Celebrating Martha McClees

Today, we celebrated the end of Martha McClees' 16-years of exceptional leadership as Executive Director of Virginia Beach Vision with a lunch at DeFord Manor. Joining us were VB Vision Vice President Brad Martin and VB Vision Assistant Administrator Marla Johnson. Thank you, Martha, for your service to Coastal Virginia.

Meeting with Danijel Velicki

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting with Danijel Velicki, CEO of Sqwire LLC, and learning more about the financial wellness platform they offer. It is particularly attractive to HE institutions. Virginia Private Colleges is a partner with Sqwire.

The Don Clark Family

The entire Don Clark family are members of the Aramark Facilities Management team, and they joined us for the Ice Cream Social at DeFord Manor.

Ice Cream Social

A wonderful ice cream social today at DeFord Manor for our team members from Aramark Facilities Management. Donte and Tabitha did the "DeFord Dunk!"

Momo Higuchi's Last Day

An emotional final day for Momo Higuchi ‘23. Momo first enrolled at VWU via our collaborative campus in Tokyo. She then matriculated in Virginia Beach and stayed after graduation to work for Sodexo Catering and Conference Services, where she has been a wonderful team member.

Nota Bene: Weekly Update

 

May 28, 2024 Good morning, It was an outstanding weekend for VWU Athletics, as Marlins continue to impress on the national stage. First, congratulations to our Marlin softball program! They are heading to Marshall, Texas, for the NCAA World Series, which begins on May 30. Kudos to Emma Adams, who was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Super Regional, and Julia Piotrowski, the Super Regional's Most Outstanding Player. Way to go! Finally, congratulations to Natashe Tate, who placed 7th in women's 100m dash at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Meet in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Her finish earned her first-team All-American honors, which makes her the second All-American (and first sprinter) to earn this honor in VWU program history. It's a great day to be a Marlin! At a luncheon hosted by the Lakeland University Board of Trustees in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, last week, I was delighted to join Beth Borgen, President of Lakeland University, for the announcement of the Jane P. Batten and David R. Black School for International Studies to be based at our collaborative campus with Lakeland University Japan (LUJ). Namesakes Jane Batten and David Black were also in attendance.   The Batten & Black School has been established to advance global engagement opportunities for Virginia Wesleyan University, Lakeland University (WI), and the LUJ/VWU Global Campus collaborative.  LUJ, chartered in 1990, serves as a beacon of cross-cultural understanding, critical thinking, and strategic action in the heart of Tokyo, the world's largest and safest city. This prestigious institution enrolls students who are deeply committed to making a positive impact in a global economy fraught with geopolitical tensions, climate degradation, and the whirlwind of rapid technological advancement. Embodying the region's esteemed values of civility and teamwork, the Batten & Black School is a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines its foundation. In a significant milestone, 2020 marked the beginning of a collaborative relationship with Virginia Wesleyan University Global Campus, further expanding the horizons for Batten & Black students. Through a concurrent enrollment agreement between LU and VWU, learners from the Batten & Black School have unique opportunities, on all three campuses, not afforded at other universities.    Welcoming study abroad students from the U.S. and beyond, the Batten & Black School for International Studies at LUJ is not just an academic institution; it is a global platform for change-makers. With its enhanced partnerships and opportunities, particularly since 2020, the School is poised to continue shaping leaders who are ready to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges with intelligence, empathy, and strategic vision. The Batten & Black School of International Studies at LUJ is a function of VWU Global Campus. Learn more.  Pictured: Dr. Beth Borgen, President of LU; Dr. David Black, Executive in Residence at VWU and President Emeritus at LU; and visionary philanthropist Jane Batten ET CETERA With pride, I share the Spring 2024 President's List and the Spring 2024 Dean’s List.   Congratulations to the 128 students on the President’s List who achieved a 4.0 grade point average and to the 284 students on the Dean’s List who achieved a 3.5-3.99 grade point average for the spring semester.   