| Dear friends,
Today marks a defining moment in our University's history.
With deep gratitude, tremendous optimism, and unwavering confidence in what lies ahead, I am honored to be the first to greet you from Batten University.
The transition to Batten University is far more than a new name. It reflects the remarkable evolution of an institution that has grown beyond what its founders imagined while remaining faithful to its principles. Our commitment to academic excellence, student success, service, innovation, environmental stewardship, and community engagement continues to define who we are.
This moment has been years in the making.
It is the result of thoughtful planning, visionary leadership, extraordinary generosity, and the collective efforts of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends. I am deeply grateful to our Board of Trustees for its steadfast leadership and unwavering commitment to this institution, and to Jane Batten and the Batten family, whose transformational vision and philanthropy helped make this historic day possible.
Batten University begins this new chapter from a position of strength.
Our academic programs continue to evolve to meet the needs of today's learners and tomorrow's workforce. Our partnership with Sentara College of Health Sciences strengthens healthcare education. The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art enriches our campus as a center for creativity and cultural engagement. Our environmental initiatives, prison education program, global partnerships, and workforce development demonstrate the power of collaboration.
Throughout my presidency, I have often said that institutions today must "partner or perish." Batten University is living proof of that philosophy. Our future will continue to be shaped by collaborations that expand opportunity for students, strengthen our region, and address society's most pressing challenges.
As exciting as today is, our work is just beginning.
To our alumni, thank you for building the foundation upon which Batten University now stands. Your degrees will always represent the excellence and traditions that shaped this institution, and your continued engagement ensures future generations benefit from those same enduring values.
To our faculty and staff, thank you for your unwavering dedication to our students and for embracing this new chapter with professionalism, creativity, and enthusiasm.
To our students, thank you for placing your trust in us. You inherit a University shaped not only by its history, but by its willingness to embrace change, pursue innovation, and prepare graduates for lives of leadership and service.
And to our many partners and friends throughout Hampton Roads and beyond, thank you for believing in this University and the vital role it plays in enriching our communities.
Today we celebrate a new name.
Tomorrow we continue building an even stronger University.
Together, we honor our past, embrace our future, and write the next chapter in the story of Batten University.
Sincerely, |
