Lois Akinola is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology in the School of Medicine. Her research interest focuses on how drug targets, specifically drugs of abuse, contribute to the pathogenesis of human diseases and the mechanisms by which these processes are modulated. Specifically, she investigates the neurobiological mechanisms underlying addiction to nicotine using genetic and pharmacological approaches. The Pharmacology & Toxicology department recognizes Lois for her academic excellence and positive attitude. Lois has a perfect 4.0-grade point average and has published several academic papers in many reputable journals. She has also contributed extensively and excellently in the area of service within the VCU community. Her colleagues would describe her as a driven and resourceful individual who maintains a positive, proactive attitude. When she is not in the lab, Lois enjoys her time watching movies and singing, in her church choir, to a shower audience, to a car audience, or to anyone who will listen! Lois truly is an exceptional student; she has worked very hard and has brought considerable pride to this department.

Raegan Ballard is an undergraduate student in the Department of English. The comments from faculty regarding Raegan — what one colleague describes as a "chorus of praise" — were extensive, warm, and unequivocally enthusiastic in their praise. Raegan's overall academic performance is excellent, and she is currently writing a Distinguished English Major undergraduate thesis on the expression of Black joy in relation to abolitionist literature and Black manifestos which her advisors have praised highly. One of her professors wrote, "I have had the pleasure of working with Raegan in coursework and now as an advisor for her distinguished major project 'Can I be Black and Write like This? An exploration of Black joy and trauma in writing, and a personal manifesto.' She is a brilliant and conscientious student and shows such great promise as a thinker and scholar. She reads voraciously and writes with clarity and cogency. She is an exemplary candidate for the Black History in the Making Award."

The faculty of the Art Education department nominated Jazmine Beatty, a MAE+ graduate student. Jazmine is committed to cultivating children's wellbeing within Black communities through collaborative art projects. Her thesis topic explores the benefits of a collaborative artmaking process to underinvested Black students. Last semester, she conducted a collaborative bookmaking project with children at a local Title I school to foster positive self and community images. Through the project, her students learned about how their individual identities and experiences related to one another and how they could enable community care. In terms of academic excellence, Jazmine goes the extra mile for the course assignments by finding additional sources and offering thoughtful insights into the topics under discussion.

Leonie, a senior majoring in Interior design, says, "My goal through studying interior design is to eventually become an art director and create set designs for music videos & films. Not only do I find happiness in design, I enjoy traditional art such as portraiture & have some minor experience with glassblowing as well. If I’m not in the art studio, you can find me sitting in the park or enjoying some quiet time with my cat :-)"

Roberto Ventura, PhD., Chair of the Department of Interior Design, says, "Ms. Brightly is one of our ascendant undergraduate designers. Her energy and enthusiasm in her classes and interactions with peers is surpassed only by the quality of her work. Ms. Brightly and her work will be soon featured in a national publication this spring as one of one hundred up-and-coming designers. We are excited that the country will find out what we already know: Ms. Brightly has the poise, insight and determination to be a leader and strong voice in the design profession."

Nicholas W. Brown received his bachelor’s degree from Randolph Macon College, majoring in English and Psychology. He received a Master of Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University where he majored in English with an emphasis in literature. He is currently working towards a doctoral degree at Virginia Commonwealth University through their interdisciplinary program, Media Art and Text (MATX). His research explores the connection between social protest literature and contemporary social justice movements, specifically within digital media platforms. For the past ten years, Nicholas has worked as an English instructor at Virginia State University located in Petersburg, Virginia.

Whitney Brown, B.S. is a second-year graduate student and Wilder Fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University pursuing her Master of Public Administration. She is a Richmond, VA native that holds a Bachelor of Science in Science (Legal Studies, Government Services, and Public Policy option) from The Pennsylvania State University (University Park) and a certificate in African-American Studies.

Most recently, Whitney served as an appointed member of the Ralph S. Northam Administration under the Secretary of Administration, Grindly Johnson, as Special Assistant and Programs Coordinator. She currently serves as the General Vice President for the Public Administration Student Association (PASA) at VCU, is a board member for the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust (MWCLT), and is an appointed member on the Richmond City (VA) Human Rights Commission. In her free time, she enjoys playing sports, traveling, and trying new food!

Ty is a first year student in Art Foundation, already having a positive impact on their peers and faculty. Describing themselves, Ty says, "Hi, my name is Ty Campbell! I'm a black queer genderfluid artist who's specializes in storytelling. My goal in life is to not only reflect the things I wish I had seen as a kid as well as make stories that captivate audiences. Creating characters has always been a healing process for me and so I plan on continuing to do so for as long as possible."

One of Ty's professors, Katie Kehoe wrote, "Ty is wonderfully talented and refreshingly true to themselves! They create work that is at once personal and impactful – often helping to raise awareness about an important issue young adults struggle with, which Ty has personal experience with. This takes courage and strength, which are two traits I want to recognize in Ty and celebrate with you by recommending them for this award. Further to that – they are hard-working and continually presented polished work in class, were always prepared to discuss assigned readings, engage in class exercises, and actively participated in class discussions."

Elicia Carter (she/hers) is a graduate student pursuing her Master of Social Work Degree with a concentration in the Clinical Practice program at Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition, she is pursuing courses for licensure and obtaining the Nonprofit Management Graduate Certificate.

Carter was born and raised in the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio. She grew up watching her mother, Jessica, use her time to give back to the community, while single handedly raising her and her 3 younger brothers. Carter’s mother obtained her Master and Post Master Degrees to help further empower individuals in the community. She was motivated to follow in her mother’s philanthropist footsteps, shortly before her mother passed away. Through resiliency, Carter did not lose faith in the purpose and plans she believes God has for her and her daughters. She is training to become a Certified Transformational Coach in April 2022, and anticipates graduating in the Spring semester of May 2023.

In 2016, Carter graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor Degree in Art History and minor in Pan African Studies. Currently, Carter volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for the Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, as a Crisis Counselor and Mandated Report for the Crisis Text Line, and previously as a Sponsor for The Exceptional Family Member Program on Langley Air Force Base. She collaborated on a program called Project Lifesaver with the Yorktown Sheriff Department and is a member of The National Association of Black Social Work in the Hampton Roads Chapter.

Carter professional experiences includes interning as a clinical social work student at DQS Healthcare Group during her generalist year of the MSW Program. She had the opportunity to implement the biopsychosocial-spiritual assessment, theory to practice interventions and completed preliminary diagnosis with new clients. Additionally, Carter worked as a Substitute Teacher, Para-Educator and Secretary for various years in the York County School District.

