Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

March 15, 2021

Good morning,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Travis Malone as Dean of the Batten Honors College, effective at the end of this academic year. He replaces Dr. Joyce Easter, the Founding Dean, who will return to the faculty of the University as Professor of Chemistry.

The Batten Honors College of Virginia Wesleyan University is a highly selective residential program that inspires, engages, and prepares academically talented students to become impactful leaders and environmental stewards in the global community. Through small classes, personalized instruction, and especially purposeful, faculty-student interaction, the Batten Honors College equips students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of an ethical and influential global citizen who understands the interdependence of society, culture, and the natural world.

The Batten Honors College enrolls approximately 160 scholars across four cohorts who reside in Honors Village on campus. These students are selected out of a competitive pool of 30,000 potential students each year. One-tenth of that group is deemed eligible in meeting preliminary requirements for the program. Approximately 125 students are invited to compete for the 40 coveted seats each year. We are so glad to have the best and brightest join us in the elite and selective Batten Honors College, which has elevated the prestige of Virginia Wesleyan University.

Learn more at www.vwu.edu/batten.

Dr. Malone is in his 15th year at VWU, having served as Professor of Theatre and the Founding Dean of the University's Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities. In the latter capacity, he assisted with fundraising and served as faculty liaison for construction of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center and the renovation of Susan T. Beverly Hall.

He received his Ph.D in theatre from Bowling Green State University, his master’s degree from Kansas State University and his bachelor’s degree from Sterling College. His previous roles at Virginia Wesleyan have included Humanities Division Chair and Coordinator of the Theatre Department. In addition, he teaches courses in Directing, Technical Theatre, Acting, Theatre of Diversity, Acting for the Camera, Theatre History, and study away courses in Theatre.

As a theatre and film professional, Dr. Malone has directed and acted in productions across the country. He worked in Los Angeles writing television commercials for Disney, Fox, and Rhino Records; producing music videos for Disney; and developing creative content for DVDs and trade show promotions. A proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographer’s Society, he continues to act and direct in the Hampton Roads area. His main research areas include the intersection between film and theatre, musicals on stage and screen, and assessment in undergraduate theatre programs.

Dr. Malone lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, Becky, and their three children.

The Batten Honors College is named after Jane Parke Batten and her late husband, Frank Batten, Sr., founder and retired chairman of Landmark Communications. Jane Batten’s interest in Virginia Wesleyan was kindled when her daughter, Betsy, enrolled as a freshman in 1978. Mrs. Batten joined the Board of Trustees in 1981, served as Board Chair from 1995-1998, and is currently Trustee Emerita. As chair, she molded and led a Board that was informed, focused, and challenged to move Virginia Wesleyan forward. Her role in the development and revitalization of the University reflects her high standard of service and commitment. The University presented Mrs. Batten with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2006.

I close by thanking Dr. Easter for her leadership as founding Dean and know that the Batten Honors College is in outstanding hands with Dr. Malone.

ET CETERA

General Conference Postponed Until 2022

Sadly, the United Methodist Church’s General Conference organizers announced that the denomination's top law-making assembly—long postponed by pandemic—must wait to meet another year. The global gathering is now scheduled for August 29-September 6, 2022, in Minneapolis. This meeting will address the organizational structure of the denomination. The Council of Bishops has announced a special one-day General Conference on May 8 to deal with a limited agenda. Read More

LACRELA “Race, Inclusion and Equity” Initiative

Virginia Wesleyan is joining 68 colleges/universities categorized as National Liberal Arts Colleges as charter members of Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA). Washington & Lee University, University of Richmond, Randolph College, Hollins University, and VWU are the five participating Virginia institutions.

LACRELA's “Racial Equity eConvening Series'' involves 12 monthly, three-hour, interactive sessions that focus on developing strategies and practical approaches for addressing issues of racial equity on liberal arts campuses. Eight VWU faculty, staff, and administrators are taking part in these sessions, with the first two sessions having focused on “Leading Productive Conversations About Racism” (in February) and “Fostering and Sustaining Inclusive Classrooms for Students of Color'' (in March). Those involved are sharing monthly reports with me with specific action items for the VWU campus.

Lori White, President of DePauw University and Chair of the LACRELA Steering Committee, in a recent interview with Inside Higher Ed stated that the collaborative “aims to address the unique racial challenges and circumstances colleges are facing, such as the ‘cultural mismatch’ between their very socially liberal campuses and the surrounding communities where the colleges are located, which are sometimes more conservative.” She added that the main benefit for member institutions will be the access college faculty and staff members will have to a range of campus surveys, resources and monthly virtual learning sessions about antiracism, diversity and equity provided by the USC center. The alliance is representative of liberal arts colleges in every region in the continental United States.

The 69 CEOs comprise the LACRELA Presidents’ Council. The Steering Committee, chaired by Lori White, includes Carmen Ambar (Oberlin), Marc Conner (Skidmore), Harry Elam (Occidental), Suzanne (Sue) Rivera (Macalester), Gabrielle (Gabby) Starr (Pomona College), Shaun Harper (USC Race and Equity Center) and Sha Duncan Smith (USC Race and Equity Center).

The Presidents’ Council met early this month to discuss LACRELA's launch. It was an opportunity for us to collectively shape the purpose and our hoped-for outcomes for LACRELA. The focus of the meeting of the presidents: What can we as a Presidents' Council do to advance the presence and voice of liberal arts colleges with respect to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice?

