Thoroughly enjoyed visiting with presidential colleagues Judge Ken Starr and Jerry Davis at dinner on Capitol Hill tonight. Judge Starr is Chancellor and President of Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Dr. Davis has served in the college presidency for over three decades, among the longest tenures in the United States, and continues to serve as President of College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri.

With the Rev. Dr. Kim Cape, General Secretary of the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry of the United Methodist Church, and Jennifer Braaten, President of Ferrum College, at the Winter Meeting of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the UMC Board of Directors in Washington, DC.

Attending the Winter Meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the United Methodist Church (NASCUMC). Pictured with long time friends and colleagues -- David Joyce (Brevard College), Chair, and Ken Yamada, Associate General Secretary, Division of Higher Education, The United Methodist Church.

New Norfolk outlet mall near Virginia Wesleyan College set for groundbreaking in April: http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/mycity/norfolk/2015/10/16/new-outlet-mall-groundbreaking-set-for-april/74037948/

Hofheimer Theatre at Virginia Wesleyan College -- Coming on Thursday, February 4th at 7:30 p.m., the Virginia Wesleyan College Concert Series will present the male a cappella ensemble CANTUS in concert at in Hofheimer Theater.


The program, entitled “The Four Loves,” includes classical works by Beethoven, Poulenc and Schoenberg, Southern folk music, jazz, and modern classics such as Bobby McFerrin’s “23rd Psalm to my Mother,” Eric Whitacre’s “Lux Aurumque,” and Malcolm Dalglish’s “Little Potato.”

The ensemble has been hailed by the Washington Post as having both “exalting finesse” and “expressive power. Cantus is the recipient of numerous awards including Chorus America’s highest honor, the Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence and has served as Artist in Residence for Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media’s “Performance Today.”


Reservations are a must and may be made by calling x2101. As always, the concert is FREE to the VWC community; for others; $15/$10 (seniors).

Thanks to Boston-based Second Nature for valuable leadership on an important national issue.

We welcome our new Vice President for Advancement, Dr. Mort Gamble, a veteran college and university fundraiser and former vice president at three institutions.


A colleague whom I’ve known for many years, Mort has most recently served on the senior staff at Bethany College. At VWC, he will lead the College’s Center for Advancement including fundraising, alumni and parent relations, government relations, church relations, business and corporations and planned giving. Because Mort has spent most of his career at small, residential, liberal arts colleges, I’m sure he will be extremely helpful to us as we continue to strengthen our resource base through annual giving and as we look ahead to our next major-gift campaign.

A native of Maryland, Mort grew up in Moorefield, West Virginia, near the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. He is a graduate of West Virginia University where he earned his doctorate in higher education leadership. He began his career as a faculty member in English, humanities, and communication at West Virginia Wesleyan College, later joining the admissions and institutional advancement team before being appointed Director of College Relations.


At Fairmont State University, he served as Director of Development, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc., over a nine year period.
Mort’s career has included vice presidencies in advancement at Waynesburg University and Hood College, as well as donor and gift stewardship at The George Washington University, before joining Bethany College as Executive Assistant to the President and major-gifts officer.

His experience includes capital and annual fund campaigns; funding for buildings, scholarships, endowment, service learning, and faculty development; foundation and corporate relations; church relations; and legislative and community-development outreach, among other institutional priorities. A freelance author, he writes frequently for various national publications and journals.


Thanks to Dr. David R. Black for serving as our interim Vice President for Advancement for the past three months. David has been extremely active with the campus community -- particularly in our dual credit and China programs -- and has completed a feasibility study for a comprehensive capital campaign. I am appreciative of his service.

The staff of the Center for Advancement held a "thank you" lunch for long time friend and colleague Dr. David Black, who just finished three months as our interim chief advancement officer.

Virginia Wesleyan College Board of Trustees Chair Gary Bonnewell '79 speaking to the Club Presidents Luncheon today

Enjoyable visit today with Donald Luzzatto, editorial page editor of The Virginian-Pilot. Among the topics, my monthly higher education column in the paper.

