Alumni Stars2013

V I R G I N I A C O M M O N W E A L T H U N I V E R S I T Y

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Alumni StarsRecognizing alumni successThroughout the worlds of art, business, education, service and health care, Virginia Commonwealth University alumni reflect the brilliance of the university. Their knowledge and experience shine in all areas of human endeavor, illumi-nating problems, creating solutions and strengthening the quality of our lives.

VCU Alumni invites you to join us in recognizing these alumni for their achievements and the infinite possibilities they bring to the future.

2013

EmceeAaron R. Gilchrist Jr. (B.S. ’03/MC),

morning news anchor, NBC4, Washington, D.C.

Cocktails and dinner buffet

Musical PerformanceTheatre VCU

RemarksMichael Rao, Ph.D., president of VCU and the VCU Health System

W. Baxter Perkinson Jr., D.D.S. (D.D.S. ’70/D), president of VCU Alumni

2013 Alumni Starsin order of appearance

Sainath R. Iyer School of World Studies

S. Dallas Dance School of Education

Susan M. LearnedSchool of Pharmacy

Joseph F. Damico L. Douglas Wilder School of Government

and Public Affairs

Julian C. Metts Jr. School of Dentistry

Angela T. BacskockySchool of the Arts

Arthur W. Layne School of Allied Health Professions

Stephen W. Harms School of Social Work

Raymond A. Dionne School of Medicine

Jane G. Watkins School of Business

Oscar L. Martin Jr. School of Engineering

Josephine L. Hargis School of Nursing

Tonya S. Mallory College of Humanities and Sciences

Jesse VaughanSchool of Mass Communications

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Sainath R. Iyer arrived in Richmond from Fairfax, Va., in August 2008, with a suitcase and a plan to help then-presi- dential nominee Barack Obama win the presidency. He left the city with a stint as an intern at the White House, experience as a national co-chair of Obama’s 2012 campaign and two bachelor’s degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University. The 23-year-old son of Indian immigrants graduated in 2012 with degrees in mass communications and international studies. His passion for public service took him to Detroit, where he serves in the Teach for America corps as an instructor at a chronically low-achieving high school. Iyer credits VCU for cultivating his interest in helping others. “My education at VCU was not just academic in nature but was an education of the whole student,” he says. “I learned a great deal but, more importantly, through experience, challenges and relationships, became a better person committed to improving the welfare of others, particularly those who are most vulnerable in our society.” The path wasn’t without obstacles for Iyer, who says that two of his most influential experiences at VCU were actually failures — first, a 2.5 GPA his first semester that spurred him to improve to a 3.85 GPA by the time he graduated. Second, a pre-law adviser who told him that his first-semester transcript would make it difficult for him to land at a top law school. Iyer vowed to prove his adviser wrong. He improved his aca-demic performance, served in leadership roles within several student organizations, volunteered in the community and bolstered his language proficiency to include Arabic, Tamil and Spanish. The fall of his senior year, Iyer netted an internship in the White House’s Office of Management and Administration. Later, he became the only person younger than 30 tapped to serve as one of 35 national co-chairs on Obama’s campaign. His fellow co-chairs were mostly governors, Obama friends and Hollywood celebrities. Iyer still has dreams to follow and major goals to tackle including those he was told might be difficult to achieve. This fall, he is applying to a dual-degree Master of Public Policy/Juris Doctor program at a top law and graduate school. He is also a candidate for a Fulbright scholarship and a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship. “I think my experience at VCU has been critical to my success,” he says. “It has been significant in orienting my trajectory toward caring about public service.”

Sainath R. Iyer2012 Bachelor of Science

School of Mass Communications 2012 Bachelor of ArtsSchool of World Studies

“My education at VCU was not just academic in

nature, but was an education of the whole

student.”

When Baltimore County Public Schools hired S. Dallas Dance as superintendent, the district hadn’t tapped a person his age for the position in half a century. At 30, Dance was only five years removed from earning his doctorate focused on educational leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, which led some to question whether he had the experience to lead the 26th-largest school dis-trict in the country. But it didn’t take long to put those questions to rest. Under Dance’s leadership, team BCPS has taken significant steps forward. Frequent, open and transparent dialogue has become a hallmark of his administration and contributed greatly to the devel-opment of Blueprint 2.0, the school system’s newly created five-year strategic plan. The plan is based on the new Theory of Action, which Dance shared at the inaugural State of the Schools event in May 2013. The Theory of Action states that, to achieve the school system’s goal of ensuring that all students graduate globally com-petitive, BCPS must create equitable, effective digital-learning environments and provide all students with opportunities to develop proficiency in a second language. Of course, communication has never been a problem for Dance. By using social media and keeping a constant eye on his email, he responds to faculty and staff, as well as the community, quickly and effectively, all of which frees him up from behind his desk to visit classrooms and meet with students and teachers. In fact, he even teaches a series of high school English classes at BCPS, which was something he started doing right out of college as a member of the Highland Springs High School faculty in Henrico County, Va. From there, he moved up the ranks to assistant principal at the high school and then principal at Brookland Middle School in the same county before moving on to become assistant superintendent for Louisa County Public Schools. After working for Chesterfield County Public Schools as the director of school improvement and instructional support, Dance became chief school officer in the Houston Independent School District before accepting his current position, and each stop, he says, has contributed to the vision he brings to BCPS as its new superintendent. “Once they made me assistant principal, I never looked back,” Dance told Baltimore magazine in July 2013. “As a teacher, I worked with 150 kids. As an assistant principal, I worked with about 600 kids. As a principal, I worked with 1,200 kids. It was always about making a bigger impact on young people.”

