I
am pleased to announce that David R. Goode, nationally recognized
philanthropist and retired chairman of the board, president, and chief
executive officer of Norfolk Southern Corporation, will serve as keynote
speaker for Virginia Wesleyan’s 48th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at 11 a.m. in the Jane P. Batten Student Center.
Mr.
Goode and his wife, Trustee Susan Goode, are community leaders and
devoted advocates for the arts. They recognize the critical importance
of the arts and believe they are vital to a liberal arts education.
David and Susan, along with their daughters, Christina and Martha, and
their son-in-law, Blair Mielnik, recently made a lead gift of $5 million
for the construction of a new fine and performing arts center on the
Virginia Wesleyan campus. The family’s gift, which is among the five
largest in VWC history, launched the planning and fundraising for the
forthcoming Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. Virginia
Wesleyan has also designated several of its most prominent academic
programs under The Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities.
Between
2006 and 2010, the Goodes also invested more than $1 million in
Virginia Wesleyan’s science programs through renovations of the
College’s math and natural sciences building, Blocker Hall. Their lead
gift was part of a $4 million investment in the sciences, which provided
renovated science labs, student access to a research vessel and STEM
scholarships. These investments ignited growth in the College’s science
programs—students majoring in the sciences grew by 111 percent over a
five-year period, and biology became the top major, representing 12
percent of enrolled students.
The Goodes' philanthropic
philosophy has impact far beyond the capital areas of their giving. They
understand that construction and enhancement of facilities signal
growth, vitality, and service to the wider community to which Virginia
Wesleyan is committed.
David Goode holds a bachelor's in
accounting from Duke University (1962) and a juris doctorate from
Harvard Law School (1965). He joined Norfolk and Western Railway's tax
department in Roanoke as a tax attorney in 1965, where he quickly
advanced to assistant general tax attorney and later to director of
taxation. In 1982, Norfolk Southern was formed from the consolidation of
Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway.
Shortly after
completing the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School
(1990), Mr. Goode was named executive vice president, administration, at
Norfolk Southern. One year later,
in 1992, he was appointed chairman of the board, president, chief
executive officer and director. He is in a class of his own, having
overseen thousands of miles of railroad tracks crossing dozens of states
for one of the country's most powerful railroads.
We are truly fortunate to welcome Mr. Goode as our Commencement speaker, as we can all benefit from his generous spirit, professional insight and wealth of experience.
