Social Work Honor Society Welcomes New Inductees, Celebrates Legacy of Faculty Leaders As we prepare to celebrate Commencement, I’m especially proud of the students and faculty who make Virginia Wesleyan’s academic legacy so meaningful. This past week, the Tau Alpha Chapter of the Phi Alpha Honor Society for Social Work welcomed five new inductees and honored two trailblazing Faculty Emeriti, Dora Dobrin and Sharon Payne, whose leadership helped shape VWU’s nationally accredited Social Work program. Congratulations to our newest Phi Alpha members for carrying that legacy forward. Learn more. |
Rho Phi Lambda Induction It was such a pleasure sharing remarks with officers and honorees of the Alpha Delta Chapter of Rho Phi Lambda, national honor society for recreation, parks and leisure service professionals. With Jill Sturts, Chair of Sport and Recreation Professions, and retiring 37-year faculty member Doug Kennedy, along with officers (back) Ethan Clark, Lauren Hedspeth, Stephen Schneider, and Everett McCloskey. This year’s inductees were Brian Madden, Tabitha Irving, Hannah Rose and Emma Adams. |
Great Night at the Norfolk Forum Annie and I recently had the pleasure of dinner at The Chrysler Museum with our final speakers of the 2024-25 season — Bob and Lee Woodruff. The evening included the announcement of the 2025-26 lineup. I enjoy serving on the Board of Directors of The Norfolk Forum, the oldest publicly-subscribed speakers’ forum in the country. My thanks to our good friends Blythe Scott, President of TNF, and Maura Murchake, Executive Director, for their outstanding leadership. |
VFIC Gathering I enjoyed a wonderful evening at The Country Club of Virginia for the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges (VFIC) Board and Donor Social. I’m pictured with Teague Avey, Virginia Chief Operating Officer of Brown Advisory, and Chris Peace, President of Virginia Private Colleges.
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Late Night Fun Late Night Breakfast is one of my favorite Marlin traditions. This semester, the theme was “Double Trouble,” where students, faculty and staff were asked to wear matching outfits. |
Student Represents VWU at VTOP “Top Employers” Celebration Rebecca Haegele ’26 represented Virginia Wesleyan at the recent “Top Employers” celebration hosted by the Virginia Talent and Opportunity Partnership (VTOP). One of only six students selected from across the region, Rebecca spoke about the transformative impact of internships—highlighting the value of experiential learning that we champion at VWU. Learn more. |
Tariffs Could Add $500M to Cost of Virginia Beach Offshore Wind Farm, DominionTells Investors Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project—set to be the largest of its kind in the nation—continues to move forward despite rising costs driven by recently announced tariffs. In a recent update to investors, Dominion outlined how new import taxes could add up to $500 million to the project’s total cost. Yet, the utility remains confident in its timeline and long-term affordability for consumers. This is a significant development for our region as Hampton Roads continues to emerge as a hub for renewable energy innovation. Read more from WHRO. |
Virginia Beach Voters Will Be Asked to Choose a Preferred Election System Virginia Beach voters will have the opportunity this November to weigh in on how they elect their City Council representatives. In a 7-4 vote, the City Council approved placing a referendum on the ballot to determine whether the current 10-1 district-based voting system should remain or be replaced by a modified at-large system. This issue, rooted in important questions about fair representation and the city’s charter, continues to generate passionate debate. I encourage you to stay informed about this significant development in our region’s civic landscape. Read more from The Virginian-Pilot. |
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