students choose to start out at community college instead of at a four-year university, so it’s not surprising that one of the most common questions we get from transfer students is about the scholarships VCU has available specifically for transfer students,” he says. “Unfortunately, the answer is that there aren’t many yet.” The commonwealth of Virginia offers grants for qualifying students transferring from the Virginia Community College System to a public university in Virginia, and VCU has allocated some institutional funds to offer a limited number of VCCS Transfer Scholarships each year. Many students seek out privately funded scholarships to supplement those awards and offset the higher cost of tuition, Sykes says.
“If we had more private scholarship money to offer these students to supplement what the state provides, it may be just enough to help them continue and succeed,” he says. “Scholarships help with recruitment, too. Many of our peer universities have more scholarships to offer than we do. We simply can’t continue to compete in the market for transfer students without more scholarship funding.” The Katherine Gomez Nelson Scholarship in the VCU School of Business is one of the few scholarships at VCU explicitly for transfer students. Established in 2017 with a $100,000 pledge from Katherine G. Nelson (B.S.’93/MC) and her husband, John R. Nelson Jr., Ph.D., an emeritus member of the VCU School of Business Foundation board, the fund provides four scholarships annually to students who transfer to the VCU School of Business from community college and who demonstrate financial need. The motivation to support transfer students at VCU came from a place of understanding, Katherine Nelson says. When she transferred to VCU from Reynolds in 1991, the process was confusing, and she remembers feeling like it was up to her to navigate the challenges on her own. “Transferring was intimidating,” Nelson recalls. “I want the students who receive our scholarship to know that someone else has been in their position and wants to help them feel supported in finding pathways to accomplish their goals.” For Pham, graduating debt-free was a feat that would not have been possible without receiving the Katherine Gomez Nelson Scholarship in 2018. When he transferred to VCU, adjusting to the increased cost of tuition was one of his biggest challenges. “I worked multiple part-time jobs for almost 40 hours a week while also going to school, so my campus life was pretty boring,” he says. “I went to work every day as soon as classes were over and did homework on my day off. I felt lonely sometimes, like no one was going to notice how much work I was putting in. Getting a scholarship made me feel like someone was there to congratulate me and help me along the way.” It means more, Pham says, that Nelson was a transfer student. “She knows the struggle,” he says. “I really appreciate that people like her understand our situation and want to do their part to help people like me have a chance at success.” To learn more about the School of Business, contact Shannon K. Duvall, chief development officer, at (804) 828-1035 or skduvall@vcu.edu. To learn more about supporting transfer student initiatives at VCU, contact Chad Krouse, Ed.D. (Ed.D.’18/E), assistant vice president for university development, at (804) 828-2346 or cmkrouse@vcu.edu.
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Master
OF ALL
Scholarships enable ambitious student to pursue dual degrees and engage in multiple extracurriculars »
6 • Impact
BY MARGARET CORUM (B.S.’15/H&S)
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Sneha Krish
Photo Kaitlyn Rose Photography
neha Krish (B.A.’19/H&S; B.S.’19 /H&S) wasn’t always encouraged to pursue all her passions and interests. As a high school student in Los Angeles, Krish was a member of the Model United Nations and several service-oriented organizations, such as the Red Cross. Outside of school, she was a member of a dance company and a photography club. She participated actively in community service and completed pre-med curriculum. A principal cautioned her to narrow her focus. “My high school principal told me that if I stuck to all these things and tried to fit everything together into my career, I would become a jack of all trades and master of none,” Krish says. But Krish believed that, far from being a distraction, her extracurricular activities complemented her academic life. When she enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University, she finally felt understood. “I’m really passionate about my studies, but I’m also passionate about dance, literature, staying active and having a healthy social life,” Krish says. “I think one thing that people might not know about college is that there is still time for you to pursue other interests. There’s so much you can do in addition to being a student.” Krish has competed in and choreographed a variety of dance disciplines since she was 5 years old. Dance, she says, has influenced her work ethic, making her more resilient and less likely to give up on something new. “I was captain of the dance team for two years at VCU,” she says. “Through dance, I was able to get out of my path and be active in something I really love. There are so many sides to a person, and each should be nourished and encouraged. It is so important to be engaged in a variety of passions because it enhances the diversity of the community and broadens American culture.” campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 7
“It’s very nice to dream a dream, but to be able to achieve it, you need help. And the scholarship made that dream possible.” – SNEHA KRISH (B.A.’19/H&S; B.S.’19/H&S)
Literature is another of her passions. Current favorites are 19th-century authors such as Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy. She especially loves the Harry Potter series and affectionately refers to VCU as her Hogwarts, after the wizarding school in the books. “I’m an only child, so growing up I spent a lot of time at the library,” she says. “I was bullied in elementary school, so I didn’t make any friends until high school. Reading took me to a place where I felt valued, and it built my self-confidence and self-esteem.”