In closing, though she values the work she has done, Carter believes her most important job is being the proud mom of two sweet daughters who were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Carter, along with other local parents, often advocate for inclusivity in the community to ensure positive changes for individuals with Special Needs and their families. Carter’s career goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to open a private practice incorporating creative arts and work within the school system and government sectors. Carter mostly enjoys parenthood with her daughters, spending time with her close family and friends, going to museums, traveling, and community service. She stated that her life journey is a faith walk and a calling for her to contribute in building resiliency, transformation and empowerment to help strengthen individuals and the community, to make a positive difference in the lives of others especially for her daughters.

Carter shows appreciation and gratitude for her mother, her daughters, close family and friends, mentors and give thanks to the VCU faculty and staff.

Desirée Charity is a second-year graduate student studying mass communications with a concentration of integrated communication, where she maintains a 4.0 GPA. Professionally, she has played a key role working on the communications team in VCU’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations for the past 3.5 years. In spring of 2017, she received her B.S. degree in mass communication with a double concentration in creative advertising and broadcast journalism. During her undergraduate years, she was initiated into the Eta Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and served as the chapter historian. Since graduating, she has been heavily involved with the VCU AAAC Mentoring Circle, which connects African American undergraduate students with African American alumni in a one-year mentoring relationship to guide them through their academic endeavors. She is currently serving as a committee chair. “I have volunteered as a committee chair helping to recruit students and alumni to join as mentees and mentors in the program,” she said. “I have also served as a mentee myself and plan on giving back as a mentor upon graduating from my master’s program. I have a true passion for providing resources and any support I can to underrepresented students such as students of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.” In addition to working full-time and taking classes, she is also currently completing two full-time internships this semester.

Nyasha Chigama is a first year MFA student who relocated her family from Harare, Zimbabwe during the summer of 2021 to pursue her degree in Ceramics in the Department of Craft/Material Studies. Her engagement and presence with undergraduate students has exposed them to new modes of working and cultural understanding as her work is grounded in traditional Zimbabwean ceramics of the Karanga and Rozvi dynasties.

Before arriving in Richmond, she worked with indigenous terracotta clay extracted from anthills from the rural area of her homeland. Through her work she seeks to expose ways in which communities of women can be empowered in therapeutic and economic pathways embedded in their everyday routine.

As a graduate assistant, her contributions in the classroom and studio alongside her faculty mentors, empowers students to challenge the boundaries of their own work and creative pursuits.

KáLyn Banks Coghill (She/They) is currently enrolled in the Media, Art, and Text doctoral program at Virginia Commonwealth University. She teaches in the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies department. Her courses focus on race, feminism, girlhood studies, literature, and hip-hop pedagogy. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English (creative writing poetry and linguistics) from Old Dominion University and her master’s degree in Organizational Communications from Bowie State University. Her research focuses on how Black women in hip hop use their music, performances, and social media presence to digitally resist digital violence on Twitter and as a way to create harm-reduction and digital healing. You can find her latest publication “A Seat At The Table: A Repetitive Narrative of Abuse” through the International Journal of Linguistics and Communications. In 2021 KáLyn participated in the inaugural class for Re-Design LLC’s Content Mapping program where she and other educators nationwide worked on an anti-racist curriculum for K-12 schools. KáLyn has led workshops with the National Society of Black Engineers centered around combating imposter syndrome in graduate school and she is currently working as a community partner with a local Henrico County Public School facilitating a sister-circle, called G.L.O.W., for Black high-school girls and non-binary femmes. KáLyn has published Build Your Stack: Books for Advanced High School Students That Will Create a Classroom of Deep Thinking a piece where she talks about literacy in High Schools for NCTE. She is the network advisor for the Digital Black Lit and Composition organization, board member for Neighborhood Access, and a fellow of VCU’s Digital Sociology Lab. She is also a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, and holds a leadership role for the Sisterhood Committee. She coins her work as “Hoodrat Scholarship”—a self-proclaimed effort to create an ecosystem of work that can be cycled from the academy to the streets. Hoodrat Scholarship uses community outreach as a way to provide accessible information to all. Coghill uses her digital presence and works to create spaces where anyone can engage and contribute. Her favorite poem is “won’t you celebrate with me” by Lucille Clifton and she enjoys writing poetry, watching documentaries, and making her friends laugh in her spare time.

Ousmane Diallo is a senior studying International Social Justice and Spanish. He is also a graduate of VCU Globe and Peace Corps Prep programs. In Summer 2019, Ousmane embarked on a service learning trip to Oaxaca Mexico. For 5 weeks he lived with a host family, took Spanish classes, and taught English to 1st graders. “From the experiences I had in Mexico, I realized that I could be doing so much more within my own community. When I am back in Richmond I plan on seeing what organizations I could be a part of that help the surrounding community.” Fueled by his desire to continue the community work, he volunteered with Ward 4 Mutual Aid in Washington DC using his Spanish language skills to deliver food during the pandemic. He also continued to work with English Language learners as a Cultural Ambassador in English Language Classes. Ousmane is well poised to make an impact upon his graduation, to step outside of his comfort zone, and to empower others in the community.

Wayne Dixon is a first year Chaplain Resident at VCU Health Systems and is seeking his MS degree in Patient Counseling at VCU. He received a Masters of Divinity (MDiv.) in 2019 and a Masters of Arts Christian Education (MACE) in 2020 from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology (STVU) at Virginia Union University. He also received a certificate for completing 1-unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Level I at VCU/VCU Health in 2020. Wayne is an ordained elder with International Christian Ministries (ICM), and the pastor of Words of Life Ministries in Richmond, VA.

Wayne currently serves as unit chaplain for the CCH Burn Unit, STICU and the Acute Surgery Unit.

He has worked with children and teens throughout his career, in church and in different capacities within the community. Wayne has been married for 32 years to wife Felicia. They have three children (Tynisha, DaRayl, LaVon) and one granddaughter (TaMia). In his spare time, Wayne enjoys spending time with his family, playing pickleball, and watching basketball and football.

Nicholas Felder is a senior Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness student who has been on the Dean's list throughout his time at VCU. Nicholas is recognized by his faculty for his intellectual curiosity and academic excellence. Additionally, Nicholas has volunteered at Binford Middle School since 2019, where he serves as a mentor to children, teaching them how to express themselves creatively in a variety of ways. He is also active in VCU's Young Democrats chapter. Nicholas plans to work in the Homeland Security arena, hopefully in intelligence, after his graduation in May.