Nota Bene: A New Vice President for Advancement

January 29, 2016

 

On Monday, February 1, we welcome our new Vice President for Advancement, Dr. Mort Gamble, a veteran college and university fundraiser and former vice president at three institutions.

 

A colleague whom I’ve known for many years, Mort has most recently served on the senior staff at Bethany College. At VWC, he will lead the College’s Center for Advancement including fundraising, alumni and parent relations, government relations, church relations, business and corporations and planned giving. Because Mort has spent most of his career at small, residential, liberal arts colleges, I’m sure he will be extremely helpful to us as we continue to strengthen our resource base through annual giving and as we look ahead to our next major-gift campaign.

A native of Maryland, Mort grew up in Moorefield, West Virginia, near the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. He is a graduate of West Virginia University where he earned his doctorate in higher education leadership. He began his career as a faculty member in English, humanities, and communication at West Virginia Wesleyan College, later joining the admissions and institutional advancement team before being appointed Director of College Relations.

 

At Fairmont State University, he served as Director of Development, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc., over a nine year period.

 

Mort’s career has included vice presidencies in advancement at Waynesburg University and Hood College, as well as donor and gift stewardship at The George Washington University, before joining Bethany College as Executive Assistant to the President and major-gifts officer.  

 

His experience includes capital and annual fund campaigns; funding for buildings, scholarships, endowment, service learning, and faculty development; foundation and corporate relations; church relations; and legislative and community-development outreach, among other institutional priorities. A freelance author, he writes frequently for various national publications and journals. 

 

Thanks to Dr. David R. Black for serving as our interim Vice President for Advancement for the past three months.  David has been extremely active with the campus community -- particularly in our dual credit and China programs -- and has completed a feasibility study for a comprehensive capital campaign. I am appreciative of his service.

 

I hope you will join me in welcoming Dr. Mort Gamble to Virginia Wesleyan.

With the Virginia Wesleyan College Ethics Bowl team: Riley Conrad, sophomore, Religious Studies; Amberlea Villafane, senior, Psychology; Marlan Hare, senior, Biology; William Edmundson, team captain, senior, Criminal Justice; and, Dr. Kathy Merlock Jackson, Professor of Communications.

Visiting with Chaplain Greg West and Dr. David Black at the Virginia Wesleyan Chapel tonight.

Attending the final preparation event for the Virginia Wesleyan College Ethics Bowl team before they travel to Roanoke for the state championship at Hollins University.

Great to visit with Virginia Wesleyan College softball players Kasey Newcomb and Megan Meindl today in Godwin Hall. Kasey is a junior and Meg a sophomore. Be sure and support them with ticket purchases for their spring fund raiser.

Nota Bene: Good Luck 2016 VWC Ethics Bowl Team

January 29, 2016

 

Four of our students, junior Riley Conrad, and seniors William Edmundson, Marlan Hare and Amberlea Villafane, will represent Virginia Wesleyan at this year’s statewide collegiate Ethics Bowl, sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) and Wells Fargo, on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. They will debate issues relating to “Ethics and Civic Responsibility” on the campus of Hollins University, the site for this year’s event. Our students will take a stand against 13 other highly qualified teams from independent colleges and universities across Virginia, debating a variety of case studies highlighting potential ethical dilemmas of a civic nature.

 

To help prepare for the event, the students will participate in an Ethics Bowl Demonstration tonight, Jan. 28, organized by VWC’s Center for the Study of Religious Freedom. The program, titled "Ethics & Civic Responsibility: When Religious Rights Feel Wrong," will highlight some of the issues that the students may debate—specifically those relating to ethics, civic responsibility and religious freedom in America—and the audience will have a chance to interact, critique, and discuss. I encourage our campus community to come to support our team.

