Alumni in Music/Entertainment

  • Gaye Adegbalola

    Gaye Adegbalola, VSU Class of 1978, has performed all over the world individually and as part of the group Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women. She is a blues music award winner (formally called the W.C. Handy Award) and a former Virginia State Teacher of the Year who plays guitar, harmonica, and is a composer. She has recorded 10 CDs and has toured widely across the U.S. and internationally.

  • James L. Avery, Sr.

    James Avery, Sr. attended VSU from 1968-1970 on a football scholarship. He left school to enlist for duty in Vietnam and did two tours. He was a classically disciplined TV actor who was best known for his portrayal of the uncle/patriarch and attorney (later judge) Philip Banks in the hit TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, whom Will Smith's character affectionately called him "Uncle Phil."

  • Deshauna Barber

    In 2016, Deshauna Barber, VSU Class of 2011, became the first woman actively serving in the United States Army Reserve to win the title of Miss USA.

  • Joe Bonner

    Joe Bonner is an accomplished jazz pianist and talented improviser. He is considered to be an excellent interpreter of modal-based music and advanced hard bop. He has appeared on a long list of recordings as a bandleader or sideman, with titles released on Evidence, Muse, Capri, and ABC/Impulse! He has over a dozen sides out on the Steeplechase label recorded during his twelve year stint in Europe, especially Copenhagen. In 2014, Joe released “Current Events” on Cherry Creek Records.

  • Dr. Rovenia Brock

    Dr. Rovenia Brock ("Dr. Ro"), VSU Class of 1981, is an award-winning health journalist and television personality known for her easy-to-apply diet, fitness, and health tips for women and families. A leading nutrition coach for over 2 decades, she was recently named by More magazine as one of America's top-five nutritionists. She is the author of "Dr. Ro's Ten Secrets to Livin' Healthy" (Bantam) - a best-seller praised as a top-ten diet book by USA Today. Most widely known as the host of “Heart & Soul,” the first ever national health and fitness television show for African-American women which previously aired on BET, Dr. Ro is also remembered for her expert reports as Medical Correspondent for “BET News”, Nutrition Contributor for ABC News’ “Lifetime Live,” and Contributing Nutrition Editor to Heart and Soul magazine.

  • Joe Kennedy, Jr

    Touted as "the cleanest violin we've ever heard" by DownBeat magazine in 1949, Joe Kennedy, VSU Class of 1953, is a world-renowned violinist, educator, composer and arranger. He was one of the first African-American members of the Richmond Symphony and was the symphony's resident violinist from 1963 until 1981.

    Mr. Kennedy has arranged, recorded and traveled abroad with many musical greats and performed at numerous concerts and festivals throughout the United States and Europe. Compositions like "Be Sure," "Tempo," "Surreal," and "Opticas," have received critical acclaim, and "Sketches for Solo Violin, Jazz Trio and Symphony Orchestra" has been performed by orchestras in Georgia, Delaware and New York. He served the Richmond Public Schools System (Virginia) for 32 years as instrumental music specialist, supervisor of music and supervisor of secondary arts and humanities. In 1999, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Theresa Pollak Prizes For Excellence In the Arts. In addition, he was honored with the 2001 Living Legacy Jazz Award from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation and a commendation from the 2002 Virginia General Assembly.

  • Phil Medley

    Phil Medley, VSU Class of 1957, a renowned musician and recording artist who is probably most famous for co-writing the hit "Twist & Shout", the song made famous by both The Isley Brothers and The Beatles.

  • Audrey Miller-Sydney

    Audrey Miller-Sydney, VSU Class of 1960, has appeared as a soloist in oratorios and as a recitalist throughout the New York Metropolitan area, Bahamas, Ghana, Japan and Virginia. She has performed the role of Micaela in “Carmen”, Susanna in “Le Nozze di Figaro” and Violetta in “La Traviata” with the New York Opera Society. She has also appeared in the role of Amahl in “Amahl” and the “Night Visitors” and performed in the concert version of the opera Nabucco with the Metropolitan Opera soprano Grace Bumbry. She was presented in concert by the Virginia State University Alumni Association at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall with a rave review from the Amsterdam News.

  • Billy Taylor

    Dr. Billy Taylor, VSU Class of 1942, is one of jazz's most influential African-American pianists, composers, and educators. As the distinguished ambassador of the jazz community to the world-at-large, Dr. Taylor's recording career spans nearly six decades. He has also composed over three hundred and fifty songs, including "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free," as well as works for theatre, dance and symphony orchestras. He has also hosted and programmed such radio stations as, WLIB and WNEW in New York, and award winning series for National Public Radio.

