Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

I'm pleased to open another week with great news. A new name and look are coming to the Convocation Hall in the Jane P. Batten Student Center over the coming months.

Made possible by a generous gift from community partner TowneBank, the Convocation Hall will soon become TowneBank Arena in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. The home of the Marlins is now under renovation and will have a brand new look this August.

We are excited to upgrade our facility not only for our athletic teams and special events, but for the comfort of our devoted Marlin fans. We are so grateful to TowneBank, and we thank them for their continued investment in intercollegiate athletics at Virginia Wesleyan.

The new TowneBank Arena will include 360-degree grandstand seating, a design that accommodates

growing attendance, creates a greater competitive atmosphere, and enhances the experience for athletes, students, and fans. The new arena will hold approximately 2,000 spectators.

The Donald M. Forsyth Court will be updated and refinished to incorporate a vibrant new design with the TowneBank logo and the VWU Marlin. Additions also include team sideline chairs, upgraded scoreboards, and an NCAA specification scorer's table.

TowneBank Arena will feature team locker rooms--including the recently renovated NBA-style locker rooms for men's and women's basketball (thanks to Trustee Tassos '79 and Delores Paphites and their family)--the Marlin athletic training facility managed by Sentara Health, the Virginia Wesleyan University Athletic Hall of Fame, and a redesigned All-American wall.

The space will now enable direct access to the second-level Jacklyn and Raymond D. Pearce Suite (dedicated to Marlin Athletic Fund supporters) and Intercollegiate Athletics offices. The area was recently renovated through the generosity of Jacklyn Pearce in memory of her late husband Raymond. An indoor track is also located on the second level.

The Jane P. Batten Student Center and Convocation Hall, home to the Marlins since opening in 2002, is a staple of the student experience. It served as the venue for Virginia Wesleyan's Commencement Ceremonies from 2002 to 2018, before it was relocated to the University Commons in 2019. Convocation Hall has also played host to national entertainers, presidential and political candidates, the Virginia Special Olympics, featured on ESPN as host to professional sports competitions, and numerous special events for local charities.

Posting an impressive at-home winning percentage of 84 percent, Marlins basketball has added such accolades as 11 appearances in the NCAA tournament. This includes seven Sweet Sixteen appearances, four Elite Eights, three Final Fours, and was crowned the 2006 NCAA National Champion. Women's basketball won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championship in 2015 and volleyball claimed the ODAC crown in 2019.

Jason Seward, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, who manages the facility and has been involved in the planning shared, "This place is beyond a building, it's the heart of VWU. We are excited to transform this space to TowneBank Arena and we look forward to the countless memories that will be made

here by our students and the some 50,000 annual guests that walk through the doors."

TowneBank has provided valuable support for other athletic projects as well. Last spring Virginia Wesleyan celebrated the dedication of Tom and Betty Broyles Field at TowneBank Park--a "field of dreams" for VWU's back-to-back national championship softball team, made possible by the generosity of former Trustee Bob Aston (pictured), Executive Chairman of TowneBank, and the TowneBank Foundation. In addition, TowneBank has provided support for VWU's Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony and athletic events such as the "Cross-Bay Rivalry."

ET CETERA

"Revenue Resiliency in the Era of COVID-19"

For 10 years, I partnered with Bruce Alperin of Aramark Higher Education in Philadelphia on the popular "Presidential Perspectives" series. Bruce and Aramark just published this new content "Revenue Resiliency in the Era of COVID-19". It offers four strategies that institutions can undertake to protect their financial position and maintain revenue resiliency. I thought you might enjoy it.

VFIC Emergency Fund

Recently, the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) approved grants for an emergency assistance fund for students. Virginia Wesleyan and each of the 14 other VFIC member institutions will receive a grant to support undergraduate students impacted financially by the crisis. On behalf of my fellow presidents, VFIC institutions, and the deserving students, my thanks to VFIC President Matt Shank and his team for this vital aid. Read more here.

Student Life and Learning Fund

Over the last few weeks, the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has made our community face a new way of learning. We are working daily to help our students adapt to the modifications they have had to make to their lives, academically and personally.

Thanks to the lead gift from the VFIC mentioned above, we have created the VWU Student Life and Learning Fund to address the most pressing needs of our students during COVID-19 and beyond. We've already tapped into these funds to purchase Chromebooks and WiFi routers for students who need them. We'll do everything we can to position our students for success regardless of where or how instruction occurs.

We appreciate those who have already reached out, asking how to help. If your current situation allows, please consider a gift in support of the VWU Student Life and Learning Fund to help minimize the financial impact the COVID-19 crisis is having on our students and our University as a whole. Learn more here.

Virtual VWU

Virginia Wesleyan student Marisa Dobson studies a painting of Harriet Tubman by Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas with Dr. Joyce Howell, Professor of Art History (pictured here).

Virginia Wesleyan University Softball

Among many spring campus highlights, I sure am missing softball this time of the year. I enjoyed this video, created by VWU's Head Softball Coach Brandon Elliott, showcasing the team's success over the last nine years.

Marlins Earn Scholars of Distinction Honor

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) announced the 2019 Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division III Scholars of Distinction recently, marking the top student-athletes across the country in Division III Field Hockey. Congratulations to two Marlins--Stephanie Hoke and Jenna Whitener--who earned the Scholars of Distinction honor. These student-athletes were nationally recognized for their excellence on the field and in the classroom. Read more here.

VWU Alumni News

Stay connected and stay updated through ongoing engagement opportunities. Read more in the latest issue of

VWU Alumni News.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Amidst the solitude on campus, a tree plaque marker in memory of my good friend, the late Dr. Mort Gamble, was recently placed in the ground. Dr. Gamble was Senior Vice President at Virginia Wesleyan at the time of his passing in January. The Center for Advancement staff and colleagues of Dr. Gamble donated funds for the purchase of a tree and memorial plaque in front of his favorite building--the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. Special thanks to Advancement staff and all who donated in his honor.

Recently we hosted a virtual Marlins Day Open House for prospective students and their families. While we wish we could have welcomed these future Marlins in person, it was great to connect virtually. I enjoyed delivering remarks and participating in one of the panels. I'm pleased to report that there was strong turnout and engagement. In case you missed it, watch the full program here.

VWU's Chemistry and Earth & Environmental Sciences Departments donated protective equipment to Sentara Leigh Hospital last week. Nitrile gloves, safety glasses, Tyvek gowns and boot covers were delivered by Associate Professor of Chemistry Maury Howard, with help from her sons (pictured here). Our Marlin family continues to make me proud.

Brick work was completed on the new signage at the entrance to the campus. Lettering, landscaping and lighting are expected to be completed in the next week. View the rendering and recent photos here.

Demolition started this week on the East / West Dining Areas in the Boyd Dining Hall. Renovation of this area and the main service area will be completed this summer. View the schematics here.

Construction started this week on a new roof on Monumental Chapel and Beazley Recital Hall. The project is funded by private gifts.

The contract has been awarded for a new roof and heating and cooling system in the Fine Arts Building. This is part of the extensive renovation scheduled for the facility this spring and summer and is funded by private contributions.

Trusses were put in place for the roofs on the eighth (and final building) in the Coastal 61 at Oxford Village apartment complex on the north side of campus. The development, a P3 partnership between VWU and The Franklin Johnston Group, is expected to be completed in early 2021.

We met with architect Michael Schnekser (Tymoff + Moss) to review the final plans for DeFord Manor and with the finalist group of potential contractors for that project.

STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES

Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine

The Pharos

REFLECTIONS

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

The Virginian-Pilot

University Business

Daily Press