Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

April 4, 2022

Good morning,

I am delighted to declare this week (April 4-8) as “NCAA Division III Week at Virginia Wesleyan University,” joining other Division III institutions in promoting and celebrating the philosophy of the division and our student-athletes.

Virginia Wesleyan University is a proud member of the NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). According to the Division III website, “Division III athletic programs are non-revenue-generating, extracurricular programs that are staffed and funded like any other university department. They feature student-athletes who receive no financial aid related to their athletic ability. Division III is the NCAA's largest division with around 450 member institutions, which are 80% private and 20% public. The median undergraduate enrollment of DIII schools is about 2,750, although the range is from 418 to over 38,000. Approximately 40% of all NCAA student-athletes compete in DIII.”

Pictured with me (from top left) is Jeff Bowers (Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Head Women’s Soccer Coach), Liz Hudy (Academic Integration Coordinator and Head Women’s Basketball Coach), Dr. Larry Hultgren and Dr. Jill Sturts (Professors and NCAA Faculty Athletic Representatives), and Mackenzie Kerns '22 (Chair of the Student Athlete Advisory Council). They joined me for the signing of the declaratory resolution.

Mackenzie is the chair of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and as such, she is the student representative on the Athletics Management Council. She is a senior from Gainesville, Virginia, and is double-majoring in mathematics and computer science. She is a member of the 2021 women’s soccer Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship team, which was celebrated last week at DeFord Manor.

The resolution recognizes our student-athletes’ hard work on the field, in the classroom, and within the community at large. From our 2021 national championship for softball to recognition by our student-athletes for diversity and academic excellence, Virginia Wesleyan is a leader in the comprehensive approach to intercollegiate athletics.

Read more about DIII Week at www.vwuathletics.com.

Many Ukrainian and Russian students studying in the United States are now facing uncertain futures as the violent war affects the finances of citizens on both sides, compromising their ability to pay for their education. Many in higher education are looking to help students and support democracy in tangible and symbolic ways.

Virginia Wesleyan is proud to sign a jointly offered honorary degree to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in honor of all Ukrainian people in conjunction with the Council of Independent Colleges. This initiative of a jointly offered honorary degree is quite possibly the first of its kind in history with over 20 institutions leading the initiative.

The signatory CIC institutions feel it's important to offer such an honorary degree to commend what President Zelenskyy has done to motivate the collective courage of his own citizens and the broader world in the defense of freedom and democracy; to condemn the unprovoked aggression in Ukraine set in motion by the autocratic leader of Russia; to promote the significance of the threats to civil liberties and the well-being of individuals on account of the Russian aggression to the citizens of Ukraine, Russia, and the broader world; and to convey the critical responsibility that our colleges/universities bear in promoting tenets of a liberal society such as the unalienable rights of individuals to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

ET CETERA

Trustee Emerita and longtime benefactor Joan Brock H’10 visited campus last week for a private dedication of Brock Commons. During her visit, Annie and I hosted her at DeFord Manor for lunch after touring Brock Commons. Joan was pleased with the outcome of the facility and looks forward to its use for campus events.

Brock Commons completes the renovation and expansion of the dining facilities at VWU. Initiated over three years ago, the project has not only included the addition of the beautiful new outdoor dining area facing the University Quad, but also the addition of the Joan P. Brock Room for groups of up to 135 and modernization of other dining facilities.

We sincerely thank Joan and her late husband Macon for their tremendous support of Virginia Wesleyan.

Spring Alumni Weekend returns this weekend for the first time since 2019! Our festivities begin Friday with Bob Marlin’s Birthday Bash at 7:00 p.m. on the Brock Commons Lawn. All Marlin students, alumni, faculty and staff and their families are invited.

Traditions continue on Saturday for the Marlin community with our annual spring picnic! We’ll enjoy a delicious lunch from Sodexo, beverages from Hoffman Beverage, bounce houses for the family, and entertainment by Astro DJ. Many of our athletic teams will compete at home including softball’s annual Strike Out Cancer Day. At 2:00 p.m., we’ll celebrate the 50th Commencement anniversaries of the classes of 1970, 1971 and 1972, and the 25th Commencement anniversaries of the classes of 1995, 1996, and 1997 with our traditional scroll signing ceremony. We’ll have alumni games throughout the day and be dazzled by the return of JukeVox Live.

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

Last week I wrote to inform you of the new MBA in Leadership offered by VWU Online. For more information, please visit our website.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Celebrating the Women’s Soccer ODAC Championship at DeFord Manor

We were delighted to host the 2021 Old Dominion Athletic Conference women’s soccer champions at DeFord Manor last week for a special celebratory dinner. This team showed tremendous talent and heart as they finished the season 13-6-2 while earning the regular season and tournament titles. Their many accolades include the ODAC Player of the Year Sam Crawford, the ODAC Rookie of the Year Breacain McClenahan, and the ODAC Coach of the Year Jeff Bowers. Congratulations to this incredible team! View more pictures.

Saturday is Marlins Day

We look forward to welcoming prospective Marlin students to campus this coming Saturday for Marlins Day. Learn more or register to attend.

Virginia Wesleyan University Embraces Morgan's Message

VWU is proud to support Morgan’s Message, a nationwide mental health awareness program geared toward student-athletes. My special thanks to Mackenzie Kerns ’22 and the other students, faculty, and staff who have championed the program on our campus. Read the 13NewsNow article.

VWU Fine and Performing Arts Department Presents "Roe" by Lisa Loomer

Annie and I enjoyed “Roe” over the weekend at the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. Congratulations to the cast and crew on a series of great performances! View the photo gallery.

Model NATO Challenge Returns to VWU

The Model NATO Challenge held on campus recently was a great success, with many NATO participants commenting on the realistic-looking setup in Hofheimer Library, the excellent dinner served in the Boyd Dining Center, and the warm welcome NATO-ACT and the Norfolk NATO Festival Committee received from Virginia Wesleyan faculty and staff. Dr. Steven Emmanuel served as a judge, and Dr. Sue Larkin was a speaker during opening remarks. Dr. Antje Schwennike coordinated the logistics for the event and the recruitment of the VWU students who participated. We are very pleased that the Norfolk NATO Festival continues to choose VWU as the location for this important event, and we are looking forward to hosting it for many years to come. Learn more.

The First Faculty Dinner at New DeFord Manor

Annie and I hosted our first faculty dinner at the new Deford Manor last week. It’s such a wonderful venue to relax and visit with colleagues while talking about campus initiatives. In a short period of time, we have hosted a variety of events including a campus-wide open house, Chat & Chews with staff members, private dinners, faculty dinners, and a celebration for the Women’s Soccer ODAC Championship team.

Trustee Taylor Franklin ’04 Crowned King Neptune

Congratulations to Trustee and Class of 2004 alumnus Taylor Franklin, who was crowned “King Neptune” by the Neptune Festival last weekend. The honor recognizes Taylor’s significant contributions to the Coastal Virginia community. Learn more.

President to President: The Future of Higher Education

The ninth chapter of the 2021-2022 President to President thought leadership series, titled “The Vitality and Power of Higher Education,” is now available online. In “Toward a Post-Pandemic Preferred Future,” Portland Community College President Mark Mitsui, M.Ed., examines the critical role that higher education will play in the post-pandemic world. He describes how colleges can promote greater equity and help address social issues, and he offers examples of programs his campus has implemented to actively work towards these goals while preparing students for the jobs of the future.

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REFLECTIONS

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