Dialogue: June 2022

June 27, 2022

Good morning,

We welcomed our newest Marlins to campus this past Friday for Marlin Nation Orientation (MNO) and are excited to welcome another group today.

The MNO program is carefully designed to facilitate a smooth transition to the campus experience and to provide new Marlins with everything they need to know to be successful during their first year. New students and their families are attending a wide variety of information sessions and engaging activities that invigorate and immerse them in Virginia Wesleyan culture.

From learning more about housing and residential life and how to navigate the financial aid process, to exploring recreational activities, student health and campus safety, each orientation topic helps acclimate VWU's incoming students to college life. Students are also meeting with academic advisors, participating in carnival games and enjoying a petting zoo, and explored the University's 300-acre campus. Special sessions are being held for the WesBridge program, Batten Honors College, and incoming student-athletes. Read more about the day and view the photo gallery (additional photos will be added today!).

Many thanks to all faculty, staff and students who have contributed to the success of this year’s Marlin Nation Orientation, and a special thank you to our dedicated Campus Life and David K. Kaufman Center for Enrollment staff members for the notable role they play in these events.

Please be sure to give our newest students and families a warm Wesleyan welcome!

ET CETERA

I joined 15 of my presidential colleagues and 65 business trustees for the 70th annual meeting of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) earlier this month at The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia.

Dr. Matt Shank, former President of Marymount University, serves as president of VFIC. Gary Thomson, managing partner of Thomson Consulting of Richmond, serves as chair of the Board. I served as the chair of the VFIC Council of Presidents in 2020-2021, and currently serve on the Board Endowment Committee. Meredith Woo, President of Sweet Briar College, currently chairs the Council of Presidents.

Founded in 1952, VFIC’s mission is to advance the distinctive values and strengths of the 16 more selective independent Virginia member colleges and universities. Dr. Shank says: “We do this by securing financial support, increasing visibility, facilitating innovative and collaborative programs, and supporting initiatives which ensure that this personalized educational experience remains an affordable choice for tomorrow’s citizen-leaders.”

VFIC has a $40 million endowment and additional annual giving that supports VWU and the other 15 member institutions in a wide range of ways including scholarships and programming. Learn More

For the first time since 2019, we were able to enjoy the ACCESS College Foundation Scholarship Awards and Luncheon last week. The event was a part of the celebration for approximately 125 local high school students who will be attending college in the fall—including Virginia Wesleyan—thanks to scholarship support from this incredible foundation.

At the event, I had the pleasure of visiting with (pictured clockwise from top left): Scholarship recipient and future Marlin Seluani Navarrete-Perez; Bonnie Sutton '99, President and CEO of the ACCESS College Foundation; Cori Jackson '20, VWU Enrollment Counselor, Jordan Brown '03, Lead Pastor at [OV] Church (who delivered the event's invocation), and Mary Ryberg, VWU Vice President for Finance; Cheryl Jones '05, Vice President for Programs for the ACCESS College Foundation; and the Beazley Foundation's Judge Richard S. Bray, Chairman, and R. Stephen Best Sr., President/CEO.

We're so grateful for the wonderful work this organization does for young students in our community.

Dr. Sue Larkin is currently serving as our chief academic officer for an 18-month period (December 31, 2021 until June 30, 2023). As I’ve stated in the notification of her appointment at Faculty Assembly, the Spring Town Hall, faculty dinners, Chat ‘N Chews, and to all representative campus leadership groups (Academic Council, Leadership Council, and President’s Cabinet), I am committed to making the decision that is the best for VWU, and I welcome input from the faculty and campus community. I am committed to that decision by the authority granted in the VWU By-Laws (posted online) and in the spirit of collaboration and participation warranted for this vital academic position.

This decision will be guided by Virginia Wesleyan’s mission, values and environmental context. As Comte said, “democracy is destiny,” and this University will strengthen teaching and learning among its declining historic demographic while extending its distinctive critical thinking/experiential model to the growing demographic of professionals in this knowledge economy.

