Call Them the Champs VWU Softball Brings Home FirstEver NCAA Division III National Title
Campus Master Plan Blueprint for the Future
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From College to University: WHAT IT MEANS FOR VIRGINIA WESLEYAN Virg in ia We sle ya n U n ive rsit y Ma g a zin e | F all 2017 / 1 /
PHOTO: JON LIMTIACO/EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Transformations: A Message From The President
Welcome to Virginia Wesleyan University! We have some very exciting news to share with our Marlin alumni and friends in this edition of our Virginia Wesleyan magazine. First, as you’ve probably heard by now, we have transitioned to Virginia Wesleyan University, to be operational for the 2017-2018 academic year. Our vision is for the new Virginia Wesleyan University to be “Coastal Virginia’s Premier University of the Liberal Arts and Sciences.”
With the unanimous support of our Board of Trustees in its resolution of February 15, 2017, and following an extensive review and approval process, including final approval by the State Council on Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), Virginia Wesleyan began the exciting transition over the summer. We are simultaneously transitioning to a primary Virginia Beach mailing and street address: 5817 Wesleyan Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455. The traditional Norfolk address
will continue to be accessible, and will be a secondary address for business services. In the following pages, we present highlights of the Campus Master Plan, a year-long process of examining our facilities, analyzing how we use them, and visualizing potential for enhancing existing facilities and constructing new ones. The Campus Master Plan included studies on space utilization, parking, and future facilities development, and was accepted by the Board of Trustees at their winter meeting in February. Special thanks to everyone who provided comments, ideas and perspective. Now, our long-range planning process is moving ahead, anticipating our opportunities for growth while honoring our traditions and heritage as a United Methodist institution. Enthusiastic reaffirmation of our church-relatedness by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church, following their site visit last November, has further energized our vision and plans for the future as a campus of intellectual, social and spiritual energy and purpose. Provost and Vice President Dr. Tim O’Rourke is leading the academic planning, a comprehensive focus on curricular and co-curricular opportunities in support of our Vision 2020: Pathway to Prominence plan. The long-range planning group includes the senior administrative staff and representatives from throughout the academic community. In addition to the Campus Master Plan, we have added graduate programs and online learning, and initiated collaboration with a variety of partners, both within and outside the higher-education community. During the past two years, we have also: • Completed a successful reaffirmation of accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools—without any recommendations. • Moved to Level III status with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, representing the addition of two new graduate programs and an online degree completion program for adults. • Received a perfect review by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church – affirming our affiliated status for 10 years. • Organized our academic program into three schools – the Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities, the Joan P. Brock School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and the Birdsong School of Social Science. • Initiated the Batten Honors College. • Constructed the state-of-the art, second-to-none Greer Environmental Sciences Center. • Reinforced strong relationships with the Chesapeake Bay Academy on our campus and have negotiated a laboratory school to be housed on the campus—The Tidewater Collegiate Academy. • Enhanced our already strong relationship with the YMCA of South Hampton Roads with the construction of the Frank Blocker Youth Center for use by Camp Red
Feather and our laboratory school. • Initiated graduate degrees in business and education, along with an online learning program. • Increased our community service outreach with the presence of Volunteer Hampton Roads on our campus. • Strengthened our relationship with the United Methodist Church through the new, enhanced Robert F. Boyd Institute and the stellar programs by the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom and Center for Sacred Music, along with our growing Marlin Ministries.
These accomplishments join forthcoming construction of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center, near the campus entrance, and the residential community across Wesleyan Drive to be known as Oxford Village. We are delighted to have outstanding community support for all of our initiatives. Meeting with leaders in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and throughout Coastal Virginia representing government and public service, the not-for-profit community, media, business and industry and, of course, education, I have sought their counsel and shared with them our aspirations. Without exception, these leaders have expressed their approval of our agenda, praise for our progress, and appreciation for our leadership and contributions to Coastal Virginia. Our initiatives are paying strong dividends already as we see increased potential for enrollment, fundraising, marketing and branding, and regional and national visibility for this institution. I spoke in my August 2016 State-of-the-College address of our being at the crossroads of history: “Virginia Wesleyan,” I said, “is indebted to those who have come before us…our founders and funders whose faith in our mission and steadfast support have brought us to this exciting crossroads in our history. Honoring their visionary leadership, we are still writing our story.” And so we are. Our great friend, benefactor, and Emeritus Trustee George Birdsong spoke with emotion at our first Founders Day, last year, of this former cornfield and its greatest “product”—“a very fine college.” The cornfield now has yielded, as well, a thriving new university. We will keep you informed of our strategy to make these transitions convenient and complete. In the meantime, let us celebrate how far we have come and, even more important, where we want and need to go. As always, it’s a great day to be a Marlin! Sincerely,
Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. President of the University
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Call Them the Champs Virginia Wesleyan Softball Brings Home First-Ever NCAA Division III National Title
Blueprint for the Future
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U N I V E R S I T Y M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 7 2017-18 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
VICE CHAIR
THOMAS C. BROYLES ROBERT W. COLLENBERG II ’90 ROBERT H. DEFORD JR. WILLIAM J. FANNEY LEMUEL E. LEWIS JOHN E. LINGO JR. ELIZABETH F. MIDDLETON ’91 EMILY S. MILES WILLIAM H. THUMEL JR. JOHN A. TRINDER
CYNTHIA M. RODRIGUEZ ’14 SECRETARY
PRESIDENT AND LEADERSHIP
ANNE B. SHUMADINE
DR. SCOTT D. MILLER
D. HENRY WATTS H’07
DR. TIMOTHY O’ROURKE
GARY D. BONNEWELL ’79 H’16
DR. MORT GAMBLE
SUSAN TORMA BEVERLY ’72 GARY D. BONNEWELL ’79 H’16 NANCY T. DEFORD, PH.D. O. L. EVERETT WILLIAM H. GEORGE SUSAN S. GOODE WILLIAM W. GRANGER III MARY C. HADDAD ALEXANDER B. JOYNER* DAVID L. KAUFMAN HOWARD P. KERN RONALD M. KRAMER SHARMA D. LEWIS* JOHN F. MALBON VINCENT J. MASTRACCO JR. MAVIS N. MCKENLEY ’11* SCOTT D. MILLER, PH.D.* TASSOS J. PAPHITES ’79 DEBORAH M. PAXSON ‘75 JONATHAN E. PRUDEN ROBIN D. RAY CYNTHIA M. RODRIGUEZ ’14 LOUIS F. RYAN ALAN H. SHAW WILLIAM S. SHELHORSE ’70 ANNE B. SHUMADINE M. WAYNE SNEAD* LEE T. STEVENSON ’85 LINDA THOMAS-GLOVER, PH.D. KENNETH G. TRINDER II GEORGE K. (CHIP) TSANTES III ’83 D. HENRY WATTS MICHAEL J. WHITE ’81
JAMES COOPER
*ex officio
LEONA BAKER CHRISTINE HALL JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN LAYNEE TIMLIN
DAVID L. KAUFMAN CHAIR
SCOTT D. MILLER, PH.D. PRESIDENT
JONATHAN E. PRUDEN
TREASURER
PARLIAMENTARIAN
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
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LIVING & LEARNING
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ONLINE ON TAP: Virginia Wesleyan President Scott Miller (left) and Learning House President and CEO Todd Zipper at a partnership signing ceremony in early 2017
Graduate and Online Programs Come to VWU BUSINESS MASTER’S PROGRAM, ADULT DEGREE-COMPLETION OPTIONS TO BE OFFERED VIA PARTNERSHIP WITH LEARNING HOUSE Virginia Wesleyan announced a partnership with the Learning House, a Louisville, Kentucky-based company, to enhance enrollment management and marketing efforts for Virginia Wesleyan’s new online programs. The seven-year agreement was signed on the VWU campus in January 2017. For Virginia Wesleyan, the effort promotes online enrollment, with the University sharing a percentage of tuition revenues for new students recruited through the partnership. The partnership between VWU and the Learning House reflects the changing landscape of higher education while remaining consistent with the University’s core values as a liberal arts institution. The University begins offering an online Master of Business Administration as well as online bachelor’s degree-completion programs for adult students in the fall of 2017. These flexible online programs will introduce an unprecedented level of convenience for students and have the potential for significant growth. In addition, a traditionally delivered Master of Arts in Education is expected to be available in 2018. In this 4+1 program, students will complete an undergraduate degree in four years focused on a content major related to secondary education,
and then complete a year of graduate study devoted to preparation for teaching. “Online learning no longer plays a supporting role in higher education—it plays a leading role,” Virginia Wesleyan President Scott Miller said. “And though it will never replace our residential, campus life experience, online options will be increasingly valuable as we reach out to new audiences seeking a distinctive, affordable and convenient way to take courses.” Learning House President Todd Zipper described the journey of the partnership, including the opportunity to work with President Scott Miller, Provost and Vice President Timothy O’Rourke, Chief Information Officer Robert Leitgeb, Associate Provost and Professor of Biology Maynard Schaus and other members of the VWU community who were instrumental in the process. “Learning House is a mission-based organization,” Zipper said, “and this opportunity with Virginia Wesleyan fits exactly into our mission of helping people improve their lives through education.” Find out more about the University’s online programs: online.vwu.edu.
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PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
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Port Day Sets Sail NEW ACADEMIC EVENT TO BE HELD SEMI-ANNUALLY More than 75 Virginia Wesleyan students presented about their experiences with undergraduate research, internships or semester study away as part of the University’s first-ever Port Day on December 6, 2016. Port Day will now be held at the end of each semester. The second Port Day was held on May 4, 2017 and another is slated for December 5, 2017. Port Day is a campus-wide, conference-style event with concurrent sessions in multiple locations throughout the day. No classes or athletic events are held on Port Day. Student presentations on the inaugural Port Day included posters, speeches, PowerPoints, special panels and more. At the first Port Day, psychology major Anastasia Hernandez ’17 presented a research poster entitled “Gun Safety or Gun Control: The Relationships among attitudes Towards Weapons Aggressive Tendencies, and Students’ Self-esteem.” Other presentation topics ranged from “Dashboard Creation and User Data Analysis” (Mathematics) to “Germany: Lessons from My Semester in Munich” (German Studies and Business). Port Day is organized by VWU’s Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery and a special committee. It is also one of the premier initiatives of Virginia Wesleyan’s 2015 Quality Enhancement Plan, See Change — Sea Change. “Port Day embodies Virginia Wesleyan’s commitment to providing students with opportunities and support that guide them to academic, professional, and personal success,” says Lighthouse Executive Director Sara Sewell.