S. Dallas Dance, Ph.D.2002 Master of Education • 2007 Doctor of Philosophy

School of Education

“Once they made me assistant principal, I never looked back. It was always about making a bigger impact on young people.”

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While studying to earn her Doctor of Pharmacy degree and Ph.D. at Virginia Commonwealth University, Susan M. Learned remembers thinking she’d never finish the course work required before she could really dig into her research. That’s because stu-dents focusing on clinical pharmacology had to take not only all of the mandatory courses for the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics but also those required for the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the School of Medicine. She soon realized, however, thanks to her adviser, Jurgen Venitz, M.D., Ph.D., professor and vice chairman of the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics, that the extra training would benefit her in the long run. She calls choosing Venitz as her graduate student adviser the smartest choice she made in her career. “The education and mentorship I received under Jurgen’s direction was by far the most influential in providing for me the professional and leadership opportunities I have subsequently benefited from,” Learned says. At the first position she accepted out of graduate school as a clinical pharmacokineticist at what is now GlaxoSmithKline, Learned found she could immediately contribute outside of her area of expertise. “I could actively engage in development discussions, formula-tion design and challenges, clinical development, and toxicology,” she says. “It is because of this breadth of education and experi-ence that I was soon given opportunities to lead multidisciplinary project teams.” Those experiences exposed her work to senior stakeholders and soon opened opportunities to lead clinical divisions within the company. Throughout her career, Learned has headed teams devoted to discovery and development of pharmaceuticals for a range of treatments in the fields of neurosciences, oncology and dermatology. She has also worked as head of scientific licensing as part of GSK’s worldwide business development organization. In 2010, Learned accepted an assignment to spearhead and grow a clinical development arm of GSK in Shanghai. With each opportunity she’s had to lead, Learned says she’s tried to instill not only a love for the work, but a culture con-ducive to professional growth and success. In fact, many of her staff, as well as the students she has mentored, have gone on to lead their own teams. Still, she adds, it’s just as important to take the time to have fun and celebrate with colleagues — some-thing she’s valued since her time at VCU. “I’m someone who strongly believes that celebrating success (both small and large) brings teams together and helps to ‘gel’ people who may not otherwise find common ground,” she says. “By taking time to celebrate small successes, we keep motivation elevated and ensure a highly functional team atmosphere.”

“The education and mentorship I received under

Jurgen [Venitz]’s direction was by far the most

influential in providing for me the professional and

leadership opportunities I have subsequently

benefited from.”

Susan M. Learned, Pharm.D., Ph.D., M.D.1997 Doctor of Pharmacy • 1997 Doctor of Philosophy

School of Pharmacy

Joseph F. Damico always realized what continuing his education could do for his career. The key rested in finding the university that could take him where he wanted to go. “I made a strategic decision early in my career to select Virginia Commonwealth University as the institution to help me achieve my career goals,” Damico says. “I believe the pro-grams I’ve graduated from, coupled with VCU’s outstanding academic reputation, have significantly influenced my success.” Before enrolling in the Master of Public Administration program in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Damico worked as a purchasing manager in what is now called the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. After earning his M.P.A. and, later, his Master of Science in Health Administration from the VCU School of Allied Health Professions, Damico found opportunities to embrace more responsibility. Now, as deputy director of the state’s Department of General Services, he oversees budget development and procurement services, manages department resources and even serves as a liaison for members of the General Assembly and legislative committees. “As soon as I completed my M.P.A., I was immediately selected for a senior management position within my organization, which then led to the executive-level position I hold today. I’m confident the M.P.A. degree enabled me to compete for and be successful in filling an executive-level position,” Damico says. “And, more importantly, I believe the value of my degree was exponentially elevated because it was earned at VCU.” But for Damico, the benefits of an education earned at VCU don’t rest solely with credentials. By participating in the Commonwealth Management Institute and the Virginia Executive Institute, both coordinated through VCU, Damico was able to network with other senior and executive managers in the public sector. Similarly, by staying active as chair of the M.P.A. program’s advisory council, Damico says he can further network with public- and private-sector leaders as well as identify students and recent graduates who might be good fits for his department. Above all, he says, what he’s developed through each of these roles, and particularly through his education at VCU, is a per-sonal approach to his work that exudes energy and positivity without sacrificing expectation, enjoyment or gratitude.