 

The Ethics Bowl was established by the VFIC as a means of engaging students with complex ethical dilemmas based on studies of real-world cases. Students, faculty members, and distinguished professionals judge and moderate the event, placing priority on personal ethics in the workplace and the classroom. Virginia Wesleyan won the first-ever Ethics Bowl, held in 2000 at the University of Richmond. The College hosted the event in 2005 and 2011, and VWC’s Ethics Bowl Team placed as runner up in 2014. For additional information about the VFIC Ethics Program, visit www.vfic.org.

 

Thanks to Professor of Communication, Dr. Kathy Merlock Jackson, for serving as our faculty adviser and coach for the team. I know you join me in wishing the Virginia Wesleyan Ethics Bowl Team well at the competition this weekend. Good Luck!

Enjoyable visit with Judge Richard S. Bray, President & CEO of the Beazley Foundation in Portsmouth, Virginia. Judge Bray and the Beazley Foundation have been good friends of Virginia Wesleyan College for many years.

Contractor Kick-Off Meeting for the new Greer Environmental Sciences Center.

Had the opportunity to talk this morning with Judy Cockerell (President) and Jayne Sullivan (Past President) of the Cape Henry Rotary Club before my presentation "Virginia Wesleyan College: A Golden Past, A Bright Future." Jayne is a long-time member of the Virginia Wesleyan faculty.

Nota Bene: NCAA Convention

January 27, 2016

Joanne Renn, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Andrea Hoover, Senior Woman Administrator, and I represented Virginia Wesleyan College at the annual NCAA Convention in San Antonio, Texas this month. We also attended a meeting of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. A President's Agenda Day also enabled me to have more direct conversation on athletics issues with NCAA leadership.

This link provides a summary of NCAA Division III actions:

http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/division-iii-members-vote-against-football-proposal-adopt-dues-increase

The Division III agenda lacked many of the high profile issues of the recent past; however, a highlight for me was an enjoyable visit I had on the flight back east with one of sport’s outstanding humanitarians -- former Georgetown University and NBA star Dikembe Mutombo. Dikembe was an honoree at the NCAA Awards Dinner.  He graduated from Georgetown with degrees in linguistics and diplomacy, and he is fluent in nine languages, including five African languages. He has a fascinating background and is a remarkable person!

In 1996, Mutombo paid for the Congo national women’s basketball team to travel to Atlanta and compete in the Summer Olympic Games, and he also covered the cost of the track and field team’s uniforms and expenses. In 1997, he founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, dedicated to improving the health, education and quality of life for people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His foundation provides comprehensive health care at the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, while promoting disease prevention, health policy, health research and increased access to health care education. He was named the Humanitarian of the Year in 2014 by the NBA. It was a real treat to spend time with him.

 

A pleasure to attend the Norfolk Sports Club recognition dinner tonight as Virginia Wesleyan College head basketball coach Dave Macedo was recognized as Metropolitan Person of the Year in Sports. Pictured with Dave, his wife, Kristen, and VWC Athletic Director Joanne Renn.

Free Virginia Wesleyan College shirts for the first 100 students to stop by the Office of the President in Godwin Hall. Taylor Cain, a freshman from Richmond, VA, checks out the social media listing on the back of one of the shirts.

Nota Bene: Climate Commitment

January 26, 2016

 

In October, I shared information with you about a new phase of growth for the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), a group that I helped initiate in 2006 and to which Virginia Wesleyan College has been a member since 2007. Last fall, the ACUPCC underwent a significant rebranding by the Boston-based organization Second Nature that has created new standards for climate leadership in higher education.

 

To summarize, the ACUPCC has been renamed the “Carbon Commitment.” A group called the Alliance for Resilient Campuses has been renamed the “Resilience Commitment.” And together, the concepts of carbon neutrality and climate resilience constitute a new, integrated “Climate Commitment.” These three commitments, known as the Climate Leadership Commitments, share common elements in their core philosophy, most notably the ability to transcend traditional campus silos of academics, operations, student life, community engagement, and administration for holistic social impact.