Witherington Featured Speaker at Boyd Institute Each spring, in partnership with the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, Virginia Wesleyan hosts a workshop for UMC pastors that yields continuing education units. Last year, this program was renamed the Robert F. Boyd Institute after co-founding member of the University’s Board of Trustees, Bob Boyd. This year’s Boyd Institute took place April 3-4 and featured Dr. Ben Witherington III, prominent Bible scholar and Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. United Methodist clergy members from around Virginia attended the event where Witherington discussed “A Singular Jesus in a Pluralistic Culture.” Witherington has taught at Ashland Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt University, Duke Divinity School and GordonConwell. A popular lecturer, Witherington has presented seminars for churches, colleges and biblical meetings in the United States and around the world. He has written over 40 books, including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest, both of which were selected as top biblical studies works by Christianity Today.
PROSPECTIVE SCHOLARS: High school seniors applying for admission to the Batten Honors College attended special events hosted by Virginia Wesleyan in the spring.
Batten Fellows Selected Through Competitive Process Introduced at the 2016 State of the College Address and named for Jane P. and Frank Batten Sr., dedicated friends of Virginia Wesleyan, the new Batten Honors College welcomed its inaugural class this fall. Prospective Batten Honors College students attended special competition events during the spring 2017 semester and selections for the first class were made in March. The Batten Honors College provides a transformative experience for high-achieving students and equips them with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of an ethical, thoughtful, and influential global citizen who understands the interdependence of society, culture, and the environment. Twenty students are selected to receive the Batten Fellowship, a prestigious scholarship renewable for four years and covering the full amount of tuition plus funding for an international study-away experience during their junior or senior year. The Batten Honors College also recognizes the academic merit and leadership potential of another 20 students by admitting them to the Honors College as Shumadine Scholars. Shumadine Scholarships will have a value in an amount equal to two-thirds tuition. The establishment of the Honors College coincided with academic innovation, construction of a new state-of-the-art environmental science center, and increased regional and national outreach at Virginia Wesleyan. All students at the institution will benefit from these and other initiatives. Find out more about the Batten Honors College: www.vwu.edu/BattenHonorsCollege Virg in ia We sle ya n U n ive rsit y Ma g a zin e F all 2017 / 5 /
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Growing Partnership with NATO-ACT INNOVATION HUB, CHIEFS OF TRANSFORMATION AND OTHER INITIATIVES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VWU The North Atlantic Treaty Organization - Allied Command Transformation (NATO-ACT) Headquarters in Norfolk is the only permanent NATO Headquarters outside of Europe and the sole NATO Headquarters in North America. The partnership formally established in 2013 between NATO-ACT and Virginia Wesleyan has continued to grow, providing numerous opportunities for students and mutual benefit for both organizations. During the fall 2016 semester, seven VWU students participated in the NATO-ACT Innovation Hub’s “Junior Experts Discussion,” which connected college students from around the world in an exploration of how NATO can increase Cross Cultural Competency through better use of new media and electronic capabilities. Virginia Wesleyan students Irene Bargueno, Brendan Keller, Christian Spivey, Sarah Pybus-Elmore, Bayli Foley, Story Cook and Ashley Peterson also had opportunities to speak with professionals from across the globe about issues of practical international importance. Irene Bargueno, from Madrid, Spain, served as the project leader for the Cross Cultural Competence initiative and became the first VWU student to complete an internship with the NATO-ACT Innovation Hub.
The Innovation Hub is just one aspect of the expanding relationship that has developed between NATO-ACT and Virginia Wesleyan. In addition to offering student tuition grants for the children and spouses of NATO’s Norfolk-based employees, Virginia Wesleyan has hosted the Norfolk Festival’s NATO Youth Ambassador night and the Model NATO Challenge global crisis simulation, most recently on March 31, 2017. NATO staff have also shared their expertise on campus—co-teaching courses and serving as guest speakers. Another partnership project, Chiefs of Transformation, was held on December 14 and 15, 2016. For this venture, VWU students joined National Liaison Officers from each of the 28 NATO countries, as well as students from other colleges and universities and representatives of the international press in discussions that centered on increasing public understanding of NATO’s roles and goals.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Class of 2017 In his address to the Class of 2017, David R. Goode, retired Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Norfolk Southern Corporation, urged graduates to “get in the game” that is our society. Goode left the graduates with this final thought: “Virginia Wesleyan College has prepared you well. Your mascot, the Marlin, is entirely fitting: You are now big fish, entering the big sea. Make progress and swim with the flow when the tide is right, but have the courage to press against the current when change in direction is necessary.” The Class of 2017 was the last class to graduate from Virginia Wesleyan “College” and included approximately 300 graduates who received Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Social Work degrees. The transition from “College” to “University” began after Commencement 2017. “Now that the accomplishments I worked so hard for here are complete, I look back at myself as a freshman and see how much I have grown in confidence,” said Sarah Antozzi, who graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Comprehensive Liberal Studies. “Many of my abilities that were relatively raw have been trained and developed by my experiences at Virginia Wesleyan, so that now I know how to use them effectively. It’s been a welcoming place with so many kind and intelligent people.”
ALL SMILES: Approximately 300 students were awarded bachelor’s degrees during Virginia Wesleyan’s 48th Commencement Ceremony May 20 in the Jane P. Batten Student Center.
The 2017 Commencement Ceremony was held in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. The ceremony was attended by family and friends of the graduates, VWU faculty and staff, alumni, and honored guests, each celebrating the graduates’ achievements and promising futures. “After today, you will no longer be VWU students,” Virginia Wesleyan President Scott D. Miller told the Class of 2017. “For the rest of your lives, you will be Marlin alumni, and as such, one of nearly 10,000 accomplished men and women whose experiences at this premier national liberal arts college continue to inform careers and contributions.”
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PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
Alex McComb ’17 Selected a Schwarzman Scholar Political science major Robert “Alex” McComb ’17 was selected for the prestigious Schwarzman Scholars, the master’s degree program founded by Blackstone Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder Stephen A. Schwarzman. McComb is among 129 men and women chosen to represent the Class of 2018. The second class of Schwarzman Scholars is composed of students from 30 countries and 75 universities in the United States, China and around the world. Schwarzman Scholars is considered a premier training ground for future leaders, educating and preparing them to confront the most difficult challenges of the coming century. Expenses for each Scholar are fully funded by the program, which is housed at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China’s premier institutions. Scholars study Public Policy, Economics & Business, and International Studies, and spend a year immersed in an international community of thinkers, innovators and senior leaders in business, politics and society. A native of Maryland, McComb was part of the Honors & Scholars Program at Virginia Wesleyan, completed an internship with the Norfolk NATO Festival, participated in VWU’s Model United Nations, and studied abroad in France as part of the University’s Global Scholars program. McComb traveled to China in summer 2016 along with other VWU students and faculty to participate in a project called “Saving China’s Cultural Heritage.” He was also a member of Chi Beta Psi fraternity. “I am so excited for this experience and am honored to have been chosen,” McComb said. “I feel ready in that every experience I have had at Virginia Wesleyan has been preparing me for an opportunity like this. What I most want to say is thank you to every member of the Virginia Wesleyan family that helped build me up and guide me along the way. I promise to carry the Marlin spirit forward with me.”
Time Capsule Placed in Greer Environmental Sciences Center CEREMONY HELD ON APRIL 21 FOR TIME CAPSULE TO BE OPENED 25 YEARS FROM NOW In early 2016, Virginia Wesleyan broke ground on the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. The campus community watched with anticipation and excitement as great beams were put into place, walls and roof work completed, and systems installed. On April 21, 2017, a ceremony was held for the placement of a time capsule within the walls of the new building. Holding some of today’s treasures for tomorrow’s discovery, the time capsule contains student reflections, an edition of the Marlin Chronicle student newspaper and other items that speak to who Virginia Wesleyan is as a campus community today. When the time capsule is opened in the year 2042, the Greer Environmental Sciences Center will have served Virginia Wesleyan University for a quartercentury, will have made valuable contributions to the body of scientific research and knowledge pertaining to our natural home on the Chesapeake watershed, and will have become a meeting point for the sharing of ideas and perspective on the environment and many other dimensions of the Virginia Wesleyan academic experience and expertise. Among the attendees at the time capsule event were Trustee Emerita Jane Batten, Trustee Emeritus George Birdsong and his wife, Sue, Trustee Butch Everett and his wife, Carol, Trustee Susan Goode, Trustee Anne Shumadine, Trustee and Chair of our Alumni Council, Mavis McKenley ’11, and former President Billy Greer and his wife, Fann. Speakers at the event included President Scott Miller, Associate Provost Maynard Schaus, Executive Vice President of Hourigan Construction Chris Brandt and current Virginia Wesleyan students Stephanie Reidell and Rachael Pan. “Human curiosity is indomitable,” noted senior biology major Rachel Pan, “and this new, wonderful building will provide a place for that curiosity to grow, to flourish and to become.” Read more about the Greer Environmental Sciences Center and the University’s Master Plan on page 14 of this issue.
A MOMENT IN TIME: (From left) Associate Provost Maynard Schaus, President Scott Miller, Former President Billy Greer, Executive Vice President of Hourigan Construction Chris Brandt, and Superintendent of Hourigan Construction Eric Harrison in front of the time capsule site.
