VCU holds 22nd Convocation

By Malorie Burkett

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 23, 2004) – Virginia Commonwealth University on Thursday welcomed faculty and honored four distinguished professors in the areas of teaching, scholarship, service and overall excellence during the 22nd Convocation ceremony.

Held annually since 1982, the event is the formal opening of the academic year and acknowledges the quality and excellence of VCU faculty.

VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., delivered the keynote address at the Convocation, which was held at VCU’s Medical Sciences Building.

“Everything great and promising about VCU –- every good student we attract; every state, private and federal dollar we earn; every patient and community organization we serve — all of it is founded on the strength of this faculty,” said Dr. Trani.

Dr. Trani also said the Distinguished Faculty Awards program is the most visible way the university can come together to recognize how essential faculty are to the success of the university.

The following 2004 Distinguished Faculty Award recipients were recognized:

* Dr. Judy Richardson, School of Education
University Award of Excellence
A professor in teaching and learning in VCU’s School of Education for more than 25 years, Richardson is considered a leading expert in the field of literacy education. Among her accomplishments, Richardson received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to address the shortage of teachers in English as a second language. Richardson is a highly sought presenter, and has contributed to more than 500 workshops, presentations and consultations in Virginia.

* Dr. Charles Bleick, School of the Arts
Distinguished Service Award
Bleick, professor in art education and the newly appointed associate dean for academic affairs at the VCU School of the Arts in Qatar, began his career at VCU in 1976. He has worked with an extensive list of local organizations and his accomplishments in this area include projects on community revitalization and in-depth research on new teaching methodologies. One project in the Blackwell community has involved Bleick for the last five years. As part of a HOPE VI grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Bleick has worked with the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority to assist with the community’s physical transformation through the Blackwell Summer arts program.

* Dr. Richard M. Costanzo, School of Medicine
Distinguished Teaching Award
Costanzo, professor in physiology in VCU’s School of Medicine, is internationally recognized for his extensive studies of the senses of taste and smell, and in nerve-cell regeneration. In addition to this year’s Distinguished Teaching Award, Costanzo was a recipient last year of the School of Medicine’s highest honor, the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. He also has had a six-year run as the recipient of the Best Teacher Award for the neuroscience course he teaches to first-year medical students.

* Dr. Steven H. Woolf, School of Medicine
Distinguished Scholar Award
Woolf, professor and director of research in the Department of Family Medicine, is internationally recognized as an expert on what is called “evidence-based" medicine. For the medical community, he has addressed the issue of effectiveness of health care services. According to Woolf, one of the greatest needs is to address the gap in the quality of care that disadvantaged populations receive. His recent research investigates these disparities and looks at the health benefit that would come from correcting them.

For more information on the honorees, visit http://www.vcu.edu/uns/news/vcuview/archives/2004/sept/convocation.html.