​

At the October 2015 presidential signing event in Atlanta, it was announced that over 60 colleges and universities had committed to the newly integrated Climate Commitment. Since then I have taken the time to assess this new opportunity, and I am proud to inform you that on January 17, I became a charter signatory of the commitment. The network of all signatory institutions is called the Climate Leadership Network, and it continues to be served by a presidential steering committee on which I serve. This network consists of more than 650 institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia working together to implement comprehensive plans in pursuit of a sustainable future, acting as worldwide models.

 

As a signatory of the Climate Commitment and with the support of Second Nature, Virginia Wesleyan College will now begin to develop a comprehensive Climate Action Plan. This initiative will be supported by the President's Environmental Issues Council (PEIC), a group appointed by me that works with campus leaders to address environmental issues on campus and to promote conservation and environmental stewardship among the College's students, faculty and staff.

 

The Climate Commitment is more than just a declaration or statement, it is a catalyst for rigorous and robust action on our campus and in our community. We are enthusiastic about exploring and implementing sustainability initiatives as part of this effort, and as always, we welcome your ideas and feedback as we progress with this very important work.

Great week to be a Marlin! Kudos Virginia Wesleyan track and field.

Nota Bene: Best Wishes for a Great Spring Semester

January 25, 2016

 

Welcome back, Marlins! Today is the first day for classes for the second semester.

 

I hope your winter break was enjoyable and that you are focused and motivated to begin this new semester. I wish all of you a productive and enlightening spring semester. For the Class of ’16, this semester is the final one and I encourage you to enjoy it and to finish strong in the months leading up to graduation on May 14.

 

This semester is filled with activities and events. Make the most of this exciting time on our campus by taking advantage of the many and varied opportunities available to you. Campus events are may be accessed on the homepage of our website and by clicking here:

 

http://www.vwc.edu/news-a-events/campus-events.php

 

My best wishes for a great Spring 2016 Semester.

STEM Academy visits Virginia Wesleyan College on a snowy weekend to engage in an engineering design challenge involving scientific modeling.

The latest issue of "Understanding Religious Freedom" by our Center for the Study of Religious Freedom: http://www.vwc.edu/center-for-the-study-of-religious-freedom/pdfs/newsletters/spring-2016.pdf

Beth Clarke, Associate Dean of Enrollment, was a Junior Night panelist at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. Out of their approximately 65 juniors, the counseling staff estimated 40 families were represented (the student, parent and/or both were present). Beth spoke on the search and application process, Connor Rund from Hampden-Sydney College spoke on the campus visit, and Deborah Basket from the College of William and Mary spoke on how colleges make decisions. The event was hosted by Deborah Russell, Head of School. She commented that 2015 NSA graduate, C.J. Patterson, is having a wonderful experience with the men's basketball program during his freshman year at VWC.

 

Visiting with Virginia Wesleyan standouts Tim Jones and Khory Moore and Coach Dave Macedo and former VWC President Billy Greer at today's Roundball Insiders brunch in the Boyd Dining Center.

Virginia Wesleyan athletics offers text messaging of final scores: http://www.vwcathletics.com/sports/cheer/2015-16/releases/20160122jz3mgn

Nota Bene: VWC Faculty Connect with the Greater Community

January 22, 2016

 

Community connections are an important part of our focus at Virginia Wesleyan. In fact, meaningful connections with our greater community are a priority in our strategic plan. We reach out to the community in a wide variety of ways at the College. This morning, I share just two examples of the ways our faculty are currently engaged in the greater community.

 

VWC’s  Assistant Professor of Education, Dr. William McConnell, and students in his EDUC 348 course, will host 20 students from the Bayside area on our campus tomorrow. They will be participating in STEM activities as part of a Saturday STEM Academy on January 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Dr. McConnell tells me that the Saturday STEM Academy is a free program for Virginia Beach Public School students from grades 4-9 living in the Bayside community. This program provides quality STEM learning experiences for students that do not typically have the means to attend similar camps. Through the College’s partnership with the Western Bayside Community, Dr. McConnell became connected to this program as a volunteer which led him to invite the students to our campus. He and his students have planned a fun-filled day of STEM activities for them during their visit. They will tour the Virginia Wesleyan College campus through a scavenger hunt using GPS technology and then complete a scientific investigation and an engineering design challenge involving VWC's 3D printing technology. 