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Wesleyan in their estate plans. The Zigler estate recently gifted the University $617,500 to further endow the Nanci Zigler Endowed Scholarship. Their thoughtfulness and insight has created a legacy that will continue to impact the lives of Virginia Wesleyan art students like Nanci for years to come.
Village II Named for Dennie Allen ’70 VIRGINIA WESLEYAN’S FIRST GRADUATE HONORED WITH NAMING; VILLAGE IV BECOMES HONORS VILLAGE ART AND EDUCATION: Nanci Zigler, who studied under Art Department founder Barclay Sheaks, at her Virginia Wesleyan graduation in 1977
Honoring Nanci Zigler’s Legacy with Art Scholarships HIRAM AND HARDENIA ZIGLER PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR DAUGHTER’S PASSION BY ESTABLISHING ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FOR ART STUDENTS Nanci Zigler ’77 fell in love with Virginia Wesleyan when she attended summer art workshops on campus while she was in high school. Several of the workshops were taught by Barclay Sheaks, renowned painter and founder of the Art Department at VWU. Nanci went on to continue her education at Virginia Wesleyan, studying art under Sheaks’ tutelage. Nanci’s parents, Hiram and Hardenia Zigler, supported their daughter’s choice as they knew all about the advantages associated with a small-college setting. They had also attended a small liberal arts institution, Bridgewater College. According to Hardenia, a retired high school guidance counselor, Virginia Wesleyan saw the potential in her only child and “provided the individual faculty mentorship Nanci needed to become a successful art teacher” at Mechanicsville Elementary in Hanover County, Virginia. Hardenia fondly remembered one particular example of the special connection between students and faculty and staff at Virginia Wesleyan. Around 1990, more than a decade after Nanci had graduated, Nanci encountered then College President Lambuth Clarke at a restaurant in Richmond. When Nanci passed away in 1991 after a battle with breast cancer, the Ziglers were very touched to receive a personal note of condolence from Clarke in which he fondly remembered their last conversation at the restaurant. In honor of their daughter’s memory, the Ziglers sold a piece of property in 1994 to create a scholarship in Nanci’s name. The scholarship was created to benefit an art student at Virginia Wesleyan. The Ziglers felt it was the perfect way to pay tribute to their daughter and her passion. To further honor their daughter’s memory and recognize the institution that made such a meaningful impact on their lives, Hiram and Hardenia included Virginia
President Scott Miller recently announced the naming of two of Virginia Wesleyan’s campus villages. With the start of the 2017-18 Academic Year, Village II became Allen Village, named for the late Dennie Allen ’70, and Village IV will become the Honors Village. In addition, a townhouse in Honors Village was dedicated as Mastracco Hall in honor of Trustee Vince Mastracco and his wife, Suzanne. By virtue of his place in the alphabet, Dennie Allen received Virginia Wesleyan’s first diploma at the first Commencement in 1970. Allen passed away on September 1, 2016. His obituary described the day he graduated as “the happiest of his life.” On his death, Dennie left his estate to Virginia Wesleyan. His generosity and unique place in VWU history make this a fitting tribute. This fall, the University welcomed its first cohort of the Batten Honors College to be housed in the Honors Village. It will be an inclusive, living-learning community that will support the personal and intellectual growth of Batten Fellows and Shumadine Scholars. The residential facilities are currently separated into four villages over nearly 300-acres. Bray Village and Village II (now Allen Village) feature residential space, classrooms, and faculty and staff offices. Brock Village and Village IV (now Honors Village) are solely residential complexes. Construction is expected to WHAT’S IN A NAME: Village II begin in 2017-18 on Oxford Village on VWU-owned land is named for Dennie Allen ‘70, on the north side of Wesleyan Virginia Wesleyan’s first graduate Drive. The naming of campus buildings tells the story of the Virginia Wesleyan campus, the University’s culture and the many people who have helped build the institution and contributed to its rich history. The Lambuth M. and Alice A. Clarke Heritage Society recognizes individuals who have arranged for a deferred gift to the University through their estate plans. For a confidential conversation about including the University in your estate plans, contact Lori Simpers Harris ’94 at 757.233.8786 or lharris@vwu.edu
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Eye on VWU A COLLECTION OF PHOTOS FROM VIRGINIA WESLEYAN’S 2016-2017 ACADEMIC YEAR
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1. As VWU is about to welcome the Class of 2021, here’s a look back at the arrival of the Class of 2020 in August 2016. The recently completed Greer Environmental Sciences Center is still under construction in the background of this image. (Photo by Janice Marshall-Pittman) 2. Students celebrated and showed their Marlin spirit during Homecoming and Family Weekend 2016 with the annual Homecoming Parade on October 7, which featured student groups decked out in jungle-themed attire. (Photo by Janice Marshall-Pittman) 3. Professor of Business, Management and Economics Cheul Kang (second from left) and Associate Professor of Physics Garry Noe (second from right) were honored as they retired from Virginia Wesleyan with a traditional tree planting ceremony in Wilson Arboretum. Pictured with President Scott Miller (left) and Provost and Vice President Timothy O’Rourke (right). (Photo by Laynee Timlin) 4. Students Hannah Turner ’19 and Kelly Bateman ’19 were among those who placed ribbons on a Military Honor Tree in the Jane P. Batten Student Center in honor of our armed forces and Veterans Day in November 2016. (Photo by Laynee Timlin) 5. Stephen Mansfield, Archivist and former Dean of Virginia Wesleyan, was one of the recipients of an honorary degree during VWU’s inaugural Founders Day celebration on September 8, 2016. (Photo by Janice Marshall-Pittman)
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6. Student Troy Mickens ’18 (right) and Assistant Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies Takeyra Collins ’08 (center) joined Heritage United Methodist Pastor Michelle Long Louk (left) and neighbors in the Western Bayside community for VWU’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in January 2017. (Photo by Leona Baker) 7. Riley Conrad ’18, Nicholas Hipple ’18, Melissa Fisher ’19 and Kelsi Robins ’18 represented Virginia Wesleyan during the 18th annual statewide collegiate Ethics Bowl, held on campus in February 2017 and sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges and Wells Fargo. (Photo by Janice Marshall-Pittman) 8. Tyler Turner ’17 is one of several students who worked with Virginia Wesleyan’s Office of Information Technology on the development of a mobile application for the Ellucian Portal. (Photo by Janice Marshall-Pittman) 9. The Virginia Wesleyan community brought their holiday cheer for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on December 9, 2016, including these students in brightly colored costumes inspired by Dr. Seuss. (Photo by Janice Marshall-Pittman)
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10. Current students Miles Baynard ’20 and Tiffany Cariker ’18 were among those who helped welcome the Class of 2021 during the June 2017 new student orientation sessions. New students returned in August for the Marlin Days transition into campus life. (Photo by Leona Baker) 11. These students’ “Vend-a-Pen” business idea stole the show at the “Shark Tank” competition during the fall 2016 Marlin Prestige Business Conference: Michael Orndoff ’17, Jacqueline Crabtree ’18, Christina Lehner ’19, Mason Phillips ’20 and Kollin Baer ’19. (Photo by Leona Baker) 12. Members of the Virginia Wesleyan Softball team showed their love for their graduating teammates at the 2017 Commencement Ceremony. The team went on to tournament play the same day in a winning effort that would eventually earn them the national championship. (Photo by Augusta Pittman) / 11 /
From College to University: WHAT IT MEANS FOR VIRGINIA WESLEYAN
Virginia Wesleyan’s approval to become a university has taken more than two years of research, planning and application. In late February 2017, after a unanimous resolution by the Virginia Wesleyan Board of Trustees endorsing university status, final approval was received from SCHEV, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. More work lay ahead, however. On May 23, 2017, following Commencement Weekend as well as an earlier campus meeting of faculty and staff, the transition
to university operation began with the expectation that Virginia Wesleyan University would debut officially for the 2017-2018 academic year. A University Transition Team, co-chaired by Robert Leitgeb, Chief Information Officer, and Dr. Mort Gamble, Senior Vice President, including members of the President’s Cabinet and other areas of the administration, was appointed to outline necessary steps and design a timeline. The major areas of concentration were the University’s graphic identity and branding of all publications and materials; website redesign and review of content; introduction of the IT portal; campus directional signage; athletic uniforms and signage; and
As a university, will Virginia Wesleyan offer more programs? What will be added? Additional graduate, dual-degree-completion, online and advanced-placement programs will be phased in over the next decade as facilities and human resources permit enrollment growth.
product merchandising via the bookstore. Meanwhile, the news was highlighted in a VirginianPilot article and a video segment on WAVY-TV featuring students Amber Gaines ’17 and Alana Peters ’18, and members of the Virginia Wesleyan softball team. The excitement was shared through all of Virginia Wesleyan’s social media platforms. Naturally, some questions pertaining to the transition to university status arose during the process. We’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions and offered some answers: How did the decision to transition to a university come about? The move to university status has been an outgrowth of the many positive changes in VWU’s stature and standing as a higher-education institution of quality and growth potential. Following the most recent Southern Association of Colleges and Schools visit and report which resulted in a perfect, norecommendations reaffirmation of accreditation, Virginia Wesleyan moved to Level III status as a graduate-degreegranting college with a new Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master of Business Administration. The charter class for the Batten Honors College was recruited within a year of designing this distinguished learning program for top students. These developments recommended full university status. All necessary approvals were secured by March 2017. When will the transition be completed? By the fall term of the 2017-2018 academic year, the operational transition to university status was completed. How large a university is Virginia Wesleyan expected to be? The Campus Master Plan calls for growth of enrollment of oncampus residential students from 850 to 1,000, increasing fulltime students from 1,300 to 1,500, and increasing head-count enrollment from 1,500 to 1,700. These numbers do not include the growth anticipated through programs for graduate students, online students and a new degree-completion program. The main point, however, is that Virginia Wesleyan will retain its “smallcollege” feel, commitment to inclusiveness and low student-tofaculty classroom ratio (at or about 13:1).
