Graduating seniors share how clubs helped build community and create opportunity at the VCU College of Engineering
By Allura Zahradnick
Student organizations play a major role in shaping the undergraduate experience at Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) College of Engineering. For students in biomedical engineering, that experience goes beyond the classroom, offering opportunities to connect, grow and engage within a supportive community.
Organizations such as the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) provide students with opportunities to take on leadership roles, participate in research and attend national conferences. This semester several students who have been actively involved in these organizations are preparing to graduate. Their experiences highlight a common theme: Getting involved makes a difference.
For Jessica Nguyen, BMES was always part of the plan. She came into college already wanting to get involved after hearing about the organization from her cousin, a VCU biomedical engineering alum.
As a commuter student, BMES became more than just a club, it became a way to stay connected to the department and the people in it. Her involvement quickly evolved into leadership. Serving first as secretary and later as president, Nguyen helped rebuild the chapter after a period of inactivity, learning how to run an organization while shaping what it could become.
That work came to life through one of her most meaningful accomplishments –organizing the first Mid- Atlantic BMES Undergraduate Research Symposium. What began as a small idea grew into a multi-university event, bringing together students from all across the region.
“It felt like we were creating something bigger than just a single event,” Nguyen said.
Through BMES, Nguyen built strong relationships with faculty and peers, gaining mentorship and research experience that ultimately helped guide her decision to pursue a Ph.D in biomedical engineering. Her time in BMES wasn’t just about participation, it was about building something that will continue long after she graduates.
Involvement started with a search for belonging for Jade Rasberry. Coming from a predominantly white area, she entered VCU looking for a space where she could feel supported and understood as an engineering student. That search led her to the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).
“I was searching for a community,” Rasberry said. “I was in a new city, and around so much culture that I didn’t know where to start.”
Through NSBE, she found exactly that and more, building a network of peers, mentors and professionals who shared similar experiences and goals. That sense of belonging became the foundation for her growth, not just as a student, but as a leader.
Over the years, she took on multiple roles within the organization, eventually serving as chapter president. Rasberry’s leadership focused on outreach, mentorship and creating opportunities for others to feel the same sense of connection she found early on. Her involvement also opened unexpected doors, from connecting with international NSBE chapters to mentoring high school students across the country.
“Being involved matters,” she said. “You never know where it might lead.”
Now preparing to graduate, she plans to pursue a career in cardiac device manufacturing or sales, bringing with her the confidence, leadership and sense of purpose she developed through NSBE.
Smridhi Madan’s introduction to BMES came during the College of Engineering club fair her freshman year. What caught Madan’s attention initially turned into something much bigger, a leadership journey that helped shape her entire college experience.
Starting as treasurer, then vice president and now president, Madan has been deeply involved in expanding the organization.
“One of my biggest takeaways has been realizing the type of leader I can be,” she said.
Through her time in BMES, Madan focused on creating opportunities for others. One of her proudest accomplishments was making it possible for more students, not just executive board members, to attend the BMES national conference.
Her involvement also opened doors beyond the organization. Through BMES, she built relationships with faculty that led to research opportunities, including working in the lab of Rebecca Heise, Ph.D., department chair and Inez Caudill, Jr. Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. She later collaborated with peers on an independent project that resulted in a provisional patent for a medical device.
Beyond academics the experience was just as personal. From late nights studying to traveling for conferences, BMES created a space where friendships and professional growth happened side by side.
“It was one of the first times I truly felt like I belonged in biomedical engineering,” she said.
After graduation, Madan plans to work in biotech product development before pursuing medical school.
More than a Club
Creating spaces where students can find community, develop leadership skills and explore what’s possible in their field is a common thread among those who become involved in student organizations.
From presenting research on a national stage to building lifelong friendships or discovering new career paths, at VCU, getting involved isn’t just encouraged, it’s essential. And for these graduating students, it’s been one of the most defining parts of their college experience.
The Department of Biomedical Engineering provides undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to perform real-world research as soon as they enroll. From delving into the intricacies of cell migration in cancer research to exploring tissue engineering in menisci, tendons and ligaments, our students pursue a diverse range of cutting-edge research topics. Browse videos and recent news from the Department of Biomedical Engineering to discover how the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University prepares the next generation of scientists and engineers for the challenges of the future.
Categories Biomedical Engineering, Student Stories, Undergraduate Student Stories