10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Are you feeling the weight of finals and deadlines? Take a break from the stress and join the School of Education for an uplifting event. Let your creativity flow as you paint away your worries, cuddle up with puppies to melt away stress and take a moment to express gratitude for the little things in life. Come to the Mary and Frances Youth Center, 120 S. Linden St., and recharge to cultivate positivity and resilience. Questions: Email soeinfo@vcu.edu

For more information, contact Jill Raugh at raughj@vcu.edu or (804) 295-8013.

11 a.m.

VCU's Department of Sculpture and Extended Media will present a visiting scholar lecture by David J. Getsy at the Grace Street Theater, 934 W. Grace St. Getsy is the Eleanor Shea Professor of Art History at the University of Virginia. His most recent book is "Queer Behavior: Scott Burton and Performance Art" (Chicago 2022), which received the 2023 Robert Motherwell Book Award for outstanding publication on the history and criticism of modernism in the arts.

For more information, contact Emmy Garcia at garciaem2@vcu.edu or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/event/david-getsy-visiting-scholar-lecture/.

12 p.m. 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.

12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The Behavioral Health Research Lab will host Butts Up, a tobacco/nicotine-trash cleanup event in conjunction with Earth Day. Meet at the Checkers House in Monroe Park. Quit kits are available and those who attend will be entered into a gift card lottery.

For more information, contact Caroline Cobb at cobbco@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1867 or visit https://rampages.us/bhrlvcu/.

5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The 2025 VCUarts MFA Candidacy Exhibition, “Everything Must Go!” will feature innovative and transformative work by 27 first-year graduate students within the VCUarts departments of Craft/Material Studies, Graphic Design, Kinetic Imaging, Painting + Printmaking, Photography + Film and Sculpture + Extended Media. The opening reception will be at 1420 N. Parham Road.

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

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.

Saturday, Apr. 26, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Do you have any expired or close-to-expiring drugs? Do you not know where to safely dispose of them? Join Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences students at the plaza outside the University Student Commons for National Drug Take-Back Day. Drop off expired drugs, grab a free cup of coffee and learn about Narcan and safe alcohol practices through fun games in collaboration with VCU School of Arts, Humanity First Student Organization and RecWell.

For more information, contact Nicholas Garcia at garcianr2@vcu.edu.

Monday, Apr. 28, 2025 at 11 a.m.

Learn the necessary tools to professionally communicate in a positive, skillful, confident manner. 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/.

Monday, Apr. 28, 2025 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join the School of Education and the Global Education Office to welcome guests from Andijan State University in Uzbekistan and celebrate Uzbekistan's cultural heritage, learn about their traditions and global influence through music, dance and food. The session will be held at the University Student Commons, SGA Senate Chambers, 907 Floyd Ave. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Nichole Dorton at nldorton@vcu.edu or (804) 387-3319 or visit https://forms.gle/ZGnh9h4jMjDmRaJy6.

Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at 10 a.m.

The Commonwealth Cybersecurity Initiative Central Virginia Node at VCU will continue its Spring Speaker Series via Zoom with Afsaneh Doryab, Ph.D. She will present on prediction of mental health state from mobile and wearable data. 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-prediction-of-mental-health-state-from-mobile-and-wearable/.

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/.

The application is open for 2025 seed grants. This opportunity is for anyone who has a vested interest in economic, health and food disparities within the Richmond City community. Apply at the following URL by 4 p.m. today, April 25.

For more information, contact VCU Health Hub at 25th at vcuhealthhub@vcu.edu or visit https://healthhub.vcu.edu/working/grants/.

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. 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.

As the semester winds down, students (and fellow colleagues) are invited to share words of gratitude with VCU professors. Faculty members work hard to make a positive impact - let them know you’ve noticed. Expressing kindness not only brightens someone’s day, it’s good for you too. Spread a little joy and send your VCU profs some well-deserved props through this link: https://forms.gle/Y5mnwDQQc95fe7CQA

For more information, contact Jordyn Richardson at ctle@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/tPTR59PSesF7Xmca6.

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.

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? Go to https://eqcho.lab.vcu.edu/ To check your eligibility and to sign up, visit 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.

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.