Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

November 7, 2022

Good morning,

Virginia Wesleyan is committed to promoting the importance of accessibility and affordability for our students. One of the most important avenues to these goals is the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) program. This vital program is a needed and beneficial way for students across the Commonwealth of Virginia—including those enrolled at Virginia Wesleyan—to afford education at private colleges and universities.

Although generous institutional aid through scholarships helps to offset the cost of attendance, the VTAG program has, since 1972, provided additional, critical financial support. The undergraduate award this year is $4,500. At Virginia Wesleyan University, over 650 of our current students are receiving a VTAG award this year. It is critical that we convey to Governor Youngkin and members of the General Assembly how vital this funding is to our students, families, colleges, and communities, and why VTAG should be a priority for the governor in the budget he will introduce in December.

We are advocating for an increase in funding to enable a $5,250 TAG award for all undergraduate students and for graduate students in the health professions for the 2023-24 academic year. In addition, we hope to see an increase to $3,750 (75% of the traditional TAG amount) for students attending fully online programs.

Support of this program is critical to our students. I urge you to learn more about this essential program and how to take action, visit cicv.org.

A warm Virginia Wesleyan welcome to the new bishop of the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Sue Haupert-Johnson. Originally from Florida, Bishop Haupert-Johnson has a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida, a law degree from the University of Florida College of Law, and a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. According to her bio, Bishop Haupert-Johnson was a federal law clerk and a litigator with the Tampa law firm of Carlton Fields before becoming a minister. She comes to Virginia from the North Georgia Conference with her husband and daughter. View a message from the new bishop.

Bishop Sharma Lewis has been assigned to the Mississippi Conference.

Our new bishop will begin January 1, 2023. She will serve an ex-officio role on the VWU Board of Trustees.

ET CETERA

I am particularly pleased with the development of our relationship with Pädagogische Hochschule Heidelberg. Faculty from Virginia Wesleyan University traveled to Heideburg, Germany to participate in the Center for International Teacher Education (CITE)’s International Teaching Conference at the Pädagogische Hochschule Heidelberg (PH HD). Virginia Wesleyan University and Pädagogische Hochschule Heidelberg have enjoyed a partnership since 2016. The conference and program was sponsored by ProMobiLGS, a program to promote international mobility in teaching at PH HD, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Dr. Kellie Holzer, Dr. Loren Loving Marquez, Dr. Bill McConnell, Dr. Antje Schwennicke, and Dr. Susan Wansink delivered presentations on teaching methods and teacher education on topics ranging from learning through drawing in the literature classroom, sustainability projects in elementary school and teacher education programs, to rhetorical pedagogy training for English and social studies teachers and students, as well as a feature on VWU’s German studies program. The two institutions will continue to pursue opportunities for faculty and student exchanges and look forward to a continued and fruitful partnership together.

Pictured, from left: Akad. Dir. Henrike Schön (PH HD); Dr. Loren Loving Marquez (VWU); Dr. Antje Schwennicke (VWU); Dr. Kellie Holzer (VWU); Dr. Bill McConnell (VWU); Prof. Dr. Hanna Sauerborn (PH HD), Anja Bast-Schneider M.A., Managing Director CITE, Ruurd Bruin M.A., Project Coordinator ProMobiLGS

Virginia Wesleyan hosted a voters’ rally at the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. We were joined by candidates from multiple districts in various election races. Among them were two Virginia Wesleyan graduates who are running for public office—Erika Johnson Guess ‘02 for the Virginia Beach School Board and Jennifer Valentine Rouse ‘08 for Virginia Beach City Council (pictured far left). We were also joined by our good friends Amelia Ross-Hammond and Joash Schulman, who are both running for Virginia Beach City Council (in different districts), and Delegate Cliff Hayes of Chesapeake (pictured center left and center right, respectively).

The event was coordinated by our friend Sandra Brandt, owner of Step-Up, Inc. She and I have served on the Hampton Roads Chamber Board of Directors for a number of years (pictured far right).

Tomorrow is Election Day, and I encourage all Marlins to get out and vote!

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Reminder: Veterans Day Ceremony

Our annual Veterans Day commemoration will take place this Friday at 12 p.m. near the Veterans Memorial Monument on the Godwin Hall Lawn. Our guest speaker will be Cory Franklin, Class of 2020, VWU adjunct faculty member, and Marine Corps veteran. Leading up the event, all Marlins are welcome to tie a ribbon on our Military Honor Tree in the Batten Student Center to show your thanks and support for our armed services.

Honoring Bob DeFord

A memorial service for Trustee Emeritus Bob DeFord will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 12, at Baylake United Methodist Church, followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall.

The Marlin Chronicle at the College Media Conference

Most of you are aware by now that I was a journalist early in my career and paid my way through college as a sportswriter/columnist and weekend editor at a newspaper in West Virginia. So I take extra pride when our students are exposed to “value added” learning experiences in the rapidly changing media landscape.

Editors for Virginia Wesleyan University’s student-run newspaper, The Marlin Chronicle, recently attended Media Fest 2022 in Washington, D.C. This conference was hosted by the Society for Professional Journalists, Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association.

During the conference, students expanded their network, attended learning sessions, and participated in a critique meeting. The keynote speakers were Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the journalists who broke the story of the Watergate scandal 50 years ago.

Pictured, top from left: Shirell Washington, Ross Winner, Carey Seay, Rhian Tramontana, Connor Merk, Rowan Stuart, Breana Mahoney and Sasha Saxon attend the College Media Conference in Washington, D.C.

2022 VFIC Fall Luncheon and Harris Family Awards

Last week I traveled to Richmond for the 2022 Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges Fall Luncheon and Harris Family Awards Program, sponsored by Truist. The luncheon was held on the beautiful 15th floor of the Williams Mullen building where I got to visit with old and new friends like Mary-Beth Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of VFIC, and Warren Van der Waag, Senior Vice President of Truist (pictured).

Lunch with the Mariners’ Museum

We were delighted to host Howard Hoege, President and CEO at the Mariners’ Museum and Park, and Jennifer Boykin, President of Newport News Shipbuilding and Chair-elect of the Executive Committee of the Mariners’ Board, at DeFord Manor last week. Both have been good partners of VWU and the Batten Honors College.

The Arts at VWU Newsletter

The latest news and updates from the Arts at VWU can be found here.

President’s Council Meeting

We had a great hybrid meeting of the President’s Council last week in the Joan P. Brock Room of Brock Commons. This group of corporate and community leaders helps to support and advance the mission of the University through philanthropy, collaboration, and high-impact educational opportunities for our students like internships and externships.

A Tribute to “Weezie” Fennell

A touching tribute to my late friend and writing partner, Marylouise “Weezie” Fennell, RSM, can be found here. A celebration of life will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the end of this month.

Trustee in the News

Trustee Emerita Joan P. Brock continues her support of art and art education with the establishment of The Joan P. Brock Education Endowment at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The endowment will support the museum’s education programs and to underwrite educator positions.

The Hive Newsletter

Our friends at The Hive in Virginia Beach Town Center deliver updates and news for our region’s business. The latest edition of their newsletter has a special highlight on veteran-owned small businesses. VWU and Tidewater Community College - Virginia Beach are the educational partners at The Hive.

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