Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

September 20, 2021

Good morning,

Friday, October 1 marks our first Marlin Spirit Day of the year. This special day will kick off VWU Homecoming and Family Weekend, and I hope you will join me in sporting your favorite Virginia Wesleyan gear. Don’t forget to snap and share a photo on social media using the hashtag #marlinspiritday. There’s another very important way to show your Marlin Spirit in the coming weeks—supporting the annual faculty and staff campaign.

Each October, the Marlin Family Campaign for Faculty and Staff provides an opportunity for our campus community to contribute financially to the University. This year’s theme is Be the Ripple that Starts the Wave. As an institution, we are striving to meet goals in academics, enrollment, fundraising, student life, and finance/administration. Every member of the faculty and staff is invaluable to achieving these goals, and I am grateful to each of you for the efforts you put forth daily.

By now, faculty and staff members should have received a letter from our Trinder Center for Advancement at your home address about the campaign. Please also be on the lookout for weekly emails with information about how to simply and quickly make a gift or pledge to the campaign from Veronica Callahan, Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations (vcallahan@vwu.edu). You may also visit www.vwu.edu/giveonline to make your gift online today.

Submit your gift or pledge by Friday, September 24, and you will be entered to win a four pack of tickets to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, in our special “Early Bird” drawing. Thank you to Dr. Brian Kurisky, Executive Director of Civic Engagement and Service Learning and Chief Diversity Officer.

You may also be reminded by our 2021 Marlin Family Campaign Ambassadors—Elaine Aird, Trey Delpo, Linda Ferguson, Chris Francis, Randy Lott, Jason Seward, and Michelle Vachris. I thank them for their time, energy, and support.

Be the ripple that starts the wave and show that you believe in VWU and the people and

programs that make it such a unique place to work and learn.

The Batten Honors College is a program of national distinction, one of only 147 honors colleges in the United States. Enrolling a highly selective group of 160 scholars, the Batten Honors College’s mission focuses on Environmental Stewardship, Global Engagement, and Leadership.

The Batten Honors College boasts of an $80.2 million endowment that funds scholarships, environmental, global and leadership opportunities for scholars and supports teaching faculty.

I am pleased to announce faculty with Batten distinction for the 2021-22 academic year:

Travis Malone, Dean of the Batten Honors College and Batten Professor of Theatre
Antje Schwennicke, Assistant Dean of the Batten Honors College, Batten Associate Professor of Political Science, and Coordinator of NATO Partnership
Joyce Easter, Batten Professor of Chemistry
William Gibson, Batten Professor of Political Science and Chair of Political Science
Joyce Howell, Batten Professor of Art History
Larry Hultgren, Batten Professor of Philosophy
Elizabeth Malcolm, Batten Professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Director of Sustainability, and Chair of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Margaret Reese, Batten Professor of Mathematics and Thomas R. Fanney Distinguished Associate Professor of Mathematics
John Rudel, Batten Professor of Art, Curator of Exhibitions for the Neil Britton Art Gallery, and Director of Undergraduate Research
Sally Shedd, Batten Professor of Theatre
Sara Sewell, Batten Professor of History
Craig Wansink, Batten Professor of Religious Studies, Joan P. and Macon F. Brock, Jr. Director of the Robert Nusbaum Center, and Chair of Religious Studies

The Batten distinction is a renewable term appointment (July 1-June 30) afforded to full-time faculty teaching in the Batten Honors College for the corresponding academic year. Those teaching short-term study away courses are not eligible.

With the establishment of the Batten Honors College in 2017 and subsequent establishment of the BHC Endowment, I am pleased to share updates to the criteria for The Frank and Jane P. Batten Distinguished Faculty Award. The Batten Distinguished Faculty Award recognizes outstanding teaching and service to the Batten Honors College. The award recipient will be selected from those who have taught in the Batten Honors College during the past two years, by a committee composed of the Dean and the Assistant Dean of the Batten Honors College, plus one junior and one senior from the Batten Honors College.

The recipient will receive an award display commemorating their accomplishment and a modest cash stipend. This award will be presented at the Batten Honors College Capstone Ceremony each spring.

The award is limited to full-time VWU faculty teaching in the Batten Honors College for the corresponding academic year. The Dean, Assistant Dean, and those teaching short-term study away courses are ineligible.

ET CETERA

With the changes in campus-based Volunteer Hampton Roads and the relocation to the Hampton Roads Chamber offices, the Hampton Roads office of Girls on the Run will move into the former Volunteer Hampton Roads Suite in Allen Village.

According to their website, Girls on the Run inspires “ALL girls to build confidence and make intentional decisions, while fostering care and compassion for self and others. Trained coaches use physical activity and dynamic discussions to build social, emotional and physical skills in every girl while encouraging healthy habits for life.”