“I believe the programs I’ve graduated from, coupled with VCU’s outstanding academic reputation, have significantly influenced my success.”

Joseph F. Damico1997 Master of Public Administration

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs2000 Master of Science in Health Administration

School of Allied Health Professions

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As a young man, Julian C. Metts Jr. prayed that he would find a job that would allow him to make a difference. After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Dentistry, he found that opportunity in a private practice, located in Bon Air and then Midlothian, Va., where he served the needs of adults and children for more than 40 years. But in 1991, fol-lowing a trip to Guyana, his prayers were answered on an even grander scale. As a dedicated member of the South Richmond Rotary Club, Metts traveled to Guyana as part of a five-member fact-finding mission aimed at assessing the country’s health care system. During its journey, the group discovered innumerable ill or dying children desperate for medical attention. On the trip home, Metts remembers being deeply disturbed by what he had witnessed. “I caught myself praying, ‘Lord, please do not bring me back here again,’” he says. But once home, Metts became consumed by thoughts of those countless children. Helping them became his life’s focus. Over the next eight years, Metts worked as part of an effort that brought a few children per year back to Richmond, Va., where they received medical attention. He then helped to create a travelling dental practice out of a passenger bus that was shipped to Guyana, where it provided dental care. For Metts, these efforts simply weren’t enough to satisfy his conscience. In 1999, he founded the International Hospital for Children, a “virtual hospital” that provides medical and surgical treatment through a network of volunteers throughout the region. “We felt we had established a track record and, most impor-tantly for me personally, that the Lord clearly was speaking to me to press forward, in business parlance ‘to take it to the next level,’” he says, “to create a hospital dedicated to the care of these children, those completely innocent and at great risk for any hope of normal lives.” Metts teamed up with friend and local pediatrician, Frederick Rahal, M.D. (B.S. ‘53/P; M.D. ‘59/M; H.S. ‘62/M), to raise more than $200,000 for adding executive leadership to IHC’s efforts. While continuing his private practice, Metts spent every spare moment advancing the organization’s support and agenda. Today the organization, known as the World Pediatric Project, contin-ues to serve children throughout Central and South America, as well as in the Eastern Caribbean. In the past decade, the project has grown from impacting several hundred to several thousand children per year, totaling more than 50,000, with 5,000 surgeries, since its inception. One such success story was the landmark 2011 surgery of conjoined twins, Maria and Teresa Tapia of the Dominican Republic, who were born connected at the chest and abdomen. The twins were separated successfully at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and were given a clean bill of health in 2012.

“We felt we had established a track record … to create a

hospital dedicated to the care of these children, those com-

pletely innocent and at great risk for any hope

of normal lives.”

Julian C. Metts Jr., D.D.S.1963 Doctor of Dental Surgery • 1965 Residency in Orthodontics

School of Dentistry

Just four years into her career as a fashion designer, Angela T. Bacskocky has followed a global path to fruition and notori-ety. Her fashions have ventured from displays and shows in her hometown of Richmond, Va., to France, London and Australia as well as onto newsstands and TV screens worldwide. In 2011, Bacskocky launched an eponymous fashion business including a full line of apparel and accessories that appears on runways and retail racks. Her designs have gained notice from authorities such as Refinery 29 and Martha Stewart and have appeared in publications ranging from local magazines to Teen Vogue and Entertainment Weekly. In 2013, she joined “Project Runway” as a cast member for season 12. It comes as no surprise that her work draws international attention, as it culminates from education and experiences gleaned worldwide. Bacskocky’s skills cover all aspects of fashion design — from trendspotting, research and styling to draping, pattern-making, couture garment construction and tailoring as well as technical design and illustration. While studying at Virginia Commonwealth University, Bacskocky enjoyed the breadth of classes available, allowing her talents to develop and expand. “The departments, especially in the arts, encourage cross-disciplinary studies,” she says, “and if you’re eager to learn as many different skills as you can, they’ve got the world to offer you.” She also capitalized on every opportunity to travel and study at other institutions abroad. In 2006, she crossed the globe to England, where she participated in an Artists and Writers Workshop at Glasgow School of Art. In 2007-08, she visited La Rochelle, France, where she immersed herself in an intensive language program at Institut d’Etudes Françaises, and visited Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, where she studied menswear fashion design. Amid her travels, she held internships at Felder Felder, as a design assistant, and Alexander McQueen, where she produced designs that later appeared at Paris Fashion Week. To paraphrase Tim Gunn, fashion mentor from “Project Runway,” Bacskocky is making it work. “There’s an innate fear of not being able to make a living in the arts, or having to sacrifice your greater vision in order to be profitable,” she says. “I feel like I’m accomplishing both — delivering a marketable product and uncompromised artistic expression.”

