Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

May 17, 2021

Good morning,

Congratulations to the VWU Global Campus Class of 2021! We were so pleased to be able to celebrate you in person yesterday, and we wish you the very best as you pursue your personal and professional goals.

All five Commencement Ceremonies, the Baccalaureate Service and Batten Honors Capstone Ceremony are archived on the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network. Read more about all of our Commencement Ceremonies here, and view the photo gallery here.

I would also like to recognize Robert “Bobby” Mazingo Jr., Class of 2021, who was celebrated during our traditional Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony on Friday. Bobby has been an outstanding member and leader in our ROTC Marlin Company, and we wish him the very best as he continues in his military career. View the event’s photo gallery here.

Congratulations, once again, to all of our graduates!

VWU welcomes Gail Guthrie as the new VWU/Norfolk Botanical Garden Horticulturist. In this position, she 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.

Gail is formerly a Land Steward for the Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship on Whidbey Island, Washington. She has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. We welcome Gail and thank Marisa Cousin for her fine work in this position for the last two years.

As you are aware, the CDC and the Commonwealth of Virginia have issued new guidelines for masking and social distancing for vaccinated individuals. VWU understands that the campus community is eager to get back to pre-pandemic norms, and but the University is maintaining our position and will provide updated guidance as we evaluate our status relative to campus vaccination rates.

ET CETERA

The VWU Board of Trustees wrapped up a busy and unusual year of virtual meetings with the Spring Meeting last week.

During the meeting, the Board recognized Jean Jenkins, Class of 1989, and Rev. M. Wayne Snead, retiring Elizabeth River District Superintendent from the United Methodist Church, for their many years of service on the Board. We wish them both the best.

The Board also recognized Hanna Hull, Class of 2020 and current MBA candidate, for her outstanding career as a student-athlete on the award-winning VWU softball team. Hanna was especially recognized for her recent accolade as the NCAA Division III all-time winningest softball pitcher with 127 wins and counting. She is currently two wins higher than the previous record-holder. (Hanna is pictured with Board of Trustees Chair John Malbon.)

Among the Board’s action items for the Spring Meeting was the adoption of the budget for the next fiscal year. Virginia Wesleyan will continue to manage its budget with fiscal responsibility as we move out of the pandemic and back to more regular activities.

As always, I thank all of our Board members for their special attention and continued support of Virginia Wesleyan University.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Marlins Softball Wins Fifth Straight ODAC Title

The No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan softball team swept the Hornets from the University of Lynchburg last week in the 2021 ODAC Championship Tournament at the Tom and Betty Broyles Fields at TowneBank Park to claim their fifth straight ODAC championship title and 13th in program history. Madison Glaubke was named the tournament most outstanding player and also broke an NCAA record for games played in a career as she now has played in 211 games for the Marlins (previous record was 209). With the win, the team has an automatic bid to play for the national title. The tournament starts this week. Congratulations, Marlins! Read more.

VWU Welcomes New MBE Professor

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Arthur S. Pantelides will join the VWU faculty as Associate Professor of Marketing, Business, and Economics in the new academic year. Dr. Pantelides joins us from the American University in Bulgaria, a small liberal arts university which boasts a top rated business program in Southeast Europe. Prior to his post abroad, Dr. Pantelides taught at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and worked in international business for over 30 years. He received his Ph.D. in Engineering Management and Masters in Engineering Management from George Washington University and his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University. We welcome him to the Marlin family!

Dr. Steven Emmanuel Featured in the News

A few months ago I shared that Dr. Steven Emmanuel, Professor of Philosophy and Dean of the Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities, will be presenting, “How Much Is Enough?: Buddhist and Western Perspectives on Greed, Prosperity, and Happiness,’ at the Smithsonian Institute this summer. Last week, Dr. Emmanuel was interviewed about his upcoming lecture by a DC-area podcast, “The Not Old - Better Show.” The interview was picked up by Apple News and featured on its homepage. Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud or read the news article.

VWU’s Fall 2021 Vaccination Requirement in Local News

Dr. Keith Moore, Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management, was quoted in a recent news story from CBS 6 in Richmond about our vaccination requirement for students, faculty, and staff for the fall semester. Remember, faculty and staff are required to submit documentation of COVID-19 vaccination by July 1. Students have an August 1 deadline.

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:

University Business