Welcome to the March issue of the Virginia Union University Union National Research Institute Quarterly eNewsletter!
It is going to be a great year for research and sharing good news about what is new and exciting at the Union National Research Institute (UNRI) and its Research Centers. The UNRI will be hosting research technical assistance workshops this Spring and engaging prospective partners committed to the excellence in the delivery of research initiatives. The UNRI Research Centers collectively have received more than $13 million in grants that will strengthen and enhance our research efforts. Stay tuned for more good news!
UNRI Goal
To address the biggest challenges of the day to create, influence, and impact a better world. From robotics and cybersecurity to the origins of the universe, research at the UNRI crosses disciplines and illuminates new ideas.
UNRI Primary Objective
Provide proven scientific methodological processes that enable organizations to turn complex challenges into substantial opportunities by transforming data into information, and information into insights that save lives, save money, and solve problems.
UNRI Opportunity
• Facilitate basic, applied interdisciplinary research
• Engage in research collaborations & partnerships
• Disseminate research results
• Seek extramural research funds
• Create a platform for undergraduate & graduate student research engagement and training
UNRI Research Centers
Currently, there are 19 Research Centers that support research projects and creative works through the UNRI at not only the rudimentary stage of development, but also the stages of presentation, publication, proposal development, and submission to funding entities.
The Research Centers support and advance the University’s mission by providing leadership in grantsmanship, expertise in programmatic and financial administration, compliance with relevant regulations, and leadership development training. The central vision is to significantly grow the portfolio of externally funded grants and contracts for Virginia Union University (VUU).
The Resource Center (Drs. Guns and Janssen)
The Resource Center is a stand-alone ecumenical 501(c)(3) non-profit housed in Kingsley Hall in partnership with the School of Theology. Its 16,000-volume collection of curriculum, books, videos, art, and artifacts, along with the consulting and events it provides, supports local congregations, individuals, schools, and seminaries. Key values of hospitality, diversity, and creativity are at the heart of helping congregations, individuals, and students to thrive through resources that equip Christian growth.
Center for Lifelong Learning and Leadership (Drs. Guns and Janssen)
The Center for Lifelong Learning and Leadership is a natural ally of the various degree programs offered at STVU, drawing on both key strengths of the School of Theology strategic partnerships with other organizations.
The Center carries out this work through certificate programs, courses and workshops (virtual and in-person) for pastors and laity to sharpen their skills, as well as providing a curate list of high-quality lifelong learning opportunities offered by other organizations with whom we partner, helping them discern quality offerings from among the many glossy and wellmarketed opportunities that come before them.
Center for Ministry Formation (Drs. Guns and Janssen)
The Barry Young Center for Ministry Formation was conceived to provide opportunities for current students, alums, and local pastors to continually explore and hone their vocations within the particularity of ministry opportunities.
Center for Evangelism, Mission, & Global Christianity (Drs. Guns and Janssen)
The Johnson A. Edosomwan Center for Faith and Public Life (renamed from what’s listed here) exists to foster conversation, education, and opportunities to take action for our students, alums, and others at the intersection of faith and public life.
Hezekiah Walker Center for Gospel Music (Bishop Walker and Ms. Clay)
Mission is to preserve gospel music culture by studying of sacred arts and illustrating how it relates to our African heritage of yesteryear, the present day, and the future.
Purpose: The Hezekiah Walker Center for Gospel Music Certificate program will effectively help students enter the world of Gospel Music with a competitive edge. Students will acquire the necessary skills to work in the industry, start their own entertainment company, or build the music ministry at their local church.
Center for STEM Diversity (Dr. Ahkinyala Cobb-Abdullah)
The Virginia Union University Center for STEM Diversity serves as a hub for the Sciences, Math and Computer Information Systems departments, providing support in academics, retention, and community outreach. The Center collaborates with student support services units on Virginia Unions’ campus to offer tutoring services, peer mentoring, student engagement events, and career and faculty professional development.