To qualify for these honors, students must have full-time status and have taken at least nine semester hours of traditionally-graded courses. These individuals demonstrate a remarkable level of dedication to their academic pursuits. Well done!  Please join me in congratulating Dr. Craig Jackson in his new role as the new Dean of the Birdsong School of Social Science. Dr. Jackson's experience and dedication will be invaluable to the Academic Council, and his leadership will greatly benefit both the Birdsong School and the entire university.  Dr. Jackson earned his Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in social and personality psychology from Florida Atlantic University and a B.S. in psychology from the University of Florida. He has worked in the psychology departments at Randolph College and Lynchburg College before joining the faculty of Virginia Wesleyan University, where he has served as Associate Professor of Psychology, Director of Institutional Effectiveness, and Chief Assessment Administrator for Academic Programs. AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS The Passing of Trustee Emeritus William “Bill” J. Fanney Last week, I shared the passing of longtime Virginia Wesleyan University Trustee Emeritus William “Bill” J. Fanney on April 30 at the age of 100. Involved with Virginia Wesleyan since its founding, Bill served on the President’s Advisory Council and later as a member of the Board of Trustees. In 1989, Bill’s son, Dr. Thomas R. Fanney '76, became the first VWU alumnus to return as a member of the full-time faculty. Following his son’s passing in 2005, Bill established the Thomas R. Fanney Distinguished Professorship in Mathematics, an endowed professorship at Virginia Wesleyan. Read more. Marlin Alumni Welcome Newest Members Many thanks to Alumni Council members (from left) Jessie Dawe ‘08, Mindy Garrenton ‘01, Nich Hipple ‘18, Julie Kissell ‘82, and Kim Mayo ‘98 for their special participation in the 2024 Commencement ceremony. Following the event in TowneBank Arena, this group bestowed each member of the Class of 2024 with a VWU Alumni pin, marking each graduate as a member of the Marlin alumni family forever. Speaking of Commencement, our ceremony was covered by WVEC, featuring a special story about 2024 Batten Honors College graduate Kainaat Trehan. Enjoy! Celebrating WINDSday I enjoyed celebrating WINDSday with friends from the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Community Roundtable at Virginia International Gateway with VBCPS Superintendent Don Robertson; Delceno Miles, CEO of the Miles Agency; and Joan Berlin, board member of the Renaissance Academy. Suffolk State of the City It was wonderful to visit with Everett and George Birdsong at last week’s Suffolk State of the City luncheon. The Birdsong family has been a strong supporter of VWU since our founding. While there, I also caught up with Delceno Miles, CEO of the Miles Agency; Nancy Grden, CEO of Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable; Joel Rubin, CEO of The Rubin Communications Group; and Justin Saunders, who serves as Hampton Roads Chamber Vice President of Membership & Strategic Growth. Virginia Beach City Public Schools Community Roundtable It was a productive meeting of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Community Roundtable at the Virginia International Gateway (VIG) last week. Superintendent Donald Robertson and VIG Government Affairs Director Thomas Cross led a discussion focusing on the port and education. United Methodist Church News Bishops from the United Methodist Church clarified in a press release that the Global Methodist Church has no official relationship with the UMC. Learn more. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP NEWS STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES Features News Briefs VWU Athletics The Wesleyan Review VWU Alumni News  The Arts at VWU  Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine  The Pharos REFLECTIONS I hope you find these links useful to my recent columns and publications:  University Business  Enrollment Manager  President to President Archives CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter: @vawesleyanprez  Facebook: @ScottDMillerprez Instagram: @prezscottmiller  LinkedIn: Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.  Flickr: Scott D. Miller  Dialogue: prezscottmiller.blogspot.com  (Be sure to subscribe to Dialogue for daily updates via email)  Have a great week, Marlins! Sincerely, -- Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. President Virginia Wesleyan University 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455   Phone: 757.455.3215 Email: president@vwu.edu Web: www.vwu.edu/president  Blog: prezscottmiller.blogspot.com

Memorial Day

 

Congratulations, VWU Softball!

Congratulations Virginia Wesleyan University Marlins — heading to the Elite Eight in Marshall, Texas, in pursuit of their fourth NCAA Championship!

