1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The Student Virginia Education Association will host a meet and greet event with Kelli Feldman, Ph.D., the new School of Education dean. Feldman will be available to answer questions and share ideas. The event will be in the SGA Senate Chambers, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Linda Le at lel7@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1939632.

11 a.m.

Intended for sophomores and juniors who wish to pursue graduate research in the STEM fields, this session will provide information on the Goldwater Scholarship, which awards its scholars up to $7,500 for educational expenses and a mentoring network. The in-person option will be held in the NSO Conference Room (Room 1210) on the first floor of the Honors College, 701 W. Grace St. A Zoom link will be sent to registrants the morning of the session.

For more information, contact Jeff Wing at jawing@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDR89LUAlPkM6k9nJsLlWl_mMqZEaqxRiuTS3_npUkcKEN1Q/viewform.

2 p.m.

This informational session is intended for seniors, recent graduates intending to apply to graduate school and first-year graduate students in the STEM fields. Learn more about the Graduate Research Fellowship, which funds up to three years of graduate study in the STEM (non-medical) fields and how the National Scholarship uffice can support you in applying. The in person option will be held in the NSO conference room (Room 1210) on the first floor of the Honors College, 701 W. Grace St. A Zoom link will be sent to registrants the morning of the session.

For more information, contact Jeff Wing at jawing@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc0Z3y0aBGBnsJRif3tCfBgFLxB8VQBYTmXFVqOALiK-oK9HQ/viewform.

3:30 p.m.

This informational session is open to women international students in all disciplines who are planning on attending graduate school in the United States or Canada or who are currently graduate students at VCU. The scholarship is based upon demonstrated need; however, the award is not intended to cover all academic or personal expenses. Apply at the following URL. Zoom links will be sent to participants the morning of the session.

For more information, contact Meredith Sisson, Ph.D., at mrsisson@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYrMHXQwWPNl_6rMy5KkEQDyvxxEt8cY6CZcYIXwzm3h4Ytw/viewform.

6 p.m.

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

Friday, Sep. 5, 2025 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Unwind with the brothers for a night of coloring and conversation, the perfect campfire-style activity to close out the week. Wrap up Alpha Phi Omega’s rush and build connections with potential new brothers. The event will be in the Metro Room of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Emerson Hernandez-Barahona, membership vice president, at hernandezbea@vcu.edu or (703) 581-8161 or visit https://forms.gle/PGPPUukNUdoFyv9x9.

Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The seventh annual ACCESS Global Health Symposium will be hosted by Edgar Rodas, M.D., and the Acute Care and Systems Strengthening in Low Resource Settings Program (ACCESS) at the VCU School of Medicine. The event will take place in the James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center (MMEC), 1201 E. Marshall St. ACCESS is a program aimed to prepare medical students to become leaders in global health care delivery and systems strengthening in low resource settings. Register for the symposium at the following URL.

For more information, contact Sarah Baig at baigsa@vcu.edu or visit https://www.tixtree.com/e/7th-access-global-health-symposium-f030c2aac765.

Sunday, Sep. 7, 2025 at 1 p.m.

First Love Church hosts a weekly Sunday service in the T. Edward Temple Building, 901 W. Main St., Room 1165 with singing, dancing and an encouraging word.

For more information, contact Yasmin John at johnye@vcu.edu or visit https://linktr.ee/FirstLoveChurchVirginia?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=ea27b3b2-f54f-4a70-bd33-05ece0890d16.

Sunday, Sep. 7, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Alpha Phi Omega is a gender-inclusive service organization focusing on developing leadership, promoting friendship and providing service to humanity. Interested in becoming a brother? You're invited to attend the group's induction ceremony. Pledges have the opportunity to attend various service events, socials and retreats within the brotherhood. Upon successful completion of all requirements, pledges are initiated brothers of APO. Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes early, dressed in business causal attire. The event will be held in Hibbs Hall, Room 403, 900 Park Ave.

For more information, contact Emerson Hernandez-Barahona at hernandezbea@vcu.edu or (703) 581-8161.

Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025 at noon

VCU's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs will hold a graduate programs virtual information session via Zoom for VCU employees. An overview of the school's flexible graduate programs, a review of the employee tuition benefit and an alumni panel will be presented. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ross Losapio at losapior@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0364 or visit https://bit.ly/ws4vcufall25.

Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Interested in becoming involved in the largest events on campus? Come to the Activities Programming Board Event Squad Informational Session to learn how you can be involved in large event programming at VCU and join the community. The session will be in the Richmond Salons, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87158594230 Questions: Visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/apb/events/

For more information, contact Sensiere-Yanti Thompkins-Harris at thompkinshs@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/apb/club_signup.