VWU Participates in NACCC Survey by LACRELA

Students should be on the lookout for their unique invitation link to the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC) survey coming March 23. The NACCC is a survey with content based on more than a decade of the USC Race and Equity Center’s qualitative climate studies at colleges and universities across the country. I encourage every student to take the completely confidential survey to be an active participant to improving the racial climate on campus and the experiences of all students. Learn more about the survey here.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Honoring the Legacy of Roger Mudd

Roger Mudd, a lifetime trustee of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC), has passed at the age of 93. The legendary news journalist and anchor established the Mudd Center for Ethics at Washington & Lee and was instrumental in creating the VFIC Ethics Bowl, now in its 21st year. The 2022 VFIC Ethics Bowl will be held in his honor. I had the pleasure to serve on the VFIC Ethics Bowl Committee from 2017-19 and got to know Roger. He was a special man with a warm heart. Please keep the Mudd family in your thoughts and prayers.

Women’s History Month Campus Activities This Week

Today at 10:00 a.m., the Office of Gender and Sexuality Equity sponsors Dr. Elora Halim Chowdhury, who will present, “The Precarity of Pre-existing Conditions” via Zoom. Dr. Chowdhury is a professor in the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Director of the Human Rights Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her teaching and research interests include transnational feminisms, gender violence and human rights advocacy, and narrative and film with an emphasis on South Asia. Join here.

VWU’s New Executive Chef

I extend a warm welcome to Daniel Bannerman, VWU’s new Executive Chef. Daniel has worked as an Executive Chef for Northwestern University and Northwestern University Athletics. He is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando. He brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to Virginia Beach and VWU, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Marlin family.

VWU Honored as a Voter Friendly Campus

VWU is one of over 200 campuses in 37 states designated as a “Voter Friendly Campus.” The initiative, led by national nonpartisan organizations Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project (CVP) and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, held participating institutions accountable for planning and implementing practices that encourage their students to register and vote in 2020 elections and in the coming years. Learn more.

Majorie Hass Selected as the Next Leader of CIC

Dr. Marjorie Hass, president of Rhodes College and former president of Austin College, has been chosen as the next leader of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), the first female president in the association’s 65-year history. Her term will begin August 2021.

Marjorie is no stranger to CIC, having served on the Board of Directors from 2012 to 2016, including service as Vice Chair for Resource Development on the Board’s Executive Committee from 2014 to 2016. She is a frequent presenter at the annual CIC Presidents Institute, and most recently served as faculty in CIC’s New Presidents Program. Widely recognized as a champion of the liberal arts, she is a visionary, dynamic, and entrepreneurial leader who will mark a new era at the Council. We know she will build on the impressive legacy left by Dr. Richard Ekman with her own strong reputation for fiscal stewardship, experience in program building, and commitment to leadership development.

Dr. Ekman has been a good friend to Virginia Wesleyan University and me during his 21 years as president of CIC. Our leadership position in the Teagle Foundation initiative several years ago was facilitated by Rich along with many others' signs of support. Dr. Ekman will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) at VWU’s Commencement this spring.

As CIC president, Dr. Hass will now be a member of the Board of Directors of Academic Search, Inc., and the American Academic Leadership Institute, boards I chair and vice chair, respectively. I look forward to working with her as we advance the goals of private higher education.

For more information, please see the press release.

VWU Hosts Virtual Model NATO Challenge

This week, VWU hosts the virtual Model NATO Challenge as part of the Norfolk NATO Festival on Wednesday, March 17. The Model NATO Challenge is a scholarship competition in which the top 30 high school applicants are chosen to participate in a mock global-crisis simulation, confronting issues facing today’s NATO Alliance. Student diplomats are chosen to represent each of the NATO Member Nations and must work together to address a crisis scenario such as piracy, immigration, or another issue that faces the NATO Alliance today. Diplomats are assigned mentors—military officers from each of the countries—who assist in preparing them for the challenge while teaching about the country's culture, national military resources, and political backgrounds. While the virtual format will be unusual, we’re pleased that this event, and our great partnership with NATO, is moving forward.

President to President Series: Chapter 8

This year's President to President series, titled “Fostering a Culture of Innovation,” offers insights from esteemed college and university presidents, who provide unique perspectives in a new chapter published online each month. In the eighth chapter, “Want to be More Innovative? Ask the Right Questions,” Southern New Hampshire University President Paul LeBlanc, Ph.D., shares practical ideas for fostering innovation in higher education, detailing how campuses can pursue the creative approaches that best fit their current and future needs. Dr. Marylouise Fennell and I have served as Executive Editor for this presidential thought series for the last 16 years.

Averett University Joins the ODAC

Last week I shared that the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) President’s Council has approved Averett University as a full-time conference member. Located in Danville, Virginia, the Averett Cougars previously competed in the USA South Athletic Conference. The Cougars will officially become an ODAC member on July 1, 2022, and begin active league participation in the 2022-23 academic year. Many of VWU’s intercollegiate athletic programs already compete against Averett, so we looked forward to meeting the Cougars as conference rivals in the 2022-23 season. Learn more about Averett’s ODAC membership here.

Annual Day of Giving: Friday, April 23

On April 23, Virginia Wesleyan University will carry on the philanthropic tradition of VWU Day of Giving, calling upon our members of the community to give back to the area(s) they love most about VWU. Looking to build momentum from the previous, record breaking year—which generated more than $22,000 in donations, and over 170 donors—the focus of this year’s campaign seeks to raise funds for all areas of need on campus, including emergency funds, student scholarships, athletics, and library resources. Mark your calendar to join us for one day to make a splash at VWU!

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REFLECTIONS

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