The President's Letter: A Month of Growth and Impact

 

A Month of Growth and Impact May 2025 Dear friends,  We just concluded a month filled with accomplishments, connections, and milestones that showcase our wonderful campus community. As we near the end of the academic year, I am proud to reflect on the many ways we continue to grow, innovate, and support one another. Our Earth Week celebrations provided an opportunity for all of us to come together to take meaningful action for our planet. From hands-on environmental activities to powerful lectures on climate health, the week was a reminder of our shared commitment to sustainability and environmental justice. I was inspired by the energy and passion our students, faculty, and staff brought to these initiatives, embodying the values of responsibility and leadership that define VWU. Virginia Wesleyan University earned national recognition in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, receiving the Arts and Sciences designation (formerly known as National Liberal Arts College designation). Just 6% of higher education institutions receive this distinction, marking how special and important our institution is to the higher education landscape.  In the same spirit of excellence, last month included a series of remarkable achievements that highlight the dedication of the Virginia Wesleyan community. The Spring 2025 Marlin Business Conference featured former Wall Street trader Andrew Cohen, who delivered a compelling keynote on financial ethics and transparency, sharing lessons drawn from his personal experiences with Bernie Madoff’s firm. Spring Alumni Weekend was another highlight, bringing together graduates for reunions, athletic events, and more. We also celebrated the accomplishments of our exceptional student workers at the inaugural Student Worker ALL-STAR Awards, recognizing their invaluable contributions across campus.  As we move into the final weeks of the academic year, I am excited to build on the momentum we have generated throughout the semester. From academic achievements to personal milestones, our community continues to make a difference both on campus and beyond.  Sincerely,

Celebrating Earth Week 2025 NYC ER Physician Urges Action on Climate Health Crisis as Virginia Wesleyan Marks Earth Week with Sustainability Efforts. Read More 2025 Carnegie Classification for Advancing Student Opportunity and Success VWU has earned national recognition in the newly released 2025 Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education.  Read More

Marlin Business Conference Kicks off with Andrew Cohen The Spring 2025 Marlin Business Conference began Monday evening with a compelling and cautionary tale from former Wall Street trader and award-winning lecturer Andrew Cohen. Read More Marlins Gather for 2025 Spring Alumni Weekend It was a weekend to remember! Campus was bustling with activity and energy during Spring 2025 Alumni Weekend, April 4 – 6. Read More

Honoring Outstanding Student Workers Recognizing excellence in student employment at inaugural ALL-STAR Awards. Read More President Miller Named Honoree in 2025 Virginia C-Suite Awards He will be honored during the 2025 Virginia C-Suite Awards, presented by Virginia Business magazine, in June. Read More

Annie and I enjoyed hosting lunch today at DeFord Manor for friends of Bobby Levin

 

Annie and I enjoyed hosting lunch today at DeFord Manor for friends of Bobby Levin where we announced the scholarship and art exhibition bearing his name. Jane Batten and David Kaufman are pictured holding a Bobby Levin original.

We welcomed George Y. Birdsong to campus today

 

We were welcomed George Y. Birdsong to campus today for lunch at DeFord Manor, pictured here with Dr. Craig Jackson, Dean of the Birdsong School of Social Science.

A longtime Trustee, former Board Chair, and now Trustee Emeritus, George has been a cornerstone of VWU’s history and mission since its earliest days.

Delighted to share a meal with a great friend to VWU

 

Delighted to share a meal with a great friend to VWU: George Birdsong. We are joined by Tom Chamberlain and Billy Baldwin from Healthier 757, a public health literacy platform we offer to our campus community. With Dr. Craig Jackson (Dean, Birdsong School of Social Science), and Campus Life staff members Bethany Smeeton, Bethany Arrington and Kayleigh Poggioli at DeFord Manor.

Thanks to Cee Cee Tucker for introducing me to Hugo Owens Jr.