“There’s an innate fear of not being able to make a living in the arts, or having to sacrifice your greater vision in order to be profitable. I feel like I’m accomplishing both — delivering a marketable product and uncompromised artistic expression.”

Angela T. Bacskocky2009 Bachelor of Fine Arts

School of the Arts

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Arthur W. Layne sat in his office in the A.D. Williams Memorial Clinic Building on the MCV Campus when he found out he’d been accepted into the Master of Health Administration program in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Allied Health Professions. And even though he was already working in a hospital setting and had developed a base of knowledge, he says his heart started to race. “I knew then that my life and career would be changed forever, and it was,” he says. Layne immediately distinguished himself in the program, being elected class president and earning the Charles P. Caldwell Leadership Award in 1976. And, like most students in the M.H.A. program can attest, Layne says the hands-on experience he gained as a student (and in his professional work before enroll-ing) truly left an indelible mark. “That foundation and my administrative residency taught me that every individual can impact patient care and satisfaction,” he says. After leaving Richmond, Va., Layne went on to work as an administrator at hospitals in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Arizona, where he now works as president of Intellimed International Corp. The company provides strategic planning data and marketing solutions to help health care providers better under-stand their service area and competitors. When asked what he does at work, Layne replies that he “mostly gets paid to go visit his friends.” Layne provides students and faculty in the School of Allied Health Professions access to Intellimed data to use in class projects, dissertations and scholarly publications. He also spends one week each year mentoring students and working with faculty in the M.H.A. program as an Executive in Residence. Throughout the year, he is contacted by students and alumni when they need access to data, a market analysis or help in a job search. It’s this connection to his alma mater that remains the high-light of his job, he says, because he gets to share his experiences with those who will go out and make a difference of their own. “I learned many years ago that my health care legacy would be the people who I mentored,” he says. “Helping others reach their potential is a special kind of reward.”

Arthur W. Layne1972 Bachelor of Science

College of Humanities and Sciences 1976 Master of Health Administration

School of Allied Health Professions

“I learned many years ago that my health care legacy

would be the people who I mentored. Helping others

reach their potential is a special kind of reward.”

The career of Stephen W. Harms exemplifies the limitless pos-sibilities for macro-level social work. Beginning with the first master’s-level position with the Virginia General Assembly’s Joint Audit and Legislative Review Commission, to deputy posi-tions for two state governors and a deputy chief administrative officer position for the city of Richmond, Va., his successes affect change through social policy and administration. “His career serves as a paramount example for anyone enter-ing social work with the goal of making the largest possible impact,” says Robert Schneider, Ph.D., emeritus faculty member in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work. Prior to earning his M.S.W., Harms served as a family case worker, counselor and psychiatric aide. It was at that time that two of his professors, Schneider and Charles Bernard “Bernie” Scotch, Ph.D., recommended he make an impact through policy and administration. The two propelled Harms into a position with Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, ultimately leading to a 30-year career in macro-level work. “VCU’s School of Social Work launched my career in public service,” Harms says. “The vision and mentoring of two extraor-dinary professors, Drs. Scotch and Schneider, opened the door for me to serve as a social worker in nontraditional settings.” As an analyst, Harms proved his eye for detail by evaluating agency programs and identifying methods for improving ser-vices and efficiencies to reduce costs. The results of his efforts netted him a position as a legislative fiscal analyst for the Senate Finance Committee of the Virginia General Assembly, where he helped to establish state budget priorities and policy goals. Then, in 2002, he signed on with the office of the governor, serving first as deputy secretary of health and human resources, then as deputy secretary of finance and finally as deputy chief of staff, advising the governor and secretaries on policies and budgets in human services and finance, and overseeing agency and program administration. In January 2013, Mayor Dwight C. Jones called upon Harms to serve as interim deputy chief administrative officer for the human services division of the city of Richmond. He accepted and currently assists the mayor and chief administrative officer in overseeing the operation of city departments providing human services. Ultimately, Harms credits his mother, Alice Harms, who served as a local elected official, for inspiring his career in public service, and his wife and children for their patience and support.

“VCU’s School of Social Work launched my career in public service.”

