I've often said that spring is one of my favorite times
on a college campus. The work and worries of the winter seem to give
way to a different kind of energy and renewal. The pace of campus life
changes. Instead of trudging through the cold, we skateboard through the
spring. Summer beckons on the warming horizon, and a sense of
accomplishment begins to pervade all that we do as classes wind down and
we take stock of our efforts as a campus community.
Virginia Wesleyan has had an extraordinarily busy academic
year thus far, and we have much yet to do. The many projects and
initiatives begun within the last two years are yielding strong results,
but more work awaits.
We're busy finishing and scheduling the dedication of the new
Greer Environmental Sciences Center, launching an enhanced Summer
Session, completing construction of the Frank Blocker Youth Center at
YMCA Camp Red Feather, preparing for the enrollment of the first cohort
of students for the Batten Honors College while recruiting all members
of the incoming Class of 2021, devising marketing for our new graduate
and online programs, securing more gifts for the capital campaign while
strengthening alumni engagement and increasing giving to The Excellence
Fund, implementing upgrades to our information-technology system,
launching the next phases of our Long-Range Planning process, and
putting the finishing touches on an excellent year for student and
faculty accomplishments, cultural and arts events, and athletics. Plans
are also being completed for Senior Send-off, Baccalaureate, and
Commencement.
Just back from meeting with higher-education leaders in
Mexico, I am thinking through new partnerships with that nation, and
other possibilities around the world, that will contribute to our
global-learning initiatives, a priority of my vision for Virginia
Wesleyan.
Next weekend, April 7-8, we'll combine old traditions with new as we celebrate our very first Spring Alumni Weekend. I hope you'll join me as we relax and reunite during the 35th Annual Seafood Party in the Dell, various athletic competitions, and an alumni social on the water at Chick's Oyster Bar. We'll also be offering tours of the nearly completed Greer Environmental Sciences Center, holding our annual Marlins Make a Difference Day, Strike Out Cancer Day, and a VWC Day Open House. It is sure to be a fun and festive weekend! View the full Spring Alumni Weekend Events Schedule.
Next weekend, April 7-8, we'll combine old traditions with new as we celebrate our very first Spring Alumni Weekend. I hope you'll join me as we relax and reunite during the 35th Annual Seafood Party in the Dell, various athletic competitions, and an alumni social on the water at Chick's Oyster Bar. We'll also be offering tours of the nearly completed Greer Environmental Sciences Center, holding our annual Marlins Make a Difference Day, Strike Out Cancer Day, and a VWC Day Open House. It is sure to be a fun and festive weekend! View the full Spring Alumni Weekend Events Schedule.
Those are just a few of the items on our spring agenda! Additional updates and highlights from this past month include:
- We welcomed 350 prospective students and family members (the largest in recordable history) to Virginia Wesleyan for our spring VWC Day Open House. The event coincided with the conclusion of our inaugural Batten Honors College competition, during which 71 students were invited to compete for 20 selective Batten Fellowships and 20 Shumadine Scholarships for fall 2017. Overall, applications for the incoming class are higher than they were a year ago. Prospective students and their families are sharing the excitement of the college-search process, and we are looking forward to welcoming many as new members of the Marlin family.
- We recently received official notification of our 10-year reaffirmation of affiliation with The United Methodist Church. Virginia Wesleyan was "approved for continued listing without qualification" in a letter from Dr. John W. Wells, Associate General Secretary of the Division of Higher Education of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and Executive Secretary of the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. The action follows a November review and extremely positive visit by a committee from the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. We can all be proud of this latest endorsement of our leadership in United Methodist higher education.
- In March, I shared my goal of enriching our students' experiences through expanded academic and co-curricular options, to include our First Year Experience program and Winter and Summer Sessions. With that, I announced the appointment of Dr. Rebecca Hooker as Director of First Year Experience and Dr. Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson as Director of the Winter and Summer Sessions. We thank these talented faculty members for accepting these responsibilities and look forward to enhancing our students' on-campus experience as they prepare for career and life.
