Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

April 10, 2023

Good morning,

I hope everyone had a pleasant Easter and is enjoying today’s holiday. Also, we wish our student-athletes, coaches, and fans a happy D3 Week (NCAA Division III)!

I’m proud to share that the keynote speaker of the opening session of our spring Marlin Business Conference will be Scott Whitehurst, Director of Environmental Policy and Compliance at The Port of Virginia. Scott holds a BA in Environmental Geology and a Master's degree in Urban Studies, both from Old Dominion University. We look forward to his timely talk of where environmental responsibility meets “the bottom line.”

This spring’s Marlin Business Conference, “A Greener Tomorrow,” will occur in conjunction with our Earth Week events, offered in partnership with the City of Virginia Beach and The Gunn Group. Led by student conference CEO Abby Mahoney, we look forward to our talented business students executing a well-run and informative conference.

We hope you make plans to join us for the opening session on Monday, April 17 at 6:00 p.m. in the Joan P. Brock Room of Brock Commons.

Our VWU Day of Giving, held on March 31, nearly doubled our Day of Giving record from Fall 2022. This time, student callers from Athletics, Academics, and Student Life raised an incredible $61,181.90 from 385 donors in a single day, demonstrating the power of the Marlin spirit when we work together for a common goal.

My heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved and to the Center for Advancement for leading the charge. What a great day to be a Marlin!

ET CETERA

The inaugural Louis and Prudence Ryan Environmental Research Symposium for the Ryan Environmental Prize for Excellence in Research will take place on Thursday, April 27. During the symposium, students from the fall and spring Batten Honors College senior seminars will present research on innovative approaches to addressing issues of the environment and sustainability. The event will feature a poster session and public presentations from the three student finalists. One of the three students will receive the top award of $750 cash prize and a $750 donation in their name to the non-profit environmental organization of their choosing.

The initiatives are gratefully named for longtime Virginia Wesleyan friends and benefactors. Louis Ryan, a member of the VWU Board of Trustees since 2007, said in a March 2021 Virginian-Pilot article, “We had decided a number of years ago to support our primary areas of interest—the environment and education.” Along with serving on the VWU Board of Trustees, Mr. Ryan has served since 2006 on the board of directors of the Elizabeth River Project, an important partner of VWU and the Batten Honors College.

We look forward to this first symposium and growing its prestige and reach in the years to come.

Our Summer Session schedule is available and open ready for student registration. Whether students are behind in coursework or planning to graduate early, Summer Session at VWU will give Marlins an opportunity to engage in specialty courses, complete General Education requirements or advance in their majors. Please note that a number of classes are available by VWU Online. We hope all Marlins take a look at our unique summer offerings.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

The Passing of David Black’s Mother

Ulna Black, 93, passed away in Cleveland, TN last week. She was the proud mother of Dr. David Black, Executive in Residence. Our thoughts and prayers are with David, his wife Valerie, and his entire family during this difficult time.

Join Us for Spring Alumni Weekend

Marlin alumni, parents, and friends are invited to come home for VWU’s Spring Alumni Weekend, this Friday through Sunday. Festivities include an alumni social at ShoreBreak Pizza & Taphouse, our annual Marlin Family Picnic, alumni games, and athletic contests. A special feature this year is the Virginia Wesleyan First Five Class Reunion for the classes of 1970-1974. Check out the full schedule for all of the weekend’s fun. We hope to see you there!

Sentara Cares Scholarship Check Presentation

We are so grateful to Sentara Healthcare and the Sentara Cares program. Pictured from left, Alex Askew (Community Relations Coordinator), Amanda Simpson (Project Coordinator, Community Engagement & Impact), and Sherry Norquist (Executive Director, Community Engagement & Impact) visited us on campus to present us with a $100,000 check for scholarships for students in healthcare-related programs. Sentara is a community service anchor in Coastal Virginia.

Congratulations to Cast & Crew of “Airness”

What incredible performances from the cast and crew of “Airness” last week. The play was presented by the VWU Theatre Department in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center.

VWU Choirs Named National Semi-Finalists

Congratulations to Virginia Wesleyan University Camerata and Vox Vera for being named as National Semi-Finalist Choruses for 2023 in the collegiate choral ensembles division of the American Prize competition. The American Prize is a national non-profit competition in the performing arts, designed to evaluate, recognize, and reward the best performers, ensembles, composers, directors, and administrators in the United States. Finalists, runners-up and winners will be selected from the 2023 semi-finalists. VWU's Camerata and Vox Vera perform under the direction of Associate Professor of Music and Chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Dr. Bryson Mortensen. Well done!

Nancy Chapman Joins Office of Marketing and Communications

We welcome Nancy Chapman as the Interim Executive Director of Marketing and Communications. Nancy most recently has served in the marketing and communications department at EVMS. Her office is located in the Marketing and Communications Suite in Godwin Hall. Welcome aboard, Nancy!

