Dear friends,
Before we welcome our Marlins back to campus later this month, I'm eager to share some updates and exciting developments that have shaped our university over the summer.
We are pleased to announce Capt. Janet Days as the Spring 2025 Commencement speaker, whose distinguished leadership will inspire our graduates as they embark on new journeys. Additionally, Founders Day will feature Jennifer Rouse '08, a Virginia Beach City Council member, as the keynote speaker. She will be honored alongside three other 2024 Alumni Awards recipients during our ceremony.
In other alumni news, we are excited to introduce new leadership with Jessie Dawe ’08 taking the helm as Chair of the Alumni Council and Bill Gobble ’03 as Vice Chair. Their leadership will undoubtedly strengthen our alumni network and enhance our community's reach.
In academics, our global engagement efforts have advanced with the opening of the Jane P. Batten & David R. Black School for International Studies in Japan. This new school expands our global educational offerings and provides our students with invaluable international perspectives. We also celebrate the recognition of Lily Reslick, a VWU junior, who received the Agnes Cooke Scholarship from the Virginia Press Women Foundation for her dedication and potential in communications.
Finally, I'm proud to introduce the 21st year of the President to President thought leadership series. This year, we will delve into "Game Changers" in higher education, exploring innovative ideas that are transforming our educational landscape.
As we prepare for the return of our students and the start of a new academic year, these accomplishments underscore our commitment to excellence, leadership, and community engagement at VWU. We look forward to an exciting year ahead as our campus once again becomes a hub of student activity and inspiration.
Sincerely, | 
