Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

We are proud of our multiple national-niche programs here at Virginia Wesleyan, one of them being environmental sciences. When our state-of-the-art Greer Environmental Sciences Center opened its doors in 2017, our already strong program quickly rose to national prominence in teaching, research, and outreach. The Greer Center received the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's National Conservationist of the Year Award in 2018.

A focus on the environment is a priority of mine now and has been during my previous three presidencies. I was one of the original signatories of the President's Climate Commitment when it was founded in 2006. Currently, I chair the Climate Leadership Network, a select group of 440 colleges and universities who are taking action on climate and preparing students for the future through research and education to solve the challenges of the 21st century. It has been a blessing to combine my experience and passion for environmental stewardship, which allows me to recognize how significant and successful our program truly is.

Adding to our strengths is our new Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Maynard Schaus, a Professor of Biology with more than 20 years of experience in leadership, research, and teaching. His passion and expertise are significant assets to the thriving environmental sciences program. He has been instrumental in the design of our curriculum, the Greer Center, and the overall strategy and implementation of our rigorous program. Learn more about Dr. Schaus here.

With that, I am pleased to announce Virginia Wesleyan has named a Campus Sustainability Director, Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, Associate Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science. Dr. Malcolm has been an integral part in the growth and success of our program. She is the steward of our climate action plan, and her passion shines through in her work. Learn more about her here.

Our institutional mission embraces social responsibility and participatory citizenship as essential parts of an undergraduate curriculum in the classroom, on campus, and in the community. With our commitment to the vitality of this program, we will continue to advance the cause of sustainability and environmental stewardship.

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Last week a very special project was completed with the clearing and surfacing of "The Loop" on Smith Drive and Lake Taylor trails on the south side of campus. Our now extensive trail system has been named "The Trails at Wesleyan Woods." The two main trails are ideal for walking, hiking, jogging, and biking. You can access both via the Honors Village parking lot. Directional signage will be added by the fall.

Since its founding, Virginia Wesleyan has enjoyed a rich heritage of abundant biodiversity and natural resources. Located on a picturesque, park-like, 300-acre campus bordered on the west by Lake Taylor, the University has trails, ponds and mature forests.

The scenic campus provides unique opportunities for teaching, research, health/fitness and outreach through camps and conferences, all central goals of the University's mission. Natural features include the following:

Old-Growth Beech Forest
Longleaf Pine Forest
The Native Gardens at Greer Environmental Sciences Center
Wilson Arboretum
Renn Reserve and Pond
Beverly Pond
Marlin Park and Pond
Wesleyan Woods
Lake Taylor
Smart Flower (solar energy)
VWU / Old Dominion University Climate Research Station
Apiary

The 18-acre Wilson Arboretum, with individual trees honoring retired faculty, has become a cherished part of the University. The Arboretum was established in 1995 in memory of William M. Wilson, dean of the University from 1971 to 1994.

The 12-acre Beech Forest, a rare example of an old-growth stand of beech trees, was designated a Natural Heritage Resource by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1992. According to a 2012 report, the campus features over 13 miles of biking and hiking paths and trails. I encourage you to take advantage of these treasures and enjoy!

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ET CETERA

It was my pleasure to recently announce the recipients of the 2019 Alumni Awards, an honor our Alumni Council bestows upon graduates of the University each year in recognition of outstanding professional and/or personal accomplishments in any field of endeavor. The Alumni Awards will be presented during our annual Founders Day festivities on Thursday, September 5, as a way of paying tribute to our roots, recognizing key individuals that helped to shape our history, and celebrating the institution's bright future.

Congratulations again to Eric C. Nyman '94, President of Hasbro North America (Distinguished Alumnus Award); Candice E. Driskell '94, Executive Director of Access Partnership (Alumni Service Award); Wallace R. Driskell, Jr. '00, retired Captain of the Norfolk Police Department (Alumni Service Award); and Amari Agee '15, Production Coordinator at DreamWorks Animation (Graduate of the Last Decade Award) on this well-deserved distinction. We thank you for continuing to make your alma mater proud. Read more here.