- You've likely heard me refer to the "VWC/YMCA Partnership Facility" in my communications. I'm proud to share that this facility has officially been named the Frank Blocker Youth Center at YMCA Camp Red Feather in honor of S. Frank Blocker, Jr., longtime Board of Trustees member and now Trustee Emeritus of Virginia Wesleyan. Scheduled for completion in May, the 6,000-square-foot building will contain three classrooms, a large multi-purpose room, four offices, a reception area, kitchen, and an adjacent outdoor amphitheater with stage. It will be used during the academic year by Tidewater Collegiate Academy--our laboratory school and early enrollment partner--and in the summer months by YMCA Camp Red Feather. Recognizing an avid supporter of both the YMCA of South Hampton Roads and Virginia Wesleyan College, I offer our sincerest thanks to Mr. Blocker for the donation that made this project possible. Thanks, also, to William H. "Billy" George, President and CEO of the YMCA of South Hampton Roads, for his leadership in facilitating this gift and joint project.
- It was my very distinct honor last month to welcome David N. Saperstein, the Immediate Past United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, as the 2016-2017 Justine L. Nusbaum Visiting Lecturer. Ambassador Saperstein addressed "The Challenges of Religious Freedom Around the Globe: 2017." Speaking of the "powerful force" of interfaith cooperation, he said religious freedom should be protected "not just in the abstract" but also because it is "a driver of peace and security." We are so grateful to the Ambassador for his visit, as well as to the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom's Dr. Craig Wansink and Kelly Jackson for hosting this very enlightening event.
- Last month I announced that Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones, a 1980 graduate of Virginia Wesleyan, will serve as our Baccalaureate speaker during the 2017 Commencement Exercises. Rev. Jones is currently senior fellow of the Institute for Faith and Learning at Baylor University. She holds a B.A. from Virginia Wesleyan and an M.Div. from Duke University. She came to Baylor from Duke Divinity School where she served as associate dean for ministerial formation. An ordained Methodist minister, she is a frequent retreat leader for lay and clergy groups. Her teaching responsibilities have included courses on leadership, forgiveness and reconciliation, and the pastor's vocation. She and her husband have co-authored several Bible studies and other curricular components for The United Methodist Publishing House, and she has written articles and reflections for a variety of publications, including Faith & Leadership, Christian Century, and The Upper Room. I look forward to welcoming Dr. Jones for this exciting weekend of tradition and celebration, of which Baccalaureate is a valued and memorable part.
- Virginia Wesleyan held its first meeting of the new Corporate Leaders Council (CLC) in March. The CLC is comprised of business leaders from Coastal Virginia who embrace, embody, and similarly align with the College's vision and values in their management practices. Their personal and professional influence and support ensures that our students are strategically positioned to participate in opportunities that will prepare them for a meaningful life and career. During our meeting, we were honored to welcome guest speaker Joe Ruddy '83, Chief Innovation Officer at The Port of Virginia. His presentation, "The Power of Interns," delivered a high-level overview of the Port and how interns from Virginia Wesleyan are helping to shape its future. We also heard from VWC seniors Amanda Baxter and Amber Gaines, who spoke of their own successful internships. We're so grateful to our Corporate Leaders for taking time to connect with the College and for helping to inspire and prepare our students to become impactful citizens in the global community.
# # #
As we near the conclusion of this exceptional year, I wish
everyone a safe, productive, and enjoyable final few weeks. On campus,
we can't always sense how successful or influential we are, but as I
travel and have discussions with my colleagues in higher education as
well as Virginia Wesleyan's friends in business, government, the media,
and other areas, I am happy to accept their compliments on our progress,
and their informed and appreciative perspective on our many
contributions to those we serve.
Have a beautiful spring, and thank you for all that you do to
make Virginia Wesleyan a place of beauty, integrity, and inspiration.
