I’m delighted to announce the appointment of Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, Ph.D., as the Vice President for the VWU Global Campus, a significant expansion of her previous role within the institution.
Under Dr. Gonsalves-Jackson’s leadership, the Division of VWU Global Campus has shown remarkable growth, expanding to over 2,600 learners in the 2022-23 academic year, with projections to reach 3,000 learners in 2023-24. The division encompasses several key components including VWU Online, VWU Global Campus (Japan), the Weekend and Evening Program, the David R. Black Institute for Professional Practice, the Westminster-Wesleyan Lifelong Learning Institute, and the Advanced Studies Institute. Dr. Gonsalves-Jackson also chairs the VWU Graduate Council and oversees all graduate programs.
Dr. Gonsalves-Jackson’s leadership and dedication to academic excellence have been instrumental in shaping the future of our Global Campus. Her significant impact on the university’s growth and her commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for our students worldwide make her the ideal leader for this expanded role.
Prior to her new appointment, Dr. Gonsalves-Jackson served as Dean of the VWU Global Campus from 2020 to 2024. She has held various other significant roles at Virginia Wesleyan, including Director of Nursing and Allied Health and Director of Summer Sessions and January Term. She was also a co-director of the Virginia Wesleyan Environmental Institute and served as Chair of the Biology Department.
Dr. Gonsalves-Jackson earned her B.A. in Biology from Randolph College, an M.S. in Biology from Florida Atlantic University, and a Ph.D. in Biology from Florida Institute of Technology. Her distinguished career is marked by numerous honors, such as the Barbara Holland Administrator-Scholar Award from the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) and The WISE Alumna Legacy Award for her contributions to STEM outreach. At VWU, she is a recipient of the Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award and the Birdsong Service and Community Engagement Award, and she holds the distinction of Batten Professor.
I’d like to take a moment to recognize Dr. David Black who has led our global efforts in many areas stated above as Chancellor, VWU Global Campus (Japan). He will return to the capacity of Executive-In-Residence.
Congratulations, Deirdre, and thank you, David!
Sincerely,
