[{"id":18697,"date":"2026-04-21T16:41:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T20:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/?p=18697"},"modified":"2026-04-22T10:51:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T14:51:52","slug":"volunteer-spotlight-eric-taylor-b-s-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/2026\/04\/21\/volunteer-spotlight-eric-taylor-b-s-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteer Spotlight: Eric Taylor (B.S.\u201913)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to the third in a series of Q&As through the month of April that spotlight just a few of VCU\u2019s most dedicated and committed alumni volunteers to celebrate National Volunteer Month. This week, meet Eric Taylor (B.S.\u201913). Eric is a leader of the VCU Alumni NYC Chapter and is a mentor and speaker for VCU\u2019s business students. <\/strong>He also connects with VCU finance students every year when they visit New York City where he now lives.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eric Taylor (left) with VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Please t<\/strong>ell us a little bit about your time at VCU.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a finance and economics graduate of the School of Business from the Class of 2013. I was drawn to VCU by the then-new business school and Capital Markets Center, along with the city environment and the university\u2019s diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I took an active role in the business school, participating in several student organizations. I was a very active member of the Student Managed Investment Portfolio, participated in the CFA Investment Research Challenge and had leadership roles in the Future Business Leaders of America and Finance Management Association organizations. I took full advantage of what the business school had to offer, and I\u2019m very proud to be a VCU alumni. I always look for opportunities to give back whenever I can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What have you been doing since graduating from VCU?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started my career at J.P. Morgan, where I first interned during the summer of my junior year and returned full time after graduating from VCU. At J.P. Morgan, I worked in finance and strategy roles in the Asset Management and Private Bank divisions. After several years at J.P. Morgan, I ended up finding an opportunity in the sports industry. Fast forward to today, I am the chief financial officer of GSE Worldwide, a sports and entertainment marketing, management and production company, where I oversee all aspects of finance, accounting and operations across the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tell us about your involvement with the VCU Alumni NYC Chapter and giving back to current students.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a leader of the VCU Alumni NYC Chapter, where I help organize, promote and manage local alumni events in the city. Over the past year, we\u2019ve hosted a variety of social, networking and community-focused events that bring alumni together from all backgrounds, including basketball watch parties, happy hours, yoga and axe throwing, among other events. We\u2019re also excited about a lineup of new events planned later this year. It\u2019s been great to see turnout grow over the past few years.<\/p>\n\n\n

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I also give back to current students through guest speaking and mentoring, both in person and virtually. Most recently, I joined an alumni panel this past March for finance students visiting New York City, and I\u2019ve also spoken for a VCU Center for Sports Leadership class. In addition, I mentor students in the business foundations class and last semester visited campus to meet them in person at their end-of-semester event.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Why is it important to you to be involved with alumni events and to mentor students?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Mentorship had a real impact on my own path, so I see it as a way to give students both perspective and confidence. At VCU, especially in finance, students are competing with top talent nationwide, and having guidance can push them to aim higher and pursue opportunities they might not otherwise consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting involved with the VCU New York Chapter was something I always wanted to do. After the pandemic, engagement was low, and I saw an opportunity to help rebuild the chapter by bringing more people together, strengthening the network, and creating a more active, supportive alumni community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What advice would you give to other alumni about the best ways to get involved?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no amount of time that\u2019s too small to make an impact, whether it\u2019s once a year or more regularly. Even a small effort, like helping one student or reconnecting with fellow alumni, can go a long way. It\u2019s also a chance to strengthen VCU\u2019s presence beyond Virginia and showcase the talent coming out of the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is the most rewarding thing about being involved with VCU Alumni and students?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most rewarding part is helping students set themselves up for success and seeing more of them land great opportunities each year. It\u2019s also fulfilling to bring alumni together and build a strong sense of community. Seeing people connect over a shared VCU experience and school spirit is always great. Even something as simple as watching a VCU basketball game with a group makes it more meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What have I not asked you that you\u2019d like us to know about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are more ways to get involved than people might realize, and I try to share those opportunities to encourage others to participate. I\u2019m always open to staying engaged.  Whether that\u2019s mentoring, speaking or coming back to Richmond. I plan to continue being actively involved however I can.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the third in a series of Q&As through the month of April that spotlight just a few of VCU\u2019s most dedicated and committed alumni volunteers to celebrate National Volunteer Month. This week, meet Eric Taylor (B.S.