High achiever
With a long-term goal to be a doctor and a strong interest in health care policy, specifically international health care and global health inequities, Krish decided to pursue both a B.A. in political science and a B.S. in biology at VCU. “The biology degree gave me core knowledge in physiology and biology, the scientific side of medicine. I added a political science major because I want policy and public administration to shape my practice as a physician,” she says. “You can look at health care from a patient-treatment-illness perspective, but a doctor should also assess a patient’s socioeconomic background and how it contributes to symptoms and affects treatment. I want to approach medicine from both sides.” Krish pursued two degrees and maintained her passion for dance thanks in part to the Jay and Sondra Weinberg Undergraduate Honors Scholarship she received in 2018. She also received a four-year University Scholarship as a freshman in the Honors College. “I was concerned about affording college,” she says. “My family is big, and my dad is the only person who works. We used to have seven people living with us, including my grandparents on both sides, my aunt and my mom and dad. The scholarship enabled me to stay in class and keep my work hours manageable, and it lifted the weight off my dad. “Without the Weinberg Scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to graduate with two degrees in three years and be so engaged in dance,” she continues. “It’s very nice to dream a dream, but to be able to achieve it, you need help. And the scholarship made that dream possible.” 8 • Impact
The Weinberg Scholarship was established in 1998. A member of the VCU Board of Visitors from 1989 to 2001, Jay Weinberg realized the school was in dire need of scholarship funds for outstanding students. Then-VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., appointed Weinberg to a committee focused on raising money for honors scholarships. To date, Weinberg has personally contributed more than $1 million to the fund. “We had a strong feeling that we wanted to help qualified students pursue their goals and find success,” Weinberg says. “Sneha has fulfilled our desires for this scholarship. It’s heartwarming to hear of her accomplishments and achievements. We are grateful for the opportunity to enhance the quality of life for VCU students who have the ability and the desire to improve the world.” Former Honors College Dean Barry Falk, Ph.D., says wellrounded students are vitally important to VCU. “We are grateful to donors like Mr. Weinberg because their support enables extraordinary students like Sneha to pursue a unique educational experience,” he says.
Hitting the books Krish graduated in May 2019 and is eligible for guaranteed admission to the VCU School of Medicine. Right now, she is pursuing her master’s in global health at the University of California, San Francisco. She has begun work with UCSF faculty to develop a phone-based health education tool to promote postnatal care in Chandigarh, India. “We are using technology to deliver information to difficultto-reach populations,” Krish says. Krish advocates for physician education in health care policy alongside their medical training. She is not waiting for change to happen. She is doing what she has always done: forging her own path and embracing her constellation of interests. “I want to be a physician who is focused on policy. I can more effectively treat communities when I have a deeper understanding of their lives, from both a policy and medical perspective. This way, I will have a more sustainable impact.” To learn more about the Honors College, contact Richard Spain (M.Ed.’13/E), senior university gift officer, at (804) 828-6502 or spainrt@vcu.edu.
