Dialogue: March 2023

Friday, March 31, 2023

Visit with Charles Stuppard

Nice to visit with good friend Charles Stuppard today on campus. I first got to know Charles when he was a staffer and advisor to former Congress member Elaine Luria. He is now CEO of a small leadership consulting firm after 30 years in the U.S. Navy.

Interview with Connor Merk

As we wrap up the academic year, today marked my final interview with Connor Merk, Editor of the student newspaper, The Marlin Chronicle. Connor will be graduating from our Batten Honors College in May and continue in graduate school at Pepperdine University in the fall. He has been a true leader in all aspects of campus life and we will follow his future successes with tremendous Marlin pride.

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities

Such an enjoyable evening at the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center as the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities presented their annual Humanitarian Awards. Pictured, above left, with Pamela Northam, former First Lady of Virginia, and Cecelia Tucker, VWU Special Advisor to the President on Diversity; Upper right, Janice Underwood, former Chief Diversity Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia; Lower left, Jonathan Zur, President of VCIC; and lower right, Dr. Veleka Gatling, ODU Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, and her husband Rev. Perez Gatling, Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church (across from campus). We are proud that VCIC’s Hampton Roads office is on the campus of VWU.

Deb Thomas at DeFord Manor

Wonderful to host Deb Thomas of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia at DeFord Manor along with college counselors eager to learn more about VWU and other CICV institutions. With Heather Campbell, VWU Vice President for Enrollment.

Climate Discussions

Productive meeting with Adm. Lee Gunn of the Gunn Group, a partner in our upcoming Earth Week climate symposium. Joined by Gary Kirchner, Director of Communications at SEAL Veterans Foundation, Professor Elizabeth Malcolm, Batten Honors College student Jessica Wilson, and Executive in Residence David Black, the group discussed our current and future plans for climate education on campus and in the community.

Daffodil Day at VWU

Happy to host the Garden Club of Virginia’s 89th annual Daffodil Day on campus with Debbie Bonnewell, Daffodil Day Chair, and Debbie Lewis, President of the GCV.

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Chat & Chew

Great Chat & Chew with VWU staff members (from left) Glenn Johnson, Heath Marton, Lamonte Jackson, and Martina Valeros.

Monday, March 27, 2023

Mayor Bobby Dyer and Councilmember Joash Schulman

Such a pleasure to welcome Mayor Bobby Dyer and City Councilmember Joash Schulman to campus today. In addition to touring some facilities, we discussed VWU’s many Virginia Beach initiatives. The visit finished with lunch at DeFord Manor with David Black, Executive in Residence.

Nota Bene: Weekly Update

March 27, 2023

Good morning,

Virginia Wesleyan has been awarded a Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement for Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).

STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS is intended to engage and recognize the full spectrum of higher education institutions, from community colleges to research universities. The framework encompasses long-term sustainability goals for already high-achieving institutions, as well as entry points of recognition for institutions that are taking first steps toward sustainability.

The STARS application is an extensive process, and I thank Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, Professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and Director of Sustainability, for leading this important initiative. Many others on campus greatly supported her work by providing records of university and departmental practices, especially Shane Boyd, Amber Gruszeczka, Skyler Lattuca, Tim Lockett, Kayleigh Poggioli, Dr. Maynard Schaus, and Bethany Tsiaris. Dr. Malcolm and I thank them for their special assistance.

We’re proud of the national recognition and look forward to using the STARS report to advance sustainability at our institution.

Virginia Wesleyan University, in partnership with the City of Virginia Beach and The Gunn Group, are delighted to elevate and promote our region’s distinctiveness through an annual program that brings environmental authors and activists to the city for an Earth Week celebration that will be held April 17-21. The hallmark Earth Week event, “Generations Uniting to Address Climate Change” panel, will be held on Friday, April 21, at 1:00 p.m. in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. A panel of experts from science, policy, and communication backgrounds will discuss the climate crisis’ evolution, impacts and solutions.

I hope our Marlins and friends are marking their calendars for these wonderful opportunities to understand and address climate change in our region and around the world.

ET CETERA

Thanks to the leadership of Rev. Beth Givens, the Pastor of Haygood United Methodist Church, and Marie Porter, Haygood’s Director of Discipleship and Engagement and VWU’s Director of Student Ministries, our collaboration with Haygood UMC continues to flourish. Located just two miles east of campus on Wesleyan/Haygood Drive, Haygood UMC has been a great partner in student ministries and community outreach.

Haygood UMC and VWU Student Ministries invite all Marlins to participate in their Holy Week schedule, beginning on April 1 and continuing through Easter Sunday on April 9. Holy Week activities include an Easter egg hunt in the Batten Student Center, Passover Seder, and opportunities for worship. As a reminder, the university is closed on Easter Monday (April 10).