\u201913). Eric is a leader of the VCU Alumni NYC Chapter and is a mentor and speaker for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":393,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[14],"class_list":["post-18697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni","tag-profile"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/393"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18697"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18697\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":18694,"date":"2026-04-21T16:34:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T20:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/?p=18694"},"modified":"2026-04-22T14:53:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T18:53:47","slug":"your-next-career-move-starts-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/2026\/04\/21\/your-next-career-move-starts-here\/","title":{"rendered":"Your next career move starts here"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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You\u2019re invited to VCU Alumni Career Week, May 18-23, a dynamic series of virtual and in-person events designed to support your professional growth at  every stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re just starting out or bringing years of experience to the table, this week delivers practical skills, meaningful connections and a fresh perspective on what\u2019s next. Sharpen your negotiation game, expand your network, explore a career pivot or get ahead of the AI curve. There\u2019s a seat at the table for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Closing the Gap: Salary Negotiation for Women<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f Noon to 1 p.m. Monday, May 18
\ud83d\udccd Virtual<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women are still leaving money on the table, and that stops here. This workshop, facilitated by career coach and consultant Megan Brown, J.D. (B.S.\u201996), gives you the strategies, language and confidence to advocate for what you\u2019ve earned, whether you\u2019re stepping into a new role, asking for a raise or making your next big move.\u00a0This event is co-sponsored by the VCU Women\u2019s Impact Network.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Join the workshop<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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About Megan Brown, J.D. (B.S.\u201996)<\/strong>
Megan Brown is a 1996 alum of VCU School of Nursing and a graduate of the Lewis & Clark College School of Law. She owns Megan Brown Consulting, where she provides consulting services to individuals on compensation and benefits negotiation skills. During her career, Brown has worked as a bedside nurse, health care risk manager, performance improvement coordinator, attorney and negotiation consultant. Currently she serves as in-house legal counsel for a digital health care staffing platform. In 2022, she presented a webinar to VCU alums on negotiating compensation and benefits and looks forward to presenting again as part of VCU Alumni Career Week. While her primary focus is negotiation skills for women, she believes everyone should get paid what they\u2019re worth and welcomes all VCU alums to her presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alumni-owned Business Networking Night<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 19 
\ud83d\udccd<\/strong> Shift Retail Lab, 1235 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The VCU Alumni-owned Business Networking Night is an engaging opportunity for alumni business owners and entrepreneurs to build meaningful professional connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This event offers structured speed networking, light refreshments and a welcoming space to connect, collaborate and exchange ideas. Attendees will have the chance to meet fellow business owners, share experiences and explore opportunities that support business growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Network with Rams<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Pivot With Purpose<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, May 20
\ud83d\udccd<\/strong> Snead Hall, 301 W. Main St., Richmond, VA 23284<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This high-impact, one-day expo is designed for mid- to senior-level professionals navigating career transitions, offering keynote conversations, interactive labs and strategy sessions to help you clarify your direction and build a personalized roadmap for your next chapter. Whether you\u2019re shifting sectors, reentering the workforce or pursuing purpose-driven leadership, this event delivers the tools, connections and momentum to move forward with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Claim your seat<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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School of Business Night at CarMax Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f 7:05 p.m. Thursday, May 21
\ud83d\udccd CarMax Park, 2929 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond, VA 23220<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingle with fellow business alumni as we watch the Flying Squirrels take on the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Open to School of Business alums only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Catch the game <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Using AI to Architect Your Career Move: AI and Job Search Readiness<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f Noon-1 p.m. Friday, May 22
\ud83d\udccd<\/strong> Virtual<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re moving beyond \u201chow to write prompts\u201d to give VCU alums a massive competitive advantage in the crowded job market. This session, facilitated by VCU alumna Liz Baker (B.F.A.\u201994), executive adviser and founder of Nimbology, is both aspirational and immediately practical. Attendees will walk away with a free framework, the AI Thinking Model, that configures their existing AI as a personal career coach. Plus, we\u2019ll talk about job search strategies that use AI to really move the needle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gain your edge<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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About Liz Baker (B.F.A.\u201994)<\/strong> 
Liz B. Baker is a keynote speaker, executive adviser and founder of Nimbology, an AI strategy and workforce transformation consultancy, and the Global Institute for AI & Humanity. A VCU alum and co-founder of AI Ready RVA, Baker helps leaders and their teams use AI to amplify human potential. Her first book, \u201cThe AI Thinking Model: Reclaiming Critical Thinking in the Age of AI,” was released in April 2026. Drawing on 20-plus years of Fortune 500 leadership at Verizon, TIAA and MeadWestvaco, she equips professionals to think sharper, pivot faster and lead the future of work with clarity and confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Career Design Program Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f Saturday, May 23
