A monthly
communiqué from
Dr. Scott D. Miller
President of the College
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Holiday Blessings Abound at Virginia Wesleyan
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Good morning,
This is the time of year when our College pauses to evaluate the hard work of the fall semester. Thanksgiving break has come and gone, and the final few frantic days before the Christmas season are filled with bringing the semester to a close. Students are busily finishing papers and studying for exams. Some will return for Winter Session, while others will take trips abroad to other nations--a Virginia Wesleyan tradition as part of our global-studies initiative.
The Center for Enrollment Services hosts its final campus tours for the year, and the Center for Advancement counts year-end gifts from alumni and friends. Some student-athletes take a breather from competition, while for others, the full winter and spring schedule looms ahead. The campus sees its last round of receptions and special events, including concerts and exhibits, the annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, and other commemorations of the waning days of fall term and the approach of winter and the Christmas season.
It's a special time of the year for paying tribute to those whose devotion to the College makes all the difference in our success.
First and foremost, we thank our faculty for their outstanding commitment to good teaching, advising, and mentoring of our students, as well as their own scholarship as professional academicians. At a time when the climate of higher education remains volatile, with the emergence of online courses, branch campuses, and new learning technologies, the heart of Virginia Wesleyan remains its faculty. In every department of the College, faculty members excel as leadership role models, invaluable career counselors, and sources of lifelong guidance and wisdom. We add to this expression of appreciation our emeritus and retired faculty, many of whom remain in or close to Coastal Virginia and whose continued devotion to the College takes many forms.
The College cannot function without administrative support. These staff members keep our beautiful campus in good condition, house and feed our students, coach and train our athletes, offer counseling and learning resources, recruit incoming students, maintain our technology and equipment, raise dollars for scholarships, and care for many other areas of the institution. Often the unsung, invisible heroes of Virginia Wesleyan, they are critical to the delivery of our educational mission and student services. We thank our tireless administrative staff for their professionalism and attention to the many details that define our College.
We thank our students for enriching our lives with their energy, intellectual gifts, volunteer service, and artistic and athletic talents. Honored that you chose Virginia Wesleyan College for your academic careers, we pledge to you again our commitment to your life and career success, and a truly lifelong relationship with Virginia Wesleyanites across the generations. To your parents and families, we are honored to have been entrusted with your education and continued growth away from home.
Virginia Wesleyan enjoys the generous support of alumni and friends throughout the world. Their financial commitment helps us to close the gap between what we can charge in tuition and fees, and the true cost of a quality liberal arts education. They have entrusted their dollars to a winning educational tradition at Virginia Wesleyan, and like most institutions of higher education, we simply cannot keep the doors open to the College without private giving. To all who support our College in this way, we send a special and heartfelt thank-you for your support in 2016. And we invite your renewed giving during the closing days of this year and in 2017.
To our special friends in the United Methodist Church, our founding denomination, we say thank you for a year of exceptional engagement with the College. From Boyd Institute programming for Church leaders and those who participated in programs through our campus ministry, the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, and Center for Sacred Music, we say thank you, and we look forward to working with you in the new year to reaffirm our historic commitment to the Church.
Virginia Wesleyan College benefits immeasurably from the talent, time, and treasure of its Board of Trustees. Led by David Kaufman and Jon Pruden, the Trustees have provided significant leadership during 2016 and offered complete support for the educational enterprise in ways that are historic, lasting, and wise. We thank our alumni leaders, including new Trustees Mavis McKenley '11, Michael White '81, and Lee Stevenson '85, for their love of the College that is expressed through conscientious service to Alma Mater.
We add our thanks to special leaders in the VWC Alumni Council and the President's Parents Roundtable who offer their insights and financial support as the College pursues its vital goals.
Additional updates and highlights from this past month:
- I'm pleased to announce the addition of eight new members to the Virginia Wesleyan College Board of Trustees for the 2016-2017 academic year. We welcome the talents and expertise of Dr. Nancy T. DeFord of Virginia Beach, Mary C. Haddad of Suffolk, Virginia, Howard P. Kern of Norfolk, Rev. Sharma D. Lewis of Glen Allen, Virginia, Mavis N. McKenley '11 of Virginia Beach, Lee T. Stevenson '85 of Chicago, Kenneth G. Trinder II of Norfolk, and Michael J. White '81 of Florham Park, New Jersey. These experienced and talented individuals join an engaged group of Trustees whose dedication continues to be a critical asset to the success of our College, its students and alumni. They offer a wealth of insight and skills as we chart our strategic course for the coming years. Read more about our newest Board members on our website.
- I invite each of you to visit campus for Virginia Wesleyan's inaugural Port Day on Tuesday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A premier program of our Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Port Day is designed to demonstrate and promote the academic achievements of VWC students completing capstone undergraduate research, internship, and semester study-away experiences. The conference-style event will include campus-wide sessions in which students will share their work through oral and poster presentations and answer audience questions. On Port Day, no classes, meetings, or athletic events will be held during the day, allowing the entire campus community to celebrate the accomplishments of our students, learn about work completed, and hear about the transformative power of participation in capstone academic experiences.
- We are pleased to share our special philanthropy-themed edition of Marlin Magazine along with Virginia Wesleyan College's 2015-2016 Annual Report. With construction proceeding impressively on the new Greer Environmental Sciences Center, fundraising continuing for the Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center, and final touches being made on the Campus Master Plan, we have much facilities news to share. Also we have included updates on the new Batten Honors College and the structuring of our academic programs into three named schools: The Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities; The Joan P. Brock School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences; and The Birdsong School of Social Science. We offer a financial profile of the College and pay tribute to our many alumni, friends, parents, faculty, staff, and others who support Virginia Wesleyan financially through giving. View our latest Marlin Magazine in its entirety at www.vwc.edu/magazine.
- On November 15, two of Virginia Wesleyan's most devoted friends, Susan and David Goode, were honored as Outstanding Philanthropists during a luncheon sponsored by the Hampton Roads chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. As part of the presentation, a special video was prepared as a tribute to the couple's wonderful record of philanthropy for numerous organizations and causes in our region. Highlighted was their strong commitment to Virginia Wesleyan; Susan remains an active member of our College's Board of Trustees. The video, which can be viewed here, was produced by Tom Redmond, with editing and cinematography by Phil Wright. We extend our warmest congratulations and gratitude to David and Susan for their award in philanthropy and their continuing investment in the success of Virginia Wesleyan College.
- I end on a somber note, as we were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of two cherished members of the Virginia Wesleyan College family during the month of November. Linda Partridge, a longtime mathematics professor, passed away on November 20 after a courageous battle with cancer. A memorial service for Linda will be held on campus Thursday, December 8, at 4 p.m. in Monumental Chapel followed by a reception in the Shafer Room inside Boyd Dining Center. Dr. James F. "Jim" Harris, VWC Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, passed away Nov. 29, also following a brave fight with cancer. Rev. Ralph Rowley '78 visited and prayed with Jim prior to his passing and is working with the family to make arrangements. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Linda's and Jim's family. We hope you will keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
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To everyone, Annie and I thank you for your friendship and support. We offer our warmest wishes for the holiday season, and our sincere hopes that the new year will bring you back home to Coastal Virginia's premier private, national liberal arts college.
Sincerely,
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Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.
President
Virginia Wesleyan College
1584 Wesleyan Drive
Norfolk, VA 23502
Phone: 757.455.3215
Fax: 757.455.3139
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