V i r g i n i a
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A New Era Dr. Scott D. Miller becomes fourth president of Virginia Wesleyan College
INSIDE: A TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM T. "BILLY" GREER FIRST LOOK AT THE GREER ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES CENTER
A STUDENT’S PRESIDENT: With his Southern charm and easygoing demeanor, recently retired Billy Greer was a friend to all. Dr. Greer and his wife, Fann, are surrounded by a group of Virginia Wesleyan students and alumni on Reading Day 2015. The area behind them, adjacent to Blocker Hall, will become the site of the new Greer Environmental Sciences Center (see pages 18-23).
PHOTO: JON LIMTIACO/EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY
18
54
F e at u r e s
18
A Better Place
29
Who's That Girl?
24
Meet Dr. Miller
31
Heroes Among Us
Recently retired president Billy Greer leaves on a high note
Dr. Scott D. Miller shares his perspective on a variety of topics
Kathleen Casey explores race and gender in vaudeville in new book
Meet three recent Marlin graduates, all military veterans
2015-2016 Board of Trustees CHAIR Gary D. Bonnewell ’79
VICE CHAIR
SECRETARY
David L. Kaufman
Tassos J. Paphites '79
TREASURER
PARLIAMENTARIAN
Anne B. Shumadine
Vincent J. Mastracco Jr.
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR O.L. Everett
50 Departments 4 6
FROM THE EDITOR WESLEYAN WINDOW
38 ACADEMIA 47
Deborah M. Paxson ’75
Thomas C. Broyles
Jonathan E. Pruden
Deborah H. Butler
Robin D. Ray
Young Jin Cho*
Amy Rickard ’98*
B. Minette Cooper
Cynthia M. Rodriguez ’14
Dale R. Foley
Louis F. Ryan
William H. George
Alvin J. Schexnider
Susan S. Goode
M. Wayne Snead *
William W. Granger III
Joseph R. Thomas
Alexander B. Joyner*
Linda Thomas-Glover
Seonyoung Kim*
William H. Thumel Jr.
Ronald M. Kramer
John A. Trinder
John F. Malbon
George K. (Chip) Tsantes III ’83
Elizabeth F. Middleton ’91
D. Henry Watts
Scott D. Miller*
LIVING & LEARNING
54 ATHLETICS 59
Susan Torma Beverly ’72
*ex officio
ALUMNI PAGES Trustees Emeriti S. Frank Blocker Jr. Robert F. Boyd Robert H. DeFord Jr.
COVER PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
William J. Fanney James W. Griffiths Benjamin J. Willis Jr.
PHOTO: AUGUSTA PITTMAN PHOTOGRAPHY
From the Editor
Monumental Moments By Leona Baker “IT’S MILLER TIME,” ANNOUNCED THE front page of The Marlin Chronicle student newspaper following incoming president Scott D. Miller’s first official visit to Virginia Wesleyan College in the spring of 2015. While he was on campus for two days in March, Dr. Miller was able to spend some quality time with retiring president William T. “Billy” Greer (page 23), meet with faculty, staff and students, and even participate in a podcast organized by The Marlin Chronicle staff. Scott Miller and his wife Annie moved to a new home along the Chesapeake Bay in Norfolk in June, and he officially took over the role of president of Virginia Wesleyan on July 1, 2015. To his new office on the second floor of Godwin Hall, he brought one of his prized possessions, a collection of more than 1,000 books, each catalogued and organized according to topic. “The books represent my passion for American higher education,” Miller notes, “and my quest to never stop learning about effective leadership.” An avid communicator, Miller hit the ground running—attending College events, meeting with alumni and other “Wesleyanites” (as he has affectionately coined members of the Virginia Wesleyan community), connecting with business and civic leaders from around the region and much more.
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A MARLIN AND A PRESIDENT: VWC’s new president, Dr. Scott D. Miller (center), met with the Alumni Association Board of Directors for the first time in August 2015, where he proudly acknowledged the College’s “golden past and bright future.”
In early August, Miller spoke to the Alumni Association Board of Directors about the College’s “golden past and bright future.” “Virginia Wesleyanites love their College,” he observed. “As I visit with alumni and friends, I am impressed by the passion that our graduates have for their alma mater. Virginia Wesleyan College is—without a doubt—a lifetime experience.” In his first “Nota Bene” (Latin for “note well”), a regular email communication to faculty and staff, he set the tone for progress and dialogue: “President Greer has positioned the College well for forward momentum and positive change,” he wrote, “and I am poised to capitalize on that momentum in order to make immediate improvements and strategize for long-term growth. This is the first of many messages of special note you will receive from me. My philosophy on communication in higher education has been inspired by my good friend and longtime colleague, Gordon Gee, president of West Virginia University: Effective internal communications serve as the platform for external strategy and planning.” You can learn more about President Miller and his educational and leadership philosophies on pages 6 and 24-26. As Dr. Miller was preparing to arrive at Virginia Wesleyan, the community was honoring longtime president Billy Greer, who retired June 30,
with a series of events and fond farewells. At Greer’s retirement celebration in May, a standingroom-only crowd of colleagues, family and friends came to pay tribute to a man the VWC community has known for nearly a quarter of a century simply as “Billy.” The event culminated with a surprise announcement about the Greer Environmental Sciences Center, named in honor of Greer and his commitment to the natural sciences and environmental stewardship and scheduled for completion by fall 2017. See a rendering of the new building, which will be located adjacent to Blocker Hall on the VWC campus, in the special fold-out page in the feature story that begins on page 18. THE PASSING OF THE PRESIDENTIAL torch is just one of the newsworthy goingson at Virginia Wesleyan College as we jump headfirst into the 2015-2016 academic year. Over the summer, faculty and staff were putting the finishing touches on a new Quality Enhancement Plan for the College, titled SEE Change and focused on providing students with more resources and opportunities to participate in three key areas of experiential learning: Study Away, Internships and Undergraduate Research. This plan also gave rise to the formation of a new Center for Experiential Learning on campus, which is now housed on the first floor of Clarke
Hall. Virginia Wesleyan students and the broader VWC community will be hearing more about this exciting resource in the weeks and months to come. See a promotion for the SEE Change Quality Enhancement Plan on page 27. As always, in this issue of Marlin Magazine you will learn about College news and many exciting projects and accomplishments of our students, alumni, faculty, staff, family and friends. In addition to stories on both retired president Billy Greer and new president Scott Miller, in our features section you will learn about a new book by history professor Kathleen Casey that explores “race and gender benders” in American Vaudeville (pages 28-30). And you’ll meet three recent Marlin graduates, all military veterans, who made unique contributions to our campus community (pages 31-33). In our Academia section, you will get insights into the world of high-stakes politics from Lindsey Reynolds ’98, take a course on the business of Broadway, explore the psychology of sizing women’s jeans, get updates on new faculty and alumni publications, and learn what Tupac Shakur can teach us about community (pages 38-46). On our Living & Learning pages, you’ll meet Sarah Nwokorie ’15, founder and president of the campus gender issues group Phenomenal Woman, have a conversation with Director of Student Activities Kate Griffin, reach “new heights” on the Batten Student Center climbing wall with Andrew Tomajczyk ’16, and get some advice from the Class of 2015 (pages 47-53). Hot off their winning seasons, VWC basketball coaches Stephany Dunmyer and Dave Macedo open our Athletics section, which also touts the men’s teams’ first-ever Commissioner’s Cup, women’s basketball’s first ODAC win, student-athlete All Americans and scholar-athlete and track star Trey White ’17 (pages 54-58). Finally, catch up on “Class Notes” in our Alumni Pages and enjoy profiles on Randi Vogel ’96, co-owner and general manager of Hunt Club Farm, and Spencer Baird ’00, vice president of merchandising strategy at grocery retailer Ahold (pages 59-66). During this exciting time of transition at VWC, we thank you for reading this publication and for being an integral part of the College’s “golden past and bright future.” Enjoy.
MAGAZINE STAFF
ADMINISTRATION
Publisher Laynee Timlin
Scott D. Miller, President
Editor-in-Chief Leona Baker Assistant Editor Stephanie Smaglo Art Director Brenda Mihalko Production Manager & Photography Director Janice Marshall-Pittman Advertising Designer Christine Hall Contributing Writers Murrell Brooks Kristen De Deyn Kirk Joe Wasiluk Contributing Photographers Brendan Ash Irene Bowers Jill Haag Jon Limtiaco Keith Lucas Glen McClure Thomas Mills ’15 Augusta Pittman Maggie Reade Jason Seward Alysha Yoder Contributing Illustrator Brenda Mihalko Contributing Photo Editor Augusta Pittman College Archivist Stephen Mansfield
Timothy O’Rourke, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Kenneth R. Perry Dean of the College Cary Sawyer, Vice President for Finance David Buckingham, Vice President for Student Affairs Bruce Vaughan, Vice President for Operations Mita Vail, Vice President for College Advancement Laynee Timlin, Executive Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff ALUMNI RELATIONS Lina Green, Director lina@vwc.edu, 757.455.2115 MAGAZINE CIRCULATION To add, remove or update information for the Marlin Magazine mailing list, please email ssmaglo@vwc.edu. Alumni Parents: If this is addressed to your child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni Relations office.
Marlin Magazine is published annually by the Office of College Communications. The purpose of the publication is to inform, inspire and entertain a broad readership, including alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, supporters and friends, by documenting the College’s vigorous intellectual culture and diverse community. The individual viewpoints expressed in these pages do not necessarily reflect those of the magazine staff or of the College and its policies. For editorial questions, contact lbaker1@vwc.edu. Website: www.vwc.edu Printed on recycled paper by Jones Printing Service
Leona Baker is the Director of Communications at Virginia Wesleyan College. For questions or comments regarding the content of Marlin Magazine, contact her at lbaker1@vwc.edu.
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Wesleyan Window
IN OFFICE: Dr. Scott D. Miller in his former office at Bethany College, where he served as president for eight years prior to his arrival at Wesleyan.
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Virginia Wesleyan Welcomes New President BOARD OF TRUSTEES SELECTS DR. SCOTT D. MILLER AS COLLEGE’S FOURTH PRESIDENT DR. SCOTT D. MILLER BECAME THE FOURTH PRESIDENT of Virginia Wesleyan College on July 1, 2015, a decision made unanimously by the VWC Board of Trustees. Prior to his arrival at VWC, Dr. Miller held several presidential roles, most recently an eight-year tenure as president of Bethany College in West Virginia. He brings to VWC a lifetime of commitment to the values of a residential, liberal arts campus in a pluralistic society, with an emphasis on teaching, service, student-faculty engagement, and lifelong learning. “I am honored to be chosen as the next president of Virginia Wesleyan, one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, an outstanding institution of the United Methodist Church, and a member of the select Old Dominion Athletic Conference,” he said. “Virginia Wesleyan’s location and quality provide
educational opportunities that directly support its mission and will foster future growth and progress.” President Miller’s appointment was the culmination of a national search that began in summer 2014 after President Billy Greer announced his plans for a June 2015 retirement. A presidential search committee composed of trustees, faculty, staff, students, and alumni sought a candidate with a strong record of leadership who is a passionate advocate of the values and ideals of the liberal arts. “As we continue to strengthen the resources and enhance the national reputation of Virginia Wesleyan, it is truly exciting to have a president of Dr. Miller’s experience and energy to lead our next phase of growth,” said Gary D. Bonnewell ’79, Chair of the VWC Board of Trustees.
Wesleyan Window
Global Outlook
VWC INTRODUCES PEACE CORPS PREP PROGRAM A MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION BETWEEN VIRGINIA WESLEYAN and the U.S. Peace Corps was signed in September 2014, marking the inauguration of the College’s Peace Corps Prep Program (PCPP). The program is designed to create highly qualified VWC students who wish to share their education, talents and skills with disadvantaged peoples in the developing world. It helps prepare students for service as Peace Corps volunteers or for professional careers in service organizations and other international agencies. The PCPP requires coursework in disciplines such as international studies, foreign language, education, biology, environmental studies, political science, and history, along with a number of community service hours and/or study away experience. VWC is the only college or university in the greater Hampton Roads region and one of only 25 institutions nationwide to offer its students this opportunity.
PEACE OFFERING: At the September 2014 signing ceremony inaugurating the Peace Corps Prep Program are VWC faculty and Peace Corps representatives (from left) Kathy Stolley, Jessica Koehler, Clay Drees and Chuck Cascio.
Map to Success
PHOTO: TYMOFF+MOSS ARCHITECTS
TEAGLE FOUNDATION GRANT SUPPORTS CURRICULAR CONSORTIUM
Game On BIRDSONG FIELD, A $2.9 MILLION SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD AT VWC’S OUTDOOR ATHLETIC Complex, opened its gates in fall 2015. The state-of-the art athletic venue supports more than 150 student-athletes playing NCAA Division III men’s and women’s lacrosse and field hockey at the College, and the entire student body has access to the field for intramural sports. The field is named in honor of George and Sue Birdsong and Birdsong Corporation, who in January 2014 made a $1 million challenge gift toward its construction. “The turf field will make a statement in terms of both function and form for Virginia Wesleyan,” said George Birdsong. “In addition to its many benefits for current and future athletes, it will be an attractive visual addition to campus that is part of our broader strategic goals for creating an inspiring sense of place.” The facility features a prominent entryway with ticketing, concessions and restrooms; an electronic scoreboard; field lighting; aluminum fencing and landscaping; a new parking lot; and surrounding green space for picnicking and tailgating. The potential for expansion to include a press box and permanent bleachers exists for the future.
