Frances Dumenci, the public relations director for the Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, died on June 4. She was 46 years old. Dumenci also served as the university’s public affairs bureau chief at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.
“Our VCU and VCU Health System family is in mourning,” said Anne L. Buckley, senior director of university public affairs. “This is a heartbreaking loss for university public affairs, for the CCTR, for the university as a whole and for her family. Frances leaves behind a rich legacy of unparalleled professionalism, intelligence, humility and humor.”
Before joining the staff at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2007, Dumenci was director of communications at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. She held a master’s degree in journalism and mass communications from Iowa State University.