Massey on the River hits milestone anniversary, raises more than $85,000 Almost 1,000 people gathered this past September in Richmond, Virginia, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Massey on the River. The event takes place annually on Mayo Island and benefits cancer research at VCU Massey Cancer Center. With the James River as a backdrop, the event featured a buffet from Lunch.Supper!, a craft beer station, a silent auction and live music by Three Sheets to the Wind. The fundraiser provided a lively platform for celebrating the cumulative power of individual giving and uniting the greater Richmond community in support of a common cause. This year’s Massey on the River raised more than $85,000, with nearly $20,000 coming from Fund a Cure, a 20-minute period during the evening when the Massey Alliance asks attendees to text to make a donation.
Massey on the River is the signature annual fundraiser for the Massey Alliance, a membership-based group of young professionals who raise funds and awareness for Massey’s lifesaving research. The group hosts numerous events, offers advocacy opportunities and develops partnerships to support fundraising efforts. To mark Massey on the River’s 10th year, the alliance announced a new membership initiative. Donors can join by giving $25 or more per year through a Massey Alliance event or via its membership site. Members receive exclusive communications and invitations throughout the year. To learn more about the Massey Alliance, visit massey.vcu.edu/giving /massey-alliance or contact Michelle Adcock, director of board relations, at (804) 828-1187 or madcock@vcu.edu.
Students, benefactors meet at School of Business endowment luncheon
Business Dean Ed Grier and Valerie Grier (center) with recipients of the Ed and Valerie Grier Diversity Scholarship in Business Sierra Moore (left) and Annette Koroma
Photo Terry Brown
The VCU School of Business hosted its annual Endowment Day Luncheon this past fall at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. Almost 100 attendees, including donors, faculty members and scholarship recipients, celebrated $8.1 million in new gifts over the past fiscal year. These have established new scholarships, supported internship opportunities, challenged students to consider business ethics, leveraged professional skill-learning opportunities and created a major financial wellness initiative. The luncheon is a chance for donors to meet the students who have benefited from their generosity. Daniel Filippelli, who received the Katherine Gomez Nelson Scholarship and interned last summer with Altria, was surprised to learn that John R. Nelson Jr., Ph.D., retired executive vice president and chief technology officer at Altria, was one of his benefactors. “The scholarship was under his wife’s name, so I hadn’t made the connection,” Filippelli says. “It was so nice to put a face to the people who have been so generous.” Guests viewed video testimonials from recipients Derek Hetrick, Annette Koroma and Giovanni Knight and heard a
moving message from Rohit Karnati, a junior majoring in finance, who received the Michael and Joan Kline Endowed Scholarship. “Education is a privilege,” he said. “As a first-generation student, I strive to be a role model for my younger brother.” To learn more about the School of Business, contact Shannon K. Duvall, chief development officer, at (804) 828-1035 or skduvall@vcu.edu.
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Photo Kevin Morley
H&S scholarship students thank donors at annual breakfast
Artist Sir James Thornhill at the event
Chef’s dinner benefits the Virginia Treatment Center for Children
To learn more about sponsoring a mural or supporting the Chef’s Dinner in 2020, contact Lynn Meyer, Department of Psychiatry director of development, at lynn.meyer@vcuhealth.org. 10 • Impact
To learn more about the College of Humanities and Sciences, contact Caitlin Hanbury (M.A.’12/A), assistant director of community affairs, at (804) 827-0862 or cshanbury@vcu.edu.
Kristina Donnally at the event
Photo Joe Mahoney
After a two-year hiatus, the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Psychiatry brought back its annual Chef ’s Dinner this past October. Spearheaded by Shannon Weisleder, Melissa Christian and Tyler Brown — members of the department’s volunteer group, the Healthy Minds Cabinet — Chef ’s Dinner took over Shagbark Restaurant in Libbie Mill, Richmond, Virginia, to raise awareness and support for the VCU Virginia Treatment Center for Children. While guests enjoyed a seasonal tasting menu by Shagbark chef Walter Bundy, the evening focused on the various needs of the children being served at the VTCC and the importance of decreasing the stigma associated with mental health. Overall proceeds from the event, raised through corporate sponsorship and individual ticket sales, support the creation of two new murals by local artists Chris Milk Hulburt and Sir James Thornhill within the inpatient unit of the VTCC. They will be completed this spring. “We are so grateful to the Chef ’s Dinner host committee and all of the event attendees,” says Alexandria Lewis, executive director of the VTCC. “Thanks to their passion for helping children, our patients and their families will greatly benefit from the enhanced spaces. The new murals will aid in our efforts to provide a therapeutic environment that promotes healing.”
