August 24, 2026
Good morning, |
|
As we begin a new academic year, I am delighted to welcome our students, both returning and new, to campus for the start of the fall session. There is a renewed energy that comes with the beginning of each academic year, and this fall feels particularly meaningful as we start this fall’s journey as Batten University for the first time.
I extend an especially warm welcome to the students of Sentara College of Health Sciences as they officially begin the academic year as members of the Batten University family. Sentara College brings with it a proud tradition of healthcare education dating to 1892, and its students, faculty, staff and alumni are now an important part of the story we are building together.
Whether you are returning to a familiar classroom, stepping onto campus for the first time, studying online, or pursuing your education through Sentara College, I hope you will find a strong sense of belonging and possibility here. We are one University community, strengthened by the different experiences, traditions and aspirations each of you brings to it.
To all of our students, welcome—and welcome back. I wish you a rewarding and successful fall! |
|
Last Wednesday, I delivered my 12th annual State of the University Address, reflecting on what has been one of the most consequential years in the history of our institution.
From record enrollment and philanthropic support to the arrival of Virginia MOCA, the launch of our Prison Education Programs, our transition to Batten University, and the acquisition of Sentara College of Health Sciences, there was much to celebrate. |
I also had the opportunity to share two significant new initiatives that reflect where Batten University is headed.
We will move forward with plans for a new $35 million Health Sciences Center on our Virginia Beach campus. The facility will become the future home of Sentara College of Health Sciences and will feature advanced simulation laboratories, technology-rich classrooms, collaborative learning environments and flexible instructional spaces. Plans also include an adjoining 92-bed residence hall to support our growing student population.
This project is an important next step in fully integrating Sentara College into the Batten University community. More broadly, it represents a significant investment in the future of healthcare education in Coastal Virginia and our ability to prepare the nurses and allied health professionals our region needs. |
I was also proud to announce the establishment of the Gilbert T. Bland Center for Urban Leadership Education, named in honor of our longtime friend and community partner Gil Bland H’25, President and CEO of the Urban League of Hampton Roads (center). Also pictured is Congressman Robert “Bobby” Scott H’22.
The Center will advance leadership development, civic engagement, workforce readiness and community partnerships, building upon our longstanding relationship with the Urban League. That work includes our growing commitment to justice-impacted individuals through the Prison Education Programs at St. Brides and Indian Creek Correctional Centers and the pathways we are developing to connect higher education with workforce preparation, mentorship and reentry support. |
Professor Rebecca Hooker, who has played an instrumental role in developing and implementing our Prison Education Program, will serve as the Center’s inaugural Senior Fellow.
These initiatives are tangible examples of what our transformation into Batten University makes possible. Our reach is expanding, our partnerships are deepening, and we are finding new ways to fulfill our fundamental purpose: transforming lives through education.
I am grateful to our faculty and staff for the extraordinary work that has brought us to this moment—and for all that you will do to help shape what comes next.
Feature Story | View Address | View Photo Gallery
WVEC 13News Now | Live Impact News |
AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS |
|
A Historic Matriculation for the Jane P. Batten Honors College We welcomed the 2026 cohort of the Jane P. Batten Honors College with the traditional Matriculation Ceremony in the Joan and Macon Brock Theatre of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. This year’s ceremony carried special significance as these students became the first class to matriculate into the Jane P. Batten Honors College under the Batten University name. This distinction gives them a special place in the history of our University. Pictured with me are Dean Travis Malone, Assistant Dean Jill Sturts, and Batten Professor Craig Wansink. |
VFIC Leadership Visit It is always a pleasure to welcome Locke Ogens, President of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC), to campus. VFIC represents Virginia’s 17 selective, residential liberal arts colleges and universities and is an important advocate for independent higher education across the Commonwealth. Joining us for the visit were Batten University Chief Operations Officer and Vice President for Enterprise Strategy Jason Seward ‘05 and Executive in Residence David R. Black, Ph.D. H’21. |
A New Chapter for the World Affairs Council We joined the World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads at The Athenaeum in H.C. Hofheimer II Library to recognize two wonderful friends, outgoing President Susan Boré and incoming President and Trustee Gary Bonnewell ‘79, H’16. We are grateful for Susan’s dedicated leadership and look forward to Gary’s service in this important role. The World Affairs Council is a valued Batten University campus-based Partner in Progress, strengthening global awareness and engagement throughout our region. I am also pleased that Batten University Chief of Staff and Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Kelly Cordova serves on the WACHR Board. |
Celebrating Delceno Miles My good friend Delceno Miles, CEO of The Miles Agency, returned to campus and had an opportunity to see her name proudly displayed on the permanent Wesley Award wall in Godwin Hall. Delceno received the Wesley Award in 2024 in recognition of her many contributions to advancing access, opportunity, and inclusivity throughout Coastal Virginia. It was wonderful to welcome her back to Batten University. |
Page to Podium Returns to Hofheimer Library The H.C. Hofheimer II Library will welcome the return of its popular Page to Podium Lecture Series this fall, bringing students, faculty, and the campus community together for dialogue, discovery, and scholarly exchange. Held in The Forum of The Athenaeum, the series features seven lunchtime presentations showcasing student and faculty scholarship across disciplines. The fall series begins September 2 with student Liam Castellano presenting Making Headlines Move: Adapting Student Journalism for the Age of Social Media and continues through November 11. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch and enjoy an engaging academic conversation. Read More. |
A New Season of Art at Virginia MOCA Virginia MOCA will unveil its next season of exhibitions with an opening celebration on Thursday, September 10, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The evening will feature Made in VA Biennial, showcasing the breadth of artistic talent across the Commonwealth, and Vivian Chiu: From Here. Tickets are $15 for Virginia MOCA members and $25 for nonmembers.
Pictured: Vivian Chiu, Revolving Vase (Peonies in the Park), 2026. Pine crate wood from W.O.W, mixed wood veneer, plywood, hardware. Courtesy of the artist. |
Robert Nusbaum Center Fall Programming The Robert Nusbaum Center is pleased to share its Fall 2026 newsletter and lineup of upcoming events. This edition, E Pluribus Unum—Out of Many, One Conversation, is available online. With some meaningful and timely conversations planned this fall, many of this semester’s programs focus on building community close to home. |
Remembering a Giant in Methodist Higher Education I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. James T. Laney, a giant in American higher education and one of the most consequential leaders in Methodist-related education. As president of Emory University from 1977 to 1993, Dr. Laney transformed Emory into a nationally and internationally distinguished university and a model for Methodist higher education—demonstrating that academic excellence, institutional ambition, moral leadership, and church-related heritage could flourish together. His commitment to Methodist education was rooted in a lifetime of service that included missionary work in Korea, teaching at Methodist-related Yonsei University, and serving as Dean of Emory’s Candler School of Theology.
Dr. Laney’s influence extended far beyond Emory. He was a leading voice in strengthening the worldwide network of Methodist colleges, universities, and theological schools and played an important role in the establishment of Africa University in Zimbabwe. His remarkable life demonstrated the power of higher education as an expression of faith, service, peace, and human understanding. Methodist higher education has lost one of its great champions, but the institutions and international relationships he helped build will carry his legacy forward for generations. |
|
PARTNERS IN PROGRESS A Batten University Community |
|
Have a great Fall Session, Marlins! Sincerely, |
|
|
