I am pleased to announce the appointment of Kimberley J. Hammer, Esq., as our new Vice President for Advancement/Special Assistant to the President. Kim will join the VWU family on November 1. 
She replaces Dr. Mort Gamble, who passed away in January.
She replaces Dr. Mort Gamble, who passed away in January.
Kim is currently Vice President for Advancement at Carlow University, a private institution with an enrollment of approximately 2,000 students located in the heart of Pittsburgh's "Tech, Ed, and Med" district. During her 28-year career in advancement, she has also served as Vice President for Development at Robert Morris University, Director of Development at The Pittsburgh Promise, Executive Vice President for Development at the Children's Hospital Foundation of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Vice President for Development and Donor Services at The Pittsburgh Foundation.
She earned her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and her bachelor's degree from Ohio Wesleyan University where she graduated magna cum laude.
We thank Cheryl Hyatt and Dr. Marylouise "Weezie" Fennell of Hyatt Fennell Executive Search for their assistance with this search. Kim is an accomplished academic leader who brings a proven track record in all areas of advancement.
She brings a breadth of experience, talent and strategic thinking to this important role. Please join me in extending a warm VWU welcome to Kim, her husband Ted, and their twins, Blake and Trent.
ET CETERA
Fall Reopening Information
We look forward to our Marlins returning to campus in the coming weeks. Move-in days, like most other 
processes and events, will look a bit different this year. Among the unique procedures, thorough training and education on health and safety processes and procedures will be conducted. Over the past week, a series of communications have been sent to our campus community regarding mandatory COVID-19 testing for students, residence life and returning to campus, daily health screenings with the LiveSafe app, facilities management sanitization and safety efforts, and the modified dining experience our community can expect. All updates and communications can be found on VWU's COVID-19 website. Please remember to carefully and frequently review the "Returning to Campus Fall 2020 COVID-19 Guide" previously shared with our community.
processes and events, will look a bit different this year. Among the unique procedures, thorough training and education on health and safety processes and procedures will be conducted. Over the past week, a series of communications have been sent to our campus community regarding mandatory COVID-19 testing for students, residence life and returning to campus, daily health screenings with the LiveSafe app, facilities management sanitization and safety efforts, and the modified dining experience our community can expect. All updates and communications can be found on VWU's COVID-19 website. Please remember to carefully and frequently review the "Returning to Campus Fall 2020 COVID-19 Guide" previously shared with our community.
Project Amplify
Tidewater Collegiate Academy at Virginia Wesleyan University is offering a new program to provide meaningful, personal, and affordable educational options for students during the time of COVID-19. Project Amplify is an online, pre-college program designed to equip college-bound students for success in the
transition to college through authentic, thought-demanding, hands-on, community-based learning experiences tailored specifically for individual students to explore their passions and meet their goals. TCA at VWU is now accepting applications from rising 11th graders that will join a two-year cohort. Students will engage in a series of coursework based on the TCA innovative learning model and take dual enrollment classes from VWU concurrently. This will include one VWU class their first fall semester, and then two courses the next three semesters. Students will graduate with an Advanced High School Diploma and potentially 28 college credits. For more information, please contact Dr. Wendy Scott, Founder and Director of TCA.
Tidewater Collegiate Academy at Virginia Wesleyan University is offering a new program to provide meaningful, personal, and affordable educational options for students during the time of COVID-19. Project Amplify is an online, pre-college program designed to equip college-bound students for success in the
transition to college through authentic, thought-demanding, hands-on, community-based learning experiences tailored specifically for individual students to explore their passions and meet their goals. TCA at VWU is now accepting applications from rising 11th graders that will join a two-year cohort. Students will engage in a series of coursework based on the TCA innovative learning model and take dual enrollment classes from VWU concurrently. This will include one VWU class their first fall semester, and then two courses the next three semesters. Students will graduate with an Advanced High School Diploma and potentially 28 college credits. For more information, please contact Dr. Wendy Scott, Founder and Director of TCA.
VWU Esports Growing in Popularity
The Marlin Esports team began its official competition schedule in early 2020, playing in a total of 33 matches against colleges and universities from around the country (including 
a victory over cross-town rival Old Dominion University). The team is ready for fall competition in our state-of-the-art Esports Arena, which is equipped with 17 high-end gaming PCs featuring ASUS Prime Z390-P motherboards, Intel 9th Gen i7 processors, 16gb ADATA Gammix RAM, MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Armor GPU's, and MSI Optix 24-inch gazing monitors.
a victory over cross-town rival Old Dominion University). The team is ready for fall competition in our state-of-the-art Esports Arena, which is equipped with 17 high-end gaming PCs featuring ASUS Prime Z390-P motherboards, Intel 9th Gen i7 processors, 16gb ADATA Gammix RAM, MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Armor GPU's, and MSI Optix 24-inch gazing monitors.
The Marlins will compete this fall in League of Legends, OVERWATCH, Rocket League, and Magic the Gathering Arena. They'll be led by coaches Glenn Johnson and Zak Peeler, as the world's fastest growing competitive sport continues to grow its roots here at VWU. You can follow all the Esports action on the Marlin's Twitch Channel.
NCAA Statement on Fall Sports Championships
NCAA Division III announced this week that fall championships have been canceled. Spalding University President and Presidents Council Chair Tori Murden McClure said: "Looking at the health and safety 
challenges we face this fall during this unprecedented time, we had to make this tough decision to cancel championships for fall sports this academic year in the best interest of our student-athlete and member institutions. Our Championships Committee reviewed the financial and logistical ramifications if Division III fall sports championships were conducted in the spring and found it was logistically untenable and financially prohibitive. Our Management Council reached the same conclusion. Moving forward, we will try to maximize the championships experience for our winter and spring sport student-athletes, who unfortunately were short-changed last academic year." Read the full NCAA announcement here.
challenges we face this fall during this unprecedented time, we had to make this tough decision to cancel championships for fall sports this academic year in the best interest of our student-athlete and member institutions. Our Championships Committee reviewed the financial and logistical ramifications if Division III fall sports championships were conducted in the spring and found it was logistically untenable and financially prohibitive. Our Management Council reached the same conclusion. Moving forward, we will try to maximize the championships experience for our winter and spring sport student-athletes, who unfortunately were short-changed last academic year." Read the full NCAA announcement here.
Welcome Gina Barletta as VWU's New Purchasing Manager
I am pleased to share that Gina Barletta will fill the position of Purchasing Manager, replacing Midge Zimmerman who is retiring. Gina currently works in our Enrollment Outreach Center and comes to her new position with over 25 years of experience in a financial/business office environment. For 15 years she worked in business offices at The Rowland Institute of Harvard University and Cape Cod Community College. Gina is scheduled to start her new position tomorrow, August 11. Special thanks to Midge, who delayed her retirement due to the COVID-19 crisis to help the University through this challenging time.
AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS
In a recent edition of the Virginia Wesleyan Athletics "Inside Splash" segment, Head Women's Basketball Coach Liz Hudy is interviewed by VWU Sports Information intern Taylor Major '20. Read it here.
The Boyd Dining Center is nearing completion. View recent photos here.
Construction is progressing nicely on Coastal 61 at Oxford Village in preparation for a September opening. View recent photos here.
Renovation continues on Susan T. Beverly Hall (formerly Fine Arts Building). View recent photos here.
STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES
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