What have been some of the major transitional issues going forward? The transformation, specifically pertaining to the Campus Master Plan, has been completed through generous gifts received from donors; however, most of the operational issues were accomplished through the regular budgetary process. Nevertheless, a detailed list of “items to change”—from the text for the electronic sign on Wesleyan Drive to name badges for personnel—occupied many hours during summer 2017. Down to the VWU logos adorning streets, parking areas, and facilities, changes were phased in—often with the assistance of Virginia Wesleyan’s new student summer-work program, Opus. Will the name change affect the liberal arts tradition? A commitment to the liberal arts has been the foundation of Virginia Wesleyan from its earliest days. Along with the institution’s United Methodist heritage and excellent academic reputation, the transition to university status will preserve the core academic and spiritual identity of VWU. Will professors shift their focus to research? Although research and scholarly activity are proud hallmarks of Virginia Wesleyan’s faculty, our core mission—teaching, advising and mentoring in classrooms and labs—will remain the preeminent responsibility of our professors. Will the new name affect the institution’s colors, mascot, or athletic logo and uniforms? Some adjustments to the specifications for VWU’s graphic identity, such as logos, were made early on. The color pattern was redefined, lighthouse imagery was emphasized, and a new branding statement, Coastal Virginia’s Premier University of the Liberal Arts and Sciences, was introduced. Some redesign in athletic and bookstore apparel was ordered. But we’re still, and always will be, the Marlins, and our mascot “Bob” proudly wore his new Virginia Wesleyan University t-shirt during newstudent orientation in June.
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Campus Master Plan:
BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE When the Virginia Wesleyan Board of Trustees accepted the Campus Master Plan at the February 2017 meeting of the Board, more than a year of research, planning and development was affirmed as the facility blueprint for the next decade. Plans to enhance the nearly 300-acre campus include detailed recommendations in academics, student life, athletics, and aesthetics. Infrastructure issues, parking, “curb appeal” and potential sites for new development were examined by a campus committee representing all constituent groups of Virginia Wesleyan. Coordinated by veteran campus planners Derck & Edson of Lititz, Pennsylvania, and Aramark Engineering Solutions of Madison, Connecticut, the plan includes a space-utilization study, parking study, facilities-condition assessment plan and a Campus Master Plan for the next 10 years. “We thank all who contributed their ideas and perspective that resulted in the comprehensive Campus Master Plan,” said President Scott D. Miller. “As we look ahead to expanding enrollment and programs, and strengthening our national leadership, this plan will be a significant reference tool for growth and development.” He said that the Campus Long-Range Planning Committee will now examine in detail how best to advance Virginia Wesleyan’s
liberal arts mission while maximizing new programmatic opportunities and honoring the institution’s United Methodist heritage and traditions. The Master Plan is based on increasing on-campus residential students from 850 to 1,000, increasing full-time students from 1,300 to 1,500, and increasing head-count enrollment from 1,500 to 1,700. These numbers do not include the growth anticipated through programs for graduate students, online students and a new degreecompletion program. The past two years have been extraordinarily busy ones for Virginia Wesleyan—now Virginia Wesleyan University. With the Greer Environmental Sciences Center and the YMCA partnership building (the Frank Blocker Youth Center at YMCA Camp Red Feather), the campus has added significant new facilities that will serve a variety of purposes. An anonymous gift was used to complete the Avenue of the Sciences with parking near the Greer Environmental Sciences Center and Blocker Hall, providing an easy drop-off for the YMCA Camp Red Feather. Meanwhile, fundraising continues for the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center, which will be located across from Birdsong Field near the entrance to campus. It is anticipated that
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groundbreaking will occur in early 2018. Featuring a 300-seat theater, the new building will offer substantial enhancements to the arts programs of Virginia Wesleyan while joining other venues for theater, dance, concerts and exhibits throughout Hampton Roads. In addition to the new theater/performance building, plans call for renovating the current Fine Arts Building where classroom and studio space will be reserved for pottery, painting, and other activities.
campus, will offer 250 units for non-traditional and graduate students, retired faculty and staff and others. • Improvements at the softball field will join recent enhancements for the baseball facility, which is now known as Kenneth R. Perry Field, named for the late father of Joan Brock. • Among the additional planned projects are a new road and second campus entrance connecting to Baker Road and upgrades to the existing campus entrance on Wesleyan Drive to enhance the arrival experience. • Enhancements to the library, such as a coffee shop, would occur when on-campus housing increases to 1,000. (Hofheimer Library underwent a $5.8 million renovation in 2007.)
Implementation of the Campus Master Plan will take place in phases over the next decade and beyond. Other Highlights of the Campus Master Plan “The quality of the living and learning environment of a • Gifts have been received to construct a 400-meter track residential institution like Virginia Wesleyan is a strong selling point for student recruitment and retention,” President Miller said. and field facility, to be located at the northeast corner “We are working aggressively to maximize the student experience of campus near the intersection of Wesleyan Drive and through a modern, well-maintained, yet familiar campus with a Baker Road. The eight-lane track, in accordance with NCAA regulations, will include a rubber athletic surface. traditional feel.” The facility will also feature discus and hammer throw, high jump, long jump/triple jump, pole vault, shot put and steeplechase. This wonderful initiative has been made possible through gifts from two donors, one who wishes to remain anonymous. Through additional financial and in-kind support from Bill Shelhorse, a member of the Board of Trustees and a graduate from Virginia Wesleyan’s first class in 1970, and from his company, Chesapeake Bay Contractors, the track will be a reality for the 2017-2018 academic year. The facility will be known as the Betty S. Rogers Track and Field in memory of Bill’s late sister. Betty was a freshman in college when he was born and served as a strong maternal figure in his life. Betty was a lifelong educator, teaching English and physical education in the Virginia Beach Public Schools for more than 23 years before retiring. • A traditional quadrangle has been developed with the completion of the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. An expansion of the Boyd Dining Center, along with improved landscaping to the quad, will create a commons area. The expansion of the dining center will provide increased space for student dining and better traffic flow. • The Campus Master Plan recommends additional fitness space at the Batten Student Center; the current fitness facility would be focused more toward student athletes’ needs. • Three townhouses will be added in Honors Village (Clockwise from top left) An architectural (formerly Village IV) along with a 128-bed residence hall rendering of the Susan S. Goode Fine and to be constructed on Rose Lawn. Performing Arts Center; A photo of the Greer • Final agreement has been signed with developer The Environmental Sciences Center; A rendering of Franklin Johnston Group for Oxford Village. The gated plans for a renovated entrance to campus housing complex off Wesleyan Drive, across from Virg in ia We sle ya n U n ive rsit y Ma g a zin e | F all 2017 / 15 /
CALL THEM THE NCAA
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN SOFTBALL BRINGS HOME FIRST-EVER NCAA DIVISION III NATIONAL TITLE It is the first team championship for Virginia Wesleyan as an institution since the men’s basketball team claimed the crown in the 2005-06 season. Evan Cox of men’s golf won an individual national championship last year. The 2017 Softball Marlins closed the championship season with a record of 54-3. Virginia Wesleyan set an NCAA Division III record for most wins in a season and defeated defending national champion Texas-Tyler, twice facing elimination to reach the best-of-three NCAA Championship Series against St. John Fisher, where it swept the Cardinals to win its first Division III crown. The Marlins’ only loss in 12 NCAA tournament games was to the Texas-Tyler Patriots in their first contest in Oklahoma City. Virginia Wesleyan swept through the NCAA Regionals and
NCAA Super Regionals (five games combined) after completing an undefeated (20-0) Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) regular season and going 4-1 en route to its 10th ODAC Tournament title. Members of the national championship team included: LeAnn Adkins ’19, Amanda Archer ’18, Liz Bailey ’17, Teresa Cardamone ’18, Kaylah Duplain ’20, Beth Ford ’19, Madison Glaubke ’20, Blake Henderson ’17, Cassetty Howerin ’18, Hanna Hull ’20, Lauren Irvin ’18, Amy Large ’18, Jessica Lindsay ’19, Megan Meindl ’18, Kasey Newcomb ’17, Alana Peters ’18, Kiersten Richardson ’18 and Courtney Wright ’20. Head Softball Coach Brandon Elliott ’03 (pictured with team, facing page bottom) got to celebrate his 10th season at Virginia
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Wesleyan with the ultimate prize of a national championship. Elliott’s winning staff included Head Assistant Coach Jim Inzana, Director of Softball Operations Jim Quinn, Assistant Coach Josh Freeman and Student Manager Alexis Smith. Softball’s historic win came along with a host of accolades and awards for the team, individual players and coaches. Some of those include statistical records for the team in ERA (0.80) and winning percentage (.947), as well as individual records for Hanna Hull in wins (32) and ERA (0.51) and Kiersten Richardson in steals (64). Hull was named National Player of the Year, the first in program history, also garnering National Freshman of the Year laurels while becoming the first Marlin to be nominated for the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year award. Coach Elliott and his team were also honored with the 2017 NFCA’s NCAA Division III National Coaching Staff of the Year award by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The championship winning team, national trophy in tow, got a warm welcome back to campus from students, faculty and staff on May 30, 2017 (pictured, right). They were the guests of honor at a special “Cheers with the Champs” celebration on June 6 at ShoreBreak in Virginia Beach and were recognized in a ceremony at the Tides Baseball game on July 24. On July 27, the champs met with Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe at the Governor’s Office and later that evening they were the featured guests at an alumni gathering in Richmond. What a remarkable year!
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The Arts at VWU VIRGINIA WESLEYAN THE CENTER FOR UNIVERSITY ARTS SACRED MUSIC EVENTS FOR THE 2017-2018 SEASON Monumental Moments
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY CONCERT SERIES Supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts Tidewater Classical Guitar Orchestra September 15, 7:30 p.m. The Harbor String Quartet October 30, 7:30 p.m. The Cann Sisters 4 hands, 2 pianos November 7, 7:30 p.m. Charles Humphries, countertenor; Emily Nöel, soprano; Kontrabande O Sacred Oracles November 20, 7:30 p.m. Co-sponsored by VWU’s Center for Sacred Music The Thirteen From Tree to Shining Tree February 9, 7:30 p.m. John Bullard Classical Banjo: The Perfect Southern Art March 19, 7:30 p.m. TRADOC Jazz Ensemble April 5, 11 a.m. Washington Saxophone Quartet April 9, 7:30 p.m. Shannon Jennings, soprano; Charles Woodward, piano May 1, 7:30 p.m.
Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats September 24, 4 p.m. Co-sponsored with the Great Bridge Presbyterian Candlelight Concert Series Reforming! – a Hymn Festival October 1, 4 p.m. Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Co-sponsored by the American Organists Guild-Tidewater Chapter Padmarani Rasiah Cantu, Indian dance November 9, 11 a.m. An Evening of Bach March 5, 7 p.m. SOUND & SYMBOL LECTURE SERIES Let Heaven & Nature Sing! September 28, 2017-April 19, 2018 In celebration of the University’s new Greer Environmental Sciences Center, the Center for Sacred Music considers the nature of sound in a series of presentations by local experts and artists.
MAGIC NUMBERS: Known for inspired and powerful performances of music from the Renaissance to the Romantic, The Thirteen perform “From Tree to Shining Tree” on February 9, 2018, at Hofheimer Theater on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan.
Other than Real Various Artists November 9, 2017January 5, 2018
She Kills Monsters By Qui Nguyen March 14-17, 2018, 7:30 p.m. March 18, 2018, 2 p.m.
Faculty Art Show January 15-March 9, 2018
MUSIC
Art Majors Portfolio Review March 13-15, 2018
Homecoming & Family Weekend Arts Showcase October 6-7, 7:30 p.m.
Student Juried Show March 19-30, 2018 Senior Exhibition April-May, 2018
THEATRE
ART
Homecoming & Family Weekend Arts Showcase October 6-7, 7:30pm
The Barclay Sheaks Gallery Featuring exhibits of the work of Barclay Sheaks, renowned local painter and founder of the Art Department at Virginia Wesleyan. The Neil Britton Gallery 2017-18 Exhibitions and programs include:
Into the Woods Music and lyrics, Stephen Sondheim; Book, James Lapine October 25-27, 7:30 p.m. October 28, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. October 29, 2 p.m. Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)
PlantBot Genetics – Cross Pollination Through October 27
Fall One-Act Play Festival November 13-18, 7:30 p.m.
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A Wesleyan Christmas December 1, 7:30 p.m. December 2, 4 p.m. American Standards Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble and Wesleyan Chorale March 21, 2018, 7:30 p.m. Instrumental Ensembles Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble and Orchestral Ensemble April 18, 2018, 7:30 p.m. Mozart’s Missa Solemnis in C Major, K.337 Virginia Wesleyan Choirs April 27, 2018, Time TBA For more information about The Arts at VWU, including the most current listings, show times, locations and pricing, visit www.vwu.edu/arts.
Academia
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
INNOVATIVE TEACHING: Thomas Brown notes improvements in student engagement using technologyenhanced instruction; students stay on task and are more focused on course material.
Professor Uses Technology to Improve Student Engagement THOMAS BROWN RECEIVED THE 2016 H. HITER HARRIS, III EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING WITH TECHNOLOGY AWARD FROM THE VIRGINIA FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT COLLEGES FOR HIS METHODS Students in Thomas Brown’s classes at Virginia Wesleyan often listen to pre-recorded short lectures that include videos and PowerPoint presentations that are accompanied by guided notes. Students listen, with earphones at their individual computer workstations, with the intent to complete the underlined blanks and open fields in the notes Brown provides via Google Docs. As associate professor of Criminal Justice/Sociology, Brown regularly incorporates technology into his classes to focus students’ attention and improve their engagement and learning. His teaching methods garnered him the H. Hiter Harris, III Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) in fall 2016. “The main benefit of a pre-recorded lecture is that a student can re-watch segments as needed and receive formative feedback from the embedded quiz questions,” says Brown. “My software gives me data on how many times each student watched each segment of the lecture, and records their scores on the quiz sections. Students are also taking notes in the Google Doc provided while I circulate the classroom answering questions and monitoring student work. I am no longer the sage on the stage, now I am the sage on video and
guide on the side—simultaneously.” He also encourages student interaction using Quizlet Live. Students work in randomly assigned small groups and confer on the best answer to quiz questions; discussing and debating if there is any disagreement. According to Brown, “Playing in teams keeps students on task and not texting during the game—even though they are playing on their phones.” Technology-enhanced engagement and collaboration are also built into Brown’s research assignments as students write about their research in a Google Docs template. This enables him to review and make comments in the margins, serving as a collaborator with the student throughout the process instead of simply a judge of their final product. Once assignments are completed, students upload their documents to Office Sway to create online presentations. Brown came to Virginia Wesleyan in 2011. He holds a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz, an M.S. from Texas A & M International University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University.
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Academia Faculty Focus
Mazur Awarded Mednick Fellowship Eric Mazur, Gloria and David Furman Professor of Judaic Studies and Center for the Study of Religious Freedom Fellow, has been awarded the 2017 Maurice L. Mednick Memorial Fellowship by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) for his project, “Portugal & American Jewish History.” Mazur, who has been on the faculty at Virginia Wesleyan since 2007, teaches courses on Judaism, religion in American culture and the academic study of religion. His specific interests include religion and American law, religion and popular culture, and Judaism in the American South. Through his research, Mazur seeks to investigate the legacy of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who was instrumental in the 1940 rescue of 30,000 European refugees, including 10,000 Jews. The $2,250 grant will support his travel to various sites throughout Portugal, including Sousa Mendes’ family home, as research for the preparation of a book-length manuscript.
Wansink Honored with Tidewater Humanitarian Award Craig Wansink, Professor of Religious Studies and the Joan P. and Macon F. Brock Jr. Director of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, was selected by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) to receive a 2017 Tidewater Humanitarian Award. The VCIC works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success by addressing prejudices, in all forms, in order to improve academic achievement, increase workplace productivity, and enhance local trust. The Humanitarian Awards honor individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a commitment to the promotion of respect and understanding among people of diverse racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds. The 53rd presentation of VCIC’s Humanitarian Awards was held on March 30, 2017, at the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center.
Lindvall’s God Mocks Named Book of the Year by RCA Terry Lindvall, C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair and Professor in Communication and Christian Thought, was honored by the Religious Communication Association (RCA) at the annual National Communication Association Conference in Philadelphia in November 2016. Lindvall’s book God Mocks: A History of Religious Satire from the Hebrew Prophets to Stephen Colbert (NYU Press, 2015) was selected as the book of the year by the RCA. God Mocks chronicles the evolution of religious satire from the biblical wit and humor of the Hebrew prophets through the Roman Era and Middle Ages up to the present. The RCA is an academic society for scholars and others who share an interest in religious speech, rhetoric, media and performance.
First Romantics and Classics Symposium Organized by Haller Virginia Wesleyan hosted The Romantics and the Classics Symposium, November 17-19, 2016, which explored connections between Greco-Roman culture and English Romanticism. Building on the University’s annual Classics Lecture Series, the new interactive symposium format featured a variety of preeminent scholars of art history, classics, English literature and religion from around the U.S. Sponsored by the VWU Department of Classics and The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery, the symposium was organized by Ben Haller, Associate Professor of Classics and Chair of the Classics Department at Virginia Wesleyan University, and examined the manner in which the Greco-Roman world inspired the English Romantics. “Even from their distant vantage point at the waning of the 18th and the inception of 19th century,” says Haller, “the English Romantics and their circle bequeath a powerful legacy to the modern world.”
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Academia
Faculty-led Trip to China an Interdisciplinary Global Experience In 2016, the ASIANetwork Freeman Student-Faculty Fellows Program awarded Professor of Philosophy Steven Emmanuel and Professor of Computer Science Zizhong Wang a grant for their project: Saving China’s Cultural Heritage – Balancing the Goals of Preservation and Development at Wutai Shan and the Yungang Grottoes. The grant enabled the Virginia Wesleyan professors to create an experience for students that connected the study of Chinese culture with the important contemporary issues of pollution and economic development. They did so with a focus on efforts to preserve two important religious heritage sites located in China’s Shanxi province: Wutai Shan and the Yungang Grottoes. Emmanuel and Wang traveled to China with their Virginia Wesleyan student fellows: Brian Hanna-Sauro ’17 (computer science), Nicholas Hipple ’18 (business), Victoria Laughlin ’17 (computer science), Ching Lee ’17 (earth and environmental science), Alex McComb ’17 (political science), and Alana Peters ’18 (communication). Each member of the team was charged with an aspect of the project connected to their field of study and personal interests. In Shanxi province, the students conducted documentary-style interviews with various stakeholders and collected photographic images, documents and audio/video clips. They also wrote the scripts for their video narrations.
ON THE WORLD STAGE: Professors Emmanuel and Wang led a student team to China to study culture and contemporary issues of pollution and economic development.
The students met faculty members and students from Taiyuan University of Technology, where they attended formal presentations of research on relics preservation, toured working labs and interacted with researchers. Computer science students gained hands-on experience designing and implementing a database system and writing a mobile app. Other members of the team were involved in thinking through the organization and presentation of the collected materials. The results of the Virginia Wesleyan team’s research has been captured in a self-contained database designed and developed by the students for the purpose of educating people about the two sites, their significance and challenges in preserving them. After returning from China, the students had opportunities to present their research.
