VCU news

By Michael Ford
University News Services

“Let us all take pride in our heritage as the ‘People’s University,’” said Robertson, a 1967 graduate who is now president of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. “Like me, over 70 percent of you worked full or part-time while attending VCU.

“Like me, many of you are the first member of your family to graduate from college,” he said. “And like me, most of you don’t come from financially privileged families – and every single one of us, Class of 2005, can be especially proud that we are part of a school of higher education that provides access to everyone.”

Robertson, who serves on the VCU Board of Visitors, reminded the graduates and their families of several VCU accomplishments over the past few years, including its No.-1 ranked School of the Arts; a School of the Arts in Qatar; the founding of the School of Engineering and VCU Life Sciences; the establishment of the VCU Health System; and the founding of the VCU School of Medicine at Inova Hospital in Fairfax.

“My fellow Rams, you are about to graduate from one happening university,” Robertson said. “My education and life experiences at VCU prepared me for a career that, at the time, I could never have imagined.”

VCU President Eugene P. Trani also spoke to the graduates about VCU’s progress and likened their potential to that of the evolving university.

“A little more than a decade ago, I believe very few people would have predicted that VCU would be the leading urban university that it is today,” Trani said. “It is fair to say that there was unrealized potential waiting to emerge, and now, thanks to the efforts of many, we are realizing the vision we set forth many years ago.

“It is my hope, that in some way, your being witness to, and part of, the transformation of your university has demonstrated what is possible for each and every one of you, what can be accomplished through determination, hard work and vision,” he said.

At the ceremony, 2,872 professional, graduate and undergraduate degrees were awarded. At VCU’s fall commencement in December 2004, more than 2,000 degrees were conferred.

In other commencement activities, the Edward A. Wayne Medal was presented to four people who have made outstanding contributions or provided exemplary services to VCU. It is named for the chairman of the commission that led to the establishment of VCU in 1968.

·         Peter W. Brown, M.D., is co-chair of the Campaign for Massey Cancer Center and a member of the MCV Foundation board of trustees. A general and vascular surgeon and surgical oncologist in private practice, he has been a clinical assistant professor in surgery at the VCU Medical Center since 1978.

·         Rebecca and William E. Massey, Jr., are both advocates for VCU’s Massey Cancer Center. He is co-chair of the Campaign for Massey Cancer Center. She is the chair of individual gifts and is spearheading a fundraising effort to support the Healing Garden, a special feature of the new research building at Massey.

·         Matthew G. Thompson, C.F.A., is co-chair of the Campaign for Massey Cancer Center. He is chair elect of the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and serves as chair of the Fund Development Committee of that advisory board, overseeing the center’s entire fundraising program.

Robertson and William H. Goodwin, Jr., chairman and president of CCA Industries, Inc., received an honorary doctor of humane letters. This is the university’s highest form of recognition for those who have made outstanding contributions to society through scholarship, public service, humanitarianism, science and art. Goodwin serves as chair and founding trustee of the VCU School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife have played a major role in the war on cancer by supporting promising research and clinical trials at Massey Cancer Center and five other cancer research institutions across the country.

The Presidential Medallion, established to honor the outstanding contributions of the university community for extraordinary achievement in learning and commitment to the mission of VCU, was presented to Heber H. “Dickie” Newsome, Jr., M.D. Currently dean and professor of surgery at VCU’s School of Medicine, Newsome came to VCU as a surgical intern in 1962 and worked under noted surgeon David Hume. He returned to join the VCU faculty in 1970 after three years as research associate at the National Institutes of Health. He has held many leadership positions in the medical school, including chair of general and trauma surgery, senior associate dean and chief of medical staff for MCV Hospitals. He has announced his resignation as dean, effective June 30, 2005.