 

Thanks to Cee Cee Tucker for introducing me to Hugo Owens Jr. yesterday. Hugo’s father was a prominent civic leader in our region, and Hugo Jr. has continued that legacy of excellence and forward-thinking.

Nota Bene: Weekly Update

 

April 28, 2025 Good morning,

I am pleased to announce the 2025 inductees of the Virginia Wesleyan University Athletic Hall of Fame. Members of the 2025 class represent an extraordinary legacy of athletic achievement, leadership, and support. They will be officially inducted during a special ceremony on Saturday, October 4, as part of Homecoming and Family Weekend. Congratulations to Trustee Gary D. Bonnewell ’79, H’16, who will be inducted in the Benefactor category. A longtime advocate for Marlin Athletics, Gary's visionary leadership, generosity, and dedication have helped shape the future of our athletic programs and student-athlete experience. His enduring commitment includes service as Chair of the Board of Trustees and the establishment of the Bonnewell Sports Medicine Center. He also played a visionary role in the creation of the VWU Athletic Hall of Fame, guiding its establishment in 2007. Also joining the Hall of Fame this year are standout Marlin athletes Hanna Hull Mazingo ’20/ M.B.A. ’21 (softball), Courtney Bogan ’13 (softball), Jayla Harris ’19 (women’s basketball), and Pete Sadin ’91 (men’s soccer), each recognized for their remarkable athletic careers and competitive excellence. We look forward to celebrating these honorees at the Athletic Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony on October 4. More details will be shared in the coming months. Mark your calendars and make plans to join us for this special occasion and the full Homecoming and Family Weekend experience. Pictured (left to right): Gary D. Bonnewell ’79, H’16 (benefactor); Hanna Hull Mazingo ’20/ M.B.A. ’21 (softball); Courtney Bogan ’13 (softball); Jayla Harris ’19 (women’s basketball); and Pete Sadin ’91 (men’s soccer).

ET CETERA

The end of April also means that the end of the spring semester is right around the corner... and so is Commencement! We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2025 on Saturday, May 17, at 10:00 a.m. in TowneBank Arena of the Jane P. Batten Student Center. As a reminder, Captain Janet Days, USN (Ret), will serve as our keynote speaker. She is the former commanding officer of the Naval Station Norfolk – the largest naval station in the world. Her remarkable journey is a great example of what’s possible with determination and courage, offering inspiration to our newest graduates as they pursue their own goals. Baccalaureate will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16, in the Joan and Macon Brock Theatre of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center as a part of the Spring 2025 Commencement exercises. Our keynote speaker is Bishop Courtney McBath, President of Virginia Christian College. This prelude to Commencement is a service of worship in celebration of and thanksgiving for lives dedicated to learning and wisdom. For more information about our 2025 Commencement Exercises, please visit our website and read the FAQs.

Virginia Wesleyan was once again honored with Tree Campus Higher Education recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management. The Arbor Day Foundation is the world’s largest membership nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. Its Tree Campus Higher Education program began in 2008 to encourage colleges and universities to plant trees on their campuses. The Tree Campus Higher Education program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and engaging staff and students in conservation goals. VWU achieved the distinction by meeting Tree Campus Higher Education’s five standards, including maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance, and student service-learning project. Currently, there are 411 campuses across the United States with this recognition. We are delighted to be among them.

My thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, Professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and Director of Sustainability, for her leadership in fostering this program on our campus, and to Dr. Maynard Schaus, Professor of Biology and Environmental Science  and Coordinator of Sustainability Management, for his support. We celebrated this honor during Earth Week on Friday, planting trees in honor of three outstanding Environmental Studies and Sustainability Management—Kimberly Carosi, EB Smeltzer, Evelyn Weaver and Jessica Wilson. Congratulations!

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

2025 Carnegie Classifications for Advancing Student Opportunity and Success VWU has been designated a “Higher Access” institution in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications—honoring our commitment to student success, access, and opportunity. This recognition reflects VWU’s mission to empower students from all backgrounds through transformative education and meaningful support. Learn more.

