11:45 a.m.

VCU's Global Education Office has issued an invitation to the inaugural English Language Program Symposium on the third floor of 912 W. Grace St. International students, representing several countries, will share their perspectives and insights through poster presentations and a Turkish marbling art demonstration and workshop.

For more information, contact Audrey Emiko Short at aeshort@vcu.edu.

12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and the Health Sciences Library will present a Whetting Your Appetite for Research seminar via Zoom. Deborah DiazGranados, Ph.D., and Andrea Molzhon, Ph.D., both of the Wright Center, will discuss best practices for designing and using surveys in research. Questions: https://cctr.vcu.edu/ Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Pamela Dillon, Pharm.D., research liaison, at pmdillon@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/FTgMB8Z9R_6D-uZ0YoR4Rg.

2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Ivy Bell, VCU Health Hub's certified community health worker, has created a mental health event series that dives into helpful strategies for mental health awareness month. This first event to kick off this series is "The Color Purple." Learn how coloring can benefit your mental well-being and enjoy some snacks and music. The event will be at the VCU Health Hub, 1330 N. 25th St. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact VCU Health Hub at vcuhealthhub@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0817OEkCDuEsL2W5edSOU0JI9nTlDdUULTusA1Z2SVSHqgA/viewform.

Friday, May 2, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

VCU's Integrative Life Science Student Organization, Pharmacology and Toxicology Student Organization and Neuronerds will host the Ph.D. Collab, welcoming VCU Ph.D. and MD/Ph.D. students and alumni at Mainline Brewery, 1603 Ownby Lane. Come for an evening of live music and food with the Ph.D. community at VCU. Make connections; first-come, first serve freebies will be available.

For more information, contact Jade Smith at smithja12@vcu.edu.

Friday, May 2, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

VCUarts will host an online screening of an experimental animation audio description project done by VCU faculties and students. The event will feature the works of Caibei Cai with audio description. The Zoom Link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/88085660005 The Zoom meeting ID is 880 8566 0005

For more information, contact Leilei Xia at xial2@vcu.edu or (804) 263-8233.

Saturday, May 3, 2025 from noon to 4 p.m.

The 2025 VCUarts MFA Candidacy Exhibition, “Everything Must Go!” will be open to the public for a second viewing at the former JCPenney at 1420 N. Parham Road. This exhibition will feature the work of 27 first-year graduate students within the VCU School of the Arts departments of Craft/Material Studies, Graphic Design, Kinetic Imaging, Painting + Printmaking, Photography and Film and Sculpture and Extended Media.

For more information, contact Emmy Garcia at garciaem2@vcu.edu or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/event/2025-vcuarts-mfa-candidacy-exhibition-a-second-viewing/.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Join the VCU Division of Community Engagement and AI Ready RVA for an interactive webinar on how to responsibly harness AI to support community work, meet local needs and navigate tech challenges. Register at https://forms.gle/WpSE7N2jvTTtpX4c7

For more information, contact Shari Garmise at garmiseso@vcu.edu or visit https://community.vcu.edu/dce-news-events/events/.

Thursday, May 15, 2025 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The VCU School of Education and Engineering Career Services will present a hybrid workshop at the VCU College of Engineering, West Hall, Room 105, 601 W. Main St. This hybrid workshop, funded by the VCU School of Education Get Centered Award, invites STEM/Engineering graduate students to explore career planning through MyIDP, AI-powered prompts and hybrid mentoring models. Join the session in person (30 seats available) or online. Free snacks and coffee will be provided. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Chi-Ning (Nick) Chang,, Ph.D., at changc10@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/aqnB9Qokeo9Zpfnd9.

Thursday, May 29, 2025 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Connect with fellow grads this summer. VCU Alumni is hosting Social in the City, a lineup of exclusive events in Richmond and the region. Enjoy networking, food and drinks with fellow Rams at an alumni-owned business, And Dim Sum, 305 Brook Road. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Kaylynn Hill, assistant director of regional alumni engagement, at hillk8@vcu.edu or visit https://blogs.vcu.edu/enews/2025/04/04/social-in-the-city-returns/.

