VCU College of Humanities and Sciences

Today the College of Humanities and Sciences hosted their month Dean's Research Seminar; a monthly presentation to celebrate the scholarship, research and creative work of those faculty who enjoyed research leave during the previous academic year.

We were so excited to welcome the following presentations:
Indika Arachchige, Ph.D. (Chemistry) - "Design and Synthesis of Efficient Nanomaterials for Optical, Electronic, and Energy Applications"

Michael Southam-Gerow, Ph.D. (Psychology) - "Working Out the Irrigation System: Toward Better Access to Quality Mental Health Services"

Swipe to see some photos from the event! Thank you to everyone who attended, and special thank you to our wonderful presenters.

As we celebrate Women's History Month, we want to highlight the women that have inspired, mentored, and supported us in our journeys.

We asked our faculty: Who is a woman who mentored you or made a lasting impact on your career? Philosophy professor Catherine Sutton, Ph.D., honors Janice Dowell, who not only provided invaluable feedback on a manuscript but also helped her build meaningful connections in the field of metaphysics.

Do you have a woman that has helped you get to where you are in your career or academic journey? Let us know in the comments below!

Remember this story? CHS Student Nyla Harris was recognized recently by the Virginia House of Delegates for saving a woman's life by providing CPR when she went into cardiac arrest.

Inspired by her lifesaving experience, she is now teaming up with Compress and Shock Foundation, teaching CPR to students across Virginia. Way to go Nyla!

Click here to read the full article 👉

She saved a woman with CPR at a Virginia restaurant. Now, state leaders are recognizing her heroic actions. A 19-year-old Virginia Commonwealth University student has been officially recognized by Virginia's House of Delegates for saving a woman's life.

Champions. That's it. That's the caption. 🏆

🌟 Faculty Research Highlight 🌟

Olivia Landry, Ph.D., associate professor of German and chair of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at VCU, explores the intersections of film, media, theater and performance studies through her research. She examines how cinema and performance art can challenge dominant narratives and highlight marginalized perspectives, focusing on the political, emotional, and social aspects of storytelling.

Her research focuses on how movement, spectacle, and emotion shape the way audiences engage with film and theater. Her first book, "Movement and Performance in Berlin School Cinema "(2019), investigates how the Berlin School film movement redefines spectatorship by emphasizing the body, sensation and visual storytelling. Her second book, "Theatre of Anger: Radical Transnational Performance in Contemporary Berlin" (2020), examines how anger is used as a political tool in Berlin’s transnational theater scene, responding to social injustice. In "A Decolonizing Ear: Documentary Film Disrupts the Archive" (2022), Dr. Landry shifts her focus to documentary film, exploring how it can challenge colonial frameworks of listening, archiving and representation.

Click to visit Dr. Landry's website and learn more about her research 👉 https://bit.ly/3Dk9K53

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the women who have inspired, mentored, and supported us in our journeys.

We asked our faculty: Who is a woman who mentored you or made a lasting impact on your career? First up, Kim Case, professor of psychology, honors Mary Brydon-Miller, Ph.D.:

Known for her work in participatory action research, Brydon-Miller championed Dr. Case’s qualitative research, critical theoretical approach, and interdisciplinary mindset- ultimately shaping her academic path.

Who is a woman that has influenced your career or academic journey? Tag them in the comments!

Our handsome boy Archie decided to hang out with us today on campus! Swipe for the impromptu photoshoot of the sweetest CHS mascot 😎🐾 ✨

How does the media shape our understanding of war crimes? Political science professors Jessica Trisko Darden and Amanda Wintersieck analyzed news coverage of Dominic Ongwen, a former child soldier turned war criminal, to explore how victim-perpetrators are framed in international vs. local courts. Click to read the full article. https://bit.ly/3XF1ALf

For war crimes defendants, media coverage can reflect how audiences see ‘local justice’ and ‘international justice’ differently Exploring the court case of an abducted child soldier who became an extremist commander, VCU professors Jessica Trisko Darden and Amanda Wintersieck see a framework for understanding harsher perceptions at home.

Join fellow VCU alumni for a fun happy hour 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at Shipgarten, an alumni-owned spot! Enjoy free appetizers, beer and wine, and the chance to refresh your profile pic with a pro photographer and stylish backdrops. Come for the drinks, stay for the vibes and leave with a great new headshot! 📸✨ https://bit.ly/43v3L7Y

🗓️ Tuesday, March 11 from 5:30-7:30PM
📍Shipgarten (7581 Colshire Dr, McLean, VA 22102)

"The fact that I was even considered for this project is such an honor,” says Natasha Romero Moskala, a senior, double majoring in political science and business at VCU.