HOW CAN FACULTY WORK TOGETHER TO create a more coherent and intentional curriculum with clearer goals, pathways and outcomes? To help address this question, in November 2014 the Teagle Foundation awarded a 30-month grant of $280,000 to Virginia Wesleyan College, Davis & Elkins College, Eckerd College and Shenandoah University. The grant supports the faculty-led initiative, “The C4 Consortium for a More Compelling and Coherent Liberal Arts Curriculum.” Participating institutions are currently in various stages of curricular reform. VWC is using the grant to help establish a developmental sequence across majors; map courses to competencies; and create more rational course numbering and better assessment rubrics. These changes will create valuable links to high-impact practices like internships, undergraduate research, study away and sustained service learning. With the support of a Teagle Foundation planning grant, the Consortium met in June 2014 to refine their proposal and lay the foundation for the larger initiative during a three-day conference held at VWC. Five-member teams will continue to meet at each institution for the duration of the grant, and a summary of their work will be prepared in June 2017.
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PARTICIPATION IN THE IT’S ON US CAMPAIGN PART OF A NATIONWIDE STAND AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN FALL 2014, THE WHITE HOUSE LAUNCHED the It’s On Us campaign to engage college students and members of campus communities nationwide in the fight against sexual assault and domestic violence. Dean of Freshmen Jason Seward and Director of Residence Life McCarren Caputa brought the initiative to VWC, viewing it as an opportunity for important dialogue. Posters across campus featured the strong sentiments of student leaders like R.J. Bonniwell ’16 (pictured), who says It’s On Us helped bring VWC’s student population together for a good cause. “I am taking a stand against sexual violence because it is our job to enforce morals,” Bonniwell’s poster read. “Sexual violence is the most immoral crime against humanity.” Since its inception at VWC, It’s On Us has seen significant and positive reception. Seward and Caputa plan to expand the initiative, maintaining one of the campaign’s most important aspects: unity. “The more we can unite in this and say, ‘This isn’t OK in our communities; this isn’t OK period,’ the better off we’ll be,” says Seward.
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL–PITTMAN
PHOTO: JASON SEWARD
taking ACTION
Biology Boost
Living the Dream IMPLEMENTING VWC'S STRATEGIC PLAN IN YEAR ONE EFFORTS TO COMMUNICATE the College's new strategic plan,VWC 2020: Pathway to Prominence, began immediately after VWC’s Board of Trustees approved it in May 2014. In its first year, the freshly articulated vision, five strategic priorities and 20 key actions have provided a catalyst for decision making, project initiatives and forward movement across campus. Here are some of the key strategic plan accomplishments from 2014-2015:
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LIFE SCIENCE:
Biology professor IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS THE NUMBER OF BIOLOGY STUDENTS Deirdre Gonsalvesat Virginia Wesleyan has increased by 94 percent, and in 2013 it Jackson (left) assists became the College’s top major for day students. many VWC students Batten Associate Professor of Biology Deirdre Gonsalveswith undergraduate Jackson believes the program’s success is due in large part to the research aboard the modernization of Blocker Hall. Since 2010, the natural sciences Ocean Explorer, the building has received close to $4 million in renovations, among College’s 45-foot them the creation of several research labs; updates to Blocker research vessel. Auditorium; and the addition of a state-of-the-art scanning electron microscope—the result of a $242,502 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). “Now it’s a showcase,” she says. “Our facilities are modern and students are seeing the kind of science we’re doing here.” Other big draws for biology majors are VWC’s pre-professional programs; the NSFfunded STEM Scholars Program; and the College’s proximity to the Chesapeake Bay, which offers invaluable opportunities for undergraduate research aboard the Ocean Explorer, VWC’s 45-foot research vessel in partnership with the Virginia Aquarium. The forthcoming Greer Environmental Sciences Center, scheduled to open in fall 2017, will also further enhance the College's growing sciences programs.
• Identified the focus, brand and
student outcomes for VWC’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), SEE Change, which will increase student opportunities for high impact educational practices such as internships, undergraduate research and study away.
• Supported faculty excellence
through the addition of eight distinguished professors, each with the highest degrees in their fields; the “Talk About Teaching” facultyled lecture series; and funding for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning (INTEL) faculty grants.
• Increased student engagement with
the establishment of Commitment Days; financial support from Wesleyan Promise scholarships; modification of the Student Success Plan and creation of a Course Design Survey.
• Expanded partnerships with
organizations such as US-China Century Education Group to initiate the J-1 Visa program; collaboration with NATO-ACT; and formation of the Peace Corps Prep Program.
• Created an inspiring sense of place
on campus by completing Phase III of renovations to Blocker Hall; constructing a synthetic turf field; garnering commitments of $6.7 million toward the construction of an academic building for the arts; and announcing plans for the forthcoming Greer Environmental Sciences Center.
Wesleyan Window
All that’s missing from this picture is YOU! Meet our A-Team to begin planning for your future at the college with a coastal edge. Visit Virginia Wesleyan College during
VWC DAY OPEN HOUSE October 17 • November 14 February 6 • March 5
We can’t wait to meet you!
Contact our Admissions Office by calling 800.737.8684/757.455.3208 or email admissions@vwc.edu
Adult Conversation WHEN ASKED WHAT SHE HOPES TO ACCOMPLISH AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF Virginia Wesleyan’s Adult Studies Program, Vicky Seiler answers emphatically: “We want to help people achieve not just their career goals, but happiness and the ability to do what they’ve always wanted in their lives.” Her first order of business, she says, is learning how VWC can best serve its adult population. She and her team will start by listening to students ages 23 and older to determine which resources are most helpful in balancing academic pursuits with work, kids and other commitments. Currently, VWC’s Adult Studies Program offers evening and weekend classes along with after-hours advising, registration, business office services, career planning, and Learning Center resources. In addition to the need for convenience, a common theme Seiler has found among adult students is an appreciation for an intimate setting and close-knit community like Wesleyan’s. “Our students learn from and work collaboratively with their peers and professors,” she says. “They are known by name at VWC, and they feel important because they are important.” Adult students are encouraged to share their own experience, needs and expectations by emailing asp@vwc.edu or calling 757.455.3263. Learn more about the Adult Studies Program at www.vwc.edu/asp. PEOPLE PERSON: Vicky Seiler began her role as director of the Adult Studies Program in January 2015. She comes to VWC with a background in human resources and marketing.
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL–PITTMAN
LISTENING LEADS TO SUCCESS FOR VICKY SEILER, NEW DIRECTOR OF VWC’S ADULT STUDIES PROGRAM
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PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL–PITTMAN
Faculty Focus
Faculty Farewell FIVE RETIRING FACULTY MEMBERS, EACH WITH VIRGINIA WESLEYAN careers spanning more than two decades, were honored in May 2015 with a special reception and the traditional commemorative tree planting in the Wilson Arboretum. Among the retirees were Karen Bosch, Ginger Ferris, Lee Jordan-Anders, Tom Lopez, and Sharon Payne. Here’s a look back at the lives and accomplishments of these parting professors: KAREN A. BOSCH Professor of Education and Director of Teacher Education Karen Bosch describes her 22 years at Virginia Wesleyan as a “great career with many responsibilities, challenges and rewards.” The most memorable of those are receiving the Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award in 2006; being named a Batten Professor in 2004; and authoring five education-related books. Also among her accomplishments are the development of an Old Dominion University agreement that admits VWC students into graduate programs in five areas without the GRE; the initiation of a study abroad program that allowed VWC students to complete their student-teaching placement in Ireland; the contribution of past students’ ideas and strategies for her books; and watching alumni return to serve as cooperating teachers to a new generation of VWC students. In retirement,
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BEST WISHES: VWC said goodbye in spring 2015 to retiring faculty members (from left) Ginger Ferris, Sharon Payne, Karen Bosch, and Lee Jordan-Anders. Not pictured: Tom Lopez.
her goal is to have fun, saying farewell to stress and deadlines. She plans to travel and spend quality time with family. GINGER L. FERRIS Assistant Professor of Education Ginger Ferris’s devoted service to Virginia Wesleyan spans 28 years, during which she was an integral member of the College’s education department and its PORTfolio Program. Her areas of expertise include elementary and early childhood education, and parenting and infant education. She has taught courses at several colleges and done consultation and training with the staff and administrators in the Head Start program. Her study of comparative education has involved course work and visits to educational facilities in nearly 30 countries. Throughout her career, Ferris has been involved in a number of community service projects which include serving on the Early Childhood Advisory Board for Tidewater Community College, the Virginia Beach Families for a Lifetime Committee, and facilitating the Pipeline to the Community Project at three Title I schools in Virginia Beach. She has also been a dedicated supporter of the Ceramic Designers Association’s Empty Bowls Charity Dinner, held annually at Virginia Wesleyan.
Wesleyan Window
LEE JORDAN-ANDERS Professor of Music and Artist-in-Residence In her 29 years at Virginia Wesleyan, pianist Lee Jordan-Anders has served as professor of music and Artist-in-Residence. She has taught an array of courses that focus on aesthetics, listening, music theory, chamber music, and applied piano. She began VWC’s Familiar Faces concert series in 1986; recorded multiple CDs; published articles in Clavier magazine; and worked closely with the Chrysler Museum of Art to create a series of programs entitled, “Picture This!” that pair musical selections with works of art from their collection. Jordan-Anders was appointed music director for the Orchestra of the Eastern Shore in 2009, introducing new work to the orchestra’s repertoire in addition to conducting and rehearsing. She continues to be an active performer and scholar, giving concerts and lectures throughout the United States. THOMAS S. LOPEZ Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice In his 26-year career at VWC, Lopez has guided criminal justice to become one of the largest majors on campus while coordinating a harmonious partnership between the sociology and criminal justice departments. Of his accomplishments, he is most proud of the development and establishment of the criminal justice major and also the Office of Community Service. Lopez is proud to call his two daughters Wesleyan graduates and even had the pleasure of seeing his oldest married on campus in Monumental Chapel. He has
a passion for photography and an extensive collection of coins and medals. His collecting has spanned over 25 years and he has gained an international reputation as a consultant for major collectors. In retirement, he plans to work on a screenplay based on his book Keeper of the Storm. But for now, if you’re looking for Lopez, you’ll find him at the beach. SHARON L. PAYNE, LCSW, CSAC Professor of Social Work and Director of the Women’s Resource Center During her 22-year career at Virginia Wesleyan, Sharon Payne has amassed an incredibly long list of accomplishments. In addition to her teaching career, she has been a practicing psychotherapist, specializing in treating women with affective disorders, families with teens, substance abuse and addictions. She is an elected leader in numerous clinical social work organizations, most notably her appointment as a distinguished practitioner and fellow by the National Academies of Practice. Her scholarly interests include women’s issues, death, loss and homelessness, and she has created many innovative courses in those areas at VWC. Payne served as the very first director of the College’s Women’s Resource Center and helped develop the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. She was named a Batten Professor from 2010-2013 and was instrumental in bringing the Bachelor of Social Work degree to VWC in 2014. In retirement, Payne will play her piano, work out, read for pleasure, and travel.
Batten Professors
BENJAMIN DOBRIN Professor of Social Work Ph.D., University of South Florida REBECCA HOOKER Associate Professor of English Ph.D., University of New Mexico MAURY HOWARD Associate Professor of Chemistry Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin These professors join holdover designees from 2014-2017 and 2013-2016: Hilve Firek, Lydia Kennedy, Gabriela Martorell, John Rudel, Mavel Velasco, Richard Bond, William Gibson, Benjamin Haller, Diana Risk and Philip Rock.
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
BEGUN IN 2004, THE BATTEN PROFESSORSHIP is an award for faculty excellence in teaching and scholarship, community contributions, and passion for inspiring excellence in others. For three academic years, recipients carry the title and are entitled to special development funding. The newly named Battens Professors for 2015-2018 are:
Beyond Language Barriers FACULTY MEMBERS LIKE DIANA RISK (RIGHT) AND MAVEL VELASCO (SECOND FROM right) play a critical role in student success not only in the classroom but in a variety of experiential learning settings including study away. The two Spanish professors are pictured above with three 2015 graduates who received Spanish Honors Awards at VWC’s Spring Honors Convocation: Tanya Puccio, Mary Elizabeth Wade and Jonathan Burke (left to right). “Increasingly, our students are finding ways to perfect their language proficiency in another country while pursuing their interests in a variety of fields.” Risk says. “These remarkable students are a good example.” The College offers majors in Spanish, French and German.
