The
winter meeting of the Virginia Wesleyan University Board of Trustees
was held on campus yesterday, February 21. We enjoyed our time with the
Board, including new Trustee Alan Shaw, Executive Vice President and
Chief Marketing Officer at Norfolk Southern Corporation. And as always,
we thank
Board Chair
David Kaufman for his leadership.
Provost and Vice President
Timothy O’Rourke began the morning with a special topic presentation
outlining the new Strategic Plan. The academic-based plan, which covers
the period of 2018-2027,
builds upon the existing facilities Master Plan. I am pleased to share
that following careful review, the Board unanimously adopted the new
Mission Statement and Strategic Plan, which will now be finalized and
put into motion. Dr. O’Rourke and I look forward to sharing additional
details in the near future.
We also held a recognition ceremony
to celebrate the LEED Gold certification of the Greer Environmental
Sciences Center. This distinctive designation, granted by the U.S. Green
Building Council, underscores Virginia Wesleyan’s commitment to the
study and preservation of our natural world and increases visibility,
engagement, and opportunities on a national level. We acknowledged the
Board for their role in this accomplishment, as well as the many others
who helped make LEED Gold certification a reality. Soon, a special
plaque will be mounted on the sinker cypress wall in the atrium of the
building, prominently signifying this achievement for all to see.
The
Board heard reports and approved actions from the Committee on
Trusteeship as well as the Audit, Academic Affairs, Enrollment, Student
Affairs, Administration and Finance, and Advancement Committees.
Approval was given for advancement from assistant to associate professor
and conferral of tenure for Dr. Kathleen Casey (History), Dr. Leslie
Caughell (Political Science), and Dr. Jennifer Slivka (English), and for
advancement from associate to full professor for Dr. Paul Ewell
(Management, Business, and Economics), Dr. Hilve Firek (Education), Dr.
Gabriela Martorell (Psychology), and Dr. Stuart Minnis (Communication).
George Jackson received conferral of tenure, and Sophie Rondeau advanced
to Librarian III (Associate Librarian). These changes are effective
with the start of the 2018-19 academic year. Five faculty sabbaticals
have also been authorized for Dr. Soraya Bartol (Biology), Dr. Lisa Lyon
Payne (Communication), Dr. Kevin Kittredge, (Chemistry), Dr. Deirdre
Gonsalves-Jackson (Biology), and Dr. Taryn Myers (Psychology).
The
meeting concluded with a special presentation on priorities of the
Master Plan. We discussed ongoing progress on the Susan S. Goode Fine
and Performing Arts Center (scheduled for completion in early 2019), the
new Baker Road Entrance and Marlins Way (on track for completion in
late March), and Coastal 61 at Oxford Village (set to begin this
summer). Recently completed projects were reviewed, including the Greer
Environmental Sciences Center, the Frank Blocker Youth Center, the
Avenue of the Sciences and Greenhouse, the Betty S. Rogers Track and
Field Center, renovations to Kenneth R. Perry Field, and relocation of
the Marlin statue and Alpine Tower. We also looked optimistically
ahead to future facilities projects and defined prime areas for
opportunity.
We are grateful for our
Board of Trustees' enthusiasm and commitment. They are a critical asset
to the success of Virginia Wesleyan University, its students and alumni.
The spring meeting of the Board is scheduled for May.
