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Philanthropists boost Virginia universities, health systems
Virginia universities and health systems received major philanthropic gifts in 2025, including multimillion-dollar donations to support scholarships, programs, and health initiatives.
VSU gets pledge of $1.5M in largest gift ever from living alumnus
Virginia State University received a $1.5 million pledge from alumnus Charlie Hill, marking the largest gift ever from a living VSU graduate.
Virginia Military Institute governance bill advances without Virginia State University oversight
Virginia Military Institute governance reform bill advances in House without Virginia State University oversight amid concerns over VMI's Confederate history and board composition.
Action delayed on legislation that would give VSU control of VMI
A House subcommittee delayed action on legislation that would place Virginia Military Institute under VSU oversight.
Bill seeks to overhaul VMI governance board
A Virginia Beach delegate introduced a bill to dissolve VMI’s board and place the military college under VSU oversight.
MacKenzie Scott gives record $50M to Virginia State University
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gives $50 million to Virginia State University, marking its largest-ever donation.
Three Va. universities have ‘some viability risks,’ report says
State researchers found Radford University, Virginia State University and the University of Mary Washington had “some viability risks,” according to a report released Monday, but none are in immediate danger of closing. The good news from the report conducted by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which conducts program evaluation, policy analysis and oversight of […]
Skanska tops off VSU academic commons building
New York-based development and construction firm Skanska USA held a topping-out ceremony this week for the $120 million Alfred W. Harris Academic Commons building being built at Virginia State University. The 175,000-square-foot building replaces VSU’s Harris Hall and Daniel Gymnasium and consolidates its College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Education into […]
Education 2023: MAKOLA M. ABDULLAH
Abdullah received the ultimate show of support from VSU in 2022, when he signed a multimillion-dollar deal to stay on as president through 2029. The public historically Black university was struggling financially when Abdullah arrived in 2016, but he has since righted the ship, leading the school to a budget surplus. VSU was ranked No. […]
Two HBCUs eye region for satellite campus
Northern Virginia economic development officials are working with Virginia’s two public historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to establish a joint satellite campus in the region that officials say would fill a gap in higher-ed offerings in Virginia’s largest population center. The presidents of Virginia State University and Norfolk State University have been talking with[...]
Counting on change
Royce Burnett remembers how challenging it felt in 1981 as a freshly graduated audit associate starting work at a Big Eight accounting firm in Texas. Of about 250 new employees hired at the time, Burnett, who’s now an associate professor and chair of Old Dominion University‘s School of Accountancy, believes he was the only African […]
White House taps Va. HBCU presidents for advisory board
The presidents of Virginia State University and Norfolk State University are on the list of intended appointees to the President‘s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the Biden administration announced on March 31. Virginia State University President Makola M. Abdullah, Norfolk State University President Javaune Adams-Gaston and Janeen Uzzell, CEO of the [&hell[...]
