It’s hard to believe it’s the end of the spring semester already. What a year!
We celebrated a myriad of student accomplishments over the last few weeks through honor society inductions, the Athletic Awards and Senior Recognition Banquet, The Bobbies, and so much more. I’m so proud of all Marlins for their hard work and commitment to their studies and this university over the course of the academic year. |
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At the Academic Symposium last Friday, students shared capstone academic experiences with the campus community during the day-long event. The day brings the campus community together to celebrate the academic achievement of students completing a variety of academic experiences, including research, internships, performance, and global engagement. Students' ability to conduct undergraduate research with faculty mentorship is one of the many ways Virginia Wesleyan is different from other institutions. I’m always impressed by the work, creativity and curiosity of the Marlins showcased at Academic Symposium. My congratulations to the students that presented or performed and to their faculty advisors who helped them achieve their goals. |
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A part of the celebration was the Spring Honors Convocation, held in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. This year, I was delighted to present the President’s Leadership Award to Batten Honors College scholar Kai Trehan ‘24. Kai’s impressive list of accomplishments, in and out of the classroom, exemplifies the mission of the Batten Honors College at Virginia Wesleyan University. She is one of 100 students worldwide to be awarded the prestigious and highly competitive Erasmus Mundus Scholarship from the European Union, which will enable her to study at any EU masters program fully funded. Her diverse engagement throughout many aspects of academics and VWU campus life demonstrates the power and importance of a liberal arts education, allowing students to explore their interests and follow their passions. |
The evening before, we celebrated the annual Louis and Prudence Ryan Environmental Research Symposium, with the awarding of the Ryan Environmental Prize for Excellence in Research. Our student finalists were Breana Mahoney, Edward McDonald, and Rhian Tramantona. Congratulations to Breana, who took home the Ryan Prize for her research project on melanoma and skin of color. We thank our guest judges – Karen Forget, Executive Director, Lynnhave River NOW; Christy Everett, Hampton Roads Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation; and Theresa Augustin, Director of Environmental Engagement & Outreach, Norfolk Botantical Garden — for their time and guidance. We offer our continued gratitude to Louis and Pru Ryan for their vision and generous support of the program.
Congratulations to all! |
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The United Methodist Church's General Conference is a quadrennial gathering where delegates worldwide come together to discuss and decide on doctrine, governance, and other issues within the denomination. It serves as a pivotal moment for setting the course of the church's future direction and policies. This event should have been held in 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic and ongoing debates and factions within the UMC.
In a series of historic votes last week at the UMC General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, church delegates voted 692-51, repealing a 40-year ban on LGBTQ clergy. The vote also removed mandatory penalties for performing same-sex marriages, bans on LGBTQ candidates for ministry, and bans on funding for gay-friendly ministries.
Delegates to the 2024 General Conference from the Coastal Virginia District were Andrew Kissell (Laity Delegate), Rev. Beth Givens, and Rev. Dr. Jason Stanley. They will provide an overview of what happened at General Conference at Haygood United Methodist (4713 Haygood Road; Virginia Beach, 23455) on Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. There is also a Zoom option. All are welcome.
The debate over LGBTQ rights in the United Methodist Church has been going on in some form for the last half century, and Virginia Wesleyan applauds the Church for finally choosing the path of inclusion. We are proud of our United Methodist heritage and look forward to a brighter future for the Church and its people. |
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I am pleased to share that I have joined the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness (CPCP), a prestigious collaborative comprising leaders from selective national liberal arts colleges across the country. This consortium, created by and for college presidents, is devoted to empowering our students with the civic skills necessary to actively participate in democracy and engage in civil discourse.
At Virginia Wesleyan University, we understand the complexities of free speech tensions, which are often highlighted by global issues. However, our unique assets, such as the proactive dialogues encouraged by the Robert Nusbaum Center and our secure campus setting, provide us with the tools to address these challenges effectively.
We don't take these things for granted. Joining the CPCP is a significant step that builds upon our commitment to civic engagement. Through this consortium, we connect with a network of forward-thinking leaders who share a commitment to the civic development of their institutions. This network facilitates peer learning, the exchange of best practices, and provides us with essential tools to enhance Civic Commitments across our curriculum and campus life.