\ud83d\udccd<\/strong> Virtual<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re feeling stuck, uncertain or hesitant about what\u2019s next, you\u2019re not alone. The Career Design Program is a 30-day, flexible program that helps you figure out your next steps, in a supportive environment. Register by May 2 and save $50. <\/strong>Spots are limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Claim your spot<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Questions? Contact Tiera Byrd (B.S.\u201912), associate director of alumni career and personal development, VCU Alumni, at mcguiretj@vcu.edu<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re invited to VCU Alumni Career Week, May 18-23, a dynamic series of virtual and in-person events designed to support your professional growth at  every stage.  Whether you\u2019re just starting out or bringing years of experience to the table, this week delivers practical skills, meaningful connections and a fresh perspective on what\u2019s next. Sharpen your […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":393,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[12],"class_list":["post-18694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni","tag-alumni"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/393"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18694"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18694\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":18693,"date":"2026-04-13T13:27:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T17:27:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/?p=18693"},"modified":"2026-04-13T14:19:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T18:19:14","slug":"volunteer-spotlight-manpreet-bhogal-b-s-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/2026\/04\/13\/volunteer-spotlight-manpreet-bhogal-b-s-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteer Spotlight: Manpreet Bhogal (B.S.\u201913)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to a series of Q&As through the month of April that spotlight just a few of VCU\u2019s most dedicated and committed alumni volunteers to celebrate National Volunteer Month. If you missed it, the series <\/strong>kicked off last week with VCU Alumni Council President Andrea Hart (B.A.\u201912)<\/strong><\/a>. This week, enjoy getting to know more about Manpreet Bhogal (B.S.\u201913), who is vice president for the VCU Alumni Recent Graduate Council and an active member of the DMV regional alumni chapter. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Please share with us what you\u2019ve been doing since graduating from VCU.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After VCU, I attended Rutgers in New Jersey and completed my master\u2019s in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit management. I worked as an appointed public official (at a city hall in N.J.) and came back to northern Virginia. Currently I work as a program manager\/deputy director with a nonprofit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell us about your involvement with the DMV alumni chapter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I connected with the chapter in 2024. I\u2019ve been going to events, and sometimes I join the planning meetings. I help somewhat with the planning, but I mostly do my volunteer work through the Recent Graduate Council<\/a>. I\u2019m the vice president for that council. We plan events, we do a lot of networking. I just work to get alumni connected and get students connected with opportunities to stay connected to the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is that connection important?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It helps you feel human. It helps you feel like you\u2019re a part of something larger, and college wasn\u2019t just a vague memory. It makes you feel like it\u2019s something for life. You can give back to the university that gave you such a good education. It\u2019s an opportunity to make new friends. It\u2019s time to be open and continue to make new friends. That doesn\u2019t just stop as you age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also volunteer with the Recent Graduate Council. Tell us about why you are interested in helping recent grads.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, the nonprofit I work for, we work with seniors, but I have particularly always had an interest in working with young people, ages 16-24. It\u2019s important to have a good solid ground and foundation for where you might want to take your life, and what direction you might want to go in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you do other volunteer work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the primary focus, but some other volunteer work I do is in my building. I live in a condo community, and we have a board of directors. They also do events and programs and sometimes I\u2019ll help them with neighborhood watch and also with planning events and offering my expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell us a little bit about your time at VCU.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VCU was a great time for me. I was actually a transfer student; I transferred in sophomore year. It was the best decision I have made. I felt really incorporated as a community. VCU recognized my needs and my wants for what I wanted out of a university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was part of a dance club, Muevelo; I worked on campus (as an office assistant, VCU Carver partnership and at the Cary Street Gym, helping with community outreach and memberships. I also was a resident assistant for two years. I really enjoyed my time at VCU. I took advantage of all the resources VCU had, like the gym, mental health services, just anything that was available to me as a student; it really shaped what I wanted out of life. Just doing psychology, it was a tough major, but I think I got a really good education out of it. It set me up well for grad school, and I graduated with honors in grad school because of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How should other alumni get involved?