Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

April 21, 2025

Good morning,

Happy Earth Week! The VWU community is celebrating with a range of meaningful and engaging events designed to promote sustainability, community, and the beauty of our planet.

Earth Day (April 22) begins with Eco-Therapy for Earth Day in the Harbor Grill, where students will explore the intersection of climate change and mental health. A campus clean-up and community garden activity will follow, as volunteers join together to beautify our grounds before the Marlins Go Green picnic later that evening.

Later in the week, Bob’s Birthday Bash will be infused with Earth Week spirit and activities. Held on the University Lawn on April 25 from 4–7 p.m., the celebration is organized by Off the Hook in collaboration with student groups including Marlins Go Green, the Marlin Fishing Club, Gamma Sigma Epsilon, Student Government Association, and Students Against Continued Homelessness. It promises to bring the campus together for festive, eco-conscious fun.

We’re proud to share that the university was, once again, named an Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus. A small recognition ceremony will be held on Friday after lunch.

Our celebrations also extend beyond campus, including oyster gardening with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Thirst Project Walk to help end the global water crisis, and tree planting at Plum Point Park in Norfolk.

But our commitment to the environment goes beyond Earth Week and our beautiful 300-acre park-like campus in Virginia Beach. These efforts reflect our broader mission of ethical conduct and social responsibility through environmental stewardship and education. In 2020, the Board of Trustees adopted our Environmental Guiding Principles, embedding sustainability into our long-term institutional planning.

In 2021, VWU received a series of private gifts that have helped grow the University’s endowment to $130 million today. Of those funds, $80.2 million are designated for the Batten Honors College, a highly selective, residential program emphasizing environmental stewardship, global engagement, and leadership. The entire endowment for both the University and the Batten Honors College is invested in an environmentally responsible manner through Brown Advisory of Baltimore, Maryland.

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating Earth Week and supporting a more sustainable future for all. See schedule of events.

ET CETERA

I was thoroughly impressed by the energy and professionalism displayed during our Spring 2025 Marlin Business Conference, themed "Riding the Wave of Innovation." Under the leadership of student CEO Clarissa Thurston ’27 and her dedicated team, the conference offered a dynamic lineup of events that enriched our campus community.

The conference commenced with a compelling keynote address by Andrew Cohen, who shared insights from his experiences on Wall Street and the infamous Madoff case. His presentation, "Goldman, Madoff and the Markets: What They Didn’t Teach You in Class," provided valuable lessons on ethics and risk management. Learn more.

Throughout the week, students engaged in various activities, including the Ethics Competition, LinkedIn Workshop, and the ever-popular Shark Tank Competition. Guest speakers such as Thad Glowacki from Brown Advisory, Sean Wetmore from Introships, and representatives from Anderson Edwards PLLC shared their expertise, offering students real-world perspectives.

I was particularly grateful to VWU Trustee Bill Murray of Dominion Energy, who delivered two insightful talks—first with Dr. Bond’s history class on career paths, and then at the Marlin Business Conference on the future of energy in Virginia and beyond. I extend my gratitude to all who contributed to the success of this event. The dedication and innovation demonstrated by our students are truly commendable. View photo gallery.

Pictured: Keynote speaker Andrew Cohen with Provost & Vice President Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson and student conference CEO Clarissa Thurston; VWU Trustee Bill Murray of Dominion Energy with Dr. Bond’s history class; and Thad Glowacki of Brown Advisory with student conference leaders Clarissa Thurston and Nick Barnes.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

VWU Trails Recognized as Bat-Friendly Certified Green Space

In celebration of International Bat Appreciation Day (April 17), Batten Honors College senior Katie Baker partnered with TriBeta Biology Honor Society to certify the campus trails between Brock Village and the Honors Village as a Bat-Friendly Certified Green Space.

As part of her senior capstone, Katie worked with the Bat Conservation and Rescue of Virginia, with signage donated by AdVision Sign Co. and installation coordinated by Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management Jason Seward. This project reflects VWU’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. Way to go, Katie!

WTKR Highlights VWU Initiatives

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Beverly Kidd and WTKR News 3 for their outstanding coverage of Virginia Wesleyan University. Their recent segment on the construction of the new Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art on our campus captured the vision and impact of this transformative project. Watch here.

We are also grateful to Beverly for her excellent story spotlighting our new women’s flag football team—an exciting addition to VWU Athletics. Her thoughtful storytelling and commitment to sharing these important developments with the Hampton Roads community are truly appreciated.

Watch here.

Fins Up!

We enjoyed beautiful weather and a great turnout at the Tassos Paphites Soccer Complex for Fins Up Fest—a spirited celebration of our student-athletes and NCAA Division III Week. We were pleased to be joined by Faculty Athletics Representative Jill Sturts; NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Representative Julia Hathaway; VWU SAAC member Megan Setlak; and Executive Director for Intercollegiate Athletics, Andrea Hoover-Erbig.

Honoring Graduating Seniors

As part of Spring Alumni Weekend, we proudly honored 12 graduating seniors on the men’s lacrosse team. The celebration was made even more special by the presence of senior Carter Dukes’ parents—both VWU alumni. Pictured with Andrea Meals Dukes ’92, Thomas Allen Dukes ’93, and Andrea Hoover-Erbig, Executive Director for Intercollegiate Athletics.

A Growing Relationship with the Virginia African-American Cultural Center

We are especially proud of our growing relationship with Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond and the Virginia African-American Cultural Center. Pictured here, Provost and Vice President Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson shares highlights of Virginia Wesleyan’s programming during an event held this past week at Ebenezer Baptist Church, located adjacent to our campus.

Climate Crisis & Higher Ed

In a recent episode of NACU's podcast, Connect, Collaborate, Champion, futurist Bryan Alexander delves into the profound impact of climate change on higher education, as explored in his award-winning book, Universities on Fire: Higher Education in the Climate Crisis. He discusses potential futures ranging from innovative transformations in teaching and campus design to more dire scenarios involving institutional closures and the loss of climate research. Alexander emphasizes the pivotal role students play in shaping these outcomes. This thought-provoking conversation is essential for anyone interested in the intersection of climate change and higher education. Listen.