Happy 4th of July!

 Annie and I hope you have a fun and safe holiday!

Proud of our Daughter, Dr. Ashlee Miller Upp

Incredibly proud of our youngest daughter, Dr. Ashlee Miller Upp, named Principal today at W. Reily Brown Elementary School (Caesar Rodney School District) in Delaware. A former “Teacher of the Year” at both Welch Elementary and Allen Frear Elementary, she is also a former “District Teacher of the Year” and a former finalist (2019) for “State (Delaware) Teacher of the Year.” Way to go Ashlee!

Enjoyable Dinner at The Boathouse

Back in Bethany Beach, Delaware, for the 4th. Enjoyable dinner at The Boathouse with friends from the Ocean View days — Ed Credle and Gene Parker.

Great to visit with The Hermitage Museum/Goode Family Visual Arts School

Great to visit with the wonderful staff at The Hermitage Museum/Goode Family Visual Arts School: Jen Duncan, Executive Director; Carrie Spencer, Curator; and Ashleigh Maggard, Director of Development, with Travis Malone, Dean of the VWU Batten Honors College.

Enjoyable Evening at the Town Point Club

Enjoyable evening at the Town Point Club at the World Trade Center in Norfolk with many friends and supporters of VWU. With Congressman Bobby Scott and Don Scott, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, and Harry Lester, former President of Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Enjoyable meeting with David Doré

Enjoyable meeting David Doré, new Chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges, in Richmond today. VWU and VCC have a seamless pathway articulation agreement benefiting any student pursuing higher education in the Commonwealth.

The Celebration of the 1-year Anniversary of Pell Grant

Our thanks to Chadwick Dotson, Director of Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC), and Terri Erwin, Director of Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison, for involving VWU in the celebration of the 1-year anniversary of Pell Grant reinstatement for incarcerated learners. And with Rodney Berry, Superintendent of Education, VADOC.

The President's Letter: Bright Days, Brighter Achievements

 

Bright Days, Brighter Achievements July 2024 Dear friends, As we begin our new fiscal year, I'm excited to share some of the bright days and even brighter achievements that have marked this summer at VWU. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Mary Dana Hinton, President of Hollins University and author of "Leading from the Margins: College Leadership in Unexpected Places," to speak at the Batten Honors College Convocation on September 5. Dr. Hinton's deep commitment to educational excellence will undoubtedly inspire our students and faculty as they embark on a new academic year. The 2024 HRCAP Community Builders Award Ceremony recently recognized leaders in higher education, including VWU. This accolade reflects our shared dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. Celebrating another kind of achievement, first-year student Natashe Tate earned All-American honors in the 100-meter dash at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship Meet. Her exceptional performance is a testament to the high standards our students strive to meet in both academics and athletics. In academics, our Heat Mitigation Project, in collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Communities and the Elizabeth River Project, continues in Portsmouth, Virginia. Additionally, students in PSY101 presented their collaborative research paper at a national conference on the intersection of psychology, art, and artificial intelligence. These efforts highlight our commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional education and embracing interdisciplinary approaches in and out of the classroom. Lastly, I am pleased to announce the book release of the 2023-24 President to President thought leadership series, available for free online. This year's topic, "Sustainable Futures for Higher Education," is aimed at guiding university leaders to foster environments that prioritize sustainability. I'm proud to have served as the executive editor of this series for the last 20 years. Thank you for your dedication and enthusiasm as we continue to catch the rays of opportunity and raise the bar for excellence at VWU. Sincerely, Dr. Mary Dana Hinton to Serve as Batten Honors College Convocation Speaker Her new book, "Leading from the Margins: College Leadership in Unexpected Places," will resonate deeply with students Read More President Miller Honored with 2024 HRCAP Community Builders Award Distinguished award recognizes individuals and organizations making significant contributions to community improvement Read More Natashe Tate Earns All-American Honors at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship Meet First-year student Tate finished 7th in the 100-meter dash Read More Heat Mitigation Project Commencing in Portsmouth Seeking volunteers to help collect environmental data in the city Read More Exploring the Intersection of Psychology, Art, and Artificial Intelligence VWU professor and students to present paper at international conference Read More President to President: Sustainable Futures for Higher Education The entire 2023-24 thought leadership series is now available for free online Read More  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