Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

February 28, 2022

Good morning,

I am pleased to share that the University has been awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. This program seeks to encourage talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors and professionals to become K-12 mathematics and science (including engineering and computer science) teachers. The grant will provide $1.16 million in funds dedicated to this initiative over a five-year period.

Kudos to Clair Berube, VWU Assistant Professor of Education and member of the Class of 1983, for leading the proposed project, “Transforming Effective Educators of Mathematics and Science in Southeast Virginia,” and to Bill McConnell, VWU Associate Professor Education and Director of Teacher Education; Lydia Kennedy, VWU Associate Professor of Mathematics and Chair of Mathematics; Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, VWU Associate Professor of Biology and Dean of VWU Global Campus; and Maury Howard, VWU Professor of Chemistry and Director of Nursing and Allied Health, for their dedication and collaborative efforts in preparing highly qualified and experienced STEM secondary educators.

ET CETERA

The final competition for the incoming fall 2022 Batten Honors College class will take place this week. Following the conclusion of the competition, the David L. Kaufman Center for Enrollment will extend offers to 20 new Batten Fellows and 20 new Shumadine Scholars. There has been an impressive number of qualified applicants this year, and we are very proud of the caliber of student the program continues to attract.

The Batten Honors College is a highly selective residential program enrolling 160 of the top scholars in the country. Out of a pool of over 30,000 potential students, one-tenth of that group was deemed eligible in meeting preliminary requirements for the program, and approximately 120 total have been invited to campus to compete for the highly coveted seats in this cohort. Candidates were invited on the basis of academic performance, compelling personal essays, and remarkable service and extracurricular activities. Those chosen to join the program are truly the best and the brightest.

I thank Travis Malone, Dean of the Batten Honors College, and Brooke Novkovic, Director of Enrollment for the Batten Honors College, for leading these competitions over the last few months. I look forward to sharing the names of the 20 Batten Fellows and 20 Shumadine Scholars later this spring.

As a reminder, all students, faculty, staff and volunteers are required to submit proof of the COVID-19 booster shot by the end of today (February 28). We have had an overwhelming response so far, and we are on track to reach a 100% submission rate.

Please send an image of your vaccination card to covidsafe@vwu.edu (students) or humanresources@vwu.edu (faculty/staff) that clearly includes your name, date of birth, and the location and date(s) of vaccination.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

March is Women’s History Month

To kick off Women’s History Month, the History Department, the Women and Gender Studies Department, and the Office of Gender & Sexuality Equity will host “Betty Crocker and the Business of Blindness: Gender, Disability, and Post-World War II Consumer Culture,” presented by guest speaker Laura Puaca, Ph.D. The event will be held on Thursday, March 3 at 12:00 p.m. in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center

Nusbaum Center Hosts World-Renowned Wildlife Photographer Roie Galitz

The Robert Nusbaum Center welcomes world-renowned wildlife photographer Roie Galitz to the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, March 1 at 12:00 p.m. for “Achieving the Unachievable: The Power of Networking and Failures.” Join us as Galitz discusses his focus on setting seemingly impossible goals and then reaching them through networking, self-empowerment, and negotiating failures. Known to many from his three TED talks, Galitz is not only a world-renowned wildlife photographer and environmental diplomat, but also a Greenpeace Ambassador and featured speaker around the globe.

Emerging Artist Exhibition Features BHC Scholar Breana Mahoney

Last week I attended the Emerging Artist Exhibition hosted by our lifelong learning community partner Westminster-Canterbury on the Bay. The exhibit featured work from sophomore Breana Mahoney, an Art and Communication major and scholar in the Batten Honors College. Kudos to her!

Spring 2022 Arts Calendar

The Spring 2022 calendar for the Arts at VWU is available now. Learn more about the upcoming special events and be sure to mark your calendar!

Faculty/Staff Open House at DeFord Manor

Faculty and staff should check their email inboxes for an invitation to the first Open House at the recently completed DeFord Manor. If you’ve misplaced your invitation or to RSVP, please email officeofthepresident@vwu.edu.

HRBT Expansion Project Continues

We have all followed with great interest the expansion of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. Its expansion is the largest single infrastructure project in the history of Virginia. Learn more here.

Campus757 is Heating Up for the Summer

Campus757’s February newsletter highlights the latest updates from the organization, which is a division of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council. The newsletter features pictures of Marlins on the VWU campus along with information about Summer757, an “internship supplementation” program

Brock Commons Construction Update

We are so close to the completion of the construction of Brock Commons. Once we have the certificate of occupancy, we can start moving in furniture and adding other finishing touches. We hope the new space will be available for campus use starting in April. Groups that are interested in reserving Brock Commons should email catering@vwu.edu.