11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Curious about what it means to do research and what the benefits are? This workshop led by Ibironke Lawal, Ph.D., (professor, University Libraries) and Traci Wike, Ph.D., (associate professor, Social Work) will explore questions about becoming involved with research at VCU. Learn about different types of research, how to connect with faculty doing research and how to become involved in a research project of your own. Register at the following URL. Questions: http://youfirst.vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Bambacus, Ph.D., at bambacuses@vcu.edu or (804) 827-3927 or visit https://bit.ly/YouFirstPresents040621.

Wednesday, Apr. 7, 2021 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

VCU Human Resources and TIAA will cover the key ideas, trends and numbers needed to provide for health care in retirement. Register in Talent@VCU at the following URL. Questions: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/worklife/.

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521 or visit https://bit.ly/3dfXTUg.

Wednesday, Apr. 7, 2021 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

VCU's Center on Health Disparities will host Joseph Engada, a VCU Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program alumnus, as part of its spring speaker series. The series includes a selection of alumni from the VCU Center on Health Disparities Research Training Programs discussing their experiences and career paths as under-represented minorities in the biomedical sciences. Questions: https://healthdisparities.vcu.edu/. Click on the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ettora Burrell at ettora.burrell@vcuhealth.org or (804) 828-6890 or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/j/98731295826.

Wednesday, Apr. 7, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

VCU's Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence will present a workshop about finding potential external reviewers for the promotion process. Join us for tips and strategies to get started on finding potential reviewers. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tiffany Freitas at freitast@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/vbCzrNPohsDRuKJeA.

Wednesday, Apr. 7, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

VCU's Honors College will host Bernard Means, Ph.D., assistant professor of anthropology, for a Berglund seminar. Means will discuss the fossils owned by America's founding fathers through both a research approach and a graphic version in comic-book format. He will also explore how the presence of fossils of large animals shaped America's image as an academic leader on the global stage. Contact the following email for the event link.

For more information, contact Jared Johnson at jajohnson4@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Apr. 7, 2021 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Cultural Experience of Middle Eastern and South Asian Women at VCU will host a discussion about pregnancy and the stigma against Middle Eastern and South Asian women surrounding reproduction. Click on the following URL for the Zoom link.

For more information, contact Afsheen Ali at alia22@vcu.edu or visit https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75829269871?pwd=WmNxNVljQTB6eUNVVXBpU0NhQzJPUT09.

Thursday, Apr. 8, 2021 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Ashley Williams, yoga therapist and founder of Mindful On Life and BareSOUL Yoga, will discuss why inner work is necessary for civic action and how individual awareness and self-identity can be used to pursue collective resilience. The event is part of a speaker series co-sponsored and organized by VCU's Center for Community Engagement and Impact. Register at the following URL. Questions: http://rvaengage.org/civicaction.

For more information, contact Katie Elliot at elliottkl@vcu.edu or visit https://planrva-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_x025feKiRVyZxNXuwpePGA.

Wednesday, Apr. 7, 2021 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Rams in Recovery will host a session featuring Jan Brown, who will discuss the future of activism for people in recovery from addiction. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Emily Tompkins at tompkinsee@vcu.edu or visit http://bit.ly/3ofT5SB.

Monday, Apr. 12, 2021 from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

VCU faculty members are being asked to provide feedback on each candidate in the search for an assistant director by the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Virtual interviews will include a workshop for faculty planned and facilitated by each candidate. The first candidate will present on active learning and classroom assessment techniques. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tiffany Freitas at freitast@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/3FXUV3GpFmpFy5yK8.

Thursday, Apr. 15, 2021 at 1 p.m.

VCU's Records Management Office will hold Records Management 101 training online via Zoom. Training will cover recordkeeping requirements and practices to be compliant with state regulations and university policy. Register in Talent (keyword "records"). Busy but can’t make it? Try self-paced Records Management 101 training available in Blackboard.

For more information, contact Amber Peranski at aperanski@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2097.

Thursday, Apr. 15, 2021 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

VCU's Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies of the School of World Studies will present Melanie O'Brien, Ph.D., senior lecturer in international law, University of Western Australia, an award-winning teacher of international humanitarian law, public international law and legal research. The event is in keeping with the annual VCU tradition of commemorating the Armenian genocide and honors a connection forged by the late VCU professor Herbert Hirsch with Richmond's Armenian community. This year's event highlights the neo-genocidal threats to the Armenian people, culture, religion, identity and homeland. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL. The event is open to the public.

For more information, contact Mayda Topoushian, Ph.D., at mtopoushian@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIodumopzstE9LsbRhSLHFO6WIfYkHw-nMi.

VCU REAL will hold training sessions for VCU Student Opportunity Center, a platform which provides a central place for students to find hands-on learning activities. Training sessions are open to faculty and staff and will be held every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. Topics to be covered include an introduction to SOC, using SOC communities and building SOC pathways. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Erin Webster Garrett at real@vcu.edu or visit https://real.vcu.edu/employees/socsupport/.

The annual Black and Gold and You employee giving campaign has begun. When faculty, staff and team members give to VCU and VCU Health, they signal their belief that VCU is one of the best possible investments for a potential donor’s philanthropic support. Participants can choose to support any school, department, college, unit, program, center, scholarship or pre-established fund at VCU or VCU Health.

For more information, contact Jessie Pavlidis at pavlidisjl@vcu.edu or visit https://www.support.vcu.edu/bgy/.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. VCU's Police Department is committed to the Start by Believing campaign, which encourages believing survivors when they disclose assaults. To sign the pledge, visit the following URL and use campaign hashtag #VCUBelieves. VCU Police has a dedicated victim-witness coordinator, Ofc. Jasmine Merricks, as well as victim-witness officers on all shifts who can speak with survivors about reporting options.

For more information, contact Ofc. Jasmine Merricks at jnmerricks@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6365 or visit https://www.startbybelieving.org/pledge/.

Based on recent events impacting Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, the VCU Health Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and VCU Health Sciences academic units will host safe spaces for any VCU Health team member and VCU Health Sciences students, staff or faculty member to talk about recent events and share their lived experiences. Sessions will be moderated by trained counselors and facilitators and are completely voluntary. Register at the following URL for a session on April 7 or 8.

For more information, contact Adam Austin at acaustin@vcu.edu or visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4BAEAB2AAAFCC16-diversity.

VCU's Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies is inviting volunteers aged 21-55 who frequently drink alcohol to participate in a research study to add to the science for developing new treatments for people with alcohol use disorder. To find out if you can volunteer for this study, contact study4u@vcu.edu or call the following telephone number to complete a prescreen questionnaire. All research is confidential and volunteers are paid for their time.

For more information, contact Mandy Adams at msadams@vcu.edu or (804) 827-3784 or visit https://idas.vcu.edu/research/.