BLACKSBURG, Virginia, June 13 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: In its effort to promote the research and development of data science methods in support of scientific research, the Academy of Data Science Discovery Fund has granted an all-time high six awards for the 2024-25 academic year. Previously, no more than three awards had been given in a single funding cycle. The projects supported in this year's awards focus on the use of data science methods in the fields of chemistry, co  more

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, June 13 -- The city of Alexandria issued the following news release: The Alexandria Public Art Program is pleased to announce that it has commissioned Virginia-based artist, Silas Baker, to design and execute a mural on the exterior door of the Torpedo Factory Art Center loading dock. Silas was selected by the project Task Force and approved by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts after a competitive process that was open to all artists living in Virginia, Maryland, and   more

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, June 13 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: Christine Julien has been appointed head of the Department of Computer Science, effective Aug. 12. Julien comes to Virginia Tech from the University of Texas at Austin, where she has served as the Annis and Jack Bowen Professor of Engineering in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and as associate dean for broadening participation in engineering for the Cockrell School of Engineering. "We are excited t  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, June 14 -- McGuireWoods, a law firm, issued the following news release: Clara Rodriguez has joined McGuireWoods as the firm's new chief marketing and business development officer. Rodriguez brings more than two decades of experience leading strategic marketing and client initiatives and leveraging competitive intelligence, industry analytics and client engagement to target meaningful growth at Am Law 100 firms. Rodriguez will utilize digital marketing, emerging technologies  more

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, June 13 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: Virginia Tech's research emphasis on sustainability continues to receive international acclaim as the university was ranked in the top 10 percent of schools participating in the Times Higher Education 2024 Impact Rankings released Wednesday. The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings assess participating universities against the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). THE rankings use calibrated indic  more

HAMPTON, Virginia, June 13 (TNSres) -- Hampton University issued the following news: Hampton University recently hosted the National Science Foundation (NSF) Clean Energy Technology (CET) Workforce Accelerator for Fusion Conference, focused on developing a diverse workforce to advance fusion energy, a revolutionary technology expected to transform the energy grid in the coming decades. "Hosting this conference at Hampton University offered an exceptional opportunity for both faculty and studen  more

LYNCHBURG, Virginia, June 14 -- The University of Lynchburg issued the following news: By Madeline Jefferson Dr. Bill A. Soliz '22 DMSc was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army on May 11 at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu. This achievement marked a significant milestone in Soliz's military career and made him the first active-duty physician assistant to achieve this rank. Soliz enlisted as a combat medic in 1987 and quickly rose through the ranks, serving in vari  more

HUNTINGTON, West Virginia, June 13 -- Marshall University issued the following news release on June 12, 2024: Marshall University Board of Governors, meeting today in regular session, approved two new degree programs, updated several student conduct policies and discussed implementation of the upcoming campus carry bill, in addition to granting President Brad D. Smith consent to execute contract extensions for two Marshall coaches. The new degree programs include a bachelor's degree in specia  more

NORFOLK, Virginia, June 13 -- Old Dominion University issued the following news: By Jonah Grinkewitz A new big, bold (and blue) flavor is here just in time for dads hoping to grill out on Father's Day. After launching the Big Blue Q barbecue sauce last November, Old Dominion University is once again teaming up with The Dirty Buffalo for another product to spice up your cooking and grilling routine: The Big Blue Belly Rub. Inspired by the University tradition of students visiting the bronze s  more

RESTON, Virginia, June 13 -- ThreatQuotient, a threat-intelligence platform innovator, issued the following news release on June 12, 2024: Quadrant Knowledge Solutions announced today that it has once again named ThreatQuotient as a 2024 technology leader in the SPARK Matrix(TM): Digital Threat Intelligence Management, 2024. Riya Tomar, Analyst at Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, elaborates, "ThreatQuotient's Digital Threat Intelligence management platform is notable for its Datalinq Engine, adv  more

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, June 13 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: From building rural schools while living under apartheid to lecturing around the world on global citizenship, Varkey George has been a trailblazer in international education and community engagement for more than four decades. George is one of the leading practitioners of social entrepreneurship, a business model that strives to positively impact social, cultural, or environmental issues. The founder of Oshun South Afric  more

CAMDEN, New Jersey, June 14 -- Rutgers University Camden campus issued the following news: For Oscar Holmes IV, associate dean of undergraduate programs and an associate professor of management at Rutgers School of Business-Camden, setting young people's lives on the right track is a passion that comes from lived experience. "As a first-generation student who grew up in a poor but nurturing area of rural Virginia, I have direct knowledge of how important it is to provide students opportunities  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, June 13 -- The University of Richmond issued the following news release: Dining Services at the University of Richmond has received two silver awards from the National Association of College & University Food Services. UR was honored in the annual Loyal E. Horton Dining awards by NACUFS in the categories of "Most Innovative Wellness and Nutrition Program" for its Demonstration Kitchen and "Residential Special Event of the Year" for International Education Week programs. Th  more