Nana Ferdnance is a graduate student in the Art History department with a concentration in museum studies. Nana's academic interests are centered around technology's contribution to accessibility in art institutions and black identity and its connection to the African diaspora in modern and contemporary art. She is also passionate about advocating the voices of artists from marginalized communities and the need for genuine diversity and inclusion efforts in art institutions. During the Fall 2021 semester at VCU, she was a graduate assistant for Residential Life and Housing in Multicultural Affairs, where she supervised Diversity Ambassadors. She helped Diversity Ambassadors organize social justice presentations in residential halls surrounding topics on transgender awareness, power and privilege and race and discrimination in other countries and in the media.

As a scholar, Ms. Ferdnance has demonstrated her excellence as a thinker, a questioner, and a researcher. Her curiosity, creative thinking, and capacity to identify and explore new ideas that push art history into new directions provide the foundation of her present and future successes. This scholarly acumen, combined with a deep commitment to supporting working artists of color and to educating others about the significance of art at both local and global levels, will make Ms. Ferdnance an outstanding arts professional and educator.

Denise Folley is a native from Charlottesville, Virginia who is currently studying at VCU for her MFA in Theatre with a concentration in Performance Pedagogy. She obtained her BA In Theatre arts from Davis & Elkins College in 2018. Since her departure from her undergrad, she has been able to teach theatre outside her hometown like; The Old Brick Playhouse Company, Stagedoor Manor and Arkansas Repertory theatre. When she moved back to Charlottesville she has made herself busy by acting in shows with Live Arts and the Charlottesville Player Guild, started directing shows with DMR ADVENTURES, teaching classes with Empowered Players, and was the Assistant Theatre Director at Charlottesville High School while and working as the Program Assistant with Boys & Girls Club of Central Virginia. Denise is the current Co-Chair for the Theatre of Youth division with the Virginia Theatre Association. She was last seen onstage in VCU’s production of Intimate Apparel as Ensemble/Mrs. Dickson’s Understudy.

Akira Goden is currently a third year senior at VCU pursuing two bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and African American studies. She will graduate in May 2022 and has her goals set on earning her LPC through an accredited masters program. Her long term goal is to become a clinical psychologist, working specifically in and with the Black community. During her freshman year at VCU she had the opportunity to start her own organization, Black Minds Matter, which serves as a space for African American students on campus to be vulnerable about their experiences with mental health. She also works at the hospital as a mental health assistant where she sits 1:1 with suicidal and behavioral patients to ensure their safety during their stay.

Caroline Cobb, PhD., Akira's faculty member and mentor, said, "I have worked with
very few undergraduates that demonstrated such a depth of maturity and aptitude for engaging in such collaborative, interdisciplinary science."

According to the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, LaToya Gray-Sparks has been an exemplary student in the Urban and Regional Studies and Planning program, and is an emerging leader in the Richmond Community. She has recently served on the Advisory Council for the City of Richmond's Award-Winning Richmond 300 Master Plan, and is the founder of the "Reconstructing Randolph Project." She won a national award from ESRI, the global market leader in Geographic Information Systems technology, for her story map entitled “Planned Destruction: A brief history on land ownership, valuation and development in the City of Richmond and the maps used to destroy black communities.” She has also been elected as a student representative to the Board of the North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS).

Shanice Hicks is a senior student in the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies (GSWS), with a minor in African American Studies.. Her academic work focuses on Black women and politics. Her voice is crucial to Richmond’s racial justice community. She is often posting on social media about justice for victims of police violence, feminism and fashion. Though her beauty and her smile might seem disarming, behind that is a fire and a passion for justice and a deep intellectual commitment to the scholarship that undergirds her activism.
What one of her many admiring faculty members have to say about her:

Dr. Dawn Johnson (faculty member, GSWS), said, "I was fortunate to have Shanice in my class last semester, in Black Feminism and the Internet. I found her perspective in the class to be refreshing. Shanice worked as part of a group, and this group developed a blog that focused on Black Feminism and Fashion. Shanice contributed greatly to the discussions, and I found her to be a very engaged person in the classroom. Through her voice, Black Feminism and Intersectional perspectives will continue to be elevated."

Jamie Hill is an Honors student double majoring in Psychology and African American Studies with a minor in English. She has a 3.86 GPA. She volunteers as a research assistant under Dr. Rashelle Hayes in the VCU Department of Psychiatry, where she assists with tobacco and bariatric research. She is also a research assistant for Dr. B Coston concerning perceptions about sexual health. She was previously an associate editor for the NCHC Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity. She is currently an editor for the Honors College magazine, Le Monde, as well as a woman-centered magazine, Hear Her Speak Magazine, that she created with other undergraduate students. In her first year at VCU, Jamie was a mentee of the Emerging Leaders Program.

One of Jamie's professors, Grace Gipson, PhD. shared, "Jamie is what I like to call a quiet storm. Her quiet demeanor should not be mistaken for not being about the cause. In the almost year that I’ve known Jamie, I can truly say she is a young woman with great character, morals, principles, and a positive attitude. She has always demonstrated a strong commitment to her work and is a true budding scholar in the making."

Aniya Hope was chosen for the Black History in the Making staff award.

Aniya Hope has worked for the Business Essentials Unit as a Student Worker and a Graduate Assistant. During her undergraduate years she was a peer consultant, assisting her peers with public speaking and designing presentations. She consistently received positive reviews and high ratings by her peer clients. She was such an asset to the Business Essentials team that we were delighted to bring her onboard as a Graduate Assistant for the past two years. This is her final semester working with us before she graduates. The faculty she has been supporting give high praises for Aniya and her work. Aniya demonstrates excellence through her work ethic, she pushes herself out of her comfort zone to better herself, and selflessly shares her expertise to help her peers. I was impressed with Aniya when she was my student her freshman year. Bright, ambitious, thoughtful, and a kind spirit are all good descriptors. In the years I have worked with her, she has never complained, she maintains a positive attitude, in spite of challenges, and she is well respected by everyone who works with her. Aniya will go on to achieve great things and represent VCU well. She is humble, modest, and doesn't seek out the spotlight. Aniya Hope has beyond proved to be an exceptional student, student worker, and Graduate Assistant. She is worthy of this award and recognition.

Bryleigh P. Jackson is the recipient of the W. E. B. Dubois Award for Excellence in History for 2022. This award is granted by faculty nomination and rigorous evaluation by the Scholarships and Awards Committee of the Department of History. This award was established to encourage outstanding African American undergraduates to pursue graduate study, preferably in History. Ms. Jackson’s academic record, as well as the impressive quality of her classroom performance attested by several faculty who have taught her, strongly suggests that she ranks among the very best previous recipients of this award, several of whom have gone on to Ph.D. programs and law schools at prestigious universities. A History major with secondary fields in African American Studies and Art History, she has a 3.74 GPA, with almost all A’s in History courses. Faculty have noted her passion for history, “voracious appetite for knowledge,” and an academic engagement far beyond that of most of her peers. A talented writer, Ms. Jackson has an impressive ability to develop sophisticated intellectual arguments supported by thoughtful assessment of evidence. Faculty have identified her as “an ideal candidate for graduate study.” Indeed, the History Department has the highest expectations for Ms. Jackson, and is confident that she will become a major contributor to whatever professional field she pursues.

