Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

Monday, May 6, 2019

Nota Bene: Weekly Update

We have reached the home stretch of the academic year with classes ending Wednesday and final exams beginning Friday. Thursday, Reading Day, is a very special time on our campus. Three beloved faculty members--Dr. Robert Albertson, Professor of Management, Business, and Economics; Mr. David Garraty, Professor of Management, Business, and Economics; and Dr. Mavel Velasco, Professor of Hispanic Studies--who are retiring in June will be celebrated with a reception followed by a Tree Planting Ceremony. A tree of each faculty member's choosing is planted in his or her honor in the scenic and peaceful campus arboretum. This ceremony, one of my favorite traditions at VWU, is one of the most symbolic. Like the seeds our faculty members have planted and the growth they have cultivated at this institution and among their students, these trees will represent the legacy they leave behind, a legacy that knows no bounds and will continue to impact our students, our campus, and our community for years to come. While we will miss them, I congratulate Professors Albertson, Garraty, and Velasco on this well-deserved milestone. We are proud to award them the status of Professor Emeritus. Thank you for your dedication and lasting contributions to Virginia Wesleyan University. Please join me in congratulating these esteemed members of our community!

ET CETERA

I was especially proud to present the President's Award to VWU senior Brandon Foster at Friday's Spring Honors Convocation. The President's Award is awarded to one senior student annually who has demonstrated exceptional character, scholarship, service and leadership during his or her time at Virginia Wesleyan University. The quantity, breadth, and quality of organizations he has led and served during his time here are extremely impressive. Brandon will graduate with honors and head to Smith College this fall to pursue his master's in social work. A member of the VWU Honors and Scholars program as well as five national honor societies, Brandon will succeed in anything he puts his mind to. Congratulations to all of the students who participated in Port Day and to those who were recognized at Spring Honors Convocation last week for your hard work, academic achievements, and other accomplishments!

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Last week I participated in productive meetings as part of P3*EDU hosted by George Mason University. P3*EDU is an invitation-only event bringing together a select group of university leaders and a handful of private company chief executive officers to network and share best practices around public-private partnerships in higher education. It was great to connect with many leaders, including fellow presidential colleagues, friends from Wiley Education and The Learning House, and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine. Thank you to George Mason University President Angel Cabrera for a spectacular and innovative program.

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You've seen her in shows like "Stranger Things" and "General Hospital," and now VWU grad Jennifer Marshall '08 will host the new CW investigative documentary series "Mysteries Decoded!" A U.S. Navy veteran and real-life licensed private investigator, Jennifer graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Wesleyan with a double major in international politics and Spanish and a minor in history. Congratulations, Jennifer!

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Friday evening was an enjoyable time as we hosted U.S. Congresswoman Elaine Luria and her Congressional Art Competition for area high school students at the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. The winning artwork of the competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol.

Board.Congratulations to Joan Brock, dear friend and VWU Trustee Emerita, who was honored with the Lenora Mathews Lifetime Achievement Award at the 44th Annual Hampton Roads VOLUNTEER Achievement Awards. This comes on the heels of another well-deserved recognition: the Norfolk First Citizen Award. I was glad to attend the ceremony and support our good friend and benefactor. The 2019 honorees for the Corporate Volunteer Excellence Award at the Award Ceremony were Susan Colpitts and Anne Shumadine (In Memoriam). Anne was a longtime VWU Trustee and also a dear friend. We are glad to know her meaningful work is still making an impact. I was honored to participate in sharing a few words about both Joan and Anne, and I invite you to watch these special video tributes.

VWU students and alumni represented us well at the SOMETHING IN THE WATER festival in Virginia Beach last week. Student Alex Vawter was recognized for the boldest emerging technology application as part of the SOMETHING IN THE WATER SPLASH! Pitch Competition. His FinX Mobile app teaches young people how to invest in the financial market and includes social features that allow communication with friends and competitors. Alex was among six finalists who pitched to the judges--rapper and producer Timbaland, former NFL player Bruce Smith, and Nneka Chiazor of Cox Communications. Read more in The Virginian-Pilot. Artist and VWU grad Clayton Singleton '94 shared his talent with a pop-up mural in the SOMETHING IN THE WATER ART WALK. Congratulations to Alex and Clayton!

For the fourth year in a row, our number-one Virginia Wesleyan University softball team has earned the title of Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Champions as the team defeated Randolph-Macon in the final, 8-2, last Monday. This win signals VWU's third-consecutive 40-win year (40-4), 12th ODAC title in program history, and an automatic bid to the Division III NCAA Championship. Read more here.

Questions about Commencement Weekend? Be sure to visit our website for all pertinent information.

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REFLECTIONS

I hope you find these links useful to my recent columns and publications:

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The Virginian-Pilot

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