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WOMEN'S STUDIES: Assistant Professor of English Kellie Holzer helped bring the feminist scholarship conference Works in Progress to VWC in spring 2015.
Works in Progress IN MARCH 2015, VIRGINIA WESLEYAN HOSTED Works in Progress, an annual interdisciplinary conference of feminist scholarship that brings together students and faculty from colleges and universities across the region. Virginia Wesleyan is the first campus to share hosting responsibilities. For the last 15 years it has been presented by the Department of Women’s Studies and Friends of Women’s Studies at Old Dominion University. The event was organized by VWC faculty members Kellie Holzer, Taryn Myers, Sharon Payne, and Aubrey Westfall, with help from members of the Women’s Forum. VWC faculty presentations included: “Pirates, Masculinity, and Empire” by Richard Bond; “The Things They Carried: Women and the Power of the Purse” by Kathleen Casey; “Nature vs. Nurture: Biology, Political Knowledge, and the Origins of Gender Gaps in Foreign Policy Preferences” by Leslie Caughell; “’Child-Dropping’ and the ‘Infanticide Epidemic’ in 1860s English News and Fiction” by Kellie Holzer; “Nancy Prince’s Odyssey of Re(-)creation” by Rebecca Hooker; “Exploring Feminist Beliefs as a Protective Factor Against Risk Factors for Disordered Eating” by Taryn Myers; “Army Nurses and Popular Culture: Icons, Gender Ideology, and Modern Nursing” by Kathy Stolley; and “The Political Cure: Gender Quotas and Women’s Health” by Aubrey Westfall. Works in Progress provides a place where work in all stages of development, focused on women’s and gender issues, can be presented in exchange for feedback and consultation from other interested scholars.
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Awarding Excellence
INTEL GRANTS ENCOURAGE FACULTY INNOVATION, ENGAGEMENT VIRGINIA WESLEYAN’S 2015 INNOVATIVE TEACHING AND ENGAGED LEARNING (INTEL) faculty grants were awarded to VWC Associate Professor of Philosophy Cathal Woods and a multi-disciplinary team made up of Associate Professor of History Rich Bond; Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology Thomas Brown; Associate Professor of Management/Business/ Economics Paul Ewell; and Assistant Professor of English Kellie Holzer. Woods’ two-part project, “Self-Paced Critical Reasoning: CBE Within Credit-Hour Constraints,” explores Competency-Based Education (CBE), an approach that awards credit to students as competence is demonstrated in a sequence of learning objectives rather than on the basis of time spent. Woods will assess how CBE can be married with credit-hour education and will also focus on the development of materials for sequential assessment. The second grant will fund a project titled, “Advancing Digital Pedagogy at Virginia Wesleyan College, 2015-2016.” Bond, Brown, Ewell and Holzer will advance work initiated in 2014 under a previous INTEL grant using a combination of student and faculty workshops, project competitions, funding incentives, and presentations to foster a campus-wide dialogue about digital learning. The project aims to help faculty develop pedagogical and technical skills and increase the College’s capacity to support such work. INTEL grants support projects that encourage and advance a culture of innovation and engaged learning. Two $1,000 awards are available annually to full-time VWC faculty.
IN APPRECIATION: Larry Hultgren, the College’s longeststanding faculty member, began his career at VWC in September 1969. PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL–PITTMAN
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL–PITTMAN
Faculty Focus
Lasting Philosophy LARRY HULTGREN AMONG FACULTY HONORED FOR YEARS OF SERVICE AMONG THE HONOREES AT THE ANNUAL EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION RECEPTION HELD IN April 2015 was one of Virginia Wesleyan’s most beloved and well-known professors, Larry Hultgren. The 2014-2015 academic year marked the 45th year of teaching for the philosophy professor, VWC’s longest-standing faculty member. Hultgren also serves as director of the College’s PORTfolio Program. “Dr. Larry Hultgren is truly a gentleman and a scholar at the height of his career,” said Travis Malone, associate professor of theatre and chair of the Division of Humanities. “His humility, good grace, and calming presence have provided much needed levity and leadership over the years.” Hultgren was honored alongside 27 Virginia Wesleyan employees with service ranging from 10 to 35 years. Other faculty celebrating career milestones were professors Soraya Bartol; Rich Bond; Craig Jackson; Travis Malone; John Rudel; Kathy Stolley; Cathal Woods; Ben Dobrin; Elaine Dessouki; Carol Johnson; Cheul Kang; and Michael Hall. “We come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. We have different gifts and strengths, different positions and responsibilities” said Karla Rasmussen, VWC’s human resources director. “Yet we function within VWC as one community committed to a mission of education and service.”
Wesleyan Window
PHOTO: MAGGIE READE PHOTOGRAPHY
Student Spotlight
HIGH NOTE: In between her studies of Spanish humanities at the University of Seville, Global Scholar Stephanie Harron ’16 found time to visit beautiful cultural sites like Plaza de España in spring 2015.
The Sound of Music STEPHANIE HARRON ’16 WANTS TO INSPIRE people with music. She hopes the range of her trumpet will saturate listeners with a feeling—an emotion they can relate to, one that connects. She had the opportunity to do just that in November 2014 as she played the B-flat trumpet, the piccolo trumpet and the flugelhorn as part of her junior solo recital at VWC. The performance included selections from the baroque, impressionist, romantic and contemporary eras. “There’s something unique about playing as a soloist because people get to hear you,” Harron says. “It’s another level that you experience as a musician. You have an understanding of the
intention of the music and essentially what you want to convey as an artist to the audience.” Harron is a double major in applied music and Hispanic studies. She was recently inducted into the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, and in January 2015 she traveled to Spain to study at the University of Seville as part of VWC’s Global Scholars Program. She hopes to one day pursue a career in arts management. “I’d like to understand more of the behind the scenes of the performing arts,” she says. “Whether as an artistic director or a representative of artists. I love to play, but it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, especially as a musician, so you kind of
have to make your ways as an artist.” The young trumpeter already has a resume filled with experience. She plays at local bars, restaurants and festivals as part of the reggae band Session Rockers; and performs with local ensembles like Symphonic Artistry. She also volunteers with Sandler Performing Arts Center and Tidewater Arts Outreach, an organization that brings the joy and healing power of the arts to people with special needs. “The trumpet is essentially my voice, as if a singer were going to sing a note,” she says. “And you would be so surprised at the life that music gives people.”
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Awards and Honors
Student Spotlight
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL–PITTMAN
Seth Antozzi ’17 (mathematics) received a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship in 2015. He will receive academic assistance of up to $8,000 per year during his junior and senior years in addition to a full-time summer internship at a NOAA facility. Melinda Bertram ’15 (international studies and biology) received a 2015 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellows Award, recognizing her public involvement and motivation to create lasting change. She is also the first VWC student to graduate with a certificate of completion from the College’s new Peace Corps Prep Program (read more on page 7). Ashley Byers ’16 (biology) was awarded a $2,000 Summer Undergraduate Science Research Fellowship grant from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges to support her project “Spiculation in Doriopsilla pharpa (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia: Nudibranchia) and its spon.” Byers worked alongside faculty mentor Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, Batten Associate Professor of Biology, in summer 2015.
SENIOR THESIS: Morgan Stroyeck ’15 conducted comparative undergraduate research on feminine sacrifice and Gothic themes of romance in literature.
LeMar Callaway ’18 (biology and mathematics) received an American Society of Plant Biologists Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship of $4,000. He conducted his research, “Probing the interactions between arabinogalactan proteins and calcium in sperm cell development of the moss Physcomitrella patens,” in summer 2015 under the supervision of VWC Assistant Professor of Biology Eric Johnson.
Student Standouts
Sydney Covey ’16 (business and environmental studies) received two awards from the Society for Advancement of Management (SAM)—a Regional Student Achievement Award and a National Student Achievement Award. The awards were presented at the annual SAM International Business Conference in March 2015, where Covey presented her research “The Relationship Between Managerial Orientation and Productivity: An Examination of Captains from Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch” (read more on page 46).
FIVE VIRGINIA WESLEYAN STUDENTS PRESENTED original research in April 2015 at the Virginias Collegiate Honors Council Spring Conference at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.: Morgan Stroyeck ’15 (English and religious studies) It isn’t a love story, It’s a hate story”: Intertexuality and feminine sacrifice in Wuthering Heights and the Twilight Saga Jennifer Panton ’15 (English) Religion and female gender role reversals in Sri Lankan civil war media Sydney Covey ’16 (business and environmental studies) The Relationship Between Managerial Orientation and Productivity: An Examination of Captains from Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch Alex McComb ’16 (political science and chemistry Kevin Wolfe ’15 (political science) Does saying “No sex” make states less safe? An empirical study on sex education utilizing the Donohue and Levitt mechanism
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Hali Goad ’16 (earth and environmental science) received a $2,000 MeadWestvaco Science Research Fellowship grant in summer 2015 from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. Associate Professor of Chemistry Maury Howard and Professor of Biology Maynard Schaus helped guide her project “The Impact of Vegetation on the Efficiency of Storm Water Retention Ponds.” Courtney Jones ’15 (psychology) presented at the Virginia Psychological Association Conference in April 2015, where she was awarded the Frederick B. Rowe Award for the Best Undergraduate Paper for her presentation “The Influence of Source Credibility and Contextual Support on Interpretation of Misinformation.” Elizabeth Quamme ’16 (biology and classical studies) received a $2,000 Summer Undergraduate Science Research Fellowship grant from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges to support her project “We Moss-t Find That Centrin!” She conducted her research under the guidance of VWC Assistant Professor of Biology Eric Johnson during summer 2015. Trey White ’17 (business) received a 2015 Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges Altria Leadership Scholarship. The award will provide $10,000 in scholarship funding (read more on page 58).
The Marlin Chronicle, VWC’s student-led newspaper, received awards in nine categories in the Society for Collegiate Journalists 2015 National Contest, including third place in its category for Overall Newspaper Excellence. Individual student award winners included Aoife Branco ’15 (communication and international studies); Douglas Hardman ’16 (criminal justice); Kellie Lagoy ’16 (communication); Jessica Mackey ’15 (political science); Thomas Mills ’15 (communication); Kayla Skeete ’16 (art); and Kerri-Leanne Taylor ’15 (communication and English).
Wesleyan Window Student Spotlight
Engineered for Success
MICHAEL MORAN ‘15 WILL BE FIRST STUDENT TO EARN MASTER’S IN DUAL-DEGREE PROGRAM
Fruitful Venture
KELLY JACOBSON ’15 CULTIVATES SMALL FRUITS, SELF-AWARENESS IN INTERNSHIP AS AN INTERN AT VIRGINIA TECH’S HAMPTON ROADS Agricultural and Research Extension Center (AREC)—a facility neighboring VWC in Virginia Beach—Kelly Jacobson ’15 planned to spend summer 2014 learning about the science of plants. And while she surely honed her botany skills working in AREC’s Small Fruit Production Department, it turns out she also learned a lot about herself. The earth and environmental sciences and biology major, who plans to one day pursue a career in marine biology, learned the importance of stepping outside her comfort zone and the valuable life-shaping lessons that can come as a result. “I learned much about field research and realized that to be a good scientist you have to work hard, but to be a spectacular scientist you have to dedicate yourself to every task,” she says. “Years from now I will look back and be happy about working outdoors, pushing myself, and expanding my knowledge of botany altogether.”
INSIDE AN ORDINARY GREEN NOTEBOOK, PAGES AND PAGES OF COMPLEX math problems bend and shape to illustrate hours of hard work and determination. The work belongs to Michael Moran ’15 (pictured below), the first student set to complete VWC’s Engineering Dual-Degree Program offered in partnership with Old Dominion University. Formalized in 2012, the program gives students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science from VWC and a master’s degree from ODU in civil, environmental, mechanical, electrical, computer, or aerospace engineering in just five years. With courses like “Multivariable Calculus” and “Thermodynamics,” Moran has his work cut out for him. And having the chance to take courses at a larger institution, he says, made him appreciate the student-teacher ratio and personal attention at VWC. “I couldn’t imagine being a math major at a larger school,” he says, “There’s just so much that you need one-on-one help with. If I didn’t have that, I’d be lost.” Moran plans to complete his master’s in mechanical engineering and go into the design and manufacturing field. He offers simple advice to students considering the program. “Start as early as you can, and try to get those prerequisites out of the way. You have to be determined for sure.”
Model Mentors VIRGINIA WESLEYAN’S STUDENT-LED MARLINS READ PROGRAM WAS named a 2015 Model Partner by Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) and honored during a special community celebration in April 2015. Launched in 2008, Marlins Read pairs VWC mentors with young students from four Virginia Beach schools to help improve their literacy skills. Participating elementary schools include Diamond Springs, Newtown, Bayside and Shelton Park. Model Partners are selected as examples of best practices of meaningful community involvement in the Virginia Beach school district. This is VWC’s second VBCPS Model Partnership Award—the College also received the honor in 2012. LEARNING TO LEAD: Virginia Wesleyan students use their talents, passion and education to make a difference through youth programs like Marlins Read, Marlins Count and Global Marlins.