Center for Health Equity and Empowerment Research (Dr. Ahkinyala Cobb-Abdullah)
The purpose of the Center for Health Equity and Empowerment Research (CHEER) is to perform, evaluate, and disseminate the results of authentic research on health disparities in the African American community along with social and environmental determinants which cause such disparities. Our mission is to utilize a participatory research approach to ascertain data insights that drive a broader shift toward culturally and linguistically competent literature in the Richmond community and surrounding areas. Our theory of change holds that residents should be empowered to build health equity not only to protect their personal health but to engage in systems-level change that affects the health of their community.
Women’s Business Center (Dr. Dannellia Gladden-Green)
Serves women and other economically marginalized entrepreneurs in the Greater Richmond, VA. WBCR and the VUU team will work with the WBCR to successfully assist students in creating economic opportunities and job growth through business development and expansion. This partnership will allow VUU to expand its entrepreneurial enterprise and brand prestige while building strong collaborative networks with varying organizations in Virginia and surrounding areas.
Center for African American History & Culture (CAAHC) (Dr. Cleve Tinsley)
CAAHC aims to become a world-class research unit advancing scholarly understanding of African-American life and history while also serving and engaging local African-American communities. The Center will benefit local communities through education and training, programming, and pulsating cultural preservation and arts center that focuses on the black historical and cultural production emanating from Richmond and the greater Commonwealth of Virginia. CAAHC will develop and support informative leaders who will continue in a long tradition of holding lifelong commitments to fighting for racial and social justice while creating lasting, positive impacts for the African American Community.
Center for Latin American Research (Dr. Ingrid Bircann-Barkey)
The Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino/a Studies Research is dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research in Latin America, the Caribbean, and U.S. Latino/studies. The Center supports research that contributes to the understanding and promotion of the diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and social histories found in Latin America, the Caribbean and in the diaspora, including Afro-descendent and U.S. Latino/a communities.
Center for Women In Intentional Training as Pastors (WII TAP) (Dr. Gould-Champ)
Certification Program is an initiative of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology designed to give focused and structured attention on training and supporting women who desire and seek to serve as Senior Pastors. The Center’s mission is to produce high-quality research, building public-private partnerships through VUU’s Community Development Corporation. Wii-TAP has a dual focus: 1) to level the playing field for women who desire and seek to serve as Senior Pastors; and 2) to meet the needs of congregations throughout the country who are seeking well-trained and prepared persons to serve as Interim Pastors, Associate Pastors, and Senior Pastors.
Center for Economic Justice and Advocacy at VUU (Cedric Smith)
The Center seeks to provide housing, counseling training, engage in the development of affordable homeownership, work with community and government agencies, and commission in other related activities. The Center will represent a national model for HBCUs to take part in housing and related issues.
Center for Entrepreneurship (Dr. Edwin Quinn)
The Center is an inclusive service supporting the development of founders and entrepreneurs through research, training, development and advisory support to students, faculty, alumni, and the surrounding Richmond community.
Center for the Study of HBCUs (Dr. Terrell Strayhorn)
In partnership with the Southern Education Foundation at VUU is a national research center whose vision is to become the country’s preeminent center for the advancement of scholarship on Black colleges in the United States and beyond.
Center for Technology and Innovation (Dr. Franklin Patterson)
The Center will work with the Paragon VTOL and others to successfully build its Centers on the VUU campus and create an apprenticeship program, identify infrastructure needed to strengthen the workforce, and build the transportation system for the next century.
Center for Community and Economic Development
Established to provide a holistic, laser-sharp focus on developing solutions to the preeminent social determinants to both local and statewide community wealth gaps. The Center’s core focus areas are workforce development & training, entrepreneurial enterprise, and affordable housing.
Center for Philanthropy
The Center is a training center that is focused on providing high quality professional development for the next generation of philanthropic professionals in the field.
Center for Transcendent Leadership
The Center for Transcendent Leadership is designed as a training institute to develop strategic leaders who lead within and amongst the levels of self, others, organization, and external stakeholders.
More to Come
Along with updates to new and potential sources of funding and grants acquired by the University, future issues of the VUU Research
eNewletter will contain stories recognizing the research of university faculty, announcements on members of the VUU research faculty and the UNRI Research Centers.
Watch for the next issue in June 2023!
The Suzan Johnson Cook Global Center for Women in Ministry (Dr. Johnson Cook) The mission is to support the pastoral, personal, and professional needs of the 21st century women in ministry through praxis and scholarship.