Emory & Henry names interim president
Louise “Lou” Fincher, Emory & Henry University’s senior vice president, has been named interim president of the Washington County-based private college beginning Aug. 1, as President John W. Wells steps down and becomes the school’s first chancellor in late July. Fincher is also the inaugural dean of [...]
JLARC calls for governing changes at VCU Health
After a failed development deal and a nearly $80 million payout, VCU Health needs to change the way it is governed, the Virginia General Assembly’s investigative body declared Wednesday. Virginia Commonwealth University’s president has too much room to influence the health system’s operations, the Joint Legisla[...]
Grounds for dissent?
On April 30, the night police raided Columbia University’s campus, arresting more than 100 protesters and keeping about 50 students and faculty members cooped up for several hours in Pulitzer Hall, where the annual journalism prizes are announced, it was pretty quiet at the University of Virginia. According to a Cavalier Daily[...]
George Mason receives $5M donation from Peterson Cos. family
The Peterson Family Foundation, the family behind the Peterson Cos. real estate development firm, donated $5 million to the George Mason University’s Center for the Arts improvement project, the university announced Tuesday. The gift to the university’s College of Visual and Performing Arts will support modernization of the[...]
Student sues U.Va., alleging antisemitism
A Jewish undergraduate student is suing the University of Virginia, its president and rector, and two pro-Palestinian organizations, alleging that he was “a victim of hate-based, intentional discrimination, severe harassment and abuse, and illegal retaliation” at U.Va., according to a federal lawsuit filed May 17. Ma[...]
Shenandoah University receives $20M gift from alumnus
A Shenandoah University alumnus and his wife have pledged $20 million to the university, the largest individual donation in the history of the Winchester school. Wilbur and Clare Dove’s gift, announced last month, will go toward the building of a performing and visual arts center on campus, according to the university. Wilbur[...]
Hampden-Sydney College receives $20M pledge
Richmond-based Endeavour Legacy Foundation has pledged $20 million to Hampden-Sydney College, the second largest gift in the college’s history. The college will use the gift, announced Tuesday, toward renovating its former science center, Gilmer Hall, into an academic facility housing the economics and business, and government[...]
VCU launches pharmaceutical sciences undergrad degree
Graduate school isn’t a prerequisite for a career in the pharmaceutical industry. Virginia Commonwealth University’s new Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) degree will prepare students to step into pharma jobs like quality assurance technicians, research technologists and laboratory technicians, acco[...]
VCU revives Atlanta’s Creative Circus ad school
Editor’s note: The print version of this story in the May 2024 issue of Virginia Business incorrectly reported the amount of Virginia Commonwealth University’s purchase of the Creative Circus. VCU acquired Creative Circus’ branding and intellectual assets from Texas-based Ancora Education for $75,000. The potential[...]
Watercourse of study
Starting this fall, Old Dominion University students will have a new interdisciplinary school dedicated to maritime work, logistics and supply chain management — an upgrade from an earlier program offered through the Strome College of Business. In September 2023, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) appro[...]
Submarine sandwich
Hiring and retaining workers remains a challenge everywhere, but it’s particularly urgent in the submarine-building industry. The Navy is aiming to transform its submarine fleet, with the first nuclear-powered Columbia-class sub primed to arrive in 2028, along with production of more Virginia-class vessels. That’s bringing p[...]
Chips ahoy
Finally, the world is catching up with Virginia Tech’s semiconductor curriculum. Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering started a chip-scale integration major in 2016, but it wasn’t exactly high profile when Sheena Deivasigamani arrived at Virginia Tech as a first-year engineering student in 2019. Chip-scale integration wa[...]