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Academic Metals Directory · program

Virginia Commonwealth University

university art department · Active
last checked 2026-05-29

As archived

Degrees
B.F.A, M.F.A

Now (checked 2026)

Status
Active

What happened
Continuation with restructuring. The metals/jewelry program has continued uninterrupted as both a BFA focus and an MFA concentration. In a Jan 2026 consolidation, VCUarts merged the Department of Craft and Material Studies with Painting & Printmaking and Sculpture & Extended Media into a single Department of Fine Arts; the furniture/woodworking GRADUATE program was paused for 2026-27 (the lone woodworking professor not rehired), but Metals, Clay, Glass, Wood and Fiber all continue to be taught to undergrads. Leadership has changed since ~2014 (Cynthia Myron chair in 2025, Kristin Caskey acting chair Jan 2026). Archived faculty Nancy (Kunkle) Thompson was a longtime jewelry/metalsmithing professor and crafts dept chair who built the program ("1969 to present" in the old record); she is a historical figure, not the current head.

Link
arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/craft-material-studies/areas-of-study/metal/

People

Faculty

Sources

https://arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/craft-material-studies/areas-of-study/metal/https://bulletin.vcu.edu/graduate/school-arts/craft-material-studies/fine-arts--mfa-concentration-jewelrymetalworking/https://bulletin.vcu.edu/undergraduate/arts/craft-material-studies/https://bulletin.vcu.edu/undergraduate/arts/craft-material-studies/craft-material-studies-bfa/https://commonwealthtimes.org/2026/01/21/vcu-quietly-axes-furniture-design-program-amid-consolidation/https://commonwealthtimes.org/2025/02/05/hands-on-with-vcu-craft-and-material-students/https://guides.library.vcu.edu/craft/metalhttps://blogs.vcu.edu/enews/2013/12/11/alumni-give-thanks/

From the original Tyler “Academic Metals Directory” (≈2014), brought current in 2026.

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