Humanities, Fine Arts, and Social Sciences

 Virtual Art Exhibitions (Current)

Black Joy Is: Ferocious, Fearless, Forever, For Me, Female
This exhibition asks the question- in the face of ongoing challenges, where do African American women find joy? What are the sources of rebirth and nourishment? Nine regional artists were asked to ponder what “black joy” means to them and this exhibition is the result.  Through these nine artists, we experience the tremendous diversity and complexity that hints at the multi-faceted reality that is black joy.
The exhibition is curated by Veronica Jackson, an alumnus of UVA’s architecture school who spent much of her career working as an exhibit designer in Washington DC. She has recently returned to Central Virginia and is turning her attention to the visual arts. She creates text-based work that is autobiographical and critically visualizes gender and race in America.

To view virtual art galleries for previous exhibitions, please visit the Virtual Gallery Archive.

College Publications

"The Forum"
The Forum, PVCC's student newspaper, is an opportunity for students to gain journalism experience while providing news and opinions of interest to the college community. Students can take part through writing, photography, drawing, editing, and design.

"The Fall Line"
The Fall Line, PVCC’s literary magazine, is a celebration of PVCC student writing and art. Published each spring, The Fall Line features fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and comics--all selected by members of the Creative Writing Club—alongside student art. The magazine is designed by the Advanced Computer Graphics class and published in both print and digital form.

"Insights" Student Journal
Insights is an annual journal that provides a platform for student research within the Humanities, Fine Arts, and Social Science Division at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Papers are nominated by instructors for inclusion in the journal. Once nominated, students work with faculty editors to modify their work. Each year, the top three student research papers are formally recognized.

PVCC Fine Arts & Performance

Piedmont Virginia Community College features performances, workshops and exhibitions from our Theater, Music and Art departments and clubs, as well as a rich array of professional dance, theatre and visual arts programming as part of our Fine and Performing Arts Series.   Since 1999, PVCC's Fine and Arts and Performance Series has offered high-quality arts experiences that entertain, enrich and educate students and the larger community.

Faculty Achievements and Awards

PVCC Professor Connie Jorgensen Receives 2022 American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Award

The Humanities Division at PVCC has always known how fortunate we are to call Ms. Jorgensen our own, so we cannot agree more that she merits receiving this prestigious recognition. 

As the primary advocacy organization for community colleges, the AACC represents more than 1,000 two-year, associate degree-granting institutions and six million students. Ms. Jorgensen is one of only 29 faculty members within these institutions of higher learning to receive this prestigious award.

Recipients for this award are selected for their passion for teaching, support for students inside and outside the classroom, participation in college committees and going above and beyond to ensure students are successful in their academic endeavors.  Ms. Jorgensen embodies all of these and more.  "Professor Jorgensen is so deserving of this recognition and all attendant accolades.  She should be very proud of the tremendous work she does for our students and institutions.  As her supervisor, I am very proud of her accomplishments around civic engagement," remarked Dr. Leonda Keniston, the dean of Humanities, Fine Arts & Social Sciences at PVCC.

Ms. Jorgensen teaches political science and directs the PVCC Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Civic Sense: Engaging Students in the Civic Life of Their Communities. She also serves on the PVCC Curriculum and Instruction and One-Book committees and is a member of the College Senate. Additionally, she is active in national organizations including the Faculty Network for Student Voting Rights, Civic Virginia and the Students Learn, Students Vote Coalition.

PVCC Professor Jennifer Koster Receives State Council of Higher Education for Virginia 2021 Outstanding Faculty Award

Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) is proud to announce Professor Jennifer Koster as a recipient of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) 2021 Outstanding Faculty Award. The Outstanding Faculty Award is the Commonwealth’s highest honor for faculty at Virginia’s public and private colleges and universities. These awards recognize superior accomplishments in teaching, research and public service.

Koster is an English professor and the Writing Center coordinator at PVCC. Through her work and classes she builds community and encourages students to explore their interests as potential areas of study. Koster is committed to education and demonstrates this commitment across communities in Virginia. She is founder of the Virginia Community College System’s Learning Assistance Professionals Peer Group, coordinator of the Virginia chapter of the Southeastern Writing Center Association (SWCA) and Virginia representative to the SWCA Board. In addition, this year she initiated Virginia’s first statewide tutor collaboration, TuColla-VA.

“Professor Jennifer Koster is a remarkable educator who is truly deserving of the SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award. The award is a testament to her extraordinary dedication to PVCC students,” noted Dean of Humanities, Fine Arts and Social Sciences Dr. Leonda Keniston.

To learn more about the 2021 SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award and view the full list of winners, click here