Student Success

With its innovative bridging between an emphasis on critical/ethical thinking and a focus on the practical role of communication in public life, the Department of Rhetoric Communication Studies empowers students to find fulfilling careers and professional and educational experiences across a wide diversity of subjects. Our RHCS students have gone on from UR to make exciting, creative, and vital contributions to civic culture. From public relations and marketing/advertising to law school and graduate academic study; from entrepreneurial start-ups to meaningful global NGOs and international organizations; and from up-to-the minute digital and social media work in communication to nonprofit and social justice community groups — our students apply ancient and contemporary theories, diverse methods in communication, community- and globally-minded advocacy, and thoughtful oral and written skills to all of their work.

Rhetoric & Communications Studies Alumni News

Lindsey Frank, '23, Lacrosse & Field Hockey and Two Sport Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference Player was named the 2023 Female Athlete of the Year at the RVA Sports Awards. Frank exemplifies all the positive aspects of sport and has made a positive impact on the Richmond community in 2022. Congrats, Lindsey! Read more.

Jacob Gilyard won the Senior CLASS Award, given to one senior or graduate student in NCAA Division I men's basketball in recognition of his achievements in competition, the classroom, the community, and one's character. Gilyard is the first Richmond player to win the award since it was created in 2001 and the third Atlantic 10 player to win. Read more.

Ryan Locke, '07, was named a SuperLawyers Appellate Rising Star.

Dr. Chaz Antoine Barracks, ’11, Bonner Scholar alum, and Center for Civic Engagement’s first Community-Engaged Scholar-in-Residence was named the Black and Bold Awards Honoree at the Black & Bold Awards, presented by the Virginia-based nonprofit Diversity Richmond.

Jonathan de Marte, ’17 is competing in the Tokyo Olympics in baseball for Team Israel. Read more. 

Lori Tiernan, ’08 recently started a new position as Managing Director of Marketing at Valkyrie.  

Leslie Stevens, ’16 completed a master’s degree from New York University and started a new position as Associate Manager in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Carta.

Destiny Riley, ’18 graduated with an M.A. in Music Business from New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

Ana Paula Alvarado was chosen as the student speaker for University of Richmond Class of 2021 Commencement. Watch the entire ceremony here.

Beverly Duran, ’14 utilizes what she learned as a RHCS alum and works towards social change as an Organizer for International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 21.

Research by RHCS alum, Kristina Scharp, was recently featured in The Atlantic article, "A Shift in American Family Values Is Fueling Estrangement." Read the article here.

Samella Koroma recently joined University of Maryland as the Athletics Academic Advisor/Learning Specialist.

RHCS major Luke Malcynsky is the co-author (with Professor Lauren Tilton and UR grads Emeline Blevins and Hanglin Zhou) of the article, “The Role of Metadata in American Studies,” in the most recent issue of the Polish Journal of American Studies.

From the classroom to the workforce, these RHCS students have entered their dream careers! Amber Ducksworth, Human Resources Manager at Everyday Health Group; Brianna Puccini, Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director at U.S. Senator Deb Fischer; Claire Noppenberger, Communications Administrator and Meeting Coordinator at Association and Government Relations Management (AGRM); Adam Ferguson, Arts Editor at TUNDRA Enthusiast Network; Darius Naficy, promoted to Chief Creative Officer, North America at CSM Sport & Entertainment; Nickolaus Trevino, promoted to Media Director at Fearless Media.

Nick Sherod, ’21 published "Black athletes must use their voices on campus and beyond" for SBNation Mid-Major Madness

Jamilah LeCruise was recently featured as a Rising Star in Super Lawyers magazine and was awarded the 2020 R. Edwin Burnette Jr. Young Lawyer of the Year Award by the Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Conference.

Mary McKeller, ’19 has been accepted into the MA program in Rhetoric and Philosophy of Communication at Duquesne University with a Graduate Assistantship. Tom Dunn, ’02 has been named a Monfort Professor, one of Colorado State University’s highest honors. Read more about this honor and his research interests  here.