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February 9, 2026
Good morning,
| | Spending the first three days of last week on Capitol Hill engaged in private college advocacy coordinated by NAICU (National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities) left a strong and lasting impression. I have worked in and around Washington for decades, but this moment feels different. The volume and speed of proposals aimed at reshaping higher education—often without a clear understanding of how colleges actually operate—create an environment unlike anything I have previously experienced. | | Pictured (top) with Barbara Mistick, President of NAICU; John Marsden, President of Midway University; Tim Powers, Vice President - Government Relations of NAICU; and (bottom) Chris Peace, President of Virginia Private Colleges. | | |
What stood out most is how directly federal policy debates now reach into the daily academic life of our institutions. Discussions about Pell Grants, campus-based aid, graduate lending, tax policy, accountability, and accreditation are no longer abstract. They shape who can enroll, who can persist, and which programs remain viable. While transparency and accountability matter, there is growing concern about Washington relying on blunt, one-size-fits-all tools to dictate academic choices or use financial aid and accreditation as levers for change.
My lasting takeaway is that advocacy is not optional work for private colleges. It is mission work. Our students, faculty, and programs depend on policies that respect institutional diversity, academic judgment, and student choice. Being present in Washington and telling our stories still matters. So does civic engagement at home. I am convinced that elections matter, participation matters, and higher education must continue to speak clearly and persistently about what truly supports student success and educational quality.
Pictured below, on Capitol Hill advocating for independent colleges and universities.
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The second of three competitions for the incoming cohort of the Batten Honors College (BHC) was held last week, welcoming prospective scholars from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.
We will also host a Spring Virtual Competition on February 20, currently including students from Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Virginia, and Texas.
The Batten Honors College is a highly selective residential program enrolling 160 of the nation’s top scholars. From a pool of thousands of potential applicants, roughly one-tenth met the preliminary eligibility criteria, and approximately 120 students have been invited to campus to compete for a limited number of available seats. Candidates are selected based on exceptional academic achievement, compelling personal essays, and distinguished service and extracurricular involvement. Those ultimately chosen truly represent the best and brightest.
Dr. Travis Malone, Anne B. Shumadine Dean of the Batten Honors College, also shared in this month’s issue of Excelsis that, with the transition to Batten University on July 1, the BHC will become the Jane P. Batten Honors College, further honoring Jane Batten’s extraordinary legacy and transformational impact.
I am grateful to Dr. Malone and Nikki Nieves, Director of Enrollment for the Batten Honors College, for their leadership of these competitions. I look forward to sharing the names of the 40 new Batten Honors scholars later this spring.
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Pictured with (left) Dr. Travis Malone, Anne B. Shumadine Dean of the BHC; Jim Shumadine, Board of Trustees member and son of the late Anne Shumadine; (center) Adam and Josephine Franzese Moskowitz, both VWU class of 1998; and
(right) Gabrielle Barnett '27, BHC Scholar and SGA President.
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Work continues for the integration of Sentara College of Health Sciences into the University on July 1, pending SACSCOC approval. On January 1, the University and SCOHS began a collaborative operational model. Integration teams concluded their work two weeks ago, with operational recommendations that were included in the updated prospectus submitted last week to SACSCOC.
Congratulations to the 242 graduates who achieved their dreams at Sentara College of Health Sciences in 2025:
- 31 graduates with a Master of Science in Nursing
- 90 graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- 25 graduates with associate degrees (cardiovascular technology and surgical technology)
- 96 graduates from certificate programs (medical assistant, patient care technician, and more)
We look forward to welcoming them to the Marlin Family in 2026.
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This month marks an exciting milestone as our friends at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art begin moving their offices and operations to campus. The City of Virginia Beach granted the certificate of occupancy, with moving vans arriving this week and initial occupancy beginning February 13.
With substantial completion achieved and final preparations underway, we are delighted to welcome Virginia MOCA into its new home. The 35,000-square-foot facility within the David R. Goode Arts Complex represents a remarkable investment in arts, culture, and creative scholarship. Funded through the extraordinary generosity of University philanthropists Jane Batten, Joan Brock, and David and Susan Goode, planning for this project began in January 2023, with construction completed over an 18-month period.
