Grad Pod VCU
Grad Pod is brought to you by the Graduate School as a means of connecting with graduate students, faculty, and staff.
Our goal is to offer insights, resources, and stories from across our VCU community. Whether you're navigating the challenges of grad school, seeking advice on research or career development, or simply interested in hearing from those who support your academic success, you've come to the right place!
Latest Episodes
In this episode of Grad Pod, Haya sits down with Annie Hinson, a fifth-year PhD candidate in Microbiology and Immunology at VCU and one of the 2025 COVES Fellows. From finding her “why” in oral health advocacy to building networks and stepping into legislative spaces, this episode explores how graduate students like Annie can expand their impact beyond academia and into real-world change through the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Fellowship.
In this episode of Grad Pod, we're proud to highlight Dr. Hamid Akbarali, one of the recipients of VCU’s inaugural Graduate Faculty Mentoring Award—for faculty members who go above and beyond to uplift and walk alongside their students.
In this episode of Grad Pod, Haya sits down with Dr. Jill Blondin, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at Virginia Commonwealth University, to explore the unique challenges and opportunities regarding immigration faced by international students . From navigating complex systems and cultural transitions to building community and accessing support resources, this episode offers a compassionate and comprehensive look at what it really means to study far from home.
In this episode of Grad Pod, Haya is joined by Jamie Taylor, Special Assistant to the Dean and Vice Provost of VCU’s Graduate School, to answer common questions about VCU’s upcoming commencement events. Jamie also explains the special hooding ceremony for Ph.D. and Ed.D. students. The episode concludes with a heartfelt message from Dr. Manu Gupta, Dean and Vice Provost of VCU’s Graduate School, encouraging the Class of 2025 to continue pursuing knowledge and use their education as a launchpad for future success.
Graduation is just around the corner, and for many graduate students, that means finalizing their thesis or dissertation is around the corner! But how do you navigate the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) process without last-minute stress?
In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Steele and Adam Mansfield from VCU’s Graduate Enrollment Services to break down everything you need to know—deadlines, submission steps, and common pitfalls to avoid.