Teagle Foundation Grant Enables Pursuit of More Compelling Curriculum VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLABORATED WITH THREE OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO EXPLORE CURRICULAR REFORM Faculty representatives from four private institutions of higher education gathered at Virginia Wesleyan early in 2017 for the fourth and final meeting of the Teagle C4 Consortium, a partnership comprised of faculty from Davis and Elkins College, Eckerd College, Shenandoah University and Virginia Wesleyan University. C4 Consortium has been supported by Teagle Foundation funding in the amount of $280,000 for over 30 months, from January 2015
TEAGLE TEAM: (From left) Virginia Wesleyan Provost Timothy O’Rourke, Assistant Provost Debbie Hicks, Associate Provost and Professor of Biology Maynard Schaus and Executive Director of The Lighthouse and Professor of History Sara Sewell.
through June 2017 in pursuit of creating a more coherent and intentional curriculum with goals, pathways and outcomes that are clear to students and other constituencies. Each institution in the Consortium developed and implemented a major curricular reform initiative as part of this process. Since the grant’s inception, the C4 Consortium sought to answer, individually and collectively, three overarching questions that focused on a coherence agenda, purposive faculty governance, and the value-added partnership. Virginia Wesleyan Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Timothy O’Rourke has been the driving force behind the initiative. “We’re grateful for this Teagle Foundation Grant which has enabled us to collaborate with higher education partners to aggressively pursue the development of a more coherent and intentional curriculum,” says O’Rourke. Virginia Wesleyan’s Quality Enhancement Plan emphasized the expansion of student participation in study-away, undergraduate research and internships. The Teagle Grant enabled VWU to restructure the curriculum around these high-impact practices, engage in curricular mapping and initiate a pathways program that results in culminating experiences and connects students to career opportunities. The University is also undertaking general studies reform and the creation of institutional learning outcomes that will bring additional coherence to these efforts.
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PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
Living & Learning
HISTORY AND CULTURE: Caitlyn Hogge (second from left) and the rest of the student Marlin Mural Team show off the appropriately titled Selfie, which was recently installed in the Batten Student Center in the fall.
New Batten Center Mural a Historic Selfie ART STUDENTS MAKE THEIR MARK ON BATTEN STUDENT CENTER WITH VIBRANT, TIMELY PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION When Caitlyn Hogge ’17, a double major in art and psychology, was brainstorming ideas for a new mural to be installed in the Jane P. Batten Student Center on campus, she knew she wanted something that brought together history and contemporary culture. She came up with the delightfully anachronistic concept of a group of recognizable historic figures doing something that has become ubiquitous for the millennial generation: taking a selfie. Seflie is the fitting title of the work, which features likenesses of musician Bob Marley, Indian activist Mahatma Gandhi, silver screen icon Marilyn Monroe, Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and Mexican artist Frida Kahlo taking an image of themselves with an iPhone-like device on which the well-known apple has been replaced with a pear. Hogge started with seven historic figures and eventually narrowed it down to five. The mural took several weeks to complete and was installed beginning in November 2016 on the large wall in the Marlin
Grille area. The idea to place a student-designed mural in that location came from Jason Seward, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, who worked with Batten Associate Professor of Art John Rudel and students in Rudel’s ART 406 Drawing/ Painting Lab course on the project. Students presented proposals based on a prospectus to a committee of students, faculty and administrators. After Hogge’s “Selfie” design was chosen by the committee, the 2016 Marlin Mural Team was formed including Hogge as lead designer and project manager Hogge and her fellow art students Josh Cherry ’17, Catalina Jones ’19, Mary McLaughlin Seys ’17, Matt Springer ’17 and Jennifer Taylor ’17. The student team worked diligently to execute the design in the space. The mural will likely stay in place for at least a year, the idea being to repeat the process and either eventually replace the mural with a new design or look for another space on campus to create an additional one. The project represents not only an opportunity for students to put their creative mark on campus but a hands-on learning experience that reflects the business and practical aspects of the art world.
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Living & Learning
HOW I FOUND FOOD, FAMILY AND BELONGING IN THE HEART OF KOREATOWN
Kimchi State of Mind
Inside Woorijip, the conversations were lively and the environment was warm and homey. There was ample seating, and in the center was the food. Much to my disappointment, the buffet was closing, but thankfully there were rows and rows of pre-made food packaged up like school lunches. There was a refrigerated section for the banchan, the cold side dishes, and drinks. On the opposite side, there were warming cases with main dishes, appetizers and snacks. By Traci Fulcher ’18 I went into Korean-Mom mode, grabbing all kinds of dishes for Tracey and Cori to try. The mandu were a little lukewarm I had no idea what my Korean-American mother was talking but still delicious, doughy wrappers around tender beef and pork about when she called two days into our class trip to New York fillings accented by chives, mushrooms and and asked about Koreatown. But once I onions. The kimbap is the “Korean version learned of this small enclave, getting there of sushi”—a nori (seaweed wrapper), rice, became a priority. I needed to experience julienned vegetables, egg yolk, pickled it because it wasn’t just a place. It was a My mother and two sisters radish, bulgogi and spinach. Tightly rolled, connection to my Korean grandmother, who are the members of my they are easy to grab with chopsticks. passed before I was born. The only links Cori immediately took to the mandu and I have to her are stories of my mother’s family who actually appear devoured most of the dish on her own. Tracey childhood and, of course, Korean food. to be Asian and without was more impressed with the main portion I convinced my friends Tracey and Cori them, I felt naked. I felt of our meal, our dinner boxes, or bentos. to go with me on the search one night for like an outsider. But then The bento was comprised of bulgogi (thinly Woorijip Authentic Korean Food on 32nd sliced beef) sauteed with onions on one side right in the heart of Koreatown. When I smelled bulgogi. Those and a bed of rice, topped with japchae (clear we came up from the subway, we were feelings dissolved, and I noodles) topped with a small folded omelet. immersed in a three-block stretch of culture. Neither Tracey nor Cori was thrilled by the It was like the first time I stepped into Times was reminded of all the times my parents have idea of kimchi, fermented cabbage, so I got a Square. I was enraptured by restaurants, single portion. banks and grocery stores and churches, made Korean food for me. The taste of food overpowered my senses. all labeled in Korean. I never felt more The different flavors mixed harmoniously, connected to my heritage. and combined with the cheap wine, we Then I realized: everyone here is more were in a state of wordless bliss, just eating Korean than I am. My self-conscious thoughts and taking in our surroundings. Even though I never met my born in childhood began resurfacing: “I’m just the kid with an grandmother, I always felt connected to her through food, and I American father whose mom just happens to be Korean. I’m not wanted the people closest to me to have this experience. I was Korean enough to be accepted here.” My mother and two sisters grateful that Tracey and Cori went with me and felt proud that are the ones who actually appear to be Asian, and without them, I they enjoyed it. felt naked. I felt like an outsider. We walked to the subway, fat and happy. Despite it being But then I smelled bulgogi. Those feelings dissolved, and I was midnight, the area was still populated and active. I wondered if I reminded of all the times my parents made Korean food for me. lived there if it would it ever turn mundane or would it still be new The sweet smell of the marinade for bulgogi and galbi, the bitter and exciting. I didn’t know if it was the connection to my culture or vinegar smell of the fermented kimchi, the smell of the oil from the wine that made me feel warm. Whatever it was, I never wanted frying the mandu, smell of mushrooms, peppers, onions, all tossed to leave Koreatown. in with sweet potato noodles that makes up japchae. The following is an excerpt from a story written by communication major Traci Fulcher about her first trip to Koreatown. Fulcher and six other students in English professor Sue Larkin’s English “Travel Writing” course spent nearly a week in New York City in January as part of the University’s Winter Session. All of their stories were published on the VWU website.
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Living & Learning on campus, and a final analysis of these efforts. The designation earned is valid through December 2018. As part of the effort to be designated a Voter Friendly Campus, Virginia Wesleyan, under the leadership of Assistant Professor of Political Science Leslie Caughell and Director of Community Service Diane Hotaling, established a campus election engagement planning team that provided the foundation for the Marlins VOTE campaign success. Faculty leadership was also key to the education of students on election issues and student involvement in the Marlins VOTE campaign. Faculty encouraged student engagement in the campaign and collaborated with student affairs to create a successful election engagement model. “This designation reflects our campus’ commitment to cultivating habits associated with good citizenship, such as knowledge, dialogue, and active participation,” said Caughell. “It also provides national recognition of our institution’s past success in educating and mobilizing voters, and in the long term strategy that we have designed to build on these successes.”
Virginia Wesleyan Designated a Voter Friendly Campus CAMPUS COMMUNITY RECOGNIZED FOR CULTIVATING HABITS ASSOCIATED WITH GOOD CITIZENSHIP Virginia Wesleyan is now one of 83 campuses in 23 states designated as a “Voter Friendly Campus.” The initiative, led by national nonpartisan organizations Campus Vote Project and NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, held participating institutions accountable for planning and implementing practices that encourage their students to register and vote in the 2016 general election and in the coming years. The mission of the Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster efforts that help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process. Virginia Wesleyan was evaluated based on a campus plan that focused on how to engage student voters in the fall of 2016, how to facilitate voter engagement efforts
BEYOND THE BALLOT: Jenine Harland ’17 and Dante Davis ’17 joined the student movement to support and promote Marlins VOTE. Students formally registered Marlins VOTE as a campus club.
Marlins Read Receives Literacy Award PARTNERSHIP WITH DIAMOND SPRINGS ELEMENTARY GARNERS RECOGNITION FROM THE VIRGINIA BEACH READING COUNCIL Virginia Wesleyan’s Marlins Read was awarded the 2017 Virginia Beach Reading Council Literacy Award in May 2017. Since 2008, Virginia Wesleyan’s Office of Community Service, under the leadership of Diane Hotaling, Director of Community Service, has coordinated a partnership with local elementary school, Diamond Springs Elementary School (DSES). The focus of the relationship has been Marlins Read, a program designed to assist DSES students struggling with reading and math by connecting them with Virginia Wesleyan students who serve as tutors, mentors and volunteers. During the 2016 -17 academic year, VWU Senior André Banks served as the coordinator for Marlins Read. Each week, Banks and his fellow student volunteers traveled the short distance to DSES, one of 55 elementary schools in the Virginia Beach
City Public School Division, to work with about 20 elementary students in reading and math. The extra, often individualized attention that Wesleyan student volunteers provided helped to improve not only skills in literacy and numeracy, but also enhanced the elementary students’ self-esteem and motivation to learn. The mutually beneficial partnership also had positive impacts on the older students, many of whom were preparing for careers in helping professions such as teaching, recreation, and criminal justice. “The students at Diamond Springs look up to the Marlins Read volunteers from Virginia Wesleyan as role models and examples of what they, too, can accomplish with effort and perseverance,” said Karen Farquer, Partners in Education/ Volunteers in Education Coordinator at DSES. “We truly appreciate the time, talents, and tender loving care that the Marlins Read students READ THIS: VWU’s André Banks ’17 of VWU demonstrate towards served as the coordinator for Marlins Read during the 2016-17 academic year. our students.”