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start off the fun way by connecting with your local alumni chapter (or other groups)<\/a> and going to local events. Just have fun with it, just really enjoy the time that you have. I know college was a while ago, but it doesn\u2019t end, the fun doesn\u2019t stop. I would start off just by joining a local chapter and going from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What have I not asked that you\u2019d like us to know?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We should all use our resources to continue to be a Ramily. We\u2019re all at different stages in our lives. We can be of benefit to each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, there\u2019s always a need, and we continue to need each other. Just because college ended, and we had all these resources available to us \u2026 and we should continue to use our resources to lean on one another and work with one another, and just be a better Ramily. I think a strong alumni network is attractive to students. They want to know where the next step is and what happens after graduation. It can be an unending abyss out there for some people, and it\u2019s scary. I just want them to know there\u2019s light at the end of the tunnel and there\u2019s so much we can do together.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to a series of Q&As through the month of April that spotlight just a few of VCU\u2019s most dedicated and committed alumni volunteers to celebrate National Volunteer Month. If you missed it, the series kicked off last week with VCU Alumni Council President Andrea Hart (B.A.\u201912). This week, enjoy getting to know more about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":393,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[12],"class_list":["post-18693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni","tag-alumni"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/393"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18693"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18693\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":18690,"date":"2026-04-09T16:50:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T20:50:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/?p=18690"},"modified":"2026-04-09T16:50:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T20:50:19","slug":"alumni-owned-business-spotlight-chantal-mchenry-b-s-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/2026\/04\/09\/alumni-owned-business-spotlight-chantal-mchenry-b-s-12\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni-owned business spotlight: Chantal McHenry (B.S.\u201912)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VCU Alumni is highlighting Ram entrepreneurs listed in our alumni-owned business directory. Learn tips from Chantal McHenry (B.S.\u201912), owner of ElopeRVA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Browse the directory<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What tools helped you the most when you started out?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most helpful tools when I started out were the advice and guidance of other amazing BIPOC and women business owners. Networking with experts in areas like SEO allowed me to gain insights I lacked and their shared experiences gave me the knowledge and confidence to build my business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was the biggest challenge to maintaining your business?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest challenge was balancing a full-time job while starting my business which required careful time management and focus. Over time, I was able to build a strong supportive team  which allowed me to delegate responsibilities and grow the business more effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What advice do you have for people considering starting a business?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My advice for anyone considering starting a business is to begin with a clear understanding of your target customer \u2014 know who they are, what they need and how you can provide value. Additionally, don\u2019t underestimate the power of networking. Connect with people who are already succeeding in the space you\u2019re hoping to enter, their insights and experiences can be invaluable as you navigate your journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n
Add your business<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VCU Alumni is highlighting Ram entrepreneurs listed in our alumni-owned business directory. Learn tips from Chantal McHenry (B.S.\u201912), owner of ElopeRVA. What tools helped you the most when you started out? The most helpful tools when I started out were the advice and guidance of other amazing BIPOC and women business owners. Networking with experts […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":393,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/393"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18690"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18690\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":18688,"date":"2026-04-09T10:02:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T14:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/?p=18688"},"modified":"2026-04-09T10:02:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T14:02:18","slug":"alumni-owned-business-spotlight-shakeila-hickman-b-s-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/2026\/04\/09\/alumni-owned-business-spotlight-shakeila-hickman-b-s-15\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni-owned business spotlight: Shakeila Hickman (B.S.\u201915)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VCU Alumni is highlighting Ram entrepreneurs listed in our alumni-owned business directory. Learn tips from Shakeila Hickman (B.S.\u201915), owner of Simply Shekeila Beauty Hair Salon<\/a> in Charleston, South Carolina.\u00a0\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Browse the directory<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What tools helped you the most when you started out?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a self-funded business, marketing via social media was imperative to gaining visibility and clientele.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was the biggest challenge to maintaining your business?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gaining visibility outside of social networking sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What advice do you have for people considering starting a business?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be open-minded. Find a qualified mentor. Always keep the passion and the reason(s) for starting your business at the forefront of your mind, because challenges will arise. Remembering your why during those tough times will give you the fuel to keep pushing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Add your business<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VCU Alumni is highlighting Ram entrepreneurs listed in our alumni-owned business directory. Learn tips from Shakeila Hickman (B.S.