Office of the President

Spider Talks: Group dynamics and ethical leadership

In this episode of Spider Talks, President Crutcher sits down with leadership social and personality psychologist Donelson Forsyth, who studies groups, leadership, ethical thought, and moral judgment.

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"Knowledge of This Cannot Be Hidden": A Report on the Westham Burying Ground at the University of Richmond

President Crutcher has shared the report, “Knowledge of this cannot be hidden”: Report on the Westham Burying Ground at the University of Richmond. The report stems from last year’s Presidential Commission for University History and Identity, which rightly challenged our community to tell a fuller, more inclusive history of the University.Learn more

Column: 'Understanding history to tell a more inclusive university story'

President Crutcher recently penned an op-ed for the Richmond Times-Dispatch about our community’s work to tell a fuller, more inclusive university story, including the significant history of the land on which our campus now stands.Read his essay

University of Richmond Update

Read President Crutcher's latest update to the University of Richmond community.Read more

The Strategic Plan: "Forging our Future, Building from Strength"

Under President Crutcher's leadership, the University is embarking on the implementation phase of the strategic plan. Richmond's future will be shaped by the plan's five pillars: academic excellence, access and affordability, thriving and inclusive community, alumni engagement, and stewardship in a changing world.Learn more

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Students learn best not only when they’re challenged to tackle hard questions and engage viewpoints different from their own, but when they’re also taught to have these conversations in thoughtful ways. Institutions of higher education are uniquely positioned to model substantive and civil disagreement.
Dr. Ronald A. Crutcher
speaking at the Global Forum on Higher Education for Diversity, Social Inclusion, and Community: A Democratic Imperative, in Rome, Italy

Recent essays

Early to risePresident Crutcher reflects on his 5 a.m. start to each day, how he spends his time, and why he does it. Read More

Sunday morningsPresident Crutcher reflects on how the community that nurtured him as a young man influences how he leads the University of Richmond. Read More

The path we walk togetherThe university is great today because of the loyal support of generations of Spiders. Read More

A challenging call

Our sometimes uncomfortable past can lead to conversations that point to ways forward.

An unfiltered view

One of the most important reasons I mentor is that it helps me better understand our students’ perspectives and needs.

On the roadThoughts from a year of travel meeting and talking about Spiders Read More

A better pathUniversities have an important role in how we talk to and differ from each other. Read More

The value propositionSome of my most consequential financial decisions have involved recognizing true value. Read More

On labelsHow others see us can have a profound effect on how we see ourselves. Read More

On listeningThe importance of listening as a strategy for engaging meaningfully with one another. Read More

Academic excellence, in their own words

President Crutcher talks with faculty about the ideas that inspire them.

On selflessnessSelflessness is less about what we do as a society than about who we are. Read More

Videos

Group Dynamics and Ethical Leadership

Donelson Forsyth is a professor in the Jepson School of Leadership Studies. A social and personality psychologist, Forsyth studies groups, leadership, ethical thought, and moral judgment. He teaches courses on “Group Dynamics” and “Leadership and the Social Sciences”. He is a prolific author with more than 150 books, chapters, and articles on ethics, groups, and leadership.

Wrongful Convictions and Exonerations

Mary Tate is a clinical professor of law and director of the Richmond School of Law's Institute for Actual Innocence, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2020. Professor Tate and her students work to identify and exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals. Her scholarship focuses on post-conviction issues, innocence commissions, and the problem of wrongful convictions.

Art Music & Music as Medicine

April Greenan is a musicologist and liberal arts professor who teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses through the University of Richmond’s School of Professional & Continuing Studies. Her research centers on 18th century Western art music and the cultivation of an art music tradition in the U.S. Another major theme of her research is the intersection of music and medicine.

Performance as a Tool for Social Change

Associate Professor of Theatre Patricia Herrera’s teaching and research focus on contemporary theater and performance, with an emphasis on social justice, identity politics, and transnationalism. Her areas of study also include Latinx cultural productions, documentary theater, and gender and performance.

The Changing Political Landscape

Ernest McGowen, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science, researches political behavior, campaigns, and elections, especially with respect to race and ethnicity. He's also studied behavior in young and African American voters, gerrymandering, and youth activism.

Constitutional History and the Reconstruction Amendments

Law Professor Kurt Lash is one of the country's leading constitutional law scholars. Founder and director of the Richmond Program on the American Constitution, he has published widely on constitutional history, theory, and law; religious liberty; and free speech. One main area of his scholarship focuses on the Reconstruction Amendments, specifically the 14th Amendment.

