Reynolds Arts Student Profile Meet Matt Chubb

Have you always been interested in art or did you discover your talent and passion later?
I have always been interested in the arts in some fashion or another since childhood. I was involved in community theater in middle and high school which gave way to an interest in photography in college. My interest in the visual arts really bloomed after college though. I was involved in an artist circle with other young professionals where my interest really became a passion. 

What is your area of study at Reynolds? 
I do not a declared major or area of study per se, but I am taking courses in both the arts and psychology. 

What is your favorite medium? 
That's a hard one to narrow down to just one as I find different media can evoke different feelings and atmospheres depending on what I am trying to express. I find that in the studio I prefer charcoal, mostly, because it has a painterly quality that I have come to enjoy.   

How does your art express your feelings and attitudes?
Many times I will find myself drawn to very detailed work, work that has a lot straight lines and abstract forms or work that is bold, with a lot of contrast. Over time I've discovered that those tendencies spring from being detail-oriented, possessing an intense personality and experiencing some intense contrast in my own life. 

What would you like to do with your art background in the future?
I would like to use my passion for the arts to assist others in their journey toward wholeness, using art as part of the therapeutic process. I have found personally that art and beauty have been a way back to health for me and I believe I have a responsibility to grant that chance to others. 


What advice would you give other students interested in studying art at Reynolds?
Challenge yourself. Take the risk. If for no other reason that you challenge the notion that you can't draw or paint. You may find that you can. That revelation may just inspire you to challenge yourself in other areas.  Additionally, our arts faculty here at Reynolds is excellent, both in their training and in their commitment to inspiring students to explore, risk and pursue endeavors in the arts. 

Reynolds Annual Student Art Show to be Judged by Chuck Scalin

The 2018 Reynolds Student Art Show will be on display from March 24 to April 30 in the Conference Center Gallery in the Workforce Development and Conference Center on J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College’s Parham Road Campus. Faculty, staff, students and the public are invited to view paintings, drawings, digital media, mixed media and photographs created by Reynolds art students. 

Show awards will be presented at a public Awards Reception to be held on April 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Conference Center Gallery. The reception is free and the community is invited to join in the celebration of the artistic accomplishments of Reynolds’ students. 

Reynolds is pleased to have Professor emeritus and former Assistant Chair of the Communication Arts + Design Department at VCU Chuck Scalin and his wife, artist Mim Golub, as this year’s show judges. Chuck and Mim are honored to be judging this show and presenting awards to the students during the Awards Reception.

Additionally, Reynolds is pleased to have a body of Scalin’s work, “Chuck Scalin: creative pursuits 1971 – 2017” exhibited during the Awards Reception.  Eventually these works will become part of Reynolds’ permanent collection. His collection will consist of 47 examples of work produced in various mediums over the past 47 years.

Chuck has worked in many different mediums over the years and this collection will include examples of his photography, collage, assemblage, printmaking, clay and glassworks. Chuck earned his BFA and MFA degrees from both the School of the Art Institute in Chicago and Pratt Institute in New York.

He has been a practicing professional artist for over 50 years and is also a designer, collector and curator and project producer. His work has been included and received recognition in over 300 exhibitions, with 25 solo exhibitions and has works in many public and private collection both in the US and abroad.
He has been involved with the local galley scene since he moved to Richmond in 1967 and has sat on boards of non-profit galleries, including 1708 and Artspace Galleries.

Reynolds Students Named Coca-Cola Scholars

Reynolds Community College is pleased to announce that two of its students have been selected as 2018 Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholars. James Brown and Donald Cooper were selected from more than 2,000 applicants and named as Coca-Cola Bronze Scholars.

The Coca-Cola Academic Team recognizes high achieving two-year college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends beyond the classroom to benefit society. Of the more than 2,000 applicants this year only fifty students were named Bronze Scholars. To be eligible for this program, students must submit an application for the All-USA Academic Team and be selected as a nominee by their college. Donald and James were nominated by Reynolds. Their selection was based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service. Funding is provided by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.

Donald Cooper

When asked how he felt about winning this scholarship Donald Cooper had this to say: “Ultimately, winning this scholarship has pushed me to be a better version of myself. After getting my letter that I had won the Coca-Cola Academic Team scholarship, I was of course super pumped. However, it made me reflect back to all of the time I had put into applying. I am honored that someone took a great deal of time to read about my life, my choices, and my passions. Again, it means the world to me that someone out there can see or relate to my story of self discovery and improvement, and be there to help provide for my financial needs in the next chapter of my career.”
Donald and James will be recognized at the Phi Theta Kappa Annual Convention in Kansas City, Missouri in April.

