A Truly Transformative Experience: VCU Hosts the National IMPACT Conference
Virginia Commonwealth University had the distinct honor of hosting the IMPACT Conference from February 27 through March 1, 2025. As the largest annual conference dedicated to college student civic engagement—encompassing community service, service-learning, community-based research, and social action—IMPACT brings together students, administrators, faculty, AmeriCorps members, VISTAs, and nonprofit professionals. It’s a unique opportunity to share effective practices, develop personal and organizational strategies, discover resources, exchange stories, and find inspiration to sustain efforts in social change.
The journey to host IMPACT at VCU was spearheaded by Dr. Michael Rackett, Professor in Interdisciplinary Studies at VCU. Rackett noted VCU’s historical engagement with IMPACT dating back to 2013, though involvement had waned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Once in-person conferences resumed, Rackett joined the IMPACT Planning Committee for 2023 and 2024, soon envisioning VCU as a host.
“After initial conversations with Dr. Jimmie Gahagan, Associate Vice President for Transformative Student Experiences, and Becca Halligan, Director of the Office of Student Leadership and Engaged Learning, we held the first planning meeting in June 2024,” Rackett shared. This meeting, which also included representatives from VCU’s Division of Community Engagement (DCE), Honors College, University Student Commons & Activities, and University College, led to a successful Phase 1 application. Upon approval, VCU secured strong letters of support from Provost Sotiropoulos, Vice President Aaron Hart, and the DCE, which were integral to the detailed Phase 2 host campus proposal.
VCU’s proposal was accepted in July 2024, marking the beginning of intensive planning for the 2025 conference. Rackett served as the host campus liaison, working closely with the nationally selected IMPACT Planning Committee, which comprises students, staff, and faculty. Alongside co-coordinators Karen Wong from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN and Caitlin Silver-Negron from Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland, they began to plan the conference for spring 2025.
The entire VCU community rallied to support the conference’s execution. Members from the Division of Student Affairs, University Events, VCU Catering, Aramark, and VCU Real Estate collaborated seamlessly to ensure a successful event. As part of the hosting agreement, IMPACT provided discounted conference registrations, allowing more VCU students, faculty, and staff to attend.
Hundreds of guests from across the country enjoyed three dynamic days, featuring inspiring keynote speakers, numerous community service opportunities in Richmond, social events designed for connection, and over 50 individual workshop sessions. The extensive work proved incredibly rewarding. Rackett vividly recalled a memorable moment: “Honestly, for me one of the most memorable moments was attending the opening Kickoff Panel on Thursday evening in the Commonwealth Ballroom, seeing the room full of energetic students from around the country and two VCU panelists on the stage, and realizing that we were actually pulling this off successfully.”
By all accounts, the three-day conference was a huge success, with the VCU and wider Richmond community proving exceptionally welcoming. Caitlin Silver-Negron affirmed, “VCU welcomed IMPACT with open arms and showed us why they love Richmond and their institution. It was evident with every interaction… that VCU is an incredibly intentional place.”
VCU’s engagement with IMPACT will continue into the next year, with Dr. Rackett remaining involved as the Workshops Subcommittee Chair and VCU student Devan Wagner, who served as a conference photographer, joining the 2026 conference planning committee.
Categories Annual Report Stories 2024-25