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HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE MARLIN MOMENTS CAPTURED ON CAMERA IN 2014-2015 1. Dean of Freshman Jason Seward ’05 and Emma “Gracie” Gustin ’16, a student supervisor in the Batten Center, posed in front of “The Hub” information desk during the spring 2015 semester. (Photo by Jon Limtiaco of Exposure Photography) 2. Logan Rash ’15 was one of three students commissioned to Second Lieutenant in the United States Army at the College’s ROTC commissioning ceremony following Commencement in May. 3. VWC students Crystal Strother, Claude Clark, Derek Riley, and Karim Kerr, and Visiting Instructor of Recreation and Leisure Studies Takeyra Collins handle a parachute at a community day event for residents of the College’s neighboring Campus East and Lake Edward communities. (Photo by Irene Bowers, Virginian-Pilot correspondent) 4. Psychology and sociology major Christina Reynolds of Hampton, Virginia graduated summa cum laude on May 16, 2015 alongside more than 320 other Marlins at the College’s 46th Commencement Ceremony. 5. Students travel to Hawaii each year to study adventure travel’s impact on culture and the environment as part of the Winter Session course “Maui to Moguls.” In January 2015, they assisted the staff of the ‘Ahihi-Kina’u Natural Area Reserve in a marine debris cleanup. (Photo courtesy of Doug Kennedy) 6. Professor Dan Margolies (left) inspects a hive during his spring 2015 beekeeping class. The course introduces students to the history, technique, biology and practices of apiculture.
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7. Students like Connor Cassidy ‘15 (right) gain valuable leadership skills as counselors for YMCA Camp Red Feather, held on the VWC campus each summer. This photo was taken during the 2014 camp. (Photo by Brendan Ash)
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8. VWC students helped install the ODU/VWC Climate Research Station on campus in April 2015. It will remain at Wesleyan for three years collecting data for meteorology and climate research. (Photo by Garry Noe) 9. Chinese students (from left) Pei Xin Pan, Lin Qing Xia, Yuan Yao and Rong Huang came to the U.S. in March 2015 to take part in Wesleyan’s new American Culture and Tourism Management Internship Program, which combines VWC courses with an internship at Busch Gardens-Williamsburg. (Photo by Thomas Mills ‘15) 10. Business professor Linda Ferguson, pictured with Eric Nyman ’94, showed off her vintage “Smash Fists” at Wesleyan's Fall Business Conference in November 2014. Nyman, who is Vice President for Global Marketing at Hasbro, was a guest speaker.
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11. Actor Terry O’Quinn, who starred on the ABC television series Lost, visited campus in February 2015 to speak to theatre students about his career and the business of television and film. He is pictured here with VWC theatre professor Travis Malone. 12. Volleyball team members Madelyn McMurry ’17 (seated) and Marin Crowder ’16 get in some workout time in the training and fitness facility in the Batten Student Center. (Photo by Jon Limtiaco of Exposure Photography) 13. Ben Seidl ’04 returned to VWC during Winter Session 2015 to perform as part of the German indie folk project, roemer. Seidl is the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the musical collaboration. He relocated to Berlin after studying abroad and meeting his future wife, Jasmin, during his junior year.
Unless otherwise noted, all photos by Janice Marshall–Pittman
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PHOTO: GLEN MCCLURE
DOING THE MOST GOOD: “He let us see that a community of people who speak to each other on the sidewalk makes a better place,” Alumni Director Lina Green told well-wishers at the May retirement celebration for Billy Greer, who left an indelible mark on the VWC campus and community.
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Green Legacy GREER ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES CENTER: COMING FALL 2017
Learn more about the Greer Environmental Sciences Center at www.vwc.edu/GESC.
COURTESY: VMDO ARCHITECTS
The nearly 40,000-square-foot Greer Environmental Sciences Center will fulfill retired President Billy Greer’s vision for excellence in the sciences while honoring his commitment to environmental stewardship. The design of this stunning facility’s sophisticated indoor and outdoor learning spaces embody “science on display” and will promote hands-on experiences, interactive learning and interdisciplinary research in environmental science, marine biology and more. Its four teaching laboratories are organized around the Earth’s Spheres—atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Dedicated research labs and an array of state-of-the-art scientific equipment will support student and faculty research and stimulate further collaborations with regional environmental organizations. Sustainable elements will be accessible to students for monitoring and research. Construction materials and plantings will demonstrate how a building can operate with efficiency and sensitivity to the natural world. The completed facility will complement nearly $4 million in recent renovations to adjacent Blocker Hall.
a Better place RECENTLY RETIRED PRESIDENT BILLY GREER LEAVES ON A HIGH NOTE WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NEW BUILDING FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND A LONG LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND RELATIONSHIPS TO CELEBRATE By Leona Baker
At Dr. William T. Greer’s
retirement celebration on May 20, 2015, aptly named “Southern Fixin’s and Farewells,” a standing-room-only crowd of colleagues, family and friends came to pay tribute to a man the VWC community has known for nearly a quarter of a century simply as “Billy.” “He led us to understand that conversation over a pulled pork sandwich or cake and coffee can cure what ails you,” Director of Alumni Relations Lina Green told well-wishers. “He let us see that a community of people who speak to each other on the sidewalk makes a better place.” A “better place” was a fitting phrase for this historic occasion, which culminated with a surprise announcement about the Greer Environmental Sciences Center, scheduled for completion by fall 2017. Fully-funded by an anonymous donor, this stunning new facility will complement nearly $4 million in renovations to adjacent Blocker Hall and honor Greer for his long-standing advocacy for a thriving science program and commitment to the environment. With a reputation for being a student’s president, Billy Greer led the Virginia Wesleyan College community from 1992 to 2015 and officially retired on June 30. Dr. Scott Miller, the new VWC president, took up the post in July. The two had a chance to meet and spend some productive time together in March 2015. Before becoming president of VWC, Billy Greer was president of both Brevard College and Andrew College and was a United Methodist minister. His unmistakable South Georgia accent, well known affection for barbeque and easygoing demeanor belie a long list of accomplishments during his tenure at Wesleyan. Some of those include fundraising successes such as the $50 million Key to the Future Campaign and the recent $5 million challenge grant from the Goode family for a new academic building for the arts; facility improvements and major additions such as the
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Billy Greer named third president of Virginia Wesleyan
Center for the Study of Religious Freedom opens
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Birdsong Community Service Program established
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Katherine B. and Mills E. Godwin, Jr. Hall opens
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VWC takes first place in the statewide collegiate Ethics Bowl
Jane BattenStudent StudentCenter; Center;growth growthof ofthe the College’s College’s endowment; Jane P.P. Batten endowment; expansionofofacademic academicofferings offeringsand andinternational international programs; programs; aa new expansion new four-creditcurriculum curriculumfocused focusedon onexperiential experiential learning; learning; and athletic four-credit athletic accomplishmentslike likethe the2006 2006men’s men’sbasketball basketball NCAA national accomplishments national championshipwin. win. championship
number than two decades, always thethe loudest andand numberone onefan fanforformore more than two decades, always loudest proudest atat any athletic event. Many athletic successes werewere proudestcheerleader cheerleader any athletic event. Many athletic successes celebrated ODAC titles andand national recognitions, celebratedon onhis hiswatch—from watch—from ODAC titles national recognitions, stand-out and winning coaches to the recent ODAC Men's stand-outstudent-athletes student-athletes and winning coaches to the recent ODAC Men's Commissioner's Commissioner'sCup. Cup. HeHe oversaw thethe establishment of the Virginia oversaw establishment of the Virginia Wesleyan Athletic HallHall of Fame in 2007 andand waswas Wesleyan Athletic of Fame in 2007 instrumental in facility improvements such as the instrumental in facility improvements such as the recently completed Birdsong Field andand Everett Tennis recently completed Birdsong Field Everett Tennis Center. Center. Like many leaders, Greer hashas worn many hatshats Like many leaders, Greer worn many during hishis time at the helm. Current Virginia Wesleyan during time at the helm. Current Virginia Wesleyan Board Chair Gary Bonnewell, a member of VWC’s Board Chair Gary Bonnewell, a member of VWC’s Class ofof 1979, summed it up best in his speech at the Class 1979, summed it up best in his speech at the retirement celebration. retirement celebration. “First and foremost Dr.Dr. Greer is an “First and foremost Greer is educator,” an educator,” Bonnewell said. “But hehe is also an an ambassador andand Bonnewell said. “But is also ambassador a diplomat, anan inventor, mentor, exhorter, facilitator, a diplomat, inventor, mentor, exhorter, facilitator, motivator, a pastor, anan idea pollinator, andand fundraiser motivator, a pastor, idea pollinator, fundraiser extraordinaire. HeHe hashas been an an enrollment forecaster, extraordinaire. been enrollment forecaster, a ringmaster, a toastmaster, a taskmaster andand the the a ringmaster, a toastmaster, a taskmaster consummate grillgrill master. HeHe hashas mended fences, consummate master. mended fences, busted down barriers and builtbuilt bridges. There hashas been busted down barriers and bridges. There been nono jobjob tootoo bigbig or or tootoo small for for thisthis servant leader.” small servant leader.” But most enduring legacy stems from a love of nature Butperhaps perhapsGreer’s Greer’s most enduring legacy stems from a love of nature he upup in in rural Georgia. That lovelove hashas translated to to hegained gainedasasa aboy boygrowing growing rural Georgia. That translated aapersonal commitment to environmental stewardship personaland andprofessional professional commitment to environmental stewardship that affected thethe Virginia Wesleyan campus andand beyond. thathas hasprofoundly profoundly affected Virginia Wesleyan campus beyond. AAbiology anan undergraduate, hehe is fond of noting thatthat VWC biologymajor majorasas undergraduate, is fond of noting VWC isis“not ItsIts 300-acre wooded oasis of trees, open “notaaconcrete concretecampus.” campus.” 300-acre wooded oasis of trees, open fields happen to to bebe a designated birdbird sanctuary andand fieldsand andflowers flowersalso also happen a designated sanctuary the beech forest. HeHe established thethe President’s thehome homeofofananold-growth old-growth beech forest. established President’s Environmental Council in in 2005, crystallizing ongoing efforts to to EnvironmentalIssues Issues Council 2005, crystallizing ongoing efforts promote ethic and appropriate policies, practices promoteaastrong strongenvironmental environmental ethic and appropriate policies, practices and thethe College. andcurricula curriculathroughout throughout College. Greer 700 signatories of of thethe American College & & Greerisisone oneofofalmost almost 700 signatories American College University Climate Commitment, and, under his his leadership, the the UniversityPresidents Presidents Climate Commitment, and, under leadership, College recognized locally, regionally andand nationally Collegehas hasbeen beenrepeatedly repeatedly recognized locally, regionally nationally including selection forfor The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green includingitsitsongoing ongoing selection The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges .. Colleges So, that thethe Greer Environmental Sciences Center So,it itisismost mostfitting fitting that Greer Environmental Sciences Center that willwill not only promote innovation andand research in in thatbears bearshis hisname name not only promote innovation research the butbut willwill engage VWC students andand the the theenvironmental environmentalsciences sciences engage VWC students
Youtook tookan an old old slow-talking slow-talking You countryboy boy from from South Georgia country Georgiaand and youtook tookaachance chance and I appreciate you appreciateit.it. Welove loveyou you all. all. And we will We will cherish cherish ourtimes timeshere here and our time with our with eachof ofyou you forever. forever. each Throughouthis hismore morethan thantwo twodecades decades at at Virginia Virginia Wesleyan, Throughout Wesleyan, Greer Greer focusedattention attentionon onbroadening broadeningthe theCollege’s College’s vision and image focused imageand and promotingdynamic dynamicpartnerships partnershipswith witharea area organizations organizations like promoting like the theVirginia Virginia Aquarium,Eastern EasternVirginia VirginiaMedical MedicalSchool, School, the the Chrysler Museum Aquarium, Museumof ofArt, Art, NorthAtlantic AtlanticTreaty TreatyOrganization-Allied Organization-Allied Command Command Transformation thethe North Transformation (NATO-ACT),the theUS-China US-ChinaCentury CenturyEducation Education Group Group and many (NATO-ACT), many others. others. AmongGreer’s Greer’spersonal personalpassions passionshas hasbeen been a tireless devotion Among devotionto to “doing themost mostgood” good”for forothers. others.He Heoften often lists lists the establishment establishment of “doing the ofthe the College’sBirdsong BirdsongCommunity CommunityService ServiceProgram—and Program—and the opportunities College’s opportunities it createsforforlife-changing life-changingexperiences experiencesfor for students—as students—as one it creates one of of his his proudestachievements. achievements. proudest LinaGreen Greenpointed pointedout outduring duringher hertribute tribute to the outgoing outgoing president, AsAs Lina president, was usuallythe thefirst firstininline linetotovolunteer volunteerfor for aa VWC community community service hehe was usually service event. Greenrecalled recalledaaparticularly particularlyrainy rainy“Potato “Potato Drop” in 2003, event. Green 2003, aabenefit benefit area foodbanks banksand andaafriendly friendlyrivalry rivalrywith with fellow fellow member member of forfor area food of the theOld Old DominionAthletic AthleticConference Conference(ODAC), (ODAC),Roanoke Roanoke College. Dominion “He wasright rightthere therewith withus, us,soaked soakedto tothe the bone, bone, until the last “He was last spud spudwas was bagged,”she shesaid. said.“And “Andofofcourse, course,we wemashed mashed the Maroons.” Maroons.” bagged,” Whenit comes it comestotorivalries, rivalries,President PresidentGreer Greer has has been VWC’s When VWC’s undisputed undisputed
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PHOTO: JON LIMTIACO OF EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY
community in sustainable systems that support the environment in a variety of ways. “I like to think of this building as a living, breathing organism,” Greer told a campus gathering in May. He will be able to watch that living, breathing organism come to fruition as he enjoys his well-earned retirement with his wife, Fann, three children and five grandchildren. He also has plans to coach Little League, learn to play the banjo, make pottery, build model airplanes, and perhaps travel to Scotland. When he isn’t busy with those things, you may find him at his favorite watering hole on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Exmore Diner, enjoying some pancakes and syrup with a side of bacon. At Greer’s retirement ceremony, he and his wife were presented with several gifts including a memory box, an official portrait of the outgoing president to be put on display at the College, a handmade vase created by art professor Phil Guilfoyle, and lifetime tickets to Marlin basketball and other athletic events. It was also announced that fundraising for the Fann and Billy Greer Endowed Scholarship had topped $175,000. Those funds will support VWC students for years to come. “Life turns on relationships, and there are so many wonderful relationships in this room,” Greer told attendees at his party. “The gratitude that I feel and that Fann feels is hard for me to hem up with words. You took an old slow-talking country boy from South Georgia and you took a chance and I appreciate it. Fann appreciates it. We love you all. And we will cherish our times here and our time with each of you forever. Thank you so much.” Spoken like a true Southern gentleman and a Marlin.