Climate and Crisis: Preparing Physicians for a Changing Planet Last week, we welcomed Dr. Aaron Hultgren back to Virginia Wesleyan for a powerful Earth Week lecture on the intersection of climate change and public health. Dr. Hultgren, an emergency physician at Bellevue Hospital in New York City and assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, shared sobering insights on how climate-related events—such as extreme heat, pollution, and vector-borne diseases—are increasingly impacting vulnerable populations. It was especially meaningful to have Dr. Hultgren, son of our esteemed Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Larry Hultgren, return to campus for this important conversation. Learn more. Chemistry Students Inducted into Gamma Sigma Epsilon Honor Society Congratulations to 12 of our outstanding students who were recently inducted into the Epsilon Epsilon Chapter of Gamma Sigma Epsilon, the national chemistry honor society. These students have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement in chemistry, and their induction reflects the rigor and excellence of VWU’s science programs. My thanks to our dedicated faculty for fostering such passion and success in the sciences. Learn more. Welcoming ForKids to Campus We enjoyed a delightful lunch last week with our friends from ForKids — Thaler McCormick, Chief Executive Officer; Sharhonda Woods, Chief People Officer; Bill Young, Chief Innovation Officer; and Angela Graciani, Education Chief. We were joined by VWU staff members David Black, Executive-in-Residence; Alice Jones, Director of Career Development; and Bethany Smeeton, Director of Civic Engagement and Service Learning. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue strengthening our partnership with this impactful organization serving families and children across the region.

Virginia International VIP Event It was a pleasure visiting with good friends at last week’s Virginia International VIP event at the Perry Pavilion. It’s always great to see VWU Trustee and Chair of the NATO Festival Gary Bonnewell and Stephan Pillmeier with NATO Allied Command Transformation. I also had the pleasure of spending time with former VWU Alumni Council Chair and Hampton Roads Alliance Director of Investor and Public Relations Alisa Hegrenes and her husband, Tory.

The Bobbies: Student Leadership Awards I always look forward to our annual student leadership awards—The Bobbies—which were held last Thursday. One of the highlights for me was presenting the 2025 Campus Impact Award to senior Jessica Wilson in recognition of her outstanding contributions to environmental and sustainability initiatives at VWU. Congratulations, Jessica! Hosting Broadwater Academy at DeFord Manor We were honored to welcome our dual enrollment partners and friends from Broadwater Academy to campus this past week: Fran Ryan, Head of School; Megan Fuller, Director of College Counseling and Student Support; and Kate Terry, Director of Studies. We were joined for lunch at DeFord Manor by Dr. Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, Provost and Vice President; Heather Campbell, Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success; Dr. Drian Glyde, Dean of VWU Global Campus; and Larry Belcher, Director of Innovative Partnerships and Enrollment for VWU Global Campus. Virginia Beach City Budget Hearing As Chair of Virginia Beach Vision, I represented the thoughts of business leaders at last week’s public hearing on the city budget. I would like to thank the Virginia Beach City Council for its leadership and commitment to the long term prosperity of our city. Shaping the Future of Virginia Beach’s Resort Area A recent feature article in The Virginian-Pilot spotlights the influential 20-member Resort Advisory Commission (RAC), a citizen panel guiding the vision, priorities, and funding decisions for Virginia Beach’s resort district. From Atlantic Avenue improvements to oversight of the $56 million Tourism Investment Program fund, RAC plays a pivotal role in shaping Oceanfront development. Read more. Virginia MOCA Rising Progress continues at an impressive pace on the construction site of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art at VWU. These new aerial views capture the ongoing transformation as the building takes shape!

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS A Virginia Wesleyan University Community

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It's a great day to be a Marlin! Sincerely,

-- Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. President Virginia Wesleyan University 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455   Phone: 757.455.3215 Email: president@vwu.edu Web: www.vwu.edu/president  Blog: prezscottmiller.blogspot.com