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said J. Mark Davis, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa and make it possible for deserving students to achieve their educational goals.”

“We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career goals.”

Reynolds Art Student Profile Meet Sarah Brown

Have you always been interested in art or did you discover your talent and passion later?
I did not know I had any talent until last semester when I chose to take Drawing 1 as an elective. I was so surprised by what I was able to accomplish when I took the time to fix mistakes and put real effort into it. 

What is your area of study at Reynolds?
I am currently taking general education and prerequisites for my Bachelors of Science in Nursing. 

What is your favorite medium? 
I really enjoy charcoal and collage. 

How does your art express your feelings and attitudes?
Art is a great release for me. If I am stressed about another class my art work tends to be more controlled. If I am in a generally good mood my art is more expressive and care free. 

What would you like to do with your art background in the future?
In the future I am mostly planning on drawing for fun while maybe selling a few pieces on the side. 

What advice would you give other students interested in studying art at Reynolds?
My advice is to not be worried about not being good enough to take college level art. Drawing 1 starts at the basics of drawing and will help you very quickly improve. 

Reynolds Culinary Student Profile: Meet LaKia Davis

What motivated you to study culinary arts?

I've always had a passion for creating little snacks and desserts. Growing up I always made the holiday desserts and birthday cakes. That was way before Pinterest and Social Media, so I would take ideas from magazines and recipe books. In recent years, I started picking this back up as a hobby and a few years ago I said I can could do this permanently, lol.

Where are you in your culinary studies?

I am a 2nd year study under Culinary Arts. I will be taking my Capstone this summer and eligible for graduation after that, but in the fall I will pick up Culinary Management and finish Pastry Arts as well. The convenient part of this program is that there is a bulk of classes all culinary fields have to take which makes it easier to finish another degree at the same time.

What are you working on now?

Right now I am in International Cuisine. Just finished American Regional a few weeks ago. My other class is Menu Management which I am currently working on our business plan project that includes creating, resourcing and projecting a full dinner menu.

What is your favorite task as a culinary student?

My favorite task as a student, lol, would be cryovac'ing our leftover product. I like using the machine and seeing the different shapes the items result in when the air has been removed. Also, it is way better than having to do the dishes and having to take out the trash.

What is your favorite ingredient?

PASTA! I love it when we get to make fresh pasta because you can incorporate into many different dishes as well has styles and ingredients.

Do you have a “signature dish”?

Actually I have a "signature" dish my group member, Trevor and I came up with. It's called the "Blueberry Smash". It came about when we had to do Blueberry Pie and we left too much juice. Even though it congealed when it was cut it was just a mess. So instead of serving it like that, we smashed the pie up and served it as a cobbler. Two weeks later we had to do a Blueberry Cobbler. In the process of class, we forgot to make the dough. Soooooo, we revisited our original idea with frozen pie crust, crumbled it like a cobbler and made it again. Totally awesome. Our class loved it. 

What would you most like to do in culinary arts when you graduate?

My ultimate goal is to open up a lunch/dinner counter named after my Grandma, "Shirley's". Currently, I'm using the business as well as culinary skills I've learned to offer traditional desserts, homemade jams and jellies as well as small batch dog treats.

What is your favorite restaurant in Richmond?

My favorite places in Richmond would be Mom's Siam II, Buz N Ned's and Proper Pie Co. I think that's a perfect mix of the food diversity Richmond has to offer.

What would you tell other potential students interested in studying culinary arts at Reynolds?

It's a wonderful program to start with regardless of if you've just discovered culinary arts or you've actually worked in the industry. It's a great opportunity to understand culinary arts and get the background you need to decide whether you want to go into catering, pastry arts, management, banquet or become a world famous executive Chef.

Reynolds Culinary Student Profile: Meet Shalise Turner

What motivated you to study culinary arts? 

I worked for a restaurant for several years in many positions, then I got married and my husband at the time encouraged me to open a cafe. I went to San Fransico to study how to mix herbal teas for health and enjoyment purposes and learned how to prepare simple elegant cafe style foods. My cafe started off as a tea and coffee shop, then I added simple foods and over time it became a small jazz shop. On the weekends I would offer a pre-fixed three-course menu and live music for two. 

