A PIVOTAL PLACE
LONGWOOD’S CAMPUS lies at the intersection of two key events in U.S. history: the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the modern civil rights movement. One of the last battles of the Civil War was fought just miles away at High Bridge, and retreating Confederate soldiers marched past the Rotunda. At the other end of campus, the student-led civil rights movement began with the 1951 Moton School strike.
FOUNDED IN 1839,
Longwood is the thirdoldest public institution of higher education in Virginia, after William & Mary and UVA.
LONGWOOD’S NEWEST
JOAN OF ARC sculpture is located at the southern end of campus between Hull and Bedford halls. Sculptor Alexander Stoddart captured the historic woman at the peak of her military prowess, raising the Siege of Orleans in 1429.
SCIENCE HAPPENS HERE
NEW FACILITIES EXPAND BALILES CENTER
More budding scientists will have the opportunity to spark their passion for exploring and understanding the natural world thanks to new facilities dedicated this past fall at the Baliles Center for Environmental Education at Hull Springs.
Officially opened at the dedication were two new student cabins that can accommodate up to 12 students each; a pavilion designed to serve as an outdoor space for teaching, meetings and events; and three faculty cabins—one newly constructed and two that were renovated. These additions will increase the capacity for students and faculty to conduct research at the center, expanding opportunities for hands-on learning.
A $1.2 million research lab, completed and dedicated in 2021, is the centerpiece of the Baliles Center, which is located on a 662-acre historic property in Westmoreland County. The property is situated between two tributaries to the Potomac River, has about 8,400 feet of shoreline along two creeks and is just a short distance from the Chesapeake Bay—making it the perfect setting for studying the environment and critical sustainability issues.
MAKING A NAME FOR OURSELVES
LONGWOOD HAS AGAIN CLIMBED IN annual rankings used by millions of families to make decisions about higher education. In the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings, released in September 2024, Longwood moved up two spots to No. 6 among all regional public universities in the South, making it the 10th-straight year that Longwood is a top-10 public university in that category. For the last decade, Longwood has consistently found its place among the best regional academic institutions in the South, which are defined as offering undergraduate and master’s programs, but few doctoral programs.
RESEARCH ARTICLE IS AMONG MOST DOWNLOADED OF 2024
CHAIR OF NURSING DEPARTMENT HONORED WITH STATEWIDE AWARD
AAlexander Stoddart, Joan of Arc 2018. Bronze.
AN ARTICLE REPORTING the findings of a joint faculty-student research project at Longwood became one of the top-10 most downloaded articles published in 2024 across the 89 journals of the American Psychological Association (APA).
Published in the APA’s Stigma and Health journal and one of 5,000 articles appearing in APA journals in 2024, the article is titled “The mental health climate and mental health-related academic help seeking on U.S. college campuses.” It is based on research conducted as part of Longwood’s PRISM program by Dr. Timothy Ritzert, assistant professor of psychology, and his then-students Kylie Gannon ’23 and Leah Richardson ’23.
The trio’s research interpreted data collected in a nationwide survey of college students asking how apt they would be to seek help if psychological distress were impacting their academic work.
“A lot of the data we are looking at is about the effects of stigma on help-seeking. Stigma involves discrimination and prejudice against people with mental health problems,” Richardson said at the time the research was conducted.
Dr. Kim Little, professor of nursing and department chair, was one of 12 faculty members from across the commonwealth recognized by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia for their superior accomplishments in teaching, research and public service.
nursing professor who has grown Longwood’s department into an accomplished, competitive program and who is beloved by her students has been recognized by the commonwealth of Virginia with its highest award for faculty work at its public and private colleges and universities. Dr. Kim Little, professor of nursing and department chair, received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia for her work inside and out of the classroom. Just 12 professors from across the state received the award from more than 80 institutional nominations. The awards recognize superior accomplishments in teaching, research and public service. Little joins previous SCHEV honorees from Longwood: Dr. Amorette Barber (2019), Dr. Melanie Marks (2006) and Dr. Jim Jordan (1992). Little joined the Longwood faculty in 2018 after leading Liberty University’s master’s-level program in nursing. Her impact here was felt immediately. She implemented data-gathering initiatives to inform decision making and created a new role in the department to identify and support at-risk students early in their college careers.
GET IN (LANCER) GEAR
The Longwood Store is located at the corner of Main and Third streets in downtown Farmville. The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.
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/2025program
LIVE VIDEO STREAM Watch the ceremony live on your mobile device at: go.longwood.edu/live
SHARE THE CELEBRATION
ONLINE Share your photos on X or Instagram 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.
