Remember and Honor on Memorial Day

Remember and honor on Memorial Day and always... from the Virginia Wesleyan family.

A Special Sendoff for Shelia

I attended a special sendoff for our good friend, Shelia Rouson, who's retiring from VWU and Aramark Facilities Management. Shelia has looked after us in the Birdsong Presidential Suite for many years. Our mutual friend Bernice Bledsoe photo bombed the lower left picture.

A Special Event Honoring CeCe Tucker

Thoroughly enjoyed a very special event honoring good friend and community advocate Cecelia “CeCe” Tucker. A good friend for many years, CeCe retires today after serving as Assistant to the President for Community Engagement to three ODU presidents over the last 31 years.

Suffolk State of the City

It was great to see Congressman Bobby Scott (right) and longtime VWU supporter and Trustee Emeritus George Birdsong (left) at the Suffolk State of the City luncheon.

Nota Bene: Weekly Update

 

May 23, 2022 Good morning,

Virginia Wesleyan hosted the spring meeting of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) on campus last week. SCHEV is the Commonwealth’s coordinating body for higher ed. They have regular meetings on public college campuses throughout Virginia; but once a year, they hold their spring session on a private college campus for their annual Private College Advisory Board meeting. Virginia Wesleyan was selected to host this meeting, originally scheduled for May 2020, and was pleased to show our beautiful campus to the SCHEV Council members, employees, and other private college presidents in attendance.  The two-day event included a reception at DeFord Manor and dinner in the Henry and Eleanor Grand Lobby and Gallery of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. Among the special guests that evening were Aimee Guidera, Virginia’s Secretary of Education (pictured left); Robert Lambeth, President of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (pictured center); and Delegate Cliff Hayes, 77th district (pictured right). View additional photos from the event here.  I thank all of those at Virginia Wesleyan who worked hard to show SCHEV our signature Marlin spirit and hospitality as well as our beautiful campus grounds and meeting spaces. Our efforts were well received by all who attended this important state meeting.

We held a surprise graduation celebration at DeFord Manor for the 2022 NCAA Regional and Old Dominion Athletic Conference softball champs Thursday night. The team thought they were coming to the house for dinner before the NCAA Super Regional but were pleasantly surprised to find that we did a commencement re-enactment—complete with regalia and pomp and circumstance for the six seniors that missed their graduation because of the NCAA Regionals in Amherst, Massachusetts.  The Virginia Oveda Williams DeFord Terrace and Pool was an ideal location for the ceremony followed by dinner in the East Room of DeFord Manor.   Congratulations again to student-athletes Krissy D’Arco, Sofia Eskola, Karlee Fretz, Ariana Rolle, Julia Sinnett, and Maria Weddle. These six graduates have shown tremendous perseverance in the classroom and on the field during their time as Marlins, and we wish them all the best in the future! See more photos in our Commencement Flickr album.

ET CETERA

I was honored to attend and offer remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony of The Louis & Pru Ryan Resilience Lab of the Elizabeth River Project last week. As communities everywhere wrestle with the growing impacts of climate change, the Ryan Resilience Lab will serve as a global model for urban coastal living that protects both the ecosystem and humans as sea levels rise. I invite you to take a virtual tour of this impressive public space.   Many at VWU will recall that Louis Ryan (pictured right, along with Dr. David R. Black) has been a valued member of the VWU Board of Trustees since 2007 and had a distinguished career as general counsel of Landmark Communications before retiring from that office. In December 2021, Virginia Wesleyan announced The Louis and Prudence Ryan Research Symposium and Prize for Excellence in Research for scholars in our highly selective, residential Batten Honors College, honoring the Ryans’ longtime commitment to support the environment and education throughout Coastal Virginia.  Along with serving on the VWU Board of Trustees, Louis has served on the Elizabeth River Project's board of directors since 2006. I was delighted for the opportunity to speak at the groundbreaking ceremony which honored so many important supporters of ERP and Virginia Wesleyan.  Virginia Wesleyan and the Elizabeth River Project have collaborated on sustainability studies on many fronts, offering wonderful opportunities for scholars in the Batten Honors College and more. We are proud to count DeFord Manor, the on-campus president’s residence as an ERP River Star Home. We’re proud that faculty emeritus Dr. Bill Gibson and other Virginia Wesleyan professors wrote a book a few years ago on the Elizabeth River Project as an international model for collaboration that gets environmental results. And we’re proud to regularly connect our students and staff with the Elizabeth River Project for on-the-ground research opportunities as a River Star Business. The construction of the Ryan Resilience Lab ushers in the next chapter for environmentalism in Coastal Virginia and in our ongoing partnership with the Elizabeth River Project. We look forward to the many opportunities its construction will bring to our students.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Chat & Chew with Aramark Staff I was pleased to host our friends at Aramark at DeFord Manor for a Chat & Chew on Friday. This group works hard to keep our campus beautiful and running smoothly. We thank them for all they do for VWU faculty, staff and students! See more pictures from the luncheon here.