This transformational partnership reflects a shared commitment to the arts, community engagement, experiential learning, and creative scholarship, and it further strengthens our campus as a vibrant cultural destination for the region. We look forward to the inspiration, collaboration, and new opportunities this presence will bring for our students, faculty, and community.
We are deeply grateful to our Partner in Progress, Hourigan, and to CEO Mark Hourigan—a true friend of the University—for his leadership and commitment. Special thanks as well to Charlie Blakely, Jo Wrenn, and Justus DiPeppe for their outstanding work in bringing this transformational project to life. I am also grateful to Jason Seward ’05, Chief Operations Officer, who served as the University’s liaison to the architect and contractor throughout the process.
To Alison Byrne (Virginia MOCA Executive Director) and our friends from Virginia MOCA, welcome to campus and to the Marlin Family!
Learn more at www.virginiamoca.org and www.vwu.edu.
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As part of our Environmental Guiding Principles, the University actively seeks meaningful partnerships with local agencies, organizations, and community leaders to advance shared sustainability goals. The City of Virginia Beach recently planted durable canopy trees—including oaks, elms, and pines—along Wesleyan Drive across from the main entrance at our Coastal 61 property as part of its commitment to expanding the city’s urban tree canopy. This investment reflects a thoughtful, long-term approach to strengthening environmental health, enhancing community beauty, and increasing climate resilience. At a time when Virginia Beach continues to experience annual losses in tree canopy, this initiative represents a proactive and collaborative response—restoring what has been diminished and demonstrating responsible stewardship of our natural resources for generations to come. Again, my special thanks to Jason Seward for facilitating this project.
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A warm Marlin welcome to Jeff Lukaszeski (pictured left), who joins the university as our new Aramark Maintenance Supervisor. Jeff brings extensive leadership experience in facilities and engineering management across both the public and private sectors, along with a strong commitment to service and operational excellence—qualities that will greatly benefit our campus community.
Born in Florida and raised in Louisiana, he brings a distinguished background that includes 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy submarine force and a career in facilities management, engineering, and compliance across multiple industries. His experience includes leadership roles with Northrop Grumman HII supporting submarine and aircraft carrier platforms, facilities management and compliance with Coca-Cola, maintenance management at Craft Machine Works, and engineering and facilities management at a Target distribution warehouse. He has lived and worked in South Carolina, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Scotland, and has called the Hampton Roads region home for 23 years. He has been with Aramark Facility Management for two years. He and his wife of 26 years have four children, one son and three daughters, and six grandchildren.
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My thanks to Brad Botkin, Director of Facilities Management, and Jason Seward for their leadership in this search, and to our Partner in Progress, Aramark Higher Education, whose 10 years as our comprehensive facilities management partner have played an important role in advancing the implementation of our Corrective Maintenance Plan and Campus Master Plan.
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I am pleased to share that Tara Crowder has joined the Marlin family as Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator. Most recently, Tara served as Vice President of Human Resources at LTD Hospitality Group in Virginia Beach.
Tara holds a Master of Business Administration from Bethel University and a Master of Arts in Human Resources Management from Concordia University–St. Paul. She brings extensive experience from human resources leadership roles in hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing. Her focus at VWU will include talent management, compliance, and employee engagement, all of which will be essential as we continue to strengthen our workplace culture and support the University’s ongoing growth and institutional transformation.
Please join me in welcoming Tara to Virginia Wesleyan.
| AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS | | |
VWU Earns 2026 Tree Campus Recognition
I’m proud to share that Virginia Wesleyan University has again been recognized as a 2026 Tree Campus by the Arbor Day Foundation, affirming our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability, and community engagement. First awarded the designation in 2023, VWU continues to meet all five program standards through intentional campus planning, student involvement, and annual Arbor Day observances.
This recognition reflects the outstanding leadership of Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, Professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and Director of Sustainability, and the collective efforts of our faculty, staff, students, and volunteers who advance sustainability as a core value of our coastal campus. Learn more.
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Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine: Winter 2026 Special Edition
The Winter 2026 Special Edition of Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine is now available online, showcasing compelling stories of campus life and the people, programs, and partnerships advancing the University as it prepares to become Batten University.