Annual registration for all currently registered student organizations must be completed by Sunday, June 1. This is a required step to continue being recognized and have access to SGA funding, SOVO Fair participation and campus space reservations on EMS as well as other resources. Questions: Visit the following re-registration website or contact the Student Organization team at studentorgs@vcu.edu

For more information, contact Justin Raibolt at jraibolt@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/theunderground/student-org-registration-tips/.

RecWell offers adult beginner swim lessons intended for older teens and adults who are comfortable in the water but wish to learn basic skills such as floating, treading water and coordination for swimming strokes. Lessons will primarily be taught in shallow water, but participants will practice supporting themselves in deeper water throughout the class. Session 1 runs June 2-25, Mondays adn Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Classes will be at the VCU Aquatic Center, 101 S. Linden St. Register at the following URL between May 1-30.

For more information, contact Mat Scott at aquatics@vcu.edu or visit https://portal.recwell.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=cf8f4caa-89df-40ea-8176-1f6f14815527&semesterId=ed6b5309-a132-464a-a14c-cade712e1da9.

Whether you’re a Ram by education or employment (or both), you need some cool VCU gear. From classic hoodies and T-shirts to bags and tumblers, VCU Spirit Shop is your go-to place for alumni and school-specific gear to rep VCU your way. Spirit Shop is sponsored by the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

For more information, contact Courtney Hammack, associate director of corporate relations, Development and Alumni Relations at hammackcc@vcu.edu or visit https://collegethread.com/pages/virginia-commonwealth-university-shop-colleges.

VCU students are asked to share their experiences with and awareness of on-campus offices and organizations that offer services or resources to students. VCU staff member Jess Hoy, M.S.W., is conducting a research survey that can be completed online and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Students are not required to have ever used a VCU resource to participate. Students who complete the survey will be entered into a raffle to win one of five $25 gift cards to the VCU bookstore.

For more information, contact Jess Hoy at hoyj2@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctIBpT8H0TVLHzE4sq66PB1aEx8HCkKwtNtbG8odN3VY0qIA/viewform?usp=sf.

VCU RecWell offers children’s swim lessons for ages 6 months to 6 years taught by certified water safety instructors under the American Red Cross program. The lessons focus on fundamental swimming and water safety skills, with support tailored to each child's comfort and ability. Session 1 runs June 7-June 28. Classes will be at the VCU Aquatic Center, 101 S. Linden St. Register May 1-June 6 at the following URL.

For more information, contact Mat Scott at aquatics@vcu.edu or visit https://portal.recwell.vcu.edu/program?classificationId=805d477a-53f7-4a08-8d31-2c0fb96d6ee0.

The Research on Excessive, Persistent and Emotion-Based Actions and Traits (REPEAT) Lab at VCU is conducting a brain imaging study to understand how decision-making differs between adults with anorexia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorder or no history of either disorder. Participants will be compensated for participating in the study.

For more information, contact REPEAT Lab at repeat@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2658 or visit https://tinyurl.com/25wnkh7z.

Would you be interested in using AI to navigate your STEM career? Test AI prompts and complete a test report on AI mentoring to receive an $80 gift card. Spots are limited. Interested students should complete the participant survey at the following URL.

For more information, contact Chi-Ning Chang, Ph.D., at changc10@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/ymcdpRxDQQhUQTHw8.

Individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who identify as Black or African American are invited to participate in a research study examining the effect of acute and chronic stress on cardiovascular and inflammation responses to an acute mental challenge. Raffle drawings for financial compensation will be conducted. This study will take place at 500 Academic Centre on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus. Principal Investigator: Lee Franco, Ph.D., Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. For more information, contact The KHS Healthy Heart Lab at healthyheart@vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Jeremy Via at healthyheart@vcu.edu.

This study is inviting individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who identify as LGBTQ. We are also inviting individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who identify as cis-gender heterosexual for the control group. The purpose of this research study is to examine the effect of chronic psychosocial stress and vascular inflammation to an acute mental challenge. This study will be conducted at 500 Academic Centre on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus. Principal Investigator: Lee Franco, Ph.D., Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. For more information, contact The KHS Healthy Heart Lab at healthyheart@vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Jeremy Via at healthyheart@vcu.edu.