Thursday, Sep. 11, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m.

The Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and the Health Sciences Library will present their first lunch research seminar via Zoom. Nina Exner, Ph.D., Research Data Librarian, will discuss the updated NIH Public Access Policy and how it may affect your NIH-funded 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/CUtQifBvRaafN7hjc_P0IQ.

Thursday, Sep. 11, 2025 at noon

Join Kathy Tossas, Ph.D., M.S., for a session hosted by the Division of Community Engagement on the Chickahominy Truth Project to learn how to align research priorities with community identified needs. The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/85203819986 Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Challen Wellington at wellingtonc@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5OVygtbRsfd2U4AlCRpVFFmHJyd1MxihJrOYV0ZhbevE6bA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111537260593173046274.

Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Center for Human-Animal Interaction invites you to attend Pups on the Plaza. A rotating cast of Dogs on Call therapy dogs will be at the James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center (MMEC), 1201 E. Marshall St., ready to meet and greet passersby.

For more information, contact Center for Human-Animal Interaction at chai@vcuhealth.org or (804) 628-2532 or visit https://chai.vcu.edu/.

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 from 9 a.m. to noon

The Office of the University Ombudsperson will sponsor the 12th annual National Conflict Resolution Day event. "Navigating Difficult Situations in a Moving Landscape" is this year's theme. The event will feature a keynote address from nationally known conflict resolution practitioners, strategies for managing conflict and an interactive dialogue with those in attendance. The event will be in the Virginia Rooms of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Michele Murray at mmurray2@vcu.edu or visit https://ombudsperson.vcu.edu/events/national-conflict-resolution-day/.

RecWell offers private group exercise classes for VCU student organizations as well as university departments. Classes are led by RecWell’s team of group exercise instructors. Classes can be held in one of RecWell’s spaces or instructors can come to the client’s location, either in-person or virtually.

For more information, contact Nadine Madison at groupexprgm@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHzbjVQuWiMz8jWN_9ezmON2Ooj98JkvvVofyeoPQPNqpRGg/viewform.

Are you looking for a way to make a larger impact on the Richmond community? Rams Aging and Engaging is a student chapter that advocates for and supports the nonprofit Richmond Aging and Engaging, an organization that aims to bring community engagement and revive the aspects of everyday life to low-income communities of elderly individuals. The VCU undergraduate and graduate chapter is recruiting several officers; if interested, contact the following email address.

For more information, contact Rhea Chatterjee at chatterjeer2@vcu.edu or visit https://agingandengaging.org/about-us/.

Graduate students of all levels are encouraged to participate in the annual Three-Minute Thesis Competition sponsored by the Graduate School. This competition asks students to share the impact of their research in three minutes using only one slide. Graduate students from all disciplines are eligible to participate. Students must register and submit their slides no later than Friday, Sept. 19. Preliminary rounds will take place on Monroe Park Campus the week of Sept. 22 and the finals will be held on Friday, Oct. 3 in James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Questions: Email gradprofdev@vcu.edu. Register at https://forms.gle/ALEZa4Baf2HXX96T8

For more information, contact Erin Brown at embbrown@vcu.edu or visit https://graduate.vcu.edu/current-students/professional-development/3mt-competition/.

Check out the September issue of the Division of Community Engagement monthly newsletter for the latest updates and upcoming events. See the newsletter at the following URL.

For more information, contact Alliannah Hamilton at hamiltonae@vcu.edu or visit https://mailchi.mp/vcu/division-of-community-engagement-february-2025-newsletter-12896769.

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 KHS Healthy Heart Lab at healthyheart@vcu.edu.

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

The Translational Research on Eating and Affect (TREAT) Lab is recruiting adolescents and young adults assigned female at birth (aged 12 to 25 years) for a brain imaging study to understand risky decision-making in individuals who have concerns about their body shape/weight, or overeat, purge, use laxatives, diet severely or exercise excessively. We are also investigating these processes in individuals without a psychological disorder. There will be compensation for participation. See the survey at the following URL.

For more information, contact Kelsey Hagan, Ph.D., PI, at treatlab@vcuhealth.org or (804) 827-4174 or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=48YEAYT8MK33E8EJ.

This study is seeking postmenopausal females to participate in a research study examining the effect of exercise training on blood vessel function. This study will be conducted at 500 Academic Centre on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus. Principle Investigator: Ryan Garten, Ph.D., Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. For more information, contact Ryan Garten at the following email address.

For more information, contact Ryan Garten at rsgarten@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.

For more information, contact Karen Gorgey at healthyheart@vcu.edu.