Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

December 9, 2024

Good morning,

I am pleased to announce the formation of a new department within the Division of Enrollment. The Division will be renamed the Division of Enrollment and Student Success, under the leadership of Vice President Heather Campbell. Following an external analysis by consultant James V. Koch and collaborative discussion led by David R. Black (Executive-in-Residence), I have accepted the proposal of a new Department of Student Success, led by Crit Muniz. Crit will serve as Associate Vice President for Student Success reporting to Vice President Campbell, effective January 1.

The new Department of Student Success will include the Learning Center, Career Development, Advising, Writing Services, Disability/ Neurodiversity Services, and our Title III program. These offices will not physically move but are now a part of a larger strategy to retain students, showing our dedication to the students we enroll.

Crit earned a B.A. in Biblical Literature from Northwest University and an M.A. in Human Services from Regent University. After years of serving in family ministry at churches in the Pacific Northwest, Crit transitioned into higher education in 2011. In the summer of 2014, Crit joined Virginia Wesleyan as the Disability Support Specialist. Since then, Crit has served as the Assistant Director of the Learning Center, Director of the Learning Center, and, most recently, as the Executive Director of Academic Support Services.

Congratulations to Crit! We look forward to supporting our students from enrollment through graduation through this new, unified division.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Marlin Nation, we raised over $101,000 on Giving Tuesday! It was our biggest giving day to date.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed and made this achievement possible. Your support of various campus priorities will help us continue to empower students and foster excellence in higher education.

Special recognition goes to our Honor Roll of Donors. Over 500 Virginia Wesleyan alumni, parents, students, and friends made Giving Tuesday 2024 an especially great day to be a Marlin!

It's not too late to make an impact and donations are still being accepted. Give now at www.vwu.edu/giving.

Dr. Craig Wansink, Joan P. and Macon F. Brock, Jr. Director of the Robert Nusbaum Center and Batten Professor of Religious Studies and Leadership, has been named Acting Dean of the Birdsong School of Social Science while Dr. Craig Jackson (Dean) is on sabbatical this spring. We thank Dr. Wansink for serving the university in this special way, and wish Dr. Jackson the best as he pursues academic advancement during his sabbatical.

ET CETERA

Virginia Wesleyan alumni continue to exemplify excellence and make significant impacts in their respective fields. I am thrilled to highlight two outstanding Marlins who will be receiving well-deserved recognitions:

Mavis McKenley, Class of 2011, will receive the Hampton Roads Community Foundation’s Barron D. Black Community Builder Award on Thursday. The annual award honors an outstanding community-minded professional advisor. It was inspired by Barron F. Black, an attorney, founder of Vandeventer Black LLP, and the HRCF’s co-founder and first board chair.

Mavis is the Vice President and Senior Trust Officer at AMG National Trust, where she has worked since 1997. She is an accredited estate planner, a certified trust and financial advisor, and a certified financial planner. She is a member of the Hampton Roads Estate Planning Council and board member of the National Associate of the Estate Planners and Councils. She also serves as an officer of the Virginia Wesleyan University Board of Trustees.

Mavis earned her bachelor’s degree in business as a non-traditional student, and our annual award presented on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is named in her honor.

Additionally, Brandon Adair, Class of 2012, will be inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in April. He will be the first Virginia Wesleyan Marlin to be inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

As a Marlin, Brandon was a game-changer for the men’s basketball team in every way. He was a four-time All-ODAC selection, including a three-time First Team selection, and led VWU to the 2006 NCAA Division III National Championship and the 2007 finals. Brandon still holds VWU records for career points (2,100), and field goals made (871), and ranks second in rebounds (871). He also holds the record for most career field goals in ODAC Tournament history. He was named an All-American in 2006 and 2007; NCAA Division III All-Tournament Team in 2006 and 2007; 2006 NCAA Division III Sectional Tournament MVP; NABC South Region Player of the Year in 2006; All-South Region Team in 2005, 2006, and 2007; Virginia College Division Player of Year in 2006 and 2007; Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Player of the Year in 2006; and ODAC Tournament MVP in 2005 and 2006. His four-year record at Virginia Wesleyan was an outstanding 102-22.

Following college, he played professionally in Germany and is now a referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Congratulations to both!

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Decking the Halls at DeFord Manor

Thanks to all our dedicated friends and campus community members who joined Annie and me at the DeFord Manor Holiday Open House last week. It was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. Special thanks to our friends at Sodexo for organizing another incredible event with festive food and drinks.

Pictured with Nancy DeFord, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Jane Batten H’06, Trustee Emeritus.

Honoring Tassos Paphites

I was delighted to present Trustee Tassos Paphites, Class of 1979, a commemorative picture and plaque of the dedication of Tassos Paphites Soccer Complex. We’re pictured with his daughter and VWU alumna Andrea. The Paphites family has been true friends of VWU for over 45 years.

Celebrating the Clarke Heritage Society

We hosted the annual Clarke Heritage Society luncheon in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center last week. We saw many friends of the University, including Martha Jo Wilson and Dawn and Stephen Mansfield. Guests enjoyed a special preview of “A Wesleyan Christmas” by Vox Vera during our meal.

Annual Tree Lighting Makes the Season Bright

It's never a silent night at the annual tree lighting ceremony near Monumental Chapel/ Beazley Recital Hall. Our thanks to the excellent staff in Campus Life for bringing Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, and all kinds of fun to this year's event!

SGA Dinner at DeFord Manor

I always enjoy hosting the Student Government Association Executive Committee for dinner at DeFord Manor along with Keith Moore, Senior Vice President; Jason Seward, Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management; and Jen Cohen, Director of Student Engagement.

Marlin Business Conference

In my last issue of Nota Bene, I shared my congratulations to the students for hosting another successful Marlin Business Conference. This past week, our student videographer, Liam Castellano, produced a very nice video of Tom Walker, President and CEO of DroneUp, who served as out keynote speaker. Enjoy!

VWU Helps Stuff the Bus

I’m so proud of our VWU students, faculty, and staff who helped Z104 (our partners at Audacy) and the US Marine Corps Reserves "Stuff the Bus" in Virginia Beach Town Center on Friday. Stuff the Bus helps give local children a holiday full of cheer. Way to go, Marlins!

VWU is a 2024 ALL IN Highly Established Action Plan Seal Recipient

I’m honored to share that Virginia Wesleyan has been awarded the 2024 Highly Established Action Plan Seal by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. Our campus action plan has been recognized among the best in the country for building and fostering nonpartisan civic engagement.

New Signage in Tokyo

I was thrilled to receive this photograph recently of Nagisa Takayanagi '24 (VWU) and Dr. Anderson Passos (Lakeland University) showing the new Jane P. Batten & David R. Black School for International Studies sign at our collaborative campus in Tokyo.

VWU Trustee Honored by Hampton Roads Business Hall of Fame

I was proud to share my views on VWU Trustee John Malbon last week. John will be inducted into the Hampton Roads Business Hall of Fame -- a well-deserved honor! The recording will be shown during the induction ceremony in March.

Fall 2024 “Excelsis”

Please enjoy the fall 2024 edition of “Excelsis.” Written by our exceptional program scholars, this digital publication of VWU's Batten Honors College includes student achievements, BHC events, and study abroad experiences. Read the fall issue.

Virginia Beach Vision Annual Meeting

Thanks to all the business leaders and elected officials that attended the annual meeting and holiday social for VBV. Our Executive Director/CEO Laura Chalk joins re-elected Board leadership Brad Martin (Vice President/Vice Chair), Neal Crawford (Treasurer), and me (President/Chair) for a picture.

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

A Virginia Wesleyan University Community