VCU president visits Doha campus

Dr Michael Rao, president of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) at Richmond, Virginia, recently visited the university’s Qatar campus.Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) is the international branch campus of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts and was established in 1998 through a partnership with Qatar Foundation.Dr Rao was in Doha as part of a 23-city tour visiting VCU alumni around the world.During his visit to Qatar, Dr Rao met with HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, vice chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation. VCUarts Qatar was the first university in Education City and last year it celebrated its 20th anniversary.Dr Rao met with VCUarts Qatar’s faculty, staff and students, including members of the Student Government Association.A special luncheon was held at the university’s Saffron Hall where the president, and his wife Monica Rao, gathered with faculty and staff.Also present were Dr Donald Baker, VCUarts Qatar’s executive dean; his wife Heather Baker; and Jay Davenport, vice president of Development and Alumni Relations at VCU.VCU has more 190,000 alumni worldwide, with VCUarts Qatar’s numbering 642 alumni and representing 50 nationalities. An alumni dinner was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha and more than 70 alumni attended, as well as 20 faculty, some of whom were also VCU alumni.Addressing the alumni, Dr Rao stressed that VCU is a community committed to design thinking. “VCUarts Qatar is unique in Doha and Education City in having the opportunity to lead Qatar in design thinking,” he said.He also highlighted the creativity and entrepreneurship shown by VCU alumni.Dean Baker announced to the attendees that the Tasmeem Doha art and design conference, which runs from March 13-15 at VCUarts Qatar, will, for the first time, be co-chaired by four alumni, Noha Fouad, Wajiha Prevez, Hadeer Omar, and Yasmine Sulieman.He also congratulated four graduates from the Class of 2018 who were recently recognised at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s Excellence Awards.