Taliah Jackson is a senior majoring in Spanish. Graduating in May 2022, she has a 3.55 GPA. Outside of class, she works full time as a birth and postpartum doula, providing extensive support and resources to mothers, families and their newborns. She is also currently an intern with World Pediatric Project, an international non-profit organization bridging the gap in lack of access to advanced pediatric healthcare. After graduation, Taliah has plans to move to the Dominican Republic for some time before returning to the States to attend nursing school. Her future career goals include becoming a nurse midwife, traveling around to provide services to BIPOC communities around the world. Taliah has a grand passion for working with children and families with a major focus on bridging the racial disparities in maternal and infant health.

One of her former professors, Pablo De Cuba Soria, PhD, says, "She is one of those students that you just know is going to make a difference in this world and contribute richly to it."

Jaelyn likes to take on challenges and puts a lot of effort into her classes. She switched from the Physical Evidence concentration to a more difficult concentration of Forensic Chemistry. Jaelyn is excelling at research in the Alves Experimental Toxicology Research Laboratory and she plans to apply for the new accelerated Master's Program in Forensic Science. Last, she is always asking questions about ways to get more involved in Forensic Science!

Atticus Johnson is a community organizer with experience in qualitative research, canvassing, workshop facilitation and graphic design. Atticus specializes in community outreach and public speaking. Atticus is a Richmond native that has lived in Church Hill, Jackson Ward, and Petersburg. They currently attend VCU studying Political Science with a dual program in Fundamentals of Computing. Atticus has worked for the Virginia Student Power Network, Progress Virginia, the VCU Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry, and Innovation (iCubed), VCU’s Survey & Evaluation Research Laboratory and the Virginia Anti-Violence Project.

Sarah Jane Brubaker, PhD, who nominated Atticus for the award, said, "Atticus has worked for me as a UROP research assistant for three years and has been outstanding. His professional and academic work exceed expectations and he brings great energy and insight to the work of our iCubed Core, 'Disrupting Criminalization in Education.' He is flexible and willing to take on any task or assignment and always does excellent work whether it's literature searches, database development/management, coding, website design, or brainstorming about programs or research topics and endeavors. He is also passionate about and actively engaged in a number of social activism projects and is certain to become a leader in whatever he does."

Ms. Johnson is the undergraduate nominee for the Biomedical Engineering Department due to her exceptional design skills, leadership, and community outreach. Ms. Johnson was part of a 2020 team that won the College of Engineering’s National Academies of Engineering Grand Challenges competition. Jayla and her team designed a testing system for Alzheimer’s patients. Jayla serves the College of Engineering by giving tours and welcoming prospective students. She has also been active as an intern for the Virginia Space Grant Consortium and an instructor at BuildRVA. Jayla is an active member of the Society of Physics Students, National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women in Engineering, VCU PRIME, and VCU LSAMP. Due to her ambition, intelligence, and creativity, Ms. Jayla Johnson is Black History in the Making.

Mr. (soon to be Dr.) Kamga Gninzeko is a finishing PhD student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Mr. Kamga Gninzeko is our department’s nominee due to his excellence in research and community outreach. Franck has been awarded the NIH NIA R36 fellowship, the Koerner Future Faculty Fellowship, and the Graduate School’s Dissertation award for his work in studying aging in ventilator induced lung Injury. Franck came to VCU as an undergraduate transfer student after completing an Associates Degree at Reynolds Community College. Following completing his BS in Biomedical Engineering at VCU, Franck continued doing research for his PhD in the laboratory of Dr. Rebecca Heise. Franck also taught several courses for John Tyler Community College. Frank participates in many community outreach opportunities including volunteering at National Biomechanics Days, Engineering Practices in Color, and singing baritone in his church choir. Frank is set to defend his dissertation in the Spring of 2022. We look forward to see Mr. Franck Kamga Gninzeko continue to make Black History.

Ossan Kekeh has been an extraordinary VCU Globe student, a recipient of the Baldacci Scholarship and a strong advocate for community connections. Adept at navigating different cultures, Ms. Kekeh has been a dedicated Cultural Team Leader through the Pace Center, facilitating weekly gatherings that promote intercultural understanding and fellowship. As a Conversation Partner, she has assisted with English language acquisition and welcomed many into the VCU and Richmond communities. With her goal of becoming a physician in the future, Ms. Kekeh has served as Certified Medical Assistants for VCU Health and a pediatrics office as well as an e-board member of VCU P.R.I.M.E., an organization to connect pre-health students with opportunities on campus. This summer, Ms. Kekeh will serve as a counselor at Camp Kesem, focusing on children whose parents have cancer. To further develop professional skills before entering medical school, Ms. Kekeh will take time after her undergraduate career to gain valuable work experience

Raphael Klake is currently a 4th Year Chemistry Ph.D. Candidate who specializes in Organic Chemistry. Since joining the Sieber Lab at VCU in 2018, Raphael has amassed 5 publications. He served as a mentor for the 2019 National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates and VCU’s Undergraduate Research Program. Raphael was also the Graduate Student awardee for the 2021 Distinguished Chemist award and is currently the Treasurer of the Chemistry Graduate Students Organization of VCU. Upon completion of his Doctorate, Raphael plans to launch his career as a Process Chemist in the Pharmaceutical Industry where he will develop safe, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and efficient synthetic routes to drugs.

Shaunda spent the majority of her career focused on digital marketing ranging from strategic corporate partnerships to content creation. She disrupted the digital marketing space within sales, helping the nation's largest creative and digital staffing agency with their CX experience. She also served as the Director of Creative Sourcing Strategy, leading the efforts on optimizing recruitment delivery strategies and the operations funnel and curated and built a multi-million dollar program from the ground up. Leveraging her DEI certification, she has led companies to land diversity supplier pitches with companies such as Netflix.

After dabbling in entrepreneurship, Shaunda ditched Corporate America for deeper impact, and moved to BGV as Chief Operating Officer at Black Girl Ventures Foundation. Prior, she served as the Director of Branding and Marketing Strategy where she dreamed up beautiful color palettes and strategies for BGV. She has led the charge on activating marketing partnerships for BGV with brands such as Nike, Visa, PayPal, Rare Beauty Brands and Experian.

