October 16, 2026

Mark your calendars for these upcoming opportunities and scroll down to read more about them in this issue of CONNECTED.

The design for the Dalton Hall renovation is coming together with input from the Radford University Student Government Association and students from the Department of Interior Design.

All Radford University employees are invited to join a town hall on Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 2-3 p.m. in the Performance Hall of the Covington Center to discuss Radford University’s role in promoting health professions and health sciences throughout Southwest and Southern Virginia.

President Bret Danilowicz and Assistant Vice President for Health Sciences Ashley Wells will discuss strategy for health sciences programming and curricula, including plans for the future Academic Health Sciences Building in Roanoke.

They will be joined for a panel discussion by Bethany Usher, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, and Rob Hoover, senior vice president for Finance and Administration.

A video link will be made available for employees based in Roanoke. Watch for that information to be shared soon.

This semester, the Radford University Wicked Festival will take place on Thursday, Nov. 5, beginning at 5 p.m. in the Artis Center. The Wicked Festival is a biannual intercollegiate academic showcase unique to Radford University in which students present their research on complex, real-world “wicked problems” within their respective fields of study.

Throughout the semester, student research groups investigate multifaceted issues that lack simple solutions, exploring challenges that range from social and political concerns to scientific, environmental and technological questions. At the festival, groups share their findings, innovative approaches and proposed solutions through interactive poster presentations, engaging visitors in meaningful discussions and answering questions from spectators who stop by to learn more.

Employees, students and community members are invited to attend, explore the projects on display and join the conversation on some of today’s most pressing challenges.

Grab a few snacks and stay for the distinguished speaker panel from the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, followed by an award ceremony for our presenting students.

Dark synths, pulsating beats, heavy guitars and gothic style will take over Radford University’s Studio Theatre when The Lovely Dark performs Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the University Performance Series.

It’s a spooky season dance party featuring two Radford University music alumni, John Hildreth, M.A. ’00, and Justin Hochella ’03. Tickets are $15 for the general public and free with a Radford University ID.

The Radford University Department of Career and Talent Development will offer an afternoon of networking, job opportunities and career growth at the Government, Criminal Justice, Public Services Career and Internship Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 21, from noon-2 p.m. in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center on the campus in Radford. Please let your students know about this opportunity to connect with top employers. It is open to all students and majors.

To participate in this fair, contact Paula McGraw.

Academic Advising in Radford University’s Highlander Success Center (HSC) is reporting some great accomplishments this fall and wants to share them with the Highlander community. Check out these impressive numbers from this fall:

Join the Radford University Department of Dance to celebrate the beauty, energy and artistry of dance at Radford University’s annual Fall Dance Festival. You can see the show on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. or Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. in the Main Stage Theatre of the Artis Center.

Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children and free for those with an RU ID. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 540-831-5420.

Radford University’s Department of Academic Technologies is offering several training opportunities in late October. Training is open to all employees and students. All sessions are in Walker Hall 275 on the main campus, with the option to join remotely. Click on a link below to learn more and register for the training.

As a reminder, the Radford University Office of Human Resources invites all employees to the annual Employee Benefits Fair on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center on main campus in Radford. More information was provided in the Oct. 2 edition of this newsletter.

Roanoke-based employees who registered for transportation should be at the third-floor lobby entrance on Reid Drive at Radford University Carilion by 10 a.m. for pickup.

Please encourage students who may be interested in taking part in University Libraries’ weekly student “Book Talk” group. This is a drop-in event, whenever students can attend, and gives them a space to talk about the books they are reading or just time to sit and read together.

The Student “Book Talk” group will meet to talk about books on Tuesdays at noon in the Bird Room in McConnell Library, on the main level, third floor, to the right of the front desk. Snacks will be provided. 

The Radford University Fiber Arts Club has installed a new exhibition, “Falling in Love with Crafts,” in the McConnell Library Ross Gallery. It runs through Friday, Nov. 6 with a reception on Friday, Oct. 16, at noon.

The Radford University Graduate Art Student Association (GASA) will be installing, “The Creepy, The Crawly, The Mini” next week in the Mini Museum. It runs from Friday, Oct. 16 through the end of the semester. A reception will be held in the McConnell Library Reading Room on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at noon. 

Find out how Radford students, faculty and staff are finding their place and shaping tomorrow – together.

Radford professor’s Virginia Government Simulation honored by American Political Science Association

Strength in numbers: Local artists find solidarity at inaugural summit

October 12, 2026: Special Called Meeting of the Radford University Board of Visitors

Highlander Highlights: Week of Oct. 5, 2026