\u201915), owner of Simply Shekeila Beauty Hair Salon in Charleston, South Carolina.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1777,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1777"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18688"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18688\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":18686,"date":"2026-04-09T10:00:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T14:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/?p=18686"},"modified":"2026-04-09T10:00:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T14:00:02","slug":"alumni-owned-business-spotlight-lequan-hylton-ph-d-ph-d-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/2026\/04\/09\/alumni-owned-business-spotlight-lequan-hylton-ph-d-ph-d-16\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni-owned business spotlight: LeQuan Hylton, Ph.D. (Ph.D.\u201916)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VCU Alumni is highlighting Ram entrepreneurs listed in our alumni-owned business directory. Learn tips from LeQuan Hylton, Ph.D. (Ph.D.\u201916), owner of Hylton & Co<\/a>., a property management firm.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Browse the directory<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What tools helped you the most when you started out?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While studying at VCU, I discovered a significant need in the region for quality affordable housing. That research helped shape the needs statement that ultimately guided the launch of our business. Early on, there were two key factors that were instrumental to our success. First, leveraging the right software and tools to stay organized and deliver essential services efficiently. Second, building a strong network of reliable subcontractors, supportive mentors and loyal clients whose referrals played a major role in our growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was the biggest challenge to maintaining your business?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the challenges we faced was finding a reliable construction service vendor or subcontractor to consistently support our workflow. To address this issue, we made the decision to become a class A contractor and build our own construction services division. This shift has not only opened new markets for our real estate services but has also enabled Hylton & Co. to offer a full range of services. What was once a source of uncertainty has now become a key driver of our growth and stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What advice do you have for people considering starting a business?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do it without hesitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Add your business<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VCU Alumni is highlighting Ram entrepreneurs listed in our alumni-owned business directory. Learn tips from LeQuan Hylton, Ph.D. (Ph.D.\u201916), owner of Hylton & Co., a property management firm.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1777,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1777"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18686"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18686\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":18684,"date":"2026-04-09T09:57:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T13:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/?p=18684"},"modified":"2026-04-09T09:57:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T13:57:14","slug":"alumni-owned-business-spotlight-chelsea-schmidt-b-s-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/2026\/04\/09\/alumni-owned-business-spotlight-chelsea-schmidt-b-s-21\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni-owned business spotlight: Chelsea Schmidt (B.S.\u201921)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VCU Alumni is highlighting Ram entrepreneurs listed in our alumni-owned business directory. Learn tips from Chelsea Schmidt (B.S.\u201921), owner of Brand Gloss, a branding photography and design business.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Browse the directory<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What tools helped you the most when you started out?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not sure if this is a tool but I networked like crazy. Getting my name out there and being able to talk to people and tell them about my business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was the biggest challenge to maintaining your business?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figuring out how to scale beyond myself, trusting that it\u2019ll be OK and learning to be a leader. You have to trust the process!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What advice do you have for people considering starting a business?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell everyone about what you do and why. People will support you and your values more than just your business.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Add your business<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VCU Alumni is highlighting Ram entrepreneurs listed in our alumni-owned business directory. Learn tips from Chelsea Schmidt (B.S.\u201921), owner of Brand Gloss, a branding photography and design business.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1777,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18684","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1777"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18684"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18684\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18684"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":18682,"date":"2026-04-08T17:34:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T21:34:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/?p=18682"},"modified":"2026-04-08T17:34:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T21:34:25","slug":"memoir-class-helps-alumni-connect-with-their-stories-and-with-each-other","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/2026\/04\/08\/memoir-class-helps-alumni-connect-with-their-stories-and-with-each-other\/","title":{"rendered":"Memoir class helps alumni connect with their stories and with each other"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Chelyen Davis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a nondescript room on the third floor of Cabell Library, a dozen or so people gather around a wide u-shaped table. Most brought something to write with and on, while a few have laptops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe first principle is you can\u2019t go wrong,\u201d VCU associate professor Sonja Livingston reassures them. Whatever you write about is the thing you should write about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Livingston is leading an Alumni Memoir Writing Workshop, offered by the Office of Development and Alumni Relations<\/a> and the Humanities Research Center<\/a>. The attendees are all VCU alums, mostly Golden Alumni who graduated 50 years ago or more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stefani Bonner (B.S.