Contact us
VCU News is produced by Public Relations, along with the twice-weekly VCU Newsletter and daily TelegRAM. University Public Affairs — part of Enterprise Marketing and Communications — 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 Public Relations staff.
For media inquiries, contact one of the Public Relations 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 relations
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- Mary Kate Brogan
- Senior public relations specialist
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- Corey Byers
- Senior public relations specialist
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- Elinor Frisa
- VCU homepage manager
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- Tom Gresham
- Director of news operations
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- Amelia Heymann
- Public relations coordinator
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- Sara McCloskey
- VCU Health News editor
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- Brian McNeill
- Director of public relations, Monroe Park Campus
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- Jayla Parker
- Public relations coordinator
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- Danielle Pierce
- Director of public relations, VCU Health
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- James Shea
- Writer
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- Olivia Trani
- Senior public relations specialist for research and science
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- Joan Tupponce
- Writer
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- Leila Ugincius
- Senior public relations specialist
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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
- Caitlin Hanbury
- Director of communications
- VCU School of Nursing
- Phone: (804) 828-1071
- Email: cshanbury@vcu.edu
- A.J. Hostetler
- Director of communications
- VCU Office of Research and Innovation
- Phone: (804) 628-3838
- Email: hostetlera2@vcu.edu
- Jeffrey Kraus
- Director of executive communications
- Office of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness and Success
- Email: krausjj@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
- 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
- Jamie Stillman
- Director of strategic communications
- Office of the Provost
- Phone: (804) 828-1205
- Email: jmstillm@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 Public Relations.
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 relations 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 Public Relations.
- A Public Relations 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 Public Relations 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 Public Relations 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.