I look forward to collaborating with my peers in the CPCP to equip our students for active citizenship and to guide our democracy towards a promising future.
Read more. |
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AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS |
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Navy ROTC Ribbon Cutting It was a great day to be a Marlin as we officially welcomed the Navy ROTC into our academic and co-curricular programs through the Hampton Roads Consortium last week. Our thanks to Navy veteran and Trustee Emeritus Jerry Miller for serving as our keynote speaker, and to Capt. Brian Becker, Commanding Officer of the program. We were joined by Nolan Bursch from Congresswoman Jen Kiggans’ office. Rep. Kiggans was instrumental in bringing this program to VWU, and we thank her for her special attention and assistance. |
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Honoring our 2024 Retirees It was wonderful to recognize our 2024 retirees, (from left) Larry Hultgren, Professor of Philosophy; Clay Drees, Professor of History; Barbara Artis, Corporal, Security; Sharon Swift, Professor of Art; and Patrick Goold, Associate Professor of Philosophy, during our Employee Milestones Celebration in the Joan P. Brock Room of Brock Commons. We thank these longtime community members for their dedicated service to VWU! (Not pictured: Susan Wansink, Professor of German Studies.) |
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Larry Hultgren: (Quite Possibly) America’s Longest Serving FAR Last Thursday marked Larry Hultgren’s final meeting as VWU’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) as he retires in two weeks after 55 years on the faculty. No other faculty member had exclusively served in this role in the history of VWU. We suspect his service may be the longest in the country. Joining Larry and me at the Athletics Management Council: student representative Julia Hathaway; Andrea Hoover-Erbig, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, and Jill Sturts, Associate Professor of Sport and Recreation Professions, Assistant Dean of the Batten Honors College, and FAR. |
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Dinner with Off the Hook It was great to host event supervisors from Off the Hook (student engagement) for dinner at DeFord Manor with Tia Durand, Vanessa Luna-Ramirez, Ryleigh Taylor, Abigail Villacrusis, Sydnee Washington, Melina Cabral ‘23, Coordinator for Student Engagement Programming, and Jason Seward ‘05, Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management. |
Trey DelPo Honored for Hospitality in Arts & Culture Congratulations to Trey DelPo ‘17, Director of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center, on his recognition in the Arts & Culture category of the National Travel and Tourism Week Hospitality Awards Celebration at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. These awards are hosted by the City of Virginia Beach, celebrating the vibrant tourism and hospitality industry of our beautiful city. Bonus celebration: It was his birthday, too! |
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Marlin Mural Fest in VEER Magazine The Marlin Mural Fest was recently featured in VEER Magazine, celebrating not only its artistic achievement but its academic innovation, too. Congratulations to John Rudel, Professor of Art, on this wonderful program! |
VMOCA Meeting at VWU We are excited about academic integration opportunities with the soon-to-be-constructed Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art at VWU. Pictured with (from left) Sally Shedd, Professor of Theatre; Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Sue Larkin; Virginia MOCA Executive Director Alison Byrne; and Scott Duncan, Virginia MOCA Immediate Past Chair. |
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Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce-Virginia Beach Division The monthly meeting of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce-Virginia Beach Division is a wonderful opportunity to address regionalism. Pictured with Justin Saunders, Vice President of Membership & Strategic Growth of HRCC; Laura Chalk, currently Virginia Beach Deputy Director of Economic Development, Delceno Miles, CEO of The Miles Agency; and Bob Pizzini, CEO of iFLY Virginia Beach and author of “Elevate Your Leadership.” |
Virginia Beach Vision: Martha McClees Retirement Special congratulations to Martha McClees on her retirement after 16 years as Executive Director of Virginia Beach Vision. We’re pictured with Karen Forget, who served as Chair of the celebration committee. The celebration was held at Virginia MOCA. |
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Norfolk Tides Tickets 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. 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. |
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COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP NEWS |
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Best wishes on your final exams, Marlins!
Sincerely, |
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