News roundup: A faculty perspective on refugee healthcare, a national scholarship, an entrepreneurial social work focus, faculty awards – and more
The latest news roundup from the VCU School of Social Work highlights: Im’s work highlights impact of discrimination on healthcare access Refugees resettling in the United States continue to face significant challenges accessing healthcare even after receiving initial medical screenings and temporary health coverage upon arrival, Dr. Hyojin Im reports in an article in The […]
‘Overwhelming gratitude’: VCU honors Marc Cheatham as one of 15 Alumni Stars
Marc Cheatham (B.S.W.’05) puts his social work background to use every day as director of constituent services and casework for Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine. It’s service in the background, working with “people facing the most critical and challenging problems. Their level of frustration has long surpassed normal capacity,” he says. So it is no wonder […]
Globetrotting with the School of Social Work: South Africa to Spain, Ghana to South Korea
More than 50 VCU students participated in four School of Social Work-led spring break and summer study abroad trips in 2026. The study abroad programs are: The experience is transformational for students, including one who participated in the spring break program in Spain: “Overall, the study abroad experience totally reshaped my perspective on aging. I […]
#Fulbright: Ph.D. student Aya Caballero’s research journey mixes Jamaican roots, Instagram influence
Aya Caballero’s path to a Fulbright award looked more like an intersection – of her Jamaican roots, her researcher’s eye for recognizing gaps in data and the most 21st century of interactions: an Instagram-driven connection. Caballero, a third-year Ph.D. student at the VCU School of Social Work, will collaborate with researchers at the University of […]
Social work faculty lead interdisciplinary research advancing inclusive health science
At Virginia Commonwealth University, two interdisciplinary research grants co-led by School of Social Work faculty members are addressing complex health challenges while underscoring a commitment to inclusivity. Karen Chartier, Ph.D., professor, and Jacob Goffnett, Ph.D., assistant professor, are each leading projects that bridge social work with fields ranging from medicine to the arts. Their work […]
Honoring student excellence for 2025-26
The VCU School of Social Work is pleased to recognize the academic and service excellence of 51 students and one faculty member for the 2025-2026 academic year. Honors include VCU and School of Social Work annual awards, SSW scholarships and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductees; seven students received multiple honors or recognition. Following the ceremony, […]
7 social work students’ research accepted for VCU’s Graduate Research Symposium
Seven graduate students from the VCU School of Social Work had their work accepted for the university’s 29th annual Graduate Research Symposium on April 22. Six of them – two Ph.D. students and four master’s students – are scheduled to present throughout the day. Emma Adcook, M.S.W. student Presentation: Adapting Acuity Scales for Community Partners: […]
Award-winning student artwork celebrates radical hope, resistance for Social Work Month
Two VCU School of Social Work B.S.W. students were honored for artwork they created for a competition to celebrate Social Work Month in March with the theme of Art as Radical Hope and Resistance. The winners, Jae Lange and CaL Luck, received prizes in acknowledgment of their time and creative efforts for this project. The […]
A ‘Shakespearean sprite’ and a ‘giant’: Remembering the lives of Jane Reeves, Marilyn Biggerstaff
They both came east, to Richmond and VCU, in the 1970s. They overlapped at the School of Social Work for approximately 23 years. In their final years, they both resided at the Cedarfield Retirement Community in Richmond. And when they passed away earlier this year, only 29 days separated the deaths of Jane Reeves and […]
Research near and far: B.S.W. students presenting at national conferences in Richmond, New Orleans
Seven VCU School of Social Work undergraduate students are honing their research skills this spring. Two students, Nic Stumpo and Regina Marquez, will present as the National Conference on Undergraduate Research comes to Richmond on April 13-15. Stumpo and five other B.S.W. students presented in February at the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors’ […]