A Collaborative Dinner with VWU Partner We hosted our friend Doug Clark, Interim President of the Washington Internship Institute, on campus last week. The Institute's mission is "to foster students' intellectual, personal, and professional development through individually tailored, quality internships and challenging academic coursework that take full advantage of the opportunities available in the nation's capital and reflect the best practices of experiential learning and liberal education." We look forward to our continued partnership with this organization.

Update on the United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church continues to splinter off as annual conferences and individual churches seek to leave for the new Global Methodist Church and more.

STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES

Features News Briefs VWU Athletics The Wesleyan Review  VWU Alumni News  The Arts at VWU  Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine  The Pharos

REFLECTIONS

I hope you find these links useful to my recent columns and publications: University Business  Enrollment Manager  President to President Archives

CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @vawesleyanprez  Facebook: @ScottDMillerprez Instagram: @prezscottmiller  LinkedIn: Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.  Flickr: Scott D. Miller  Dialogue: prezscottmiller.blogspot.com  (Be sure to subscribe to Dialogue for daily updates via email)

Have a great holiday weekend, Marlins! 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

Girls on the Run Annual 5K on Campus

It’s a beautiful morning as we welcome 3,000 runners on campus for the Girls on the Run Spring 2022 Birthday 5K.

 

A Chat & Chew with Aramark

We were pleased to host our friends at Aramark at DeFord Manor for a special Chat & Chew on Friday. This group works hard to keep our campus beautiful, and we thank them for all they do for VWU faculty, staff and students!

Surprise Graduation for VWU Softball Players

We were excited to hold a special (and surprise) graduation event at DeFord Manor tonight for the VWU softball seniors who missed last weekend’s formal commencement because they were busy winning the NCAA Regionals. These women are true champions on and off the field and we congratulate them and wish them well as they head to the Super Regionals tomorrow!

SCHEV Holds Annual Private College Meeting at VWU

Yesterday and today we hosted the Spring Meeting of the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV). The Council meets with the 31-member Private College Advisory Board (PCAB) during their time on campus. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to show off our beautiful campus and the people and programs that make VWU Coastal Virginia’s premier university of the liberal arts and sciences.

Nota Bene: Weekly Update

 

May 16, 2022 Good morning,

I am pleased to share our newest class in our highly selective Batten Honors College.  Founded in 2016, with the first class enrolled in fall 2017, the Batten Honors College quickly emerged as a national niche program of Virginia Wesleyan University. It is one of just 147 honors colleges in the United States.    The first cohort graduated last spring. The program boasts of a 93 percent retention rate and 88 percent VWU graduation rate. The first graduating class had a cumulative college GPA of 3.6 (on a 4.0 scale). Saturday's graduating class had a 3.7 GPA and 100 percent retention rate.   Our newest class of scholars boast a collective high school grade point average of 4.01 (on a 4.0 scale) and an average SAT score of 1335. Students hail from 11 states (California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin) as well as Germany and Sweden.    Congratulations to the following new Marlins:

Emma Adams - Winterville, NC Gavin Ashe - Fort Mill, SC Breanne Bessette - West Valley City, UT Anna Collins - Menlo Park, CA Alen Curovic - Gothenburg, Sweden Em Dajc - Alexandria, VA Kaza Dayton - Seaford, DE Ashton Dodrill - Virginia Beach, VA Victoria Dunham-Quigley - Midlothian, VA Aidan Foley - Northport, NY Noah Fowler - Yorktown, VA Alec Gordon - Annapolis, MD Jasmine Gorney - Moyock, NC Anna Greenleaf - Yorktown, VA Kaylee Grimstead - Virginia Beach, VA Isabella Grosswiler - Summerville, SC Victoria Haneline - Reston, VA Liese Hazelwood - Virginia Beach, VA Jake Hofstetter - Dalton, OH Dhamisaa Holsclaw - Manassas, VA Salena Jones - Goose Creek, SC

