College of Humanities and Sciences

Graduate Student News

For her Ph.D. in Media, Art, and Text dissertation at VCU, Allison Bennett Dyche, Ph.D., who graduates this month, focused on the lessons she learned in creating an Audio Storytelling & Podcasting course for college students - and how courses like hers would be a beneficial part of the curriculum for mass communication students nationwide. (Samuel Cooke, The Appalachian photographer, Appalachian State University)

Class of 2023: Allison Bennett Dyche found few resources on how to teach podcasting to college students. So she created her own.

May 11, 2023

Dyche, who is earning a Ph.D. in Media, Art and Text, is “at the forefront of a growing conversation about how universities can help prepare students for careers in this growing industry,” her dissertation director says.

Students in the Curating Exhibitions graduate seminar, Nana Ferdnance (left) and Jenah Creecy (right), discuss objects during the set up of the art exhibition, “(Kin)dred Ties,” featuring MFA students' work. Seminar students Mary McLean and Kathryn Long are seen in the background. (Allen Jones, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Students curate fellow students’ work in new VCUarts exhibition

May 5, 2023

The exhibition offers history and museum studies graduate students some hands-on experience in spotlighting the work of their studio-based peers.

Otis Fulton said, “I tell people I got slowed down on my dissertation because of COVID. But if I’m being honest, I think I stretched it out because I enjoy being a student." (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2023: Otis Fulton, who played basketball at UVA, has a lifelong passion for understanding why people behave the way they do

April 6, 2023

In May, the 65-year-old VCU alum will receive his Ph.D. in social psychology from the College of Humanities and Sciences.

The Department of African American Studies presents the Black History in the Making Awards to outstanding students each year. (File photo)

Founder of Black History in the Making Awards urges newest recipients to fight for truth

March 3, 2023

Daryl Dance, who started the awards in 1983, says, “Many of the major victories in African American history either began with college students or were joined and supported by college students throughout our nation.”

Tvisha Vanteru, a biomedical engineering major, and Damian Ashjian, a computer science major, took part in the "Milk and Cookies" service-learning project designed to help children whose parents are incarcerated. (Contributed photo.)

VCU honors society wins national award for project focused on supporting children with incarcerated parents

Feb. 21, 2023

“Working to improve the lives of children of incarcerated parents from the Richmond community was a perfect way to try to help our community,” said Steph Cull, one of the student leaders of VCU’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi.

This week, Gladys Shaw, left, will be graduating with a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the VCU School of Medicine. She and three other graduating students were part of VCU's Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Ph.D. Program. (Courtesy of Gladys Shaw).

Class of 2022: Four standouts in research training program for underrepresented students earn their doctorates

Dec. 9, 2022

The Initiative for Maximizing Student Development program at VCU expands opportunities for biomedical students from historically excluded groups. Four Ph.D. students from the program will be graduating this month, the biggest class in its history.

From left, VCU forensic science alum Bailey Jones; VCU forensic science doctoral student Tyson Baird; VCU forensic science alum and former lab manager Laerissa Reveil; and Michelle Peace, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Forensic Science in the College of Humanities and Sciences. (Contributed photo.)

VCU forensic science department wins three research awards

Nov. 16, 2022

Scientists, who each worked in VCU’s Forensic Toxicology Research lab, honored at Society of Forensic Toxicologists meeting.

Divorce or relationship discord between parents is associated with children's risk for the potential of alcohol use disorder as adults, a study co-authored by a VCU Department of Psychology doctoral student found. (Getty Images)

Divorce or relationship discord between parents may indicate children’s genetic risk for future alcohol misuse

Nov. 16, 2022

A study, co-authored by a VCU developmental psychology doctoral student and a Rutgers researcher, found that experiencing adversities around divorce and marital discord can be “one pathway through which genetic risk for alcohol problems is passed from parents to their children.”

Jacques Moore, a history graduate student and author, is a Marine Corps veteran and operated a local automobile dealership for decades. (Contributed photo)

History buff and VCU graduate student Jacques Moore is fascinated with the British monarchy

Oct. 19, 2022

His interest led him to co-author a book that celebrated the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s reign.

Angela Lehman, who is pursuing a master's degree in history, loves that research allows her to tell "stories that haven’t been heard or are incomplete or misunderstood." (Contributed photo)

Angela Lehman helps untangle Virginia’s school desegregation history

Oct. 7, 2022

Graduate student now eyes career related to museum or historic site work.