Jane P. Batten & David R. Black School for International Studies

Delighted to share the Jane P. Batten & David R. Black School for International Studies at our collaborative campus in Tokyo. Pictured with Lakeland President Beth Borgen, VWU Executive in Residence and President Emeritus of LU David Black, and visionary philanthropist Jane Batten at the School’s announcement in Wisconsin today.

Celebrating WINDSday

Celebrating WINDSday with friends from the Virginia Beach CPS Community Roundtable at Virginia International Gateway with VBCPS Supt. Don Robertson, Delceno Miles, and Joan Berlin.

Luncheons and Visit with Good Friends

Always a pleasure to attend regional HR Chamber business & government leaders luncheons and visit with good friends. With Delceno Miles CEO of the Miles Agency, Nancy Grden, CEO of Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable, and Joel Rubin, CEO of The Rubin Communications Group. With Justin Saunders serves as Vice President of Membership & Strategic Growth.

Suffolk State of the City Luncheon

Great visiting with Everett and George Birdsong at today’s Suffolk State of the City luncheon. The Birdsong family has been a strong supporter of VWU since our founding.

Productive Meeting

 

Productive meeting of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Community Roundtable at the Virginia International Gateway.  Supt. Donald Robertson and VIG Government Affairs Director Thomas Cross led a discussion focusing on the port and education.

Visit with Terri Erwin

Nice to visit with Terri Erwin this morning to learn more about the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy.

Nota Bene: Weekly Update

 

May 20, 2024 Good morning,

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! We wish you the very best as you pursue your personal and professional goals.  A special thanks to our Commencement speaker, U.S. Senator Mark Warner, for his inspiring address. He was awarded an honorary doctorate along with Dr. Larry Hultgren, retiring Professor of Philosophy and a member of the Virginia Wesleyan faculty since 1969. Our faculty award winners include Dr. Craig Wansink (Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award), Dr. Jill Sturts (Birdsong Community Engagement Award), and Dr. Eric Johnson (United Methodist Church General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Exemplary Teacher of the Year Award).  During our ceremony, we recognized our first graduates in the joint Bachelor of Science in Nursing program with Sentara College of Health Sciences (SCHS). These pioneering graduates participated in the traditional pinning ceremony at SCHS on Friday evening. Earlier on Friday, graduating scholars in the Batten Honors College were given medallions to wear during the capstone ceremony that indicated their completion of this distinctive program. Senior Edward McDonald served as the keynote speaker. Awards were presented to the finalists for the Louis and Prudence Ryan Environmental Research Symposium, and Dr. Hultgren was honored with the Frank and Jane P. Batten Distinguished Scholar Award. Our special thanks to R. Perez Gatling, pastor of neighboring Ebenezer Baptist Church, for serving as our keynote speaker for Baccalaureate on Friday evening. Senior Zion Purvis-Allen delivered our student address, and Jason Seward '05, Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management, welcomed the Class of 2024 as the newest Marlin alumni. At the end of the ceremony, graduates were presented their tassels for their Commencement regalia. Congratulations to all, especially to the Class of 2024! We will miss you and hope you keep in touch.  Read More | Photo Gallery | Watch Now

We are delighted to share that Virginia Delegate Don Scott will be our keynote speaker for our Winter 2024 Commencement Ceremony, which will be held on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Don Scott, recently elected as the first Black speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in its 405-year history, has rapidly gained influence since joining the General Assembly in 2020. Scott has been a strong advocate for reproductive rights, criminal justice reform, and supporting working families. As speaker, he chairs the rules committee and serves on several influential boards and commissions, including the Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates and the Virginia State Crime Commission. Scott, a strategic trial lawyer and partner at Breit Biniazan, began his law career after serving as a legal officer in the Navy. He founded his own law firm in 2015, taking on high-profile cases, and is actively involved in various legal and community organizations. Honored as the 2024 Legislator of the Year by the Virginia Education Association, Scott has also received multiple leadership and humanitarian awards. He lives in Portsmouth with his wife, Dr. Mellanda Colson Scott, a dentist in Norfolk. Additionally, Del. Scott is no stranger to Virginia Wesleyan’s campus. He is a proud parent at Chesapeake Bay Academy, located on the east side of our campus. We look forward to Del. Scott’s inspiring address to our newest graduates in December.