\u201915), director of affinity programs at DAR, says the alumni memoir workshop is something offered a couple of times a year, and it\u2019s always popular. She says it helps alumni foster nostalgia about their lives and their time at VCU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cristina Stanciu, director of the VCU Humanities Research Center, says the collaboration started years ago, when she worked with Diane Stout-Brown (B.S.W.\u201980) (now retired from DAR) to offer alumni programs that included writing workshops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is a wonderful collaboration we are very proud of, and look forward to offering every year both on and off campus,\u201d Stanciu says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Livingston tells the class that often, people don\u2019t know where to start their memoirs because one\u2019s life story is such a massive topic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is, there\u2019s no one right way to write a memoir. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny writing is good writing,\u201d she says as her second principle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And finally, Livingston says, don\u2019t worry about what your family will think. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour job isn\u2019t to figure out what other people are going to think about it. Your job is just to write,\u201d she tells the group. \u201cGet everybody out of the room. Let it just be you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different ways into a memory<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the next two hours, Livingston, who teaches in the Department of English in the College of Humanities and Sciences, leads the group in reading short passages of memoirs to illustrate ways in which a story can be told. Some examples focused on people or places, or what Livingston calls \u201cperhapsing,\u201d a way of writing about something that happened while letting the reader know the details may not be literal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She gives them prompts to try out different ways into a story \u2014 a list of things that identify where you\u2019re from, or a description of people in a photograph. Then she asks for volunteers to read what they\u2019ve written.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prompts bring out a variety of writing. One man writes of remembering his grandfather through \u201cthe sweet moldy smell of his record albums.\u201d Another recalls his young experience in the Boy Scouts and, when prompted, recites the entire Scout Law (a 12-point code of conduct) from memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Readings bring affirmations from others in the group, commenting that a piece was good. Livingston pauses to ask what specifically they liked, and two of the women say a particular piece \u2014 about the place where a woman raised her sons \u2014 resonated with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Livingston nods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe recognize in your story something of ourselves,\u201d she says. \u201cWhen you write your stories, it is for you, but it\u2019s also for other people. Human beings are hungry for these ways of connecting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stories matter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People come to memoir writing, Livingston says later, because they not only want to tell their own stories, but they have a \u201chunger\u201d to hear other people\u2019s experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSharing our stories increasingly offers a rare opportunity to connect beyond the ways we normally connect,\u201d Livingston says. \u201cAs they sit there and hear each other\u2019s stories, they\u2019re reminded of how connected we are to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Livingston says it\u2019s not necessary to write a book-length memoir to get something out of writing about memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a way to explore our lives and make meaning of them,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s revisiting but also organizing or putting together, making sense of, there\u2019s a lot of meaning-making that goes into memoir writing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often people are interested in memoir writing because they want to share family memories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are hungry to know our people, and sometimes we don\u2019t know that until we\u2019re older,\u201d Livingston says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family memories are what brought Cindy Chisholm (B.S.\u201984) to the workshop. She wants to write about her family\u2019s history, including her parents\u2019 immigration from Scotland and Ireland and Chisholm\u2019s childhood in North Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She recognizes that writing about her parents\u2019 lives before her own will require some creativity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI like the part about where I could do \u2018perhaps,\u2019 because there\u2019s a lot of perhaps,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wenda Pancotti (B.M.E.