Dialogue: September 2021

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Nota Bene: Passing of Dr. Charles Kessler

September 30, 2021

Dear VWU Community,

It is with sadness that I share the passing of Dr. Charles Kessler, Professor Emeritus, Religious Studies, at the age of 95. Dr. Kessler was with the Virginia Wesleyan religious studies faculty from 1971 to 1993. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University, a Master of Divinity from Garrett Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Northwestern University. In 1983, he received the Samuel Nelson Gray Award for Exemplary Teaching, making him one of the first recipients of this prestigious campus award.

A celebration of life for Dr. Kessler and his late wife of 63 years, Viola, will be held in Monumental Chapel at an upcoming date. The Kesslers were members of the Lambuth M. and Alice A. Clarke Heritage Society, leaving a lasting legacy at Virginia Wesleyan University. We are so grateful for all they have done for this campus over the last 50 years.

Please keep your thoughts and prayers with the Kessler family during this difficult time.

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

President to President: Higher Education’s Responsibility to Generate Social Mobility

The second chapter of the 2021-2022 President to President thought leadership series is now available. In “Higher Education’s Responsibility to Generate Social Mobility,” DePaul University President A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., explores how colleges can help address social inequities within education and beyond. Esteban shares strategies that have worked for his university, explaining how these initiatives support students as they work to overcome barriers and achieve their academic and professional goals.

This year's President to President series, titled “The Vitality and Power of Higher Education,” examines how colleges are approaching their missions with new vigor and re-examining their role in the community. Over the course of 10 chapters, leading college and university presidents share their perspectives on the many issues impacting higher education today, as well as their ideas for shaping the campus experience of the future. As an executive editor of the series, I look forward to bringing you fresh perspectives in a new chapter published online each month.

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Dr. Brian Hemphill visits VWU

It was great to visit with the new president of Old Dominion University, Dr. Brian Hemphill, and show him around the beautiful VWU campus.

Cisco Cividanes '71 Drops By

I was delighted to meet Francisco “Cisco” Cividanes from the Class of 1971. He stopped by with Dr. Stephen Mansfield on their campus tour.

Monday, September 27, 2021

A Visit with Kenny Alexander

It was nice to visit with Kenny Alexander at his office in Norfolk this morning. Kenny has been a good friend to Virginia Wesleyan through the years as a Virginia delegate, senator, and mayor of Norfolk. He is now also Chancellor of Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Centura College, & Tidewater Tech (ACT).

Nota Bene: Weekly Update

September 27, 2021

Good morning,

Homecoming and Family Weekend returns this week! Our festivities begin with Marlin Spirit Day on Friday followed by an alumni gathering that evening at ShoreBreak Pizza and Taphouse from 5:00-7:00 p.m. All Marlin alumni, faculty and staff and their families are invited.

The induction of the 13th Class of the Athletic Hall of Fame will take place on Saturday morning at the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. Congratulations once again to benefactors Joan P. Brock H’10 and Tassos J. Paphites ‘79, coach Joanne M. Renn, and Marlin athletes John “Jack” E. Lingo III ’01, Brandon M. Massie ’11, and Adam L. Nycz ’12. Tickets are available for purchase through tonight.

Traditions continue on Saturday for the Marlin community with our annual tailgate, FinFest! You can purchase meal and beverage tickets on site to enjoy a delicious picnic style lunch from Sodexo and beverages from Hoffman Beverage. Purchase refreshments and desserts from Kona Ice and Astro Concessions Funnel Cakes. Mingle with your favorite faculty members while the kiddos enjoy the inflatables. Astro DJ will keep the party going with great music.

Also on Saturday, the Marlins will compete at home in volleyball, field hockey, women’s soccer, and men’s soccer. We’ll have alumni games for baseball, softball, men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse. We’ll toast to our 2021 National Softball Champions, crown our Marlin Majesty during the Homecoming Court ceremony, and hold our 5th Annual Chili Cook Off. We’ll be dazzled by a variety of performances from all areas of the performing arts during the Arts Showcase.

Check out the full schedule for all the weekend fun. We hope to see you there!

ET CETERA

Virginia Private Colleges (a.k.a the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia) held their annual meeting in a hybrid format last week.

Member presidents discussed a variety of issues with Gov. Ralph Northam’s Chief of Staff, Clark Mercer. VPC also provided an extensive government relations update, a briefing on the Transfer Virginia project, and a general discussion about a variety of issues impacting the sector.

Founded in 1971, Virginia Private Colleges is an organization representing 28 accredited nonprofit independent colleges and universities in Virginia, working collaboratively in the areas of public policy, cost containment and professional development.

Because of COVID-19's continued economic impact on our communities, Virginia Wesleyan University—in partnership with the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development—is once again offering online professional development courses at no cost to Hampton Roads residents.

