News

The Origin and Impact of the VCU Migration Studies Lab

April 24, 2025

Antonio Espinoza, Ph.D., and Daniel Morales, Ph.D., provide insight into what the Migration Studies Lab is, how they got started, and how they hope to have an effect on VCU, as well as the overall community, highlighting the importance of collaboration amongst faculty and students.

Reframing the Narrative: Gender and Sexuality in Modern America

April 17, 2025

Carolyn Eastman, Ph.D., is helping students reimagine American history through new lenses in her new course which blends personal stories, cultural shifts, and political movements, exploring forgotten histories that are integrally connected to today’s most pressing social issues.

Peter W. Marty, a retired pastor and editor/publisher of The Christian Century magazine, delivered the VCU Department of History’s 30th annual William E. and Miriam S. Blake Lecture in the History of Christianity. (Andrea Wight, Department of History)

The voice of Lincoln offers compelling counterpoint to today’s zero-sum thinking, pastor and publisher says at Blake Lecture

April 10, 2025

Speaking three decades after his father kicked off the annual series, Peter Marty uses the past, the present and Christianity to reflect on the winners-and-losers mindset.

Sam Ulmschneider, a VCU history alum, has coached three Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School teams to national titles in the annual We the People competition. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Meet-a-Ram: History Department alumni honoree was a close call – geographically

April 2, 2025

At the Maggie Walker School near VCU, teacher Sam Ulmschneider is instilling wisdom and winning titles in a national civics program.

Constant Pursuit of Excellence: History to HR

April 1, 2025

History alum Justin Wright shares his experience of obtaining a history degree from VCU and using it to explore athletics, student success and human resources.

Walking Through History: Preserving and Reviving Richmond’s African-American Cemeteries

March 21, 2025

Through walking tours, and academic and community collaboration, VCU history major and UROP student Clark Kelley has worked with Ryan Smith, Ph.D. and Friends of East End to highlight the historical and cultural significance of Richmond’s African-American cemeteries in hopes of revitalizing a space for learning and reflection.

The Academy Awards will be held on March 2. (Getty Images)

At the movies: Professors review Oscar-nominated films through the lens of their expertise

Feb. 27, 2025

Ahead of the Academy Awards, professors discuss what worked – or didn’t – in five of the 2025 nominees.

Jatia Wrighten, Ph.D. and Alexandra Reckendorf, Ph.D., talked to students about political and social movements during their session in the U.S. Democracy United/Divided course. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

For the many layers of American democracy, new course taps into the many layers of VCU faculty expertise

Feb. 13, 2025

Nearly three dozen specialists in the College of Humanities and Sciences are collectively teaching U.S Democracy United/Divided this semester – and organizers think the concept will evolve.

Daniel Morales, an assistant professor of history, examines the creation of transnational migratory networks across Mexico and the United States in the 20th century in his new book. (Photos contributed by Daniel Morales)

VCU author investigates U.S.-Mexico migration in the early 20th century – and its enduring legacy

Jan. 23, 2025

In his new book, history professor Daniel Morales examines how large-scale movement became rooted in both countries’ socioeconomic fabric.

Making Mexican Chicago: Displacement, Gentrification and Resilience of Latinx

Dec. 3, 2024

Mike Amezcua, Ph.D., shared a powerful narrative of resilience and adaptation among Mexicano communities in Chicago. Amezcua traced their journey from exploited labor and housing discrimination, including the impact of gentrification, ending in the cultural and social contributions made by the communities.