Dialogue

Thursday, January 5, 2023

VA Private Colleges Family

Welcome to the Virginia private colleges family! I enjoyed visiting with new Roanoke College President Frank Shushok at the CIC Presidents Institute in San Francisco. I’m excited to collaborate with him in the VA Foundation of Independent Colleges, VA Private Colleges, and Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Congratulations Javier Cevallos

Congratulations to my long time colleague and friend Javier Cevallos on his selection as the new President of the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI). Javier has served as President of Framingham State University since 2014 and is the former President of Kutztown University. We have served together on the Boards of Second Nature and Academic Search the last few years. Based in Washington, D.C., AALI’s main purpose is cultivating the next generation of college and university leaders.

10-Year Master Plan Review with Steve Sproles

Reviewed progress on our 10-year master plan with the architect/facilitator of that plan, Steve Sproles, Principal of Derck & Edson of Lititz, PA. Derck & Edson facilitated a campus assessment, space utilization, and facility analysis in 2015 and collaboratively developed our master plan the following year. That planning has been the basis for our growth.

Opening Reception for Council of Independent Colleges Presidents Institute

I enjoyed seeing so many friends and colleagues at the opening reception for the Council of Independent Colleges Presidents Institute, the largest gathering of college presidents in the country. Left, with long time colleagues Richard Ekman, President-emeritus of CIC, and Mary Pat Seurkamp, President-emeritus of Notre Dame of Maryland University and Senior Advisor at CIC. Right, “Team Ferrilli” — Robert Ferrilli (CEO), Marcia Daniel (Chief Client Officer), and Rita Jerman (Sr. Director, Strategic Client Engagement). Ferrilli has been a valued partner of VWU on a variety of technology initiatives including cyber-security and long range planning.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Planning President to President

Planning session for the 2023-24 “President to President” series with our sponsors/partners from Sodexo. Pictured with Melanie Sweeney-Fetzer, Sodexo Senior Vice President, Business Development; Moses DeBord, Sodexo Senior Vice President for Operations; Stacy Bowman-Hade, Sodexo Director, Audience Engagement. The popular presidential thought series enters its 19th year in 2023. Learn more: http://ow.ly/QIX850MiMI6

Sean Creighton

Thanks to Sean Creighton, President of New American Colleges and Universities (NACU), for a productive Winter Meeting of the Board of Directors at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. VWU is a proud member of NACU-a collaborative consortium of 29 institutions focused on accelerated and continuous innovation.

Meeting with HERDI

Productive winter meeting of the Board of the Higher Research and Development Institute (HERDI). Comprised of private college and university presidents, the HERDI Board is a group of innovative national leaders linking corporate America with higher education. Pictured with Marcia Daniel, Executive Director of HERDI - PI, and Toni Cleveland, President/CEO of HERDI.

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Dinner at Tadich Grill

Enjoyable dinner at the famous Tadich Grill in San Francisco with leaders of the Board of the Higher Education Research and Development Institute (HERDI). With James VanArsdel; Marcia Daniel, Executive Director; Toni Cleveland, President/CEO of HERDI; and Rich Ekman, President-emeritus of the Council of Independent Colleges and Chair of the HERDI Board.

Monday, January 2, 2023

The President's Letter: It's a Great Year to be a Marlin

It's a Great Year to be a Marlin

January 2023

Dear friends,

Happy New Year to all Marlins and friends! We finished 2022 in a flurry of activity from our bi-annual academic symposium to our mid-year Commencement Ceremony with keynote speaker Congressman Bobby Scott. The University was recognized by the Elizabeth River Project as a River Star Business Sustained Distinguished Performer at the Model Level. We celebrated members of our Clarke Heritage Society. We cheered for the Marlins as they played in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Final Four. The Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia named a new president, an organization that I am proud to serve as its chair.

Looking ahead, we announced exciting opportunities for students and special guests coming to campus in 2023. In athletics, we proud to share that men's volleyball will join our intercollegiate athletics program in the 2023-24 academic year. We will welcome Aaron Rouse, Virginia Beach City Councilman and former NFL player, as our keynote speaker for our commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We are excited to host the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges Ethics Bowl at the end of this month. We announced Sue Haupert-Johnson, the new bishop of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, as our 2023 Baccalaureate speaker.

Virginia Wesleyan has so much going for itself in 2023 and beyond. From its commitment to offer a premier liberal arts education at an affordable price to its creative strategic partnerships for student engagement and advancement, we look forward to sharing more good news with you each month. It's a great year to be a Marlin!

Sincerely,

VWU Global Campus Commencement Ceremony 2022

The ceremony for mid-year graduates was held December 17 in the Goode Center.