She currently serves as the Strategic Partnership Manager at Black Girl Ventures Foundation as she is currently focusing on her full time Strategy Masters Degree at the Brandcenter at VCU. She hopes to have her own Branding agency dedicated to serving BIPOC founders.

Shaunda Lambert comes highly recommended by the Chair of the Strategy and Creative Brand Management concentration. She wrote, “I feel very excited to nominate Shaunda Lambert, Brandcenter Strategy 1st year student for a 2022 Black History in the Making Award because she is working diligently to achieve the career goals that she has set for herself AND through her work with Black Girl Ventures. Shaunda is shining a light and sharing ideas, tools and support with other black/brown women who will lead the way in business and society."

Madison is a Senior and is seeking a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a Concentration in International Management and a Minors in Philosophy of Law and Real Estate. She is a hard worker, and is ready to conquer any challenges presented to her. She is a fast learner, highly motivated, and is always aiming to go the extra mile in all she is involved with. While attending VCU, she has dedicated her time to VCU’s Business Student Ambassadors (BSA), an esteemed service organization dedicated to the mission and values of the School of Business whose primary purpose is educating prospective students, and their families about opportunities at VCU’s School of Business in addition to volunteering to support the vision of the School of Business at various internal and external events. In her various roles throughout BSA she has served as their Historian, Recruitment Chair, and most recently their 2020-2021 President. In addition to her extracurriculars, For the past 3 ½ years Madison has held a Top-Secret Clearance while interning with the FBI in the Richmond Field Office as well as the Washington Field Office. After graduation she plans to explore opportunities in business consulting and continue her education by obtaining her MBA.

The Department of Biology is pleased to nominate Jordan Matamoro-Mejias for this award. The esteemed Dr. Catherine Hulshof, Assistant Professor in the Biology Department recommended him, and submitted the following comments: “Jordan has an incredible list of accomplishments including: he is VCU P.R.I.M.E. Co-founder & President; Board of Visitors Student Representative; Black Men in Medicine President (and Treasurer in prior semesters); and University College Dean's Advisory Committee Member. On top of being a highly accomplished student, and undertaking all of these responsibilities, he works part time as a barber (freelance) and grocery delivery driver. He is a leader and role model for his peers. He enrolled in my BIOL317 Ecology course during Fall 2021 (online asynchronous) and contributed thoughtful and genuine discussion that made connections between human health, medicine, and ecological concepts. Jordan is making history and is a great example of how VCU Biology can support students”.

Nile McNair is a graduate student in his second semester of the multimedia journalism master’s program at Virginia Commonwealth University. He has maintained a 4.0 GPA in his graduate courses while also completing two full time internships. One was during summer in Jackson, Mississippi, working for the USA Today Network. “I was very proud of the fact that I was able to produce news stories up to the standards of USA Today, while also excelling in the virtual classroom,” Nile said. His second internship, during the fall semester, was with NBC Sports, which provided him with first hand experience in sports journalism — his passion. Nile is also actively involved in community service projects through his fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma, which stands on the principles of brotherhood, scholarship and service. “I pride myself on making those who came before me proud, and I think being a recipient of this Black History in the Making award would just be another step in achieving my goal,” he said.

Iman Mekonen is graduating this May from the School of World Studies with a degree in International Studies with a concentration in International Social Justice, and minors in Political Science and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. Ms. Mekonen intends to pursue a legal degree to continue the social justice work she began as an undergraduate at VCU.

Ms. Mekonen worked at the Commonwealth Times for three years, eventually becoming one of the first Black Executive Editors of the publication. As a writer and editor, Ms. Mekonen diversified the scope of the coverage of the Commonwealth Times, including telling often overlooked stories of Richmond’s Black and brown communities. Importantly, Ms. Mekonen contributed to and ultimately helped lead the coverage and contextualization of Richmond’s racial justice protests in summer 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. It was during these protests and at Marcus David Peters Circle that I would run into Ms. Mekonen – we’d catch up before she carried on with the important work of documenting the movement for Black lives for the students of VCU. As managing editor of the Commonwealth Times, Ms. Mekonen also spearheaded the 2021 Black History Month issue. For this issue, she wrote the cover story and interviewed alumni of the Commonwealth Times about their experiences of racism during their tenures with the paper. This issue won the Commonwealth Times the 2021 Newspaper Pacemaker Award, which is often referred to as the Pulitzer Prize of student journalism. Ms. Mekonen spent her time at VCU speaking – and writing – truth to power.

Ms. Mekonen has also dedicated herself to the Richmond community beyond VCU. She is a youth mentor with the local non‐profit Work of Art, which serves young Black girls ages 13‐18 to inspire leadership through connections and community volunteering. As a mentor with the organization for the last two years, she has participated in activities such as cemetery clean up at the Historical Evergreen Cemetery and meal preparation for families staying at The Doorways, a non‐profit providing housing to families of hospital patients. Ms. Mekonen is also a member of VCU Globe, a living‐learning program that connects students to the local immigrant and refugee communities. She served as a conversational partner with Globe and the Global Education Office, helping to introduce international students to American university life, cultures, and traditions.

Throughout her time at VCU, Ms. Mekonen has made it a priority to give back to her community and provide a voice to those who are often unheard. As one of the first Black Executive Editors of the Commonwealth Time, Ms. Mekonen has already earned a place in Black history at VCU. She made VCU and the Commonwealth Times more equitable and just, and she and her work deserve to be recognized and honored with the VCU Black History in the Making Award.

Dellil has had an inspired and inspirational journey entering the Graphic Design MFA program after earning a BFA in the VCUarts Painting and Printmaking Department. He inspires his peers as well as the entire Graphic Design with his ability to stress community-building and the sharing of resources as core to his creative practice. He eagerly embraces the views and opinions of others, welcomes many to a studio visit to talk about his work, and is always looking to improve and jump to the next brightest star. He has really enjoyed mentoring our undergrads and connecting with them inside and outside of the classes he is teaching. He is currently collaborating on a hand lettering projects with a GDES alum. His work is current. expressive, emotional and exuberant.

Academically and professionally credentialed in psychology from Spelman College and the University of Southern Mississippi, LT’s first career focused on the intersection of science and the practice of clinical psychology. She has been afforded the opportunity to serve in several professional capacities to include researcher, practitioner, academician, and administrator. While imparting knowledge, clinical expertise, creative inquiry, and leadership, she consistently remained grounded in the community, developing a holistic understanding of the community’s challenges and strengths at the systemic and individual levels. She is an astute observer of people with strong intuitive and insight skills, empathically understanding the world from a perspective other than her own and believing there is strength, resilience, and resource where others see none.