A Well-Grounded Brain and Behaviorceuticals

Kelly Lambert is an award-winning professor of behavioral neuroscience in the Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on unique aspects of decision-making and the best strategies for protecting and enhancing the brain's ability to navigate life's uncertainties. She also studies the hand-brain connection, emotional resilience, and comparative animal behavior.

Class of 2019 'Spiders Take on the World'

"It's an ending and a beginning, simultaneously." See what the Class of 2019 had to say about their time at Richmond, what's ahead for their futures, and what they'll miss most about the place they call home.

The Implications of Diversity

Sociology professor Bedelia Richards is a race, ethnicity, immigration, and education scholar. Her research addresses the implications of the growing diversity in the United States' black population, and promotes critical thinking about how institutions of higher education can better serve students and faculty from diverse backgrounds and communities. For more information about Richards’ research, visit https://bre.is/hz3RIeeWf

Seeing the World Through Costume Design

Theatre professor Johann Stegmeir is an expert in costume and makeup design, as well as costume construction. Stegmeir has designed costumes for opera, theatre, dance, feature films, and television all over the world. Recently, he served as a costume designer for the 2017–18 North America premier of Alma Deutscher's Cinderella.

Leadership in Literature, Film, and Performance

Jepson School of Leadership Studies associate professor Kristin Bezio integrates the study of literature into the Leadership Studies curriculum. Her areas of specialization include leadership in literature, film, and performance, and cultural and political history in Early Modern England. The footage and photos for the aerial section of this video are courtesy of Host of Sparrows Aerial Circus and Double Take, Lauren Olinger, and Barbara Shore Portrait.

The Art of Public Speaking

Linda Hobgood is the director of the Speech Center and professor of rhetoric and communication studies. She specializes in public speaking, speech writing, personal communication, and political rhetoric. She is always seeking ways to improve communication skills in both the workplace environment and the public setting.

Human Rights and Modern Day Slavery

Political science professor Monti Datta’s research focuses on human rights and modern day slavery. He helped launch the Global Slavery Index, which assesses the prevalence of human trafficking across the world. Datta teaches classes on international relations, research methods, and global governance.

Season's Greetings from UR (2018)

Happy Holidays to Spiders everywhere — from your University of Richmond home.

Engaging Students To Get Results

Accounting professor Joe Ben Hoyle, who has worked at the University of Richmond for 40 years, is a beloved faculty member who is well known for a unique approach to teaching. A champion of the Socratic Method, Hoyle’s main goal is to engage each one of his students from the moment they walk into his class.

Changing Attitudes Through Scholarship

Jennifer Nourse is an anthropologist whose research focuses on Indonesia. She's explored a wide range of topics, including religion, healthcare, and politics. Students marvel over the unique treasures in her office, and she is also one of only a small group of people in the world who speak the Indonesian dialect Lauje.

Global Perspectives and the Value of Language

Yvonne Howell is a professor of Russian and international studies. She speaks five languages and is an expert on Russian and East European culture. She is dedicated to exposing University of Richmond students to global perspectives. *Photos in this piece were drawn from a collection of images that include sights in both St. Petersburg and Kyiv.

University of Richmond's Princeton Rankings

The Princeton Review - College and Beyond has named UR as the No. 3 Best-Run College in the 2019 edition of "The Best 384 Colleges" college guide.

University of Richmond 'Move In Day 2018'

We welcomed the Class of 2022, which is among UR's most academically talented.

Leadership and the Heroes Journey

Psychology professor Scott Allison researches heroes – how we construct them, why we need them, and why we are sometimes happy when they fall. He is an editor of the Heroism Science journal, and has written numerous books focusing on heroes and leadership.

Commencement 2018

The University of Richmond’s Class of 2018 is heading to coveted jobs and graduate schools all over the world. But as any alum will tell you, the Spider connection is for life.

Astrophysics and Big Data

Astrophysicist Jack Singal is a physics professor whose research focuses on our universe. A major theme of his research is light — both the kinds our eyes can and can’t see. His work helps us understand all the things that make up the universe.

Writing and Thinking Critically

Joe Essid directs the university's writing center, and writing across the curriculum program. As a scholar, he studies changing patterns of literacy, and how technology alters notions of good writing. He's also the campus beekeeper.

Chemical Biology and Cancer Research

Chemistry professor Julie Pollock is a chemical biologist who focuses on developing programs that advance public health and medical research. Her primary focus is on cancer. Specifically, understanding how cancer develops and progresses. Pollock prides herself on her work with undergraduates, who she involves in every aspect of her research.

Modern U.S. History and Civil Rights

Professor Julian Hayter says today’s students often lack a deep knowledge of the history of the 20th century and the forces that came to define the American City during this time. He uses contemporary issues, such as civil rights and historical monuments, to help students better understand the forces that shape how politics truly operate.