Memorial Day: Remember and Honor

 

Roberts earns All-American Honors; Lane places 13th at 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor T&F Championships

The Virginia Wesleyan University Track & Field Marlins had two strong performances from their triple jumpers Geni Roberts and Jaylyn Lane at the national meet in Greensboro, NC. Geni finished sixth to claim All-American honors while Jaylyn placed 11th on the day. 

Congratulations to Geni and Jaylyn on their great performances all season long. I thank them for representing VWU so well at the national level.

Go Marlins!

Read more: https://vwuathletics.com/news/2021/5/29/track-field-roberts-earns-all-american-honors-lane-places-13th-at-2021-ncaa-division-iii-outdoor-t-f-championships.aspx

Pictured from left: Track & Field Assistant Coach Richmond Letterio, Assistant Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Cameia Alexander, Jaylyn Lane, Geni Roberts, Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Jesse Weiner, retiring Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Joanne Renn, incoming Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Andrea Hoover-Erbig

Our New Parcel Pending Lockers are Here!

Located in the Batten Student Center across from the Scribner University Store, carriers will deliver packages to our new Parcel Pending lockers. Students will then receive a text/email with the locker number and unique retrieval code to pick up their packages at their convenience. (And it looks great, too!)

The Wesleyan Review

Catch up on University news in this week's edition of The Wesleyan Review, found here.

Geni Roberts Finishes 11th in Long Jump at National Meet

Geni Roberts finished 11th in men's long jump at NCAA Division III National Outdoor Track & Field Meet. He competes again on Saturday in the triple jump. Go, Marlins! Read more: http://ow.ly/VsJM50EXKzu

Nota Bene: Go Marlins!

 

May 27, 2021 Good morning,

This is a very big week for Marlin athletics. Over the next few days, the Marlins will compete nationally in two different sports, and we couldn’t be prouder.   We again celebrate and appreciate the outstanding service to Virginia Wesleyan University by Joanne Renn. Joanne came out of retirement to lead the department through the pandemic, and her veteran leadership helped the University navigate the changing requirements of the NCAA for optimal participation of our student-athletes. We will always be grateful to Joanne for her guiding hand and hope to see her on campus often in her second retirement.    On Tuesday, we welcome Andrea Hoover-Erbig as the new Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. No stranger to Marlin athletics, Andrea has been a member of the VWU family for over 15 years. She is the winningest coach in VWU Volleyball history, and we know she will apply that winning spirit and tenacity to her new role.   Last weekend was momentous for the University as two track and field athletes earned spots in the national meet, and Marlins softball started their quest for a third national championship by winning the NCAA Atlantic Regional.    Special thanks to the entire campus community, led by the Athletics Department, for hosting a first class regional tournament. I offer my congratulations once again to our All-Americans: Jessica Goldyn (who was also recognized as the Diamond Sports/NFCA Division III Catcher of the Year and earned the New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe for leading the nation in stolen bases), Hanna Hull (all-time winningest pitcher in Division III history and the only four-time First Team All American in Virginia Wesleyan athletics history), and freshman Emily Seale. Kudos to Head Softball Coach Brandon Elliott for collecting his 500th career win (all at Virginia Wesleyan) last weekend, too.   The NCAA Division III men's and women's outdoor track and field championships begin today at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, NC. Geni Roberts will compete in both the long and triple jumps after winning both events at the 2021 ODAC Outdoor Championships. Jaylyn Lane heads into the meet as the seventh-seeded athlete in the nation in the women's triple jump. Geni will jump today and Saturday, and Jaylyn jumps on Saturday. Geni and Jaylyn were both named as 2021 Outdoor T&F All-Region honorees by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, along with Marlins CJ Govan and Landry Moffo.    VWU softball will compete for another national championship beginning today in Salem, Virginia. Led by three All-Americans with a stellar coaching staff, the Marlins will face the University of St. Thomas at 4:00 p.m. See the full tournament schedule here.   We are so proud of all of our student-athletes who have displayed such dedication and determination in their academic and athletic pursuits during this very unusual year. Let’s go, Marlins!

