School of Public Health
At the VCU School of Public Health, we believe in the potential within every student, faculty member, researcher and practitioner — a potential that drives innovative solutions, advances health equity and improves the well-being of communities. Unlocking Potential: VCU’s Campaign for the Future is a bold initiative to invest in that potential by expanding access to public health education, supporting impactful research and preparing the next generation of public health leaders.
Your support during this campaign ensures our graduates are equipped to address complex health challenges, from preventing disease and responding to emerging threats to shaping policy and strengthening health systems. With your help, we will improve health outcomes locally and globally.
Together, we will unlock potential at the VCU School of Public Health — and build a healthier future for all.
Our goal
You will unlock potential in the VCU School of Public Health when you help us reach our goal of $1.5 million.
Our priorities
Increasing access and fostering student success
At the VCU School of Public Health, students engage in rigorous coursework, community-based learning and applied research that prepare them to address today’s most pressing public health challenges.
Your support through the Public Health Scholarship Fund makes this education more accessible, reducing financial barriers so talented students from all backgrounds can pursue careers dedicated to improving population health and advancing healthy communities. Additionally, gifts to the Biostatistics Student Fund strengthen the academic and professional experience of our biostatistics students, providing resources for research, conference travel, hands-on training and collaborative learning opportunities that sharpen their analytical expertise and real-world impact.
Together, we will unlock the potential of the next generation of public health leaders and data-driven problem-solvers.
Recognizing faculty and nurturing scholarship
At the VCU School of Public Health, leadership begins at the top. Our dean, Monica Swahn, Ph.D., is a visionary champion for global public health, a convener of partners across disciplines and communities, and a driving force behind the research, education and service that define our school. Her leadership shapes our strategic direction, elevates our national profile and ensures we are responsive to the most urgent public health challenges of our time.
Establishing an endowed chair for the dean of the VCU School of Public Health is a powerful investment in that leadership. Endowed support provides sustained resources to advance bold priorities, recruit and retain exceptional faculty, expand community-engaged research, and strengthen innovative academic programs. It empowers the dean to respond nimbly to emerging health threats, foster cross-sector collaboration, and position the school as a leader in advancing population health and health equity.
Together, we will unlock transformative leadership at the VCU School of Public Health and ensure the dean has the enduring support needed to guide our school, inspire our community, and improve health outcomes in Virginia and around the world.
Sustaining institutional excellence and achieving prominence
The VCU School of Public Health is advancing a bold vision for healthier, more equitable communities by addressing the social, economic and environmental factors that shape well-being. This work requires flexible resources to meet emerging needs, accelerate innovative ideas and support students and faculty as they respond to urgent public health challenges.
Your support of the Dean’s Public Health Excellence Fund allows the school to invest strategically in high-impact priorities, from seed funding for promising research and community partnerships to student scholarships and experiential learning opportunities. This flexibility ensures we can act quickly, foster innovation and strengthen the infrastructure needed to improve population health in Virginia and beyond.
In addition, the Center on Society and Health serves as a national leader in examining how social determinants such as income, education, housing and access to care influence health outcomes. Your support for the center advances groundbreaking research, policy analysis and community engagement. With your help, we can translate data into action, informing decision-makers and advancing solutions that reduce disparities and improve health equity.
Together, we can deepen our impact, prepare the next generation of public health leaders and unlock meaningful change to create lasting improvements in the health of our communities.
Shape what’s next
The challenges facing public health today are complex, but they also present opportunities to create meaningful change. At the VCU School of Public Health, we are preparing students to lead in a rapidly evolving world, advancing research that improves lives and partnering with communities to build healthier futures. With the support of visionary donors, we can expand this impact for generations to come.
That is why Unlocking Potential is so important. This campaign is an investment in the people and ideas that will shape a healthier future for all. It will provide transformative opportunities for students, support groundbreaking research and strengthen our ability to address the most pressing health challenges of our time. Together, we can advance health, promote equity and create lasting change.
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Monica Swahn, Ph.D.
Dean, VCU School of Public Health
Charles W. and Evelyn F. Thomas Endowed Professor in Epidemiology
You are the key.
You’ve seen how this historic effort is unlocking potential across VCU and VCU Health for students, patients, faculty members, researchers, clinicians and members of our community. Now it’s your turn. How will you help shape what’s next?