ET CETERA

Virginia Wesleyan is committed to accessibility and affordability for our students. One of the most important avenues for these goals is the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) program. This vital program is a needed and beneficial way for students across the Commonwealth of Virginia — including those enrolled at Virginia Wesleyan — to afford their education at private colleges and universities. VWU is among the 27 private colleges in Virginia that has been advocating for an increase in VTAG funding.    I’m proud to share that our collective advocacy work has paid off. The governor approved increases in VTAG in 2025 ($5,125) and 2026 ($5,250) in the state budget. The base VTAG increase also means that VTAG for online students increases proportionally. In other good news, the VTAG application deadline has been extended from July 31 to September 15, and the application will soon be made available online.  Thank you to all of our Marlin community members who joined the letter-writing campaign in September and February to share how important an increase in the VTAG grant is to you. Together, we are progressing higher education accessibility and affordability to the students of Virginia.

The Virginia Wesleyan University Board of Trustees held their Spring Meeting last Wednesday in the Shafer Room (Board of Trustees Suite) in the Boyd Dining Center of Brock Commons.

Among the actions: Approved actions of Board Committees (February to May 2024) Approved the May-August 2024 Candidates for Graduation Accepted the Endowment Report of Brown Advisory  Affirmed Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson as Vice President for VWU Global Campus (pictured) Affirmed signature policies Virginia Wesleyan University Mission Statement Virginia Wesleyan University Environmental Guiding Principles The Wesleyan Creed Virginia Wesleyan University Quality Service Pledge Virginia Wesleyan University Athletics Mission Statement  Approved Policy Documents (for the period beginning July 1, 2024): Virginia Wesleyan University Academic Catalog, 2024-25 Virginia Wesleyan University Online Degree and Graduate Catalog, 2024-25 Virginia Wesleyan University Student Handbook, 2024-25 VWU Student-Athlete Handbook, 2024-25 Approved Faculty Emeritus/a Status (June 30, 2024 retirements): Clayton Drees Patrick Goold Larry Hultgren Deborah Otis Sharon Swift Susan Wansink Accepted detailed written reports from Colleges, Schools and Departments of the University

We honored our Board members with a wonderful dinner at DeFord Manor immediately following the Spring meeting. Kudos to Batten Honors College scholar Kai Trehan '24, who served as our guest speaker before the dinner. We also celebrated the birthday of Board member and alumnus Chip Tsantes and the remarkable 55-year career of Larry Hultgren (pictured). We thank the Board for their continued energy and support throughout this academic year.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

600 Wins and More Congratulations to Brandon Elliott ‘03, Head Softball Coach, who was presented a resolution from the Board of Trustees recognizing 600 career wins during last week’s meeting. We’re pictured with VWU Board of Trustees Chair Jon Pruden. Coach Elliott and the Marlins racked up another win after a resounding 8-0 performance over Lebanon Valley on Saturday afternoon to advance them to the NCAA Super Regional. Emma Adams was named the 2024 NCAA Regional Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, and Mackenzie Myers, Alison Pollack, Laci Campbell, and Sarah Prosser were named to the All-Tournament Team. Way to go!

Remembering Jesse Fanshaw '72 We recently shared the passing of Jesse H. Fanshaw III, Class of 1972 and the first Alumni Director of Virginia Wesleyan. Visitation and memorial services will be held May 25-26. For additional details, please read about his extraordinary life.

Honoring Those We Lost May 31 is the five-year anniversary of the horrific tragedy at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center where 12 people lost their lives and 4 were injured. One of the victims included VWU’s own Robert “Bobby” Williams, Class of 1975. In the fall of 2019, the University dedicated the Robert T. Williams ’75 Trail at Wesleyan Woods in his memory, serving as a place to gain peace, find understanding, and connect with the best our campus has to offer.  During the month of May, which is also Mental Health Awareness Month, the City of Virginia Beach is offering several ways to honor the victims and their families. Most of the events are free and open to the public. Check out the Love For VB resources for detailed information about special programming.