Recommended by Alex Keena, Ph.D., she joined Harvard Law School’s Guinier Project, co-authoring research on voting system reforms. Click to read more about Natasha's impressive journey!

A natural progression: VCU senior joins professor for Harvard research project into elections Political science student Natasha Romero Moskala fills the role of research assistant alongside mentor Alex Keena.

A10 week is approaching! Join VCU Alumni and CHS for some exciting A-10 tournament activities for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Click the link to register! 🏀🐏✨ https://bit.ly/43v3L7Y

Update Your Selfie: Join the College of Humanities and Sciences, College of Health Professions, and the DMV regional alumni chapter for a happy hour at Shipgarten, an alumni owned business!
🗓️: Tuesday, March 11 from 5:30-7:30PM
📍7581 Colshire Dr., McLean, VA 22102
💲:Free!

Bingo night at Ornery Brewery: College of Humanities and Sciences is inviting alumni to Bingo Night at Ornery Brewery in Fairfax, VA. VCU will have a small reserved area starting at 6pm- however you're able to come at any time and hop into the next game!
🗓️ Wednesday, March 12 @ 6PM
📍 3950 University Dr. Suite 106, Fairfax, VA 22030
💲: Free!

It's awards season! In honor of the Oscars this Sunday, we had a few of our professors share their reviews of Oscar nominations that fall within their expertise. Click to read the article now! bit.ly/3QN4LwE

At the movies: Professors review Oscar-nominated films through the lens of their expertise Ahead of the Academy Awards, professors discuss what worked – or didn’t – in five of the 2025 nominees.

Yesterday, the College of Humanities and Sciences held their annual faculty and staff awards, an event that recognizes excellence in faculty and staff contributions.

We are so fortunate to call such a fantastic group of people our colleagues and this place our community. Congratulations to everyone recognized!

Phillip Glass, a Ph.D. candidate in physics, is leading the development of wearable, vibrating technology to help people with Parkinson’s regain motor control. Alongside assistant professor Richard Inho Jo, Ph.D., and undergraduate student researchers, he’s creating 3D-printed sensors and solenoids to restore the brain-body feedback loop.

Click to read the full article here 👉 https://bit.ly/4i82jwE

From fingers to toes, wearable and vibrating technology from VCU inventors could help Parkinson’s patients and others The flexible, lightweight glove and 3D-printed shoe sole might restore the brain-body feedback loop that mobility conditions can disrupt.

🌟 Faculty Research Highlight 🌟

“Historically the existence of Black people in the future is one that many do not recognize or even see as a reality. So it becomes important to share the many amazing, unique and inspiring stories/moments that are happening under the vision of Black creatives, scholars, artists, etc. There are so many stories of folks that look like me to tell, I just want to do my part in making that happen.”

Meet Grace Gipson, Ph.D., assistant professor in the African American Studies department. Dr. Gipson explores Black popular culture, digital humanities, representations of race and gender within comic books, Afrofuturism, and race and new media through her research.

Her current book project focuses on exploring Black female identities as personified in comics and fandom culture. A second book project she is working on investigates how online Black female academic and popular networks produce cultural and technical capital that act as safe spaces to showcase, interrogate and celebrate the blending of popular culture and academics.

Click the link to check out Dr. Gipson's blog 👉 https://blackfuturefeminist.com/

As Black History Month comes to an end, we want to introduce our last (but certainly not least) alum we had the pleasure of interviewing over these past few weeks.

Say hello to Dr. Jaz-munn Johnson, resident physician and 2017 VCU Black History in the Making award recipient. Jaz-munn found community and connection on campus, two important tenets that he plans to take with him into the field of urban health.

Click to read the full interview here 👉 https://bit.ly/4hVf1ij

“With a significant number of hands-on, laboratory-based specialized courses, the curriculum will focus on the use of innovative technology and software to provide investigative information to the criminal justice system.” – Tracey Dawson Green, Ph.D., chair of VCU’s Department of Forensic Science.

Starting in fall 2025, VCU will introduce a Digital Forensics and Incident Response concentration to its Master's of Science in Forensic Science program. This curriculum is one of only a few accredited digital forensic graduate programs in the country.

Click to read more about this exciting addition in a growing field 👉 https://bit.ly/3QBzXyN

New concentration in digital forensics will propel graduate students into a growing field Debuting in fall 2025, the specialized curriculum in the forensic science master’s program reflects how electronic evidence is an expanding frontier in fighting crime.