While the fate of the international United Methodist Church is still uncertain, Virginia Wesleyan is proud to have such a close relationship with Haygood UMC, one that is based on mutual understanding and shared values. We’re excited that the new bishop of the Virginia Annual Conference, Sue Haupert-Johnson, aligns with these values and will help to truly unify the parishes that remain with the United Methodist Church in Virginia.

Bishop Haupert-Johnson will serve as our Baccalaureate speaker for our Spring 2023 Commencement exercises.

It is a pleasure to welcome Tyler Costello, formerly Assistant Sports Information Director at Tiffin (OH) University, as Director of Athletic Communications at Virginia Wesleyan University. While at Tiffin, Tyler helped support 23 intercollegiate programs by assisting with game day operations, statistics, press releases and game programs. He also oversaw the planning, production and implementation of the department's social media, graphic design and video efforts. Under his oversight, Tiffin Athletics' social media accounts saw a dramatic increase in followers, impressions and accounts reached. Costello received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management from Southern Connecticut State University and Master of Science in Sports Management from the University of New Haven. He has served as Assistant Sports Information Director at SCSU and as an External Communications Intern at Sacred Heart University and as a Strategic Communications Intern at Yale University. At VWU, Costello will support 23 varsity programs as well as a co-ed cheer program.

Marlins athletic teams have experienced much success collecting five national championships, several national runner-up finishes in both individual and team sports, including a run to the Final Four by the women's soccer team this fall. The Marlins also field a co-educational Esports team.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Celebrating Women’s History Month

On Tuesday at 12 p.m. in Brock Commons, the Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, History and Business departments will host guest speaker Erin Dougherty, a local small business owner of Eleanor's Norfolk: Your Intersectional Feminist Bookstore. Dougherty will speak on how ethical businesses can exist, and thrive, through the embrace of radical feminist values and how these businesses can create the walkable, sustainable communities we dream of and deserve through mutual aid. Learn more.

VWU Presents “Airness” by Chelsea Marcantel

VWU Theatre Department Presents "Airness," by Chelsea Marcantel, a comedy about competition, completion, and finding the airness inside yourself this weekend. Find more information and ticket reservations here.

Day of Giving: March 31

Our spring Day of Giving will be on Friday. We invite all Marlin alumni, parents, students, and friends to give to the area of the University that is meaningful to them. No gift is too small. Let's make this the biggest year yet!

Marlins Day: April 1

We look forward to welcoming prospective Marlin students to campus this coming Saturday for Marlins Day. Learn more.

No-Cost Professional Development Courses: Spring 2023

Registration for VWU Global Campus's spring session of no-cost, online professional development courses is still open. Vice President for Enrollment Heather Campbell joined WHRO’s “All Things Considered” last week to discuss the program and the spring’s course offerings. These classes, offered in partnership with Virginia Beach Economic Development, join other comprehensive non-degree courses designed to provide advanced skills valued by employers.

A Visit from Sodexo USA’s CEO and COO

It was so wonderful to host Brett Ladd and Mark Watkins, CEO and COO (respectively) of Sodexo USA, on campus last week. Joining us for the picture at DeFord Manor were members of our VWU Sodexo team, (from left) Director of Catering & Conference Services Heather Beatty, VWU student intern with Sodexo Momo Higuchi, Executive Chef Dan Bannerman, and General Manager of Dining Services Tim Lockett. We truly enjoyed showing Brett and Mark all the wonderful dining opportunities VWU offers in partnership with Sodexo.

Gil Bland Visits DeFord Manor

We had a great lunch meeting with Gil Bland, President & CEO of the Urban League of Hampton Roads, and CeeCee Tucker, VWU Special Advisor to the President, at DeFord Manor with David Black, VWU Executive in Residence, last week. We discussed partnership opportunities for the benefit of current and future Marlins.

Empty Bowls Charity Event: April 2

The 23rd Annual Empty Bowls Charity Event will be held in the CMAC in the Jane P. Batten Student Center on Sunday, April 2 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Once again, handmade soup bowls crafted by local artists will be sold for $25 and $10 at the event. Learn more.

Virginia Beach’s Surf Park Finally Approved

After years of planning and negotiating, the Atlantic Park project is finally moving forward. Congratulations to our friend Taylor Adams, Deputy City Manager, for bringing this surf park, which will include a live entertainment venue, restaurants, offices and apartments on three city blocks, to the Virginia Beach oceanfront.

Construction Update: Watts Field House

The Watts Field House is coming together quickly at the Tom and Betty Broyles Field at TowneBank Park. The field house will offer locker rooms for our three-time national championship softball team and restroom facilities for their fans. We thank Henry and Eleanor Watts for their continued support and friendship of Virginia Wesleyan and VWU Athletics.