The College of Humanities and Sciences hosted its Donor Scholarship Breakfast this past December at the VCU Institute for Contemporary Art. The annual event celebrates the generosity and commitment of the college’s biggest supporters. The college has more than 150 scholarships and awarded more than $325,000 in donor-funded financial support in the 2019-20 academic year. More than 100 guests attended the event, where donors and students met one another — many for the first time — enjoyed breakfast and viewed a special thank-you video featuring scholarship students. In the video, students shared the impact that the scholarships have had on their lives. As one student explained, the scholarship “lifted the weight of the world off my chest.” Guests also heard from Kristina Donnally, a senior majoring in history and anthropology, who spoke about her summer as an archaeological intern on a dig in Israel, which was made possible by the Baldacci Student Experiential Learning Endowed Fund. “Receiving the Baldacci scholarship did not just mean a cool study-abroad experience or help with a financial burden; it meant so much more,” Donnally said. “This scholarship meant the best summer of my whole life. It meant that I got to follow my dreams. Now as I head into my final semester, I’m excited about my future.”
Neifelds honored at Commencement
Fundraisers make waves to fight cancer with Swim Across America The second annual Swim Across America Richmond Open Water Swim raised nearly $33,000 in October. Swimmers took to the James River in Richmond, Virginia, in a fundraising effort to support VCU Massey Cancer Center’s lifesaving cancer research. Swim Across America is a national nonprofit that hosts charity swims in partnership with world-renowned research institutes and organizations to fund cancer research and clinical trials. This year, participants could take a leisurely float downriver rather than swim. This option proved to be an entertaining part of the day, as a parade of inflatable pizza slices, unicorns and a giant, hot-pink flamingo drifted to the finish line. Among the top fundraisers was Santiago Lima, Ph.D., a member of Massey’s cancer cell signaling research program and a former competitive swimmer who captained the Massey team for the second year. His passion for philanthropy is fueled by his family’s experience with cancer: In 2017, his wife, Amanda Dickinson, Ph.D., an associate professor in the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences, was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. It’s a disease
that, before advancements in immunotherapy, usually came with a grim prognosis. “We believe she was lucky to have been treated at a place like Massey, which is at the forefront of fundamental research and clinical trials that make new therapies possible,” Lima says. “It is the development of new treatments that is now changing those grim statistics.” Dickinson is living in a new era for melanoma patients. She has been in remission for over a year. “When you hear fundraising campaigns say, ‘Every donated dollar can make a difference,’ it is not a slogan, it is a reality,” Lima says. “Millions and millions of dollars are spent to make small advances, and it takes many, many, many small advances to develop one single modern, effective anti-cancer therapy. Amanda is living proof of how this can make a real difference to people.” To learn more about Massey Cancer Center, contact Martha Quinn, executive director of development, at (804) 827-0652 or mquinn3@vcu.edu. campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 11
Photo Tom Kojcsich, VCU University Marketing
Longtime Virginia Commonwealth University supporters Ramona and James “Jim” Neifeld, M.D. (M.D.’72/M), were honored with the Edward A. Wayne Medal at Commencement in December. The award recognizes the couple’s extraordinary service and generosity to the university over several decades. Jim Neifeld joined VCU’s School of Medicine as an assistant professor in surgical oncology in 1978 and became professor of surgery in 1986. In 2003, he was appointed the Stuart McGuire Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery, a position he held for more than 10 years. He is a member of the VCU Athletics Advisory and Golf Jim and Ramona Neifeld (left) with VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. Advisory boards, and he previously served on the VCU Health System Authority Board. The couple are longtime donors to the School of Medicine and are passionate supporters of VCU Athletics. They have endowed two scholarships and have supported the construction of the VCU Athletics Basketball Development Center and the VCU Golf Practice Facility at First Tee. Both serve on the Make It Real Campaign for VCU Senior Advisory Council.