 

In addition, over the past few weeks, Assistant Professor of Music, Dr. Bryson Mortensen, has been conducting a group of 14 high school singers as part of the Virginia Chorale’s Young Singers Project in preparation for their concert this Sunday, January 24 at 4:00 p.m. The high school students go through a rigorous audition process to be accepted into the program and then are combined with a small group of professional singers who serve as mentors during the project-  teaching them vocal technique and musicianship while also teaching them about the life and behavior of a professional singer.  The concert, titled “Loss & Reconciliation” will be at Ohef Shalom Temple in Norfolk (530 Raleigh Ave) this Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

 

I commend the efforts of Dr. McConnell and Dr. Mortensen for being engaged in our greater community and for providing a connection to Virginia Wesleyan College.

Tonight we honored Carol Geary Schneider, who will be retiring on June 30 after serving as president of the Association of American Colleges and Universities since 1998. Joining us for the picture, Michael Roth, President of Wesleyan University.

Great evening with good friends at the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AACU) Presidents Agenda Day in Washington, D.C.. Pictured with: David Oxtoby (Pomona College), Jay Lemons (Susquehanna University), Tori Haring-Smith Washington & Jefferson College, and Michael Roth (Wesleyan University).

Four members of Bayside Middle School's MakerBot team demonstrated the products they designed using TinkerCad and a 3-D printer to three Virginia Wesleyan College business students (Adam Byrd, Lena Nguyen, and Mario Thourogood) and three business professors (Linda Ferguson, Paul Ewell, and Bob Albertson) as part of a mock shark tank on January 21. The seventh and eighth-grade students shared an infomercial and a product pitch for the cell phone accessories they designed. In February, the team will compete in the Virginia Beach Public Schools' MakerBot competition (STEM Trifecta).

The Virginian-Pilot article on construction of our new Environmental Sciences Center: http://pilotonline.com/news/local/education/higher-education/new-environmental-sciences-center-will-make-statement-at-virginia-wesleyan/article_84fe3214-33a2-592b-a4fd-82c6b53ee763.html

Nota Bene: Building Tolerance on College Campuses

January 21, 2016

On Sunday, January 24 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, our Center for the Study of Religious Freedom at Virginia Wesleyan College, and other community partners will host “Standing Together” at Norfolk’s Slover Library. This public gathering will feature a clergy press conference and an interfaith panel discussion exploring themes of religious understanding, solidarity and community. Participants will demonstrate support for the Muslim community and others as they stand together against divisive and bigoted rhetoric.

This week, I shared my support for this initiative in a Virginian-Pilot opinion column published on Jan. 20. In the column  titled  “Building Tolerance on College Campuses,” I applaud college campuses for utilizing their diverse makeups to foster dialogue, but urge institutions to take their efforts further.

You can read my column here:

http://pilotonline.com/opinion/columnist/guest/scott-miller-building-tolerance-on-american-campuses/article_60afdbac-ceba-56c3-b13d-e070f6458f2a.html 

I encourage you to visit http://www.inclusiveva.org/standing-together-hr/ to learn more about the "Standing Together" initiative.

Proud of Virginia Wesleyan leadership in the Western Bayside Partnership: http://pilotonline.com/news/local/mlk-day-event-exposes-virginia-beach-children-to-positive-interactions/article_55aee379-3ff3-5302-85fa-eedfaca03f65.html

Nota Bene: Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Meeting

January 20, 2016

 

Annie and I recently attended the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Presidents Institute in Miami Beach, Florida. This marks my 25th year attending the event, which is the premier annual meeting of college and university presidents and the largest in the country. 

