Carrie Connolly, Ed.D., joined the Honors College in 2006. She directs all Guaranteed Admission Programs at the University and oversees the general Honors College admissions process, recruiting high-achieving students to VCU. Dr. Connolly also oversees student success and retention initiatives within the Honors College. 

Prior to the VCU Honors College, Dr. Connolly held several positions within student affairs, including residence life, judicial affairs, first-year experience, and student organization services. Dr. Connolly's research interests include pre-health preparation and undergraduate admissions and retention strategies for high-achieving students. These research interests have led her to teach an Honors first-year course focused on healthcare exploration and also to lead a pre-freshman study abroad program each summer. She is certified in the Let Me Learn® Advanced Learning System, assisting students in identifying their learning style. Dr. Connolly is a member of Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology, as well as an honorary member of Golden Key International Honour Society and Phi Eta Sigma. She is also a member of Phi Kappa Phi and received the 2014 Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award. In 2024, Dr. Connolly received the VCU Academic Advising Administrator Award and then went on to be awarded the 2025 Certificate of Merit Award for Advising Administrator through NACDA for Region Two. 

Dr. Connolly earned her Ed.D. in leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned her M.Ed. in College Student Personnel Administration and B.B.A. in Business Marketing from James Madison University.