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 public affairs
View full profile
- Mary Kate Brogan
- Senior public relations specialist
View full profile
- Corey Byers
- Senior public relations specialist
View full profile
- Elinor Frisa
- VCU homepage manager
View full profile
- Tom Gresham
- Director of news operations
View full profile
- Amelia Heymann
- Public relations coordinator
View full profile
- Brian McNeill
- Interim director of public affairs, Monroe Park Campus
View full profile
- Danielle Pierce
- Assistant director for public affairs, VCU Health
View full profile
- Laura Rossacher
- Director for public affairs, VCU Health
View full profile
- James Shea
- Writer
View full profile
- Olivia Trani
- Senior public relations specialist for research and science
View full profile
- Joan Tupponce
- Writer
View full profile
- Leila Ugincius
- Senior public relations specialist
View full profile
These staff members are responsible for public relations in specialized areas across VCU at the college, school and unit level.
- Shena L. Crittendon
- Executive director of strategic communication
- Student Enrollment Management and Student Success
- Email: crittendons@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
- A.J. Hostetler
- Director of communications
- VCU Office of Research and Innovation
- Phone: (804) 628-3838
- Email: hostetlera2@vcu.edu
- Manuel Liban
- Director for communications and information management
- Office of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness and Success
- 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
- Amber Logan
- Senior communications manager and lead science writer
- VCU School of Medicine
- Phone: (804) 628-3869
- Email: amber.logan@vcuhealth.org
- Matthew J. Lovisa
- Director of communications and marketing
- Division of Student Affairs
- Phone: (804) 828-1424
- Email: mlovisa@vcu.edu
- Jessica McCadden
- Director of communications and content strategy
- Institute for Contemporary Art
- Email: mccaddenj@vcu.edu
- Lynne McCarthy
- Communications and Alumni Relations officer
- Life Sciences/VCU Rice Rivers Center
- Phone: (804) 827-1164
- Email: lcmccarthy@vcu.edu
- David Oglethorpe
- Director of public relations and marketing communications
- VCU Massey Cancer Center
- Phone: (804) 828-0450
- Email: oglethorped@vcu.edu
- Shira Pollard
- Director of communications and marketing
- Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
- Phone: (804) 828-7035
- Email: shira.pollard@vcuhealth.org
- Sue Robinson
- Director of communications and public relations
- VCU Libraries
- Phone: (804) 828-0129
- Email: srobinson26@vcu.edu
- David Slipher
- Director of communications and external relations
- L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
- Phone: (804) 828-1614
- Email: slipherd@vcu.edu
- Stacy Sneed
- Director of communications
- VCU School of the Arts
- Phone: (804) 828-6819
- Email: sneeds@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
- John Wallace
- Director of communications
- VCU School of Dentistry
- Phone: (804) 628-7454
- Email: wallacej@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
- Interim assistant vice president for content and storytelling
View full profile
- Michele Howell
- FOIA officer
View full profile
- Pat Kane
- Social media strategist
View full profile
- Jack Norton
- TelegRAM editor/writer
View full profile
- Saher Randhawa
- Social media content strategist
View full profile
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.
