1 p.m.

Learn to articulate your own, unique ideas in the style of your discipline. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Trey Burnart Hall at hallbr@vcu.edu or visit https://writing.vcu.edu/calendar/.

1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Come learn how to grow your own food with Malique Middleton, Entrepreneur in Residence at the Health Hub, 1330 N. 25th St. The session will break down the basics of gardening and set you up for your urban farming journey.

For more information, contact VCU Health Hub at vcuhealthhub@vcu.edu.

2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Enjoy some fresh air and a little love from a four-legged friend. Meet new people and become involved with Walk-A-Dog, hosted by the Pace Center, 700 W. Franklin St. Be a host/walk leader (1:30-3 p.m.): Help people get to know one another on the walk - introduce people and begin conversations. Help with event cleanup (3:-3:30 p.m.) - Help get the fur off. Lint-roll couches after the event.

For more information, contact Russ Kerr at kerrr@vcu.edu.

4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

This high-energy competition gives local innovators the spotlight to pitch their ventures and compete for seed funding to fuel their dreams. Watch creative pitches from up-and-coming founders, cheer on your favorite ideas, chat with the local innovation community and celebrate at the awards ceremony. VCU Demo Days is a twice-a-year pitch competition held each fall and spring semester at Shift Retail Lab, 1235 W. Broad St., as part of the lab's Feedback Friday. All are welcome. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact da Vinci Center at davincicenter@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/Demo-Day-4-18.

4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Bring your own fiber-based project of choice and connect with others who share your passion. This is a social event for crafters of all levels at the Pace Center, 700 W. Franklin St. Volunteers are welcome. Teach beginners how to crochet, knit or another fiber art you are passionate about. Help setting up for the session. Come set out snacks, arrange furniture and help to set up the room.

For more information, contact Russ Kerr at kerrr@vcu.edu.

6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Honors College and Honors Arts Advisory Council present its annual art expo at the Honors College, Room 1303, 701 W. Grace St. This year's expo is titled "Fusion of Forms" and will feature student work in a variety of mediums.

For more information, contact Anthony Burnham at burnhamaj@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Apr. 16, 2025 at 9 a.m.

VCU's Department of Craft/Material Studies will hold its Tiny Shiny Jewelry Sale, an annual event showcasing VCUarts Craft/Material Studies students from the metals area. Everything from bracelets to brooches to rings and much more will be available for purchase. This is a multi-day event running from April 16-18 at the Murry N. DePillars Building, 1000 W. Broad St.

For more information, contact Emmy Garcia at garciaem2@vcu.edu or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/event/tiny-shiny-jewelry-sale/.

Monday, Apr. 21, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Interested in advertising and branding? Brandcenter can offer you a one-of-a-kind, transformative experience with unmatched career preparation and a built-in network. Join a virtual informational session — like a Brandcenter 101 — to learn about how we develop the most prominent thinkers and creatives in the industry. We’ll chat about our program, our four concentrations (art direction, copywriting, creative brand management and strategy), the admission process and more. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Emma Barone at brandcenter@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/BC-Virtual-Info-Session?utm_source=TelegRam.

Monday, Apr. 21, 2025 at 3 p.m.

Jared Der-Yeghiayan served as the lead investigator and undercover operative on several of the most significant cybercrime investigations in history. He helped take down the Silk Road, a notorious underground black market operating on the dark web and led the dismantlement of a billion-dollar criminal torrent-sharing site. His presentation will be in the theater of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Maureen Moslow Benway at mmoslowbenwa@vcu.edu.

Monday, Apr. 21, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Come to the Auctus April GBM to learn how you can get your research, art and creative works published in VCU's undergraduate journal. Learn about how you can join the editorial team and work with peers and faculty and about opportunities to gain leadership experience. The meeting will be held in the Multipurpose Room (1303), Honors College, 701 W. Grace St. The meeting is available via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6135769251 Receive updates through RamsConnect: https://vcu.campusgroups.com/auctus/club_signup

For more information, contact Auctus at auctus@vcu.edu or visit https://auctus.vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025 at 10 a.m.

The Commonwealth Cybersecurity Initiative Central Virginia Node at VCU will continue its Spring Speaker Series via Zoom with Homa Alemzadeh, Ph.D. She will discuss intelligent cognitive assistant systems for safety training and assurance. Registration is required. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Sharmic Bartelle at bartelles@vcu.edu or visit https://cci-cvn.org/spring-speaker-series-intelligent-cognitive-assistant-systems-for-safety-training-and-assurance/.

Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.

Share your thoughts about federal directives targeting DEI, such as the Dear Colleagues Letter, and your thoughts on VCU's response to them. Free pizza will be provided. The session will be in the University Student Commons, Metro Room, 907 Floyd Ave. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Summer Neil at neilsd@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1938489.

Wednesday, Apr. 23, 2025 at noon

Learn more about the flexibility of VCU's Evening MBA program at a webinar hosted by the School of Business. This online presentation will provide an overview of program formats (which include online, on-campus or a blend of both), curriculum and the admissions process. No registration is required – join via Zoom link at https://vcu.zoom.us/j/85044330937

For more information, contact Hawley Smyth at smythh@vcu.edu or visit https://business.vcu.edu/graduate-programs/evening-mba-flexible-format/.

