VCU news

By Lissette Linares

Twelve distinguished alumni who have excelled in fields from dentistry to fashion will be honored by Virginia Commonwealth University during its annual Founders Day activities in November. The Alumni Stars will be honored during a Nov. 5 Founders Day Celebration, hosted by The VCU Alumni Association and the Medical College of Virginia Alumni Association of VCU. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center, 1200 W. Broad St.

The College of Humanities and Sciences, schools of the Arts, Medicine, Education, Dentistry, Business, Nursing, Social Work, Allied Health Professions and Pharmacy, and the VCU Nontraditional Studies Program will recognize the following alumni:

• Richard T. Robertson - 1967 graduate of the School of Mass Communications. The president of Warner Brothers Domestic Television Distribution, Robertson was chairman of the VCU’s Partner’s for Progress campaign that raised $167.8 million during a seven-year period. He kicked off the public phase of the campaign by announcing a $1 million gift to the university and made a separate gift naming the Richard T. Robertson Alumni House.

• Melissa McElhatton - 1992 graduate of the Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising in the School of the Arts. McElhatton is senior market editor for Mademoiselle. While a student at VCU, she founded The Eye, the university’s student-run fashion magazine, and co-founded the VCU chapter of the American Fashion Council.

• Jeffery K. Taubenberger –1986 graduate of VCU’s School of Medicine and received doctorate in anatomy in 1987. Taubenberger is chief of the Division of Molecular Pathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. He conducts immunology, virology and cancer research, and provides major clinical service in molecular pathology. He is attributed with the characterization of the virus that caused the 1918 influenza outbreak that killed 40 million people worldwide in less than one year.

• Susan M. Carlton – in 1982 received doctorate in anatomy from School of Basic Health Sciences, now under School of Medicine. A professor in the Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Carlton examines how pain signals are processed in the peripheral and central nervous system, building an understanding to help guide the development of better pain medications.

• Susan T. Noble – 1994 graduate of psychology and received master's in early childhood education in 1996. Noble is a first grade teacher at Gayton Elementary School in Henrico County and a member of the Virginia State Board of Education.

• Ralph L. Anderson – 1970 graduate of School of Dentistry and third African-American to enroll in the school. After serving in the Army Dental Corps, he returned to VCU and earned a certificate in orthodontics in 1975. Anderson is the past president of the MCV Orthodontic Foundation and an associate clinical professor at VCU.

• Thomas G. Snead - 1976 School of Business graduate with degree in accounting. Snead is the president and CEO of Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield. A VCU professor helped him land his first job with Peat Marwick, one of the largest accounting firms in the world, which served as a springboard to his successful accounting career.

• Patricia Rowell – 1970 graduate of science, 1974 graduate of School of Nursing, received master’s in nursing in 1979 and doctorate in health services research in 1990. Rowell is a senior policy fellow with the Department of Nursing Practice of the American Nurses Association.

• Cathy Pond – 1976 graduate of School of Social Work and received master’s in social planning and administration in 1980. Pond is the executive director of the Richmond YWCA. She serves on the MCV/VCU Woman’s Health Advisory Committee and is a member of the university’s Institute for Women’s Health.

• John J. Nagelhout - recipient of 1975 post-certificate in nurse anesthesia from VCU School of Allied Health Professions. Nagelhout is director of the School of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente in California and an adjunct professor at California State University, Long Beach.

• Carl F. Emswiller Jr. – 1962 graduate of School of Pharmacy. The former VCU associate clinical professor of pharmacy is considered a pioneer in pharmaceutical practice. He has reinforced a clinical orientation to pharmaceutics, in both his personal practice and professional affiliations, influencing other organizations to adopt similar approaches to patient care.

• Alice M. Schreiner – 1997 graduate of general studies and received master’s in adult education in 1998. Schreiner returned to her college career at the age of 71. Her commitment to lifelong learning and community service have led to her leadership roles in Girl Scouts of America, the American Camping Association and the Red Cross.