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Living & Learning
Exploring Sustainability in Alaska As the summer heat was building in Coastal Virginia, a group of VWU students kept cool while getting a firsthand look at serious environmental challenges in Alaska. The students were enrolled in a Summer Session Environmental Studies course called “Seminar in Alaska: Sustainability,” taught by Elizabeth Malcolm, Professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, and Larry Hultgren, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the PORTfolio Program at Virginia Wesleyan. The course utilizes the natural laboratory of Southeast Alaska and collaborations with local experts and native elders to provide opportunities for students to gain real-world experience with environmental issues. Emphasis is placed on understanding the complexity of environmental issues and the interdisciplinary nature of the search for appropriate solutions. Students Montana Bieder ’17, Austin Edmonds ’20, Amanda Gerni ’19, Quennita Lensey ’18 and Valerie Wilburn ’17, embarked on the 11-day trip in early June. The trip included an outing to the famed Mendenhall Glacier outside of Juneau, and overnight camping and rafting along with scientific observation and study. They studied the natural and human environment including climate change, glaciers and glaciation, geology, ecology, sustainability and the native Tlingit culture. “It was eye opening,” says student Montana Bieder after observing how much the Mendenhall Glacier has melted. “This experience is the reason I wanted to take this course.” Student Amanda Gerni is working on a research project on the effort by some residents and native Alaskans to protect the Chilkat River with “Tier 3” protection, a statewide designation designed to preserve “Outstanding National Resource Water.” “Being able to talk to native people about water quality issues is an amazing learning tool,” says Gerni. “I’m more excited about my major now. It’s cool to see how passionate people are about the environment since it directly affects them.” The students’ local instructor was Virginia Wesleyan alumnus Scott Ramsey ’90, who recently founded the Alaska Outdoor Science School and has enjoyed a career that is a
PHOTO: WES OVERVOLD
STUDENTS IN SUMMER SESSION ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES COURSE TRAVEL NORTH TO STUDY CLIMATE CHANGE AND MORE
testimony to the liberal arts tradition of Virginia Wesleyan. Scott’s father, Neil Ramsey, was a sociology professor at Virginia Wesleyan for many years. “It’s a dream for me to give back to Virginia Wesleyan and continue its learning traditions,” says Scott Ramsey, who majored in business at VWU, went on to get his masters in environmental sociology and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in sustainability education. ENVS 283 was part of Virginia Wesleyan University’s inaugural Summer High-Impact Practice Program (SHIPP). SHIPP is a competitive program that offers opportunities to Virginia Wesleyan students to undertake internship, studyaway and research experiences during the summer. SHIPP and the Study-Away Course grants are administered by The Lighthouse: The Center for Exploration & Discovery.
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ALASKAN EDUCATION: VWU students, alumni, professors and guests pose in front of a spectacular waterfall near the Mendenhall Glacier outside of Juneau.
Athletics
PHOTO: KEITH LUCAS
Marissa Coombs ’18 competing at ODAC Indoor Track & Field Championship in Salem, Virginia.
Coombs Becomes First Three-Time All-American in Women’s Track and Field MARISSA COOMBS BECOMES THE FIRST FEMALE IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO EARN OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD HONORS, PLACING SECOND IN THE NATION IN BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EVENTS On May 27, 2017, senior Marissa Coombs ’18 became the first female in school history to earn outdoor Track & Field All-American honors when she did so at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championship with her performance in the 1,500m. She added this accomplishment to the two indoor All-American honors she earned in 2016 and 2107, making her a three-time All-American, the only multiple All-American in program history. She posted a time of 4:25.29, shattering her personal best by nearly six seconds and placing second in the nation. Her time broke the Old Dominion
Athletic Conference (ODAC) record and was one of three to break the facility record at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, home of the 2017 Championships. In March 2017, Coombs earned All-American Honors in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Naperville, Illinois, setting a new personal best. She was less than three seconds away from a national championship in this event final. Coombs was the first female track and field athlete to earn All-American honors when she did it last season. To be recognized as an All-American, an athlete needs to finish in the top eight in the event at the national meet and Coombs crossed the tape in second with a time of 4:54.01 setting a new indoor personal best by two seconds. “I was really excited about the race,” said Coombs. “It went just how I wanted it to. I wanted to do better than I did here last year, and I did with a PR (personal record), and I couldn’t be happier about that.”
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Athletics
Josh Currier ’16 Makes History FIRST ODAC PLAYER DRAFTED IN FIRST ROUND Virginia Wesleyan’s Josh Currier ’16 was the first Marlin to go to the pros in the first round of a major league draft when he became the highest Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) player drafted by the National Lacrosse League (NLL). He was selected sixth overall by the Rochester Knighthawks. Currier was the first Division III player taken in the draft after a successful career with the Virginia Wesleyan men’s lacrosse program and with the Peterborough Lakers of Major Series Lacrosse. “Josh was one of the best to ever play at this level - his credentials speak for themselves as the all-time leading scorer in ODAC history, a two-time ODAC Player of the Year, a fourtime All-American, and the sixth-leading scorer in the history of Division III lacrosse,” Head VWU Men’s Lacrosse Coach J.P. Stewart said.
Currier is only the third ODAC player to be drafted by the NLL, but the first to go in the first round. Wes McFarlane and Jon Mason (both of Roanoke College) were drafted by Toronto and Buffalo respectively in the fifth round of the 2007 draft. Currier holds nearly all of the University’s records and some of the leagues, including the ODAC record for career points with 353. His 214 goals and 139 assists shattered both school records on the career leaderboard. He also posted the most goals (88) and assists (46) in a season.
Marlin Women’s Soccer Team Qualifies for NCAA Tournament MARLINS ADVANCED TO THE ODAC CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2011
Tanner Martin ’17 Named CoSIDA Academic All-District MARTIN IS JUST THE FIFTH HONOREE IN PROGRAM HISTORY Tanner Martin ’17, men’s soccer forward, was named a member of the CoSIDA Academic All-District team for his performances in the classroom and on the pitch. He is the first CoSIDA Academic All-District selection since the 2007 season and just the fifth honoree in program history. Martin, a Business and German Studies double major, held a 3.85 GPA in the classroom and was a five-time Dean’s List honoree. He was a member of Sigma Beta Delta international honor society which recognizes and promotes achievement in business, management and administration. This past year he studied abroad at the Goethe Institut in Munich, Germany.
The Virginia Wesleyan women’s soccer team advanced to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship after going unbeaten in conference play (seven wins, three draws) for the first time since the 2012 season and just the sixth time in program history. The impressive conference run saw the Marlins qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011. Freshman goalkeeper Taylor Chapman had a phenomenal rookie season, recording 10 shutouts in her 20 matches started. She allowed just 16 goals all season, good for a 0.82 goals against average. Twice she blanked nationally-ranked opponents, Christopher Newport University and Lynchburg College. The No. 2-seeded Marlins took on the No. 1 Washington and Lee in the ODAC Championship last November. VWU had multiple chances late, but were denied by the W&L keeper. The Marlins then fell to No. 23 Brandeis in the first round of the NCAA tournament despite holding the powerful offense scoreless in the first half.
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Athletics
Tiffany Barrett ’17 Set VWU Record for Career Kills VOLLEYBALL STANDOUT FINISHES STRONG AND PROVES HERSELF AN ALL-AROUND PLAYER Tiffany Barrett ’17 set the Virginia Wesleyan record for career kills with 13 against Berry College last season. She finished the season with 1,450 kills. Barrett finished her career with two of the top four season kill totals, including a record-breaking 481 as a junior. Her 1,450 career kills are 205 more than the Marlin in second place, current assistant coach Kala Guy (Herman) ’12. Barrett also finished with the fourth-most aces in school history, 171, showing to be an all-around player for VWU.
Hanna Hull ’20, Division III National Player of the Year
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
Alumni Pages
Ninth Class Inducted to Athletic Hall of Fame Virginia Wesleyan’s ninth class was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at a special ceremony on February 4 in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. Established in May 2007, the Athletic Hall of Fame honors those who, by outstanding achievement in athletics, by service to athletics, or through significant contributions to athletics, have made lasting contributions to Virginia Wesleyan’s intercollegiate athletic program. Members of the ninth class represent the best of the best from Virginia Wesleyan’s athletic history:
Rebecca Leedom Bradford ’10 Volleyball (2007-10) Rebecca Leedom Bradford is No. 1 in VWU history in kills by a first year (331) and digs by a first year (427). She is tied for No. 3 in kills in a match (24) and in a season (402) and No. 5 in kills during a career (1,030). During her career, she was named All-State in 2008 and 2009, All-State Rookie of the Year in 2007, All-ODAC in 2007-09, ODAC Rookie of the Year in 2007 (only one in program history), and ODAC ScholarAthlete of the Year in 2008 and 2009 (one of only two in VWU history). She also received the Marjorie Berkley Award, which is awarded by the conference to athletes who exhibit the highest athletic, academic, and extracurricular achievements. Bradford is the only Marlin to get academic All-District honors twice in 2008 and 2009. Rebecca lives in Chesapeake with her husband, Jeff ’05, and their children.