Where are you in your culinary studies?

I am a triple major student at Reynolds. I have nearly completed my degree in culinary art and I have a few classes left in my culinary management degree. I am about halfway with my Horticulture degree, which I am studying at Reynolds. I have taken a few of the classes I need to transfer to Johnson and Wales when the transfer agreement is completed. 

What are you working on now?

I work full time at VCU Health the local number one trauma hospital downtown. I am a roundsman in the patient care kitchen. 

What is your favorite task as a culinary student?

I really enjoy washing dishes. I love to cook yet my fellow students enjoy using a number of dishes and pans so we have a large amount of dishes that need to be handled at the end of lab. I feel that there is a sense of tranquility that comes when I wash dishes because I know the meal was complete and someone got to enjoy it and I am just readying the next chef for his or her turn at greatness. Most people don't enjoy doing the dishes. But I think it gives you some time alone with your thoughts so you can reflect on how things went during class. 

What is your favorite ingredient?

Garlic and onions, I love them because they are a perfect pair. Like a good balanced marriage both are great on their own yet together they make a wonderful base for anything from a sauce to a marinade. They are very diverse and can be complex or dulled down. 

Do you have a “signature dish”?

When I opened my second restaurant I had a signature sandwich which was called the "Big Mother Trucker" because I was located near a truck stop and it weighed nearly a pound. I would offer food challenges to people who could complete it. The sandwich was made up of two Texas toast grill cheese sandwiches, quarter pound burger patties, sauteed onions and peppers, bacon, french fries and close slaw with lettuce, tomato, and cheese. It was served with fries and a house mayo and spicy spread 

What would you most like to do in culinary arts when you graduate?

I would really like to be a personal chef or a chef with a medical facility focused on organic growth for health care purposes. Since I have worked in the restaurant scene and enjoyed it I would like to venture out into another area where I can still enjoy my craft yet not so much of the burnout from a restaurant. 

What is your favorite restaurant in Richmond?

To be honest, I do not have one, Richmond has so many options when it comes to dining. I love local foods yet I am crazy about authentic cultural foods.

What would you tell other potential students interested in studying culinary arts at Reynolds?

I would tell them that it is a wonderful program and it is full of challenges not just academic but ones that test your character and help you build confidence in yourself and your skills. The teachers are amazing because they come from all walks of life and they truly have a love for the craft and they have the desire for you to learn it the right way and to enjoy it. I appreciate that they are so talented and have used their skills to experience a number of great things in the industry and they bring back the good and the bad of the craft. Things are not sugar coated. They expect you to want to learn and it is not made easy, yet they are reasonable and fair. 

Reynolds Host Successful Science Night

Reynolds recently hosted its 14^th Annual Science Night on the college’s Parham Road Campus. This year’s event was titled “An Interactive Evening with Scientists”. Exhibitors participated from organizations outside the college including:  Henricopolis Soil and Water Division, Science Museum of Virginia, Virginia Department of Transportation, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Community Idea Stations – Science Matters, MathScience Innovation Center, Virginia Herpetological Society, Mattaponi Pamunkey Rivers Association,  Virginia Cooperative Extension Office, King and the Queen Courthouse Tavern Museum.

“The event is always exciting for our students,” said Assistant Professor of Biology Karen Neal. “And we are very thankful for all the outside organizations that participated. While at Science Night, the outside organizations were able to share with our students what they are doing in the community and also gives them time to recruit our students to volunteer or work for them.”

With over 300 people in attendance, there were eight exhibits by Reynolds faculty, staff and student organizations including the Reynolds Honors Program, the Science Club and the Robotics Club. A few of the favorite exhibits were the Goldfish Petting Zoo, Streams in Action, Physics of Our World, Reynolds’ Makerspace, Microorganisms are Everywhere and The Skin You Are In.

During the event, Reynolds President Dr. Gary Rhodes was presented with a gift from the Math, Science and Engineering Department in appreciation for his continued support of Science Night. Rhodes had this to say about the event on Facebook: It was a most fun and informative evening! A shout out of MANY THANKS to the faculty and staff who made tonight’s event such a success! 

