Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

August 22, 2022

Good morning,

We held the annual State of the University on Friday, where I was pleased to share that Virginia Wesleyan University is growing and prospering despite external challenges in higher education and the world. Thank you to the VWU community members and friends who joined us for the event as well as all who watched live through the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network. Each of you is helping to guide this University forward.

Read more about VWU’s record fundraising, affordability efforts, growing enrollment, and innovative partnerships in the State of the University feature story on our website. The link to the archived speech is also included.

We were proud to officially announce the new partnership between VWU and the Virginia Beach Police Department on Friday. The program puts officers on an accelerated path to their bachelor’s degree, broadening their knowledge and skills, deepening their understanding of human behavior, and advancing their abilities in resolving conflict. So pleased to partner with our City on another project that positively impacts the quality of life here. Read this joint statement from VBPD Chief Paul Neudigate and me.

As you may recall, five scholars from the Batten Honors College — Eddie McDonald, Connor Merk, Rowan Stuart, Kai Trehan, and Jessica Wilson — took first place in the undergraduate division at the Intentional Endowments Network’s Student Corporate Engagement Competition earlier this year. In this national competition, students pitch an investment in a publicly-traded company based on that company’s plans for addressing inequality and the climate crisis.

We are incredibly proud of these students, and I am pleased to share that their success inspired the foundation arm of our investment firm, Brown Advisory, to commit a $50,000 contribution to establish a student-managed investment fund at Virginia Wesleyan. We look forward to watching students cultivate this fund for years to come.

As I’ve shared previously, our 2022 Alumni Awards will be celebrated as part of the University’s annual Founders Day on Thursday, September 8. Congratulations to the following alumni on this well-deserved distinction that highlights their many accomplishments since graduation:

Michael J. White ’81 (Distinguished Alumnus Award)

Michael J. White ’81 retired in June 2022 after a distinguished 41-year career in global logistics and maritime shipping. From 2017-2022, he served as CEO for GTD Solution, Inc., and head of TradeLens, where he led the joint collaboration between A.P. Moller Maersk and IBM to digitize global supply chains through the first block chain enabled open platform.

White built his career at Maersk and P&O Nedlloyd and DB Schenker. He was president of Maersk Line North America from 2009-2017 and served as chief executive for Maersk Line Central Europe from 2007-2009, managing activities across 12 countries. He also served as president of Maersk Logistics North America, Damco, Maersk Customs Services, The Gilbert Company and Bridge Terminal Transport. From 1990-2005, he held a number of senior management positions including president and CEO of P&O Nedlloyd North America, president of Farrell Lines, and director and chairman of Port Newark Container Terminal.

White graduated from Virginia Wesleyan in 1981 and studied at the Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland and Harvard Business School (HBS), participating in the HBS case study on TradeLens. He continues to serve as an advisor for TradeLens and other selected companies and is a member of the Board of Trustees for Virginia Wesleyan University.

Jessie K. Dawe ‘08 (The Beacon Award)

Jessie K. Dawe ‘08 is a member of the Harvard Law School Class of 2022. Throughout law school, she commuted weekly between Chesapeake, Virginia, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, fitting a week’s worth of coursework into two days so she could be with her family.

While completing her Juris Doctor, Dawe remained connected to the Hampton Roads legal community through internships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Office of the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney. She was also a summer associate at Willcox & Savage and McGuireWoods in Norfolk. On campus in Cambridge, Dawe served in leadership roles with Harvard Law’s Child & Youth Advocates, the Student Government Association’s Academic Affairs Committee, and the Women’s Law Association’s Governance Committee. Prior to law school, Dawe was an eighth-grade English teacher in Chesapeake and Newport News Title I schools for six years. After sitting for the Virginia bar exam, Dawe will join McGuireWoods’ Norfolk office as an associate in the firm’s Government Investigations and White Collar Litigation group. She will then clerk for the Honorable S. Bernard Goodwyn, Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court.

In 2008, Dawe graduated from Virginia Wesleyan University, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She attended VWU as a Wesleyan Scholar with a full tuition scholarship and was actively involved in campus life as a Resident Assistant, Freshman Peer Advisor and member of Tri Sigma, also serving in leadership roles on the Wesleyan Activities Council, Student Government Association, and Equality Alliance. She was a member of VWU’s Ethics Bowl Debate Team and National Model UN and attended multiple leadership workshops, including the Americans for Informed Democracy Young Global Leaders’ Summit on the International Criminal Court at Yale Law.

