Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

October 21, 2024

Good morning,

The VWU Board of Trustees wrapped up two weeks of committee meetings with the Fall Business Meeting. I thank our Chair of the Board, Jon Pruden, and our Committee Chairs for their engagement and leadership. Additionally, we were delighted to welcome new Board member Jody Wagner to her first meetings of the VWU Board of Trustees.

Prior to the Fall Business Meeting, the Board participated in a session entitled, “Reducing Recidivism Through Higher Education.” During the session, Provost/ Vice President for Academic Affairs Susan Larkin and Vice President for VWU Global Campus Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson shared the university’s plans and aspirations for the Prisoner ReEntry Initiative created in partnership with the Urban League of Hampton Roads. VWU’s role in the initiative is to provide higher education to incarcerated persons at St. Brides and Indian Creek Corrections Facilities in Chesapeake, VA. The university will also offer flexible and affordable degree options to corrections officers at those facilities.

Some actions from the Board meeting included:

Accepted the university’s strategic planning documents
Accepted the final fiscal year-end (June 30, 2024) endowment reports
Approved the revised 2024-25 budget
Affirmed MOUs for all dual and accelerated degree opportunities for students
Approved funding for nearly $10 million of capital corrective maintenance

More specific information will be shared in the Leadership Council, Academic Council, Athletic Management Council, and future editions of Nota Bene.

Following the Fall Business Meeting, Annie and I enjoyed hosting a reception/dinner for the VWU Board of Trustees and university leadership at DeFord Manor. We thank our Trustees for their vision and support.

ET CETERA

We extend our deep condolences to Cindy Rodriguez, alumna and former officer of the Board of Trustees, on the passing of her husband Benjamin “Rod” Rodriguez.

Rod was a co-founder of Bay Mechanical, Inc. As chairman and chief executive officer, Rod led Bay Mechanical to become a premier mechanical contractor completing many high-profile projects throughout Virginia and North Carolina.

Rod was deeply committed to this community with varied interests, many of which are connected with Virginia Wesleyan. He chaired the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art and the Virginia Beach Wetlands boards.

Read more about Rod’s extraordinary life here.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Cindy and the entire Rodriguez family during this difficult time.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

VWU Ranked Among Nation’s Top Green Colleges

I am proud to report that Virginia Wesleyan University is among the nation’s most environmentally-committed schools, according to the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges. It chose each institution based on a survey conducted in 2023-2024 of administrators at nearly 600 colleges and universities about their institutions' sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs. Read more.

Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences Celebration

It was such an honor to be the guest of my good friend Jane Batten for the announcement on Thursday of the Batten School of Coastal and Marine Sciences at the College of William & Mary. Jane’s commitment to the environment is nothing short of spectacular, and we thank her for her continued support of educating the next generation of environmental stewards in Virginia.

Nominate a Deserving Student for The Mavis McKenley ’11 Award

Each year, Virginia Wesleyan presents an award on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to a student who practices the ideals set forth by Dr. King—courage and conviction in valuing differences, commitment to seeing beyond borders by building inclusion, compassion for humanity, and/or commitment to social change. In 2021, the award was named The Mavis McKenley ’11 Award in honor of our esteemed graduate and Trustee. Nominations can be submitted to Wesleyan Engaged via google form by December 1, 2024.

Meeting with HRT

We had an informative meeting with Alexis Majied, Hampton Roads Transit Chief Communications Officer, and Amy Jordan, Director of Communications & Business Development, to learn more about “OnDemand” ride-sharing in Virginia Beach. Points of Interest include VWU, Virginia Beach Town Center, Sentara Leigh Hospital, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, and more. Keith Moore, VWU Senior Vice President, joined us for the meeting.

Honoring Rep. Jen Kiggans

As the President/Chair of VBV, I was invited to be a part of the special presentation of the US Chamber of Commerce Advocate for American Business Award to U.S. Representative Jen Kiggans. Joining me for the picture are Moore Hallmark, Vice President of USCC, and Andy Stephenson, Chair of the Virginia Beach Chamber Board.

Students Interviewed Following Congressional Debate

Last week, I shared that the Second District Congressional Debate, hosted by the Hampton Roads Chamber, was held at the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. Immediately following the debate, some of the Virginia Wesleyan students in the audience were interviewed by 13NewsNow for their reactions and impressions. Watch the interview here.

Inside Business Celebrates 2024 Top Forty Under 40

Congratulations, once again, to Kelly Cordova, Chief of Staff/ Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, on her inclusion in the 2024 class of the Top Forty Under 40. Joining her on the list is Virginia Wesleyan alumna Kelsey Derby from the Class of 2012. Read more about Kelly and Kelsey here.

Don’t Wing It – Make a Plan to Vote Today!

Have you made a plan to vote? Just like meeting a friend or planning a vacation, it’s easier to make a vote plan in advance. Don’t wing it! Wesleyan Engaged reminds you to make a vote plan and approach the election with confidence. For more information visit https://nationalvotereducationweek.org/plan/.

Benefits Fair: November 6

Make plans to attend our Benefits Fair on Wednesday, November 6, from 8:30am to 4:30pm in the Joan P. Brock Room of Brock Commons. We will have Anthem, Delta Dental, and others available to answer benefit questions. There will be refreshments available, including sandwiches at lunchtime. Open enrollment for VWU employees is November 1-14. For more information, please contact humanresources@vwu.edu.

President to President: How to Drive Meaningful Change

I am proud to share the third chapter of this academic year’s President to President thought leadership series. In “The Essential Ingredients for Transformative Leadership,” President and CEO of Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D., examines three key focus areas that shape academic leadership success: a positive board/president relationship, effective leadership teams, and a time-tested personal leadership philosophy. For the past 21 years, I have had the honor of editing this impactful series of articles that offer innovative ideas from some of the nation's most respected higher education leaders. Read more.

In the News

The latest edition of Its WINDSday, which celebrates the power of wind, clean energy, and a green environment, is here.

Catch up on the biggest development projects in the region here.

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