Jonas Jutz - Wuppertal, Germany Elena Lichtenwalner - Harrisburg, PA Tyler Noll - Mechanicsburg, PA Josh Pepper - Zuni, VA John Post - Windsor, VA Sarah Prosser - Clayton, NC Sydney Queen - Bel Air, MD Joy Ramsey - Culpeper, VA Lily Reslink - Erie, PA Sarah Richards - South Chesterfield, VA Haley Sadler - Sherwood, MD Megan Setlak - Cary, NC Leif Simons - Mukwonago, WI EB Smeltzer - Roanoke, VA Tyler Stanczyk - Chesapeake, VA Andrew Steiner - Suffolk, VA Ryleigh Taylor - Hubert, NC Abby Villacrusis - Rockingham, VA Sydnee Washington - Bowie, MD Hannah Wright - Lynchburg, VA

We will officially welcome the newest Batten Honors College class with the traditional Matriculation Ceremony on August 19 at 4 p.m. A pinning ceremony in recognition of their completion of orientation and formal induction into the program will be held on September 9 as an extension of our Founders Day celebration. The Batten Honors College is gratefully named for Virginia Wesleyan Trustee Emerita Jane P. Batten and her late husband, Frank Batten, Sr. For over 40 years, Mrs. Batten has been a force for change, improvement, and empowerment, and she believes deeply that students of the highest academic ability will flourish through this innovative program. We are endlessly grateful for her passion for knowledge and her enduring support.

Congratulations to the Class of 2022! We were so pleased to be able to celebrate you on Saturday, and we wish you the very best as you pursue your personal and professional goals.  A special thanks to our Commencement speaker, Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn, for his inspiring address. Chief Justice Goodwyn, outgoing VWU Chair of the Board of Trustees John Malbon, and outgoing Vice Chair of the VWU Board of Trustees Susan S. Goode, also received the highest distinction bestowed by the University. Goodwyn received the Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, and Malbon and Goode the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.  Our faculty award winners include Dr. Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson (Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award), Dr. Kathy Stolley (Birdsong Community Engagement Award), and Dr. Bill Gibson (United Methodist Church General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Exemplary Teacher of the Year Award).  During our Baccalaureate program, which was held on Friday evening, we honored our guest speaker, Rev. Beth Givens, Pastor of Haygood United Methodist Church, with The Wesley Award. We also presented the President’s Leadership Award to class speaker Erin Highsmith ‘22.  Earlier on Friday, graduating scholars in the Batten Honors College were given medallions to wear during the Commencement ceremony that indicated their completion of this distinctive program. I would also like to recognize Dakota Felkins-Beach, Class of 2022, who was celebrated during an Army commissioning ceremony on Saturday following graduation. Dakota has been an outstanding member and leader in our ROTC Marlin Company, and we wish him the very best as he continues in his military career. Congratulations to all, especially to the resilient Class of 2022. We will miss you and hope you keep in touch. Read more about the Commencement ceremonies and view the photo gallery from all of our Commencement Weekend events.

The Virginia Wesleyan University Board of Trustees held their Spring Meeting Wednesday in the Shafer Room (Board of Trustees Suite) in the Boyd Dining Center of Brock Commons.

Among the actions: Approved actions of Board Committees, February to May, 2022. Approved the 2022 List of Graduates Approved tuition and fees for the 2022-23 Fiscal Year Approved the FY 2022-23 Budget Accepted the Endowment Report of Brown Advisory and approved modifications to the Endowment Policy Statement.  Affirmed Officers of the Board, Officers of the University, ex-officio representatives, financial authorizations (for the period beginning July 1, 2022) Affirmed signature policies Virginia Wesleyan University Mission Statement Virginia Wesleyan University Environmental Guiding Principles The Wesleyan Creed Virginia Wesleyan University Quality Service Pledge Virginia Wesleyan University Athletics Mission Statement  Approved Policy Documents (for the period beginning July 1, 2022): Virginia Wesleyan University Faculty Handbook, 2022-23 Virginia Wesleyan University Policy and Procedure Manual, 2022-23 Virginia Wesleyan University Academic Catalog, 2022-23  Virginia Wesleyan University Online Degree and Graduate Catalog, 2022-23 Virginia Wesleyan University Student Handbook, 2022-23 VWU Student-Athlete Handbook, 2022-23 VWU Athletic Department Policy and Procedure Handbook, 2022-23 Approved Faculty Emeritus/a Status (June 30, 2022 retirements): William “Bill” Gibson, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science Wayne Pollock, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sport and Recreation Professions Vivian Teter, M.F.A, Lambuth M. Clarke Professor of English Accepted detailed written reports from Colleges, Schools and Departments of the University.   Approved resolutions recognizing: Virginia Wesleyan University women’s soccer for winning the 2021 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament (March 2022); Virginia Wesleyan University student-athlete Geni Roberts for his NCAA national runner-up finish in the men’s long jump at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships (May 2022) (pictured top); and the Virginia Wesleyan University Batten Honors College student team of Edward McDonald, Connor Merk, Rowan Stuart, Kai Trehan, and Jessica Wilson for winning the 2022 Intentional Endowments Network “Student Corporate Engagement Competition” (May 2022) (pictured bottom)

