May has always been a special time of year for Virginia Wesleyan and all of higher education. It is typically the time when we celebrate
student achievements, retirements, and employee milestones, all culminating with our Commencement Ceremonies. While this year looks different for all of us, we remain committed to celebrating our Marlin family for their significant accomplishments. As you know, some celebrations have been virtual, while others are postponed. However, the spirit of achievement and recognition continues to abound, and I am prouder than ever of our University community.
It is important to note that while the official Commencement Ceremonies will be held in December, degrees will s
till be conferred in May, at the close of this academic year. Class of 2020, please know your earned status as graduates will not be delayed and graduate status will be certified this month. We know this is important for graduate school, employment, and professional certifications. I hope you will find ways to celebrate this earned degree throughout the month and I look forward to celebrating with you in December.
Please join me in congratulating the Virginia Wesleyan University Class of 2020 for their hard work over the years and for their positive attitudes, resilience, and adaptability in the face of adversity. This is a significant moment in the lives of these students, their families, and our institution. We are thrilled to welcome these soon-to-be graduates into their next phase of life, and to stay connected as they flourish as alumni.
Read more about the December Commencement Ceremonies here.
Highlights from the past month include:
Retiring Faculty and Staff
Congratulations to six special members of our Marlin family who have achieved a significant milestone and will be retiring this spring:
Tamela Dhority Thornes, Operations Manager and Technical Director for the Goode Center (20 years of service);
Dr. Hilve Firek, Professor of Education (10 years of service);
Dr. J. Michael Hall, Lambuth M. Clarke Professor of English (40 years of service);
Audrey Rafferty, Payroll Manager (35 years of service);
Dr. Jayne Sullivan, Associate Professor of Education (20 years of service); and
Midge Zimmerman, Director of Purchasing (20 years of service).
A celebration of their service will be held in the fall when we can safely and properly gather to express our gratitude. We will also hold the traditional tree planting ceremony for our retiring faculty in the Wilson Arboretum at that time.
Additionally, I congratulate Drs. Hall and Sullivan on being awarded the distinction of Professor Emeritus.
Thank you again to these Marlins who have left their mark of distinction on our campus and community.
Virginia Wesleyan Goes Global with Tokyo Campus
We launched an exclusive agreement last month between Virginia Wesleyan and Lakeland University to jointly operate a campus in Tokyo with the name "Lakeland University Japan and Virginia Wesleyan University Global." While this particular partnership is new, it builds on my long-standing relationship with David Black, President of Lakeland University and Executive-in-Residence at Virginia Wesleyan. This donor-funded venture will create a variety of opportunities for our University. LUJ and VWU Global will be a part of Virginia Wesleyan University Global Campus (formerly University College). Read more here.
Construction of Brock Commons
Longtime Virginia Wesleyan University benefactor and Trustee Emerita Joan Brock has generously made a gift to fund the renovation and expansion of the facility connecting the Jane P. Batten Student Center and Boyd Dining Center. The addition will be named Brock Commons, in honor of Joan and her late husband Macon. We thank Joan for her continued support and dedication to furthering the success of VWU. Learn more
here.
New TowneBank Arena
Made possible by a generous gift from community partner TowneBank, the Convocation Hall will soon become TowneBank Arena in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. The home of the Marlins is now under renovation and will have a brand new look this August. We are excited to upgrade our facility not only for our athletic teams and special events, but for the comfort of our devoted Marlin fans. We are so grateful to TowneBank, and we thank them for their continued investment in intercollegiate athletics at Virginia Wesleyan. Read more about TowneBank Arena in this WTKR News 3 feature.
VWU's Ashley Roehrman Named Newman Civic Fellow
Virginia Wesleyan University junior Ashley Roehrman, an environmental studies and sociology major, is one of just 290 students nationwide selected as a 2020-21 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a Boston-based nonprofit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education. Please join me in congratulating Ashley! Read more here.
Dr. Emmanuel Named Dean of the Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities
Dr. Steven Emmanuel, Professor of Philosophy at Virginia Wesleyan University, has been named as the next Dean of the Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities. Dr. Emmanuel is a longtime and highly respected member of the VWU faculty. He has received many awards for teaching, research, and public service throughout his exemplary career.
I also want to thank Dr. Travis Malone, the inaugural Dean of the Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities, for his outstanding leadership. Dr. Malone has done a truly remarkable job since its establishment in 2016. As his term will end with the academic year, I want to express my gratitude for his dedication and service during this time of growth and change. The arts at Virginia Wesleyan have positively thrived under his leadership and he has been a valued adviser. I know the program will remain in good hands under Dr. Emmanuel's deanship.
Honoring the Legacy of Robert Nusbaum
The Robert Nusbaum Center, formerly the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom at Virginia Wesleyan University, will continue to expand its focus to encompass diversity, dialogue, faith and freedom. The Center has grown in prominence and national stature since its inception in 1996. With that growth in mind, and in consultation with major contributors and family members of its late Founding Fellow Robert Nusbaum, the center has been renamed in his honor. Read more
here.
Amy Rush to Lead VWU's Center for Exploration & Discovery
Amy Rush has been appointed Executive Director of The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery at Virginia Wesleyan University.