Wednesday, Apr. 23, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research continues its grant-writing series via Zoom. Pat Nana-Sinkam, Ph.D., Wright Center associate director, Career Development and Mentoring, will discuss the National Institutes of Health’s career development application and review process. 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/FxBQiTOgS7q7MTS3Be-z8g.

Thursday, Apr. 24, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

VCU Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry invites students, faculty, staff, community members and friends and family to attend and support undergraduates when they present their current research endeavors. The event will take place in the University Student Commons, Commonwealth Ballrooms, 907 Floyd Ave. Submit a poster abstract at the following URL. The event will take place over three sessions.

For more information, contact Herb Hill, Director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry, at urop@vcu.edu or visit https://academics.provost.vcu.edu/transformative-learning/undergraduate-research/poster/.

Thursday, Apr. 24, 2025 at noon

Join the Community Engagement Impact Collaborative for a panel hosted by the Division of Community Engagement on how institutions define and assess community engagement impact. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Lorielle Bouldin at bouldinln@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/6jD1aucX5VznqE268.

Friday, Apr. 25, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m.

Join the Humanities Research Center for a Work in Progress Seminar with Jo-Jo Koo, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Focused Inquiry, who will discuss his new research on Simone de Beauvoir's "Ethics of Ambiguity." The event will be in-person (Valentine House, Room 201, 920 W. Franklin St.) and online via Zoom. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ellie Musgrave at musgraveec@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_REEHLOvhQn64li5zknQHdA#/registration.

Saturday, Apr. 26, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Join the Philosophy of Medicine and Bioethics 4 Students clubs for our first-ever conference on the intersections of ethics, philosophy, public health and medicine. All are invited to join; hear from speakers like Michael Fine, M.D., founder of Primary Care for All Americans, network with community organizations and professionals and learn more about the applications of philosophy and bioethics in health care and beyond. Lunch will be provided and attendance is free. Students are encouraged to submit an abstract to present during the poster session. The session will be held at the STEM Building, 817 W. Franklin St.

For more information, contact Riya Bajpai at bajpair2@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUQn69LwwoMkWpdGJG80osulkx3oVrznDxUob1PqMMlBSDPQ/viewform?usp=header.

Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 from 11 a.m. to noon

This workshop will cover final gradebook configuration, submitting final grades and configuring Incomplete sections. Please use VCU eID and password to enter Zoom meeting. The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/2324828315?omn=83636800541 Register at https://training.vcu.edu/course.aspx?processFlag=2&itemID=18497

For more information, contact Jon Reed at reedjj@vcu.edu or visit https://learningsystems.vcu.edu/.

During Philanthropy Week, Aptil 21-25, students, faculty and staff can learn more about philanthropy, see the impact of giving on campus and get a chance to say thank you to VCU’s donors. Daily events offer fun ways to celebrate philanthropy and earn some swag and treats. Questions? Email Breydon Horton at hortonb2@vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Breydon Horton at hortonb2@vcu.edu.

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 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 Jeremy Via at healthyheart@vcu.edu.

This research study is inviting individuals between the ages of 20 and 24 with poor sleep quality. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of aerobic and resistance exercise on cardiovascular responses and vascular inflammation. 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 following email address.

For more information, contact Garrett Oehlert at healthyheart@vcu.edu.

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. See the survey at the following URL.

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

The School of Medicine is updating the Individual Development Plan (IDP) for Ph.D. and your input is needed. Fill out your year-specific form by Friday, May 2. G1 Year 1 IDP https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbeDbo3vKkf0XMqGhKDMLH90MWUTZ1cMlMk1vMXYZCMHk3AQ/viewform G2 Year 2 IDP https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdp6tF7MdtgxkcgaBx8TafTnd0K1gaChPzlDCKLwVUdWwxEWQ/viewform G3 3rd year and IDP https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAkjF0ILIohvwTWDe1zAVb7aKKqr2ZMWz-GZdltQcVMNJwCw/viewform What they’re looking for: Should any questions be added, removed or changed? Is it helpful? Easy to fill out? Worth our time?

For more information, contact Annie Hinson at hinsonan3@vcu.edu.

The Equity in Cardiovascular Health Outcomes (EqCHO) Lab at VCU is conducting a study on the stress experiences of young Black women. We would like to use the information gained from this study to develop a stress reduction program to improve cardiovascular health among young African American women. Resources will be provided on stress and health management. The study will take place over two consecutive weeks. Compensation is available. Questions: https://eqcho.lab.vcu.edu/ Check your eligibility and sign up at the following URL.

For more information, contact Anika Hines at eqcholab@vcu.edu or (804) 828-5030 or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=KYP34XPP8J7A8JJX.

VCU Social Psychology invites you to participate in two studies. Compensation is available. One: a study on including video materials in school teaching to make classes more engaging. Two: a study on how people react to fictional characters. You will fill out a 10-minute online questionnaire and then complete both studies in one lab session that will take about an hour. Find out if you are eligible at the following URL. New sign-up dates are available. If you have already completed the eligibility survey but the listed times did not work for you, email or call the researchers to schedule a different session time.

For more information, contact VCU HSS at vcuhss@gmail.com or (804) 554-0584 or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=3AJY3KMHN7NF87TY.