Stephen W. Harms1982 Master of Social Work

School of Social Work

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A unique program and a strong professional network drew Raymond A. Dionne to Virginia Commonwealth University. Previously enrolled in a pharmacology program at Georgetown University, his research involved evaluating new anticonvulsants and analgesic drugs in rodent models. Unfortunately, progress proved slow and the link to critical care seemed remote. Dionne, who also worked part time as a dentist, considered giving up his research career. “I was having trouble finding the right balance between doing research that was intellectually fulfilling and relevant to clinical practice,” he says. His clinical experiences demonstrated just how many patients were afraid to go to a dentist. Dionne hoped to develop a scien-tific basis for safely using drugs for pain and anxiety in dentistry by conducting clinical pharmacology studies. There was just one problem. “I could not find anyone in my small circle of dental and phar-macology colleagues who appreciated this need or knew of anyone doing such research,” he says. Enter VCU and its far-reaching connections. Dionne read in Science magazine about a new training program at VCU. He brought this to the attention of his mentor, Joanne Nuite, Ph.D. “She said that she would ‘call Bill and get some more infor-mation,’” Dionne says. “Imagine my surprise that she knew Dr. William Dewey [VCU faculty member] from their days at UNC.” Dionne enrolled in a postdoctoral fellowship program at VCU, which led to entry into the Ph.D. program in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. There, he benefited from the guid-ance of Dewey, now the department chair, and faculty members Robert L. Balster, Ph.D., and Louis S. Harris, Ph.D. “The support and wisdom of Drs. Dewey, Balster and Harris at that pivotal point in my career was essential for the opportu-nity to pursue the scientific road less-traveled and sustain my enthusiasm for translating unmet therapeutic needs into scien-tific inquiry that eventually informs and often results in changes in clinical practice,” Dionne says. After receiving his degree, Dionne joined the National Institutes of Health, where he conducted clinical and translational studies as a tenured investigator in the Intramural Research Program for 34 years. He now teaches at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine. “I will always be very grateful for the opportunity that the faculty and VCU provided for me that led to a fulfilling career as a clinical pharmacologist,” Dionne says. “I attribute this largely to the professional judgment and character of Drs. Dewey, Balster and Harris in taking a gamble on a naïve but well-intentioned young professional.”

“I will always be very grateful for the opportunity that the faculty and VCU provided for me that led to a fulfilling career as a clinical pharmacologist.”

Raymond A. Dionne, D.D.S., Ph.D.1980 Doctor of Philosophy

School of Medicine

Twice in her life, Jane G. Watkins found inspiration and a new sense of direction in places bearing the initials VCU. From her days as a Virginia Commonwealth University freshman to her current post as CEO for the Virginia Credit Union, Watkins blazed a trail for businesswomen, as an accountant to an executive leader, at a time when she says women were not as welcome in her chosen field as they are today. “In the 1970s, there weren’t very many women in accounting and virtually no female executives,” Watkins says. “When one of my professors pulled me aside and encouraged me to pursue accounting, honestly, it had never even crossed my mind as an option. That one conversation changed my life.” Following graduation, Watkins landed a position as a staff auditor with an area firm, then went on to become a financial analyst and an accounting manager. As a child, she learned the basis of great leadership and humility from her father, William J. Gouldin Sr., who owned the Richmond, Va.-based flower shop Strange’s Florist. In busy times — despite his position as owner — Gouldin swept floors, delivered lunches and did whatever it took to employ the same sense of service toward his employees that his business provided for its customers. In 1982, just seven years into her career, Watkins says she found a similar work environment at the Virginia Credit Union. Her discovery led to her finding a home there for more than 30 years. Between 1982 and 2000, Watkins climbed the ranks from accounting manager to president and CEO at the Virginia Credit Union. Along the way, she built a network of professional affiliations spanning from board memberships in local groups and societies, to leadership roles among national committees and organizations. Her efforts have garnered a number of awards, including the YWCA Outstanding Women award for business in 2009, Virginia Credit Union League’s Eugene H. Farley Jr. Award of Excellence in 2010 and Virginia Council on Economic Education’s J. Curtis Hall Award in 2011. In 2013, she was inducted into the Virginia Career and Technical Education Hall of Fame. Watkins, current president of the VCU Foundation and member of the VCU Real Estate Foundation, cites her husband of 25 years, Tscharner, and her two sons, Ried and Mason, for keeping her grounded throughout her success and for their ongoing support of her career.

“When one of my professors pulled me aside and encouraged me to pursue accounting, honestly, it had never even crossed my mind as an option. That one conversation changed my life.”

Jane G. Watkins1975 Bachelor of Science

School of Business

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When he was named one of Style Weekly’s “Top 40 Under 40” in 2012, Oscar L. Martin Jr. said he always wanted to be a college professor. It just took a little while to find a way to fit teaching into his life and job at DuPont Teijin Films, where he leads an organization that develops innovative film products for compa-nies such as 3M Co., Sara Lee Corp. and H.J. Heinz Co. About the time he was finishing his Ph.D. degree at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering, Martin started teaching through online instruction, as it was something he could fit into his schedule and do from home. From there, he launched his own Web-based education company, TechnologyEd.com, which has grown from a modest three-course offering at its founding in 2009 to nearly 300 courses and webinars today focusing on subjects such as polymer science, quality control, supply chain management, water treatment and innovation, with programs in business management, information technology, fun-damental science and engineering, and quality and regulatory affairs. Courses are geared to accommodate science and engineering professionals, which Martin was when he started the site, looking to self-educate at their own pace and advance their careers. Martin has also used the site to launch a scholarship program for minority students interested in pursuing careers in technology and engineering. “For me, I wanted to help the next generation of scientists and engineers reach their education goals,” he says. Martin’s start in engineering came as a student at the University of Alabama and then at the University of Tennessee, after which he went to work in the field for many years before continuing his education at VCU. Now, as chief innovation officer for DuPont Teijin Films, Martin oversees new product and market development for the U.S., and his team recently was awarded the American Chemical Society Team Innovation Award for its launch of the Mylar COOK ovenable pouch. He is also the current president of the VCU School of Engineering Alumni Board. “My VCU education was top-notch and exposed me to a diverse set of classmates, professors and research professionals,” Martin says. “It also exposed me to cutting-edge research, laboratory facil-ities and technical writing. I’m very proud of my VCU experience.”