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, June 13 -- University of Virginia Health issued the following news release on June 12, 2024: UVA Health today announced new board members and executives leading the UVA Community Health Foundation. The new members and leadership are: * Gary Jones II, board chair * Katie Min, board member at large * Robert Sweeney, board member at large * Felicia Blow, executive director UVA Community Health Foundation receives philanthropic donations and gifts that benefi  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, June 13 -- The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation issued the following news release: The Virginia Land Conservation Foundation is now accepting applications for $13.5 million in land conservation grants. The foundation, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, provides grants to support conservation in the following categories: farmland preservation, forestland preservation, historic area preservation, natural area preservation, and open spaces and p  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, June 13 -- Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: Governor Glenn Youngkin officially dedicated Virginia's newest State Park, Culpeper Battlefields State Park. The park opens with 263 acres, centered around the crest of Fleetwood Hill at Brandy Station Battlefield, the site where the largest cavalry battle fought on the North American continent took place. Culpeper Battlefields State Park is Virginia's 43rd State Park. The park will offer visito  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, June 14 -- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy issued the following news: By Mary Kate Brogan, School of Pharmacy The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and its Academia-Community Transformation (ACT) Pharmacy Collaborative have named the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy an inaugural ACT Community Pharmacy Center of Excellence for its commitment to advancing community-based pharmacy through teaching, service, scholarship, leaders  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, June 14 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: By Leila Ugincius Virginia Commonwealth University is introducing a Bachelor of Arts in music degree with a concentration in media scoring this fall. The program concentration for aspiring film composers has been in development since 2019, when Filipe Leitao, DMA, assistant professor of composition and sound design for cinema, games and motion media, joined the VCU School of the Arts. Numerous projects  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, June 14 (TNSres) -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: * * * In a new report, VCU biology professor Julie Zinnert shares findings from studying Virginia's Eastern Shore. * * * By Sian Wilkerson Barrier islands dot the landscape along Virginia's Eastern Shore, protecting the coastline from direct impacts of storms and sea-level rise. Made of sand, they are created and changed by environmental factors. But with climate change and human development,  more

LEXINGTON, Virginia, June 13 -- Virginia Military Institute issued the following news: Virginia Military Institute has been rated a 5-star college in Money magazine's Best Colleges in America list for 2024, in the magazine's tenth year of publishing a Best Colleges list. Starting with a new system last year, Money assigns colleges a rating on a five-star scale, with five stars being the best. VMI was rated a 4.5-star college in 2023. More than 740 colleges were scored based on factors in thre  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, June 13 -- Gov. Jim Justice, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on June 12, 2024: Gov. Jim Justice announced today the West Virginia Water Development Authority (WDA) has approved funding for another five Economic Enhancement Grant Fund (EEFG) projects. To date, the WDA has awarded 174 EEGF grants totaling over $427 million with a total project cost of $1,895,017,779 since the program's inception in April 2022. It was at that time, recognizing the ne  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, June 13 -- Gov. Jim Justice, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on June 12, 2024: Gov. Jim Justice announced today he will appoint Jeffrey Pack as Commissioner of the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services, a cabinet-level position in the administration. Pack is currently the Commissioner for the Bureau for Social Services within the West Virginia Department of Human Services and will remain in the position until a replacement is hired. Pack will tak  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, June 13 -- The West Virginia Board of Education issued the following news on June 12, 2024: The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) received a briefing about a new program to support students in foster care during its June meeting today. The Middle College Program, the first of its kind in the nation, is the culmination of a partnership between Fairmont State University (FSU), Marion County Schools, KVC West Virginia and the West Virginia Schools of Diversion and  more

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, June 13 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: Preventive care is the foundation of good health. However, it's also easy for pet owners to dismiss preventive care as an unnecessary expense. Most people aren't looking for one more errand to run, but that annual wellness exam is well worth the time and money. Dogs and cats age faster than humans--for example, for an adult dog, each "human year" is approximately 4-5 "dog years." That means that a lot can change in a yea  more

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, June 13 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: William S. "Terry" Swecker Jr. has been connected to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine for all but two of the last 44 years. Swecker stepped down after nine years as director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital on May 10 and officially retires from Virginia Tech on June 30. Tanya LeRoith, director of Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services (ViTALS), has been named to succeed him as hospital director.   more