Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

September 13, 2021

Good morning,

Our 2021 Founders Day celebration marked an important milestone in our history--60 years since the founding of our institution. Last Wednesday’s Virginian-Pilot featured an article on our history and the important impact we’ve made in the Coastal Virginia community and beyond.

I thank all those who participated in our Founders Day celebration, either in-person or online. Thank you to Gary Bonnewell ‘79, H’16 for providing our keynote address. Gary’s “SMART” key message can be found here.

Congratulations once again to our 2021 Alumni Awards recipients. Bill Shelhorse ‘70 was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. During the award presentation, we announced the naming of the Shelhorse Lawn and Ponds at DeFord Manor for his outstanding service, friendship, and support. We honored Dr. Vanessa Thaxton-Ward ‘83 with the Alumni Service Award and Tiffany Boyle ‘14 with the Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award. All awardees are exemplary role models for our current and future Marlins.

Read more and view the photo gallery.

ET CETERA

As I shared at the Founders Day Convocation on Thursday, the “front porch” of the University stretching from Wesleyan Drive to DeFord Manor will now be named The Shelhorse Lawn and Ponds. It will be a place where students and alumni can gather for recreation and reflection, and it is but one small way that we recognize the prominence of Bill Shelhorse ‘70, a distinguished graduate, Trustee, friend, and supporter.

I’m also pleased to announce that the garden and pool area immediately behind DeFord Manor will be named Williams Terrace in honor of Bob DeFord’s mother, Virginia Oveda Williams. She was a teacher and sparked Bob’s interest in education.

DeFord Manor is named in honor of longtime Trustees and benefactors Bob and Nancy DeFord. It is located on the west side of Smith Drive across from the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center and faces north toward Wesleyan Drive.

The Colleague Modernization Project continues to progress with the Core Project Team meeting weekly. Ellucian and VWU staff are currently focusing the project energy on HR data and other core data relating to people (faculty, staff, and students) with finance and academic student planning scheduled for later this fall. Ellucian Colleague serves as the center of our university’s data, feeding many of our systems such as the Google Cloud, Microsoft Cloud and Blackboard. The improvement of our core Colleague data enhances the operations and capabilities of our systems across campus.

Thanks to the many campus community members involved. With continued teamwork and prioritization to the success of this project, we will make VWU a contemporary campus committed to providing excellent customer service to all constituency groups.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

2022 U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings

Virginia Wesleyan University has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report in three categories of its 2022 Best Colleges rankings. VWU is ranked in the top 30 colleges and universities in “Ethnic Diversity” among National Liberal Arts Colleges and is again featured in the "Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” category. The University is also recognized as a “Top Performer on Social Mobility.” Learn more.

NYC Alumni & Friends Tour

The Virginia Wesleyan Choirs are traveling to NYC from April 27-May 1, 2022, to perform Vivaldi's Gloria at Carnegie Hall. VWU alumni and friends are invited to join this special performance with exceptional accommodations and planned events. Alumni of the VWU Choirs are even invited to sing with the current choir! Express interest in singing by October 1 or learn more about joining the NYC Alumni & Friends Tour.

Westminster/Wesleyan Lifelong Learning Institute: Fall 2021 Schedule

We are proud to offer our fourth year of courses for this special partnership and program with Westminster-Canterbury on the Bay. The Fall 2021 Course Catalog is available now. Thank you to Dr. Ben Fraser, VWU’s Westminster-Canterbury Fellow for Religious Studies and Lifelong Learning, and to all the faculty who teach in this wonderful program that encourages and supports lifelong learning for our neighbors and friends.

Remembering 9/11

In honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the Virginia Wesleyan community gathered in the Peace Garden on campus. Led by the Robert Nusbaum Center, students, faculty and staff remembered and reflected on one of the darkest days in our country’s history. Learn more about our remembrance event.

Awareness Walk, Memory Chalk

For National Suicide Awareness Day last week, I joined students for "Awareness Walk, Memory Chalk." Led by SGA President Joey Mueller and Director of Student Health April Christman, the walk traversed campus from the Batten Student Center to the Goode Center to Bray Village to Hofheimer Library where students chalked messages of support and memory on the walkways nearby.

Congratulations to Clair Berube

The Investments: An American Conspiracy by Assistant Professor of Education Clair Berube, Class of 1983, examines American societal structures and institutions, beginning and ending with public education, and exposes how dysfunction and the investment in this dysfunction is a political agenda. Congratulations to Dr. Berube on her new book!

Marlins Ministries

Our campus ministry, under the leadership of new Chaplain Kotosha Griffin, is off to a great start in the new academic year. A reminder that Chaplain Griffin holds prayer time each Sunday at 8:45 a.m., Sunday School at 9 a.m., and Worship Service at 10 a.m., all at Heritage United Methodist Church, located on the east side of campus.

President to President: Chapter 1 Now Available

The first chapter of the 2021-2022 President to President thought leadership series is now available. In "Town/Gown Partnerships to Town/Gown Membership," State University of New York at Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley, JD, explores the value of developing positive relationships between campuses and the surrounding communities.

Each month, co-executive editor Dr. Marylouise Fennell and I will share a new chapter authored by a college or university president. These experts are leading the way through the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of higher education, and they share unique insights into how campuses can create better experiences for all students. We hope you will find value in this series as we explore these topics together over the course of 10 chapters.

Greater Norfolk Corporation Board Recognizes Retiring Executive Officer

Barry Bishop is retiring after decades of service to Norfolk and the Hampton Roads business community, most recently as the Executive Officer of the Greater Norfolk Corporation. When I arrived here in 2015, Barry was most helpful at providing introduction to key leaders in the Hampton Roads Community. I have enjoyed serving on the Greater Norfolk Corporation Board of Directors since 2016.

Tuesday night I had the opportunity to attend Barry's retirement celebration on the rooftop at Assembly in downtown Norfolk. We were happy to give him an appreciation-filled send-off as he leaves to hike the great trails of Maine and the East Coast!

Back to School at TCA

Our partner Tidewater Collegiate Academy was featured in Channel 3's Back to School segment. I wish all TCA faculty, staff and students a great fall semester.

Renovation of Clarke Hall

Work continues in Clarke Hall, with an anticipated October 1 completion date. Over the past week, new technology, carpet, signage, and artwork have been installed. We look forward to finishing these spaces which are sure to enhance the classroom experience of Management, Business, and Economics students, lifelong learners and more.