    In the early 1980s, Taylor became the arts correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning. He is one of only three jazz musicians appointed to the National Council of the Arts, and also serves as the Artistic Advisor for Jazz to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he has developed one acclaimed concert series after another including the Louis Armstrong Legacy series, and the annual Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival. With over twenty three honorary doctoral degrees, Dr. Billy Taylor is also the recipient of two Peabody Awards, an Emmy, a Grammy and a host of prestigious and highly coveted prizes, such as the National Medal of Arts, the Tiffany Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Downbeat Magazine, and, election to the Hall of Fame for the International Association for Jazz Education.

  • Camillia Williams

    Camillia Williams, VSU Class of 1941, was the first African American to receive a contract from a major American opera company, making her the first African-American opera singer. She received critical acclaim for her debut in May 1946 for singing the title role in Giacomo Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” and sang the role of Bess in the first full-length recording of George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” made by Columbia Records in 1951. In 1954, she became the first African American artist to sing a major role with the Vienna State Opera.

    In 1963, she performed in Danville, Virginia, her hometown, to raise funds to free jailed civil rights demonstrators and sang at the March on Washington that same year. Ms. Williams sang for Martin Luther King Jr. when he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. In 1970, she retired from opera and began teaching voice at Bronx College, Brooklyn College and Queens College, all in New York City. In 1972, she was honored by the Governor, as one of 35 Virginians who demonstrated outstanding national achievement in the arts and humanities. In 1977, she became the first African-American professor of voice at Indiana University.

VSU Women's LeadHERship Institute Announces National Conference For Women Leaders at HBCUs

VSU recently announced that its Women's LeadHERship Institute has curated a two-day national summit on Monday, June 24 and Tuesday, June 25 to refresh, applaud, and unite women leaders at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The conference's theme, "Women Leaders @ HBCUs Conference 2024 – Straightening Our Crowns to Cultivate Transformative Leaders: Unsung Heroines of HBCUs," will illuminate the transformative leadership and indomitable spirit of women trailblazers within HBCUs. Through collaboration, celebration, and candid dialogue, the goal is to inspire leaders of today and tomorrow to straighten their crowns and elevate the legacy of excellence and resilience inherent in the HBCU community.

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VSU Makes History As The First HBCU In The Country Selected To Host A General Election Presidential Debate

VSU has been chosen by the Commission on Presidential Debates to host a 2024 Presidential Debate.   

Virginia State University is proud to announce that it has been chosen by the Commission on Presidential Debates to host a 2024 Presidential Debate. This is a momentous occasion for VSU, as it is the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) ever selected to host a General Election U.S. Presidential Debate. The debate, scheduled for October 1, 2024, is the second of three scheduled general election presidential debates.   

“We are honored and grateful to have been chosen as a host for a 2024 Presidential Debate,” said VSU President Dr. Makola M. Abdullah. “This is a historic moment for our university and for HBCUs nationwide. Our university mantra is “Greater Happens Here,” and we look forward to welcoming the candidates, the Commission on Presidential Debates, and the entire nation to the GREATER at VSU.” 

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VSU Alum, General (Ret) Dennis L. Via Appointed To The VSU Board of Visitors

Virginia State University Alum and retired Army General Dennis L. Via has been appointed to the VSU Board of Visitors. Governor Glenn Youngkin made the announcement on Friday, November 10.  Via is a native of Martinsville, VA. He attended Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA, where he graduated in May 1980 as a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

He retired from the U.S. Army as a 4-Star General and is currently an executive vice president with Booz Allen Hamilton in McLean, Virginia. In this role, he leads firmwide corporate engagement in the Office of the CEO.

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Alumni Weekend 2024

VSU Alumni Weekend 2024 is scheduled for May 9 through 11, 2024 on the campus of VSU.  The VSU classes ending in 4 and 9 will be in reunion.  The Golden Class of 1974 will be celebrating their 50th year as a VSU graduate. 

Register Now

Become A VSU Class Coordinator

The VSU Class Coordinator Program comprises a loyal group of alumni representing their individual class years. Class Coordinators are considered University ambassadors who help build a strong connection between classmates and the University.
Class Coordinators are some of the most valuable volunteers for the University. Job requirements are simple: a minimal time commitment and the interest to keep in touch with VSU classmates and friends. Being a class coordinator is a great way to remain involved after graduation, and you can be as active as your schedule allows.
Class Coordinators work with the VSU Alumni Office to:
  • Communicate regularly with classmates via letters, calls, emails, or social networking Websites.
  • Keep classmates up-to-date on VSU events and news.
  • Encourage and increase participation in alumni activities such as regional events and reunions.
  • Brainstorm additional ways to keep your class connected.
  • Serve as a reunion planning committee member in your special reunion years.
  • Promote class giving and participation 
  • Provide the University of Institutional Advancement with updated contact information for classmates
If you want to become a class coordinator, please get in touch with the VSU Alumni Relations Office at (804) 524- 5045 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
(If you don't see your class year represented, please consider becoming a coordinator)



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