PASSING THE TORCH: Billy Greer and current President Scott Miller had a chance to meet in March 2015 to tour campus and bond over what Greer has frequently called “this powerhouse of a little place.”
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VWC introduces four-credit curriculum
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Everett Tennis Center opens
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VWC awards its first Bachelor of Social Work
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Greer Environmental Sciences Center announced
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
MEET DR. MILLER
AS DR. SCOTT MILLER BEGINS HIS PRESIDENCY AT VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, WE ASKED HIM TO SHARE HIS PERSPECTIVE ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS BASED ON HIS 24 YEARS AS A COLLEGE PRESIDENT
Interview by Laynee Timlin Share a little about your background in the liberal arts. I am a native of a small community south of Philadelphia and spent many of my formative years (and later professional life) on the Delmarva Peninsula. Enrolling at my alma mater, West Virginia Wesleyan College, helped me to transcend my small-town roots. Thanks to Wesleyan’s liberal arts mission, I left with a working knowledge of different subjects, a curiosity about the world, and the tools of communication and research that served me well, first as a reporter and later as an educator. The ability to process the world through skills gained in the study of the liberal arts will continue to sustain students regardless of how many jobs they hold—and for today’s college graduates, there will be many.
There is some concern, understandably, that the prevalence of information—and the ready availability of it through technology—have negated the inclination to learn it. I would argue that learning as much general knowledge as possible is still beneficial for any student to participate fully in career and society. And it’s just as important to know how to participate given these wondrous new electronic tools. Just as our campus libraries have retooled to become more electronicdriven than paper-based repositories of information, so, too, can the classroom achieve more interaction between professors and students. As for online instruction, it will never succeed the traditional campus completely, but it will be part of any future mix of educational services. The bottom line is that students may value the look, feel, and traditions of a small, residential college, but they will also expect the latest in education delivery. The most successful institutions will find a way to offer both in an efficient, affordable format.
We can contribute no greater good to our students than respect for the timeless ideals and faith of our founders while helping them develop relevant skills for technologically driven global citizenship.
What changes have you seen in higher education during your tenure? The changes I have witnessed in the higher-education landscape during the past quarter century are profound—and accelerating. Around the nation, small colleges are discovering that if they do not manage change, change will manage them. Successful institutions are building collaborative partnerships with campus peers and professional associations; developing selected online, distancelearning, and graduate-degree programs; investing in continuing education options; benefiting from the value of energy conservation and sustainability of resources, and upgrading facilities to serve student expectations and support retention. To thrive in today’s volatile higher-education environment, all of us in our campus communities must continually scan the landscape, and be alert to new possibilities along with areas of vulnerability. The 'window of opportunity' often closes rapidly; the margin for error is increasingly slim. How do you think the influence of technology impacts the learning environment and today’s students? We can contribute no greater good to our students than respect for the timeless ideals and faith of our founders while helping them develop relevant skills for technologically driven global citizenship. Technology and our millennial students go hand-in-hand—literally. Smart phones, iPads, and the rest influence how our students perceive the world, relate to their professors, absorb and use information, and evaluate success.
It’s no secret that you are an avid user of social media. Why do you think that is so important for a college president? I often ask my presidential counterparts whether they would take advantage of a costeffective way to expand their visibility, matching messages precisely with targeted audiences while promoting their institutions, if they could find such an opportunity. Some do, but many don’t. Only about 150 of some 3,500 college presidents nationwide actively use Twitter as a strategic communication device, with just a few more accessing Facebook. Approximately 750 regularly use LinkedIn, YouTube, blogs and other tools. Those who do not employ social media are missing out on a host of opportunities to enhance and control their message while fostering the personal, interactive relationships at the core of all effective branding and marketing strategies. Our students, alumni, friends, funders, and representatives of every stakeholder group I can think of increasingly are online. Colleges need to reach them where they are. Our future depends on it. What are your views on campus life? Student-service professionals are facing more challenges than ever. These days, emphasis is placed on personal wellness and campus security, career advising and placement, leadership development, social justice and tolerance, and direct support for the growing ranks of non-traditional students such as
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As a former sports reporter for newspapers in West Virginia, I also witnessed older learners and military veterans—all a reflection of social and cultural trends and the nature of modern society. the distinct advantages that many smaller schools attain when they invest The idea of student as client is expanding, too—and it raises the stakes on in their student-athletes’ success by fielding Division III teams. These include institutions to make good on their claims of being student-centered. Demands a heightened sense of campus community, and enriched opportunities for for value in return for tuition dollars are louder than ever, compelling higher mentoring by coaches and their staffs. education to package their courses and services into a menu of convenience, I truly enjoy seeing the student-athletes earn accolades not just in their efficiency, and assured outcomes. Many institutions, meanwhile, have met sports, but for all of their activities. What I believe sets the Division III philosophy what has been called the “facility arms race” with renovated residence halls, apart and pushes students to grow is the commitment to helping others 24-hour fitness facilities, and a mall-like through community service. I look atmosphere in their student centers. forward to experiencing with Virginia We who lead colleges are beholden Wesleyan College’s students the to the students’ inclination to choose special advantages, satisfaction, and our institutions. Residential colleges’ pleasures of participating as members competition for the tuition dollar is of Division III athletics. Books seemingly everywhere: online, at branch I am a lifelong student of leadership: What is your philosophy of leadership? locations, through the for-profit sector. The Power of the Presidency We ignore new student markets and their Next to love, more has probably been by James L. Fisher ever-increasing need for convenience written about the topic of “leadership” The Effective College President and comfort at our peril. than almost any other subject. Writers by James L. Fisher, Martha W. Tack, and Karen J. Wheeler Over the past 24 years as a college and motivational speakers make an God, Country, Notre Dame: The Autobiography president, however, I have known excellent living from giving advice about of Theodore M. Hesburgh students who not only prefer, but insist on the topic. Like love, “leadership” is an Movie the small, residential college model. For elusive word—hard to describe or define, Rob Reiner’s 1995 movie The American President yet most of us know it when we see it. them, nothing else will do, though they One of the things I most value about may wish to accelerate their education, Food to jump into the job market or enroll in small liberal arts colleges is that they Crab cakes graduate school faster. In the meantime, foster many of the qualities commonly Music we need to make the total campus associated with strong leadership— SiriusXM Radio's “70s on 7” and “80s on 8” experience as appealing as possible. courage, service, and vision, the ability to “On, Virginia Wesleyan!” inspire and persuade others, resilience, Quote What role do you see athletics playing in perseverance, integrity. “I want to be remembered as [someone] who campus life? Colleges such as Virginia Wesleyan gave all he had to give.” —Roberto Clemente I am extremely proud that for more than produce a disproportionately large 17 of my 24 years as a president, I have number of national leaders in every field. Leisure Activity been affiliated with NCAA Division I think it’s because we attract students Following sports III institutions. Being at the Division III who are already proven leaders—in Hobby level encourages the student-athlete their schools, churches, through service Spending time with family, running to develop not just in his or her chosen learning and other avenues. sport(s), but also in the classroom But if, as it has been said, “all politics Qualities in Others and as productive members of their is local,” much great leadership is, as Honesty and integrity, self-motivation and hard work, humility and a good sense of humor campus community. Some of my well. Every community needs leaders, favorite moments have come when I especially in the mobile, transient society in which we live. One of our challenges in see students at commencement who have achieved full potential because they have taken advantage of the higher education today is to make leadership transferable. I hope our students kinds of opportunities that are only available to them at a private, liberal arts, will take their wonderful experiences and skills and use them to benefit their Division III institution. communities—wherever they live and work.
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FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE HENRY FORD, IMAGE ID: THF116214
THE WILD GIRL: Eva Tanguay was a bona fide super star of the vaudeville stage, known for her animalistic performances and defiance of Victorian decorum. Like all of the subjects of Kathleen Casey’s book, she also masterfully manipulated notions of gender and race.
