Women of Impact stories

WIN is an acknowledgement of the power and influence women leaders have at VCU. These Women of Impact are dedicated supporters of the university whose influence on VCU is undeniable. The impact that they and women leaders like them have made at VCU led to the creation of WIN.

DaNika Neblett Robinson, Ed.D.

“Visibility expands what students believe is possible.”

DaNika Neblett Robinson, Ed.D. (B.A.’11, Cert.’14, M.P.A.’15, Ed.D.’18), believes in creating spaces where others can grow and lead with confidence. Her relationship with VCU began as an administrator in the School of Medicine and evolved as she became a first-generation student, four-time alumna and later an instructor. Through each role, VCU played a key part in her development as a higher education leader and opened doors for her continued growth.

Robinson’s connection to VCU is rooted in her commitment to shaping environments that support students and women. She is a strong supporter of VCU’s Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute and its HIGHER Ground Conference, which brings more than 300 leaders together each year to connect, learn about innovative leadership practices and share insights. 

Robinson was named a 2019 VCU Alumni Star. This honor affirmed her work and deepened her commitment to supporting students and advancing women-centered initiatives.

Robinson has also played a key role in advancing women’s engagement at VCU. She served on the steering committee that helped create the VCU Women’s Impact Network and now serves as WIN’s inaugural vice chair. In addition, she continues to support the university through her service on the VCU Alumni Council.  

Throughout her time at VCU, Robinson has been especially proud of creating spaces where women can lead authentically. By fostering environments where women feel confident stepping into leadership roles, she has helped others grow without feeling the need to diminish themselves.

“It’s about leaving spaces better than I found them,” she says. “The quiet, consistent work creates room for people to grow.” 

She believes that when women’s leadership is visible, it challenges outdated narratives and helps future leaders see that their presence and voice belong.

Sharon Darby, D.N.P.

“I have seen the power and energy that is created when women gather to promote VCU. Sparks fly.”

Sharon Darby, D.N.P. (B.S.’99, M.S.H.A.’01), says VCU has been a constant throughout her life. For decades she has been connected to the university as a student, staff member, parent, donor, volunteer and fan. Darby began her nursing career in the VCU Health System and spent much of her professional life serving children and families through leadership roles at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. While working at VCU, she also earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in health administration.

Darby’s career has focused on care for medically complex children, as well as for the families who support them. Along the way, she was inspired by the women around her: Their dedication shaped her leadership.

“Throughout my career, I was influenced by the strength, endurance and commitment of women who were my colleagues, as well as by the parents and caregivers of the children and families I served,” Darby says. “Because of these women, I feel I have a duty to honor and elevate women to recognize their contributions.”

Darby has helped develop programs and services that continue to support children and families today. She is also proud of her efforts to increase visibility and support for VCU women’s athletics and to help strengthen connections among alumni and supporters of the university.

Today, Darby continues her involvement as a charter member of the VCU Women’s Impact Network, where she helps build relationships among women who are passionate about advancing VCU. She has also remained engaged in the Richmond community through volunteer work with organizations such as Greater Richmond Fit4Kids, the Richmond Medical Reserve Corps and Richmond Public Schools.

“Being impactful, for me, means to serve and truly give of myself to drive meaningful change,” Darby says. “Through my involvement in the VCU Women’s Impact Network, I have helped foster lasting relationships and strengthen a growing network of women leaders who are committed to advancing VCU. There continues to be opportunity to have better representation of women on boards and committees and in leadership roles. By recognizing, inspiring and advancing women at VCU, we honor their leadership and shape the future of our institution and our communities.”

Stephanie Fulenwider Bilyeu

“I think it’s important for women’s impact to be visible so that young women can see themselves either in that role or as someone contributing to their community.”

Stephanie Fulenwider Bilyeu (B.S.’18) started her time at VCU as a College of Engineering student, bringing with her years of professional experience in construction and fine dining. She became a familiar face at the college’s annual open house, connecting with prospective students and their families. She also joined VINES, a mentorship program that paired women across class years. She offered candid advice on classes, careers and internships, helping younger students navigate challenges she had faced in the workforce.