Sincerely,

-- Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. President Virginia Wesleyan University 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455   Phone: 757.455.3215 Email: president@vwu.edu Web:  www.vwu.edu/president  Blog: prezscottmiller.blogspot.com

Barclay Sheaks Gallery Installation Complete in Hofheimer Library

The installation of the new Barclay Sheaks Gallery in the Hofheimer Library is now complete. We look forward to opening the gallery to visitors one day soon.

 

Goldyn, Hull, and Seale Earn All-American Honors in Softball

Congrats to Jessica Goldyn, Hanna Hull, and Emily Seale on their NFCA All-American honors. Jessica was also named the Division III Catcher of the Year and earned the NFCA Golden Shoe for leading the nation in stolen bases. Way to go! 

Learn more at vwuathletics.com. 

Govan, Lane, Moffo, and Roberts Earn 2021 Outdoor Track & Field All-Region Honors

Congratulations to CJ Govan, Jaylyn Lane, Landry Moffo, and Geni Roberts who earned top marks throughout the season to named to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) 2021 Outdoor Track & Field All-Region team. 

Learn more at https://vwuathletics.com/news/2021/5/25/track-field-land-four-on-ustfcca-outdoor-all-region-team.aspx

President to President: The Complete 2020-2021 Series Now Available

 

The complete 2020-2021 President to President thought leadership series is now available to download here. This year’s book, titled “Fostering a Culture of Innovation,” features unique ideas and creative approaches to the myriad challenges higher education institutions now face, many of which were once considered unimaginable. It re-examines what it means to be truly innovative, especially in times of crisis and recovery. For more than a year, the world has had to rapidly adapt to a barrage of changes and overcome countless challenges. Higher education has been no exception. This edition of President to President contains unique insights from 10 college and university presidents, who share the creative approaches their institutions are using to navigate this complex new landscape. From shifting to digital learning and working with corporate partners to finding inspiration in the institution’s core mission and embracing opportunities for change, these esteemed industry leaders are at the forefront of an evolution in higher education. We would like to thank each of the authors for contributing their perspectives on these important topics. Each chapter of President to President offers ideas for leveraging the ongoing changes in higher education and using them as tools for sustained achievement and success. We hope you enjoyed this year's series and found value in the creative strategies that you can apply to challenges on your own campus. We're already working on next year's President to President series, which will focus on the vitality and power of higher education. Have a wonderful summer, and look for the next President to President series coming this fall. Sincerely, Executive Editors: Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. President, Virginia Wesleyan University Marylouise Fennell, Ed.D. Senior Counsel, Council of Independent Colleges and  Past President, Carlow University

President to President is an annual series with ten chapters authored by various thought leaders in higher education, published by Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services. Copyright © 2021, All rights reserved.

Nota Bene: Weekly Update

 