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It is with sorrow and a heavy heart that I share the passing of two members of the Virginia Wesleyan Family.

Dr. Darrell Patton was a faculty member at Virginia Wesleyan from 1983 to 1996. After his teaching years, he and his wife Claudine continued to be actively involved in Virginia Wesleyan's Center for the Study of Religious Freedom for many years. His dedication and contributions to the institution live on, and we are grateful to have been a part of his journey. Dr. Patton's obituary can be found here. Please join me in keeping his wife and family in your thoughts.

Virginia Hurt Breeden served for years on the President's Advisory Council at Virginia Wesleyan. She and her late husband, Edward Breeden, Jr., were good friends of the University and pillars of the community. Ms. Breeden's legacy lives on through her generous contributions to society that have afforded many students the opportunity to receive an education. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Virginia H. and Edward L. Breeden, Jr., Scholarship at Virginia Wesleyan, or a charity of one's choice. Ms. Breeden's obituary can be found here. Please join me in sending prayers for the Breeden family.

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With the lively, worldwide debate continuing in the United Methodist Church, I thought you'd find this infographicinteresting and informative.

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You may have read about the recent Ellucian Banner data breach where "hackers may have accessed sensitive student data from over 60 colleges as the result of a security flaw in Ellucian's widely used enterprise resource planning software." I want to reassure you that our students' data are secure and Virginia Wesleyan was not affected. We are an Ellucian institution, but do not subscribe to this particular product, Banner, that was compromised.

While we are glad this did not impact our students, this is a good time to remind everyone to please stay vigilant in the cyber world. Higher education institutions are a target for hackers, as exemplified in the recent cyberattack on Monroe College. We are all vulnerable to these attacks, and I ask that you remain cognizant of phishing emails and scams. Always verify the email address and check with the sender in person if something seems unusual about an email you've received. Please report any suspicious activity to VWU's Office of Information Technology at helpdesk@vwu.edu.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Virginia Beach was ranked number one best big city to live in! In WalletHub's "2019's Best Big Cities to Live In" study, researchers compared the 62 largest U.S. cities based on 56 key indicators of attractiveness. Read more here.

We recently welcomed 23 students from China to the Virginia Wesleyan University family. For the remainder of the summer, they'll live in the International Housing Village in Williamsburg while studying as a part of our American Culture and Tourism Management Program (ACTM). Students take classes full-time in American Culture and Tourism from the Recreation and Leisure Studies program at Virginia Wesleyan, and complete an internship at Busch Gardens.

It was great to see Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston, new President of Norfolk State University, at the Slover Library recently and welcome her to Coastal Virginia. "Dr. J" was senior vice president at The Ohio State University before coming to NSU in June.

In case you missed it, VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads (VHR), a valued partner of ours in the not-for-profit community, has moved its entire operation to the Virginia Wesleyan campus. We welcome VHR Executive Director Stephanie Gorham and her team, and look forward to expanding our partnership. Read more here.

Work began last week on piping the storm water runoff area along Smith Drive. The Goode Center parking lot and Smith Drive both run into the culvert which will be piped and covered. The water will run into the wetland area between Virginia Wesleyan and Norfolk Academy that ultimately filters into Lake Taylor.

Construction is nearing completion on the improvements to residence hall space in Bray Village. With work in Eggleston Hall scheduled to wrap up in late July, all four residential buildings will be complete. Each floor will have new restroom and shower facilities, complete with rain-style showerheads and other attractive fixtures. Utilities, including ventilation and HVAC units, are also being upgraded.

The buildings of Bray Village are some of the institution's oldest and have served the University well over the years. The four buildings house 240 residential students on eight floors. The Village is also home to several classrooms, faculty offices, and the Office of Campus Security. Incoming first-year students, arriving in late August, will be among the first to enjoy the enhanced spaces. Other improvements in Bray Village during the summer include classroom and office upgrades in the Education Department, and creation of a new office across from the Center for Information Technology.

Congratulations to the 131 Marlins named to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference All-Academic List! Read more here.

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REFLECTIONS

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

The Virginian-Pilot

Daily Press

Enrollment Manager