Dear friends,
There is an unmistakable energy on campus as we begin a new academic year.
For the first time, students are beginning a fall session at Batten University, including those in programs offered through Sentara College of Health Sciences. Move-In Day and Marlin Nation Orientation welcomed new and returning Marlins and set the stage for a year of new opportunities across our growing University.
This academic year begins with strong momentum. We celebrated the first Sentara College of Health Sciences commencement on our Virginia Beach campus, an important milestone following the College’s integration with Batten University.
At our annual State of the University Address, I reflected on a remarkable year of growth and transformation while announcing major initiatives that will expand the University’s role in healthcare education, community engagement, and workforce development. Plans for a new $35 million Health Sciences Center will support the continued integration and growth of our health sciences programs, while the newly established Gilbert T. Bland Center for Urban Leadership Education will advance leadership development, civic engagement, workforce readiness, and community partnerships. These initiatives reflect how we are growing with purpose, expanding educational opportunity, and investing strategically in programs that respond to the needs of our region.
That progress is evident throughout the University. Through Project SEED, Batten faculty provided high school students with hands-on chemistry research experiences and exposure to future opportunities in science. Our Naval ROTC Preparatory Program reached an important milestone as four students earned four-year national NROTC scholarships. Batten University has once again earned a STARS Silver Rating in recognition of our substantial commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
September will bring another significant first as we celebrate our first Founders Day as Batten University, honoring the people and values that shaped our institution while looking with confidence toward its future.
The name Batten University is still new. The values behind it are not. Our reach has expanded and our campus continues to grow, but our fundamental purpose remains the same: to transform lives through education.
I am grateful for the faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, donors, partners, and friends whose commitment continues to move this University forward. As this new academic year takes shape, I am confident in our direction and excited about all that lies ahead.
Sincerely, | 
