Office of the President

Spider Talks with President Ronald A. Crutcher

Episode 10

Human Rights and Modern Day Slavery

Monti Datta, Associate Professor of Political Science

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.

Episode 9

Engaging Students To Get Results

Joe Ben Hoyle, Associate Professor of Accounting

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.

Episode 8

Changing Attitudes Through Scholarship

Jennifer Nourse, Associate Professor of Anthropology

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.

Episode 7

Global Perspectives and the Value of Language

Yvonne Howell, Professor of Russian and International Studies

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.

Episode 6

Leadership and the Heroes Journey

Scott Allison, Professor of Psychology

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.

Episode 5

Astrophysics and Big Data

Jack Singal, Assistant Professor of Physics

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.

Episode 4

Writing and Thinking Critically

Joe Essid, Director of the Writing Center

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.

Episode 3

Chemical Biology and Cancer Research

Julie Pollock, Assistant Professor of Chemistry

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.

Episode 2

Modern U.S. History and Civil Rights

Julian Hayter, Associate Professor of Leadership Studies

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.

Episode 1

Anti-Corruption Law and the Olympics

Andy Spalding, Professor of Law

The Olympic Games provide a fascinating case study to how various countries address the reality of corruption. Professor Andy Spalding uses the games to help his students better understand the impact and role of anticorruption at the international level.

Welcome to Spider Talks

The University of Richmond is known for its outstanding academic quality — where accomplished faculty of diverse fields, backgrounds, and perspectives can flourish and have a distinctive voice. Spider Talks is a video series that presents an informative dialogue between President Ronald A. Crutcher and faculty to discuss their passion for creating new knowledge through innovative teaching, impactful research, and collaborative academic experiences. Spider Talks is produced by University Communications and is delivered each month during the spring and fall academic semesters.