College in the age of COVID-19 has affected faculty, staff, administrators, families ... the list could go on, but most affected are students. Students have had to quickly adapt to online learning, virtual communities with peers and faculty as well as the maintaining their own health and well-being. Recent graduate Vikhyath Veeramachaneni (B.A.’14/H&S) moderates a virtual discussion among current VCU students on how they have navigated the changes.

Register for the Zoon link. 

Moderator

Vikhyath Veeramachaneni (B.A.’14/H&S): Veeramachaneni serves as the senior global pro bono coordinator at Latham & Watkins LLP and attends George Washington University Law School. He graduated from VCU in 2014 with a B.A. in Political Science. During his time at VCU, he served as a student leader in many student organizations, including as student body president, student affairs chair of the University Council and president of Theta Chi Fraternity. He was a recipient of the University Leadership Award, University Service Award and the William H. Duvall Award. After graduation, he worked in Virginia state politics as a finance director and is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. He currently serves on the VCU Alumni Recent Graduate Council.

Student panelists

Hudson Dizon: Dizon is majoring in criminal justice and homeland security in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs with an anticipated graduation date of 2022. She is a resident assistant in Gladding Residence Center, vice president of Students Today Alumni Tomorrow and a peer health educator with The Well. 

Emily Van Hijfte: Van Hijfte is majoring in criminal justice and sociology with an anticipated graduation date of December 2020. She is originally from the Netherlands and moved to the U.S. for college and is a part of VCU’s Division 1 field hockey team and president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Kyeong Ri "Katherine" Yu: Yu is a fourth-year medical student planning to pursue surgery after graduation. She is president of the Medical Student Government of the VCU School of Medicine and participates in the VCU student organization The Simple Sunflower, which arranges donated fresh flowers into bouquets for patients at VCU Health.

Chanaiya Jones: Jones is double majoring in political science and criminal justice with a minor in homeland security. She volunteers weekly at YouthLife Foundation of Richmond; is an active member in VCU SGA, VCU Lead, YouFirst at VCU and Minorities in Law at VCU; and serves as a residential assistant. She graduates in May 2021 and plans to attend law school.