VCU to honor 14 alumni stars at Founders Day

By Malorie Burkett

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Commonwealth University Alumni associations will honor 14 alumni who have excelled in careers from dance to engineering during the annual Founders Day Celebration on Nov. 7.

Selected through faculty recommendations and alumni committees, Alumni Stars from across the university are recognized for their community, humanitarian, professional achievements and university service.

“Rewarding alumni for their outstanding achievements is a wonderful way to remember what our graduates are accomplishing,” said Diane Stout-Brown, associate director of Alumni Activities. "Because this awards program is the only one where honorees are recognized among their peers before a university-wide audience, the event instills pride and provides unity, making people proud to be part of the university.” 

This year’s Alumni Stars include:

• Dr. Kevin L. Holmes of Herndon, Va. Holmes received his doctoral degree in anatomy in 1981. At the National Institutes of Health, he is head of the Flow Cytometry Section for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

• Edward L. Flippen of Richmond, Va. Flippen received his Bachelor of Science in Business in 1964. He is a partner in the Public Utilities and Energy Group for McGuire Woods. Flippen also is former rector and member of the VCU Board of Visitors and past chair of the administrative law section for the Virginia State Board of Governors.

• Dr. James D. Watkins of Hampton, Va. Watkins received his dental degree in 1975. He is in private dentistry practice, a former member of the American Dental Society’s Council on Dental Education/Commission on Dental Accreditation and an American Dental Association representative for the Dental Assisting National Board.

• Donna M. Dalton of Richmond, Va. Dalton received her Master of Education degree in 2000. She is director of curriculum and instruction for Chesterfield County Public Schools and also is the recipient of the 1994 Presidential Award for Science and Mathematics Teaching.

• James O. Munn of Winooski, Vt. Munn received his Bachelor of Science in engineering in 2001. He is a staff engineer with IBM-Electronics Division in Burlington, Vt. Munn also is a founder and past president of VCU Chapters of Engineering fraternity, Theta Tu and engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi.

• Brian K. Jackson of Richmond, Va. Jackson received his Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1985. He is vice-president and general counsel, corporate secretary and member of the board of directors for Ukrop’s Supermarkets, Inc.

• Chris C. Thurston and William N. Chapman of Richmond, Va. Thurston and Chapman received their Bachelor of Science degrees in mass communications in 1987. They founded the RightMinds advertising and marketing agency, and recently were honored as Ad Team of the Year by the Richmond Ad Club.

• Dr. Christopher C. Colenda, III of College Station, Texas. Colenda received his medical degree in 1977. A psychiatrist and geriatric psychiatrist, he is dean of the College of Medicine at the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center.

• Dr. Bennie L. Marshall of Norfolk, Va. Marshall received her Bachelor of Science in nursing in 1970 and is professor and head of the Department of Nursing at Norfolk State University.

• Daniel A. Herbert of Richmond, Va. Herbert received his Bachelor of Science in pharmacy in 1966. Regarded as a national leader in pharmacy management, Herbert opened Bremo Pharmacy in Richmond, which is part of Richmond Apothecaries, where he is president and CEO.

• Ray C. Goodwin of Richmond, Va. Goodwin received his Master of Social Work degree in 1964. Since 1976, he has been deputy commissioner for the Virginia Department of Social Services. Goodwin also initiated Virginia Social Services’ training for local child welfare workers

• The Rev. Robert B. Lantz of Annapolis, Md. Lantz, who received his Certificate in Patient Counseling in 1964, is chairman of the board of the Maryland Institute of Pastoral Counseling, Inc., and is a board certified diplomate of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.

• Starrene Foster of Richmond, Va., was a student in VCU’s Department of Dance from 1989-1995. She is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and the artistic director of the Starr Foster Dance Project.

Founders Day is hosted by the VCU Alumni Association and the Medical College of Virginia Alumni Association at VCU. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception and will be followed by a seated dinner and awards program at 7 p.m. at the Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. The cost of the dinner is $35 per person. For reservations or more information, call 804-828-2586.