Inaugural 2025-26 Global Initiative Leadership Awards recognize exemplary global engagement support at VCU
Contact: Nicol Tinsley
VCU Global Education Office
(804) 828-6463
nctinsley@vcu.edu
Richmond, VA (April 29, 2026) — The Global Education Office announces the first Global Initiatives Leadership Awards received by four exemplary VCU faculty and staff who demonstrate exceptional commitment to advancing global engagement across the university. The inaugural awards, acknowledged during the recent Global Initiatives Achievement Celebration on April 7, 2026, honored individuals whose leadership and contributions support high-impact global initiatives that elevate VCU’s worldwide presence and advance the university's mission to expand the global impact of its research, teaching and service.
“The Global Leadership awards recognize faculty and staff members who are not only globally engaged, but are ambassadors for internationalization,” said Jill Blondin, Ph.D., vice provost for global initiatives. “These leaders encourage and inspire others to participate in international initiatives.”
Award recipients were nominated by VCU faculty and staff based on four specific categories. The award recipients in their respective categories are:
- Academic programs or research: Jasmin Vassileva, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry in the School of Medicine.
The academic programs or research award honors individuals who have significantly advanced global learning or research through innovative curriculum design, globalized academic programs, or internationally focused research collaborations. - International partnerships and collaborations: Elena Olson, Ph.D., associate professor in information systems in the School of Business.
The International partnerships and collaborations award recognizes those who have developed, expanded, or strengthened international partnerships that contribute meaningfully to VCU’s mission. - International student champion: Erin‑Marie Brown, Ph.D., director of professional development in the VCU Graduate School.
The international student champion award celebrates individuals whose leadership and advocacy have enhanced the academic, social, or cultural experiences of international students at VCU. - Global learning champion: Maurice Gattis, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Social Work.
The Global learning champion award recognizes faculty or staff who have significantly expanded access to, participation in, or awareness of global learning opportunities—on campus, virtually, or abroad.
Olson, award recipient in the category of “International Partnerships and Collaborations,” demonstrated support for the award through the creation and continued evolution of the Global STEMConverge program, a collaboration between the VCU School of Business, the VCU College of Engineering, the University of Córdoba (UCO) School of Business Administration, and the UCO College of Engineering.
She states the award is the result of “a wonderful team that has worked with great care and dedication to build meaningful partnerships and opportunities together,” she said. “My first experience connecting with the University of Córdoba years ago was genuinely transformative for me personally, and my only wish is to help make experiences like that more available and affordable so that more students, faculty, and staff can participate. It has been a true joy to help continue that work through Global STEMConverge and our ongoing partnership, and I hope we can keep creating opportunities that benefit the wider community.”
As the award recipient in the category of “Global Learning Champion,” Gattis received the award based on many activities that exemplify his commitment to global learning. A program he developed after winning one of GEO’s 2025-26 Global Impact Awards, was a study abroad course for undergraduate and graduate students to visit Cape Town, South Africa, to examine LGBTQIA+ issues.
Gattis expressed his excitement at the program benefits his students received from this global learning experience. "It is an honor to be recognized for playing an important role in the education of students here at VCU,” he said. “Witnessing the learning that happens from the moment that students land in South Africa and how they integrate it into their lives upon return home is powerful. Students from previous trips stay in touch with each other and me, and it's rewarding to hear how impactful the trip was on their personal and professional lives."