Dear friends,
As we celebrate our achievements, cherish our traditions, and eagerly anticipate the future, I am excited to share some highlights from the end of our fall semester.
We celebrated the Class of 2023 at our VWU Global Campus Commencement Ceremony on December 16. We extend our gratitude to Dr. Janice Underwood, Director of the White House Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, for her inspiring keynote address at the ceremony. In recognition of her outstanding contributions at both state and national levels, Dr. Underwood was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa). We also presented faculty awards to Dr. Robert Ariel, Assistant Professor of Psychology, for Distinguished Scholarship and Dr. Maury Howard, Professor of Chemistry and Director of Nursing and Allied Health, for Campus Service. We thank them for their dedication to our students and to the advancement of our university.
Before our students left to enjoy their winter break, our campus was alive with festive joy during 'A Wesleyan Christmas' and our annual tree lighting ceremony. These events brought us together, creating a warm sense of community and shared celebration. I am also incredibly proud of our Marlin alumni and friends, who demonstrated their unwavering support by surpassing our Giving Tuesday goals on the National Day of Giving on November 28.
Our students showcased their capstone experiences at our biannual Academic Symposium, highlighting the rigorous and enriching education we offer. I was particularly impressed by a Batten Honors College student who applied their classroom learning to summer research in Belize, embodying our mission of experiential learning.
Finally, we were delighted to announce Mark Johnson, Senior Vice President and Community Development Manager at Truist Financial Corporation, as our featured speaker for our commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 15. Mark has been a wonderful friend to VWU and is known for his remarkable leadership and dedication to community service, making him an ideal speaker for this occasion.
As we look forward to the new year, I am filled with optimism and excitement for the new possibilities that await us. We are committed to fostering growth and embracing innovation at Virginia Wesleyan in all the new years to come.
Sincerely,
