VCU Global

The Global Education Office is pleased to welcome Hernan Bucheli, Ed.D., as the interim leader, effective June 19.

Bucheli will continue to serve as vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success in addition to the interim role.

Read more about Dr. Bucheli and his new role at https://news.vcu.edu/article/hernan-bucheli-named-interim-leader-for-vcu-global-education-office?fbclid=IwY2xjawSP-n9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFXeTVWdGh2Y3F4NnBDUlFyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsTwdNOTGjNt0nXic5fP3Wkv1d8bIs_cAgob2ZHfVy1dBsEpiCQIIZtYN3Hv_aem_DXurdqQmlAEvaIWZkBoMpg

Hernan Bucheli named interim leader for VCU Global Education Office In addition to the interim role, Bucheli will continue to serve as vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success.

Be sure to view the art exhibition by former ELP student, Noyan Guven, who will be a featured artist at the Richmond Main Library's gallery on East Franklin Street from June 5 - August 5.

Guven's exhibition will also be a part of this weekend's First Fridays Art Walk from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. He will also be offering a free art workshop for kids ages 6-11 at Richmond Main Library on June 17 from 11 am - 1 pm.

For more details and to register, vist https://rvalibrary.libcal.com/event/15696092

We are excited to announce the three VCU students awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship to study abroad this summer, fall and 2026-27 school year! Congratulations to Angella Adwoa-Penyin Akoto, Sunwoo Kim and Megan Namkhai who are recipients of the award and will study abroad in South Korea and Italy.

Read more about the scholarship winners and the Gilman award at
https://global.vcu.edu/newsroom/2025-26/gilman-scholarship-26/

VCU's Global Education Office offers the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate Program which prepares professionals to teach English to multilingual learners locally, internationally or online. The 120-hour interactive program is geared toward individuals seeking to develop specialized knowledge and practical skills in English language teaching and learning. The next session will begin August 18, 2026.

For more information and to apply, visit https://global.vcu.edu/elp/curriculum/tesol.

The English Language Program held its ELP Symposium as a culminating activity each semester during the 2025-26 school year. Students participated in the Symposium by researching topics and making presentations to fellow students, faculty and staff. The event is designed to celebrate student learning, bring together faculty and students and create a strong sense of community both within the program and across campus.

Read more about the Sympsium and hear from students speaking about their experience at
https://vcuglobal.exposure.co/2026-elp-symposium

It's not too late to sign up for ELP part-time evening courses for the Summer II session!

The session will run June 15 - August 7 and applications are still being accepted. Four courses are available and will be held in person and online from 5 - 6:50 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays, at $502 per course.

Choose from the following courses during this session:
English for Professional Communication (in person)
Grammar for Effective Communication (in person)
Pronouncing American English (online)
Learning English through AI Tools (online)

For more information about the classes and to apply, visit
https://global.vcu.edu/elp/curriculum/part-time-courses/

VCU English Language Program

The English Language Program's English for University Success community course offered regularly to students from Ukraine and Afghanistan, culminated for the semester yesterday.

Oliver Ansari, a former ELP student from Afghanistan who is now studying political science in the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, substituted as a teacher during the last class. He spoke of his involvement with the class:

"We had a wonderful semester helping people improve their language skills and feel more connected to their new community," he said. "I had the opportunity to share my own journey with the ELP and with Virginia Commonwealth University, and to explain how much they have helped and supported me. The students were very thankful for this experience with the ELP, for the opportunity to improve their language skills, and to continue learning and growing in their daily lives and future."

The Global Education Office congratulates the first recipients of the 2026 Outstanding Global Student Leadership Award, Andrea Escobar Gonzalez and Naeem Ahmad, both May 2026 graduates. The first-time award recognizes the students for demonstrating exceptional leadership and sustained involvement in global education, global learning and global initiatives while attending Virginia Commonwealth University, and was presented to them during the Global Achievement Awards Celebration held in April.

GEO is so proud to acknowledge the students' commitment to global engagement through this award!

Read more about the award and the sentiments of Andrea and Naeem at:

Outstanding Global Student Leadership Award recognizes students for global leadership skills Richmond, VA (May 11, 2026) — The Global Education Office has awarded two students the inaugural Outstanding Global Student Leadership Award, recognizing them for demonstrating exceptional leadership and sustained involvement in global education, global learning and global initiatives while atten...

The Global Education Office is pleased to announce the 16 recipients of the 2026-27 Global Impact Awards! Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded to VCU faculty and staff and are designed to support innovative projects that advance global engagement at VCU.

Read about the recipients of the awards at

Global Impact Awards - Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University’s Global Education Office (GEO) is pleased to announce the 16 recipients of the 2026-2027 Global Impact Awards, grants awarded to VCU faculty and staff designed to support innovative projects that advance global engagement at VCU. Grants of up to $5,000 are given f...