“My VCU education was top-notch and exposed me to a

diverse set of classmates, professors and research

professionals. It also exposed me to cutting-edge research,

laboratory facilities and technical writing. I’m very

proud of my VCU experience.”

Oscar L. Martin Jr., Ph.D.2009 Doctor of Philosophy

School of Engineering

When Josephine L. Hargis was 8 years old, she created a scrap-book that documented her experiences serving and helping people in need. More than 70 years later, she could fill volumes. Throughout her life and career, Hargis has distinguished herself as a scholar and as a tireless advocate for the betterment of nursing and patient care. Her numerous degrees and 40-year career as a nurse and director stand as an example established through steadfastness and a deep sense of purpose. Hargis attended Virginia Union University from 1949-1951. She then completed a B.S. in Nursing degree from the St. Philip School of Nursing at the Medical College of Virginia in 1955 and went on to earn an M.A. in Guidance and Counseling from Hampton Institute, an M.S. in Adult Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Maryland and two certificates in nursing admin-istration from the American Nurses Association. From 1954 to her retirement in 1994, Hargis’ career included positions from staff nurse to instructor to supervisor. She was the first African-American clinical nurse specialist at the Virginia Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. Her 20-plus years at Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, Va., stand among her most notable accomplishments. There, as the first minority director of nursing, she is credited with transform-ing patient care for geriatric and adult psychiatric patients from a mode of containment to holistic care. According to her peers, Hargis did so by spearheading a complete reorganization, improv-ing hiring practices and providing ongoing staff education. “My career in nursing grew over 40 years of diligent, dedicated practice and advanced education,” she says. “I have consistently shared my knowledge in the clinical area and in my community to help others to improve their skills and/or their health in general.” Committed to her profession, Hargis held memberships as well as committee and board positions with numerous organizations over the years, including as a board member for American Nurses Association’s Virginia Nurses Association District 10, on the advi-sory council for American Journal of Nursing and on the board of directors for American Cancer Society’s Williamsburg unit. Hargis credits her mother with teaching her the importance of serving others, an aunt who drew her into nursing and her immense faith for inspiring her career. In her retirement, she con-tinues to serve through volunteer work.

“My career in nursing grew over 40 years of diligent, dedicated practice and advanced education.”

Josephine L. Hargis1955 Bachelor of Science

School of Nursing

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Under Tonya S. Mallory’s entrepreneurial guidance, what was once a small startup company with 11 employees in down-town Richmond, Va., has expanded to more than 750 employees today and stands at the forefront of diagnostic care. Mallory, a two-time Virginia Commonwealth University gradu-ate, launched Health Diagnostic Laboratory Inc. in 2008, in the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park. The disease-manage-ment company began serving patients in November 2009 and provides diagnostic testing and services that help physicians improve their patients’ treatment though a personalized health plan. The company’s tests provide early detection of risk factors in the areas of cardiovascular disease, heart failure, stroke, dia-betes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease. As an undergraduate in the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences, Mallory fully intended to attend medical school after graduating, but “made a decision to change that idea the spring of my senior year,” she says. Instead, she earned a master’s degree in forensic science in 1989. Mallory attended classes from noon to 10 p.m. (Financing college herself, she worked from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.) She went on to a career in diagnostic laboratory science that spanned more than 20 years. Before co-founding HDL and becoming its president and CEO, Mallory worked for in vitro device manufacturer Wako Diagnostics and gained extensive proficiency as a health care regulatory consultant for domestic and international compa-nies. It is through watching changes in the laboratory and the general health care industry that she realized that good out-comes come from participatory, personalized and preventive medicine. Her knowledge and experience translated into HDL and cemented the company’s mission to provide early detection of risk factors for various diseases. “The desire to be helpful in the field of medicine has been influ-ential on most of my life,” she says. Mallory, the recipient of numerous accolades and awards — including the Ernst & Young 2012 National Entrepreneur of the Year — extends that help beyond the health care field and to her alma mater. She has served on the boards of the School of Business Foundation and the MCV Foundation. And in March 2013, HDL agreed to a $4 million partnership to support the VCU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and its future capital projects, including the HDL Inc. Athletic Village. “The HDL and VCU partnership goes beyond just the funding of a premier athletic facility,” Mallory says. “By the promotion of our company within VCU, it is our hope that we keep math and science jobs in Virginia — and hopefully here in Richmond at HDL.”

