Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

July 6, 2026

Good morning,

On Tuesday evening, trustees, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, students, elected officials, and friends of the University gathered for the Blue Carpet Bash to celebrate the official launch of Batten University.

The evening marked far more than a name change. It celebrated the beginning of a new chapter built upon more than six decades of academic excellence and nearly 50 years of partnership with Jane Batten and the Batten family. Their extraordinary generosity, vision, and belief in the transformative power of higher education have helped shape this institution and the lives of countless students.

As I shared during the celebration, while our name has changed, our mission has not. Batten University remains committed to preparing students for lives of purpose through exceptional teaching, innovation, service, and transformative learning experiences. This transition honors our history while positioning us to expand opportunities for future generations.

I was especially pleased to recognize the many individuals whose vision, leadership, and dedication made this historic moment possible, including our Board of Trustees; institutional leaders David Black, Kelly Cordova, and Jason Seward; and the outstanding teams in Marketing & Communications, the Trinder Center for Advancement, and the Office of the President. Transformations of this magnitude are never the work of one person – they are made possible by a community united around a shared vision.

It was a fitting celebration of all that has brought us to this historic moment and of the exciting future that now begins.

Feature Story | Photo Gallery

July 1 marked another defining milestone in the history of Batten University as Sentara College of Health Sciences officially became an operating division of the University. They will operate as a separate college until federal approval of the merger is granted. This strategic acquisition expanded opportunities for students pursuing careers in nursing and the health sciences while strengthening our commitment to workforce development, academic excellence, and service to Coastal Virginia. We were honored to welcome Sentara College's outstanding students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters into the Batten University family. Together, we are building upon Sentara's distinguished 134-year legacy while preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals to meet the evolving needs of our communities. This extraordinary partnership reflects our shared commitment to expanding access to exceptional healthcare education and creating a healthier future for the Commonwealth and beyond. Learn More.

A special thank you to this outstanding team for the extraordinary work they accomplished this year in leading the University's transition to Batten University. David Black, Executive in Residence; Kelly Cordova, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Strategic Initiatives; and Jason Seward, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Enterprise Strategy, balanced their regular responsibilities while working tirelessly on every aspect of the transition—from visioning and strategic planning to regulatory filings, branding, signage, advertising, and coordinating the University's historic launch celebration.

ET CETERA

Following a spring full of wonderful inaugural events at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (Virginia MOCA), Summer Art Camp is now underway. Virginia MOCA welcomes children and teens ages 2–17 for a variety of unique hands-on art experiences led by knowledgeable art educators. This summer, camp offerings have increased by 27 percent and enrollment capacity by 50 percent with the move to the Museum’s incredible new home on the Batten University campus.

Camps run weekly, and some spots are still available for ages pre-K, 9‒12, and 13‒17 in July and August: Summer Art Camp | Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. Thanks to the support of the Museum’s generous donors, Virginia MOCA offers full, need-based scholarships for children and teens to participate in art education. Scholarships are still available for Summer Art Camp.

We also congratulate and welcome Susan Cohen as the new Chair of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art Board of Trustees. It has been a pleasure working with Susan over the past two years in her role as VMOCA Vice Chair, particularly during the construction of the museum's beautiful new building and its successful transition to our campus. Pictured with VMOCA Executive Director Alison Byrne and Susan and Andy Cohen.

Congratulations to Debbie Bonnewell and Jon Pruden, who will serve as Batten University's designated representatives on the VMOCA Board of Trustees. We are grateful for their leadership and commitment to strengthening the partnership between the museum and the University.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Celebrate John Wesley’s Birthday

Did you know that John Wesley coined the term “agree to disagree”? Commemorate Wesley’s birthday, June 28, 1703, by learning something new about his life.

Learn 10 fascinating facts about John Wesley.

2026 State of the University: August 19

Each August, prior to the start of the fall session, I deliver a State of the University Address to our campus community. Alumni, parents, and friends are encouraged to tune in to the Batten Digital Broadcasting Network to watch this year’s program as we celebrate Batten University’s continued momentum and share an exciting vision for the year ahead.

Batten University Featured in Virginia Business

Batten University's acquisition of Sentara College of Health Sciences continues to receive statewide attention. Virginia Business recently highlighted the milestone, noting that the acquisition strengthens the University's role in preparing the next generation of nurses and allied health professionals while addressing critical healthcare workforce needs across Coastal Virginia. The publication also recognized this achievement as a significant milestone in the University's transformation and expanding impact on higher education in the Commonwealth. Read More.

Welcome Director of Accreditation De’Vante Allen

Please join me in welcoming our new Director of Accreditation De'Vante Allen. De'Vante joined Batten University on July 1 after nearly five years as Senior Accreditation Coordinator at the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), where he supported accreditation site visits across the country and led data management and process improvement initiatives. He holds a B.S. in Psychology from George Mason University and an M.B.A. in Data Analytics from Longwood University.

Welcoming Chesapeake Bay Academy's New Head of School

Congratulations to Chesapeake Bay Academy on the appointment of Krishna Rasik Davda, M.Sc., as its new Head of School. With more than two decades of leadership experience serving students with learning differences, Krishna brings an impressive record of advancing academic excellence, student well-being, and inclusive educational practices. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Chesapeake Bay Academy and wish Krishna every success as he leads the school into an exciting new chapter.