I remind our VWU friends and families that registration is open for these self-paced training courses to improve professional skills—perfect for job seekers, business owners, students, recent graduates, and volunteers. Courses include Fundamentals of Supervision and Management, Intro to Excel/Office 365, Creating Webpages, Explore a Career as a Medical Assistant, Medical Terminology: A Word Association Approach, Professional Sales Skills, Keys to Effective Communication, and Creating Mobile Apps with HTMLs. All courses are offered through VWU Global Campus.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Save the Date: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Special Event

Our Martin Luther King Jr. Day event will be held on Monday, January 17, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Veleka Gatling, Director of Diversity Initiatives at ODU. The program will include the presentation of the Mavis McKenley ’11 Award to a student who embodies the ideals of Dr. King. Although classes will not be held that day, I hope you make plans to attend our special event.

VWU/TCC/VBED Partnership Center, The Hive, Hosts Grand Opening

After a year of planning, space designing and construction, and program implementation the long-awaited grand opening of The Hive in Virginia Beach Town Center was held Wednesday night.

Dignitaries from throughout the City joined partners—Virginia Beach Economic Development, Tidewater Community College, and Virginia Wesleyan University—to showcase the new facility to the business community. Mayor Bobby Dyer and several City Council members provided comments as well as Taylor Adams, Deputy City Manager and Director of Economic Development for the City of Virginia Beach.

The VWU/VB Economic Development partnership has been significant this year. Over 1,500 learners have enrolled in VWU non-credit programs for Virginia Beach residents displaced by the pandemic. Additionally, infrastructure upgrades to Clarke Hall have come from private support facilitated through this partnership.

Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, Dean of VWU Global Campus; Marion Hibbler, Director of Lifelong Learning, VWU Global Campus; and Larry Belcher, Director of Enrollment, VWU Global Campus, joined me for the Grand Opening celebration.

The compliments that we received were tremendous and the pledges of financial support to this program and our main campus will continue. I thank Deirdre, Marion, and Larry for their leadership on this partnership.

A New Presidential Associate

Welcome Caitin Myers ’23, a new Presidential Associate! Caitlin is a transfer student from Marshall University. She is majoring in Recreation and Leisure Studies and is a member of the Marlins softball team. As a Presidential Associate, Caitlin will assist the Office of the President with special projects and events that advance the mission and purpose of the University. The position is offered through VWU’s Work and Learn Program.

Esports Adds Fortnite to Spring Competition

Today’s fastest growing global sport and a billion-dollar industry, esports is quickly expanding to college campuses across the country. Virginia Wesleyan is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and will be adding Fortnite to its lineup of competitive play starting in the spring of 2022. Tryouts will take place on Thursday, September 30 at 6 p.m. in the Marlin Esports Arena in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. Watch Marlin Esports compete live at twitch.tv/vwu_esports.

Virginia Wesleyan University as a Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Resource

I was asked to speak at the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce meeting for the Executive Board of the Virginia Beach Division. The presentation connected VWU to the Chamber’s efforts in resiliency, talent acquisition, and workforce development. I was proud to report how VWU’s recruitment of bright and talented students contributes to the overall strategy of the Chamber—making Coastal Virginia an attractive place to study, live, and work. I’m pictured with Dee Oliver, VWU Class of 1982 and the Chair of the Virginia Beach Division, and Tage Counts, Vice President of the Chamber.

Race and the South Hampton Roads In[HEIR]itance Project

The Robert Nusbaum Center is a proud partner of the South Hampton Roads In[HEIR]itance Project, which launches on Monday, September 27 in the Pearce Suite at 7:00 p.m. The In[HEIR]itance Project is a national arts organization that brings artists and community members together to collaboratively write a play and ignite challenging civic conversations. At the core of their work is the question, “Can shared creative process build relationships among neighbors that inspire and create more compassionate and collaborative communities?” In Coastal Virginia, the I[H]P will facilitate civic conversations that explore how themes from the book of Exodus are intertwined with our region’s racial legacy of place and displacement, and how race has shaped identity and growth in our communities. The finished play will premiere at the 2022 Virginia Arts Festival.

Mansfield, Terry to Speak at Celebration for Upper Wolfsnare, Built 1759

University Archivist and former Dean of the College Stephen Mansfield and VWU education instructor Pati Terry—both members of the Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society—will speak on October 3 at the celebration event for Upper Wolfsnare. Built in 1759, it’s one of the oldest houses in Virginia Beach.

Marlin Business Conference: Fall 2021

I enjoyed meeting with student leaders of the upcoming Marlin Business Conference: Juniors Marlese Boyer, Chief of Staff, and Ryan Nicholson, Chief Executive Officer. This fall's theme is "Commerce in the New Normal," which will be held from November 15-19. We're pictured with Dr. Maynard Schaus, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Keith Moore, Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management; and Frank Futyma, Lecturer of Management, Business, and Economics.

Return of the Mud Games

Our alumni always speak of the traditional Mud Games on Rose Lawn. Delayed by the pandemic, the games returned to campus on Friday with the enthusiasm expected after the long delay. Check out all the fun in this year's Flickr album.

The Norfolk Forum

I attended the fall board of directors meeting for the Norfolk Forum. The Batten Honors College is a proud sponsor of the Norfolk Forum’s speaker series, which begins its 2021-2022 season on October 26 with Neil deGrasse Tyson at Chrysler Hall. Other speakers in this year’s series are Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret)., Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Ina Garten.