Gratitude beyond measure
Dear VCU colleagues,
When President Rao invited me to return to VCU as interim provost last spring, I said yes without hesitation—not simply because VCU has long held a special place in my heart, but because it meant rejoining you. The opportunity to once again work alongside the faculty, staff, students, and leaders who shape this special VCU community was a compelling invitation with only one answer – a resounding yes to return and join you in this meaningful work.
As I reflect on these months together, what rises to the surface is gratitude—gratitude for the relationships that define VCU and for the care, creativity, and resilience you bring to our shared work. In every conversation, every collaboration, and every challenge we navigated, I saw a community grounded in trust and strengthened by connection.
Together, we moved through a period of transition with integrity. We strengthened policies that honor the full scope of faculty contributions, and we advanced initiatives that will support discovery, innovation, and student success for years to come. But more than any single accomplishment, it is the way we worked—with openness, respect, and genuine partnership—that stands out to me.
What has inspired me most is your unwavering commitment to one another. I have seen it in the way you teach, advise, discover, and lead. It is present in the thoughtful dialogue that shaped our promotion and tenure revisions, in the bold ideas emerging from Convergence Labs, and in the partnerships that extend our impact far beyond campus.
This year offered powerful moments to celebrate one another. Honoring the newest NIRA recipients, launching the inaugural EPIA award and celebrating the milestone achievements of our colleagues who were awarded tenure and promotion in this academic year highlighted the extraordinary talent and dedication of our faculty. And witnessing the joy and pride of our students and their families at December Commencement was profoundly moving and a testament to the power of higher education to change lives and families.
You are the reason I believe so deeply in VCU’s future. As I have stated many times, our culture of care is not an aspiration at VCU—it is a lived reality, sustained by the relationships you nurture every day.
I am profoundly grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the privilege of working alongside you. After more than 40 years in higher education, extending my career a little longer to serve this community again has been one of my greatest joys.
Soon, Dr. Arturo Saavedra will step into the role of interim provost and executive vice president. I share President Rao’s confidence in his leadership and know he will build strong relationships of his own as he guides VCU forward. You are in very good hands.
I wish you all the best as you continue the meaningful work of advancing the inherent value of higher education – learning to lead with care and to expand human flourishing – opening doors we cannot yet imagine.
With appreciation,
Beverly J. Warren, Ed.D., Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Virginia Commonwealth University