Lloyd Young named executive director of VCU’s da Vinci Center for Innovation

By VCU News staff

Lloyd Young has been named executive director of Virginia Commonwealth University’s da Vinci Center for Innovation, after having served in the role on an interim basis since July.

Young’s connection to the da Vinci Center began long before she joined its leadership team in 2020. In 2008, as a graduate student in the interior architecture program at the VCU School of the Arts, she witnessed the first da Vinci project come to life through a classmate’s experience. From that moment, Young said, she was captivated by the center’s mission to unite disciplines and inspire real-world innovation.

Over the years, she remained a passionate supporter, eventually becoming one of the architects of the da Vinci center’s growth and transformation. She now is the first woman to lead the center.

Young’s commitment to interdisciplinary, purpose-driven learning stems from her own nontraditional path. As an undergraduate at The Evergreen State College in Washington state, she experienced the power of curiosity-led, experiential education, an ethos that would go on to shape her professional life. Her career spans photography, hospitality, education, design and strategic consulting. From working at a local sub shop to launching a literacy-through-photography program and directing creative campaigns at a local advertising firm, Young has developed a human, hands-on approach to leadership.

“My vision is for the da Vinci Center to be the most inclusive, dynamic innovation ecosystem in higher education,” Young said. “We’re not just preparing students for jobs – we’re helping them build confidence, creativity and resilience to thrive in whatever future they choose.”

In her first role with the da Vinci Center leadership team in 2020, Young led brand and communications strategy. Since then, she has played a central role in shaping the center’s identity and impact.

Young co-founded Shift Retail Lab alongside Garret Westlake, Ph.D., and launched several signature programs, including the Shelfie program, Shift Magazine and the Shift Internship Program, all aimed at expanding access to innovation and entrepreneurship for students across disciplines.

Now, as executive director, Young will focus on what she calls radical access to innovation, ensuring that innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship and real-world learning are available to all learners, regardless of background, academic major or stage of life. Under her leadership, she said, the da Vinci Center will continue to evolve as a hub for interdisciplinary learning, workforce innovation and community engagement.

Young is particularly focused on:

• Expanding stackable micro-credentials in innovation that align with workforce needs.
• Scaling lifelong learning opportunities across VCU and beyond.
• Deepening the da Vinci Center’s role in VCU’s new University College.
• Designing re-entry and innovation pathways for returning students and adult learners.

Lloyd said innovation is not a luxury – it is a necessary, practical tool for students navigating an unpredictable future. Through the da Vinci Center, she wants to foster an ecosystem where learners can explore, experiment and shape the future with confidence, purpose and impact.