Breana Mahoney ’24 is a "GenerationNext: Thought Leader" Proud to share news about another exceptional Marlin making her mark. I Love My HBCU? offered a first-of-its-kind civic engagement summit, GenerationNext: Thought Leaders. Among the 125 student attendees, VWU Batten Honors College scholar Breana Mahoney ‘24 served as a student panelist, engaging with fellow students from 15 universities and 6 states as well as several elected officials and civic organization leaders on crowd-sourced national issues that impact them in critical ways.

The Pharos: May 2024 Available Now I am proud to share the May 2024 edition of The Pharos which is available now online. We hope you enjoy learning more about our talented faculty and staff members who continue to make important contributions to their respective fields through publications, presentations, and more.

Catching Up with New SGA President I caught up with Miles Pifer who was recently elected president of the VWU Student Government Association. Miles is a rising sophomore from Norfolk. We’re pictured with Keith Moore, Senior Vice President, in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. Congratulations, Miles! Congratulations to our Graduate Interns Abby Mahoney '24 and Sam Crawford '24 have been serving the Office of the President and the Center for Advancement (respectively) in Godwin Hall for the last year as graduate interns. And now, they are graduating again with their master's degrees. We celebrated them with a cake and gifted each a diploma frame to proudly display their academic accomplishments at VWU. Congressional Art Competition with Jen Kiggans We were delighted to have the Congressional Art Competition, hosted by Rep. Jen Kiggans, at the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center last week. The competition included over 70 submissions from Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Isle of Wight. We’re pictured with Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Sue Larkin and Senior Vice President Keith Moore.

Ice Cream Social at DeFord Manor Annie and I hosted an ice cream social at DeFord Manor for our wonderful friends from Sodexo Dining Services last week. Senior Vice President Keith Moore and Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management Jason Seward helped out as servers and were dressed the part. Special thanks to Tim Lockett, General Manager of Dining Services, and Heather Beatty, Director of Catering and Conference Services, for their leadership throughout the academic year.

Inside Business Power List Every year, Inside Business creates its annual Power List to showcase who’s moving the needle for the economy in Hampton Roads, whether they be the decision-makers, the influencers or those working behind the scenes. I am humbled to be included in the Top 25 once again. I credit much of my impact on my amazingly talented team, both on and off campus. Read more. Drones on the Move I had a very enlightening discussion last week with Tom Walker, Founder and CEO of DroneUp, located less than 2 miles from the VWU campus. Tom shared what DroneUp is doing in the industry and how it will impact businesses in the future. We're pictured with Martha McClees in her last meeting as Executive Director of Virginia Beach Vision. TCA on 13 News Now We were delighted to welcome 13 News Now to campus this past week. In her “Making a Mark” special segment, anchor Ashley Smith shared the mission of Tidewater Collegiate Academy (TCA) at Virginia Wesleyan University, an innovative laboratory for teaching and learning that extends from the primary grades through high school with early college, dual enrollment opportunities housed in the brand-new Frank Blocker Youth Center on campus. View story.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP NEWS

STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES Features News Briefs VWU Athletics The Wesleyan Review VWU Alumni News  The Arts at VWU  Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine  The Pharos REFLECTIONS I hope you find these links useful to my recent columns and publications:  University Business  Enrollment Manager  President to President Archives CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter: @vawesleyanprez  Facebook: @ScottDMillerprez Instagram: @prezscottmiller  LinkedIn: Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.  Flickr: Scott D. Miller  Dialogue: prezscottmiller.blogspot.com  (Be sure to subscribe to Dialogue for daily updates via email)

Have a great summer, Marlins! Sincerely,

-- Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. President Virginia Wesleyan University 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455   Phone: 757.455.3215 Email: president@vwu.edu Web: www.vwu.edu/president  Blog: prezscottmiller.blogspot.com