Tonya S. Mallory1988 Bachelor of Science • 1989 Master of Science

College of Humanities and Sciences

“The desire to be helpful in the field of medicine

has been influential on most of my life.”

Jesse Vaughan’s career as an award-winning director spans back to his freshman year at Virginia Commonwealth University, when he landed a position as a part-time cameraman for a local TV station. Under the mentorship of Ted White, professor in the School of Mass Communications, Vaughan then directed a local news production and his first TV show at the age of 19, before launching a string of career accomplishments that culminated in 21 Emmy Awards stemming from 36 nominations. “The School of Mass Communications instilled within me the idea that knowledge can never be taken away from you and, with that knowledge, you have the foundation to succeed,” he says. Following his graduation from VCU in 1980 — and with nine nationally syndicated educational documentaries under his belt — NBC picked up on Vaughan in 1981. The network quickly signed the director to a decade-long commitment to work on programs including “The Jesse Jackson Show,” the “Today Show,” “Meet the Press” and President Ronald Reagan’s State of the Union addresses. While directing NBC Sports’ coverage of the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Tokyo, Vaughan collaborated with premier artists including Elton John, Tina Turner, Will Smith, Anita Baker and Rod Stewart. Following his tenure at NBC, he directed season five of the sketch comedy series “In Living Color,” with talents such as Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx, before shifting his efforts toward the realm of music documentaries and videos. Amid an eight-year stint as a freelancer, he directed videos for MTV Networks, including groups and artists such as ’N Sync, Eric Benet, Master P and SWV. In 2002, he directed his first feature film, “Juwanna Mann,” for Warner Bros./Morgan Creek Productions. Known as a passionate creator who possesses a strong work ethic and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done right, Vaughan credits Martin Luther King Jr.’s “What is Your Life’s Blueprint” speech and his mother, Rachel Vaughan, who stressed the importance of higher education, for inspiring his lifelong successes. He donated his time to film and direct the VCU “Invest in Me” spot for his alma mater, winning a regional Emmy Award in 2013 for his efforts. Vaughan is currently directing the motion picture “The Last Punch,” a film about Muhammad Ali’s last fight, and serves as special assistant to the president of Virginia State University in Petersburg, Va.

“The School of Mass Communications instilled within me the idea that knowledge can never be taken away from you and, with that knowledge, you have the foundation to succeed.”

Jesse Vaughan 1980 Bachelor of Science

School of Mass Communications

1918 19

1989 Peggy C. AdamsWyndham Blanton Jr., M.D.* William C. Bosher Jr., Ed.D.Sarah Cooke*Altamont Dickerson Jr., D.Ed.Paul A. GrossJohn HastyMattie S. Jones*Fitzhugh Mayo, M.D.French H. Moore Jr., D.D.S.Tom RobbinsDana WardGeorge Woltz

1990 Ronald C. AbernathyD. Ware Branch, M.D.Phyllis CothranDeborah D’AllesandroGinna DaltonKathy Kaplan, Ph.D.Suzanne Laychock, Ph.D.Elizabeth A. MasonMichael McMunn, D.D.S.Martha Moon, Ph.D.Teresa MullinKenneth F. SmithKathy Snowden

1991 Thomas W. BlekickiStephanie Ferguson, Ph.D.Bill Gaines*Fred Karnas, Ph.D.Lynda Mandell, Ph.D.Karl E. Peace, Ph.D.Robert RigsbyJames Schroeder, D.D.S.Jay T. Thompson IIIThelma Bland Watson, Ph.D.Adyce Waymack*Sandra Wiltshire

1992 Richard D. Barnes, D.D.S. Maurice Beane Don BevilleJames W. Bynum, Ed.D.Gary D.V. Hankins, M.D.S. Chris JonesJ.C. McWilliams Jr.Susan A. Minasian James A. Rothrock John SeibertBeth A. Sharp, Ph.D. Donald M. Stablein, Ph.D.Denise Williams

1993 Virginia “Penny” H. Anderson Charles Ben Bissell, Ph.D.James N. BoydAnthony G. CokesJohn C. Doswell II, D.D.S.James D. FoxWoody B. HanesRichard W. Leatherman, Ph.D.Diana J. McGinn, Ph.D.Thomas L. MountcastleRichard P. Phipps, Ph.D.Marie A. Smith, Pharm.D. Keith N. Van Arsdalen, M.D.

1994 Lou Oliver BrooksBarry L. Carter, Pharm.D.Claire Faith CollinsJeremy ConwayRichard C. Davis Jr., M.D.William D. Dietrich III, Ph.D.Michael A. EvansDavid HuntMichelle B. MitchellDana MoriconiA. Carole Pratt, D.D.S.Joan F. RexingerSydney Sherrod, Ph.D.