\u201977) came to think through ways to preserve memories and share a life story, but not one that\u2019s entirely her own. Pancotti\u2019s daughter, who had cystic fibrosis and died a couple of years ago, was a prolific journal-writer. Pancotti wants to take her daughter’s journals and put them together with chapters about her own experience of her daughter\u2019s short but full life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe did an awful lot during the short amount of time,\u201d Pancotti says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Livingston said that people come to her classes unsure and overwhelmed about where to begin. They come with two major fears, she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne is just not knowing how to begin or to organize. They might know they have all these stories they want to tell but they have no clue how to get them together, and their worry is that they’re somehow supposed to know that,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other fear people have is that simply, nobody will care, \u201cthat their stories just don\u2019t matter to anyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut they do. I can see them seeing, \u2018Hey, I have a little gem here,\u2019 and people will respond,\u201d Livingston said. \u201cBoth of those things get helped by coming together in a workshop like this.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Chelyen Davis In a nondescript room on the third floor of Cabell Library, a dozen or so people gather around a wide u-shaped table. Most brought something to write with and on, while a few have laptops.  \u201cThe first principle is you can\u2019t go wrong,\u201d VCU associate professor Sonja Livingston reassures them. Whatever you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":393,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/393"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18682"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18682\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":18673,"date":"2026-04-08T10:42:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/?p=18673"},"modified":"2026-04-08T10:42:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:42:12","slug":"vcu-link-explained-getting-expert-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/2026\/04\/08\/vcu-link-explained-getting-expert-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU Link Explained: Getting expert advice\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The VCU Link Explained series walks you through VCU’s largest networking platform and shows you how you can reach your career goals with this exclusive resource. In this article, you\u2019ll learn how to get career advice from industry experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Networking can be intimidating. VCU Link empowers you to ask questions to industry leaders, who also graduated from VCU, without the need for direct outreach. The Ask Anything tool routes your questions to the most relevant alumni based on expertise, industry, job titles, education and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether seeking career advice, mentorship or specific guidance, Ask Anything simplifies connecting with the right people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Claim your VCU Link account<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Step 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Access the Ask Anything tool through the banners placed on the home, community or career path pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Select the types of users you\u2019d like to send your question to.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Craft your question using templates or AI suggestions to ensure clarity. Add or adjust keywords that help the system identify the best responder for your question. You will also have the option to share your question with the wider alumni community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Submit your question. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After your question has been submitted, it will be sent via email to five relevant alumni, based on their profile data. They can either reply directly to the email or open an Ask Anything response page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the question is answered, an inbox thread is created so you can easily continue the conversation in VCU Link.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Tap into the power of community on VCU Link<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VCU Link Explained walks you through VCU’s largest professional networking space that is home to over 10,000 VCU alumni\u2014 it\u2019s your one-stop shop for career exploration and advancement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1777,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1777"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18673\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":18672,"date":"2026-04-02T10:55:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T14:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/?p=18672"},"modified":"2026-04-06T11:10:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T15:10:52","slug":"volunteer-spotlight-andrea-hart-b-a-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/2026\/04\/02\/volunteer-spotlight-andrea-hart-b-a-12\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteer Spotlight: Andrea Hart (B.A.\u201912)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to the first in a series of Q&As through the month of April that spotlight just a few of VCU\u2019s most dedicated and committed alumni volunteers to celebrate National Volunteer Month. The series kicks off with VCU Alumni Council President Andrea Hart (B.A.\u201912), a Richmond resident who was elected as council president in 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Tell us a little bit about your time at VCU.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was at VCU from 2008-12 and graduated from the College of Humanities and Sciences with a bachelor\u2019s in philosophy; I was one of nine in my class. Most folks take some of the gen ed classes \u2026 I was a forensic chemistry major my first year. I took one of those classes and I thought, \u201cOh my gosh, I need to change my major and get involved.\u201d Not the most career-oriented major but the most tremendous help for me and my brain and what I do now, and how I can trace back some of those tidbits that I learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I turned 21 a week before that historic final run (VCU men\u2019s basketball advancing to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament). There\u2019s VCU\u2019s history before, and VCU\u2019s history after. I was a really good example of how much that event shaped my college career, sort of a microcosm of how much it shaped the university itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did that experience increase your connection to VCU as an alum?