SOWING the SEEDS Researcher and inaugural Blick Scholar makes strides to prevent deadly illness BY BRELYN POWELL
12 • Impact
More than 1 million people each year contract scrub typhus, a bacterial disease transmitted through bites from infected chiggers. Although the infectious disease, which can have a fatality rate as high as 70%, is most common in the AsiaPacific region, recent appearances in populations outside of that area indicate that scrub typhus is more of an international health concern than originally thought. Scrub typhus still has no preventive vaccine, but thanks to the work of Jason A. Carlyon, Ph.D. (B.S.’93/H&S; Ph.D.’99/M), a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, more is known about the cause of the disease than ever before, and a vaccine might finally be within reach.
Jason Carlyon, Ph.D., with Ph.D. candidate Haley Adcox
Photo Jud Froelich
Carlyon, who joined VCU as an assistant professor in 2007, studies rickettsial diseases, or diseases caused from bacteria that are transmitted by biting arthropods such as ticks or chiggers. In the case of scrub typhus, Carlyon’s lab has narrowed in on how the disease’s pathogen, a bacterium called Orientia tsutsugamushi, invades human cells and avoids detection by the immune system. “We’re interested in how Orientia does the things it has to do to survive,”
Carlyon says. “How is it able to impair our immune response? What does it do to counteract our immune defenses? What does it have to do to obtain nutrition from our cells in order to survive and cause disease? The idea is that, now that we better understand these concepts, we can begin to work toward a protective vaccine against it.” A better understanding of how one pathogen operates, Carlyon adds, can often lead to advancements in treat ments for other infectious diseases. campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 13
“Essentially, if you can understand what any intracellular pathogen does at the molecular level to be successful, you can see how it’s applicable to other pathogens and use that knowledge to identify new targets for treatment or intervention for those diseases as well,” he says. “Ultimately, we want to have pragmatic and translational outcomes that are going to be beneficial to patients, but I think it’s equally important to contribute to a larger body of knowledge that can have a lot of indirect benefits.” Carlyon’s research has come a long way since he first began studying Orientia tsutsugamushi in 2010 as part of the inaugural cohort of Blick Scholars. The four-year Blick Scholar program, which aims to advance the research of junior faculty members from VCU’s health sciences schools, comes with an annual award from the George and Lavinia Blick Research Fund. Created with a $2 million bequest, the fund was a gesture of gratitude from Lavinia Blick, who died in 2007 at the age of 93, to acknowledge the care that she, her husband and her father received at MCV Hospitals and later at VCU Medical Center. A widow with no children or living relatives, Blick named the MCV Foundation as a beneficiary in her estate plan, with her only stipulation that the gift support medical research on the MCV Campus at VCU. “When I became a Blick Scholar, I had spent the previous 12 years of my career studying another rickettsial disease, with goals similar to those I’ve had studying scrub typhus,” Carlyon says. “I became aware of how little was known about the fundamental molecular pathogenesis of scrub typhus and saw an opportunity and a need for someone to study it.” Over his four years as a Blick Scholar, Carlyon received about $50,000 to support his research. That funding, he says, helped him secure the equipment and personnel needed to establish a new research program in the School of Medicine to study Orientia tsutsugamushi. 14 • Impact
“WE STEADILY BUILT A LINE OF RESEARCH THAT WE COULD PURSUE LONG TERM. HERE WE ARE, NEARLY A DECADE — AND OVER $3 MILLION IN FUNDING — LATER, AND ALL THE DISCOVERIES WE’VE MADE TRACE BACK TO GETTING THAT SUPPORT FROM THE BLICK FUNDING.” – Jason A. Carlyon, Ph.D. (B.S.’93/H&S; Ph.D.’99/M)
Photo Jud Froelich