*Deceased

Alumni Stars 1989-1994

Alumni Stars 1995-2001

1995 Anne C. Adams, D.D.S.John O. BecknerDavid Lee Cochran, Ph.D.Regan L. Crump, Ph.D.Robert J. Grey Jr. Bruce E. Jarrell, M.D.M. Kenneth Magill, Ph.D.Catherine E. Nash*Robert A. Pratt, Ph.D.Joseph A. Runk* David W. Singley Jr.Roberta Williamson

1997 Sheryl D. Baldwin, Ph.D.Edward B. BarberSusan I. BrandtCatherine S. Casey, M.D.Eugenio A. Cefali, Ph.D.Teresita FernandezR. Reese HarrisRichard C. Kraus*Jeffrey Levin, D.D.S.Carol A. McCoyMarilyn B. Tavenner Linda R. Watkins, Ph.D.

1998 John D. Bower, M.D.Sheila Crowley, Ph.D.Bevill M. DeanNancy K. DurrettCharlotte G. FischerJay F. FitzgeraldRussell W. Heath Jr.James H. Revere Jr., D.D.S.Sheri A. ReynoldsMark A. SzalwinskiTracey S. WelbornSandra P. Welch, Ph.D.

1999 Ralph L. Anderson, D.D.S.Susan M. Carlton, Ph.D.Melissa A. DavisCarl F. Emswiller Jr.*John J. Nagelhout, Ph.D.Cathy N. PondRichard T. RobertsonPatricia A. Rowell, Ph.D.Alice M. SchreinerThomas G. Snead Jr.Jeffrey K. Taubenberger, M.D.Susan M. Trulove

2000 Elnora AllenDavid Baldacci, J.D.Gregory Enas, Ph.D.Earl R. Fox, M.D.*William M. GintherVictor GoinesJane MoncureCarmen NazarioRita Pickler, Ph.D. Rebecca Parker SneadWilliam J. Viglione, D.D.S.

2001 Jo Lynne DeMary, Ed.D.Rex Ellis, Ph.D. Milton Ende, M.D.* and Norman Ende, M.D.Cynthia GarrisL. Preston HaleDaniel Jarboe, Ph.D.Rodney J. Klima, D.D.S. James LesterJanice MeckSusan MoralesKatharine Webb

*Deceased

20

2003 Christopher C. Colenda, M.D.Donna M. DaltonEdward L. Flippen, J.D.Starrene FosterRay C. GoodwinDaniel A. Herbert*Kevin L. Holmes, Ph.D.Brian K. JacksonRobert B. Lantz*Bennie L. Marshall, R.N., Ed.D.James O. MunnChristopher C. Thurston and William H. ChapmanJames D. Watkins, D.D.S.

2005 Ira C. Colby, D.S.W.Bradford A. CrosbyNancy C. EverettJudith W. GodwinStephanie L. HoltColleen K. Jackson-Cook, Ph.D.Anita M. Josey-Herring, J.D. Hugh D. KeoghThomas M. Krummel, M.D.Margaret Gallagher LewisBruce D. McWhinney, Pharm.D.Rebecca Perdue Leah T. Robinson, Ph.D.*Roger E. Wood, D.D.S.

2008 Golden H. Bethune-HillMark A. Crabtree, D.D.S.John CraginDonwan T. HarrellSheila Hill-ChristianSteven Offenbacher, Ph.D.Mary PerkinsonJonathan B. Perlin, Ph.D.Mark RaperCathy SaundersTom SilvestriPatricia W. Slattum, Pharm.D., Ph.D.Robert J. Wittman, Ph.D.Patricia Wright, Ed.D.

2011 Edmond F. Bowden, Ph.D.Glenn A. DavisTara DonovanDale C. Kalkofen, Ed.D.Panelpha “Penny” L. Kyler, Sc.D., OTR/LDebra E. Lyon, Ph.D.Paul D. McWhinneyJonathan C. RobertsJason T. RoeRonald L. Tankersley, D.D.S.Tadataka “Tachi” Yamada, M.D.

*Deceased

Alumni Stars 2003-2011

Award designThe Alumni Stars program began in November 1989 and has

recognized 201 alumni since then. The glass star award was created by the late Kent Ipsen, a professor of craft and material studies

in the School of the Arts. His daughter, Lisa French (B.S. ’94/H&S), continues the tradition by creating these beautiful works of art.

To find out more about the partnership between Nationwide and VCU Alumni

visit insurance4VCUalumni.com

As the official insurance provider of VCU Alumni, Nationwide Insurance* is proud to sponsor the 2013 Alumni Stars and congratulates the award recipients.

A VCU University Relations publication an equal opportunity/affirmative action university 130618-05

Special thanks to our event sponsor

Cover details: Fireplace surround from the McAdams House (top) and decorative grille from the Egyptian Building