Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

August 14, 2023

Good morning,

It was a beautiful evening for our last “Wesleyan Wednesday” of the summer at TASTE-Bayville Farms last week. We were thrilled by the fantastic turnout of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends who gathered at TASTE’s flagship store to enjoy delectable cuisine, live music, and wonderful camaraderie. This was our strongest turnout at a Wesleyan Wednesday event since 2020, and we’re so happy to see Marlins young and old engaging with the University (and each other!) once again.

Alumni engagement is vital for the growth of Virginia Wesleyan University. It fosters a sense of community, enabling networking and mentorship opportunities. Alumni support boosts fundraising efforts and enhances the institution's reputation. The achievements of our alumni inspire current students and contribute to the continuous evolution of the institution.

Our special thanks to VWU Board of Trustees Chair Jon Pruden, CEO of the TASTE Family of Businesses, for his support of this event. His staff was terrific to work with, and we thank them for their help to make the event a success. Jon and I are pictured with Tina Milligan ‘88, Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement, and Shelley Hunter ‘93, University Relations and Presidential Events Coordinator, who were instrumental in making the evening special for everyone.

ET CETERA

Each August, prior to the start of the fall semester, I deliver a State of the University Address to our campus community. The address includes highlights, initiatives, and significant accomplishments from the past year, as well as recognition of faculty and staff, points of pride, recent University news and information, current campus projects, and direction for the future of the University.

The 2023 State of the University Address will take place this Friday at 12:15 p.m., immediately following our annual luncheon. We thank our sponsors – TowneBank, AMG National Trust, Brown Advisory, Capital Group-American Funds, The Franklin Johnston Group, Gary Bonnewell, Hourigan, RD Lambert & Son, Sentara Health, TechArk, Thorn Run, and Tymoff + Moss Architects — for their support of this important address.

We look forward to welcoming our Trustees, faculty, staff, and many friends in person. For our students and alumni, the State of the University will be livestreamed on our VWU Digital Broadcasting Network.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Facilities Management Makes VWU Beautiful

I enjoyed visiting with the leadership of our Facilities Management team. They significantly contribute to the functioning and appearance of our university, and we thank them for their hard work and support.

"Why ChatGPT Just Might Save the Humanities"

Dr. Steven Emmanuel, Professor of Philosophy and Dean of the Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities, explores how generative AI is taking humanities research to a new level in his OpEd in Virginia Business.

A Profile of Achievement: Dr. Chris Rennix ’77

Learn how Virginia Wesleyan laid the foundation for a life dedicated to knowledge, service, and the betterment of our community in our most recent alumni profile featuring Dr. Chris Rennix, Class of 1977.

A Visit from The Beazley Foundation

We were pleased to welcome Steve Best, President & CEO of The Beazley Foundation, for a campus tour. The Beazley Foundation has supported VWU in a wide variety of ways, including capital projects and student scholarships. After the tour, we had lunch at DeFord Manor with Dr. David R. Black, Executive-in-Residence; Jason Seward ‘05, Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management; and Beth Koroleski, Director of Financial Aid. Steve and I are honored to continue to steward this wonderful history of friendship between our two organizations.

Meeting with our Friends at Virginia Maritime Association

Larry Belcher, VWU Global Campus Director of Innovative Partnerships and Enrollment, and I were delighted to meet with the Virginia Maritime Association’s David White, Executive Director, and Kristen Greene, Director of Membership Development (both on the right). We discussed talent development and corporate learning opportunities.

A Task Force for Resiliency

I attended the joint meeting of Virginia Beach Vision and the Greater Norfolk Corporation Resiliency Task Force at the Clark Nexsen Building in Town Center last week. During the meeting, Whitney Katchmark, Principal Water Resources Planner at Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, provided a comprehensive update on the latest legislation and funding initiatives concerning sea level rise and recurrent flooding. Bob Kerr, who chairs the collaborative VBV/GNC Resiliency Task Force, serves as the Director of the Hampton Roads Division at Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. Delceno Miles, positioned on the left, holds the role of President at Virginia Beach Vision, while I proudly serve as the Vice President.

Welcome to New Neighbor Travis Larrabee

We extended a warm Coastal Virginia welcome to Travis Larrabee, the new Head of School at neighboring Norfolk Academy. We were joined for lunch at DeFord Manor by David Black, Executive-in-Residence. The three of us share deep Philadelphia roots and look forward to expanding the relationship between VWU and NA.

Norfolk Tides Tickets Available

Many of you are aware that I enjoy baseball and have two very nice season tickets for the Norfolk Tides behind the first base dugout at Harbor Park. This summer has been incredibly busy, and I haven’t had much of a chance to attend games. Therefore, if any faculty, staff, or students would like to use my tickets (whether you’ve gone before or haven’t had a chance yet), please contact Anja at aserbywilkens@vwu.edu and let her know what date you would like to go. You can find the schedule here.

“I Am Virginia Wesleyan”

We’re excited to feature two new recent grads on the “I Am Virginia Wesleyan” wall located on the second floor of Godwin Hall heading toward the Alumni and Parent Engagement Suite. Congratulations to Connor Merk ‘23 and Lindsay White ‘22 on their wall displays!

2023 Founders Day: September 7

Our formal Founders Day convocation ceremony, featuring keynote speaker Leighton Clarke Krips and the presentation of the annual Alumni Awards, will be held on Thursday, September 7 at 11:00 a.m. in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. Join us as we celebrate our roots, honor those who shaped our history, and embrace the exciting future ahead.

Make Plans to Come Home: October 6-7

Our Homecoming and Family Weekend celebration will take place on campus on October 6 and 7. Make your plans to join us for collegiate and alumni games, our annual picnic, and much more!

2023 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Please save the date for our 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony during Homecoming and Family Weekend on Saturday, October 7. Details and registration for this prestigious event celebrating the best of VWU Athletics will be forthcoming.

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