Virginia Commonwealth University's Provost Fotis Sotiropolous has unveiled draft final recommendations aimed at repositioning the university to enhance its efficiency, innovation, and academic appeal. Sotiropolous expressed confidence in the recommendations, stating that they will "fuel VCU’s ascent as we emerge among the nation’s most influential and impactful universities."The recommendations focus on cultivating an inclusive and welcoming environment, empowering faculty and students to engage in transdisciplinary research, and preparing graduates to be creative...
The City University of New York (CUNY) commenced National Community College Month by recognizing 28 CUNY community college students who have been named as semifinalists for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s prestigious Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Celebrating this achievement, CUNY is actively promoting its successful support program, CUNY ASAP, which has served over 100,000 students.CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez commended the semifinalists, stating, “Congratulations are in order for CUNY’s Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship semifinalists, who embody the great...
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has announced changes to its Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC), appointing a new chair and welcoming two new members in April 2024.Jeffrey Stopko, president and CEO of AmeriServ Financial, Inc., has been appointed as the new chair of the CDIAC for 2024, representing the Third Federal Reserve District. Stopko, who has been a member of the advisory council since 2021, will lead the council in its discussions on economic and business trends facing community depository institutions.Joining the CDIAC are James...
In a new study of Syrian refugee families with small children, fathers viewed themselves as highly involved parents; their wives often begged to differ.The study, co-authored by Yale anthropologist Catherine Panter-Brick, found that this disagreement between spouses predicted significant deficits in their children’s social and emotional development even though the fathers’ actual level of parental involvement had no measurable effect on those outcomes.Catherine Panter-Brick, the lead researcher, highlighted the significance of the study's findings by stating, "It’s...
WASHINGTON – Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced the Office of Surety Guarantees award winners recognized for their continued work to help small contracting businesses acquire surety bonds.Guzman commended the award winners, stating, "SBA’s surety guarantee partners play a crucial role in helping the SBA facilitate billions of contracting dollars to America’s small businesses, and our 2024 Surety Guarantee...
Virginia Apgar, known for developing the APGAR Score, was honored with a commemorative stamp issued on October 24, 1994. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, had a stamp issued in her name on October 2, 2023. Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, was commemorated with a stamp on January 31, 2014. Anna Julia Cooper, an advocate for education and civil rights, had a stamp issued in her honor on June 11, 2009. Amelia Earhart, the iconic female aviator, was remembered with a stamp on July 24, 1963. Margaret Mead, a...
Five individuals were recently recognized for their outstanding contributions to the LGBTQIA+ community and the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) at the 2024 Burnside Watstein Awards ceremony. The awards, named after Chris Burnside and Sarah Watstein, aim to celebrate individuals who make a significant impact on the lives of LGBTQIA+ faculty, staff, and students at VCU.Josh Leidy, a member of the selection committee, highlighted that the recipients were chosen for embodying the work of past LGBTQ+ advocates and providing safe spaces for authenticity and growth within...
Amid personal turmoil and challenges, George Richardson found solace and purpose in sports throughout his youth. The death of his parents and separation from his siblings marked a tumultuous journey that ultimately led him to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he pursued a path that will allow him to pay forward the valuable life lessons he has learned.Richardson, set to graduate in May from VCU’s University College with a degree in interdisciplinary studies concentrating on educating youth in fitness and athletics, shared his journey of resilience and...
SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced the selection of 17 new Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), with 13 of them hosted by established Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) across ten states. Guzman highlighted the impact of these centers on women entrepreneurs, especially women of color, stating, “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, we have seen a historic Small Business Boom, with women, especially women of color, filing new business applications at double the rates of men.”The SBA’s WBCs provide essential resources to women entrepreneurs, offering...
