I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with a visiting group of faculty and students from Richard Bland College, a branch college of The College of William and Mary.

Tia Brown McNair, Vice President, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success at the Association of American Colleges & Universities, was a special guest on campus today. She led a round table discussion on strengthening inclusiveness and hosted a faculty workshop on curriculum mapping. From left, Sara Sewell, Associate Professor of History and Executive Director of The Lighthouse, Jason Seward, Dean of Freshmen, Tim O'Rourke, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Rebecca Hooker, Batten Associate Professor of English.

Celebrated the official opening of VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads offices on our campus today with Virginia Wesleyan College Associate Dean for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning Dr. Kathy Stolley, Virginia Wesleyan College Director of Community Service Diane Hotaling, VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads Executive Director Kate Meechan, former long-time VHR Director Lenora Mathews, and VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads Board Chair Joanna Brumsey.

Ribbon cutting for the offices of Volunteer Hampton Roads in Village II at Virginia Wesleyan College. Volunteer Hampton Roads has been our region's volunteer center for the past 59 years and moved their offices to campus in January. Pictured with Joanna Brumsey, left, Chair of the VHR Board of Directors, and Kate Meechan, Executive Director of VHR.

Nota Bene: Fridays with Faculty

March 11, 2016

 

 

 

At Virginia Wesleyan, our faculty is passionate about teaching. They are knowledgeable academic advisers, partners in undergraduate research, and dedicated mentors. But they are more than professors. They are inquisitive researchers, published authors, and highly sought after experts in their fields.

I am pleased to announce the launch of “Fridays with Faculty,” a new series developed by Hofheimer Library and the Center for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning in effort to showcase the scholarship of Virginia Wesleyan faculty.

The inaugural talk will take place this evening, March 11, from 6-7:30 p.m. in Hofheimer Library. Associate Professor of English Gavin Pate will read from his fictional work-in-progress, Notes From The Coming War. The event is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

The second talk in the series will take place April 8 at 6 p.m. in the library, as Assistant Professor of History Kathleen Casey discusses her recent book, The Prettiest Girl on Stage is a Man: Race and Gender Benders in American Vaudeville.

Please join me as we celebrate the work of our remarkable faculty with this unique new series. 

Nota Bene: Faculty/Staff Team Advisors

March 10, 2016

For 25 years I have served as president of NCAA Division II and III institutions. During that time, I have developed a special appreciation for the scholar-athlete philosophy of Division III.

The longer I am here, the more impressed I am with a faculty initiated program that plays a key role in retention and persistence for our student-athletes at Virginia Wesleyan.  Student-athletes make up approximately 25 percent of our student population.

In addition to having two outstanding Faculty Athletics Representatives, designations required by the NCAA and ODAC, Virginia Wesleyan was ahead of its peer institutions in  the development of a Faculty/Staff Team Advisor program.  Dr. Larry Hultgren, Professor of Philosophy, and Dr. Susan Larkin, Associate Professor of English, serve Virginia Wesleyan well as Faculty Athletics Representatives.

Started in the Fall of 2005, faculty and staff advisors provide advice, assistance and resources for our student athletes as they strive to maintain balance in their Wesleyan careers. The Faculty/Staff Advisor serves as an advocate for students participating in the sport, and provides a valuable link between student-athletes and the faculty.

In addition, the Faculty/Staff Advisor may develop a broader involvement in the student-athlete experience and contribute to other individual and team programs and activities. The team Faculty/Staff Advisor program facilitates integration of the intercollegiate programs into the undergraduate experience of Virginia Wesleyan College. Presently, each of the 19 intercollegiate sports, plus cheerleading benefits form the presence of at least one faculty or staff advisor.

Functions performed by the advisors include:

• Assisting student-athletes, and coaches, in linking with college programs, resources and support activities;
• Providing job or graduate school recommendations as requested;
• Communicating to the college community about the performance of individual student-athletes and sports teams;
• Supporting coaches in recruiting efforts as schedule permits;
• Attending the President's and Dean’s List Recognition Ceremony for both Fall and Spring Dean’s list honorees, and
• Attending the annual Spring Athletic Banquet to be recognized for their support of the integration of academics and athletics.

Thanks to the following Faculty/Staff Advisors for 2015-16:

BASEBALL (Coach Chris Francis)-  Mr. Adam Ruh 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (Coach Stephany Dunmyer)-   Dr. Joyce Easter 

MEN’S BASKETBALL (Coach Dave Macedo)-   Mrs. Genai Hill

CHEERLEADING (Coach Desiree Ellison)-   Mrs. Robin Takacs

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD (Coach Krista Littleton)- Dr. Kathy Stolley 

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD  (Coach Mat Littleton)- Dr. Scott Hinze 

FIELD HOCKEY (Coach Christina Restivo)-  Dr. Rebecca Hooker

GOLF (Coach Bryan Hearn)-  Dr. Kevin Kittredge 

WOMEN’S LACROSSE (Coach Meagan DiCave)-  Mrs. Takeyra Collins 

MEN’S LACROSSE (Coach JP Stewart)-  Dr. Keith Moore

WOMEN’S SOCCER (Coach Jeff Bowers)- Dr. Susan Larkin

MEN’S SOCCER (Coach Chris Mills)-  Dr. Wayne Pollock & Dr. Paul Ewell 

SOFTBALL (Coach Brandon Elliott)-    Dr. Hilve Firek 

MEN’S & WOMEN’S TENNIS (Coach Marty Perry)-  Dr. Antje Schwennicke

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL (Coach Andrea Hoover)-   Dr. Kellie Holzer 

Kudos to Joanne Renn (Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics) for her outstanding leadership to the many faculty serving in this important capacity.

Enjoyable lunch with Roy Hendrix, a generous member of the College's Board of Trustees from 2005 to 2014. Hendrix Hall, a Village IV townhouse, is named in his honor.

Enjoyed meeting Ed O'Brien '83 at O'Brien & Associates, a New York Life Insurance Company. Ed is a new member of my newest volunteer group, the Corporate Leaders Council.

Nota Bene: The 2016 Robert F. Boyd Institute

March 8, 2016

 

On March 28 and 29, Virginia Wesleyan College will host the Robert F. Boyd Institute on our campus. Recently, renamed to honor one of the founding members of the College’s Board of Trustees, the Institute pays tribute to Bob Boyd, now a Trustee Emeritus who is still very involved and committed to the College.

 

This year’s event is titled “The Future Identity and Mission of the Church” and the key presenter will be Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker. Bishop Whitaker will address the historic changes in the relation of the church to today’s culture. He will propose an understanding of the identity and mission of the church that is rooted in Primitive Christianity and the Wesleyan heritage and its relevance to the emerging new role of the church in westernized societies. Habits and practices which were developed in the past will need to be reformed in order for the church to be the church and to accomplish its mission now and in the future.

 

This seminar awards one continuing education credit for the clergy who will travel from all parts of the state to participate. Those interested can register online at www.vwc.edu/ces by March 18. For more information, contact our chaplain, Rev. Greg West at gwest@vwc.edu or Kelly Roenker, coordinator of the Boyd Institute, at kroenker@vwc.edu.

 

We look forward to hosting clergy from throughout Virginia at the end of this month.