VCU news

Virginia Commonwealth University will honor a collection of its most accomplished alumni during its Alumni Stars awards program Oct. 25.

The Alumni Stars program, which is sponsored by VCU Alumni, recognizes outstanding graduates who have made significant contributions in the areas of humanitarian and professional achievement. Honorees are selected through faculty recommendations and alumni committees from across the university. The program has recognized 201 alumni since it began in 1989.

The 2013 recipients will be recognized at a dinner and awards program Friday, Oct. 25, at the Richmond Marriott Hotel, 500 E. Broad St. A buffet and cocktails begins at 5:30 p.m., and the awards program starts at 7 p.m.\

The 2013 honorees are:

 

Angela T. Bacskocky, School of the Arts, clothing designer

“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.”

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph F. Damico, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and School of Allied Health Professions, deputy director of the Virginia Department of General Services

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

S. Dallas Dance, Ph.D., School of Education, superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raymond A. Dionne, D.D.S., Ph.D., School of Medicine, research professor 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.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Josephine L. Hargis, School of Nursing, retired director of nursing from the Eastern State Hospital

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen W. Harms, School of Social Work, interim deputy chief administrative officer for the human services division of the City of Richmond

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sainath R. Iyer, School of Mass Communications and School of World Studies, instructor at Teach For America

“My education at VCU was not just academic in nature, but was an education of the whole student.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arthur W. Layne, College of Humanities and Sciences and School of Allied Health Professions, president of Intellimed International Corporation

“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.”

 

 

 

 

 

Susan M. Learned, Pharm.D., Ph.D., M.D., School of Pharmacy, vice president, medicines development leader and head, Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis Care Areas at Stiefel, a GSK Company

“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.”

 

 

 

 

Tonya S. Mallory, College of Humanities and Sciences, co-founder, president and CEO of Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc.

“The desire to be helpful in the field of medicine has been influential on most of my life.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oscar L. Martin Jr., Ph.D., School of Engineering, chief innovation officer for DuPont Teijin Films

“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.”

 

 

 

 

 

Julian C. Metts Jr., D.D.S., School of Dentistry, co-founder of the World Pediatric Project

“We felt we had established a track record to create a hospital dedicated to the care of these children, those completely innocent and at great risk for any hope of normal lives.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesse Vaughan, School of Mass Communications, Emmy-winning film director and special assistant to the president of Virginia State University

“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.”

 

 

 

 

 

Jane G. Watkins, School of Business, CEO of the Virginia Credit Union

“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.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about the VCU Alumni Stars dinner and this year’s recipients, visit www.vcualumni.org/news/alumnistars.html.