Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

January 15, 2024

Good morning,

Don’t forget to join us for our MLK Day of Commemoration today, starting at 10am in Boyd Dining Center with opportunities for service and fellowship.

Don’t miss our keynote address from Mark Johnson, Senior Vice President and Community Development Manager at Truist Financial Corporation, at 11:00 a.m. in Brock Commons. We will also present The Mavis McKenley ‘11 Award to a deserving student who embodies the ideals of Dr. King.

We hope to see you there!

Thanks to a generous donation from Trustee and Class of 1994 alumnus Eric Nyman, VWU is building a new golf simulation center, featuring a new team room and two high-performance golf simulation bays equipped with state-of-the art technology from Foresight Sports, a global leader in the development of golf performance and game enhancement solutions.

The new Eric Nyman Performance Golf Center, located in the Jane P. Batten Student Center, will have two bays. One will feature Foresight Sports GC Quad system which captures swing, club, and ball striking analytics for review and adjustments. The other will house Foresight’s brand new Falcon, an overhead-mounted launch monitor that provides instantaneous ball flight and club data after each shot. These tools will be instrumental for our men’s and women’s golf teams, helping to improve their game with real time data and opportunities to play and practice no matter the weather.

This exciting gift makes VWU one of very few NCAA Division III institutions in the country, and the only one in Virginia, to house its own golf simulation center. Our sincere thanks to Eric and Foresight Sports for rocketing VWU to the cutting edge of sports technology.

ET CETERA

Virginia Wesleyan, in partnership with the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD), is excited to host the first Executive Institute for Police Innovation this summer. This 4-week course will be an innovative learning experience for command and executive level public safety administrators from across the country. Subject matter experts and industry leaders will marry traditional leadership concepts with current and cutting-edge training, giving participants the skills to practically and strategically transform their organizations.

This initiative builds upon the established VWU-VBPD educational partnership where we have created clear pathways for officers to enroll and complete their bachelor’s degrees at an affordable price and customizable pace. This educational continuum for officers was created to broaden knowledge and skills, deepen understanding of human behavior, and graduate professionals with advanced abilities in resolving conflict.

Additionally, the Robert Nusbaum Center has been hosting various events throughout this academic year based on their 2023-24 theme, “Breaking Barriers: Building Trust and Collaboration Between Police and Communities.” The Executive Institute for Police Innovation is a natural extension of the good work of the Robert Nusbaum Center and the high-quality programs hosted on our campus.

We are committed to being a strong community partner and are honored by the opportunity to support the Virginia Beach Police Department with the educational resources that will allow them to achieve the highest professional standard. Our partnership with VBPD supports our mission of lifelong learning for students of all ages and backgrounds.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Visiting with Alumna Sebrina Brown

It was great to visit with Sebrina Brown ’95 and learn about her organization, Girlfriends Tea with Sebrina, a platform dedicated to building community through discussion and education. Our special thanks to Sebrina whose visit also included a wonderful gift of tea to the Office of the President for employees and guests.

At the Top of Their Games

Congratulations to women's soccer stars Sam Crawford and Rachel Quigley, who were honored at the All-America Ceremony and Reception on Saturday in Anaheim, California. Sam (right) was recognized as a First-Team All-American and Rachel (left) as a Second-Team Scholar All-American. Way to go!

Kudos to men’s basketball’s sophomore guard Khai Seargeant who was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Player of the Week for the period ending January 7. Khai had a great week, including a career-high 33 points against Ferrum while also being named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Week. Read more.

Hampton Roads Chamber Meeting

It was an informative discussion at the Hampton Roads Chamber (Virginia Beach division) regarding the City’s exploration of alternative ownership for the Virginia Aquarium. Dan Peterson (pictured right), Chair of the Virginia Aquarium Foundation Board, was the speaker. It was also the first meeting for our friend Andy Stephenson as Board Chair of HRC Virginia Beach division. I serve on both boards.

Grand Opening for The Recipe Exhibit

What an enjoyable evening at the grand opening for The Recipe: A Photographic Journey through the Virginia Beach Restaurant Scene, organized by Virginia Beach Restaurant Association, at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts last week. I’m pictured with, from left, City Councilman Worth Remick; Virginia Beach Vision Vice President Brad Martin; Jesse Wykle, Virginia Beach Vision Chair of Resort Development; and Mike Mauch, President of the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association.

Don’t forget: It’s Virginia Beach Restaurant Week (January 15-21), so enjoy great meals from some of your favorite restaurants (or try new ones!) at incredible prices.

Virtual Meeting with Bishop Sue

We had a productive meeting of the Affiliated Education Institutions of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church with Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson via Zoom last week. VWU is one of five AEIs serving the 875 UM churches in Virginia. I am proud to serve as AEI Facilitator.

In other UMC news, the path to regionalization, a process that promises greater adaptability of the Book of Discipline to fit the varying needs and opportunities of United Methodists worldwide, will again be addressed by the General Conference later this year. Read more.

Dedicating the Virginia Aquarium’s South Building

It was a pleasant evening with fellow Virginia Aquarium Foundation Board members and friends at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center for the dedication of the new South Building and Veterinary Care Center.

This newly renovated and expanded facility offers a variety of immersive experiences with interactive exhibits, kids’ play areas, touch pools, an observable veterinary care center, an interactive water quality lab, and more. After a $28.9 million renovation and expansion, the South Building features over a dozen new species of animals, along with longstanding favorites, the North American River Otters. The building is now open to the public. Learn more.

Preparing for the UNCF Mayors’ Masked Ball & Awards Ceremony

It was great to work with Joe Walters (pictured) on the recording of my interview for the United Negro College Fund awards in March.

Chris Moore Named Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director

Congratulations to Chris Moore and our good friends at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Chris was named CBF Virginia Executive Director after serving the organization since 2005. Learn more.

The Norfolk Forum Presents: Amanda Knox

In 2007, Amanda Knox created international headlines when she stood accused of the murder of her roommate/fellow study abroad student in Italy. After nearly 4 years in prison and 8 years on trial, she was finally acquitted of the crime, but the scars left by the ordeal ran deep.

The Batten Honors College is proud to be a sponsor of the Norfolk Forum and looks forward to “An Evening with Amanda Knox: Exoneree, Bestselling Author & Host of The Scarlett Letter Reports'' on Tuesday, January 23. More information.

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