Highlights of this special issue include in-depth features on VWU’s newly launched Prison Education Program, the integration of the Sentara College of Health Sciences, and the University’s annual report with key financial highlights. Together, these stories reflect the momentum, impact, and forward-looking vision shaping our institution.
My sincere thanks to Kelly Cordova, Chief of Staff/ Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Tina Raines, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, and the Marketing & Communications team for their outstanding work on this meaningful publication.
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Understanding: 250 Years of Freedom
The Spring 2026 edition of Understanding, the Robert Nusbaum Center’s signature publication, is now available online. This semester’s theme, “250 Years of Freedom,” coincides with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and explores freedom in all its promise, contradiction, and consequence. The publication highlights a full schedule of spring programs—many offered in partnership with local organizations, faith communities, University departments, and student groups—designed to foster civil dialogue and build bridges of understanding. All Robert Nusbaum Center events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
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A Dream Deferred: Black Excellence, Voice, and Resistance
Make plans to join us on February 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center for A Dream Deferred: Black Excellence, Voice, and Resistance. Through spoken word, music, a Frederick Douglass historical reenactment, visual art, and student scholarship, the program explores Black excellence as sustained moral pressure on a nation slow to fulfill its promises. Inspired by Langston Hughes’s enduring question—What happens to a dream deferred?—the evening examines freedom promised, postponed, and persistently pursued across generations.
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Conversations That GUIDE the Journey
Virginia Wesleyan University’s Career & Vocational Summit, the culminating event of the GUIDE Program (Guided Understanding of Individual Discernment and Vocational Exploration), a faculty and staff development initiative led by The Athenaeum: Center for Exploration & Discovery and Career & Professional Development, took place during January Term. Supported by a NetVUE Professional Development Award, an initiative administered by The Council of Independent Colleges, the program equips faculty and staff to engage students in deeper conversations about vocation, purpose, and career pathways. The January Term summit featured a keynote by Dr. Justin Klassen of Bellarmine University and concluded with a symposium-style poster session showcasing faculty and staff vocational reflections, now on display in The Athenaeum of the H.C. Hofheimer II Library.
Learn more | View Photo Gallery
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Share the Love, Marlin Style
Celebrate love with some Marlin Spirit this Valentine's Day! With a gift of $5 or more, you can send a personalized eValentine to your favorite Marlins. Each eCard can be delivered by text or email and includes a special message to make their day even sweeter. Your gift supports our students while spreading a little love. Order here today!
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WACHR’s “Great Decisions 2026” Lecture Series Continues
Make plans to join us for this engaging and interactive discussion of the most pressing foreign policy issues facing our country. Hosted by valued Partner in Progress World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads and developed by the Foreign Policy Association, Great Decisions is a unique opportunity not only to learn more about these carefully curated topics, but also to ask questions of the world class speakers contributing to the lecture series. Saturday morning sessions continue throughout the month of February in Blocker Hall. Series Information and Registration.
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President to President: Chapter 7 Available Now
The seventh chapter of this year’s President to President thought leadership series is now available online. In “Belonging by Design: A President’s Blueprint for Leading with Legacy and Vision,” Grambling State University President Martin Lemelle, Jr., D.B.A., examines the incredible potential for campus leaders to make lasting impacts through small but meaningful gestures. He shares examples of how a human-centered approach to leadership that prioritizes presence and connection contributes to an “ethos of excellence” on campus and helps students thrive academically and professionally. Read Chapter 7.
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CVOW Reaches Major Construction Milestone
Dominion Energy marked a major milestone last month in its $11.2 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project with the successful installation of the first turbine tower off the coast of Virginia Beach. The approximately 380-foot tower and its nacelle were set as offshore construction resumed under a federal court injunction allowing work to proceed.
Now roughly 70 percent complete, CVOW is expected to deliver first power to the grid in early 2026. When fully operational, the project will feature 176 turbines capable of generating enough renewable energy to power up to 660,000 homes, with full completion anticipated by the end of 2026.
Congratulations to University Trustee Bill Murray, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Communications, and his colleagues on reaching this significant and impactful milestone. Learn more from Virginia Business.
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PARTNERS IN PROGRESS
A Virginia Wesleyan University Community
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Have a FIN-tastic week, Marlins!
Sincerely,
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