Dawe enjoys spending time with her partner Stefan and four children, Adelynn, Michael, and twins Isla and Esmé, as well as her mother and father, who reside in Virginia Beach. Her personal hobbies include visiting lighthouses and practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Brandon L. Adair '12 (Alumni Service Award)

Brandon L. Adair '12 is in his third season as an NBA official. Adair has officiated 80 regular-season games in just his first two seasons with the NBA. He also has four years of officiating experience in both the NBA G League and the collegiate ranks, with stints in the Big South, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and Old Dominion Athletic Conferences. In addition, Adair was also a high school referee in Virginia for seven years.

Prior to his officiating career, Adair was a standout basketball player at Virginia Wesleyan and went on to play professionally for two seasons in Germany. In 2013, Adair was inducted into the Virginia Wesleyan University Athletic Hall of Fame both as an individual athlete and as a member of the 2006 Men's Basketball National Championship Team. Throughout his college basketball career, Adair received numerous individual awards and accolades. Most notably, in 2006, he was selected as the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division III Player of the Year and is No. 1 in VWU history in scoring with 2,100 points, field goals made with 871 and rebounds with 871.

Adair currently serves on the VWU Alumni Council and works with the Big Brother program at Bayside Elementary School in Virginia Beach.

We look forward to recognizing these esteemed graduates next month. Many of you will join us in person for this event, but for those who are unable to attend, the event will be livestreamed on the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network.

Given our coastal climate and seasonal conditions, it will be important for our residential students to assist with keeping residence hall spaces clean and well maintained as we head into the fall semester. Therefore, students are encouraged to notify Residence Life about matters that may require attention including excessive humidity, restroom cleanliness, and other facility concerns. Students may submit work requests via the "Marlin Maintenance" link at the bottom of the weekly Student Activities emails. Alternatively, Resident Assistants (RAs) can help students submit work orders to ensure that staff are able to respond promptly and address such issues.

ET CETERA

Stephen Edwards (pictured center), CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority, visited campus last week to personally launch the "Environmental Sustainability" program built specifically for Port employees. This extensive 40-hour program is a year in the making, and we are grateful to all of the VWU and Port staff who worked hard to make it happen. Also pictured: David Black, Chancellor of VWU Global Campus (Japan) and Executive-in-Residence.

If you haven’t responded already, I continue to welcome your input regarding the following topic:

Dr. Sue Larkin is serving as Vice President for Academic Affairs for a term of December 31, 2021 until June 30, 2023. It is important to me to be participative in this process for staffing this important position beyond that date.

I am committed to making the choice that is best for VWU, and my decision will be guided by the University’s mission, values and environmental context. As I’ve said previously, I welcome input from the faculty and campus community.

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

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Move-In This Weekend

There was much excitement on campus Sunday as our newest Marlins arrived on campus for move-in day. 370 new students join the traditional residential program. Thanks to our friends at Panera Bread for sponsoring new student check-in (pictured)!

We kicked off the second session of Marlin Nation Orientation with an afternoon assembly in TowneBank Arena, followed by a Luau on the Lawn on University Commons.

Our residential transfer students arrive today, returning students move back to campus tomorrow, and fall semester classes begin on Wednesday. It’s going to be a great year!

Reception for Faculty Team Advisors and Coaches

We hosted a reception last week to thank our new and returning Faculty Team Advisors and coaches and celebrate a new season of Marlin athletics. Seen here is Dr. Jill Sturts, NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative and Assistant Dean of the Batten Honors College, speaking to the group in the new Joan P. Brock Room of Brock Commons.

Arrival of Anatomage Table

Dean Vic Townsend reports that our new anatomage table has arrived on campus. It found its new home in Blocker 104 and will live in the front of the lab for years to come. Faculty will soon learn to use the table so that it may be used for class demonstrations. Thank you to Dean Townsend and the many members of our campus community who made this transformational acquisition possible.

Passing of Susan Johnston; President of NACUBO/Daughter-in-law of VWU Founding President

We are sad to share the passing of Susan Whealler Johnston, president/CEO of the National Association of College and University Business Officers and daughter-in-law of VWU founding president Joseph Johnston. She died from cancer. Read more here.

DeFord Manor Mailing Address

Many of you have noticed the mailbox at the back sidewalk entrance to DeFord Manor. It is the official U.S. Postal Service mailbox for DeFord Manor residents. Because the postal service recognizes the house as fronting Wesleyan Drive, the official address is: 5813 Wesleyan Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.

Construction Updates

The Cove and Brock Commons: The final touches were added last week to the outdoor dining areas at The Cove and Brock Commons. These will be wonderful spaces for our community to gather going forward.