“Since I was an older adult returning to school,” Bilyeu says, “I knew more about how the impact of my decisions during college would affect my career. I wanted to share that perspective with my college contemporaries and with future students in the engineering program.”

After graduation, she stayed engaged, serving on the VCU College of Engineering Alumni Council for more than six years and serving as chairperson for three years. She helped lead alumni initiatives, host events and maintain strong connections with fellow graduates. She now serves on the VCU Women’s Impact Network Advisory Council.

“All of us are where we are because someone helped or advocated for us,” she says. “Sometimes one act of support can change everything. I try to pay that forward through my time, advice and contributions.”

Bilyeu is also passionate about supporting women in STEM. By mentoring, giving back and staying involved. She hopes to show young women they can succeed in male-dominated fields and that their contributions strengthen both their community and society as a whole.

Myra Clements

“I have shown my support for VCU for the last 40 years. The VCU School of Pharmacy gave me a good background for what I went on to do in my career and my life. While I worked at VCU Health, I got to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures than myself. That was a learning experience for me. I liked to learn. I still like to learn.”

Myra Clements (B.S.’82) believes in giving back to the organizations that have given to her throughout her life. Clements began taking classes in the VCU School of Pharmacy after earning an undergraduate degree and teaching high school for nine years. At the time, she had to use her retirement savings to pay her way through school. 

After graduating, Clements went on to work as a pharmacist at VCU Health for more than 20 years. She also continued a pattern of support for VCU. In 2024, Clements celebrated 40 years of giving. She loyally supports the School of Pharmacy as well as VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. Clements also established a scholarship fund that will provide financial assistance to a pharmacy student from Middlesex county and the surrounding area, the same area of Virginia she is from. 

“There are not a lot of people in that area who go to pharmacy school,” she explains. “I thought it would be a good thing to establish to help somebody along the way.”

Christina Dick

“I think WIN is an opportunity for people to stay involved at VCU. For me, that’s both a philanthropic and professional opportunity. Whether it’s giving my time, guest speaking or being a donor, I find staying involved keeps me connected to an important network. My relationship with VCU evolves over time, and I have seen how much it can still provide me long after my graduation.”

Christina Dick (B.S.’10) believes in staying active on campus. Soon after she graduated,  she started participating in the VCU Advertising community on Facebook, an informal group of  current students, alumni and faculty members. Because of the information she shared and her experience working in advertising, VCU professors began to ask Dick to come back to campus and talk to their classes. This sparked an interest in teaching that led Dick to become an adjunct professor at VCU when she was only 26 years old. 

During this time, Dick also started her own business, Tiramisu for Breakfast Agency. This business, achievements  in her advertising career and her commitment to teaching led to recognition as a VCU Alumni’s 10 Under 10 honoree in 2017. 

Dick established the Tiramisu for Breakfast Scholarship in the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences’ Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture in 2018. She had heard some of her students discussing the prohibitive cost of networking events and realized that they were missing out on important opportunities because they didn’t have the money. The scholarship Dick established helps bridge that financial gap and give students the opportunity to join professional associations and attend conferences and networking events. 

“One of the biggest benefits of VCU was its connection to Richmond,” Dick says. “There were so many professionals in my industry nearby, and connections to them helped me to transition from student life to professional life. I think that opportunity is important and want to make sure VCU students have the funds to be involved.”

Linda Hines

“I’m proud to have the ability to give back to VCU, not only financially but also with my time. By staying involved, I get to speak with students and stay connected with them. No one does any of this alone. The power of networking, mentoring and coaching cannot be overstated, so I mentor or coach others whenever I have the opportunity.”

Linda Hines (B.S.’80, M.S.’99, M.B.A.’10) believes in showcasing women in leadership. Since graduating from the VCU School of Business with her master’s in business administration, she has transitioned from a nursing background to a CEO role. 