She is presently pursuing an MFA in Interior Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, studying the intersection of psychological and design principles within the context of marginalized, economically challenged communities. Building on her first career and influenced by personal and professional experiences, she observed that environmental design has a tremendous impact on behaviors, emotions, and perceptions, belongingness and stability but the emphasis of design principles and aesthetics in the built environment of marginalized and economically challenged communities is often impeded by issues of economics, accessibility, erasure, and invisibility. Through participatory and humanistic design practices and psychological principles, it is her mission to investigate, expose, and address through policy, advocacy, education, and intervention.

Amber Mundy is a graduate student in the Department of Forensic Science. She brought a long list of accomplishments with her when she came to VCU and has taken a leadership role since she joined the Forensic Science MS program. She served as a department GTA, participated in community engagement activities with Richmond Public Schools and began research with the East Marshall Street Well Project (EMSWP). She has received a Graduate Research Assistant position as she continues her research on the EMSWP with Dr. Tal Simmons & Dr. Baneshwar Singh.

An incredibly talented senior in Graphic Design in The School of the Arts, Zoe is thoughtful, considerate and passionate about collaboration. Her current Senior Capstone proposal is a three-person collaboration with two other students. Her focus is creating a personal archive inspired by her mother's 90's style portrayed in stacks of photographs she was gifted. Zoe is interested in the intersections of identity/culture/style/fashion/and design. She will be taking 90's clothing and upcycling them for a new generation into contemporary garments, exploring current values of personal expression. Zoe is a risk-taker, crossing boundaries of design disciplines. She is currently working for The MRKT, an advertising agency based in LA. She is the Director of Outreach for VCU Activities Programming Board and a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Eta Theta Chapter, whose principles are Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood & Finer Womanhood. Zoe started her own clothing line (@ohzoeoriginals on Instagram) and sold out! She recently partnered with clothing brand Shein for a collection designed and was featured by them for Black History Month. Additionally, she is a member of National Society of Collegiate Scholars, VCU LEAD, and Omicron Delta Kappa, a leadership organization with the top 35% class ranked students. She is also a mentee in the VCU African American Alumni Council. She prides herself on being a role-model to her younger sister, and her dream is to become an art director for print media or commercials. Zoe said, "I feel like I am very fortunate to have come this far in only my 4 years of college and look forward to what the future hold. There’s beauty in creation and always faith in the unknown."

Additionally, she would like to share her favorite quote by artist Jean-Michel Basquiat: "I don’t listen to what art critics say. I don’t know anybody who needs a critic to find out what art is."

From the Richard T. Robertson School: Makayla “MK” Perry is a rockstar student in our advertising sequence. She is an executive in our Ad Club and has a 3.56 GPA. She’s a gifted designer with a passion for production. Recently, MK, along with her creative partner, participated in the Adobe Creative Jam XD “College & Amazon Design Creative Jam”. It was a class assignment in an elective she’s taking outside of our program. There were 430 participants from Colleges from the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Students were challenged to use Adobe XD to design an app that encourages high school students to participate in community service. MK and her partner received an honorable mention. MK can literally do it all and so much more. In fact, she is also interested in the creative brand management side of the business.

MK consistently shares her knowledge and helps other students, offering tips and advice from keyboard shortcuts to design feedback. MK has had a MAIP Fellowship with Disney working as motion graphics intern at The Hive. She is on track to graduate in the spring and plans to apply to graduate school. In her free time, she puts her natural skills of illustration to use illustrating children’s books. The Ad faculty is extremely proud of her continued success and is thrilled to support her nomination for the Black History In The Making Award.

Dorian Philpot is an Economics major in the School of Business, with Political Science minor. She is currently working as a Teaching Assistant for Econ 210. She was the School of Business's Snellings scholarship award winner last year (and will likely be in contention for the student awards this year). She has been or is: Vice President of Communications for Women in Business; general member of the Student Economics Association; member of Leadership for Women of Color; first-year participant of the LEAD Living Learning Program, and a money coach.

In nominating Brandi Pleasant, the Department of Theatre said, "Brandi Pleasant is a very bright, talented, and excellent student. She played an important role in our production of "ECLIPSED", in which she tackled an extremely difficult role and was exceedingly good at it. She took the challenge on full steam. Brandi is very generous with her time mentoring and supporting other students. Even through challenges of funding and family issues, Brandi has continued to follow her passion and her dream as an artist. Her tenacity and eclectic pursuit of knowledge beyond the arts is also admirable. She defines "Black History in the Making."

Brandi says, "I am an undergraduate theatre performance major that is graduating in 2022 and I feel I have found my voice and power being able to work with so many talented individuals and students. I've realized the beauty in my art and hope to express it many forms such as, acting, singing, dancing, writing, or directing. I'm so thankful to be the recipient of this award and I want to accept it on behalf of all of the black artists and actors that have felt they haven't been given the opportunity or felt that their talents haven't been at the forefront. Because the black experience needs to be (and WILL be) showcased!"

The Department of Health Administration shared: Malea is an intellectually curious and impressive young woman in possession of contagious positive energy. As a second year MHA student in the Department of Health Administration, she has already begun to make her mark in her academic program and the field of health care.

Ms. Riley came to VCU with a BS degree in Community Health from Hofstra University. Her commitment to making a practical impact on community health was already evident through her employment in a clinical setting. Following graduation from Hofstra, she earned her certification as a phlebotomy technician. In her work as a phlebotomist and team lead, she was exposed to the field of healthcare administration and leadership, and made it her goal to complete an MHA program to increase the scope and scale of her impact on her community.

Since arriving in Richmond to study health administration, Malea has served as the program assistant for our department. She started in this role in the midst of our pivot to a fully virtual learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, and jumped in with enthusiasm, a keen eye for details, and an open disposition. Malea is highly organized and exhibits strong leadership skills in organizing and motivating others. This was illustrated
most clearly as she project-managed our MHA admissions interview process last spring. Leading this task
requires clarity both of thought and in communication with a variety of stakeholders. Malea thinks deeply, asks good questions, pays attention to the details, is nimble and able to calmly pivot when necessary, and does it all while also contributing positively to team morale. Malea has an innate ability to relate to all kinds of people, and works with intention to develop genuine connections with everyone she encounters in her professional life, including prospective and current students, coworkers, and faculty.

In the fall of 2021, she was a key member of the VCU national case competition team that participated in the
National Association of Health Services Executives’ Everett V. Fox Case Competition, an event that draws over 40 teams from health administration programs across the country. She was also selected to serve as a College of Health Professions Recruitment Ambassador – all of this while maintaining a 3.4 GPA in a Top 5 nationally ranked MHA program!