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It absolutely did, because I still share it now. For people who were there at the same time or alums at that time, it stands out for all of us. It\u2019s just one bit of connection: Where were you? Well, I was at Blackfinn downtown, or we were on spring break having smack talk. Without a doubt, that is one of the most monumental things in my history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What have you been doing since graduating from VCU?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I went directly to the University of Richmond for law, with some other VCU women alums. Richmond is a pretty small community in general, and a pretty small legal community, so some of the folks I was in law school with, I know what they’re doing now. It\u2019s definitely cool to watch all the different ways you can use your law degree. I graduated and went directly to Washington, D.C., and worked in government relations there. That’s where I really got connected for the first time with the concept of alumni and connecting with VCU Alumni through the DMV Chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell us about your involvement with the DMV Chapter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From that first happy hour the DMV Chapter did, that\u2019s where I got to meet some of the leaders of that group, and decided almost instantly I wanted to participate in that group and be on their leadership team. We worked closely with our liaison at VCU Development and Alumni Relations on ways to make events more impactful. Then COVID happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Hart moved back to Richmond at that time, and her VCU Alumni staff liaison suggested she apply to join the Alumni Council.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m kind of a governance nerd, writing policies, how does the way this is written play out in real life. While the chapter and so much of VCU Alumni is facing the actual alumni base, the constituents, the council is more governance, what is the backbone, how do these policies come to be, are these committees doing the work that needs to get done, and how do volunteers interact with the DAR office and VCU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re not necessarily alumni facing the way so many other entities or chapters are. We\u2019re more internal facing, and how do we do all that infrastructure and make it work so when it is alumni facing, it is right, it looks how we want it to look, it provides value for the alumni base and for the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s definitely in the weeds. Some people don\u2019t think that\u2019s where they\u2019re suited (but) I feel like this is where I can be impactful; that aligns very much with the woman who was president before me. We all have our own strengths and it aligns really well, and I see that evolution of our group going really well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much work is the role of president?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It ebbs and flows. We have three robust committees that have their own projects. The president is in charge of two meetings per year, making sure committees have what they need, listening to alumni feedback and being the representative for the alumni base to the university. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was it like to speak at graduation as council president?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me that\u2019s going to be a lifelong memory, no doubt in my mind. That was a first for me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was a tradition that the previous president really solidified for the council to be represented at the graduation and welcome the alumni in. Those are the kind of monumental changes and pieces of value that being a council member can help you receive and then you can give that back to the grads and the alumni population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How should other alumni get involved?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nice thing about VCU Alumni is there are a lot of different ways to get your foot in the door. There are the city-by-city chapters; we\u2019re always trying to make those impactful and have a bigger footprint. The impact that you can bring as a participant in those chapters is really going to have a butterfly effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you just want to receive programming, vcualumni.org<\/a> has the events list. Everything from asynchronous, to virtual, to book clubs, to in-person events. Social media through VCU Alumni is a good way to see what\u2019s out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VCU Link<\/a> is more of a peer-to-peer site, a way for you to interact with current students or new alumni who may have questions about your career field. I\u2019ve had great conversations through VCU Link. There\u2019s a lot of different ways to plug in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the most rewarding thing about being involved with VCU Alumni?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s another microcosm of VCU. There\u2019s so many different types of people in the council, there\u2019s so many types of people involved in VCU. The diversity that was there at VCU when all of us were there, it is there tenfold for the alumni population. So the more you dig in and participate, the more you\u2019re going to meet different people and get to know a lot more about what\u2019s going on with them. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any other way \u2026 maybe at work you\u2019re around some different people, but the level of diversity that the VCU alumni population has is unmatched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What have I not asked you that you\u2019d like us to know about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would just reiterate that it\u2019s really not as big of a lift as you think to just put your foot in the door, in any one of those ways. It\u2019s becoming easier for VCU to communicate with us, so I feel like that\u2019s going to translate (to make it) easier for people to choose their own adventure. I really give props to VCU Alumni for making strides in reaching people where they are and allowing them to participate in a way that works for them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

April is National Volunteer Month. Meet VCU Alumni Council President Andrea Hart (B.A.\u201912). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1777,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1777"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18672"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18672\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/enews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]