Lloyd Young

About Lloyd Young

With a deep-seated passion for cross-disciplinary learning and fostering critical thinking skills in students, I\'m dedicated to empowering the next generation of innovators to thrive in an ever-evolving world.Bringing together my passion for design thinking, innovation, entrepreneurship, and communications, I lead a talented team at the da Vinci Center to cultivate an atmosphere that promotes creativity, collaboration, and experimentation. Proud to be a co-founder of Shift Retail Lab, an initiative at VCU aimed at providing a sort of retail playground for creators to test their ideas through real-world sales and customer feedback. I believe developing entrepreneurial skills in students is all about giving students the hands-on experience they need to thrive in today\'s competitive job market.Passionate about infusing critical thinking skills into every aspect of education, I\'m committed to guiding students to think analytically, solve problems creatively, and adapt to new challenges with confidence and resilience.

Experience

1. Interim Executive Director

   Vcu Da Vinci Center

   Jul 2025 — Present

   Serving as Interim Executive Director of the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation, I lead a dynamic learning ecosystem at the intersection of creativity, technology, and real-world impact. With a background in interdisciplinary design, education, and strategic communication, I’m focused on expanding radical access to innovation education through micro-credentials, workforce partnerships, and experiential learning.A co-founder of Shift Retail Lab, I’ve helped shape flagship programs that support student entrepreneurs, returning learners, and career explorers from every discipline. My mission is to build inclusive pathways for all learners to thrive in an innovation-driven future.

Education

• Virginia Commonwealth University

  Master's degree, Strategic Communications

• The Evergreen State College

  B.A., Photography, Political Science

  2002 — 2006

Skills

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Communication
• Photoshop
• Sketchup
• Graphic Design
• Branding & Identity
• Web Design
• Visual Communication
• Autocad
• Concept Development
• Logo Design
• Adobe Acrobat
• Public Speaking
• Social Media
• Microsoft Word
• Indesign
• Art Direction
• Image Editing
• Drawing
• Photography
• Html
• Poster Design
• Mac
• Solidworks
• Teamwork
• Art
• Design
• Brochures
• Microsoft Excel
• Powerpoint
• Illustrator
• Page Layout
• Branding
• Adobe Photoshop
• Sketching
• Typography
• Microsoft Office
• Graphics
• Digital Photography
• Illustration