Richmond alum translates health policy to Virginia legislators

Mark Hickman, ’07, is a bridge between health care and Virginia legislators. As the senior director of state government relations at Virginia Commonwealth University Health, his job is “to help guide [the VCU community] through the policy and advocacy process. I help be that liaison between them and our government policymakers.”

Hickman has met some of the state’s top government leaders, helped craft legislation, and advocated for funding that passed through the Virginia General Assembly. “To think I’ve been able to come along this way from a modest background and be part of this work here in Richmond, Virginia, it’s really cool for me,” he said.

Spiders tend to bump into one another spontaneously, something Hickman experienced during the 2026 General Assembly session. His former leadership studies professor Tom Shields was there with a group of students, allowing Hickman to share his own class experience with them. He always knew he wanted to study politics, but professors like Shields taught Hickman how to apply leadership to his work in the government sector.

“Research [shows] that when you put your employees first, the profits follow,” he said. “And those kinds of companies — their employees are happier, and they make more money in the long run.”

Hickman has had two primary guides along the way: an anchor and a north star. “You need to be grounded, but you also need to be moving forward, exploring and experiencing life,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of community work. Hickman is chair of the board of directors at Homeward, a nonprofit organization addressing homelessness in the Richmond region. “I cannot talk enough about the importance of volunteering,” he said. “Not just [to] give back, but also as a way to build relationships and networks. It has helped me tremendously in every way and has made my life better as I try to make others’ lives better.”