Trani's legacy at VCU

Eugene Trani will retire in July after serving 19 years as president of Virginia Commonwealth University. They were eventful years, by anyone’s measure. Today, we begin writing the first draft of the history of Trani’s consequential tenure.

By: Times-Dispatch Staff | Times-Dispatch
Published: April 19, 2009

FROM THE OPINION SECTION:

EDITORIAL: Legacy

COMMENTARIES:

• Trani Built a Better VCU

• VCU Hurt Historic Neighborhoods

• Trani's Complex Academic Legacy

FROM THE NEWSROOM:

• SLIDESHOW: VCU - The Trani Years

• VCU's Trani transformed school, city and lives

• Trani will teach after sabbatical

• Bio and milestones

• VCU at a glance

Trani Built a Better VCU

By WILLIAM H. GOODWIN JR.

Eugene P. Trani has been president of Virginia Commonwealth University for 19 years. Under his leadership, the university has become the largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia. A large part of the inner-city of Richmond has been transformed from what was a rapidly decaying part of our city into a bustling, vibrant area. All of us should be eternally grateful. The transformation has been truly amazing.

William H. Goodwin Jr. is chairman CCA Industries Inc.

VCU Hurt Historic Neighborhoods

By TODD WOODSON

The defining moment in the relationship between the historic Oregon Hill Community and VCU President Eugene Trani occurred sometime after the 2003 VCU Master Plan had been released. Oregon Hill residents could rest easy -- for in that plan a reasonably sized Natatorium was scheduled to be built on property VCU owned at West Cary and South Cherry streets.

C. Todd Woodson is executive director of the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council.

Trani's Complex Academic Legacy

By GEORGE E. MUNRO

I was unable to meet Eugene Trani when he interviewed for the presidency of Virginia Commonwealth University. I remember seeing him exiting the building after meeting with representative faculty, however, and thinking, "That's our next president."

George E. Munro is professor of history at VCU. He earned his PhD at UNC-Chapel Hill and has been at VCU since 1971. He chaired the Department of History from 1991-97, during Eugene Trani's first years at VCU. Munro's specialty is Russian History. Contact him at gmunro@vcu.edu.