Dear friends,

I am pleased to share that students, faculty and staff should plan on a return to fully in-person learning for the fall semester. We are optimistic that the availability and prevalence of vaccines will greatly increase throughout Virginia and the nation by the summer and are impatient for the return of normalcy come fall.

We are just six weeks away from Commencement, and we look forward to celebrating the Class of 2021 in person with five smaller graduation ceremonies instead of one larger event. We announced Dr. Travis Malone as the next Dean of the Batten Honors College. We launched a new online Master of Education (M.Ed.) program and classes will begin on May 17. We shared that Matthew Nusbaum has joined the VWU Board of Trustees. Additionally, the University has entered an agreement with Boston University School of Theology for priority admission for graduating seniors and young alumni. VWU celebrated Women's History Month and was named a Voter Friendly Campus for the third year in a row.

Improvements in Susan T. Beverly Hall continued with the unveiling of the Digital Media Studio and murals in the building's lobby and entrance. Site preparation began on Brock Commons and the David L. Kaufman Center for Enrollment received a makeover. We thank all of the donors and foundations who have taken a special interest in these projects, and we wait impatiently for the day when we can show off these campus improvements to our alumni and friends.

Until then, continue to take good care of yourselves and each other as we greet the spring with optimism. The future can't get here soon enough.

Sincerely,