January 6, 2025
Good morning,
We are proud to welcome two new members to the Board of Trustees: |
|
Becky Sawyer currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer for Sentara Health where she is responsible for HR strategy and execution for the second-largest private employer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Committed to the cause of education, Becky currently serves as a board member for the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, An Achievable Dream Virginia Beach, Inc., Virginia Ready, and the Neptune Festival. She is also a member of the Society of Human Resource Management, American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration, and American College of Healthcare Executives.
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Troy University and Master of Public Administration from Arkansas State University. |
|
Dr. William L. “Bill” Murray is Senior Vice President-Corporate Affairs & Communications, at Dominion Energy. He is responsible for federal, state, and local government relations; corporate communications; advertising; public relations; creative services; philanthropy; and community affairs.
Bill joined Dominion Energy in 2007 and assumed his current position in February 2019. He previously served as a management analyst at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; a senior staff member for the Virginia General Assembly; and Vice President-Policy at the Virginia Hospital Association. He also held several positions in the offices of former Virginia governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. He is a member of the board of directors of the Virginia Health Care Foundation. He joined the board of directors of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges in 2022.
Bill received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Virginia, his master’s degree in public administration from Virginia Tech, and his doctorate in public administration and public policy from Virginia Tech. |
We are honored to welcome Becky and Bill to our Board of Trustees. We have enjoyed a long and valued relationship with Sentara Health and Dominion Energy, and their addition to our board will only enhance the impactful collaboration between our institutions. We look forward to their contributions as we navigate opportunities to further strengthen the university’s impact in the region and beyond. |
|
This year marks the 30th anniversary of commemorating the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday as a National Day of Service. Dr. King’s legacy as the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination, is marked each year on his birthday, with tributes to his remarkable leadership and service.
We will commemorate Dr. King’s legacy with a week filled with service activities, a film screening and facilitated discussion, special speakers, and the annual Mavis McKenley ‘11 Award presentation. Find the schedule of events here. |
|
AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS |
|
Remembering Jim Bergdoll Vice President Emeritus James “Jim” Bergdoll, one of the original leaders who shaped Virginia Wesleyan in its earliest days, passed away on December 12 at the age of 89. His service was celebrated by the university with the awarding of a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, in 2010. Learn more about his extraordinary life here.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 25, at 1:00 p.m. at Baylake United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach. All are welcome to pay tribute to this pioneering Marlin. |
|
Adapting to the Enrollment Cliff My thanks to WHRO for featuring me in their recent article about the “enrollment cliff” and the proactive strategies colleges and universities are implementing to address it. At Virginia Wesleyan, we recognized this challenge nearly a decade ago and took steps to adapt, including the creation of VWU Global Campus. Today, this international online program and our workforce development workshops serve over 5,000 students worldwide, significantly outpacing our traditional in-person enrollment and ensuring our institution remains resilient in the face of demographic changes. Read more. |
|
New Signage at Wilson Arboretum New signage has been installed at the Wilson Arboretum and Annex, providing clear designations for the location of trees dedicated to retiring professors since the tradition began in 1997. The Wilson Arboretum, established by the Classes of 1986 and 1995, serves as a living tribute to Dr. William M. Wilson, who served as dean from 1971 to 1994. |
|
The Emotional Stress of Climate Change College students are experiencing significant emotional distress due to the escalating climate crisis, including climate grief and eco-anxiety. Read more from WHRO about how colleges and universities are providing students with a platform for discussion and coping strategies. |
|
VMOCA Construction Update Construction of the new Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art at VWU kept moving over the holidays. The concrete for the first floor of the museum was poured and set (pictured). Curbing was completed for the roadway to the Goode Center/VMOCA parking lot, and blacktop is coming soon. |
|
PARTNERS IN PROGRESS A Virginia Wesleyan University Community |
|
Best wishes for January Term, Marlins!
Sincerely, |
|
|
