June 10, 2024
Good morning, |
|
We are pleased to share an exciting development in our partnership with Chesapeake Bay Academy (CBA). In 2000, CBA built its current facility on land leased to them by Virginia Wesleyan. Recently, through donor generosity, VWU purchased the CBA building and executed a long-term lease back to them. This transaction has significant financial benefits for both organizations and will create a wide range of new opportunities - academic, athletic, and extracurricular.
As you know, VWU is committed to serving the neurodiverse community, as evidenced by our recent announcement about VWU’s new Center for Career Development and Neurodiversity. By further enhancing our relationship with Chesapeake Bay Academy, we look forward to expanding the many possibilities for collaboration. |
|
Thanks to the Hampton Roads Community Action Program (HRCAP) for the special honor last week during the 2024 Community Builders Awards at the Newport News Marriott at City Center. This year's theme was "Together Toward Tomorrow" and featured keynote speaker and award-winning actress and stage director Phylicia Rashad, who serves as the Dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University.
The HRCAP Community Builders Award recognizes individuals and organizations in the Hampton Roads area who are making significant contributions to community improvement through initiatives in education, volunteerism, business development, and outreach. I was honored to be recognized with colleagues from 10 distinguished institutions of higher education in our region.
I thank the faculty and staff at Virginia Wesleyan for creating an environment where students of all backgrounds can thrive. This award recognizes your commitment to excellence and innovation as we help to shape the future of higher education through lifelong learning. |
|
A warm Virginia Wesleyan welcome to Reverend Doug Sasser! We are delighted to share that Rev. Sasser will be joining us as the new pastor of Haygood United Methodist Church, located just east of campus on Wesleyan/Haygood, and will replace Beth Givens as the associate chaplain of our campus ministry.
Rev. Givens, who concluded three years of dedicated service last week, is moving into the Coastal Virginia District Superintendent’s role with an office in Heritage United Methodist Church Annex on the eastern edge of campus.
Rev. Sasser, a native of Georgia, has a rich background in pastoral ministry and education, having served churches in Virginia and holding degrees from the University of Georgia and Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. He is joined by his wife, Deena, a music and theatre enthusiast with a background in historic preservation. Both are avid readers, community theater participants, and cat lovers. We look forward to the positive impact they will bring to our community. |
|
In other United Methodist Church news, and as a former president of the North American Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAAMSCU), I am proud to support the recent actions taken by the UMC during its General Conference repealing a 40-year ban on LGBTQ clergy and removing penalties for same-sex marriages.
Virginia Wesleyan has never wavered in its position and we applaud the UMC for choosing a path of inclusion, reflecting our shared commitment to diversity and acceptance within the United Methodist heritage. VWU’s Monumental Chapel celebrates the covenant of Christian marriage as an act of worship. Consistent with VWU’s Opening and Affirming commitment, wedding ceremonies for same-gender couples are welcome here. |
|
Due to my former leadership of NAAMSCU, I was invited to represent recent changes in the United Methodist Church at the American Council on Education (ACE) Commission for Faith-Based Colleges and Universities inaugural meeting held in Washington, D.C., last week.
While there, I had an enjoyable visit with Nick Anderson, a vice president of the ACE (picture below, left). Nick was a reporter covering higher education, national education policy and the global education market for The Washington Post for 19 years. I also enjoyed visiting with Linda Livingstone, President of Baylor University and Chair of the NCAA Board of Governors, and Brian Johnson, President of Warner Pacific University (pictured below, right). We discussed NCAA-related topics affecting all divisions of the organization. |
|
AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS |
|
VWU Celebrates Pride Month We wish all our LGBTQ+ students, alumni, parents, friends and allies a happy Pride Month. As is our tradition, we are proudly flying a Pride flag on our campus, adjacent to the American flag and Virginia flag at Heritage Plaza in front of Godwin Hall. |
|
VWU Welcomes World Affairs Council As previously announced, the World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads has officially moved to campus-based offices in Clarke Hall. The office suite is located between The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration and Discovery and the Robert Nusbaum Center on the first floor. Given our close proximity to the North American Headquarters of NATO, the World Affairs Council will bring exciting, high-demand speakers to campus for unparalleled opportunities for our students. Additionally, the World Affairs Council looks to offer a certificate program to interested students who study abroad for a full semester. |
Farewell for Now 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. Best wishes, Momo! |
|
Food and Fun at DeFord Manor We recently hosted an enjoyable ice cream social at DeFord Manor for our team members from Aramark Facilities Management. Donte and Tabitha even did the #DeFordDunk. (I told you it was trending...)
Our thanks to Team Aramark for their special care of our campus grounds and facilities. |
|
VWU Center for Urban Leadership Education We had a productive discussion about our new Center for Urban Leadership Education with Gilbert Bland (center left), President of the Urban League of Hampton Roads, and Bishop Courtney McBath (center), President of Virginia Christian College. Joining us for the meeting were David Black (far left), VWU Executive-in-Residence, and Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson (far right), Vice President of VWU Global Campus. |
Progressing Virginia MOCA at VWU We had two productive meetings last week that advanced our partnership with the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the construction of its new facility on the VWU campus. In the first meeting, Kelly Cordova, Chief of Staff/ Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, and I joined Alison Byrne, Executive Director of Virginia MOCA, and Sherri Stein, Virginia MOCA Director of Institutional Advancement, to further our shared mission. Following that, representatives from Hourigan Construction, Tymoff+Moss, and VWU convened to discuss the construction specifics of the new Virginia MOCA at VWU. We are excited to break ground on this project this summer. |
|
Camp Red Feather is Back with Additional Classroom Space The recently expanded Frank Blocker, Jr. Youth Center at Virginia Wesleyan is ready for a busy summer as 500 children per day will take advantage of YMCA Camp Red Feather on our beautiful 300-acre park-like campus and adjacent Lake Taylor. The 2024 Camp Red Feather season begins this week. |
|
President to President: Download the Complete 2023-2024 Series (FREE e-book) The complete 2023-2024 President to President thought leadership series is now available to download here. This year’s book, titled “Sustainable Futures for Higher Education,” offers a thoughtful examination of how sustainability and its many facets will continue to impact college campuses.
I would like to thank this year’s authors for contributing their perspectives on these critical and timely topics. The goal of President to President is to provide innovative ideas, fresh approaches, and practical strategies for addressing the many challenges modern college campuses encounter. I hope you found value in reading about the experiences of these esteemed higher education leaders and will join us for next year's President to President series, which will focus on current and future game changers in higher education. |
|
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP NEWS |
|
Happy Pride Month, Marlins!
Sincerely, |
|
|
|
