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 […]
#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 […]
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 […]
Alum’s book spotlights workplace attunement; new textbooks focus on anti-racist research, school social work practice
VCU School of Social Work alum Nidhi Tewari learned a deeply personal – and disappointing – lesson about workplace culture, used it to develop a philosophy of care and fine-tuned her message speaking in front of Fortune 500 companies. This month, the culmination of her knowledge is being published in the book “Working Well: How […]
Social Work, Policy and Politics: Practicing in polarized times
The VCU School of Social Work’s annual macro-focused event, Social Work, Policy and Politics returns March 19, 2026, with an alumni panel focused on the “Big P” of policy – federal, state, and local – and how it intersects with clinical practice, advocacy and the values that unite us. Watch an archived video of our […]
Quarterly faculty research and service news: November 2025
The VCU School of Social Work is proud to recognize the following accomplishments from our faculty and staff through November 2025. Honors Kyeongmo Kim, Ph.D., associate professor, has been named a 2025 fellow by the Gerontological Society of America, in the Social Research, Policy and Practice Section. Research awards Yifan Lou, Ph.D., assistant professor, has […]
Gina Chowa, UNC scholar, will speak on advancing global social development
The VCU School of Social Work welcomes Gina Chowa, Ph.D., M.S.W., from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a presentation Friday, Oct. 10, titled “Advancing Global Social Development: Youth, Gender, and Community-Engaged Research Across Contexts.” The session will be in-person at the Academic Learning Commons 3100 from noon-1:30 p.m. ET. Please RSVP […]