Legendary Coach Jerry Rickrode

Nice to visit on campus today with legendary former Wilkes University basketball coach Jerry Rickrode. Jerry was head coach at Wilkes when Virginia Wesleyan University head coach Dave Macedo was a student-athlete there (1992-96). Coach Macedo has had a storied career of his own—with 378 wins as the VWU head coach. Joining us for the picture is VWU Athletics Director Joanne Renn.

2017 Virginia Women's Conference

Virginia Wesleyan University is proud to co-host the 2017 Virginia Women's Conference with Senator Mark Warner. The conference is free to attend, but registration is required: https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=2017-virginia-women-s-conference

 

Nota Bene: Recommend a Future Marlin

As part of the Marlin family, you can help recruit future students to Virginia Wesleyan University. Below is a link to our new viewbook—be sure to share it with a family member or friend, and tell high school students about our upcoming Marlins Days open house events on October 28, February 17, and April 7.
Virginia Wesleyan University Viewbook

Share the excitement of Coastal Virginia's Premier University of the Liberal Arts and Sciences by recommending us to the next generation of Virginia Wesleyan students.

It’s a great day to be a Marlin!

VWU Men's Golf Captures VSGA Intercollegiate Title

Congratulations to the Virginia Wesleyan University Men's Golf Team for capturing the VSGA Intercollegiate title. The 592 shot by the Marlins is tied for the fourth-best round in program history, matching a total shot at Camp Lejeune in March 2004. Jacob Laughlin paced the Marlins over the two-day event with a third place finish. Carter Morgan was 12th, Kevin Duffy finished in a tie for 26th. Other scorers included Jakob Keidel and Peter Scrimgeour.

Enjoyable Conversation with Cynthia Whitbred-Spanoulis

Enjoyable lunch and conversation at The Marriott Waterside with Cynthia Whitbred-Spanoulis, interim director of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Virginia Wesleyan University and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center co-own a research vessel, The Ocean Explorer. Cynthia has served as deputy director since 2012.

Higher Education Discussion with Ed Gillespie

Public policy discussion, including the importance of TAG grants for higher education students in Virginia, with Ed Gillespie, candidate for Governor of Virginia. He was the 61st Chair of the Republican National Committee and was Counselor to the President in the George W. Bush administration.

Nota Bene: VWU Fall Board of Trustees Meeting

It was wonderful to welcome the Virginia Wesleyan University Board of Trustees to campus on Wednesday, October 18, for their fall meeting. Special thanks to Board Chair David Kaufman for the continued leadership and strength he brings to our campus.

The Board heard a special presentation from Vice President for Enrollment David Waggoner on the implementation of Virginia Wesleyan University Online, as well as progress reports and actions from the Committees of Academic Affairs, Administration and Finance, Advancement, Enrollment, and Student Affairs. Among the actions for the day, the Trustees approved FY 2018-19 Tuition and Room and Board for the University: 0% for tuition and 3.5% for Room and Board for an overall increase of 0.7%; approved an outside evaluation of the institution’s banking services; and approved participation in the CICV Multi-Employer Retirement Plan. We reviewed the importance of a 12-month operational and enrollment model as well as plans and progress on current capital projects, including the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center and the Coastal 61 at Oxford Village housing development across from the main entrance to campus.

The Board adopted a resolution honoring Virginia Wesleyan’s 2017 NCAA Division III National Softball Championship, and Mr. Kaufman and I had the honor during the meeting of presenting the framed document to Head Coach Brandon Elliott ’03 and members of the team. The resolution, along with the championship trophy and several other accolades, will be displayed in the Jane P. Batten Student Center near the entrance to the Convocation Center.

Dr. Larry Hultgren (Professor of Philosophy) gave a presentation during lunch about the introductory Batten Honors College course, “Complex Global Challenges,” which he co-teaches with Dr. Bill Gibson (Professor of Political Science) and Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm (Professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences). Students Max Peters and Jennifer Vega followed with eloquent sentiments about the meaningful experiences they have had thus far as part of the first cohort of the Batten Honors College. Thank you to Dr. Hultgren, Max and Jennifer for joining us for this special occasion.

We are grateful to our Trustees for their dedication to Virginia Wesleyan University. They are generous with not only their time and wisdom, but also their financial support—and they ensure that the University remains committed to its mission as we chart our strategic course for the coming years. We look forward to the winter meeting of the Board in February.

Chairman’s Social for CBA at Slover Library

I thoroughly enjoyed tonight’s Chairman’s Social for the Chesapeake Bay Academy (located on the Virginia Wesleyan University campus) on the sixth floor of the Slover Library. Pictured with Stanley Baldwin, Chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Academy Board of Trustees, and John Trinder, Trustee Emeritus of Virginia Wesleyan University.

Good to Visit with former Brevard College President Tom Bertrand

Good to visit tonight with veteran higher education administrator and former President of Brevard College in North Carolina, Tom Bertrand, at a social at the Slover Library. Tom was president of Brevard from 1993 to 2001 and was a senior administrator at Emory University. He lives in Virginia Beach.

“State of the Airport” with Robert S. Bowen

I enjoyed learning more about Norfolk International Airport (near our campus) from Robert S. Bowen’s “State of the Airport” presentation. Robert is Executive Director of the Norfolk Airport Authority.