Until August 31, I will accept internal comments. No group or anonymous messages will be accepted. Messages with author attribution should be sent directly to my private email address. All responses will be received in a completely confidential manner.

Dr. Loren Marquez, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, recently completed the Emerging Leaders Institute, offered by New American Colleges and Universities (NACU). Over the past six months, Dr. Marquez and other leaders from NACU campuses participated in trainings with NACU partners such as the Center for Creative Leadership and the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) on the practices of leadership, finances and budgeting in higher education, as well as career paths in university leadership. Learn more about NACU.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Happy Birthday, John Wesley!

Tomorrow, June 28, we celebrate the 319th birthday of John Wesley, the founder of the United Methodist Church. Wesley’s legacy lives on through the Church, his many writings and sermons, and the affiliated universities and colleges inspired by his message of hope, tolerance, and mutual understanding. In honor of his birthday, check out some Wesley-inspired fun facts.

Our namesake is pictured right on the Gamble Plaza at the Monumental Chapel and Beazley Recital Hall on campus.

Passing of City Councilman Louis Jones

We were sad to learn of the passing of longtime Virginia Beach City Council member and former Virginia Beach Mayor Louis Jones on June 18. He had served on the council for more than 35 years and was a good friend to the University. Read More

New Campus757 Director Visits Campus

Virginia Wesleyan University is pleased to be a charter member of Campus757, a centralized hub connecting students with employers and local attractions throughout the Hampton Roads region. The organization’s goal is to help area college students fall in love with this area and to ultimately stay and make the 757 their home. We were pleased to welcome the new director of Campus757, Jaedda Hall (pictured), to campus to discuss plans with a variety of offices. Read the Campus757 June Newsletter.

Visiting With Kevin Nickelberry '86 in Washington, DC

Enjoyed dinner and conversation with 1986 Virginia Wesleyan graduate Kevin Nickleberry, former head basketball coach at Howard University, Hampton University, and LSU, and now the new top assistant to Patrick Ewing at Georgetown University.

State of the University

Each August, prior to the start of the fall semester, I deliver a State of the University address to our campus community. The address includes highlights, initiatives and significant accomplishments from the past year, recognition of faculty and staff, points of pride, current campus projects, and the strategic direction of the University’s future. The 2022 State of the University Address will take place on August 19 at 12:00 p.m. We look forward to welcoming our Trustees, faculty, staff, and many friends in person. For our students and alumni, the State of the University will be livestreamed on the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network.

President to President: Complete 2021-22 Series Available

The complete 2021-2022 President to President thought leadership series is now available to download here. This year’s book, titled “The Vitality and Power of Higher Education,” explores how colleges and universities are approaching their missions with new vigor and reexamining their role in the community as the world continues recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Marylouise Fennell, Co-Executive Editor, and I would like to thank each of the authors for contributing their perspectives on these important topics. President to President strives to inspire readers to explore new approaches to addressing the challenges on their own campuses, and we hope you found value in reading each chapter. We're already working on next year's President to President series, which will take a thoughtful look at what it means to create a “well” campus.

CUMU Announces New Executive Director

Virginia Wesleyan University was invited to join a select group of universities nationwide with membership in the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities in 2019. In addition to VWU, George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University are the Virginia universities with CUMU membership.

Last week, the CUMU Board of Directors named Valerie Holton to serve as executive director. Holton said, “Our urban and metropolitan campuses are on the front edge of what is happening in higher education and society. I’m honored to lead CUMU as we elevate and enhance the transformative and innovative work of our members to address persistent challenges and anticipate emergent opportunities affecting our local, regional and national communities.” Learn More

New Arrival for Kelly Cordova

Congratulations to my executive assistant Kelly Cordova, who welcomed her second daughter, Danielle “Dani” Elizabeth, on June 14! Kelly reports that the whole family is doing great, especially big sister Alex, who is completely smitten.

STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES

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REFLECTIONS

I hope you find these links useful to my recent columns and publications:

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