Alignment to the strategic plan

The African-American Alumni Council's strategic plan endeavors to align its activities with two themes in the university's Quest for Distinction:

Quest for Distinction Theme I: Become a leader among national research universities in providing all students with high-quality learning/living experiences focused on inquiry, discovery and innovation in a global environment

Quest for Distinction Theme III: Become a national model for community engagement and regional impact

To promote the growth and progress of current VCU African-American students, AAAC's strategic plan includes the following action steps:

Step 4 - Increase promotion of alumni association mentoring and professional development programs to the African-American student population and encourage their participation.

Step 5 - Arrange informational meet and greet with students.

The AAAC Mentoring Circle, in alignment with Action Step 4, is a program initiated, sponsored and supported by the members of the AAAC to mentor current African-American students at VCU. In alignment with Action Step 5, we invite alumni to return to campus to meet African-American undergraduate students with similar professional interests to establish an e-mentor/mentor relationship. The alumni should provide guidance, encourage a standard of excellence, train for leadership, develop skills and talent, and demonstrate how what is learned in the classroom can apply in the real world. The ultimate goal of these mentoring relationships is to help students improve their chances to secure an internship, an apprenticeship or a job upon graduation.

Quest for Distinction, the university’s strategic plan, was launched by VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., in 2011. It sets priorities of academic excellence, research that enhances the quality of life, human health and well-being, and ongoing contribution to the economic vitality and cultural richness of the community. The Mentoring Circle aims to have a positive impact on the economic stability of the Richmond community, the commonwealth of Virginia, the nation and globally through the intergenerational exchange of mentoring and the invaluable wealth of its culturally endowed student-citizens.

VCU AAAC Mentoring Circle Steering Committee

Lucy Hudson, Ed.E. (B.S.'04/H&S, B.S.'08/H&S, M.E.'11/E, Ed.D.’22/E)

Alonzo Brooks (B.S.'06/B) 

Program Founders and Developers

Gail Coles Johnson (B.S.'86/B)

Jeffrey O. Roberts (B.S.'87/E)