Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

September 19, 2022

I am proud to share that Hilary Harp Falk, President & CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), will be our keynote speaker for our spring Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

Hilary has been at the helm of CBF since January 2022, succeeding our good friend Will Baker, who had been President & CEO of CBF since 1981. She joins the CBF team from the National Wildlife Federation after serving in multiple leadership roles for that organization, including chief program officer.

She began her career as an intern for CBF in 1997, which sparked a lifelong interest in environmental conservation. She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Franklin and Marshall College and received her Master of Science in Natural Resources from the Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont.

Hilary is a champion for women’s leadership and advancing equity in the conservation movement. Among her many accolades are a fellowship with the International Women's Forum and a Tribute to Women in Leadership award from the YWCA in 2014.

We are excited to welcome Hilary to Virginia Wesleyan for this special moment in the lives of the Class of 2023. More details regarding spring commencement will be available in the new year.

Friday, October 7, marks our first Marlin Spirit Day of the year. I hope you will join me in sporting your favorite Virginia Wesleyan gear as we kick off VWU Homecoming and Family Weekend. Don’t forget to snap and share a photo using #marlinspiritday.

But there’s another very important way to show your Marlin Spirit in the coming weeks—supporting the annual faculty and staff campaign.

Friday, September 30, will mark the official kick-off of the Marlin Family Campaign for Faculty and Staff, which is an opportunity for employees to contribute financially to the University. As an institution, we are striving to meet goals in academics, enrollment, fundraising, student life, and more. Every member of the faculty and staff is invaluable to achieving these goals, and I am grateful to each of you for the efforts you put forth daily. These efforts create the community that make VWU such a special place to work and learn.

This year’s early bird drawing features four tickets to Disney World in Orlando! Make

your gift by Thursday, September 29, to be entered to win. We are also pleased to offer an

exclusive VWU Therm-O Super Snack Lunchbox as a gift for those who contribute $50 or

more to the University priority of their choice before October 30.

ET CETERA

September 17 is designated as Constitution Day to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution on that same day in 1787. Each September, educational institutions throughout the U.S. hold programs about the U.S. Constitution and draw attention to our commitment to the rights and obligations of citizens.

Join the Robert Nusbaum Center for a special Constitution Day event on Thursday, September 22, as Dr. Eric Mazur, VWU Gloria and David Furman Professor of Judaic Studies and the Robert Nusbaum Center Fellow for Religion, Law, and Politics, presents “The American Fetish: Constitution-Love and the Nation’s Way of Being.” In his presentation, Dr. Mazur will describe the role of "'The Constitution' in American Civil Religion": its constituent elements, its expressions in contemporary America, and its benefits and dangers in a modern democratic society.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Marlin Business Conference Prepares for Fall Session

I was delighted to meet with student leaders Cara Caruso, Dheeraj Koritala, and Gavin Prouty last week regarding the fall session of the Marlin Business Conference. The fall 2022 theme is “Creating Careers for Change.” We look forward to sharing more information about the conference as details are confirmed.

A Refreshing Exchange

We welcomed the Virginia Beach Vision Board of Directors to DeFord Manor last week for “A Refreshing Exchange.” During the event, guests gathered in the East Room and Virginia Oveda Williams DeFord Terrace for a reception, followed by an update on Virginia Wesleyan’s Talent Development Program and Campus757, led by the program’s new director, Jaedda Hall.

Interestingly, DeFord Manor namesake Bob DeFord was a founder of Virginia Beach Vision many years ago.

Pictured below: (left) Martha McClees, Executive Director of Virginia Beach Vision; (center) Jaedda Hall, Director of Campus757, Shawn Avery, President & CEO of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, and Larry Belcher, Director of Enrollment, VWU Global Campus; (right) Jaedda Hall presenting on Campus757.

An Evening on the Water

Members of the Marlin family, like VWU Class of 2006 alumnus Chris Taylor (pictured left), joined Annie and me on Wednesday for a historic harbor tour courtesy of Freedom Boat Club of Hampton Roads. Thanks to Misty Graves of Freedom Boat Club and VWU Assistant Vice President for Advancement Sean Flynn (pictured right) for organizing the event. We couldn’t have asked for better weather or company!

Setting DEIC Priorities

Last week I shared that Cee Cee Tucker was joining the VWU family in a consultative role as special advisor to the president on diversity and inclusion. Cee Cee joined us on campus last week to discuss priorities for the VWU Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council (DEIC). She and I are pictured with co-facilitators of the DEIC, Dr. Sue Larkin (Vice President for Academic Affairs) and Dr. Keith Moore (Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management).

Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15-October 15

Since 1988, Americans have observed National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Stay tuned for updates from Student Activities, Dining Services and more about how VWU is celebrating.

Join us as we induct the fourteenth class of the VWU Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 8, at 5:30 p.m. in the Joan P. Brock Room of Brock Commons during Homecoming and Family Weekend. We will celebrate athletic greats Randy E. Lott ’14, Ronald J. Yuhasz, Jr. ’01, and the 2017 NCAA Division III National Championship Softball Team, as well as VWU benefactors O.L. “Butch” Everett and John A. Trinder, who will be honored for their decades of support to the University’s intercollegiate athletics program. Register to attend by Friday, September 23.

The Pharos: September 2022

This semester’s first edition of The Pharos is available now. We hope you enjoy learning more about our talented faculty and staff members who continue to make important contributions to their respective fields through publications, presentations, and more.

African Bishops Condemn Advocacy Groups

UM News reports on the African bishops calling for unity in The United Methodist Church while condemning traditionalist advocacy groups looking to break up the denomination.

Construction Update

Watts Field House – A planning session was held with the City of Virginia this week in preparation for construction. Thanks again to Henry and Eleanor Watts for making this project possible.

Blocker Youth Center Planning Grant – Thanks to the generosity of the Frank Blocker, Jr. Foundation, we are in the planning stages for a two-classroom addition to the Frank Blocker Youth Center. It is our hope that construction will begin next fall. Tymoff + Moss Architects of Norfolk are leading the planning.

Clarke Hall – Funds have been received for the Phase II upgrades of technology in Clarke Hall. The funds are provided to support our Talent Development Program but will benefit the entire academic program.

STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES

Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine

The Pharos

REFLECTIONS

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

University Business