By Brian McNeill

The Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors voted Friday to establish a School of Life Sciences and Sustainability, which will bring together VCU Life Sciences and the Department of Biology in the College of Humanities and Sciences.

“I am pleased to announce the creation of the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability. This strategic combination will foster interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling our faculty and students to address complex global challenges at the intersection of biological sciences and environmental sustainability,” said Catherine Ingrassia, Ph.D., dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences. “We look forward to the groundbreaking research and innovative teaching that will emerge from this unified approach, further establishing our institution as a leader in developing solutions for a sustainable future.”

Effective July 1, the new school will administer and oversee biological, environmental, life and sustainability sciences academic programming, research and other relevant initiatives at VCU. It will enhance the student experience by bringing complementary disciplines into one school, while strengthening collaboration among faculty and staff that integrates social sciences, earth sciences, and quantitative and computational data sciences with molecular and cellular biology, evolution and ecology.

“The creation of the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability represents an exciting milestone for VCU, offering our students exceptional opportunities to explore innovative interdisciplinary programs, hands-on experiences and cutting-edge research,” said Rima Franklin, Ph.D., interim vice provost for life sciences and chair of the Department of Biology. “This integrated approach positions our students to become leaders equipped to address critical challenges in sustainability, human health and the environment, making meaningful contributions both locally and globally.”

Creation of the new school was among the final recommendations of the One VCU Academic Repositioning Task Force, which was launched in May 2023 to lead a transformational effort to make VCU both a more academically attractive and more efficient university.

According to the recommendations: “The new school aligns with both the One VCU Sustainability Plan and the environmental sustainability focus within the One VCU Research Strategic Priorities Plan and holds great potential to evolve in the future into a new free-standing school leveraging VCU’s unique assets in biological, environmental and sustainability sciences along with innovative facilities, like VCU’s Rice Rivers Center, while fostering emerging and high-demand program offerings.”

“The establishment of the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability is a testament to the innovative spirit and collaborative efforts of VCU’s faculty,” said Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “Our faculty-led One VCU Academic Repositioning Task Force has positioned VCU at the forefront of scientific exploration in biological and environmental sciences. By integrating diverse disciplines and leveraging our unique assets, we are poised to make significant contributions to sustainability and environmental health. This new school exemplifies our commitment to pioneering research and education that will shape the future of scientific inquiry.”