When Hines shares the story of her career with VCU students, they want to know how she did it. Moreover, students tell her it’s inspiring to hear about a woman leader like her. Hines stays engaged at VCU to foster these connections and shape the future of the School of Business. As a board member of the VCU School of Business Foundation, she contributes to discussions that guide important decisions for the school. 

Hines’ giving to VCU reflects her dedication to recognizing the possibilities for women in leadership. In 2020, Hines, along with four of her VCU classmates, established the Oraphine Crump Scholarship for First-Generation Students in Business to help support students with financial need. Importantly, it also highlights its namesake, who was the first female loan officer at Consolidated Bank and Trust in Richmond and the first Black woman to serve on the New Kent County School Board.

“I was so inspired by what Oraphine Crump did for her community and for students,” Hines says. “Traditionally you see more men in those business leadership roles. In highlighting women like Oraphine Crump, we give people the opportunity to see that we have a lot of women leaders in important positions. It’s really important to be able to showcase that.”

Elizabeth Roderick

“I joined WIN to gain a greater perspective on VCU’s needs and engage with other motivated women. I knew I wanted to maintain and increase connections with these impressive women who have such varied skills, motivations and resources. I feel confident that their VCU experiences and philanthropic goals will further inform my giving and increase its impact.”

Elizabeth Roderick (M.P.A.’18) has been involved at VCU as both a supporter and a student. After establishing her career as a librarian, Roderick enrolled in the VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, earning two post-baccalaureate certificates and a master’s degree in public administration from VCU.

At VCU, Roderick witnessed the challenges that many of her classmates faced completing their degrees. In 2019, she established the Elizabeth Roderick Scholarship in Public Administration to support M.P.A. students in the Wilder School focused on nonprofit management. Roderick also supports the Wilder School Student Retention Fund, which provides financial assistance to students who have financial holds on their account that prevent them from continuing their studies.

Based on more than 20 years as a library administrator, Roderick knows the importance of a space where information and resources are readily available and patrons can connect with faculty, staff and students. She also understands that ever-increasing costs threaten libraries’ ability to provide resources. In 2015, Roderick and her husband, John Kneebone, Ph.D., VCU professor emeritus of history funded a graduate group study room in the James Branch Cabell Library. The couple is also helping fund the library’s Special Collections and Archives endowment.

“I like to give to the places that supported me,” she says. “I wanted to make life during higher education easier for our future public administrators and leaders. I wanted to be sure that all students have access to the library services that I have appreciated so much.”

Pam Kiecker Royall, Ph.D.

“Women have been contributing to VCU in significant ways for many years, and WIN is an acknowledgement of all of their work. It’s an opportunity for women with strong connections to VCU to inspire others to contribute in their own way and a meaningful way to expand the network of women supporters that already exists at VCU.” 

Pamela Kiecker Royall, Ph.D., joined the faculty at VCU in 1994 and served as a professor and department chair in the School of Business. After leaving the faculty in 2011, Royall continued to serve VCU on the School of Business Foundation board and the Brandcenter Director’s Council. Through her roles at VCU and her consistent financial support, she has had a far-reaching impact. 

Royall and her late husband, William Royall Jr., co-chaired the fundraising campaign for the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, which raised more than $30 million. Royall remains involved at the ICA, which opened in 2018, serving as president of the ICA advisory board and chair of the ICA development committee. 

“With the ICA, Bill and I had the opportunity to be founders, to build something new and exciting for VCU,” Royall says. “With the strong position of VCU’s School of the Arts, we knew the ICA would elevate what was already a hallmark of the university.”

The Royalls have also been staunch supporters of the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 2011, they established the Accelerated Clinical Trials (ACT) Now for Cancer Research Fund, which helps expedite the approval process for clinical trials. Royall also sat on the Massey advisory board for 13 years, including as vice chairperson.

Royall’s support spans VCU, benefiting other areas including VCU Athletics, the School of Business and VCUarts.