She has provided strong leadership in her role as Deputy Director of The Lighthouse since 2015 and has played an important role in the development and growth of the Army ROTC Marlin Company, serving as the adviser since 2012. We thank Dr. Sara Sewell, the founding Executive Director of The Lighthouse, for her leadership and concurrent completion of the Quality Enhancement Plan for our accrediting body--the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). We wish her well as she returns to teaching full time. Read more here.
VWU Celebrates the 50th Earth Day
Though on-campus plans for the 50th anniversary celebration of Earth Day were disrupted by COVID-19, the tribute was adapted to include virtual recognition of this important milestone. VWU honored the University's commitment to the environment with tributes to the past, present and future. From the 1992 student demonstration to protect the beech wood forest on campus to the lush gardens now surrounding the Greer Environmental Sciences Center and a new VWU Sustainability Leaders program in the works, Virginia Wesleyan has always put environmental stewardship at the forefront. Read more
here
.
Joanne Renn Returns as Interim Athletics Director
Joanne Renn, Virginia Wesleyan Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Emeritus, is returning to the University to head the program in an interim capacity.
Current athletic director Tina Hill has accepted the same position at Wilson College in Pennsylvania. The new president of Wilson is a longtime colleague of Tina from their time at Randolph College. We thank Tina for her leadership and wish her the best.
After
11 years as athletics director and 25 years total with the Marlins, Joanne retired in 2018. She is a trusted colleague and friend, and will lead the search for our next permanent athletic director. Please join me in thanking Joanne for providing valuable leadership at this critical time.
Read more
here
.
Batten Honors College Convocation
Since the founding of the distinctive Batten Honors College in the fall of 2107, an intimate recognition ceremony has been held for the newest Batten Fellows and Shumadine Scholars. A ceremonial pinning of each student represents their completion of orientation and formal induction into the elite Batten Honors College of Virginia Wesleyan University.
As the program has grown and the highly selective Batten Honors College has flourished, the ceremony has also grown to reflect this. This fall, all four classes of the Batten Honors College will attend the Batten Honors College Convocation and we will welcome Dr. Ian Solomon, Dean of UVA's Frank Batten School for Leadership and Public Policy, as the keynote speaker. This special event will be held on our Founders Day, September 10.
Virtual Campus Visits
The campus visit is a key element factoring into the important decision of where to attend college. As we continue to be challenged by COVID-19, in-person visits are not an option at this time. Accordingly, we've created a wide array of "virtual visit opportunities" for prospective students and their families to learn more about Virginia Wesleyan. Check out the many virtual options available
here
and "visit" us today.
VFIC Emergency Fund
Recently, the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) approved grants for an emergency assistance fund for students. Virginia Wesleyan and each of the 14 other VFIC member institutions will receive a grant to support undergraduate students impacted financially by the crisis. On behalf of my fellow presidents, VFIC institutions, and the deserving students, my thanks to VFIC President Matt Shank and his team for this vital aid. Read more
here.
Student Life and Learning Fund
We continue to work daily to help our students adapt to the modifications they have had to make to their lives, academically and personally.
Thanks to the lead gift from the VFIC mentioned above, we created the
VWU Student Life and Learning Fund
to address the most pressing needs of our students during COVID-19 and beyond. We've already tapped into these funds to purchase Chromebooks and WiFi routers for students who need them. We'll do everything we can to position our students for success regardless of where or how instruction occurs.
We appreciate those who have already reached out, asking how to help. If your current situation allows, please consider a gift in support of the
VWU Student Life and Learning Fund
to help minimize the financial impact the COVID-19 crisis is having on our students and our University as a whole. Learn more
here
.
VWU Day of Giving: Thank You
This year's VWU Day of Giving was our strongest yet. We raised an astounding $9,894.60 on our Day of Giving alone plus $7,905.60 more throughout the month of April from alumni and friends giving early to the campaign. With our challenge match of $5,000 from alumnus Billy Spain, Class of 1979, our Day of Giving support totals $22,800.20 from 172 alumni, parents, and friends.
Our constituents had the opportunity to give to what they love at VWU, so gifts supported a range of priorities at the University including annual scholarships, academic programs, Marlin athletic programs, and the Student Life and Learning Fund--our emergency fund to support students affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Words cannot express how proud I am to see this incredible show of support from our Marlin community, especially during this difficult time we face across the globe. I thank all who were able to participate--be it by making a gift or simply sharing the campaign with others.
Summer Session
We are days away from completing the academic year, and that means Summer Session is right around the corner.
Whether you're behind in coursework or planning to graduate early, enrolling in summer courses at VWU gives you the opportunity to accomplish your goals in a cost-effective way. Catch up or get ahead this summer with Virginia Wesleyan. We offer five terms throughout the summer, beginning this month. View courses and learn more here.
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In closing, I reiterate how much we miss each of you on our beautiful, but quiet campus. Recently I joined fellow college and university presidents across Virginia in sharing messages of support to our students (view the video here). To our Marlins, and to all current and future college students of the Commonwealth, remember that we are in this together.
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