More important than the numbers and list of activities, however, is Ms. Riley’s character and her professionalism, passion, and purpose. She is a strong advocate for programs and services dedicated to reducing health disparities and addressing social determinants of health. She will spend her final year in the MHA program in a 10-month administrative residency at Gateway Health in Danville, VA, where she will contribute meaningfully to a team where community health and health equity are major focal points. We have every confidence that Malea will make a major impact on the communities she serves and on the field of health care more broadly. We are proud to nominate her for this honor.

Kofi Roberts, a recent graduate with a Mass Communications/Advertising major and Spanish minor, shared:

"Be. Full. Black.

I know the official announcement of this award is coming in April, but I got notified of this honor in February. As I write this, I know the receipt of the email was probably purposeful. Good job VCU.

As a Black person, whenever I'm starting something new, whether it be a job or a passion, there's a little voice in the back of my head asking, "How Black do I want to go? Do I want to scare the hypothetical white person on the other end who might not get the full impact of my words?"

Sometimes this voice is unfounded, but many times it is not. There's a level of malleability, some call it code switching, that every Black person--probably person of color-- has to go through. I would be lying if I said this ability I've honed hasn't gotten me places, but the past few years I've really tried to push back at taking up less space. I ask myself when will I just show up as my full self, no filters.

It's a journey I'm still on and it's probably a process I'll always go through. And being recognized for the Black History in the Making award really affirms this decision.

So thanks again VCU and the School of World Studies. I'll keep trying to--

Be. Full. Black.

Ps. I didn’t really know where to add this, but it would be a shame to cut such kind words from one of my favorite professors--

'He took my Spanish in the Media course in 2020 and was able to use creativity, communication, and interpersonal skills to create innovative and engaging work in the class. He has earned a 4.0 in all of his Spanish classes.' -Pable De Cuba Soria, PhD"

Dr. Michael Hunnicut shared, "I had the pleasure of getting to know Trevohn as a student in the Instrumental Analysis laboratory class (Chez 409) I taught in the Fall 2021. He is an incredibly hard worker and consistently tackles his assignments with a vigor characteristic of the most talented and determined students. Trevohn worked tirelessly to understand and master the material in my course with the faith that if he put his best foot forward, he would get a grade he deserved. Trevohn is all about hard work, personal accountability, and treating others with respect and compassion. Trevohn frequently asked questions and did so in absolutely the most polite and courteous manner of ANY person I have ever worked with in academia or industry. Students in my class work in different pair groupings throughout the semester, and without an exception, everyone who work with him walked away with a positive experience. We all respected him as a person, a student, and as a colleague who was helping us all get the most out of the course and of ourselves through his example.

As the semester progressed, Trevohn and I got to know each other better. We learned that we shared the bond of being only children, being raised in a military family, and being the first to go to college. His parents, Teresa Robinson and Frederick Robinson, both served in the Air Force and retired in the Newport News area. Trevohn spoke of how grateful he was for his family and others who have helped him get to the cusp of graduating from VCU with a the most prestigious and rigorous of the Chemistry degrees (BS in Chemistry, Professional Chemist track).

As we talked about the events going on in Richmond, not surprisingly I learned of his efforts in the area of community engagement as an active member of the VCU ASPIRE program. Oh…by the way…Trevohn commutes from Newport News to VCU each day. I can’t imagine how tough it is to commute that distance, achieve a 3.5 overall GPA, a 3.8 GPA in his major, and have the energy to participate in the ASPIRE and the VCU Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Scholars Program.

Recently, Trevohn surprisingly burst into my office unexpectedly. He wanted to share the joyous news that he had been accepted to the graduate Chemistry programs at Purdue University, Louisiana State University, and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. The then went on to express how thankful he was for his parents, and the VCU faculty in the chemistry and math departments who had supported him every step of the way. Vintage Trevohn.

I feel blessed and truly fortunate that Trevohn was a student in my course. He is an outstanding student and an outstanding person whose future potential is as bright as the best-of-the-best. He is history in the making and what makes VCU Real."

Gerron Scott is a Senior Academic Advisor in the Center for Environmental Studies, where he works with students to ensure that they are successful during their journey at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Justice at VCU's School of Education. Mr. Scott has worked with local, state, regional, and national organizations to present workshops on biases, Myers-Briggs, and working with marginalized populations. He currently serves as NACADA's Region 2 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair. In this position, he has overseen efforts to promote marginalized populations and offers a platform for others to speak about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Gerron has received multiple awards for his work, including Excellence in Advising- Primary Role for NACADA Region 2, Outstanding Advisor from VCU's University Academic Advising Board, and the Leadership in Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (LSIDE) Staff and Administrator Award from VCU's College of Humanities and Sciences. Gerron can be found riding his bike, taking care of his plants and pets, and spending time with family and friends in his free time.

Danyel Smith is an advocate for health equity and is currently a doctoral candidate in Health Psychology at VCU, where she studies factors related to cultural identity and group norms that influence healthy eating in African Americans. Danyel works as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Healthy Lifestyle Center—a satellite of the Children’s Hospital of Richmond, where she assists with recruitment and retention efforts for a behavioral weight management trial funded by the National Institutes of Health. Danyel aspires to leverage the strengths and resilience of the African American community to increase engagement in healthy eating and improve health outcomes for African Americans.

Learner, Collaborator, Community-Builder, Empowerer, Change Agent, Leader are few words or phrases that have been used to describe Lottie Spurlock’s service as a K-12 educator. Lottie Mickens Spurlock has served as Director of Equity for Loudoun County Public Schools since July 2019. She does not take lightly her role and responsibility to increase division-wide intentionality in diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and anti-racism. In her role as an LCPS leader, Mrs. Spurlock provides staff liaison support/ guidance on the LCPS Equity Committee (of the school board) as well as to the Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC). She considers it a win for the school division this year to have adopted a Comprehensive Equity Plan, launched the Equity Lead Network (with an equity lead at every school) and, as a means to amplify student voice, the initiated Share, Speak Up, Speak Out Sessions through a Student Equity Ambassadors program.

Her twenty-eight year career in public education has included a variety of instructional and leadership roles. Mrs. Spurlock’s early teaching efforts were recognized with the Sallie Mae Award for Outstanding First-Year Teachers for Chesterfield County Public Schools in 1993. After serving 14 years as an elementary classroom teacher in both the Chesterfield County Public Schools and Prince George County (VA) Schools, Lottie was afforded a unique opportunity to serve as a Beginning Teacher Advisor/Coach for Chesterfield County Public Schools through a partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University and the META Consortium. Lottie also served as a Communities in Schools (CIS) Site Coordinator, assistant principal (Petersburg and Loudoun County Schools), and elementary school principal in Loudoun County, all before starting in her role as Director of Equity.