Who's That Girl? By Leona Baker
FOUR STARS OF THE VAUDEVILLE STAGE WHO MASTERFULLY MANIPULATED CULTURE AND COLOR BOUNDARIES A CENTURY AGO ARE THE FOCUS OF A NEW BOOK BY HISTORY PROFESSOR KATHLEEN CASEY
F
ROM CAITLYN JENNER’S TWITTER-SMASHING DEBUT on the cover of Vanity Fair to former NAACP leader Rachel
Dolezal’s caught-on-camera “outing” as a Caucasian woman, it is easy to assume that such conspicuous racial and gender controversies are uniquely 21st-century issues. But history has a way of reminding us that there are few things new under the sun. In her recently released book, The Prettiest Girl on Stage is a Man: Race and Gender Benders in American Vaudeville, Virginia Wesleyan history professor Kathleen Casey takes us on a journey into the lives and work of four vaudevillians who masterfully manipulated color and culture boundaries a century ago, often to fantastic effect. The world of popular culture has long been a proving ground for challenging cultural norms. And popular culture was no more alive and well than on the vaudeville stage during the heyday of this pervasive form of American entertainment between the 1890s and the 1920s. Audiences packed houses to watch variety shows featuring performers like Eva Tanguay, the wildly popular “I Don’t Care Girl,” admired for her animalistic stage presence and defiance of Victorian decorum. Julian Eltinge found fame as the era’s foremost female impersonator and used race to hyperbolize ideals of manliness and femininity. Lillyn Brown was a biracial woman who styled herself on stage as a cosmopolitan black male dandy and tailored her performances for both white and black audiences. Finally, Sophie Tucker often performed in blackface during the early years of her career but convinced audiences she could be white, Jewish, black, manly and womanly all within one body. Each of these four performers is the subject of a chapter in Casey’s book. Sophie Tucker first sparked Casey’s interest in graduate school, when she wrote a seminar paper about vaudeville for a course on the history of recreation. Women who performed in blackface were rare, she learned, but not unheard of. “They were often heavier set, or they were women from immigrant backgrounds,” says Casey, whose research interests include modern American popular culture and performance, gender and sexuality and African-American history. “I thought there was something interesting going on there.” She decided to explore this topic further in her doctoral dissertation, which earned her the Susan B. Anthony Award for the Most Distinguished Dissertation in Women’s and Gender Studies in 2010. She refined and expanded on this research and the book emerged. “It started out being a history of people who did impersonations like crossdressers and people who wore blackface,” she remembers. “But I realized there were a lot of people who were doing things that were more fuzzy and nuanced, playing with existing boundaries of what it meant to be
feminine or masculine or what it meant to be white or black, immigrant or native.” Their performances, and in some cases their offstage personas, were reflective of the social and political upheaval of turn-of-the-century America. The purpose of the book, says Casey, is to look at how these four particular performers were dramatizing the changes that were unfolding in terms of how people understood gender and race. “It was a critical time period that witnessed a lot of change,” notes Casey. “Racial segregation becomes deeply entrenched in American life and new laws begin to restrict immigration. The number of Americans living in cities expands enormously and there is also some anxiety over the emergence of the New Woman,” a phrase used to describe modern women whose ideals were shifting away from the traditional and driving them toward more progressive lifestyles beyond the confines of marriage and motherhood. “At the turn of the century, women are entering the public arena in critical numbers,” Casey explains. “You have actresses performing and becoming successful household names with beautiful homes and people hounding them to know about their personal lives.” One of those women was Eva Tanguay, whose COLOR OF BEAUTY: Julian Eltinge was conspicuous wealth the era’s foremost female impersonator, and fame were as even endorsing beauty products and much a part of her white face powder for women to achieve persona as her feminine perfection. (Photo courtesy of provocative stage Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York presence. With her Public Library for the Performing Arts, Lenox and Tilden Foundations) unruly mop of hair,
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outlandish outfits, unorthodox voice and songs like ‘I’d Like to Be an Animal in a Zoo,’” Casey writes, “It is no coincidence that the curious appellations and adjectives heaped upon Eva Tanguay during her long, record-breaking career in American vaudeville could have aptly described a wild animal.” Tanguay has drawn modern day comparisons to Lady Gaga, something Casey touches on in the book’s epilogue, in part because of costumes she wore made of things like animal feathers, chandeliers and even money—her infamous penny dress was created using some 4,000 individual coins. But the comparison is perhaps more aptly rooted in both performers’ willingness to break barriers and buck the status quo. Among Tanguay’s most memorable stage acts was a performance of Salome’s “Dance of the Seven Veils.” Typical versions of this popular biblical story turned vaudeville standard featured a papier-mâché head on a platter meant to represent the head of John the Baptist. In Tanguay’s interpretation, she used a real “negro boy with bulging eyes” hiding under the table. The boy’s head was revealed and he would watch her as she did the dance and undressed herself. “This is when record numbers of black men are being lynched for looking at white women in the street,” Casey notes. “And she is making it the crux of her performance, this interracial romance story.” As Casey puts it in the book, “Tanguay linked white womanliness to animalistic savagery at a time when both racial and gender ideologies were under considerable reconstruction. In doing so, she presented the audience with a new ideal of racialized masculine femininity.” Each in their unique fashion, all of the performers featured in Casey’s book “drew attention to the ways in which gender and race were flexible cultural projects, actively revised, contested, and re-built through each other.” Julian Eltinge, a fair-complexioned female impersonator on stage and a hyper-masculine, leathery-skinned outdoorsman offstage, even became an authority figure on women’s style and beauty—endorsing his own lines of makeup products, corsets and high heels and advising women on the liberal use of white face powder to achieve feminine perfection. Though female impersonators were among vaudeville’s most popular novelty performers, Eltinge added new layers to the conceit and marketed himself in a way that made him a household name. “You have people playing with accents and clothing and their class status,” Casey says, “and people pretending to be people who they are not in ways that are supposed to be funny, sarcastic, dramatic, serious. But they are dramatizing a lot of things that people are thinking about at that time.” One of the key concepts in Casey’s book, and one that has not received a significant amount of academic exploration before now, is the way in which race and gender are built on each other. “We don’t fully understand it,” she explains. “We’ve looked at gender or race on stage in isolation but have not produced nuanced intersectional analyses of how race and gender worked together and how those entangled meanings were reflected on stage.” As the book’s publisher notes, The Prettiest Girl on Stage is a Man: Race and Gender Benders in American Vaudeville is a “lively and enlightening study,” readable and entertaining, not just for historians but for anyone fascinated by the colorful complexities of American culture. “Eva Tanguay, Julian Eltinge, Lillyn Brown, and Sophie Tucker enticed millions of Americans,” Casey writes in the book’s epilogue, “because
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THE PRETTIEST GIRL ON STAGE IS A MAN: RACE AND GENDER BENDERS IN AMERICAN VAUDEVILLE Kathleen Casey, Assistant Professor of History University of Tennessee Press, 2015 From the publisher: In this lively and enlightening study, Kathleen B. Casey explores the ways in which the gender-and race-bending spectacles of vaudeville dramatized the economic, technological, social, and cultural upheaval that gripped the United States in the early 20th century. She focuses on four key performers: Eva Tanguay, Julian Eltinge, Lillyn Brown, and Sophie Tucker. Analyzing a wide assortment of primary materials—advertisements, recordings, lyrics, sheet music, costumes, photographs, reviews, and press accounts from the era—Casey looks not only at gender and racial impersonation but also at how spectators reacted to these performances. they captured their infatuation with the contradictions, paradoxes, and incongruities that flavored ‘the modern temper.’” Their stories will entice your imagination and intellect as well. The Prettiest Girl on Stage is a Man: Race and Gender Benders in American Vaudeville is published by the University of Tennessee Press. As the book went to print for release in September 2015, Casey was immersed in a new research project on the social and cultural history of women’s purses. She is also teaching a brand new course at VWC for fall called “Apparel in American History,” about the history of clothing and style.
HEROES Among Us “Veterans bring a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and interpersonal skills to the classroom. With their strong work ethic, they set and achieve high academic goals and are eager to explore new learning opportunities. I take pride in seeing how veterans become role models for other students and in observing how their educational experiences empower them to lead meaningful and successful lives following graduation."
Dr. Robert Albertson, Vietnam veteran VWC Professor of Management, Business and Economics
By Stephanie Smaglo Photos by Janice Marshall-Pittman A BARBECUE BUSTLES ON THE PATIO BEHIND GODWIN HALL. IN A GRASSY AREA JUST OFF THE CEMENT, a small crowd watches closely as art major Shawn Riley ’15 gently readies a host of art supplies. He’s about to create something of great significance to today’s guests—the veterans community at Virginia Wesleyan College. Riley works steadily as the paints on the Adirondack chair come to life. The retired Navy chief has artfully linked two worlds by outfitting the wooden VWC icon with colors of three United States military branches—Army, Marines and Navy. The finished piece symbolizes an important population at VWC, one made up of former service members from all walks of life. Veterans play a unique role in the life of Virginia Wesleyan College. Student veterans, in particular, are a vital component of the campus community. They bring valuable insight and leadership skills to the classroom, to the field, and beyond, enhancing the educational experience for those around them. Here is a special look at the accomplishments and bright futures of three recent graduates, all military veterans.
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SARAH WILSON Class of 2015 MAJOR: Psychology MILITARY BRANCH: Navy “This is something that we all put our young lives on hold for,” Sarah Wilson tells fellow veterans considering college. “You’ve earned it.”
Call of Duty
At 20, Sarah Wilson ’15 was admittedly a “girlygirl.” She’ll tell you that she had more shoes than she could count and just as many purses to match. So it came as a bit of a shock to her parents, she says, when she enlisted in the U.S. Navy eight years ago. In retrospect, her decision shouldn’t have come as a surprise, as Wilson comes from a long line of service members. Both of her grandfathers served in World War II; her stepgrandfather served in Vietnam and Korea; she’s a distant relative of U.S. Army Air Forces Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, who planned and led the Doolittle Raid on Japan in 1942; and the USS Cole is named in honor of her fallen family member, Marine Sergeant Darrell S. Cole. It wasn’t family history alone, however, that led Wilson to the Navy. It was also the potential to further her education. At the time, she’d put herself through her first year of college and was looking for a way to finance additional schooling. She was placed in intelligence where she worked as a Spanish linguist and a cryptologic technician interpretive. As it turns out, the Navy was one of the best learning experiences she could’ve had. “My military experience is one of the happiest times of my life and something that I’m the most proud of. I grew up quickly, but I grew up structured. I learned to appreciate freedom, and also that freedom isn’t free.”
She might still be in the Navy today, she says, if her husband—who’s also in the military— hadn’t been relocated to Norfolk. Wilson, a mother of two who now calls Hampton Roads home, graduated from Virginia Wesleyan in May 2015 with a degree in psychology and extensive undergraduate research under her academic belt (see page 42). “My professors really encouraged me and rallied behind me,” says Wilson, who hopes to eventually work with service members and their children in a counseling capacity. “I know that I can always call on them and they will lend their support and advice.” Wilson provided support of her own as president of VWC’s Student Veterans Organization, a campus group that helps both former military and active duty service members adjust to and be successful in college life. “It’s the general camaraderie of knowing that you’ve been through what I’ve been through,” she says. “We can swap stories or spit out a million acronyms and know exactly what the other’s talking about. It’s really important for veterans and service members to know that we’re here for each other.” Wilson offers words of encouragement to veterans considering a college degree. “This is something that we all put our young lives on hold for. You’ve earned it.”
SUPPORT FOR STUDENT VETERANS: Virginia Wesleyan is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program and offers a variety of support services for veterans and active duty service members. To learn more, contact the Financial Aid Office or visit www.vwc.edu/veterans.
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A Born Leader
Though his mother urged him to continue his education after high school, Owen James ’15 had other plans. Just three years into the Iraq War, he joined the U.S. Army. And in 2007, he volunteered to deploy to Mosul. “I don’t know why I raised my hand,” he says. “I was scared out of my mind. I thought, ‘What did I just do?’” As a specialist in the Army’s military police branch, the Hampton, Virginia native watched as cities were bombed around him and friends were hit with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Support among soldiers was crucial, he says. “The people around me, they took me in and they showed me how to stay alive. You get close, like a family, and you look out for each other. Those who serve in the military are some of the bravest people I know. They will do jobs that no one else will do. And then they’ll do it again.” James’ own military service was cut short in 2012 when he lost his mother to Non-
Hodgkins Lymphoma. Because of his emotional state, he felt it was unfair to continue in the Army. “I didn’t want to put myself in a position where I could get someone hurt or killed,” he says. “I wasn’t in the right state of mind. I was lost.” James chose to fulfill his mother’s wish to complete his college education. Initially, he kept to himself as he majored in political science and minored in criminal justice at Virginia Wesleyan. But it wasn’t long until his natural leadership abilities got him noticed, and he was pulled into various student groups and activities. Most notably, he was appointed Student Government Association President in spring 2015. “I had no intentions of getting involved with anything or getting to know anyone,” he says of his SGA role. “And I don’t know if I was ready, but you’re seldom called when you’re ready.” By the time he graduated in May 2015, James had also been involved with the African Student Association; Model UN; Phenomenal Woman; and the Community Service initiatives Marlins Read, Marlins Count and Marlins Vote. He took academics seriously as well, conducting and presenting the OWEN JAMES undergraduate Class of 2015 research project, “Women in the MAJOR: United States Political Science Senate.” As for his future, MILITARY BRANCH: James hopes to Army take his education even further Owen James with a master’s volunteered to degree and Ph.D. deploy to Mosul, Professionally, he’s Iraq before leaving still considering his the Army to fulfill options—perhaps his mother's wish a career in politics, to earn his college maybe a position degree. As a VWC helping children student, he served with behavioral as SGA president issues. and was involved “I want to do with Model UN, something I’m Marlins Vote and going to enjoy,” numerous other he says. “And my community service passion is going efforts. to help me bring change to whatever I’m doing.”
Ready to Serve Dennis Bugey ’15 always knew he DENNIS BUGEY wanted to wear a Class of 2015 uniform. As a young boy, he played with MAJOR: his toy soldiers and Criminal Justice police cars and waited for his chance. MILITARY BRANCH: A month after he Navy graduated from high school in 2002, An internship at Bugey left Atlantic a local domestic City for the U.S. Navy. violence shelter “It’s really while he was a intimidating to get off student at VWC was this old rickety bus a pivotal moment and RDCs (recruit for Navy veteran division commanders) Dennis Bugey. are yelling at you. "There are plenty of It’s odd though— men chasing down everyone has the bad guys," he mixed feelings about says, "But there boot camp, but I aren't many helping enjoyed it.” the victims." An average student at best, Bugey will tell you that he never had any intention of going to college. But things changed during his basic training to become an aviation mechanic. “Something happened,” he says. “My focus clicked, and I just liked to learn all of the sudden. I enjoyed the mechanic work and became one of the go-to troubleshooters for aircraft.” Bugey served active duty for nine years at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, where he met his wife, Natasha Bugey ’14, with whom he has two young sons. He was separated from his command in 2011 and was unable to re-enlist due to overstaffing. Instead, he joined the reserves and still works regularly at U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk. Bugey came to VWC in 2012 to pursue a degree in criminal justice with a minor in sociology. After previous stints at area technical colleges, he welcomed the personal attention. “The professors really engage with the students,” he says. “They care, and they understand that, as veterans, we’re not just students—we’re grown people who’ve been through a lot of things.” As a student, Bugey held a work study position in the Veterans Benefits Office, where he worked alongside Sarah Wilson ’15 to build
the Student Veterans Organization. He also volunteered for VWC Community Service efforts like Marlins Read and the Winter Homeless Shelter. He was working toward becoming a police officer until an internship at the local YWCA domestic violence shelter changed his mind. “When I showed up, they told me that not only was I the first male to ever work at the shelter, but that I was the first to apply. That shelter’s been there for about 10 years, so that took me aback.” His internship duties brought him face to face with women and children who are victims of abuse. He worked inside the shelter, answering the crisis hotline and helping women to find housing, jobs, and hopefully more stability. At the end of his internship, the YWCA offered Bugey a part-time position as a resident services assistant. He hopes that eventually a full-time community outreach position will come available. And though this job doesn’t require a uniform, it’s just as important. “There are plenty of men chasing down the bad guys,” he says, “But there aren’t many helping the victims.”