 

Based in Washington, D.C., CIC works to raise the quality of education and strengthen resources at some 765 independent colleges, universities and higher education organizations. CIC’s 2016 Presidents Institute explored the theme, “Securing America’s Future: The Vitality of Independent Colleges” and other important issues of presidential leadership, drawing on the lessons learned by experienced presidents and the perspectives of other distinguished speakers. 

 

Annie and I also were presenters/panelists in a session on presidential transition.  Chaired by Pacific Union College President Heather Knight, we joined former Wells College President Lisa Marsh Ryerson (now President of the AARP Foundation) to discuss steps a president and presidential spouse can take to ensure a smooth transition for the next campus leader.

 

The time was very productive. I was able to accomplish:

 

• A planning session with Derck & Edson of Lancaster, PA, the firm that will facilitate our nine month master planning effort;
• A planning session with Old Dominion Athletic Conference Presidents;
• A meeting with Academic Search, Inc. Board of Directors, a group I chair;
• A meeting with the American Academic Leadership Institute Board of Directors (I serve as vice chair); 
• A planning session with Capital Education, the full-service provider of online learning that is our preferred vendor for developing a program at VWC.

Throughout the week, a theme came through loud and clear as I visited with my colleagues at the meeting.  In the volatile, often uncertain world of higher education, many things remain constant. These include the need to build and maintain healthy enrollments and endowments, to teach well, and to give our efforts an honest and thorough assessment. We will always want to recruit the best students, faculty, and administrative staff that we can. A mainstay of Virginia Wesleyan's history is the devotion of all members of the campus community to academic, career, and life success for students. Our beautiful campus needs constant care, too, and the challenge of security, and needed resources in every area of the College, is ongoing.

Much of what we do is predictable and knowable, however, there are many recent developments and trends that bring uncertainty, and demand vigilance.  Most have a direct correlation to the future of all small, private colleges like VWC.  And all will have increasing influence in the years ahead.  I have no doubt that with persistent effort and strong connections to our colleagues in the higher education community and beyond, we will continue to accomplish great things.

My monthly column in today's Virginian-Pilot, "Building tolerance on American campuses": http://pilotonline.com/opinion/columnist/guest/scott-miller-building-tolerance-on-american-campuses/article_60afdbac-ceba-56c3-b13d-e070f6458f2a.html

This week's Marlin Athletic Club SportSplash: http://conta.cc/1ZMroTq

 

It was great to visit on campus this morning with U.S. Representative for Virginia's 2nd congressional district Scott Rigell.

 
 

 

Nota Bene: Wayne Lavender Treks Across America for Orphans

January 19, 2016

 

I’ve had several opportunities this fall to visit with Rev. Dr. Wayne Lavender, a United Methodist pastor, Virginia Wesleyan adjunct faculty member, and executive director of Foundation4Orphans.  During these visits, I’ve learned much about his humanitarian interests and his role in establishing the Foundation4Orphans. www.foundation4orphans.org

 

He was recently on campus to talk about his "TREK Across America for Orphans" at a lunch sponsored by the VWC Center for the Study of Religious Freedom.  His trek begins a 5-month journey of running, jogging, walking and driving across the United States. His goal is to arrive in Oregon in time to attend the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in May. His trip starts at the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach and winds its way across the nation stopping in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Colorado and Oregon. Dr. Lavender will be making many speaking appearances along the way.

 

The goals of the TREK are to:

• Raise awareness of orphans and vulnerable children in the global south
• ​Raise funds for new orphan projects in Mozambique, Iraq, Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Generate support and signers on a petition to General Conference encouraging the UMC to embrace orphans and vulnerable children as the missional priority of the denomination. The official petition has already been submitted but he is hoping to add thousands of signatures to this pending legislation.​​​

Dr. Lavender lived in Northern Iraq from 2011 to 2013 before returning to the U.S. to work with several non-profit organizations in the area. He taught at the University of Human Development and was a consultant to the Kurdistan regional government. He has authored several books including "Counting Ants While the Elephants March By," "Evelyn and Damon: A Story of Love and Peace" and "The Sweet Smell of Apples." Mostly recently, he published: "The Worldwide View of Redemptive Violence in the U.S."

