News

The “Humanity of the Heart” mural, located in the VCU School of Medicine’s McGlothlin Medical Education Center, was designed by interior design students in the mOb studiO working in partnership with Richmond artist Hamilton Glass. A new minor at VCU is designed for students with an interest in careers at the intersection of health, nonprofits, public agencies and creative organizations. (File photo)

Students can choose from three new interdisciplinary minors with an arts emphasis this fall

May 13, 2026

Creative technology instruction, public health and the arts, and screenwriting offer fresh options for students majoring in a variety of disciplines.

As the owner of the cleaning business Mop & Bucket, Savannah Setzer has put the PR skills she learned at VCU into practice. (Contributed image)

Class of 2026: Savannah Setzer applied the lessons of the classroom to build a business

May 6, 2026

The new Robertson School grad has a cleaning company that is thriving thanks to Setzer’s savvy approach to communications.

VCU alum Alex Coyle before the Super Bowl LX halftime show. Coyle was assigned to one of the handheld camera operators responsible for filming the production. (Contributed Photo)

From Marvel to the Super Bowl, VCU alum has worked on the crews of some high-profile productions

May 1, 2026

Alex Coyle recently was on the field for Bad Bunny’s historic halftime show, and she also has been a part of the camera team on projects such as ‘The Gray Man’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’

(Photo by Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Scenes from a (very) RVA Renaissance Faire

April 22, 2026

VCU students, faculty and alumni teamed with community members to help put on a new event that celebrated both the distant past and what makes the Richmond area so special today.

Brian G. Smith has been named director of VCU’s Richard T. Robertson School of Communication. He will begin his role July 1. (Contributed photo)

Brian G. Smith named director of VCU’s Richard T. Robertson School of Communication

April 1, 2026

At the University of Mississippi, he has chaired the Integrated Marketing Communications department.

At VCU, Manuella Escobar said, “I have taken on every opportunity, endeavor and project I stumbled upon to grow as a professional and as a human being.” (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

How I found my research: Manuella Escobar dives deep into the Latino college experience

April 1, 2026

Escobar, a Colombia native, gravitated to her line of study when her classmates’ questions about her cultural background transitioned from ‘Narcos’ and drug cartels to Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Latin music.

From left: Brian Alves, Alexis Washington, VCU men’s basketball coach Phil Martelli Jr., Marcus Leary, Ben Rekosh and Andrew Thompson take a break in the media room in Greenville, South Carolina during the Rams' recent NCAA Tournament run. (Courtesy photo)

With Martelli’s praise at NCAA Tournament, student journalists get a bounce

March 31, 2026

And they return the compliment as national attention follows the Rams and the young reporters.

“Echoes of a Dream,” a documentary that examines Martin Luther King’s relationship with Richmond, debuted in the fall. (The Newviews Agency)

Documentary explores MLK’s relationship with the Richmond community

Feb. 18, 2026

Filmmaker Tyrone Nelson Jr., a VCU alum, says ‘Echoes of a Dream’ tells the overlooked story of how Richmond ‘shows up in the arc’ of King’s rise, while attempting to help reset the city’s understanding of its importance.

Kyler Gilliam served as director of the VCU InSight broadcast program, a staff writer and producer for The Commonwealth Times and president of the National Association of Black Journalists at VCU. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2025: Kyler Gilliam completes unique degree path

Dec. 17, 2025

Gilliam, who has gained experience as a writer, producer and director, marked a VCU first with his double-major in broadcast journalism and multimedia production.

Students can earn the new Richmond History Foundational Badge by participating in a number of Valentine programs, such as a guided walking tour. (Contributed photo)

New collaborative microcredential highlights Richmond’s history

Dec. 9, 2025

VCU and the Valentine partner to offer students free opportunities to engage with their city’s past and present.