November 14, 2022
Good morning, |
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Congratulations to the Virginia Wesleyan University women’s soccer team on their 1-0 victory over regional top seed and previously undefeated Rowan University to advance to the NCAA National Tournament Sweet 16!
It was a wonderful weekend of competition and camaraderie as Marlin alumni, parents, students, and friends came out to support the women's soccer team at the games, at the pre-game tailgate, and our special post-game gathering at ShoreBreak Pizza & Taphouse.
It's a great day to be a Marlin! |
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The fall student-led Marlin Business Conference, “Creating Careers for Change,” is here! I hope faculty, staff, and students make a special effort to join in the conference events.
We will open the conference tomorrow evening at 6:00 p.m. in the Joan P. Brock Room of Brock Commons with special guest speaker Bruce Thompson, CEO of Gold Key-PHR. This event is free and open to the public.
The conference will continue throughout the week with high-caliber guest speakers, workshops, the Sigma Beta Delta induction ceremony, and the always-popular Shark Tank competition. View the entire conference schedule and make plans to support the students coordinating and participating in the conference. |
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Virginia Wesleyan faculty is developing two new graduate programs, both to be offered online -– a Master of Environmental Studies and a Master of Arts in Human Services.
The Master of Environmental Studies is an in-demand program that the VWU Environmental Studies faculty designed after researching existing programs, conducting extensive interviews with professionals in the field, and consideration of market needs. The 30-credit program will provide a strong background for anyone working in a variety of industries.
The Master of Arts in Human Services is a very timely degree. Human Services, broadly defined, works to meet human needs through an interdisciplinary knowledge base focusing on prevention as well as remediation of problems, and maintaining a commitment to improving the overall quality of life of service populations. This degree will give graduates the skills necessary to pursue or advance a career grounded in the helping professions in the private or public sector.
We are proud to bring these programs to our 2023-24 academic catalog. Stay tuned for more information. |
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The Board of Directors of the New American Colleges and Universities (NACU) and the Board of Directors of the Washington Internship Institute (WII) agreed to merge, effective November 8, 2022, with the operations, management, and governance being consolidated under NACU’s executive leadership and board. Both boards unanimously agreed to the change and are excited the new strategic alignment will create synergies that benefit students participating in the WII internship programs.
Virginia Wesleyan University is a proud member of NACU and will benefit significantly from the merger.
By joining forces, NACU and WII will leverage each other’s internal expertise and resources to deliver the most impactful, affordable, and accessible DC internship program for undergraduate students. “Since 1995, NACU has served as a strategic network for its campuses. The added capabilities of WII will result in a new signature DC experience for the civically engaged students from NACU campuses,” said Devorah Lieberman, NACU board chair.
“The WII board has always been focused on providing innovative and engaging internship experiences in our nation’s capital that are affordable and meaningful for students. This merger is an exciting and strategic opportunity for the Institute to combine forces with NACU to create an even more exceptional DC experience for students from all backgrounds and majors,” said Thomas Burns, WII board chair.
Building upon WII’s more than 30 years of personalized approach and customized internships, the strategic alignment will continue to support a DC program distinguishing itself on purpose and access, specialized education, and internship placements that connect a student’s passion with a meaningful career. The Institute will continue to work with its current public and private institutional partners while welcoming students from NACU’s national network of nearly 30 innovative campuses, which include several minority-serving institutions.
“Joining forces strengthens both organizations. The NACU-WII combo will help expand experiential learning for undergraduate students and contribute to developing the talent pipeline in this challenging labor market,” said Sean Creighton, president of NACU and WII. We at VWU are excited to bring these opportunities to VWU students.
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Our highly selective, nationally distinct Batten Honors College has entered a new selection year. Of the 147 honors colleges nationwide, initial indications show that the Batten Honors College may be the only honors college with a focus in environmental stewardship. From the students to curriculum to the graduation requirements, our program is truly a national niche for VWU, and we are proud of its recent feature on the BD&E website.
One of the exciting parts of the Batten Honors College is our student selection process. It’s an opportunity for us to meet top candidates, ascertain their interest in our University, and determine their fit with this program. We do this through a series of three competitions for the Batten Honors College. Of all the students interested in the program, only 3 percent will be issued an invitation to compete.
This week we will welcome the first of three competition groups for next fall's cohort. Out of a pool of 30,000 eligible candidates, one-tenth of that group will be deemed eligible in meeting preliminary requirements for the program. Approximately 120 students are invited to compete for the 40 highly coveted seats. We are so glad to have the best and brightest join us in the elite and selective Batten Honors College, which has turned into a national niche program for Virginia Wesleyan. |
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AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS |
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Honoring Veterans Day We had a wonderful Veterans Day ceremony last week. Our thanks to the Marlins and friends who participated in the program: (pictured from left) Pamela Rodgers (current student and veteran), Luke Dobrin, Lars Neel ‘21 (Enrollment Counselor and veteran) Cory Franklin ‘20 (our keynote speaker, adjunct profession, and veteran), and Military Science Instructor, MSG Thomas Struna.