VWU Named a 2023-24 Voter Friendly Campus

Virginia Wesleyan University has once again been named a Voter Friendly Campus, one of 258 campuses in 38 states and the District of Columbia, by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices that encouraged their students to register and vote in the 2022 elections, as well as in the coming years. Learn more.

VWU in the Press

I hope you have had the chance to read my two recent columns, one in Enrollment Manager and the other in The Virginian-Pilot/Daily Press. Many know that I got my start in journalism, and I enjoy opportunities to contribute to various publications as often as I can.

We’re thankful for our faculty’s continued contributions to their fields and the spotlight they bring to VWU. Terry Lindvall, C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair in Communication and Christian Thought and Professor of Communication, was recently interviewed by WHRO regarding his film “Hollywood, Teach Us to Pray,” created with Stu Minnis, Chair and Professor of Communication. John Rudel, Director of Undergraduate Research and Curator of Exhibitions for the Neil Britton Art Gallery and Professor of Art, was also recently interviewed by WTKR regarding this public art mural in Norfolk.

Garden Club of Virginia’s 89th Annual Flower Day

We were happy to host the Garden Club of Virginia’s 89th annual Daffodil Day on campus. The beautiful blooms transformed the CMAC and the scent filled the Jane P. Batten Student Center. Our thanks to Debbie Bonnewell, Daffodil Day Chair, and Debbie Lewis, President of the GCV, for choosing Virginia Wesleyan.

VCIC 59th Annual Humanitarian Awards

Such an enjoyable evening at the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center as the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities presented their annual Humanitarian Awards. Pictured, above left, with Pamela Northam, former First Lady of Virginia, and Cecelia Tucker, VWU Special Advisor to the President on Diversity; Upper right, Janice Underwood, former Chief Diversity Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia; Lower left, Jonathan Zur, President of VCIC; and lower right, Dr. Veleka Gatling, ODU Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, and her husband Rev. Perez Gatling, Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church (across from campus). We are proud that VCIC’s Hampton Roads office is on the campus of VWU.

Trails at Wesleyan Woods Beckon in Warmer Weather

Since the University’s founding, Virginia Wesleyan has enjoyed a rich heritage of abundant biodiversity and natural resources. Located on a picturesque 300-acre campus bordered on the west by Lake Taylor, the University has ponds and mature forests which can be enjoyed by walking, hiking, jogging, or biking through our extensive trail system. As the semester closes and finals are upon us, I invite you to take a mental break and enjoy the warmer weather while traversing these campus treasures.

Marlin Disc Golf Course is Back

Featuring INNOVA Disctcatcher Pro targets, the 9-hole course offers challenging play for disc golfers of any skill level. Beginning behind Clarke Hall, the course travels a half mile through VWU’s park-like campus, ending at Rose Hall Lawn. Discs are available for check-out with UREC, located in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. Thank you to Willie Harrell, Director of Recreation and Wellness, for his efforts in the redesign.

CICV’s Counselors Tour

It was wonderful to host Deb Thomas of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia at DeFord Manor along with college counselors eager to learn more about VWU and other CICV institutions. We are pictured with Heather Campbell, VWU Vice President for Enrollment.

Oracle Student

The University recently selected Oracle Student as our next Student Information System. Oracle Student will bring a modern cloud environment with enhanced user experience to our faculty and students. Oracle Student’s core functionality is centered around academic structure, course registration, grades, and student financials. The implementation of Oracle Student will start behind the scenes this fall. A phased launch of Oracle Student is planned for 2025. Ellucian Colleague and WebAdvisor will eventually be retired as we migrate to Oracle Finance, HCM, and Student.

"Ask the UMC"

In Part 10 of United Methodist Communications’ “Is The United Methodist Church Really…?” series, the team addresses whether a re-vote on disaffiliation is allowed, whether United Methodist seminaries teach doctrines contrary to those of The United Methodist Church, whether local churches will be compelled to host same-sex weddings and whether the church endorses critical race theory. Learn more.

Concerns Regarding Norfolk’s Floodwall Project

WHRO reports that Norfolk leaders are weighing whether to move forward with one of the most ambitious public works projects in the city’s history, a $2.6 billion project.

President to President

The ninth chapter of this year's President to President thought leadership series is now available online. In "University Stewardship of a Healing Community," East Tennessee State University President Brian Noland, Ph.D., examines how adverse childhood experiences may impact performance in college and beyond, creating unique barriers. He offers strategies for helping students overcome these barriers and lead successful lives.

This year's President to President series, titled “The Well Campus: An In-Depth Look,” thoughtfully considers what it means to prioritize wellness in higher education. Ten chapters, each authored by an esteemed college or university president, provide insights into the many aspects of wellness, such as physical, emotional, and mental health, as well as social connection and a sense of belonging. Authors share perspectives and ideas gained from their vast experience leading a diverse array of campuses. We hope you find value in the information contained here and look forward to sharing a new chapter with you each month.

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