As VCU kicks off Research Weeks 2026, an institution-wide celebration of the discovery, innovation and scholarship happening across the university, the School of Business is proud to share a look at where our research enterprise stands and where it’s headed.
Research is central to our mission and our momentum. Guided by our Opportunity 2030 Strategic Plan and its theme of Unlimited Opportunity Creation, we are investing in scholarship and thought leadership that transcends traditional boundaries, advances new knowledge and creates opportunities for our students, partners and society at large.
Transdisciplinary research is one of two guiding pillars of Opportunity 2030, and Research Excellence is one of the four core energies. Together, they reflect a clear commitment: Our research will help identify new opportunities for students, businesses and the community, with a focus on the intersection of business and adjacent fields.
Our accomplishments over the past year reflect that commitment.
Strong scholarly output
Our colleagues published 91 journal articles in calendar year 2025, with contributions from every academic department in the school. Of those, 55 appeared in journals rated A* or A by the Australian Business Deans Council, roughly 60 percent of total output.
Additionally, eight articles were published in the Financial Times Top 50 journal list. This work spanned topics from algorithmic management and AI in health care to sustainable supply chains, corporate finance, and the psychology of consumer behavior—reflecting the breadth and depth of our school’s research portfolio.
External funding growth
Strong scholarship also means pursuing the external funding that makes ambitious research possible. Although business schools are not traditionally grant-intensive environments, we are making meaningful progress in this area. In 2025, we submitted 11 grant proposals totaling more than $3.1 million, with eight awarded for nearly $1.4 million. An additional five sub-award applications brought our total applied funding to over $4.2 million. Several of these collaborations illustrate the transdisciplinary vision at the heart of our strategy, including partnerships with the American Cancer Society, the Women’s Health Institute, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality through VCU’s College of Life Sciences.
Strengthened infrastructure
Sustained research productivity requires more than individual effort; it requires robust institutional support. This year marked significant progress on that front. We launched a four-tiered internal funding program—Small Research Grants, Medium Research Grants, Research Excellence Fellowships and the Dean’s Distinguished Fellows—creating a clear continuum of support from seed funding through sustained scholarly recognition.
We also established the school’s first Research Advisory Council to provide strategic guidance on long-term research priorities and culture. And for the first time, we embedded a dedicated research communications function within our marketing and communications team, ensuring the impact of our scholarship and thought leadership reaches audiences well beyond the academy.
The next generation
A thriving research enterprise depends on the next generation of scholars. This year, we made significant investments in our doctoral programs by increasing stipends, renovating Ph.D. student offices, completing a comprehensive program audit and introducing dedicated conference travel funding. We also launched the Outstanding Ph.D. Student Teaching Award to recognize excellence in the classroom alongside research training. That investment starts early, too. Colleagues in the school developed and taught UNIV 191: Every Ram’s a Researcher, a course designed to help first-year students recognize the value and opportunities of academic research. From first-year classrooms to doctoral dissertations, we are building a culture where research is part of every student’s experience.
Looking ahead
As we move into the next academic year, we will continue building on this foundation by expanding the Office of Research, deepening external partnerships, and growing our visibility as a school where rigorous, impactful research drives opportunity for all. Over the next four weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of research-focused articles that spotlight the people, projects and ideas behind the numbers. Stay tuned.