The B.S. in information systems degree program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Information Systems.
Information Systems Internship Class: Students can receive credit and mentoring while completing a relevant internship.
Advisory Board: The department advisory board provides input on the curriculum and facilitates communication with the regional technology community.
Mission
1) Produce well-rounded, ethical information systems graduates who blend business acumen, technology skills, and knowledge to meet the needs of our constituents and who are prepared for lifelong learning;
2) Nurture and sustain scholars who make major and distinctive contributions to the information systems discipline emphasizing design and qualitative research; and
3) Sustain and develop value-based information systems contributions to meaningful community engagement.
STUDENT DEPARTMENT AWARDS
Student of the Year: The Student of the Year Award is presented to a senior or graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in scholarship and leadership.
Distinguished Service Award: The Distinguished Service Award is presented to a student who has provided distinguished service to the department, university and community.
Student of the Year: Ben Massie
Ben has consistently excelled in both the classroom and undergraduate research. Professors praise his exceptional intelligence, dedication and problem-solving abilities. He approaches challenging research tasks with confidence, delves into programming and user experience challenges and continually strives to learn and improve. His persistence and work ethic serve as an inspiration to those around him. In Dr. Elizabeth Baker’s undergraduate research lab, Ben led by example, embracing uncertainty and pushing his skill set to new levels, further inspiring his peers with his commitment and determination.
Distinguished Service Award: Thomas Chatman
Thomas is a dedicated leader who excels both in the classroom and beyond. As the past president, secretary and current adviser for the Developing Men of Color (DMC) organization at VCU, he organized numerous events and secured grants totaling over $40,000. A graduate of VCU LEAD, Thomas believes in leading by example and continues to pursue personal and professional growth. He founded Catalyst Gallery, an initiative empowering artists worldwide. Additionally, he volunteered with Pre-Collegiate Initiatives, delivering STEM workshops to middle school students. Guided by his core principles of discipline, accountability and open-mindedness, Thomas strives for excellence in education, work and life.
Student of the Year: Mahnoor Imran
Mahnoor has shown an exceptional commitment to her studies and extracurricular activities, making her a valuable asset to the university community. As webmaster for ISO and treasurer of Women in Business, she has demonstrated strong leadership skills and a steadfast dedication to enhancing the student experience on campus. As a transfer student, Mahnoor seamlessly integrated herself into the university community, consistently improving her academic performance as she advanced in her IS coursework. Selected for the accelerated B.S. to M.S. program, she balances her studies while volunteering as a technology associate at Bridging Tech and interning at Synergy Technical, all while completing her master’s degree.
Distinguished Service Award: Kahlil Banning
Kahlil was elected as the first president of the Information Systems Organization (ISO), the newly revamped information systems student organization at VCU. In this role, he led a team of officers to organize events aimed at advancing students' career opportunities. Under his leadership, the organization launched a webpage, created an Instagram account and began developing a podcast. Kahlil maintained regular contact with the department’s industry advisory board, leveraging their support to enhance the student experience. He also dedicated his time to promoting the major to prospective students at open houses. After graduating in December 2022, Kahlil began his career as an associate consultant with IBM.
Student of the Year: Neema Tahmasebi
Neema, a transfer student, has excelled in the information systems major with remarkable focus and dedication, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. Since transferring to VCU two years ago, he has completed all his information systems courses at VCU, balancing full-time enrollment with summer classes to stay on track. Neema is currently interviewing for consulting and data analytics roles at top consulting firms and financial institutions, showcasing his commitment to academic and professional success.
Distinguished Service Award: Nana Owusu
Nana serves as the professional development chair for the Information Systems Organization (ISO) and is an outstanding student with a 3.83 GPA. He was a resident assistant at VCU for two years and served as a career coach for seventh graders at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School through the Supporting Tech Achievement for Richmond Students (STARS) program. After graduation, Nana plans to pursue a career in data analytics or IT consulting.
Student of the Year: Leandro Torrico
Leandro has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in both scholarship and leadership, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA in information systems. Beyond his academic achievements, he is an active member of AITP and has played a key role in organizing professional development events such as "Networking Night," where students connect with local business professionals to explore internships and job opportunities, and the 2021 Ethics Alive through Creative Communication Competition. Leandro also worked as an audio-visual assistant for the School of Business, supporting the transition to online education during the 2020-21 school year. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in cybersecurity as a security engineer or data security analyst.
Distinguished Service Award: John Archie
John is the current president of the VCU Student Chapter of the Association for Information Technology Professionals (AITP), where he provides essential project management and leadership to support the organization’s operations. He is also a graduate of VCU’s LEAD program, a two-year living-learning community designed to enhance leadership capabilities through experiential learning and volunteering. John is currently seeking a client-facing IT support role that involves solving complex problems. He is also pursuing certifications in AWS and Hyper-V to deepen his understanding of cloud computing and virtual machines.
Student of the Year: Giovanni Knight
Giovanni is an outstanding student with an exceptional academic record and high praise from her instructors. Beyond her extraordinary classroom performance, she has actively engaged in professional development activities, including serving as president and secretary of the student chapter of the Association for Information Technology Professionals (AITP). As president, Giovanni organized workshops, invited guest speakers, hosted networking events and increased AITP membership through her enthusiastic leadership and engagement. She also serves as a mentoring coordinator for the Office of Student Engagement, where she has played a key role in gathering and analyzing data to enhance the mentoring program. After graduation, Giovanni looks forward to pursuing a full-time career as an IS/IT professional.
Distinguished Service Award: George Akpakli Jr.
George is an exceptional student who has consistently earned a place on the Dean’s List while actively contributing to the VCU Student Chapter of the Association for Information Technology Professionals (AITP) as vice president of operations. He has played a key role in coordinating events like “Networking Night,” where students connect with business professionals in the Richmond metropolitan area to explore internships and job opportunities. George has organized 10 professional events this academic year alone, helping members understand the importance of gaining IS/IT experience to stay competitive in the job market.
In addition, George has maintained the AITP website through SquareSpace, keeping it updated for community marketing and membership recruitment, and managing the calendar of events. He also served as a network technician for the Information Systems Department, where he maintained computer networks to enhance performance and user access, troubleshot Oracle Database issues to ensure security, configured and maintained 16 servers for student and faculty software needs and provided technical support to IS majors.
Balancing his academic studies, service commitments to AITP and an internship with New Market Corporation as a user support intern, George has demonstrated an impressive ability to multitask and excel. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in cybersecurity.