Discoveries made in Carlyon’s lab have since earned the program more than $3 million in grant funding from the National Institutes of Health and other external sources. “After that initial funding, we just steadily built the program, getting one grant after another as we continued to generate more and more data and build a line of research that we could pursue long term,” says Carlyon, who was appointed an American Academy of Microbiology fellow in 2019 for his outstanding contributions and achievements in microbiology. “Here we are nearly a decade — and over $3 million in funding — later, and all the discoveries that we’ve made trace back to getting that initial support from the Blick funding.” Peter F. Buckley, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine and interim vice president for VCU Health Sciences and CEO of VCU Health System, says that support from donors like Blick is essential to the success of VCU’s researchers, particularly as the process to obtain federal grants becomes more competitive. “We are tremendously grateful to Mrs. Blick, whose vision for research on the MCV Campus has sown the seeds for important medical and scientific advances,” Buckley says. “The Blick
Research Fund supports researchers in their quest to win federal funding, which is extremely challenging for young scientists today. Dr. Carlyon exemplifies how philanthropic investment in early-stage research can bear fruit in impactful study findings that, in turn, can be used to secure additional grants to further the research. The recognition he’s received from his peers testifies to his contributions and his growing influence in the field. We’ve seen the Blick Research Fund do the same for others as well.” Receiving the Blick Scholar award early in his career at VCU felt like recognition for what he had already accomplished and an affirmation that he was on the right track, Carlyon says. “Knowing that the university supported the vision that I had for foraying into this new area of research was a boost of confidence,” he says. “That kind of recognition shows that the university believes in you, and that’s really important.” To learn more about the George and Lavinia Blick Research Fund, contact Brian S. Thomas, vice president and chief development officer at the MCV Foundation, at (804) 828-0067 or brian.thomas@vcuhealth.org. To learn more about the VCU School of Medicine, 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 • 15
LIVING THE
DREAM Scholarships enable nursing student to honor his immigrant parents’ sacrifices By Margaret Corum (B.S.’15/H&S)
16 • Impact
Christian Santos
Y
ou could say that Christian Santos’ journey to Virginia Commonwealth University began decades ago, when his grandfather, an engineer in the Philippines, was recruited by the U.S. Navy as a part of policy that encouraged the military to enlist Filipinos. He ultimately became a U.S. citizen. Seeking a better quality of life, Santos’ parents and two siblings began the process of immigrating to the U.S. about 25 years ago. Santos was born shortly after his family immigrated. “It was very hard on my family,” Santos says. “My mom and dad had a life together in the Philippines, and they already had my two older siblings. It’s hard to uproot all these lives, to leave behind friends and family, and start over in another country. But they knew the sacrifice was worth it. Opportunities for education and a career are so much better here.” A student in the VCU School of Nursing, Santos is the first person in his family to graduate from high school and attend college. His siblings arrived in the U.S. when they were 7 and 8 and did not graduate from high school. When his parents first arrived, they worked at his aunt’s bakery in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Now, his mother works in a beauty shop. His father recently left a job as a manager for Dunkin’ to work for a sign manufacturing company. The move allowed Santos to get a good education, with excellent career prospects, but starting over in a new country put a financial strain on the family. “Growing up, there were definitely times when my family’s financial security was in question. I remember my mom laying out all her dollar bills in the living room, trying to figure out how to move money around to pay the bills and keep a roof over our heads,” Santos says.
