VCU news

Hamilton Goss, Aramark executive chef at VCU

Goss earned the ProChef II certification from the Culinary Institute of America this February. The certification was developed to test chefs’ abilities not only in the kitchen, but also in areas of culinary knowledge, leadership and business management. Candidates must apply months in advance, and once accepted the actual test is one week long, made up of four practical examinations and a total of 21 hours in the kitchen, nine hours of judging and critique and eight hours of written examination. The passing rate of the examination is about 60 percent, and only about 20 percent of executive chefs at peer colleges and universities are certified to this level.

“This is a culmination of many years of work and experience,” Goss said. “Intensive studying and focus toward this test began the day I was accepted about three months ago.”

The ProChef II certification is a milestone toward the training necessary to prepare for the Certified Master Chef examination. Only 47 chefs have passed the CMC exam, with a pass rate of just 3.8 percent. The ProChef II was developed as a way to better prepare chefs for the CMC.

Healthy cuisine is one of the main areas of focus for the ProChef II.

“I believe that VCU Dining will benefit greatly from this certification. Not only has my knowledge personally improved, but the staff has already been impacted,” Goss said. “Culinary growth is driven by excitement for our craft and the desire to learn more. As this examination has pushed me, I will continue to push our staff to learn more, be creative and strive toward their goals.”

Faye Belgrave, Ph.D., professor, Department of Psychology, College of Humanities and Sciences

Belgrave has been named the senior career recipient of the American Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest, which recognizes those who have advanced psychology by a single extraordinary achievement or a lifetime of outstanding contributions in the public interest.

Belgrave has made a significant impact in the area of community interventions that attend aspects of culture – gender, ethnicity, age and place – to promote well-being among African-American youth and young adults, according to the award, noting “Belgrave has devoted her career to developing interventions to promote the health of youth, families and communities.”

In 2001, Belgrave founded the Center for Cultural Experiences in Prevention at VCU, working with community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, school systems and other institutions to implement and evaluate culturally appropriate prevention programs in the area of HIV and substance abuse prevention. As a result of the center’s work, more than two dozen people have been trained to deliver culturally informed HIV and substance abuse prevention programs.

She has also secured nearly $8 million in funding, primarily from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to deliver and evaluate HIV and substance abuse prevention programs and to conduct research in communities of color.

Belgrave is the author of “African American Girls: Reframing Perceptions and Changing Experiences” and co-author of “African American Boys: Identity, Culture, and Development,” and many other works.

Gregory Triplett, Ph.D., associate dean for graduate studies, School of Engineering

Triplett joined the School of Engineering in January as associate dean for graduate studies. He is tasked with expanding students’ professional development activities to ensure their experience builds a strong foundation for a promising career with unlimited opportunities for growth.

 “If we can successfully recruit, retain and graduate talented students from every part of the country and every part of the world, that will indicate VCU’s forward momentum,” he said.

 Prior to joining Virginia Commonwealth University, Triplett earned his Ph.D. from Georgia Tech and spent the past 11 years at the University of Missouri, where he served as an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and associate director of the Honors College.

At Missouri, Triplett received numerous awards in teaching, research and service, including the William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence Award, the Booker T. Washington Advisor of the Year Award and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research’s Young Investigator Award. In addition to helping secure nearly $9 million in total grant funding, Triplett increased the retention rate for electrical and computing engineering students from their freshman to their junior years and more than doubled student participation in honors research.

“Triplett is not only an accomplished researcher and teacher, he’s a proven mentor for students,” said Barbara D. Boyan, Ph.D., dean of the School of Engineering. “We are thrilled to have him join in our mission to recruit quality graduate students and help nurture them into well-rounded, lifelong learners.”

Jason A. Carlyon, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine

The American Society for Rickettsiology has chosen Jason A. Carlyon, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Medicine, as president of the society. The society includes clinicians, basic scientists and epidemiologists in academia, government and industry who study Rickettsial diseases. These diseases are arthropod vector-transmitted and are significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. As president, Carlyon is organizing the annual meeting that will take place in Big Sky, Montana, in June.

 Elissa C. Armstrong, associate director, Art Foundation Program, School of the Arts

Armstrong has been named president-elect of the board of directors of the National Council of Arts Administrators. She will serve a two-year term.

Armstrong joined VCU in 2006 and received the VCU School of the Arts Distinguished Faculty Service Award in 2012. Her work has been shown at numerous venues including the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, The Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art, The Salina Art Center and The Clay Studio.

The NCAA is a community of arts administrators in higher education.

Mireille Truong, M.D., Stony Point Women’s Health and Women’s Health Nelson clinics

Virginia Commonwealth University Health welcomes Mireille Truong, M.D., who offers gynecological care at VCU Health’s Stony Point Women’s Health and Women’s Health Nelson clinics. She specializes in minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries for advanced stage endometriosis, abnormal uterine bleeding, uterine fibroids, fertility issues, ovarian cysts, pelvic masses, chronic pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction. Truong is fellowship trained in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, which through the use of newer technology such as robotics allows patients to have a smaller incision, fewer complications, less pain, less blood loss and scarring, and faster recovery time.

“My main goals in servicing the women I treat is to provide the most up-to-date and best care possible, while taking into consideration the women’s beliefs and preferences,” she said. “For example, I want to be able to provide minimally invasive procedures for women so that they can recover quickly and get back to their daily lives sooner and with as little pain as possible. I always want to be an advocate for my patients, so it is really important for me to build a meaningful and trusting relationship with my patients, help educate women about their health and conditions and empower them to actively manage their health and lifestyles.”

Truong is a three-time VCU graduate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in French with a minor in Spanish in 2003, a postgraduate degree in international management in 2004 and a doctor of medicine degree in 2008. Truong completed her research fellowship in surgical simulation at Florida Hospital Nicholson Center and her fellowship in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at Columbia University Medical Center. Additionally, she is a member of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons.