November 9, 2020
Good Morning, |
|
The 2020 Faculty and Staff Campaign, “Rock the Socks,” produced more evidence that the Virginia Wesleyan family cares deeply about the future of our University. Although pledges and gifts are still being accepted, the campaign to date has achieved $41,774 from 158 faculty and staff members. We are humbled by your kindness and generosity. This has not been an easy year for the Marlin family, but you have proven we can rise together and overcome adversity.
A noteworthy accolade from the campaign is that we had 100% participation from our alumni working full-time on campus. We are grateful to have such an engaged community of alumni, faculty and staff supporting the University. Congratulations and thank you to all who have contributed thus far. |
|
I want to give a special thank you to our faculty and staff campaign ambassadors for their efforts in helping us during the campaign: Elaine Aird ’96, Brandon Elliott ’03, Dr. Linda Ferguson, Randy Lott, Dr. Bryson Mortensen, Teresa Rhyne ’92, Jason Seward ’05, and Dr. Michelle Vachris.
If you are still deciding on your commitment, we hope you’ll join us in making a pledge, a gift by cash or check, or a schedule of payroll deduction. For more information on the “Rock the Socks” campaign, please contact Kamryn Clairmont at kclairmont@vwu.edu or 757.455.3242. |
|
Within a matter of days, two long-time close friends who lead prominent national organizations important to VWU—Richard Ekman, President of Washington, D.C.-based Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), and Dr. Tony Cortese, President of the Intentional Endowment Network (IEN)—announced their retirement. |
|
I first met Rich in 2000 during the search process that led to his selection as CIC President. I’ve worked closely with him through various roles I’ve held on the CIC Board of Directors, the CIC’s New Presidents Program, the Board of Directors of Academic Search, Inc., and American Academic Leadership Institute. CIC is by far the best membership organization for private colleges and universities in America, and Rich’s dynamic leadership has been a big part of the organization’s success. |
|
I met Tony shortly after his founding of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in 2006, which is now The Climate Leadership Network (CLN) within Second Nature. Throughout his impressive career, Tony founded several other organizations, including the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, the Higher Education Association Sustainability Consortium, and, most recently, the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN). IEN is an organization that encourages and supports higher education institutions to adopt long-term investment strategies that create an equitable, low-carbon, and regenerative economy. VWU is one of just 60 network members in higher education, demonstrating VWU’s commitment to our Environmental Guiding Principles and social justice.
Rich and Tony are the best of the best in their fields. Their leadership of their respective organizations has resulted in transformative, inspiring and visionary progress. Most importantly, they are wonderful people and friends who leave behind a legacy of excellence in the higher education landscape. |
|
AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS |
|
Protect the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) Although generous institutional aid through scholarships helps to offset the cost of attending VWU for many students, the VTAG program has, since 1972, provided additional, critical financial support. In last year's (spring 2020, pre-COVID) General Assembly, the VTAG program was successful at securing additional funding that would have enabled the award to rise incrementally, and we were very pleased with these results. Unfortunately, when COVID's impact on the state budget required the General Assembly to make adjustments, and that hard-won new funding was regrettably frozen. Happily, the funds were not eliminated from the budget, and can potentially be restored with your help.
Learn more and communicate your support of the VTAG program to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and members of the General Assembly. Virginia Wesleyan University is grateful on its students' behalf for this important investment in their future success. |
|
Veterans Day Celebration The campus community is invited to honor Marlin veterans and active duty service members on Wednesday, November 11 at 12:00 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Monument on Godwin Hall lawn. Our keynote speaker will be U.S. Navy veteran Allison Hammer, a 2014 VWU graduate and adjunct instructor in Earth and Environmental Sciences. I hope you all will be able to join me for this special ceremony and celebration. |
|
Virtual Career Fair On Wednesday, November 18, from 1-4 p.m., students and interested alumni will have opportunities to find their next professional experience during the virtual career fair. They'll connect with potential employers by attending group information sessions and participating in 10-minute one-on-one video sessions. This virtual career boost will be facilitated through Handshake, VWU’s new career management platform, and coordinated by the University's Career Development Program. Participants must register for the virtual event via Handshake. |
|
Marlin to Marlin Mentorship Program The Marlin to Marlin Mentoring Program is designed to cultivate meaningful mentor/mentee relationships between alumni who have completed experiential learning opportunities and current students in the various planning phases of building a pathway to an immersive experience. The mentoring relationships are meant to provide support and guidance to current students and foster productive conversations about planning, preparation, and participation in internships, study away, and/or research projects. The program is a cross-campus partnership between The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration and Discovery and the Office of Alumni Relations. Interested alumni should complete the volunteer form to learn more. |
|
Student Activities Planning Earlier Than Usual Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Kudos to Sarah Guzzo and the Office of Student Activities for keeping this favorite Marlin tradition alive as we celebrate “Christmas in November” with our annual tree lighting on Friday, November 13. The tradition has been moved to this early date to accommodate our students who will finish the fall semester remotely following Thanksgiving break. I look forward to the spirited caroling and camaraderie that occurs during this special holiday event each year. |
|
Chapter 3: “President to President” Series The third chapter of this year’s President to President series, "Bringing Corporate America to Your Campus" by Eastern Connecticut State University President Elsa M. Núñez, Ed.D., describes the benefits of collaborating with a corporate partner to support student success. I am proud to serve as an Executive Editor of this thought leadership series with Dr. Marylouise Fennell. The 2020-21 series is titled "Fostering a Culture of Innovation," in which leaders on the cutting edge of higher education offer their perspectives on innovation as it applies to myriad aspects of the college experience. While Sodexo is the corporate sponsor of this national project, I receive no compensation to serve as the Executive Editor. In lieu of compensation, at my request, Sodexo makes a contribution to our student scholarship fund. |
|
Visiting with the VWU Alumni Council I had the opportunity last week to attend the VWU Alumni Council for their November meeting. It was the first business meeting for Alisa Crider ’10 as our new Chair. The Council welcomed new officers and members, received my update on campus initiatives, and heard presentations from Amy Rush, Executive Director of The Lighthouse, and Dr. Brian Kurisky, Executive Director of Civic Engagement and Service Learning/Chief Diversity Officer. They also learned about alumni virtual events from Kamryn Clairmont, Coordinator of Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement, and leadership giving and alumni participation from Lori Harris ‘94, Associate Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of Alumni Relations. |
|
New CEO Named at Port of Virginia We welcome Stephen Edwards as the Virginia Port Authority’s new CEO. He comes to Coastal Virginia from Los Angeles where he is currently president and CEO of TraPac LLC, an operator of container terminals in the ports of Los Angeles and Oakland, California. He replaces John Reinhart, who announced in May that he planned to retire upon the selection of his successor. John and Joe Ruddy ’83—Chief Innovation Officer of the Port of Virginia, VWU President’s Council member and the 2018 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient—have been good friends and supporters of VWU. I thank John for his friendship and for the internship and employment opportunities our students have benefitted from during his six years at the Port’s helm. |
|
NATO International Concept Development and Experimentation Conference 2020 Hosted from Virginia Wesleyan VWU hosted NATO on campus as they produced the International Concept Development and Experimentation Conference 2020. I was proud to be interviewed by Major Patrick Van Hoeserlande for the conference which is webcast across the world. NATO has been a valuable partner for VWU, providing our students with unique, worthwhile internship and career development opportunities. |
|
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Begins Touted by officials as "the largest project in the Virginia Department of Transportation’s history and one of the largest infrastructure projects in the nation," crews broke ground on the $3.8 billion Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) expansion. When completed, it will significantly ease access back and forth between the Peninsula and the Southside. Learn more and check out the simulated video of the project. |
|
Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges Annual Report I am pleased to share with you the VFIC Annual Report. VWU is a proud member of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges—a consortium of the 15 selective traditional private liberal arts colleges in Virginia. These institutions educate over 22,000 undergraduates each year, providing small classes, low student-faculty ratios, personal attention to students, and a time-tested liberal arts experience—important and distinctive options compared to large public universities. |
|
Congratulations to our Local Elected Friends Congratulations to Senator Mark Warner, Representative Elaine Luria and Representative Bobby Scott on their re-election. All three have been good friends of the University, and we wish them the best as they continue their work for Virginia and the nation. |
|
Locally, I offer my congratulations to Bobby Dyer on his re-election as Mayor of Virginia Beach. For Virginia Beach City Council, congratulations to Jessica Abbott, Michael Berlucchi, Rosemary Wilson, and Sabrina Wooten. Virginia Wesleyan is proud to be an instrumental part of the Virginia Beach community, and we look forward to working with these elected officials and others to further the vision and goals of the City. |
|
For many of our current Marlins, this was their first opportunity to vote in a presidential election. I hope our students took advantage of their right to vote, and I thank our Office of Civic Engagement and Service Learning for promoting civic participation with their student voter registration drive and running shuttles to the nearby polls. |
|
Campus Modernization Continues Landscaping around Susan T. Beverly Hall (formerly the Fine Arts Building) has begun. Thanks to the Norfolk Botanical Garden/VWU Director of Living Landscapes Brian O’Neil for the design. |
|
New lighting has been added to the outside of Susan T. Beverly Hall as well as new signage on the inside of the building to recognize our lead donors for this project. I thank them for their generous support. |
| |
The spirited entrance to TowneBank Arena in the Jane P. Batten Student Center is now complete. Kudos to Christine Hall, Branding and Design Manager, for the design, and to Angelo/Archbell Signs for a job well done. |
| |
|
|