 

I’m including information from pilotonline.com: 

 

http://pilotonline.com/print_only/tabs_letters_to_the_editor/beacon-letters-virginia-beach-minister-treks-across-america-for-orphans/article_2f3b6690-e36a-59ac-9593-77376e32e092.html

 

We can follow Dr. Lavender’s trek on Twitter and on his website. We wish him well as he embarks on this commendable journey that supports such a worthy cause.

With Dr. Susan Wansink, Professor of German and Director of Winter Session, and Dr. Adrienne Coqueran, our featured Martin Luther King Jr. Day speaker. Her topic: "Against All Odds".

I enjoyed visiting tonight with senior Austin Von Ville. Austin just returned from the Fall Semester abroad. Interestingly, his mother -- Maria Singer Von Ville -- was a high school classmate of Annie's.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day fireside chat -- "Against All Odds" by Dr. Adrienne Coqueran.

I enjoyed visiting with freshmen this evening at the Winter Session "President's Social"

Groundbreaking for new state-of-the-art environmental sciences center draws focus to a number of opportunities for our students including this cooperative degree opportunity with Duke University: http://www.vwc.edu/news-a-events/news-briefs/259

Pleased to sign the 30th Anniversary Campus Compact Action Statement:
http://www.vwc.edu/news-a-events/news-briefs/260

With Rev. Wendy Wilkinson, Pastor of Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, Dr. Keith Moore, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Dr. Kathy Stolley, Associate Dean for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning, at the Day of Service Event in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church on Baker Road.

Such an enjoyable breakfast and discussion with Urban League keynote speaker Wil James, President of Toyota Manufacturing. This marked the 32nd year of the Urban League Community Leaders Breakfast.

Nota Bene: Day of Service

January 18, 2016

 

The Virginia Wesleyan College commitment to service continues on this day of tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. According to Dr. King, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’”

 

Volunteers from our campus community are engaged in serving others today in a collaborative event at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church. We partner with our neighbors from the Virginia Beach Police Department, Western Bayside Churches United and Bayside High School to focus on building positive relationships and to promote literacy by building a Little Free Library at Good Samaritan Church.

 

In addition, our campus community will have an opportunity to reflect on the life of Dr.  King at an evening presentation, entitled “Against All Odds,” by Dr. Adrienne Coqueran. During this special Winter Session event, Dr. Coqueran will share her inspiring story of determination and the obstacles she overcame on her journey to becoming a physician.

 

Read more about these events on our website at:

 

http://www.vwc.edu/news-a-events/news-releases/events-martin-luther-king-jr-day

I’m proud to be a part of a community that continually asks “what are you doing for others” today and every day.

Events: Martin Luther King Day at Virginia Wesleyan College: http://www.vwc.edu/news-a-events/news-releases/events-martin-luther-king-jr-day

Virginia Wesleyan College Shelter celebrates 10 years: http://www.vwc.edu/news-a-events/news-releases/shelter-celebrates-10-years

Diane Hotaling, Director of Community Service, Felicia Kiser, and Dr. Kathy Stolley, Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning, share an emotional moment at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Virginia Wesleyan College Homeless Shelter. The Shelter was established in 2007 by Felicia and another former VWC student Nuni Rae ’09 in partnership with the Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless. So proud of our Virginia Wesleyan College Family (alumni, faculty, staff and students) for their spirit of volunteerism on this meaningful project.

Thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball alumni today. Heard so many great stories including many from last year's championship team. This year's squad responded with a 10 point win over ODAC foe Roanoke College.

Enjoyable visit on the flight east with former Georgetown University and NBA star Dikembe Mutombo--honoree at last night's NCAA Awards Dinner in San Antonio. He graduated from Georgetown with degrees in linguistics and diplomacy, and he is fluent in nine languages, including five African languages. A fascinating background and remarkable person!

