Convergence Labs: Launching VCU’s Next Horizon
VCU is launching a bold new initiative that reimagines how universities foster innovation, collaboration, and real-world impact.
Why Now
VCU’s growth and momentum are creating the conditions for transformative academic innovation.
This fall, we welcomed the second-largest freshman class in our history and more than 200 new faculty members across both campuses. Students tell us they chose VCU because they see it as a place where they belong and can thrive. That sense of belonging is foundational and it’s what makes initiatives like Convergence Labs possible.
What Are Convergence Labs
Convergence Labs is a university-wide effort to unlock new ways of thinking and doing, powered by curiosity, systems-thinking, and collaboration.
Created through faculty engagement and cross-campus dialogue, Convergence Labs brings together students, faculty, and staff to explore and create beyond disciplinary boundaries. It supports interdisciplinary research, hands-on learning, and community-engaged problem solving.
Launching Now: Three Enterprise Themes
This fall, Convergence Labs launches with three enterprise-spanning themes that reflect VCU’s unique strengths.
- Enterprise AI
- Enterprise Neurosciences
- Enterprise Health Outcomes
These themes address some of the world’s most pressing challenges and provide a framework for faculty to co-create research and curricula, students to engage in experiential learning, and partners to collaborate on real-world solutions.
More than 150 faculty have already expressed interest in AI and mental health initiatives, and over 400 faculty are connected to neuroscience research and scholarship. These numbers reflect a groundswell of energy and commitment across disciplines.
Meet the Faculty Leads
Our inaugural faculty leads are nationally recognized experts guiding the development of transdisciplinary research and transformative learning.
Each was nominated by their dean and appointed by the Provost. They are building on existing and emerging faculty networks to expand interdisciplinary programs and experiential opportunities for students. Their leadership is supported by dozens of colleagues across academic units, research centers, and administrative offices who are helping shape the Labs’ direction and delivery.
These videos offer a glimpse into the vision and expertise driving the Labs forward.
Built for Students and Communities
Convergence Labs is rooted in impact and designed to benefit students and the communities we serve.
Faculty and staff from across the university are contributing to this effort, including leaders from Community Engagement, Transformative Learning, the da Vinci Center, Life Design, and the Office of the Provost.
Their collaboration ensures that every innovation is connected to real-world needs and that students have the support to chart unique pathways. From interdisciplinary degrees and stackable credentials to storefront labs and design-thinking programs, VCU is creating environments where students prepare for the future of work and where community partnerships thrive.
Looking Ahead
Convergence Labs reflects VCU’s commitment to clarity, alignment, and impact.
We are building systems that empower faculty to engage in boundary-spanning discovery, offer students transformative learning experiences, and strengthen public trust through research that changes and saves lives. The momentum is real and growing, thanks to the many faculty, staff, and partners already contributing their expertise and energy.
Our Next Horizon
This is more than a launch. It is a shift in how we structure higher education for powerful outcomes.
We are proud to have our experts guiding this next horizon. Alongside them are hundreds of faculty, dozens of staff leaders, and a growing network of collaborators who are shaping the Labs with purpose and care. We look forward to sharing more in the months ahead and welcome your thoughts as we continue building together.
To learn more about VCU Convergence Labs, including how to participate in one, contact Andrew T. Arroyo, Ed.D., senior vice provost for Academic Affairs, and interim dean of University College.
Editor’s Note: The information and images above were included in a presentation Dr. Beverly Warren, VCU’s interim provost, made before the Academic and Health Affairs Committee of the VCU Board of Visitors on Thursday, September 11, 2025.