Alumna lifts her way to success
Melicia Limbo (B.S.’09/GPA) takes the reins of VCU Alumni’s Instagram account next week. Follow the marketing director and athlete as she works with her training team to prepare for upcoming powerlifting competitions.
Across the world
Guido Alvarez, Ph.D. (M.F.A.’04/A; Ph.D.’15/H&S), teaches typography, motion graphics, visual expression and studio skills at Wenzhou Kean University in Wenzhou, China.
Globe-trotter: Esther Johnston travels the world to provide health care to underserved populations
By Anthony Langley (B.S.’16/MC) Esther Johnston, M.D. (M.D.’11/M), has spent more than a decade traveling across continents providing health care for underserved populations. She dreamt at an early age of becoming an investigative reporter, but as she entered high school, her passion shifted to medicine. She says she knew a career in health care would […]
Alumna finds the sweet spot of success
By Anthony Langley (B.S.’16/MC) Professional chef and owner of Ruby Scoops Ice Cream & Sweets Rabia Kamara (B.S.’10/B) whips up small-batch, locally sourced, handcrafted desserts and baked goods that she sells in the Washington, D.C., area. Kamara was recently named one of the top black chefs influencing the capital’s culinary culture by Spoon University and […]
A decade of searching: Hadeer Omar finds her sweet spot among cultures and art
By Anthony Langley “I’ve had a passion for art ever since I was a little girl,” says Hadeer Omar (B.F.A.’10/A; M.F.A.’16/A). “Following that passion and coming to [Virginia Commonwealth University] has been one of the best decisions I’ve made.” In 2006, Omar was finishing high school in Alexandria, Egypt, when she was encouraged by her […]
Behind the scenes: TV executive Korin Huggins talks about following her dreams
By Anthony Langley “When I graduated [from VCU], I was scared,” Korin Huggins (B.S.’98/H&S) says. “I spent a good portion of my life aiming toward one goal, but in the back of my mind I knew I wanted to do something different. This was my chance.” Huggins enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University as a transfer […]
For the greater good: Alumnus Tim Ford is bringing changes to palliative care
By Anthony Langley “I didn’t even know that [chaplaincy] was an option for me,” says Tim Ford (M.S.’02/AHP), staff chaplain for the Thomas Palliative Care Unit at the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center. “One day in [graduate school], a professor said, ‘Some of your classmates are thinking about becoming chaplains,’ and I said, ‘We […]
Combining cultures: Alumnus connects China and America through art
Wei Dong dreamed of showcasing his work in the United States. “I was like many aspiring Chinese artists in my generation, and I dreamed that I would be recognized and exhibit in America,” he said. In a time when fewer than 1 percent of students were accepted into college in China, Dong attended TsingHua University […]
Alumna takes the reigns as secretary of education for Virginia
By Anthony Langley “I never thought I’d work in politics,” says Dietra Trent, Ph.D. (M.P.A.’95/GPA; Ph.D.’07/GPA), who was appointed Virginia’s secretary of education in July 2016. “When I was in high school, I wanted to go into law, maybe even get a job at the FBI.” She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminal […]
From playing doctor, to being one
Oluyinka Olutoye, M.D., Ph.D. (Ph.D.’96/M; H.S.’98/M) developed an early interest in medicine that continues to evolve.