Special thanks to Marion Hibbler, Director of Lifelong Learning; and Jennifer Sands, Assistant Director of Financial Aid/ VA School Certifying Official, for organizing such a great week of events honoring Marlin veterans and veterans around the nation. |
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Capacity Crowd at One Act Festival There was a capacity crowd in Hofheimer Theatre of Susan T. Beverly Hall for the fall VWU One Act Festival. Students enrolled in the “Directing” course (TH 412) this semester, taught by Professor of Theatre Dr. Sally Shedd, present the culmination of their work in a series of one act plays. More than 20 students are involved in this production, including student directors Tucker Barco, Hannah Carmona and Sophia Kaminaris. Congratulations to all! |
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Tim Bailey ‘83 Hosts Charlotte Alumni Gathering Our sincere thanks to VWU Trustee and 1983 graduate Tim Bailey and his wife Kristi for hosting a VWU alumni gathering on the rooftop of their home in Charlotte, NC. The gathering moved from the Baileys’ home to a box at the Spectrum Center to watch the Charlotte Hornets face the Portland Trail Blazers, courtesy of Tim Bailey. We thank all the Charlotte-based alumni that joined us for this special night of Marlin fellowship. |
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Show your Support for VTAG I am proud to serve as the Chair of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) this year. One of the top priorities of the CICV is to advocate for the continuation and expansion of the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG). The CICV and its member colleges and universities collaborate each year to promote the importance of accessibility and affordability for our students, in which VTAG is one of the most important avenues to achieve these goals. Support of this program is critical to our students. I urge you to learn more about this essential program and take action by visiting the CICV website. |
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Celebrating Trustees Congratulations to Louis Ryan and his wife Pru, who were named the 2022 Outstanding Individual Philanthropists by the Hampton Roads chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals at their annual National Philanthropy Day awards ceremony. Louis is a VWU Board member, and he and Pru have been longtime supporters of VWU, higher education, and environmental initiatives. |
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It was a lovely evening honoring Howard Kern on his retirement as CEO of Sentara at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach last week. Howard has been a VWU board member since 2016, bridging VWU and Sentara in collaborative efforts in nursing education, sports medicine, and student health. We wish you the best, Howard! |
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Marlins and Friends Win Election Races Congratulations to VWU alumni and good friends Amelia Ross-Hammond (District 4), Joash Shulman (District 9), Jennifer Valentine Rouse (‘08, District 10), and Chris Taylor (‘06, District 8) on their election to Virginia Beach City Council. Also, kudos to VWU grad Erika Johnson Guess (‘02) who ran a great race but lost the District 9 seat on the Virginia Beach School Board. |
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Clay Barr Featured on PBS Congratulations to our friend Clay Barr whose Yad (torah pointer) collection on display at the Chrysler Museum of Art was featured in a PBS story. Clay is the daughter of Henry Clay Hofheimer II, our library’s namesake, and the niece of Edward D. Hofheimer, the namesake of our blackbox theater. She has been a generous supporter of VWU for many years, continuing the legacy of her family. |
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Roundball Insiders Celebrate a New Season The Roundball Insiders are the top supporters of our men’s basketball program. Before the start of each season, the Roundball Insiders are invited to a special luncheon for a sneak preview of the team with Head Coach Dave Macedo and his players. Become a Roundball Insider and support the Marlins at an upcoming game. Pictured: Trustee Emeritus John Trinder, Chancellor of VWU Global (Japan) David R. Black, and student-athlete Omari DeVeaux. |
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First Chat & Chew of the Semester We had a great group for this academic year’s first Chat & Chew with VWU staff. These lunches bring together staff members from across departments for collaboration and fellowship. Pictured clockwise: Audwin Harris ’20, Enrollment Counselor; Deputy Diversity Officer; David Macedo, Head Men's Basketball Coach; Trey DelPo ’17, Director of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center; Raquel Kelly ’22, IT Support Specialist; Rachael Burgess, Assistant Registrar; Gwendolyn Mikeals, Student Accounts Coordinator; Karissa Cumberbatch, Head Volleyball Coach; and Jennifer Sands, Assistant Director of Financial Aid/ VA School Certifying Official. |
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The Pharos: November 2022 The November 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. |
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A Discussion on Ukraine We were invited guests of U.S. Senator Mark Warner, Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, for a discussion with members of the Tidewater Ukrainian Cultural Association and the local Ukrainian community this morning at the Slover Library. VWU leadership also had the opportunity to visit with Congressman Bobby Scott, our December Commencement speaker. In addition to Sen. Warner and Rep. Scott, pictured with: Loren Loving Marquez, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs; Antje Schwennicke, Dean of the Birdsong School of Social Science; David Black, Chancellor of VWU Global Campus; and Keith Moore, Senior Vice President. |
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Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Reception and Dinner I was honored to join the Virginia Chamber Board of Directors for a reception and dinner after their fall meeting, which was held in Virginia Beach. I was delighted to see our graduate Ajee Church (pictured right), Class of 2016, leading the evening’s music programming. |
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Campus757 October Newsletter As most college semesters are winding down, the Campus757 team is connecting with local employers to prepare for the busy Spring and Summer internship season. As you know, one of Campus757's goals is to help employers provide the best experiences to interns. Find out more in their October 2022 newsletter. |
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Something in the Water Returns in 2023 It was recently announced that the Something in the Water music festival, founded by music superstar and Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams, will return to Virginia Beach in 2023 after moving to Washington, D.C., this past summer. |
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US Bishops Receive Assignments UM News staff reports that after electing new bishops, some of the denomination's U.S. jurisdictional conferences announced episcopal assignments effective January 1. Jurisdictional leaders recommended electing 14 new bishops; however, that number is expected to be 13 after the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference voted to suspend its rules and delay the election of a second bishop until the 2024 jurisdictional conference. |
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STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES |
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See you at the Marlin Business Conference!
Sincerely, |
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-- Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. President Virginia Wesleyan University 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455 Phone: 757.455.3215 |
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