Office of the Provost

Hernan Bucheli has been appointed interim leader of VCU’s Global Education Office, effective June 19. In addition to the interim role, Bucheli will continue to serve as vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success. He aims to strengthen global partnerships and support VCU’s long‑term internationalization goals.

In this issue: VCU expands credit‑bearing internships, highlights major research events, announces Arturo Saavedra as provost, celebrates faculty achievements, and promotes upcoming academic programs, conferences, and resources supporting student success and interdisciplinary collaboration.

This story was originally reported and written by Grant Heston with VCU News. Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., has been appointed executive vice president and provost at Virginia Commonwealth University after serving in the role on an interim basis since December 2025. The Board of Visitors will officially consider the appointment at its meeting later this […]

Dear colleagues: As you likely know, VCU is seeking feedback on updates to our post-tenure review policy. I encourage everyone to take part in the open comment period, which is underway. Please visit the post tenure review policy webpage to learn more and be sure to share your thoughts by the April 24 deadline. This […]

All faculty are invited to attend Virginia Commonwealth University's Commencement on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10 a.m., at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Your presence helps provide closure for our students, celebrates your shared victories, and shows the strength of our VCU community. 

Please join us in congratulating Krista Scott, VCU associate vice president for strategic enrollment management special programs, who was selected as a 2026–27 ACE Fellow. The fellowship will deepen her leadership experience through mentorship, campus placements, and national networking, strengthening her future impact at VCU and in higher education.

This month, as we host the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) — the largest of its kind — we shine a national spotlight on what sets our university apart: a deep commitment to undergraduate research that drives real-world impact. With more than 400 VCU students presenting alongside faculty and peer mentors, NCUR reflects not just the scale of our work, but the outcomes it delivers — graduates ready to lead, innovate and solve meaningful problems from day one.

As we approach the final stretch of the Spring semester, we have much to celebrate. From our men’s basketball team’s historic comeback in March Madness to VCU’s ranking among the top 225 universities in the world by TIME Magazine, our momentum is undeniable. These achievements, alongside our first annual VCU Day of Service, highlight the vibrant energy of our community.

Last week, President Rao delivered the annual State of the University address. Amidst all of the inspiring stories and accomplishments, I was struck by two key themes: interdisciplinarity and impact. As a nationally-ranked, public research university, we are asking our students to consider how they will help solve some of our most challenging societal problems; these are problems like healthier communities, a stronger economy, a more resilient environment, a safer society, faster cures and smarter and more ethical technologies. Perhaps the only thing that these challenges have in common is that they cannot simply be solved through a single focus.

Dear VCU Community, It is my honor to welcome you back to campus for VCU’s Spring 2026 semester as your interim provost.