Andrew Kerley, Executive Editor VCU’s year-long search for a new second-in-command and chief academic officer finally came to a close last week. Arturo Saavedra, the former School of Medicine dean and interim provost since December, was confirmed by the VCU Board of Visitors into his new role as the permanent provost. Saavedra is the third person to hold the high office in the last year, as former Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos departed in April 2025 for his same job at Pennsylvania State University. It was then held by interim Provost Beverly Warren until December 2025. Now, at the crossroads of new goals, policies and a shifting university identity, Saavedra sat down with The CT to discuss the matters most important to the VCU community. EDITOR’S NOTE: This interview has been shortened and edited for clarity. The full transcript can be read here. Why do you think you were chosen to be the new provost? Saavedra: “I would like to say that through my life, my utmost goal has been to be of service, to understand where I sit from the perspective of impacting change so that others benefit.” For those who have no idea, how would you describe the job of

Heciel Nieves Bonilla, News Editor  As peace talks between the United States and Iran continue on an unpredictable path, a student from VCU’s Qatar campus spoke to The CT regarding his experiences of living through threats of bombing and a peace in the balance. VCUarts Qatar shut its doors to the public on Feb. 28 in response to hostilities in the area when the U.S. and Israel began a bombing campaign on Iran, according to previous reports by The CT. The conflict went on to impact the entire region through retaliatory strikes and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar lies beyond the strait in the Persian Gulf and has been the target of Iranian strikes on industrial, military and natural gas infrastructure. Second-year VCUarts Qatar graphic design student Anirudh Anil Kumar said the university had students limit entry to the campus as much as possible for several weeks afterward. “They told us not to come to campus, like ‘come only if necessary to take important items, and just don’t come in as a group, so you don’t get crowded in here.’” Anil Kumar said. “So we had a system to come one by one or something like that,

Heciel Nieves Bonilla, News Editor Andrew Kerley, Executive Editor EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated. A new version of the payroll has been made available, while the previous version has been removed. Click here to read the update and access the new payroll.  VCU’s payroll shows a substantial gap between the salaries of administrators and other staff. Data shows that gap has increased nationwide, and VCU salaries are consistent with those of other universities — with some notable exceptions. The CT obtained VCU’s stated payroll for active employees as of April 2026 through a Freedom of Information Act request. It includes the salaries of 7,925 employees who make more than $10,000 per year. The median salary earned across all employees at VCU as-listed is $74,257, and the average is $91,149. Those figures, and the following averages, only include the university — not VCU Health. The average salary for professors of any type is $167,984, according to an analysis by The CT. An assistant professor’s average salary was less than half that at $82,277. The average associate professor makes $106,388. Highest earners and administrators Employees with “chair” in their title, such as department, division or program leads, make an average