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,