Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program at Virginia Commonwealth University

SAARA of Virginia (https://www.saara.org/) is making a real difference in the lives of those struggling with substance use disorders and their families. The VCU Humphrey Fellows were fortunate to learn about their comprehensive programs, from recovery support and advocacy to overdose prevention and naloxone training.

Empowering global leaders through storytelling! The Humphrey Fellowship Programs at Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of California, Davis, and American University Washington College of Law partnered for a dynamic cross-campus workshop January 27-28, 2025. Fellows explored how to translate complex data into compelling narratives using ArcGIS Online and Story Maps, gaining skills to amplify their impact on global issues. We're grateful to the US Department of State, IIE, and expert facilitators for making this experience possible.

On February 5th, our fellows had the opportunity to hear VCU President Michael Rao’s thoughts on leadership, including the importance of values and ethics. Rao shared his expertise on the difficulties of becoming a leader and how he was able to overcome them. He talked about the importance of using one’s position to advance the goals of the organization you serve versus focusing on status. He emphasized the importance of trust and vulnerability among teams, and discussed the necessity of holding oneself and others accountable. A point Rao reiterated several times was that the best leaders are intuitive and passionate about doing right by their communities. Thank you, President Rao!

On MLK Day 2025, the Humphrey Fellows at VCU joined together to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s incredible legacy. We spent the day giving out flowers, warming hearts with hot chocolate, creating a beautiful Tree of Life handprint, and sharing positive affirmations with people across the VCU campus. It was a day of reflection, service, and community.

Last Friday, the VCU Humphrey Fellows had the privilege of volunteering at CrossOver Healthcare Ministry🎄✨

The Fellows spread holiday cheer by writing cards to families and volunteers, assisting in the pharmacy will-call area to remind patients to pick up their medications, and working with the case management staff to notify families about their selection into the holiday program.

We’re so grateful for this opportunity to support CrossOver’s incredible work in the community! 💙

On December 4-5, the VCU Humphrey Fellowship Program embarked on its annual visit to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). This inspiring two-day event offered insights into cutting-edge research, impactful programs, and opportunities to network with global leaders in public health and substance use prevention.

Highlights from the Visit: 🧠 Meeting with Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of NIDA, who shared her invaluable insights into the intersection of substance use, neuroscience, and public health.

🌍 Discussions with international experts, including Angela Lee-Winn on HIV and international research, and Brian Marquis on National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®—a global initiative for substance use education.
🎓 A collaborative session with the INVEST Fellows, a distinguished group of postdoctoral researchers from around the world contributing to groundbreaking substance use research.
🔬 Advances in substance use disorder therapeutics, presented by Dr. Iván Montoya, emphasized the critical need for innovative treatment approaches like long-acting opioid antagonist therapies.
🏥 Insights from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy addressed rural disparities and strategies to combat the substance use epidemic in underserved areas.
🌐 Global collaboration opportunities discussed by Dr. Flora Katz of the Fogarty International Center highlighted pathways for building sustainable health research capacities.

A Huge Thanks To:
💫 Lindsey Friend, Tom Clarke, Lisa Jordre, Nei-Hyun Park, and the INVEST Fellows in attendance:
• Nezha Bouhaddo
• Diep Nguyen
• Brice Owona Ayissi
• Rabia Hanif
• Tara Rezapour

This visit exemplifies the power of international collaboration in addressing critical public health challenges. Together, we're building a healthier, more informed world! 🌟

On November 13, our dear fellow, Grace Aliyu, volunteered for VCU’s Mary and Frances Youth Center. She created fall-themed greeting cards to distribute to the local senior citizens living in Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority properties. She participated not only with VCU students but also with students from Orchard House Middle School. This event gave Grace engagement with the community and precious and meaningful ability to make someone’s day with a positive and loving card. Thanks, Grace!



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The Humphrey Fellows attended a meeting held by James Wasilewski on November 20th. ‘The Art of the Elevator Pitch’ showed how to advertise yourself to someone in a short amount of time. The goals of this meeting were to identify when fellows should advertise themselves, gain confidence, support storytelling, and practice a clear pitch.

They split into teams where they engaged in a variety of different activities that tested their ability of teamwork, being positive, and giving quick introductions. This meeting has taught the fellows how to tell their stories, build relationships, achieve goals, and be confident for their future projects.

Health Disparities Around the World: A Global Perspective

This week, our shared their expertise on in their home countries at Reynolds Community College. Ameera Ba-Fadhel (Yemen), Orion Jucja (Albania), and Fernando Sarmento (Timor-Leste) delivered insightful presentations, sparking meaningful discussions with nursing students and professors from various departments.

Their international experience broadened perspectives and highlighted the importance of addressing health inequalities on a global scale.

Thank you to Reynolds Community College for hosting this enriching event.

VCU Dr. Daniel Amankwaah (2008/2009), Mr. Sylvester Koomson (2014/2015), Dr. Martins Agwogie (2017/2018), Dr. Olubusayo Akinola (2022/2023), and Brian Morales from made a significant impact at the African Union's Global Coalition on Supply Reduction in Madagascar (October 22-25, 2024)! This critical gathering brought together leaders from across sectors to address the rising challenge of synthetic drugs!

These public health leaders presented research, facilitated sessions, and shared best practices on:

Cross-border strategies
Trends in trafficking
Alternatives to incarceration for those with substance use disorders

It's inspiring to see VCU Humphrey Fellows Alumni leading public health efforts in their home countries!

"Inspiring session with Giovanna Campello from the on November 6th, 2024. The Humphrey Fellows gained valuable insights on and . Dr. Campello emphasized the essential role of evidence-based interventions in both drug abuse prevention and treatment, highlighting that scientifically grounded approaches yield more sustainable outcomes. She shared data showing that these evidence-based strategies are key to effective drug prevention and treatment policies.

Did you know early intervention programs for children as young as 2-5 can make a difference and reduce future drug use? 😲 Campello highlighted the UNODC's 'Family United' program, which aims to strengthen the parent-child bond using science-based methods.

Addressing the global challenge of for drug use disorders, Dr. Campello pointed out that only 1 in 8 individuals receive the care they need, with women facing significant barriers. The is committed to increasing access to drug use disorder treatment worldwide. gained valuable insights on how to implement these strategies in their own countries."