Dr. Gary Rhodes (Right)

Meet Chuck Scalin - Reynolds Student Art Show Judge*

Photo: Anne De Geer, Sweden.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and attended public schools there. Later I graduated from the School of the Art Institute with a BFA degree and afterward worked as a graphic designer. For one of my clients, Mercury Records, I designed album covers that included covers for some of the top recording artists of the early sixties: the Smothers Brothers, Moms Mabley, Johnny Mathis and Leslie Gore among others.  A few years later I left Chicago to pursue an MFA degree from Pratt Institute in NYC. In late spring of 1968 I was offered a teaching position at Richmond Professional Institute. When I started teaching in the fall, the school became known as Virginia Commonwealth University.

You came to Richmond in 1968 to become an art professor at VCU and you immediately became an integral part of Richmond’s budding arts community. You were involved with the startup of Artspace and many other arts related projects. Tell us about Richmond’s budding arts community in those early years.

When I arrived in Richmond, there were very few galleries here and not a very extensive arts community. In fact, my very first solo show here was in 1971 at the Eric Schindler Gallery. It's still a vital local gallery here, even since I had my exhibition there 47 years ago! Yes, later I was on the board of Artspace Gallery when it was located on Broad Street and later moved to Plant Zero. I then became one of the founding members of a new non-profit galley, Art 6 that opened in the same location as Artspace. I was later invited to become an artist board member at 1708 Gallery.

How has the Richmond arts scene changed since then?

The art scene grew considerably as the School of the Arts expanded, bringing with it many arts faculty from all over the country. Later after First Friday was created, the Broad Street art corridor began to flourish with new galleries, restaurants, and shops.

Mixed Media Collage

In 2017 the Richmond Times Dispatch characterized you, your wife Mim Golub, and your children Noah and Mica as “one of Richmond’s best known artistic families.” Were your parents artists as well? Did you encourage Noah and Mica to become artists or was it just in their DNA?

I don't know if we are "one of Richmond's best known artistic families" but we are a 2^nd generation family of four practicing, professional artists. For the Glave Kocen exhibition** we came up with the title, Family Room. It referred to a space in our house my wife and I shared as our studio before we had children. After our two children came along, all four of us worked together in this space. They shared our supplies and that space became our "family room"!

Not only are you an artist, but it seems you are always looking for ways to make an art exhibit fresh and interesting. For example, the Family Room exhibit in 2017 at the Glave Kocen Gallery that included work by all your family members. Does that inspiration come from the same place as the inspiration for, say, an assemblage?

I never thought of our Glave Kocen exhibition as an assemblage, but in a way it was. I did assemble the four artists, each with their own distinctive personal creative direction, but all in the same family. At the last minute, I also included a fifth up-and-coming budding artist, the newest member and a third generation member of the Scalin family, our granddaughter Zinn. At the time she was three years old and exhibited two of her abstract expressionist paintings...which by the way, both sold the evening of the opening!

Of your extensive body of art work do you have a favorite piece, series of works, or project? Could you describe it? Why is it your favorite?

In the past 50 years, I've worked with many different directions and mediums including painting, collage, assemblage, photography, glass, clay and mixed-media works. I've had solo shows and produced work with each of these mediums and with each of the series I've produced, there have always been some favorite pieces--a few I've retained and some were sold. 

You spent over 30 years as an art professor at VCU, retiring in 2003 as Professor Emeritus and Assistant Chair of the Communication + Design Department. You will be judging the Reynolds Student Art Show opening at the end of March, 2018. What is the best part of judging a student show? The most challenging part?

I was particularly fond of the Body of Evidence boxes I created in 2012 for my 25th solo show at Ghostprint Gallery. I had hoped to keep the entire series intact so it could be exhibited in other locations, but one of the pieces did sell at the time. However I still have the remaining 13 pieces from the series and am pleased that these pieces did get to be exhibited since then at international festivals in Indonesia, South Africa, Australia and coming this fall in Nepal.

What advice do you give young artists just beginning to explore their talents today?

I think the best advice I can give to a young artist is to explore, experiment and don't be afraid to try new directions. Look closely at your environment for inspiration and finally to quote my children, to remember..."Creativity Is A Practice!"

*Reynolds is pleased to have Professor emeritus and former Assistant Chair of the Communication Arts + Design Department at VCU Chuck Scalin and his wife, artist Mim Golub, as this year’s show judges. Chuck and Mim are honored to judging this show and presenting awards to the students during the Awards Reception.

Additionally, Reynolds is pleased to have a body of Scalin’s work, “Chuck Scalin: creative pursuits 1971 – 2017” exhibited during the Awards Reception.  Eventually these works will become part of Reynolds’ permanent collection. His collection will consist of 47 examples of work produced in various mediums over the past 47 years.