The move should be completed by the end of November. Our offices of Civic Engagement & Service Learning, and Gender and Sexuality Equity, as well as the Cross Country/Track & Field and Women’s Studies programs will be key collaborators.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Hispanic Heritage Month

VWU Off The Hook and the Latino Student Alliance are honoring Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of special events. Follow @marlinsoffthehook on Instagram or read the weekly Sunday email from Student Activities for details and updates.

Norfolk Sports Club Luncheon and Awards

It was such an honor to be a part of the Norfolk Sports Club's recognition of Virginia Wesleyan University's NCAA National Pitcher of the Year, Hanna Hull (top left), and National Player of the Year, Jessica Goldyn (top right). Coach Brandon Elliott (bottom), leader of the three-time national champions, was the featured speaker at the luncheon held at the Town Point Club in the World Trade Center. Dan Edwards, President of the NSC, presented the awards.

Del. Nancy Guy Visits the 2021 National Champs

A special thanks to Delegate Nancy Guy of Virginia's 83rd District for visiting with our 2021 National Softball Championship team. Del. Guy presented a proclamation from the Virginia General Assembly congratulating the team on their national championship victory and the individual player accolades that followed. Pictured right: Del. Guy with Head Coach Brandon Elliott ‘03 and Executive Director for Intercollegiate Athletics Andrea Hoover-Erbig.

VWU Honored with 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award

VWU has received the 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a recipient of the annual HEED Award—a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion—VWU will be featured, along with 100 other recipients, in the November 2021 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity. Learn more.

The Trails at Wesleyan Woods

Signage at the new Norfolk pathway to the Trails at Wesleyan Woods was added last week. The new trail, nearly a mile in length, starts on Norfolk Lane (leading to Facilities Management) on the west side of campus and has been cleared and is open for pedestrian access. The path leads to the fence adjacent to I-64 and loops past Lake Taylor.

Since its founding, Virginia Wesleyan has enjoyed a rich heritage of abundant biodiversity and natural resources. Located on a picturesque, park-like, 300-acre campus bordered on the west by Lake Taylor, the University has ponds and mature forests which can be enjoyed by walking, hiking, jogging, or biking through our extensive trail system. Take advantage of these treasures and enjoy!

Archbell Signs—Implementing the Brand

Our partners at Archbell Signs of Norfolk continue to work hard implementing our campus-wide branding initiatives. Since 2016, Archbell Signs has been the exclusive producer of VWU-branded signs and assets.

The brand is an initiative of the VWU Office of the Marketing and Communications to create a clean and consistent image for the University. Christine Hall, Branding and Design Manager, has led the comprehensive overhaul of our brand since we became a University in 2017. Our primary designs are now registered trademarks.

Work & Learn Program Continues to Make a Difference

Providing over 450 students annually with meaningful work experiences on campus, the Work & Learn Program continues to make a difference by helping students fund their education while learning marketable skills. Marlins provide valuable support to many of the operational functions of the University. New this year to the WLP is the innovative pre-professional development program, the Community Cooperative. The Community Cooperative connects VWU students with one of our community business partners for part-time employment, while receiving tuition and academic credit here on campus. During the spring semester, students will be found throughout the area as employees with our partners at the Norfolk Botanical Garden and YMCA of South Hampton Roads to name a few.

Dinner with LUJ/VWU Global Students

Annie and I enjoyed hosting dinner in the private dining suite for the first on-campus students from Lakeland University Japan/ VWU Global along with members of senior administration. These four students bring a wealth of international experience and perspectives to our campus. We look forward to the exchange of more students from Tokyo to Virginia Beach and vice versa. Students pictured from left: Risa Yanagita, Momo Higuchi, Moeno Sawai, and Reo Nagayama

Virginia Passport and Uniform Certificate of General Studies General Education Transfer Credit Agreement

VWU recently signed on as a private college partner in the Passport and Uniform Certificate of General Studies programs. The agreement supports VWU's efforts to be as transfer-friendly as possible. The programs assist students by maximizing their credit acceptance toward their general education requirements when transferring prior to earning a transfer associate degree or when participating in dual enrollment programs in high school.

The Pharos: September 2021

Catch up on faculty and staff accomplishments from the summer in this month's edition of The Pharos.

Inauguration of NSU President Javaune Adams-Gaston

I was delighted to attend the presidential inauguration of Javaune Adams-Gaston at Norfolk State University last week. It had been a long time coming due to delays from COVID-19, but it was a wonderful event. Congratulations to the NSU community!

Construction Updates

DeFord Manor: Construction continues on DeFord Manor with an anticipated completion in November. Interior detail work, including molding, painting, tile, and doors, are being installed in the large East Room, the main entertainment venue of the house (pictured below, left). Outside, construction of the circular driveway has begun, including the brickwork feature at the entrance (pictured below, right). The mixed paver driveway allows water to soak back into the ground and to the adjacent Shelhorse Pond.

Clarke Hall (pictured below, left and center): Construction continues in the modernization of Clarke Hall with an expected completion date of October 1.

Brock Commons (pictured below, right): Pipes were installed and foundation was poured for the walls of the new addition.