Photo Ju d
Froelich
THE BURDEN OF SACRIFICE Today, Santos feels a sense of responsibility to succeed and to achieve his parents’ version of the American dream because of the sacrifices they made for him to grow up in the States. “When I told my dad that I got into nursing school, he was very emotional,” Santos says. “In his mind, this is where his sacrifice went. In a way, it makes it all worth it for him.” Santos hopes to graduate from the VCU School of Nursing this spring and work for VCU Health as a nurse. He is confident that his achievements have honored his family’s sacrifices, but as a first-generation college student, the journey was not easy. » campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 17
Photo VCU College of Engineering
“As a first-generation student, I’ve had to figure out a lot of things on my own,” he says. “It made me grow up faster, especially when it comes to managing my own finances and making sure I can afford to keep coming back to VCU. My family isn’t in a position to support me financially. But I wouldn’t be where I am without their love, support and sacrifices. However, being first generation has also offered me a sense of freedom and independence.” Santos’ accomplishments as a first-generation college student are a combination of work ethic, intellect and timely scholarship support. He is a recipient of the School of Nursing Endowed Scholarship and the four-year Provost Scholarship. “That I am in college is a huge source of pride for my family,” Santos says. “I would not be here without these scholarships.” Mildred Neagle (B.S.’68/N; M.S.’89/N; Cert.’06/N), a triple alumna from the VCU School of Nursing, is one of the many donors to the Nursing Endowed Scholarship Fund. “I appreciated the scholarship money I received from VCU when I was getting my master’s degree,” Neagle says. “Now that I’m at a point in my life where I have some extra funds, I wanted to give back to the school and help other people who need financial aid.” Generosity like Neagle’s gives students like Santos a financial boost to graduate from college. “It’s important for our school to support the dreams of highly talented students like Christian who often face unique challenges,” says Jean Giddens, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, dean and Doris B. Yingling Endowed Chair of the VCU School of Nursing. “Scholarships help to ease the financial burden, allowing students to focus their time and energy on their education rather than on how to fund it.” The scholarships, Santos says, have provided him with a sense of security and freedom from worrying about bills, rent or tuition. He can focus solely on his studies and making connections with faculty and colleagues. As of now, Santos has only $7,500 in student loan debt, with no plans to increase the amount in his final semester. As of 2017-18, the average student loan debt for a bachelor’s graduate of the VCU School of Nursing was $20,696. “When I think back on my college experience, the main emotion I feel is gratitude,” Santos says. “I was given an amazing opportunity because VCU took a chance on me.” To learn more about the School of Nursing, contact Pam Lowe, senior director of development, at (804) 827-0020 or plowe@vcu.edu.
18 • Impact
VCU College of Engineering tops off new research building The VCU College of Engineering marked a construction milestone in its new $93 million, 133,000-square-foot Engineering Research Building at a topping-off ceremony in October. Spectators cheered as the final beam — signed by students, faculty and members of the community — was hoisted into the air and placed on top of the Engineering Research Building at East Cary and Belvidere streets in Richmond, Virginia. The facility is set to open in late 2020. “This is an opportunity to turn VCU’s engineering program into a new model for engineering schools,” said VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., at the event. “Students learn best when their educational experience parallels the real-world experience. I can’t wait to cut the ribbon next year.” Barbara D. Boyan, Ph.D., the Alice T. and William H. Goodwin, Jr. Dean of the college, said the building includes modern concepts, with a first-floor makerspace and labs for computer science and advanced, collaborative biomedical engineering. After the ceremony, VCU engineering faculty and staff donned hard hats and vests for a first look inside the building. To learn more about the College of Engineering, contact Brian Campbell, executive director of development, at (804) 828-1475 or becampbell@vcu.edu.
