Division of Community Engagement

The DCE and the Mary and Frances Youth Center were awarded $10,000  by the Allstate Foundation to support micro-grants for student-led civic engagement projects.  Interested students or student groups have had opportunities to participate in virtual and in person informational sessions. These training sessions focused on the importance of utilizing an asset-based approach when developing […]

VCU School of Dentistry Dental Clinic Service-Learning Course Michelle McGregor is the Director of Community and Collaborative Partnerships and an Associate Professor at VCU’s School of Dentistry. Since joining the VCU faculty in 2005, she has held numerous teaching and leadership roles. Her passions include clinical education, collaborative care, community service, and dental public health. […]

Heidi Hertz recently joined the Secretariat of Health and Human Resources as Director of Rural Health Transformation.  Known for her collaborative and adaptable leadership style, Heidi brings experience from both the public and private sectors, with expertise in strategic planning, policy development, and stakeholder engagement. She previously served as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry […]

Amber Paulus, Ph.D., RN Amber Paulus is an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at VCU’s School of Medicine and associate chief of Nephrology Research and Data Analytics. Her research focuses on improving kidney health through early detection, education, and community-based approaches to addressing health disparities. She leads the KARE-RVA initiative, which builds […]

On October 1, 2026, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners convened across the City of Richmond and Henrico County for the annual VCU Fall Day of Service. Guided by the principles of reciprocal engagement and shared responsibility, participants collaborated with local organizations to support ongoing neighborhood initiatives and advance regional […]

The Small Business Opportunity Center (SBOC) has joined the Division of Community Engagement, bringing its work to strengthen entrepreneurship and economic opportunity into the university’s broader community engagement efforts. The move builds on SBOC’s existing partnerships across VCU, including its continued collaboration with the VCU School of Business and the da Vinci Center for Innovation. […]

Investing in the Starting Point of Community-Engaged Research Every impactful community-engaged research project has to start somewhere. Sometimes, it starts with a conversation, a question, or a community-identified need that does not yet have an easy answer. The Thriving Communities Research Pilot Grant was developed to support that starting point. Meaningful partnerships take time to […]

From the Classroom to the Community This fall, the Hub is home to four academic interns, including three School of Social Work field placements and one HPEX student, as well as a student employee. In partnership with the School of Social Work Evaluation Lab, the student will spend the academic year helping tell the story […]

As students arrived at George Washington Carver Elementary School for the first day of classes, they were greeted by VCU students, faculty, staff and community partners cheering them on. The celebration was a visible reminder of a relationship between VCU and Carver that extends well beyond the first day of school. For VCU Senior Manager […]

Strong communities are built by organizations that understand the unique needs of the people they serve. Through its Seed Grant Programs, the Division of Community Engagement helps turn innovative ideas into meaningful action by investing directly in community-led solutions. The Division currently offers two funding opportunities: Together, these programs provide more than funding—they create partnerships […]