Cara N. Byrd ’06 Field Hockey (2003-06) Cara Byrd is No. 1 in VWU history in goals during a season (17) and points scored in a season (46). She ranks No. 2 in assists in a season (12), assists in a career (33), points scored in a career (107), shots in a season (81) and tied for No. 2 in most assists in
a game (3). She is also No. 3 for shots in a career (231) and goals in a career (37). During her career, she was named All-American (2004), All-Region (2004), All-State (2004-05) and All-ODAC (2004-05). Byrd ranked in the top 20 nationally in assists and points in 2004. She helped guide VWU to a four-year record of 55-22 overall, 29-6 against ODAC competition and to two NCAA berths. The 2003 team set program records with an 18-2 overall finish and 9-0 in the ODAC. Byrd lives in Suffolk and works for the Suffolk Public Schools in the alternative education program.
Christine M. Clancy Davis ’07 Field Hockey and Women’s Lacrosse (2003-07) In field hockey, Chrissy Clancy Davis is No. 1 in VWU history in points scored in a career (150), goals in a career (57), shots in a career with (286), shots in a season (83) and assists in a career (36). She ranks No. 2 in goals per game (4), goals per season (16), and points scored per season (41). During her career, she was named to the national All-Rookie Team (2003), All-Region (2004-05), All-State (2003, 2005-06) and a four-year All-ODAC honoree (2003-06). Davis was recognized as the ODAC Rookie of the Year (2003). She led VWU to a four-year record of 5821 overall, 29-5 in the ODAC, including regular season No. 1 finishes in 2003 and 2005, an ODAC title in 2004, and NCAA
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Alumni Pages Congratulations to the 2017 Inductees (pictured from left): Cara N. Byrd ‘06 – Field Hockey (2003-06); Megan E. Parris ‘06 – Women’s Lacrosse and Women’s Soccer (2002-05); Gary W. DePalma – Men’s Soccer (1994-1997); Christine M. Clancy Davis ‘07 – Field Hockey and Women’s Lacrosse (2003-07); and Rebecca Leedom Bradford ‘10 – Volleyball (2007-2010).
tournament berths in 2003 and 2004. In Women’s Lacrosse, Davis played in 52 games, scored 75 goals, 27 assists and 102 points, recorded 181 ground balls and 30 draw control wins. She set a VWU single-game record for ground balls (13). She was named All-ODAC in 2006. Davis lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and three children. She is a uniformed officer of the United States Secret Service.
Gary W. DePalma Men’s Soccer (1994-97) Gary DePalma is No. 4 in VWU history in career assists (29) and in career shots (272). During his career, he was named twotime All-American (1995 and 1997), All-Region (1995-97), ODAC Player of the Year in 1995 and 1997, and a four-year All-ODAC honoree (1994-97). From 1999 to 2006, DePalma had an extensive professional outdoor and indoor soccer career. Highlights include playing for the indoor soccer team Detroit Rockers of the National Professional Soccer League where he was honored as Rookie of the Year (1999-2000). He won the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) championship in 2002 while playing for the Philadelphia Kixx. He was also named a MISL All-Star in 2002. DePalma lives in State College, Pennsylvania, with his wife and three children. He is the Technical Director of the Celtic SC youth soccer club and runs a custom furniture business.
Megan E. Parris ’06 Women’s Lacrosse and Women’s Soccer (2002-05) Megan Parris is No. 2 in VWU history in points in a career (308) and shots per game (16). She ranks tied for No. 2 in ground balls in a game (11); No. 3 in most goals in a game (8), goals in a career (204), assists in a career (104), most points in a game (12), No. 4 and 5 in goals in a season (66, 65); and No. 4 in assists in a season (39), points in a season (105) and shots in a career (431). She ranked No. 3 nationally in points total (2005) with 6.15 points per game average. During her career, she was named All-American (2003 and 2005), All-Region (2003 and 2005), All-State (2004-05) and a four-year All-ODAC honoree (200205). She helped steer VWU to a 48-21 overall record and a 23-9 conference tally, yielding four consecutive winning seasons and an appearance in the ODAC Championship match in 2004. Parris works for Showtime Networks, Inc. in New York City.
Time to Celebrate and Do Our Part Dear Fellow Marlins, As Chair of the Virginia Wesleyan Alumni Council and a member of the Board of Trustees, I have the honor and pleasure of participating in very exciting times at our alma mater. The volunteer members of the Alumni Council join me in congratulating my fellow Trustees, President Scott D. Miller and the entire campus community on an incredible record of success and progress. The campus is full of vibrant activity. The Greer Environmental Sciences Center will provide wonderful opportunities for collaborative learning that will enhance our campus and student life. We are also looking forward to construction of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center and the residential complex across Wesleyan Drive, Oxford Village. New graduate programs, online learning, the Batten Honors College, and community and regional partnerships are growing and enhancing Virginia Wesleyan’s leadership and prominence. Last but not least is the historic news of the College’s transition to Virginia Wesleyan University, Coastal Virginia’s Premier University of the Liberal Arts and Sciences. It’s the perfect time to stand with our alma mater, referring prospective students and providing our financial support to The Excellence Fund. We also invite you to be on the lookout for Virginia Wesleyan events for alumni and friends around the country. For the institution that has done so much for all of us alumni, let’s do our part in giving back as we look ahead and join in the celebration of the new Virginia Wesleyan University!
Mavis McKenley ’11, Alumni Council Chair
Members are permanently recognized in the Athletic Hall of Fame installation located adjacent to the entrance to the Batten Center. For more information about the Hall of Fame, visit: www.vwu.edu/hof. Virg in ia We sle ya n U n ive rsit y Ma g a zin e | F all 2017 / 31 /
Alumni Pages
2016 ALUMNI AWARDS Each year, the Virginia Wesleyan University Alumni Council presents accomplished graduates with Alumni Awards, celebrating those who have achieved distinction in their fields and served their communities in a variety of ways. The 2016 Award recipients were honored on the University’s inaugural Founders Day—September 8, 2016.
LINDSEY E. REYNOLDS ‘98
AMY (MALLETT) RICKARD ‘98
RODNEY D. YOUNG JR. ‘07
2016 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
2016 ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD
2016 GRADUATE OF THE LAST DECADE AWARD
Chief Operating Officer at the Democratic National Committee
Manager of Client Services for Southern Company Gas
Corporal for the Norfolk Police Department
Lindsey E. Reynolds ’98 is a veteran political strategist with local, statewide and national campaign, issue, policy and fundraising experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Virginia Wesleyan. Lindsey serves as the Chief Operating Officer at the Democratic National Committee and has also served as Director of the Office of the Secretary and the Executive Director of Democrats Abroad where she ran the first international coordinated campaign effort in 2008. She has been an independent consultant offering campaign strategy and fundraising expertise to a diverse group of clients and was the Executive Director of the Virginia State Democratic Party. She lives with her husband and son, Mason, in Shady Side, Maryland, where they enjoy their dog, the Chesapeake Bay, and traveling.
Amy E. (Mallett) Rickard ’98 studied communication and media studies at Virginia Wesleyan. She is the Manager of Client Services for Southern Company Gas, a subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation’s largest energy companies. She began her career as the Marketing Manager for Spirit Cruises and has held marketing positions at Chartway Federal Credit Union, DIA Advertising and AAA Tidewater Virginia, where she served as Vice President of Marketing. In 2014, Inside Business recognized Amy for her dedication to her alma mater and her business acumen as a “Top 40 Under 40” awardee. Amy has been active with the Virginia Wesleyan Alumni Council, serving as president from 2014-2016. Amy lives in Virginia Beach with her husband, Patrick, and their two dogs.
Rodney D. Young Jr. ’07 majored in recreation and leisure studies at Virginia Wesleyan. As a student, he played on the basketball team and encouraged his teammates to serve at the OnCampus Winter Homeless Shelter. Rodney now works for the Norfolk Police Department (NPD) and while assigned to the public housing unit, he implemented a sports mentorship program to build positive rapport between the citizens of Norfolk and the Department. In 2014, he was promoted to supervisor of the detective division, and he now serves as a Corporal. Rodney is on the Board of Managers for the Indian River YMCA and is the founder of the Blue Line Athletic Association (BLAA), a local adult/ youth basketball league. Rodney lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, Kimberly, and their daughter.
Honorary Degree Recipients: During the Founders Day event, Virginia Wesleyan also presented honorary doctoral degrees to Gary D. Bonnewell ’79, the first VWU graduate to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Dr. Stephen S. Mansfield, Archivist and former Dean. / 32 / Vi r g i n i a Wes l e y a n Un i v e rs i t y M a g a zin e | Fa ll 2 0 1 7
CONNECTING Classroom to Career THROUGH THE EXCELLENCE FUND
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Participating in open-ended classroom conversations at VWU has taught me how to have professional and productive conversations with people from all walks of life. I believe that the future can be changed by a simple conversation and I am prepared to go into the world with an ability to listen and communicate and make a change not only in my own life, but in the world.
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
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AMBER GAINES ’17
Amber Gaines ’17 has plans to change the world. Her ultimate career aspirations include working with professionals in homeland security to protect our nation’s borders while respecting people’s rights. As a criminal justice major, minoring in Sociology, she is well on her way. A VWU Homecoming Queen, Amber has maintained an active student life, and her campus community involvement has helped her gain practical experiences that are applicable to life after University. Amber has always had a passion for protecting people and understanding their behavior. Her research during her senior integrative experience project focused on homeland security and personal privacy. Through an internship in the U.S. Department of State’s Pathways Program, she had opportunities to explore Federal careers. Amber’s academic experiences were made possible by gifts received through support to The Excellence Fund. After graduation, Amber hopes to gain experience in intelligence analysis in the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. As the University seeks to continue expanding experiential learning with more internships, study-away, and undergraduate research opportunities, gifts to The Excellence Fund provide growing numbers of students with high impact experiences. These experiential benefits contribute to the success of our students as well as the University’s excellent academic reputation.
CONTRIBUTE TO SECURE FUTURES
SUPPORT THE EXCELLENCE FUND Use the envelope provided in this publication, visit www.vwu.edu/giveonline, call the Office of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations at 757.233.8786, or email excellencefund@vwu.edu
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