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Our most-read stories of 2021

Which stories got the most clicks on the VCU College of Engineering website? Check out our annual roundup to find out.

#1: VCU Engineering opens new Research Building

VCU Engineering officially opened its Engineering Research Building (ERB) on February 3, 2021, marking a major milestone in the college’s growth in research and workforce development programs. Hundreds looked on via Zoom as university leaders, community stakeholders and the building's designers and builders cut the ribbon(s).

#2: Faculty members receive promotions and tenure

A total of 15 VCU Engineering faculty members received tenure and/or academic promotions effective July 1, 2021. See who they were in this, our second most-read story of the year.

#3: VCU Engineering professor to lead NSF’s Division of Undergraduate Education

The National Science Foundation (NSF) appointed Rosalyn Hobson Hargraves, Ph.D., as director of its Division of Undergraduate Education. Hargraves is a professor of electrical and computer engineering in VCU’s College of Engineering. Over the years, she has also worked closely with VCU’s School of Education and is a recognized leader in advancing equity, excellence and inclusion in STEM education.

#4: VCU Engineering to celebrate grand opening of Engineering Research Building Feb. 3

For more than two years, Richmond had been watching VCU College of Engineering’s newest building take shape. When it was almost time to take a peek inside, readers flocked to this promo story.

#5 Carlos Castano, Ph.D., and Jennifer Puetzer, Ph.D., receive National Science Foundation CAREER awards

Carlos Castano, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, and Jennifer Puetzer, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, received Faculty Early Development (CAREER) awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for 2021. This is the NSF’s most prestigious award given to junior faculty who most effectively integrate research and education.

#6: 2021 Capstone Design winners celebrated, top honors announced

Capstone Design Expo is one of the most anticipated events of the VCU Engineering year. Nine student-created innovations received awards at this annual celebration of excellence in student innovation. Discover the winners in this popular story.

#7: New master’s program incentives for Ram Engineers

With tuition discounts, extended application deadlines and test score waivers, the university made it easier for those considering graduate school to transition into master's programs. Ram Engineers were interested! NOTE: These perks are still in effect.

#8: In search of lost data

In the 1960s, a set of landmark experiments in clean energy took place — but a whole class of data was never recorded. Zeyun Wu, Ph.D., an assistant professor in VCU’s Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, is working to find it.

#9: VCU researchers lead projects selected for $1 million in funding from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative

From left: Sherif Abdelwahed, Ph.D., Ravi Hadimani, Ph.D. and Rebecca Heise, Ph.D.

Three research projects led by principal investigators from the College of Engineering at VCU and one from VCU School of the Arts received funding from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI). VCU Engineering researchers are also co-principal investigators on another five projects selected for CCI funding. These awards total $1 million.

#10: VCU’s International Engineering Student Scholarships awarded

The inaugural recipients of VCU’s International Engineering Student Scholarship represent all of the college’s engineering disciplines — and a world of backgrounds. Readers got to meet these remarkable students in our tenth most-read story of 2021.