In 1996, Mutombo paid for the Congo national women’s basketball team to travel to Atlanta and compete in the Summer Olympic Games, and he also covered the cost of the track and field team’s uniforms and expenses. In 1997, he founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, dedicated to improving the health, education and quality of life for people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His foundation provides comprehensive health care at the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, while promoting disease prevention, health policy, health research and increased access to health care education. He was named the Humanitarian of the Year in 2014 by the NBA.

A real treat to spend time with him.

 

Good to visit tonight with Ashley Tishko '10 in San Antonio. She was a cheerleader while she was at Virginia Wesleyan and a member of Tri Sigma. She graduated with a degree in business and works for Sea World Parks & Entertainment. Pictured with Andrea Hoover, head volleyball coach, Ashley, and Joanne Renn, athletic director.

Talking Division III issues with David Armstrong, President of Thomas More College, Dan Dutcher, NCAA Vice President (and head of Division III) and Troy VanAken, President of Thiel College.

Catching up on athletics issues with Mark Emmert, President of the NCAA, and David Armstrong, President of Thomas More College (KY).

Today's @vawesleyan: http://conta.cc/1On2cdL

With Andrea Hoover, Senior Woman Administrator/Head Volleyball Coach, and Joanne Renn, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, at the NCAA Issues Forum at the NCAA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Nota Bene: Annual Winter Homeless Shelter on Campus

January 15, 2016

 

I had the pleasure of spending some time at the homeless shelter on our campus this week. As with all of the College’s community service initiatives, I was impressed. More than 150 volunteers—students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends have worked together to provide a weeklong “home” in our CMAC for more than 60 homeless guests. Our campus community comes together each January during Winter Session to provide shelter, food, activities, entertainment, attention and care for these guests. We partner with Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless to do so.

 

On the evening I visited, guests were enjoying pizza donated by Virginia Wesleyan alumni Eli Miller ’00, who owns Brothers Pizza, while they watched the national championship football game and interacted with shelter volunteers. The experience is a transformational one for all involved. Learn more about the homeless shelter at Virginia Wesleyan on the home page of our website.

 

http://www.vwc.edu/news-a-events/news-releases/shelter-celebrates-10-years

 

I appreciate the efforts of Director of Community Service Diane Hotaling and Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean of Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning Kathy Stolley for their important roles in this incredible undertaking. Special thanks and to all the volunteers who devote so much time, energy and care to this unique project. It was apparent that our guests felt very welcome and at home in our caring community. The winter homeless shelter is yet another example of what makes Virginia Wesleyan College so distinctive.

The current chapter of Presidential Perspectives -- a higher education thought series edited by Dr. Marylouise Fennell and me: http://www.presidentialperspectives.org/current_chapter.asp

Nota Bene: Student Survey on Diverse Learning Environments

January 14, 2016

 

Fostering a community at Virginia Wesleyan where everyone feels welcome and valued is a priority for our campus. The President’s Council on Inclusive Community was established to lead and further that mission. It is with that in mind that I share an opportunity for our students to participate in Higher Education Research institute’s 2015-16 Diverse Learning Environments Survey.

 

Students at Virginia Wesleyan College are invited to complete this survey as part of a national study conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) at the University of California, Los Angeles. According to HERI, “the purpose of this project is to examine the degree to which institutions integrate diversity in their environments to achieve key student learning outcomes. The data gathered are used in studies designed to better understand student learning and development and to help improve the quality of college education.”

 

Students’ responses will be used for research purposes only and will be strictly confidential. A survey for faculty and staff on this topic is in the works as well. We will inform our faculty and staff of that opportunity when it becomes available.

With athletic director Joanne Renn in front of the new bus donated to the athletic department today.

It's a great day to be a Marlin. We broke ground on the Greer Environmental Sciences Center this afternoon. Pictured here (from left) with Billy and Fann Greer, and VWC Board Chair Gary D. Bonnewell '79. An anonymous donor has provided the gift to construct, furnish and equip the state-of-the-art 40,000 square foot facility.