ET CETERA

The long-awaited dedication of DeFord Manor occurred Wednesday evening. Delayed by the pandemic, we also dedicated the William Shelhorse Ponds and Lawn and David R. Black Japanese Garden. The evening included a reception and ribbon cutting at the home, followed by dinner and a special presentation in the Henry and Eleanor Watts Grand Lobby and Gallery of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. Constructed in 2021, DeFord Manor is a 14-room, five bath, 7,771-square-foot home in federal-style architectural design. It features extensive indoor and outdoor entertainment areas on the ground level and the president's private residence on the second floor. It is located on the west side of Smith Drive across from the Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center and faces north toward Wesleyan Drive. In keeping with the University's environmental sustainability initiatives, approximately 460 trees, shrubs and plants fill the landscape surrounding DeFord Manor. Nearly a mile of underground stormwater chambers and a bio pond are also a part of the project. DeFord Manor circle and driveway are also "green," helping to control runoff, prevent flooding and replenish groundwater. We remain grateful to Bob and Nancy DeFord for their steadfast support of this project. Read more about the dedication event and view the photo gallery.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

VWU Hosts SCHEV On Campus Today and tomorrow we host the Spring Meeting of the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV). The Council meets with the 31-member Private College Advisory Board (PCAB) during their time on campus. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to show off our beautiful campus and the people and programs that make VWU Coastal Virginia’s premier university of the liberal arts and sciences.

A Collaborative Dinner with VWU Partner Institutions We hosted our friends President Beth Borgen from Lakeland University and President Debbie Sydow from Richard Bland College of William & Mary on Thursday at DeFord Manor. The presidents of the three institutions and Dr. David Black, Executive in Residence and Chancellor of VWU Global (Japan), discussed a wide variety of topics including the Dual Enrollment Consortium forming for high school students in Asia.

SGA Elects New Officers Congratulations to the newly elected Student Government Association officers for the 2022-2023 academic year:  President - Edward McDonald (Chesapeake, VA) Vice President - Joseph Mueller (Woodbridge, VA) Treasurer - Hollyn Pleasants (Scottsville, VA) Secretary - Jennaphur Nixon (Williamsburg, VA) Events Coordinator - Elseanne Richardson-Garris (Hampton, VA) Class of 2023 Senator - Breanna Wimbush (Virginia Beach, VA) Senator - Jordan Gilliam (Newport News, VA) Class of 2024 Senator - Ashleigh Lockard (Vienna, VA) Senator - James Johnson (Centreville, VA) Class of 2025 Senator - Comfort Tambaya (Bowie, MD)

Church Leaders Ponder the Future of the UMC At the annual meeting of the Black Methodists for Church Renewal, church leaders tackled the tough questions facing the future of the United Methodist Church. This year’s meeting theme was "We Are Strong. We Are Relevant. We Are Here." Learn more.

STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES

Features News Briefs VWU Athletics The Wesleyan Review  VWU Alumni News  The Arts at VWU  Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine  The Pharos

REFLECTIONS

I hope you find these links useful to my recent columns and publications: University Business  Enrollment Manager  President to President Archives

CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @vawesleyanprez  Facebook: @ScottDMillerprez Instagram: @prezscottmiller  LinkedIn: Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.  Flickr: Scott D. Miller  Dialogue: prezscottmiller.blogspot.com  (Be sure to subscribe to Dialogue for daily updates via email)

Best wishes to the Class of 2022! Remember: Once a Marlin, always a Marlin. 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