May 24, 2021 Good morning, Our two-time national championship softball team won regionals this weekend at Tom and Betty Broyles Field at TowneBank Park. The Marlins will play for another national title later this week at Moyer Park in Salem, Virginia. My heartfelt congratulations to the entire team and coaching staff for incredible play this weekend and throughout the season. Kudos to Jessica Goldyn and Hanna Hull for their top tournament honors. A special shout out to Coach Brandon Elliott '05 on his 500th career game win on Saturday. What a special team and a special weekend playing at home. Go, Marlins! Learn more from The Virginian-Pilot,13NewsNow or WTKR News 3. With pride, I share the Spring 2021 President's List and the Spring 2021 Dean’s List.   Congratulations to the 112 students on the President’s List who achieved a 4.0 grade point average and to the 283 students on the Dean’s List who achieved a 3.5-3.99 grade point average for the spring semester. A commendable accomplishment, especially given the challenges presented by the pandemic. Well done!    To qualify for these honors, students must have full-time status and have taken at least nine semester hours of traditionally-graded courses. These individuals demonstrate a remarkable level of dedication to their academic pursuits.    Congratulations to all of these students!  Monday, May 31 is Memorial Day and the two-year anniversary of the horrific tragedy at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center where 12 people lost their lives and four were injured. One of the victims included VWU’s own Robert “Bobby” Williams, Class of 1975.  In the fall of 2019, we dedicated the Robert T. Williams ’75 Trail at Wesleyan Woods in his memory, serving as a place to gain peace, find understanding, and connect with the best our campus has to offer. I invite those on campus to walk this trail this week in remembrance of Bobby, his 11 colleagues, and all those we commemorate on Memorial Day.  We continue to keep the Williams family close to our hearts. After announcing the new VWU/Norfolk Botanical Garden Horticulturist last week, we were disappointed to learn that the position was not filled as expected. But all things happen for a reason... I am excited to share that Skyler Lattuca, VWU Class of 2021, is now the new VWU/Norfolk Botanical Garden Horticulturist. He began last week, and it was great to see him back on campus so soon after graduation. In this position, Skyler will be responsible for the health of the nearly 24,000 native plants, inspired by the ecosystems of the Eastern Shore, at the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. The position works closely with students to give them hands-on experience in horticulture, botany, and environmental stewardship.  Again, I thank Marisa Cousin for her fine work in this position for the last two years and offer my congratulations to Skyler as he returns to campus in this new role.  ET CETERA Last week, the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) invited me to present during the Private Colleges Presidents meeting on VWU’s success regarding access and diversity initiatives. In my remarks, I discussed our recruitment, enrollment, and retention efforts to all students, regardless of their financial status, to help make a private liberal arts education affordable and accessible. These initiatives include the Work & Learn program, the Batten Honors College, WesBridge and the fourth consecutive year of freezing tuition. Additionally, the University offers academic and co-curricular programs that promote diversity of thought, race, religion, and more through the Africana Studies minor, the Robert Nusbaum Center, and our partnerships with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (on campus) and the Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA).  VWU is proud of its distinction as a U.S. News and World Report top 25 liberal arts university for diversity and social mobility. We will continue to do our part to make higher education accessible and affordable for all.  AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS Michael Sumbillo’s Obituary and Funeral Information VWU continues to mourn the loss of Officer Michael Sumbillo. His obituary and funeral information can be found here. His family remains in our prayers.  Introducing Campus757 to Virginia Beach Vision and the Hampton Roads Chamber Throughout the last year, I have mentioned Campus757—an ongoing project with the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and several local colleges and universities. Campus757 aims to showcase the 757 as a “college town” to help recruit top students and then expand the local talent pool by offering internships and services that would keep these students in the area after graduation.  I had the pleasure of joining Shawn Avery and Maegan Barnes, key players for Campus757, during presentations about the program to Virginia Beach Vision and the Hampton Roads Chamber. These organizations will be paramount to Campus757’s goal of offering meaningful internships, externships, and careers to students as they pursue their degrees and graduate from member institutions. For more information on how VWU students can get involved, please email Jessica Harrington, Director of Career Development, at jharrington@vwu.edu. Inside Business Interview with Trustee Howard Kern VWU Trustee Howard Kern, President and CEO of Sentara Healthcare, discusses the threats, challenges and resulting innovations generated by the pandemic in this Inside Business special report. Coastal 61 at Oxford Village Coastal 61 at Oxford Village continues to be at capacity. Learn more about the 244 luxury apartments at coastal61.com. Students are reminded of VWU’s housing policy and are not to seek residence there without prior approval from the University. To request more information about on-campus and off-campus living, please email reslife@vwu.edu. DeFord Manor Update After a delayed start, DeFord Manor is on-schedule and going up quickly. The facility will soon be a beautiful site to welcome Marlins and guests as they enter the west side of campus. STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES Features News Briefs VWU Athletics The Wesleyan Review  VWU Alumni News  The Arts at VWU  Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine  The Pharos REFLECTIONS I hope you find these links useful to my recent columns and publications: University Business  Enrollment Manager  President to President Archives CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter: @vawesleyanprez  Facebook: @ScottDMillerprez Instagram: @prezscottmiller  LinkedIn: Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.  Flickr: Scott D. Miller  Dialogue: prezscottmiller.blogspot.com  (Be sure to subscribe to Dialogue for daily updates via email)  I hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday weekend. Sincerely, -- Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. President Virginia Wesleyan University 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455   Phone: 757.455.3215 Email: president@vwu.edu Web:  www.vwu.edu/president  Blog: prezscottmiller.blogspot.com