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Men’s vocal ensemble Cantus comes to campus February 4, 2016.
December 4-5, 2016 A Wesleyan Christmas VWC rings in the season with holiday favorites old and new. Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. Reservations required: 757.455.2101. February 4, 2016 Cantus “The Four Loves” This premier men’s vocal ensemble celebrates Valentine’s Day with music by Josquin, Brahms, Leoš Janácek and Libby Larsen.
The Arts at VWC
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2015-2016 CALENDAR VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE CONCERT SERIES All performances take place in Hofheimer Theater. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. and public ticket prices range from $5-15, unless otherwise noted. Free to VWC community with ID. Reservations: 757.455.2101. Made possible in part by the Dougherty Visiting Artist Fund and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. October 19, 2015 Mary Bowden, Trumpet Hailed as a brilliant virtuoso, Bowden is highly regarded for her artistry, clarity, purity and power. October 27, 2015 Anthony Hailey, African Percussion Part of the College’s year-long series “Entangled Identities: Legacies of 1619” (see box on page 35). Free, 11 a.m.
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October 30, 2015 Tidewater Guitar Orchestra Traditional Central and South American music featuring contemporary and original works.
November 9, 2015 Rachel Ordaz, Flute Exquisite tone and meticulous virtuosity truly shine in this solo performance. Padmarani Rasiah Cantu will perform ancient classical Indian dance on March 31, 2016.
March 14, 2016 Simeon Kim, Piano Works by Europe’s most famous Classic era pianists, Chopin, Liszt, and Beethoven; and modern Ukrainian-born Nikolai Kapustin. March 31, 2016 Padmarani Rasiah Cantu This accomplished choreographer and teacher performs an ancient classical dance of India, the Bharatha Natyam. Free, 11 a.m. April 1, 2016 The Robert Jospé Express A percussive mix of jazz, rock, funk and Latin with a contemporary electric sound. April 15, 2016 Trio 826 An interactive program of trio vignettes and lively conversation with works by Schubert, Borodin, Kodály, and American jazz artist Bob Washut.
The Arts at VWC
STUDENT MUSIC PERFORMANCES Bryson Mortensen, conductor; George Stone, accompanist. Performances are free to all, unless otherwise noted. For more information, call 757.455.3282. October 5, 2015 Words & Music Choral music pairing great poets with great composers. Hofheimer Theater; 7:30 p.m. October 16, 2015 Young Men’s Festival of Song Workshop and day of singing for male voices, grades 8-12 (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.). By advance registration only: 757.455.3282 or bmortensen@vwc.edu. December 4-5, 2015 A Wesleyan Christmas View listing under Virginia Wesleyan College Concert Series (page 34). Tickets: $5; Free to VWC community with ID.
The student-produced One-Act Play Festival will come to life November 19-20, 2015.
April 18, 2016 Journeyin’ On VWC choirs and instrumental ensembles present music from around the world. Hofheimer Theater; 7:30 p.m. THEATRE All performances take place in Hofheimer Theater. Reservations: 757.455.3381. September 30-October 4, 2015 “Almost Maine” by John Cariani Explore love and loss in this romantic comedy that takes place in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. Showtimes: Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $1015; free to VWC community with ID.
November 19-20, 2015 Fall One-Act Play Festival A variety of plays produced and directed by VWC theatre students. Performance schedule TBA. Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: Free to all.
March 2-6, 2016 “Urinetown” by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann A 20-year drought has caused a terrible water shortage, making private toilets unthinkable in this satirical comedy musical. Showtimes: March 2-4 at 7:30 p.m.; March 5 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and March 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $10-15; free to VWC community with ID.
February 12, 2016 A Night on 52nd Street An evening of 1940s music and dancing. Boyd Dining Center; 7:30 p.m. Free dance lessons at 7 p.m. Donations accepted. February 28, 2016 The Presidential Masterworks Series Premiere of “Winter Cycle” by 21st-century composer Timothy Takach. Features Billye Brown Youmans, soprano. Bayside Presbyterian Church (1400 Ewell Rd., Virginia Beach); 4 p.m.
Entangled Identities: Legacies of 1619 Building on a collaborative region-wide initiative and in preparation for the 400th anniversary of 1619—when the first African slaves arrived in Virginia—Virginia Wesleyan will host a year-long series of 12 events in 2015-2016 exploring the many contemporary meanings of American identity. Visit www.vwc.edu/1619 for a complete list of events.
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The Arts at VWC July 25-30, 2016 2016 Worship & Music Conference A non-denominational showcase of instruction featuring more than 45 workshop sessions led by 16 guest clinicians and VWC faculty. Evening worship, hymn festivals, and concerts highlight the week.
NEIL BRITTON ART GALLERY September 3-October 23, 2015 “The Canterbury Tales: Stories in Quilts” Betty Jo “B.J.” Elvgren An internationally respected fabric artist, Elvgren’s quilts are part of private and public collections worldwide. Opening Reception & Artist Talk: Sept. 3, 6-8 p.m.; followed by a Readers’ Theatre with selections from Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales.” November 13, 2015January 13, 2016 “Strange Loops” Reni Gower Using the language of abstraction, Gower combines collage and assemblage with detailed illusions on paper; incorporates the circle as metaphor, symbol, and motif. Opening Reception & Artist Talk: Nov. 13, 6-8 p.m. February-April 2016 Mariam Eqbal Exhibition Progressive and experimental works of video/animation, drawings, and prints explore the fundamentals of change through repetition branching into time and motion. Dates & Opening Reception: TBA April-May 2016 Senior Art Exhibition VWC students display their senior thesis work. Dates & Opening Reception: TBA PLEASE NOTE: Event details are subject to change. For the most current listings, refer to the College’s website: www.vwc.edu
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CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM For additional details, visit www.vwc.edu/csrf or call 757.455.3129. Events are free to all; no reservations required. Quilts by fabric artist Betty Jo “B.J.” Elvgren, including Constance (shown above), will be on display September-October 2015.
CENTER FOR SACRED MUSIC For additional details, visit www.vwc.edu/csm or call 757.455.3376. Events are free to all; reservations are not required. Sound & Symbol Lecture Series “Sing Me to Heaven” VWC faculty and guests join CSM director Sandra Billy in an exploration of music and belief in the world’s major religions surrounding death and what comes after, as well as cultural components that form an intrinsic part of our experiences with endof-life matters. Event dates: Sept. 24, Nov. 19, Feb. 25, March 10, April 7. Fine Arts 9; 11 a.m. Complete list of guest speakers at vwc.edu/csm.
October 15, 2015 Entangled Identities: Legacies of 1619 Dr. Mellonee Burnim VWC explores the history of slavery in this year-long series (see box). Burnim, a professor of folklore and ethnomusicology at Indiana University, presents two lectures: “From Africa to America: Reconstructing the African American Musical Past” (11 a.m.); and “The African American Spiritual Tradition: Symbol of Religious and Cultural Identity” (7 p.m.). Hofheimer Theater. Monumental Moments A collaborative series of unique worship services, including “A Service of Lessons & Carols” (Dec. 3, 11 a.m.); “Women’s Christmas” (Jan. 6, 12 p.m.); and “From Dust You Have Come” (Feb. 10, 12 p.m. & 4 p.m.). Monumental Chapel.
October 12, 2015 Church Bells, the Muslim Call to Prayer, and Negotiating Religious Sound in Society Dr. Isaac Weiner, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the Ohio State University, presents as part of the NEXUS Interfaith Dialogue Series: Religion in the Public Square. Boyd Dining Center/ Shafer Room, 7-8:30 p.m. October 28, 2015 Santa Muerte: The Fastest Growing New Religious Movement in the Americas Dr. Andrew Chesnut, Bishop Walter Sullivan Chair in Catholic Studies Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University School of World Studies. Blocker Auditorium, 7-8:30 p.m. November 16, 2015 Wearing My Religion: A Look at the Hijab, Kippah, and Accessories in American Life VWC Professor of History Kathleen Casey presents as part of the NEXUS Interfaith Dialogue Series: Religion in the Public Square. Boyd Dining Center/Shafer Room, 7-8:30 p.m.
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL–PITTMAN
Academia
WOMAN IN POLITICS: Lindsey Reynolds addressing students during her visit to campus in April 2015.
Political Process LINDSEY REYNOLDS ’98, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, OFFERS INSIGHTS INTO THE FAST-PACED WORLD OF 21ST-CENTURY POLITICS Interview and editing by Leona Baker LINDSEY REYNOLDS ’98 BEGAN HER professional career in politics not long after graduating as a political science major from VWC when she worked as a legislative assistant to Stanley C. Walker, then president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate. Now the chief operating officer of
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the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Reynolds says her current job “runs the gamut” of day-to-day operations from coordinating with the White House on scheduling events, to working with campaigns on budget planning, to figuring out how to upgrade the elevator
Academia
in the DNC’s national headquarters in Washington, DC. “I kinda do it all,” she says. Reynolds visited the Virginia Wesleyan campus in April 2015 when she spoke to students in two political science courses, “Women, Power and Politics” and “American Political Thought.” Below are some of her insights into the world of 21stcentury politics. ON STUDYING POLITICAL SCIENCE AT VIRGINIA WESLEYAN… “I loved my time here as a political science major. I like to say it was before political science got crazy, super-sexy cool with the 2008 election, when everybody wanted to be involved in it. As much as I loved the theory aspect of political science, I preferred the more practical side of actually going out and doing it—working on elections and staffing precincts. I think I benefited tremendously from a small and very nurturing department. They helped me figure out what piece of this pie I wanted to do. And my liberal arts education was super helpful in that it equipped me with the skills I needed to do what I have done over the course of my career.” ON HOW POLITICS HAS EVOLVED IN THE INTERNET AGE… “They used to say that when L.A. Law came on TV in the 1980s, everybody wanted to go to law school. I say when Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton ran in 2007, everybody wanted to work on a campaign. And I think that’s because of the 24-hour news cycle and the internet. It’s how the tubes connect and you can find out anything you ever wanted to know about any politician. It means people get to know things like whether or not Bill Clinton wore boxers or briefs or who’s making Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown. I feel like with all of that information, you believe that you know the politicians better. That’s good in the sense that it can give young people an avenue to get involved and interested, which is wonderful because we want everyone to participate and feel like they are empowered in their government. But with all that information you can also get beat down by it, so you have to monitor those things you find interesting or exciting and what you take in. It’s a balance, and that’s hard because there is so much of it out there now.”
ON WHETHER ALL THAT EXPOSURE GETS IN THE WAY OF SUBSTANCE… “I think it can, but I think sometimes it actually enhances it because there’s some level of consistency politicians have to maintain. You know, you can’t go out on Saturday Night Live and talk about how you believe in X and then show up on Meet the Press on Sunday and talk about how you believe in Y. I look at politics as a hockey game. It’s 5-on-5 all the time and no one always calls the high sticking or the clipping. But, when you do get a penalty called on you, you end up in a box with a television camera in your face and thousands of really jeering fans behind you in the frame. And you have to kind of answer for what you did and why your team has one less guy on the ice. And so, I think it’s hard for people who don’t love politics like I do to get past some of that stuff. But I think it definitely makes folks more accountable.” ON WOMEN CHANGING THE GAME IN POLITICS… “The difference is there are a lot of us now. And there are more every day. I’m very fortunate that I have had really great women mentor me and be very supportive of my career. And I’ve tried to do the same thing for women who come to work at their first job at the DNC or on a campaign. But I think there are just more of us and that’s good because women’s issues are everyone’s issues. I have a threeyear-old. I care about what education is going to look like. I care that we have a thriving middle class. These things are very important to me because I live them firsthand every day. I think women offer that unique perspective. We are all very much trying to find that healthy worklife balance of having a career and a family and making certain that everything happens on time and dinner gets made and it’s not chicken nuggets out of the freezer every night. We experience those things in life and we try to bring that to what we do for a living.” ON GETTING PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS… “I think the general hurdle for everybody that is involved in what we do is that you have to find a way to connect with voters and make them feel like they’re invested. You know, even when I was at Virginia
“Iatlook politics as a hockey game.
It’s five-on-five all the time and no one always calls the high sticking or the clipping.
But when you do get a penalty called on you, you end up
in a box with a television camera in your face and thousands of
really jeering fans behind you in the frame. And you have to kind of
answer for what you did and why your team has
one less guy
”
on the ice. —Lindsey Reynolds '98 Wesleyan, someone used to run mock elections. That was our greatest challenge. I’d watched the same 10 people walk past my little table all day and nobody even wanted to vote. And so, I think it’s getting folks invested and engaged. Like, this is everyone’s country. Everyone’s got a stake in it. So it’s about trying to find the right way to talk to people about what’s important to them. And make them understand that the future is theirs and they have to show up in November and vote. And that’s the only way things change—with movement with a force behind it. That’s always a great challenge.”