Mrs. Spurlock holds a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Virginia State University, a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Central Michigan University, a Post-Master’s endorsement in Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, and she is currently enrolled as a learner in the Ed.D. Educational Leadership cohort at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Lottie understands the benefit and impact of partnering with school and community stakeholder groups to create a stronger and more impactful equity imprint for LCPS. Additionally, in her local community she serves as Leading Lady of Oak Grove Baptist Church - Sterling, VA where her husband serves as pastor. Together, they are the parents of two three young adults and their family resides in Loudoun County, Virginia. Lottie is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and is actively engaged in the Psi Rho Omega chapter in Loudoun County, Virginia. She believes it is her life’s mission to serve, educate, lead, and enrich the lives of others and the community.

Wesley Taylor was selected as the recipient of the university-wide Black History in the Making junior faculty award.

Wes Taylor's creative practice is a partnership with social justice movements. He brings a depth of experience and wisdom regarding collaborative practice and collective design practices to all who are fortunate to call him teacher, mentor, colleague and co-creator. Wes is a print maker, graphic designer, musician, animator, educator, mentor, and curator. He roots his practice in performance and social justice: combining, oscillating between, and blurring these different disciplines. The work is multi-disciplinary as well as anti-disciplinary. Wesley’s individual practice is inextricably linked to his collective practice, yet his collective practice is not just one collective: it is a constellation of collectives he has helped form for over 20 years. Those collectives include: Complex Movements, Talking Dolls Detroit, and Big Models, and the Design Justice Network. (https://designjustice.org/) His work is inspired by elder knowledge, complex science, 90s underground hip hop, punk aesthetics, and science fiction. Professor Taylor's engagement with VCUarts extends from Art Foundation, to the Graphic Design and Dance Departments, and includes programming with VCU's ICA.

Shawn Toney was the chairman of the Miss Black and Old Gold pageant, running meetings for months and being dedicated and encouraging all the contestants. He is also active in the National Society of Black Engineers, is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, and constantly gives back to the community. He was nominated for the Black History in the Making award on behalf of the Miss Black and Old Gold pageant contestants and others who have had the privilege of working with him.

Zerri Trosper is a second-year Master's student in English at Virginia Commonwealth University, where
she is also a graduate teaching assistant and Graduate Composition Instructor. Her academic interests include creative writing, public policy, and comparative ethnic studies. With an emphasis on Black and Indigenous contemporary literature, Zerri’s work intends to examine theories of representation, transformative justice, and collective movements of liberation. Before joining the MA program, Zerri received her Bachelor’s in English with a minor in Political Science from VCU in May 2020. While in undergrad, Zerri was a consultant with the VCU Writing Center and loved that she was able to work and collaborate with her peers on a daily basis. Originating from Chicago, Zerri was naturally drawn to Richmond and enjoys everything about this city from the people, to the live music scenes, down to the food. In her free time, Zerri enjoys doing yoga outdoors, watching scary movies, hosting impromptu book clubs, or traveling to a dope music festival. After graduation this May, she hopes to continue to have opportunities to explore and engage with literature that distinctly affects and shapes marginalized identities.

Dr. Mary Caton Lingold, one of Zerri's professors in the English Department, said, "Throughout her graduate and undergraduate studies at VCU, Zerri Trosper has demonstrated both excellence in and a deep commitment to the study of Black literature, history, and culture. She has authored wide-ranging research papers on subjects including the politics of Black hair, representations of Afro-Indigenous life in literature, and Black maternal health. She excels in bringing social and political issues to the study of Black literary works, particularly those authored by Black women. She is currently enrolled in a directed study in which she is pursuing a deep engagement with the work of historian and author of literary fiction, Dr. Tiya Miles. Miles' books concern the intersections of African-American, Native American, and women's histories. Zerri also participated in a summer research institute devoted to the study of African American Literatures and Culturesat UTSA, helmed by Dr. Joycelyn Moody and Dr. Howard Rambsy."

Josephine Walker is a senior earning a dual degree in Political Science and Broadcast Journalism. She is currently Director of Communications for the VCU chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and Social Media Director of the VCU chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She was chosen as the 2021 NABJ Fellow for Meet the Press, where she performed research for the television program and also worked on the Meet the Press blog and the Chuck Toddcast. Following graduation, she will be interning with Bloomberg News. She has been reporting on the Virginia General Assembly for VCU’s Capital News Service. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Associated Press, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, US News and World Report, The Washington Times, The Richmond Free Press, Virginia Business, Yahoo News UK, The Guardian, The Roanoke Times, WWBT-TV Richmond, WRIC-TV Richmond, WRC-TV Washington, WFXR-TC Roanoke, and numerous local newspapers throughout the state of Virginia.

Since Indigo joined VCU and the department last year as a transfer student, she has distinguished herself as a promising young scholar and peer leader in the department. Indigo is passionate about the history of art and is working actively to change the discipline, in particular the historically Euro-centric, colonialist perspective of art history and museums. In her studies as an art history major, Indigo is already making a positive impact on the field. Last fall, Indigo served as an Education Intern at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, where she worked on a months-long project surrounding representations of Indigenous people in early American art.

In addition to her tremendous scholarly promise, Indigo is an active member of the department, where she has served as an admissions representative. Recently, the department nominated her to serve as a representative on the VCUarts Student Advisory Council.

Faculty in the Public Relations Program shared the following: Brooke Young leaves a creative imprint on every project and helps bring out the creativity in her classmates. She has gone beyond the Adobe Suite that PR majors master and from pure joy of learning graphic design, has also mastered art software programs such as Procreate and Clip Studio, along with pursuing expertise in 35mm photography. Brooke goes the extra mile to push herself beyond the given criteria of assignments to challenge herself and provide new layers of complexity to each PR piece she produces. She loves to noodle around in the space where she’s “not quite sure how something will turn out,” and is willing to put in the time to experiment in order to learn something new.
This early initiative is what landed Brooke a position as the Public Relations Programs Assistant with the Richmond Metropolitan Business League (MPL), in January of 2020 when students, the entire university, and MBL as an organization were just dealing with the onslaught of the COVID-19 upheavals. Brooke dove in and helped MBL to effectively message constantly changing event graphics, news releases, and social media content. Two years later, she has grown into a valuable employee for the organization.

Brooke leads by example. She truly embodies ‘Black History in the Making’ and the PR faculty is excited to see the many ways in which she will make her mark!