A new year of growth, service and community
Dear VCU students, faculty and staff,
Welcome to the 2026-27 academic year!
To those of you who have just arrived back on campus or are joining us for the first time: welcome — we are so glad you are here. To those who have worked and taken classes over the summer: thank you for your continued dedication to VCU.
The start of an academic year brings with it the boundless energy of new beginnings and the endless opportunities of transformative growth.
As I step into my first full academic year as VCU’s executive vice president and provost, I find myself reflecting on what makes VCU truly uncommon. It’s not just our academic rigor or research excellence; it is our heart, our shared purpose and our deep commitment to one another.
As we begin this new chapter together, I challenge each of you to embrace the spirit of service that defines our community:
- For our students: service is where learning meets purpose. Whether through volunteering, civic engagement or simply lifting up a classmate, your service to our Richmond community bridges classroom knowledge with real-world impact.
- For our faculty and staff: your service to our university — mentoring students, guiding shared governance and supporting campus life — is the foundation upon which VCU thrives. Your dedicated stewardship shapes the environment where our students can successfully learn and grow.
I am reminded of the line penned by Charles Dickens in Our Mutual Friend: “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of it for another.” In a period of history marked by harsh class divides, poverty and institutional indifference, Dickens believed that society improves through acts of service, personal kindness and mutual support.
There are many ways in which you can be of service this semester. In addition to the second annual VCU Day of Service, the Division of Community Engagement offers numerous opportunities to serve our broader community.
This semester, we are also embarking on an exciting reimagining of our strategic plan. Through focus groups, town halls and digital engagement, I strongly encourage you to make your voice heard. Our collective vision will only be as bold and inspiring as the diverse voices who shape it. Be on the lookout for official announcements in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your energy, your passion and your dedication to VCU. I am honored to serve as your provost and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together this year.
Art Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., MBA
Executive vice president and provost