Chuck has worked in many different mediums over the years and this collection will include examples of his photography, collage, assemblage, printmaking, clay and glassworks. Chuck earned his BFA and MFA degrees from both the School of the Art Institute in Chicago and Pratt Institute in New York.

He has been a practicing professional artist for over 50 years and is also a designer, collector and curator and project producer. His work has been included and received recognition in over 300 exhibitions, with 25 solo exhibitions and has works in many public and private collection both in the US and abroad.

He has been involved with the local galley scene since he moved to Richmond in 1967 and has sat on boards of non-profit galleries, including 1708 and Artspace Galleries.

**In 2017 the Glave Kocen Gallery had an exhibit of the work of Chuck Scalin, his wife Mim Golub, and their two children Noah and Mica. The family came up with the name, “The Family Room”. Each family member was represented including the newest artist in the family, granddaughter Zinn.

Henrietta Near – A Lifetime of Artistic Generosity

Henrietta Near with Faberge flower collection at VMFA.

When Henrietta Near came to Richmond in 1955 to work for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts the museum only had one building and a staff of ten. The only art gallery in town had no interest in exhibiting the work of young, vibrant and experimental artists like Henrietta. Modern dancer Martha Graham refused to perform here in protest to the city’s treatment of its African-American residents.
Richmond was a very different world in 1955. And, Henrietta Near played a pivotal role in forever changing that landscape.

Henrietta Near has that artist’s combination of a curious mind and an adventurous spirit. Exploring and creating are her life. And create she has. Her artwork is whimsical, colorful and pushes the boundaries of media – she has created oil pastels, silk screen prints, photographs, collages, assemblages . . . and art galleries. Yes. Art galleries. Art galleries that have become Richmond icons.

By the 1980s Richmond still offered little opportunity for young artists to exhibit their work, yet it was home to an ever-growing community of artists, some home-grown, some from other states and countries. Feeling a shared sense of frustration Henrietta gathered a small group of artists to her home to talk about taking a new direction. From that meeting, Artspace gallery was formed. Shockoe Bottom was its original home until it outgrew its space and moved to East Broad Street, where it remained until 2003 when several members moved to Plant Zero in the Manchester District. Henrietta with five other members remained on Broad Street until 2013 and the gallery became art6, another highly-respected institution in Richmond’s art history.

Henrietta Near's work arrives at Reynolds.

Thanks to Henrietta and her fellow artists, small galleries sprang up along East Broad Street and it became known as Richmond’s “arts district”. Continuing her drive to open the community to art, Henrietta was instrumental in starting First Friday Artwalks, the monthly “open house” of art galleries that drew thousands to the area. In 2009 Henrietta and the original Artspace founders were named Style Magazine “Richmonders of the Year” for their accomplishments.

Today, when asked about the benefits of
exhibiting art for the community, true to her spirit, Henrietta gets animated. “There is nothing like seeing art first-hand, up close,” she says. “It opens new worlds. It opens the mind.” When asked about the Reynolds Art Collection, she says, “Reynolds is a perfect place to exhibit artwork. It’s great for the students.”

To young artists, Henrietta says, “do what you love to do. Find what makes you happy. Take classes (Henrietta still does!), keep an open mind and never stop learning. Everyone has a different approach. You have to find yours, and trust yourself.”

Paintings and photographs.

What Henrietta doesn’t say, what she would be too modest to say, is that young artists today benefit from the part played by the artists like herself that came before them. They opened doors, they opened the minds, and they created lasting opportunities in the Richmond community for others to share their work.

Almost 65 years after Henrietta came to Richmond, Reynolds Community College is playing its role in her story. Reynolds is preserving her valuable and irreplaceable contribution to Richmond’s art history through its Art Collection. Henrietta Near, along with fellow artists Janet Gilmore-Bryan and Chuck Scalin have made generous donations of their work to the college’s collection. These works will be permanently exhibited throughout the halls of all three campuses for students, faculty, staff and visitors to enjoy for years to come . . . a fitting and perfect way for Henrietta’s legacy to live on.

Reynolds Honors Student Receives NCHC Stipend

Reynolds Community College Honors Student Meghan Clancy has been selected by the National Collegiate Honors Council to receive a stipend for one of the Council's summer fieldwork trips. The stipend will allow Meghan to join the NCHC Partners in the Parks Gateways: New York City trip held June 18 – 23, 2018.

