Yifan Lou incorporates virtual reality into research on death and dying
Yifan Lou, Ph.D., assistant professor in the VCU School of Social Work, is exploring virtual reality tools to support end-of-life care in a collaborative project with a VCUarts colleague. Lou and Semi Ryu, Ph.D., professor in the School of the Arts, were awarded one of 19 VCU Quest Fund grants to support “My Voice, My […]
Lifesavers: Naloxone training for opioid overdoses continues social work focus on addiction and substance use
Building on previous learning and training opportunities around addiction and substance use, the VCU School of Social Work, the Institute for Research on Behavioral and Emotional Health (IRBEH) and Rams in Recovery recently provided a targeted session on how to use a lifesaving medical treatment for opioid overdoses. Nearly 20 social work students and staff […]
Ananda Newmark helping turn faculty feedback into action that informs students’ foundational learning
Ananda Newmark, Ph.D., VCU School of Social Work professor, and a university colleague recently presented at a national conference on a methodology for quickly turning faculty feedback into university-level action that supports faculty who are teaching general education courses. Newmark and Virginia Wray Totaro, M.S., director of general education in VCU’s Academic Affairs, presented “From […]
From understanding policy process to building community-organizing skills, social work students take the macro plunge
VCU students interested in learning about macro social work practice are getting deep-dive opportunities throughout the 2026-27 academic year. Kimberly Compton, Ph.D., associate professor and director of Macro Initiatives at the VCU School of Social Work, is leading programming, along with M. Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., professor. One series, The Policy Experience: An Immersive Journey from […]
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, […]