COMMENCEMENT 2025
FROM THE PRESIDENT
WELCOME TO LONGWOOD’S 2025 COMMENCEMENT, a grand occasion to celebrate our new graduates and all they have achieved. As you join us today, there will be time to reflect, to honor and perhaps to shed a proud tear. We hope that, before the ceremony gets underway, you will enjoy reading these news items about the university.
We gather this evening in the Joan Perry Brock Center, named for a fellow Lancer of the Class of 1964 whose philanthropy and dedication to the alma mater have impacted thousands of lives. More than just a home for our basketball teams, this place is a cultural hub of the Farmville and Prince Edward communities, welcoming musicians, performing artists and entertainment events throughout the year.
We hope you will come back for Homecoming & Alumni Weekend this November and enjoy the first games of the 2025-26 season in this spot.
A college commencement ceremony is one of life’s great rites of passage. It’s a time to congratulate these proud graduates and also to say thank you to everyone who has supported them along the way. I hope all of you who shared in the hard work and sacrifice of this journey will share the pride these graduates so deservedly feel.
I’m delighted to share this evening with you and to celebrate our graduates as they move on to further serve the common good.
Message from the Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies
Congratulations, graduate students! You have worked hard to complete this degree, and we celebrate you today! Many of you also managed full-time jobs, families, homes and major life events while completing your graduate studies. Your accomplishments are to be applauded. We also thank and congratulate the people in your life who supported you through this journey. We know you couldn’t have done it without them.
With continued hard work and perseverance, you will find that your advanced degree opens doors for you. Make sure you step through those doors as you come across them. If you do, you will look back at the time, effort and money you put into your graduate degree as a wise investment. We know our Longwood graduates are leaders and contribute to enriching the lives of all they encounter. Use your new knowledge and skills to make this world a better place!
We sincerely want to stay in touch with our graduate students and alumni, and we hope you will follow us on our social media platforms.
All the best,
Dr. Jeannine Perry
2025 Award Winners
Dr. Steven Mueller
Assistant Professor of Management
GRADUATE FACULTY RESEARCH AWARD
Since joining Longwood in the fall of 2022, Dr. Steven Mueller has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to research, producing a large body of work that advances the fields of management and marketing. He has published six papers, including three peer-reviewed journal articles and a book chapter on leadership in the post-Covid era. Mueller’s research addresses ethical questions within organizational behavior, focusing on counterproductive workplace behaviors, secret keeping and corporate social responsibility. His innovative work, such as a study on farm waste management and another on counterproductive workplace behavior, exemplifies his commitment to addressing critical societal issues with practical solutions.
Dr. Laura Poe
Assistant Professor of Information Systems and Cyber Security
GRADUATE TEACHING AND MENTORING AWARD
W. Taylor Reveley IV President
President of Hampden-Sydney College will address today’s graduates
IN 2026, nearby Hampden-Sydney College, which along with Longwood makes up America’s first two-college town, will mark the 250th anniversary of the start of classes there as our country celebrates its 250th birthday. Leading the college to that historic achievement is Dr. Larry Stimpert, the 25th president of one of the oldest colleges in the United States and the last founded in British Colonial America.
During his tenure, Hampden-Sydney has transformed its campus, building a new state-of-the-art science center in the heart of campus, adding residence halls for students, constructing a new student center and elegantly renovating Venable Hall, among the earliest college buildings in America. Stimpert has done this while expanding the curriculum and developing new initiatives to support the college’s mission “to form good men and good citizens.”
While serving as Hampden-Sydney’s president, Stimpert has chaired the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV), the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). He is currently a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). Prior to joining Hampden-Sydney, Stimpert was vice president for academic affairs and professor of economics and management at DePauw University. His scholarship focuses on top managers and their influence on strategic decision making and firm strategies. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The Graduate Ceremony
Approximately 474 students in the Graduate Class of 2025 are earning degrees in education, counselor education, school librarianship, business administration, communication sciences and disorders, and reading, literacy and learning, and many of them will be hooded at this afternoon’s Commencement ceremony.
The hooding ceremony is a special recognition ceremony for students earning master’s degrees. The placing of the hood signifies the passage from student to “master” and recognizes the scholarly and personal achievements of the candidates for graduation who have completed their advanced degree requirements. The distinctive colors found in the hoods accord with the following degrees:
• Master of Science: Goldenrod
• Master of Business Administration: Drab
• Master of Education: Light Blue
In addition, several members of Longwood’s graduate school community will be recognized for their hard work, leadership and outstanding scholarship. This year’s recipients are recognized in the story that begins at the top of this page. These awards, which are given annually, reflect the quality embodied by the graduate school’s faculty, students and alumni. The awards are the Graduate Faculty Research Award, Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award, Graduate Innovation Award, Graduate Citizen Leader Award, Graduate Young Alumni Award and Graduate Alumni Award.
Dr. Laura Poe’s contributions to graduate education include the redesign of a graduate-level information technology course, the creation of a new technology management track for the MBA program and the development of curriculum for a new Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) program. In all of this work, she takes into account the needs of students, many of whom are returning to college studies after years of being away from education. These initiatives provide hands-on experience, bridge knowledge gaps and open opportunities in high-demand fields. Poe’s efforts demonstrate her commitment to students by guiding their learning in a virtual environment and providing them with the skill set they need to improve their lives and careers.
