Contact us
VCU News is produced by University Public Affairs, along with the twice-weekly VCU Newsletter and daily TelegRAM. University Public Affairs — part of the Division of University Relations — is the public relations arm of the university, leading the news and public information efforts of VCU and VCU Health.
If you have questions, comments or a story idea, email vcunews@vcu.edu.
Staff
Contact information for VCU News staff is listed below, along with contact details for additional public relations contacts across the university and the rest of the University Public Affairs staff.
For media inquiries, contact one of the University Public Affairs staff members below. The news topics they are responsible for are included on their bio pages. Members of the media should call or text (804) 418-0174 to reach an on-call public affairs staff member for emergency requests outside of regular business hours. See more information and guidelines for media.
- Michael R. Porter, APR
- Associate vice president for publicaffairs
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- Esther Benenson
- News editor for VCU Health
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- Mary Kate Brogan
- Public relations specialist
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- Corey Byers
- Senior public relations specialist
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- Pauline Clay
- Copy editor
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- Dedrain Davis
- Public relations coordinator
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- Elinor Frisa
- VCU homepage manager
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- Tom Gresham
- Director of news operations
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- James Irwin
- News editor
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- Brian McNeill
- Senior public relations specialist
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- Laura Rossacher
- Director for public affairs, VCU Health
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- James Shea
- Writer
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- Joan Tupponce
- Writer
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- Leila Ugincius
- Senior public relations specialist
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- Dina Weinstein
- Writer
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These staff members are responsible for public relations in specialized areas across VCU at the college, school and unit level.
- Shira Cantor
- Public relations and marketing manager
- Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
- Phone: (804) 828-7035
- Email: shira.pollard@vcuhealth.org
- Daniel Carrigan
- Public relations, marketing and strategy manager
- VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center
- Phone: (804) 828-5955
- Email: daniel.carrigan@vcuhealth.org
- Meredith T. Carrington
- Interim manager for design and communication
- Institute for Contemporary Art
- Phone: (804) 437-1992
- Email: mtcarrington@vcu.edu
- Alexis Finc
- Director of communications, VCU College of Humanities and Sciences
- VCU College of Humanities and Sciences
- Phone: (804) 827-1351
- Email: alfinc@vcu.edu
- Angela L. Flagg, APR
- Director of communications
- VCU School of Nursing
- Phone: (804) 828-1071
- Email: flaggal@vcu.edu
- Caitlin Hanbury
- Assistant director of community affairs
- VCU College of Humanities and Sciences
- Phone: (804) 827-0862
- Email: cshanbury@vcu.edu
- A.J. Hostetler
- Director of communications
- VCU Office of Research and Innovation
- Phone: (804) 628-3838
- Email: hostetlera2@vcu.edu
- Joanne E. Jensen
- Director of Marketing and Communications
- Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success
- Phone: (804) 828-6007
- Email: jejensen@vcu.edu
- Nan Johnson
- Director of communications
- VCU School of Dentistry
- Phone: (804) 828-0324
- Email: nljohnson@vcu.edu
- Jackie Kruszewski
- Senior communications and outreach specialist
- Wright Center for Clinical and Transitional Research
- Phone: (804) 828-6671
- Email: kruszewskij@vcu.edu
- Manuel Liban
- Director for communications and information management
- Division for Inclusive Excellence
- Phone: (804) 828-1841
- Email: mliban@vcu.edu
- Geoff LoCicero
- Director of communications
- VCU School of Social Work
- Phone: (804) 828-9335
- Email: locicerog2@vcu.edu
- Matthew J. Lovisa
- Director of communications and marketing
- Division of Student Affairs
- Phone: (804) 828-1424
- Email: mlovisa@vcu.edu
- Lynne McCarthy
- Communications and Alumni Relations officer
- Life Sciences/VCU Rice Rivers Center
- Phone: (804) 827-1164
- Email: lcmccarthy@vcu.edu
- Tiffany Murray-Robinson
- Director of communications and external relations
- L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
- Phone: (804) 827-1253
- Email: tfmurray@vcu.edu
- Jenny Owen
- Director of public relations and communications
- VCU Massey Cancer Center
- Phone: (804) 628-2111
- Email: jrowen2@vcu.edu
- Sue Robinson
- Director of communications and public relations
- VCU Libraries
- Phone: (804) 828-0129
- Email: srobinson26@vcu.edu
- V. Renee Russell, APR
- Director of communications and marketing
- Global Education Office
- Phone: (804) 828-3636
- Email: vrrussell@vcu.edu
- Jamie Stillman
- Director of strategic communications
- Office of the Provost
- Phone: (804) 828-1205
- Email: jmstillm@vcu.edu
- Owen Wachter
- Creative lead and web manager
- VCU School of Education
- Phone: (804) 827-3628
- Email: owachter@vcu.edu
- Greg Weatherford
- Director of communications
- VCU School of Pharmacy
- Phone: (804) 828-6470
- Email: goweatherfor@vcu.edu
These staff members specialize in social media and other areas within University Public Affairs.
- Jennifer Carmean
- Director of communications for university initiatives
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- Michele Howell
- FOIA officer
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- Pat Kane
- Social media strategist
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- Jack Norton
- TelegRAM editor/writer
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- Saher Randhawa
- Social media content strategist
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- Tristana Nesvig Trani
- Director of social strategy and integration
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For the media
Our public relations staff members are here to assist journalists and members of the media as they cover stories and people at VCU and VCU Health. We are a 24-hour operation, and you can call or text (804) 418-0174 to reach an on-call public affairs staff member for emergency requests outside of regular business hours. Please adhere to the guidelines below.
- Media representatives must arrange interviews and photo shoots with VCU faculty, staff or patients in advance through University Public Affairs.
- A University Public Affairs staff person will accompany any reporters, video crews and photographers while on campus to ensure confidentiality, privacy and appropriate sensitivity to students, patients and families. Members of the media may not enter student housing or position themselves at the entrances to student housing, except on rare occasions with special permission.
- News media must seek permission from University Public Affairs to set up to videotape or broadcast live from campus and they must park in designated areas. Permission will usually be granted for exterior work as long as it does not interfere with university operations.
- Members of the media reporting on VCU Health must follow additional guidelines, and University Public Affairs staff pay particular attention to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and other regulations involving patient confidentiality. Please review the guidelines on the VCU Health brand website.