Photo Kevin Morley
THE POWER OF GIVING
VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. (left); Monica Rao; Gordon Ginder, M.D.; Rebecca C. “Becky” Massey; and William E. “Bill” Massey at the event
Symposium honors outgoing Massey Director Gordon Ginder, M.D. Hundreds gathered this past fall for a research symposium to honor Gordon Ginder, M.D., who stepped down as director of VCU Massey Cancer Center in December. The event, held at the Omni Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, featured reflections from Ginder’s colleagues and highlights of the scientific achievements that have taken place at Massey during his 22-year tenure. Ginder will remain at Massey as a scientist and hematologistoncologist. Michael Rao, Ph.D., president of VCU and VCU Health System, and Marsha Rappley, M.D., then CEO of VCU Health System and senior vice president of VCU Health Sciences, gave opening remarks. Steven Grossman, M.D., Ph.D., deputy director of Massey Cancer Center and the Dianne Nunnally Hoppes Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, spoke of Ginder’s influence on the center’s key accomplishments of the past two decades, noting the center’s growth in scientific base and output fueled by a fourfold increase in extramural, philanthropic and state funding for lifesaving cancer research. He also emphasized that Ginder led five highly competitive renewals for Massey’s National
Cancer Institute designation, strengthened multidisciplinary care and helped develop state-of-the-art spaces for cancer research, training and care across the university and health system, including the Goodwin Research Laboratory, the first building at VCU dedicated solely to cancer research. “Gordon Ginder leaves a lasting legacy that has inspired countless lives in and beyond Virginia,” he said. A video tribute featuring Ginder’s current and former colleagues, mentees and patients drew a standing ovation. Donors expressed more admiration and respect at a celebratory dinner after the symposium. Ginder ended the event by thanking those who contributed to the Gordon Ginder Research Excellence Fund, which focuses on blood cancer research, his specialization, as well as colleagues and Massey’s donors, who, he said, made possible all that had been accomplished during his tenure. To learn more about Massey Cancer Center, contact Martha Quinn, executive director of development, at (804) 827-0652 or mquinn3@vcu.edu.
campaign.vcu.edu support.vcu.edu • 19
Development team welcomes new members Rebecca Blader Assistant director of development VCU School of the Arts (804) 828-9384 bladerr@vcu.edu
Founders’ Society event celebrates impact of philanthropy More than 200 friends of Virginia Commonwealth University gathered this past October at the Richmond, Virginia, Main Street Station Train Shed for the VCU Founders’ Society Dinner. The black-tie event recognized VCU donors who have made commitments of $100,000 or more to support the mission of the university and its health system. During a cocktail reception, guests were invited to view an exhibit chronicling the history and lasting impact of private giving throughout VCU’s history. After dinner, new members were presented with special Founders’ Society medallions.
Photo Jud Froelich
New Founders’ Society inductees John Kelly (B.S.’87/H&S) (left), Laura Greer and Harold Greer, Ph.D.
Lisa Winn Bryan Director of development VCU Institute for Contemporary Art (804) 828-2823 winnl@vcu.edu
Sara Fetherolf Development specialist VCU School of Business (804) 827-5209 sfetherolf@vcu.edu
Sandy Turnage Director of corporate relations VCU Office of Development and Alumni Relations (804) 828-3620 scturnage@vcu.edu
Golf gathering benefits School of Business students
20 • Impact
often serve as mentors, recruit students and volunteer as competition judges or classroom speakers. To learn more about the VCU Business Alumni Society Golf Open, contact Angela Bartee, assistant director of alumni relations, at (804) 828-5308 or adbartee@vcu.edu.
Rodney the Ram with the Executive M.B.A. team
Photo Jovanni-Dominic Samonte
VCU School of Business alumni, friends and corporate partners gathered this past fall at The Federal Club in Glen Allen, Virginia, for the ninth annual VCU Business Alumni Society Golf Open. The event benefits student scholarships and programs such as the School of Business Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship Fund and the Connect mentoring program. Teams and sponsors enjoyed a day of golf, hole contests, raffles, networking and awards. The Business Alumni Society has a tradition of supporting VCU students and creating networking opportunities for alumni. Alumni
“I want to be an accomplished chemist, which means doing research that will improve the safety of the citizenry against terrorism. I am learning vital skills at VCU to realize this dream. My scholarship makes me feel as if someone is recognizing what I’m doing.”
Derrick Ampadu-Boateng College of Humanities and Sciences Class of 2020
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 Derrick and the Invest in Me initiative at go.vcu.edu/invest.
Virginia Commonwealth University Development and Alumni Relations Box 843042 Richmond, Virginia 23284-3042
“The scholarship allowed me to buy loggers to precisely measure the tide. I was studying how carbon in wetland soil is impacted by tidal changes. My ultimate goal is to mitigate climate change.” Ellen Stuart-Haëntjens, Ph.D. (M.S.’14/H&S; Ph.D.’19/LS)