Laurie Wright
Master of Science in Counselor
Education—Mental Health Counseling GRADUATE INNOVATION AWARD
A second-year graduate student, Laurie Wright has demonstrated innovation and leadership in both scholarship and professional activities. She led a presentation at the 2024 Virginia Counselors Association (VCA) Annual Convention, addressing the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on women’s menopause. Her research highlighted an underrecognized issue in counseling, gaining significant attention and sparking further collaboration on a future manuscript. Additionally, Wright is reviving a local VCA chapter and advocating for counseling-related legislative changes. She is a strong scholar and truly a leader among her peers.
Anna Katherine Keesee
Master of Science in Counselor
Education—School Health Counseling GRADUATE CITIZEN LEADER AWARD
Anna Katherine Keesee has shown exceptional leadership, professionalism and service during her time at Longwood. As a graduate assistant, she excels in administration and fostering collaboration with faculty, staff and students
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GRADUATE PROGRAMS AT LONGWOOD
IN 1955, LONGWOOD BEGAN offering its first graduate programs in education. Today Longwood offers six graduate majors, several of which offer multiple concentrations. Longwood also offers graduate professional endorsements. Graduate faculty deliver instruction not only on Longwood’s main campus but also in locations throughout the state as well as online.
across campus. Keesee holds leadership roles as the president of Chi Sigma Iota and secretary of the Graduate Student Association, demonstrating her commitment to community service and her peers. Recognized with the Michele Dowdy Emerging Leader Award from the Virginia Counselors Association, she consistently advocates for diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice within the counseling profession. Through her dedication to service and leadership in both her academic and professional roles, she exemplifies the qualities of a graduate citizen leader.
Emily Preuss-Anderson
Master of Education in School Librarianship
GRADUATE YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
Emily Preuss-Anderson has made exceptional contributions as a school librarian at Victoria Elementary School in rural Lunenburg County. She implemented innovative practices such as dynamic shelving for easier book browsing, and engaging events such as Snuggle Up & Read and book hunts to foster a love of reading among students. Preuss-Anderson has actively participated in professional associations, presenting at conferences on topics including makerspaces and rural school library advocacy. Her dedication to her profession and community has earned her recognition, including the 2025 James Regional Librarian of the Year award.
Mary Harrison
Master of Science in Counselor Education—School Counseling
GRADUATE ALUMNI AWARD
Mary Harrison, a dedicated school counselor at Amelia County Elementary, has more than 20 years of experience in education, including 10 years in school counseling and 10 years as a classroom teacher. As a school counselor at Amelia County Elementary, she has supervised practicum and internship students, actively participated in panels and interviews and stayed connected to her alma mater. Harrison’s strategic use of data to inform programming and her commitment to advocacy, collaboration and crisis intervention have significantly contributed to the well-being and academic success of her students.
FEATURES
INSPIRING STORIES OF LONGWOOD GRADUATES
Whether you’re a proud alum or simply curious about the extraordinary journeys our graduate and professional studies alumni take, Longwood GradCast: Beyond the Degree is your backstage pass to the transformative power of education and determination.
Get ready to be inspired, motivated and awed as our host, Dr. Sarah TannerAnderson, assistant dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, helps our guests tell their stories, which prove there are no limits to what a Longwood Lancer can achieve.
We’re always looking for great stories to tell, so we’d love to know where life has taken you since you completed your graduate studies. Just email the details to graduate@ longwood.edu.
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO LONGWOOD GRADCAST
Joan Perry Brock Center has become a cultural hub for Longwood, Farmville
Whether it’s sold-out concerts, ceremonial moments or championship basketball, in just two years the Joan Perry Brock Center has become a place of celebration, community and culture.
Officially opened in 2023, the center has already played host to national acts including musician Oliver Anthony and the Harlem Globetrotters, while serving as home court for the Lancers basketball teams and as the site of Convocation and Graduate Commencement.
That was the vision for the 72,000-square-foot facility, which was supported by a $15 million gift from alumna Joan Perry Brock ’64.
“My real hope is that this facility will make this town and Southside Virginia that much more welcoming for everyone,” said Brock.
Success came quickly. In two seasons on their new court, the men’s and women’s basketball teams are a combined 41-18 and have secured bids to the NCAA and NIT tournaments.
THE HIGH STREET GATEWAY to campus provides the perfect setting for post-Commencement photos. Check it out following today’s ceremony!
U.S. NEWS GIVES MBA PROGRAM HIGH MARKS
The Longwood MBA program ranks highly in the latest U.S. News rankings of Best Online MBA programs. Longwood’s program received a perfect score of 100 in the Faculty Credentials and Training category, earning it the No. 1 spot in the nation in that category. Additionally, the program ranked No. 6 nationally for affordability. As an AACSB-accredited MBA program with highly qualified faculty, Longwood’s College of Business and Economics is committed to delivering exceptional education to adult learners at an affordable price.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Photos of individual graduates will be available for viewing and ordering at www.Grad Images.com. Videos of the ceremony will be available from Memories at www.memories videography.com/colleges. Since photographs and videos will be available, we encourage family members and guests to remain in their seats to relax and enjoy the ceremony.
DIGITAL PROGRAM View or download a copy of the 2025 Commencement program at: go.longwood.edu/2025gradprogram
LIVE VIDEO STREAM Watch the ceremony live on your mobile device at: go.longwood.edu/live
SHARE THE CELEBRATION
ONLINE Share your photos on Instagram or X with the hashtag #longwood25
Select posts will be included in our social feed at: www.longwood.edu/social Tag @longwooduniversity in your Instagram story, and select posts will be included in our story.
(top) Fans and athletes alike are energized by the basketball teams’ new home in the Joan Perry Brock Center.
(above) The Harlem Globetrotters showed off their skills at the JPB.
Photo: Anthony Anderson (right) This afternoon’s Graduate Commencement is being held in the Joan Perry Brock Center.
