News

Serpentine forests damaged by Hurricane Maria, like this one in Puerto Rico’s Isabela region, recovered faster than expected after the storm. (contributed photo)

Puerto Rico’s forests recovered in unexpected ways post-Hurricane Maria, VCU research finds

April 29, 2026

Biology professor Catherine Hulshof studies extreme environments, like Puerto Rico’s forests, to find out how they may react as the climate changes.

Harrish Ganesh learned that he had been admitted to medical school at Cornell University while standing outside Cabell Library. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2026: In hopes of sharing more good karma, Harrish Ganesh heads to medical school

April 22, 2026

Ganesh, a biology and bioinformatics major, worked as an EMT and founded a nonprofit during his time at VCU. Cornell University is next.

Biology and sociology alum’s advocacy work on campus inspires leadership career at Vegan Action

April 21, 2026

Krissi Vandenberg (B.S.’96, M.S.’07) found a way to help animals by pairing her education with her work in community activism

After transferring to VCU in 2023, Ruby Stewart dove right away into the university’s Outdoor Adventure Program. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2026: Ruby Stewart is navigating her dream path in outdoor leadership

April 16, 2026

The environmental studies major has led trips near and far through the VCU Outdoor Adventure Program.

VCU students shared their research with some of the thousands of attendees at this week’s National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Richmond. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Meet seven of the nearly 500 VCU students who presented their research this week at a prestigious conference

April 16, 2026

Undergrads from a range of disciplines explain their research, what attracted them to it and what participating in the National Conference on Undergraduate Research meant to them.

Tomika Ferguson, associate dean of student affairs and community engagement in the School of Education; Cristina Stanciu, director of the Humanities Research Center; Ashley Shoell-Gonzalez, program service coordinator for the Ryan White Program; John Jones, assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability; VCU President Michael Rao; Aarushi Khanna, a student in the School of Nursing; and Christopher Brooks, professor in the School of World Studies, at this week’s PACME ceremony. (Skip Rowland)

This year's PACME honorees are committed to the success of the VCU community

April 14, 2026

Tomika Ferguson of the School of Education earned the capstone award of the program, which recognizes contributions among students, faculty and staff that support cross-cultural relations and a welcoming environment.

Saif Alotaibi, a biology major, has embraced the wealth of research opportunities that VCU offers for undergraduates. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

World@VCU: Saif Alotaibi from Kuwait

April 9, 2026

‘You can do research as an undergraduate at VCU. You get so lost because of how many opportunities there are.’

Rohit Paradkar, a junior majoring in bioinformatics, is VCU’s 19th Goldwater Scholar in the past 20 years. (Contributed image)

VCU undergraduate selected for prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

April 8, 2026

Rohit Paradkar, a junior in the Honors College, is studying bioinformatics and researching cancer treatment.

William Thomas has dived into research while at VCU, including researching sickle cell disease – a condition that he has himself. (Jonathan Haff, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2026: William Thomas explores biology, medicine and his own disease

March 27, 2026

Sickle cell disease interrupted his freshman year, but the experience inspired him to join a VCU lab focused on the condition.

Pablo Lopez-Bustamante will earn a Ph.D. in integrative life sciences from VCU in May. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2026: Pablo Lopez-Bustamante spreads seeds of knowledge

March 26, 2026

Earning his Ph.D., the tropical ecologist has worked with Catherine Hulshof’s Biodiversity Research Lab to enhance tree and forest data from the Americas and the Caribbean.