The NCHC Partners in the Park program offers unique opportunities for collegiate honors students and faculty to visit areas of the American landscape noted for their beauty, significance and lasting value. Only a small group of honors students from around the country are selected to participate in these programs. Trips are led by an interdisciplinary group of Honors faculty, and are week-long, intensive experiential learning events featuring a series of seminars on the historical, cultural, and scientific significance of the location. During the trip students also participate in a community engaged service learning project.

Meghan was awarded one of the few available stipends based on her application. The stipend will help offset the cost of the trip. Meghan will be graduating from Reynolds in May 2018.

Meet Stephen Sowulewski – Professor, Health & Physical Education

Did you grow up in Richmond? If not, where did you grow up, when did you come here, and what brought you here?   

I grew up in Saginaw, Michigan and lived on Longboat Key, (near Sarasota for two years) before I accepted the faculty position from Dr. Rhodes in 2004.   

How long have you been a Professor at Reynolds?    

Last year I obtained full professor status after I earned my Ph.D. and will celebrate my 14th year in August of 2018. 

What do you like best about teaching?   

Unlike some jobs where one works with the same set of people for the long-haul, I get to work with a new set of individuals about every four months when the semesters change.  It gives me great satisfaction to work with students on some aspect of their educational journey.  I always tell students that our working relationship is never over—I encourage them to come back and ask questions and let me know how I can continue to assist them on their trajectory.  One of my students kept in contact with me for almost eight years. I wrote quite a few letters of recommendation for her over the years but she was unable to gain acceptance into physical therapy school. After much consternation on her part, she prevailed last summer.  When she relayed the news, I was elated for her. I liken her journey to the  “Footprints in the sand” reflection. There is one piece that mentions, "I never left you during your time of trial…" and that part certainly rings true in this situation. Of course I am not speaking of myself in the Godly sense but I was with this student cheering her on every step of the way.  

What drew you to the area of Health & Physical Education?   

My parents were really fit and became avid runners in the 80s and this inspired me to want to be just like them. Ironically, I was just looking at my scrap book over the Christmas break and marveled at how competitive I was as a youngster. I remember looking forward to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness events and how close I could get to the top tier or percentile ranking in running, chin-ups, pushups and the like. As I got older and mulled over majors, I came across exercise science, and therein was that eureka moment!  It just made sense to major in something so pivotal to one’s longevity.  Through the years my parents have had their trials and tribulations with health setbacks and I am reminded that Ralph Waldo Emerson was right when he said,  “The first wealth is health.”   I am confident I made the right choice.  

You have written several articles for the Richmond Times Dispatch, Men’s Health Journal and other publications. How did you get your start as a writer and what is your favorite subject to write about? 

I just inquired with various editors and sent them samples of my work and made pitches and from there, the ideas  just seemed to stick. I am passionate about the topics of nutrition and fitness but I really enjoy writing about faith and religion. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently added spiritual health into the wellness continuum.  Although religion and spirituality are not necessarily synonymous, there is some interesting research out there suggesting that this domain of wellness might be linked to better health in people who espouse some sort of religion or those that have a  spiritual sense. I wrote an article in the Faith and Values column of the RTD some years ago on this very topic.  

You are an advocate for men’s health and have encouraged men to become in your words, “better stewards of their health.” What are the most important things men can do to maintain their health?   

Men seem to find time to take their car in for an oil change, but are reticent when it comes to their health. Men simply need to place a phone call to the doctor and set up an appointment for a head to toe physical. My three commandments for men are really indicative of lifestyle behaviors:  diet, exercise and sleep. This trifecta is all related and if one revamps their behaviors, the rest will fall into place.  

What is your favorite thing to do in Richmond?  

Eat out at various restaurants—I am a foodie at heart. Next to DC or NY, Richmond is really a mecca for all things food. I just wish they had a good Polish restaurant!

If you won $100 million dollars in the lottery, what would you do first?
After taxes, I would take the lump sum and divvy it up. I would take care of my entire family and friends and then donate to the church and other causes. Afterward, I would purchase a house on the Leelanau peninsula (Traverse City, Michigan area) and buy a vineyard. Next up, to avoid the harsh Michigan winters, I would buy a house on Siesta Key in Florida—often voted America’s Best Beach.  Of course I would need the leer jet to take me between residencies.