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Publisher's Desk
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL–PITTMAN
INSTRUMENTAL: History professor Dan Margolies brings his love of traditional music to his latest role as producer of a collection of fiddle music.
A Fiddle by Any Other Name Traditional Music of Texas, Volume 1: Fiddle Recordings from the Texas Folklife Archives Dan Margolies & Charlie Lockwood, Producers Texas Folklife, 2014
N
on-musicians might be unaware that “fiddle” is simply another name for a violin, a term more commonly used when the instrument is played by folk musicians. One Virginia Wesleyan faculty member who is quite familiar with the folk music vernacular is Professor of History Dan Margolies (pictured above), who recently produced an archival compilation CD titled Traditional Music of Texas, Volume 1: Fiddle Recordings from the Texas Folklife Archives. Released in December 2014, the album represents the rich variety of the Lone Star State’s fiddle tradition with recordings from the Texas Folklife archives, digitized with the / 40 / MARLIN
assistance of archivists from the University of Texas at Austin. Listeners will find live recordings 25 years or older, with sounds from fiddle workshops, field recordings and concert events. Artists and styles featured on the album include legendary Texan fiddler Johnny Gimble, Texas breakdowns and contest style fiddling by Ricky Turpin and Valerie Ryals, Polish-style fiddling by Brian Marshall, Texas-Mexican fiddle music of Rio Grande Valley by Jose Moreno, and down-home Texas-style fiddling by Bill Gilbert and Mike Henderson. The album’s release coincided with the first Festival of Texas Fiddling, also conceived and curated by Margolies, in collaboration with Texas Folklife and Texas Dance Hall Preservation, Inc. The festival featured various style workshops led by recognized masters of Texas fiddling. “Texas may well have the most diverse array of fiddle styles in the United States,” says Margolies.
“People who are used to thinking of Texas fiddling chiefly in terms of flashy contest style fiddling or honky tonk fiddling are going to be happily surprised to discover just how good all the styles of Texas fiddling are for both listening and dancing.” In addition to teaching a variety of history courses and specializing in research on American foreign relations and foreign relations law, Dan Margolies teaches an annual Winter Session course at Virginia Wesleyan on the music and folk culture of the Southern Appalachians. For more information about the CD Traditional Music of Texas, Volume 1: Fiddle Recordings from the Texas Folklife Archives, visit texasfolklife.org. The CD is available for purchase on www.cdbaby.com or in VWC’s Scribner Bookstore.
Academia
Paintings in Print Will Corr: At the Edge of Dawn Will Corr, 2015
A
successful artist whose works are in numerous private and corporate collections, Virginia Wesleyan alumnus Will Corr ’94 has been exploring the complex relationship between representation and abstraction in his large-scale painting for more than two decades. Corr recently produced his first-ever book, titled Will Corr: At the Edge of Dawn, a stunning custom-bound, fabric volume measuring 8.25 x 11 inches and featuring 80 pages of Corr’s work—including paintings, installations and mixed-media— spanning nearly 20 years. “The idea was to produce a collection of works, together in a high-quality package, for my collectors and anyone else interested in my art,” says Corr, who studied the visual arts at the Old Donation Center for the Gifted and Talented in Virginia Beach before receiving a Bachelor of Arts from VWC and a Master of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2002. His works have been shown at numerous national venues, including the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, the Portsmouth Visual Arts Center, and the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. He has been awarded “Best in Show” at both the Boardwalk Art Show in Virginia Beach and the Stockley Gardens Art Festival in Norfolk. Five of his paintings were recently permanently installed at the new TowneBank Location in the Ghent area of Norfolk. He currently teaches at the State College of Florida in Bradenton and is an exhibitions preparator for the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota.
The interior pages of Will Corr: At the Edge of Dawn are all printed on 100 percent recycled paper with a smooth matte finish, a full cover dust jacket and hard cover wrapped in cream linen. The book also comes with a hand-signed 8 x 10 inch print of the painting “Cotton by the Sea.” Corr’s solo exhibit at VWC’s Neil Britton Gallery in 2010 was also titled “At the Edge of Dawn.”
For inquiries about purchasing Will Corr: At the Edge of Dawn : williamhcorr@gmail.com. www.willcorr.com report presents the outcome of a working group that was established to determine broadly applicable sound exposure guidelines for fishes and sea turtles. (Springer Press, 2014)
From the Faculty RECENT PUBLICATIONS AUTHORED OR EDITED BY MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE FACULTY
Walt Disney, From Reader to Storyteller: Essays on the Literary Inspirations
Kathy Merlock Jackson, Professor of Communication With Mark West, Editors
Experience Human Development, 13th Edition
This collection of 15 fresh essays and one classic addresses Walt Disney as a reader and shows how his responses to literature fueled his success. Essays discuss the books he read, the ones he adapted to film and the ways in which he demonstrated his narrative ability. (McFarland, 2014)
Gabriela Martorell, Batten Associate Professor of Psychology With Diane Papalia and Ruth Feldman Experience Human Development helps students experience the human side of development by exposing them to culture and diversity, immersing them in practical application, and helping them study smarter through personalized learning and reporting. (McGraw-Hill, 2015)
The First Year Teacher: Be Prepared For Your Classroom, 4th Edition
Karen Bosch, Professor Emeritus, Education
Routledge Companion to Religion & Popular Culture newly updated with chapters addressing classroom management, special education, inclusive classrooms, and more. (Corwin, 2015)
Sound Exposure Guidelines for Fishes and Sea Turtles: A Technical Report
With Morghan Bosch
Soraya Bartol, Professor of Marine Biology
The First-Year Teacher takes readers through a complete classroom year and is packed with strategies and tips for every part of the journey. Now in its fourth edition, this best-selling title is
Prepared by American National Standards Institute-Accredited Standards Committee S3/ SC1 and registered with ANSI, this technical
With others
Eric Mazur, Gloria and David Furman, Professor of Judaic Studies With John Lyden, Editors This volume offers the first real survey of the field to date and provides a guide for the work of future scholars in the fast-growing field of religion and popular culture. It explores key issues of definition and of methodology; religious encounters with popular culture across media, material culture and space; and representations of religious traditions in the media and popular culture. (Routledge Press, 2015)
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Academia
Project name:
“If the jeans fit: An experimental study between self-esteem and clothing size”
Hypothesis:
When presented with a pair of vanity sized jeans, participants will report an increase in self-esteem
Participant Pool:
51 VWC students, all female, ages 18-43
If the Jeans Fit IF YOU WEAR SIZE 10 JEANS AT STORE A, you may be pleasantly surprised to slip effortlessly into a size 6 at Store B. In theory, you might even be a bit more inclined to buy them, because OMG, I’ve never worn
Method:
Each participant tried on three pairs of jeans— each a different size, but labeled the same. The jeans were from Old Navy, women’s sizes 0-20, 32” inseam, medium wash. Sizes were cut out and re-labeled, brand name was covered. Self-esteem and mood were assessed before, during and after using three measurement tools: the State Self-Esteem Survey (SSES) appearance sub scale; the PANAS-X mood sub scale; and The Fit Survey, developed by Wilson.
a single-digit size! This phenomenon is known as vanity sizing, a marketing ploy arguably designed to boost sales by appealing to shoppers’ self-esteem. Recent VWC psychology graduate
Results:
Data indicated that the participants’ highest level of self-esteem was achieved while wearing their true size. Vanity size did not increase self-esteem as originally hypothesized.
Sarah Wilson ’15 studied this correlation as part of a spring 2015 undergraduate research project. Here’s a pared down preview of her investigation.
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Conclusion:
While vanity sizing is meant to make consumers feel excited about fitting into a seemingly smaller size, research shows that this does not matter. The self-esteem of the woman is most affected if the jeans fit.
COOL COURSES BIG CITY SELFIE: Winter Session students had the chance to check out the Late Show With David Letterman in Manhattan’s Theater District. (From left) Nich Hipple ‘16, Trey DelPo ‘17, Olivia Birmingham ‘15 and professor Travis Malone.
Taught during Winter Session 2015 by Travis Malone A CHANCE TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH Oscar-nominated actress Emma Stone was more than enough to convince Trey DelPo ’17 to enroll in the January 2015 Winter Session course, “Business of Broadway.” The three-week seminar—a week of which was spent in New York City—featured a constellation of star-gazing opportunities for Virginia Wesleyan students, but ultimately it shined a spotlight behind the scenes at the practical and theoretical aspects of contemporary theatre production. “The goal is to give students an opportunity to see some of the inner workings and culture created by Broadway,” says VWC Professor of Theatre Travis Malone, who first taught the course in 2009. “We really sort of pull the veil off the multi-billion dollar industry, giving students a sense of the magnitude of employment opportunities that exist in professional theatre besides acting.” Prior to their travel, the course’s nine students
learned about Broadway’s history, theatre entrepreneurship and the casting and creation process through a variety of reading materials and documentaries. Then in true New York fashion, they hopped on a train to Manhattan, where they stayed within walking distance of Times Square and the Theater District. Their itinerary included the shows Sleep No More; Aladdin; You Can’t Take it With You; Cabaret; and a performance by Blue Man Group. Students also had the chance to go backstage, meet some of the actors—James Earl Jones, Alan Cumming and a member of Blue Man Group, to name a few—speak with directors, production staff, and generally get a sense for what happens behind the curtain. “It gave me the opportunity to see that there’s so much more to theatre than just acting, singing and dancing on stage,” says Trey DelPo, a political science major and theatre minor. “It was great for the theatre majors because they got to see where
they could go with their career and had a chance to network.” This was the second time DelPo participated in Winter Session, a special three week academic term held each January at the College. “It gives everyone a chance to take advantage of the liberal arts,” he says. “You can take cool courses that you wouldn’t normally be able to fit in due to extensive majors, double majors and minors.” As part of this particular cool course, students kept blogs about their experience. In one post, Delpo shared a personal account of what he calls “the best day of my entire life”—the day he got to meet Emma Stone. “We got to tour backstage of Cabaret,” he wrote. “I got so excited when I met Emma Stone that I was jumping up and down. I jumped into a fire hydrant and have a huge bruise on my leg.… My life is pretty much complete.” —Stephanie Smaglo
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Academia
Making Sure Heaven Has a Ghetto WORDS OF LATE FAMED HIP-HOP ARTIST TUPAC SHAKUR CONTINUE TO RING TRUE AS WE STRUGGLE TO FIND A PLACE FOR MARGINALIZED SEGMENTS OF TODAY’S SOCIETIES AGAINST A BACKDROP OF INEQUALITY By Murrell Brooks WHEN DYLANN ROOF KILLED NINE PEOPLE during a church service in Charleston, South Carolina in June 2015, I couldn’t help wondering how a person so young could become so alienated from society to the extent that he would commit such a heinous crime. Then I began to recall similar cases, such as the 14 American citizens caught by the F.B.I. leaving the United States for Somalia to join the militant group, Al-Shabab, or the 100-plus Americans and over 1,000 Western Europeans that have traveled to Syria to join groups like ISIS. I also thought about the recent spate of deadly shootings between the police and American citizens, namely African-Americans, and the plight of the Rohinja Muslims of Myanmar, the exploitation and abuse of the Roma population of Europe, the precarious position of the Aboriginal people in Australia, and the hoards of homeless and destitute people across America and the globe. The common thread that unites these individuals and groups is that they constitute marginalized segments of today’s societies in which there is great wealth and prosperity on one hand and extreme inequality and human deprivation on the other. Thinking about these events forced me to ask: Is there a place for the different or “outliers” of societies in the 21st century? The late famed hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur explored this question and possible solutions to the problem in much of his music. Although Tupac receives more attention for his “hardcore” and “gangster” rap music today, less is known about his more socially and politically conscious music and poetry. In his first posthumous single, “I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto,” Tupac deconstructs the paradoxical modern
world of great wealth amidst socially, politically, and economically disenfranchised individuals and groups and how extreme alienation produces irrational responses or leaves “outed” groups subject to violence and other harsh measures. Tupac employs two primary metaphors in the song: “Heaven,” referring to the world of wealth and prosperity, and “Ghetto,” referring to a safe place for those who are different, poor, and outside the center of our society. He points out the various ways marginalization occurs including the lack of employment opportunities, nihilistic behavior, weak family structures, social dislocation, and institutionalized violence leading to the devaluation of human life. “Here on earth, tell me what’s a black life worth,” he asks. He questions whether there is a place in this world for those who live, metaphorically or otherwise, where the “streets is death row.” Yet, he offers a sense of hope by letting us know that human beings possess the capacity to reason and learn, and thus have the ability to change and be enlightened. “Take the evil out of the people; they’ll be back acting right cause both black and white are smokin’ crack tonight,” he raps, “And the only time we deal is when we kill each other. It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other.” Tupac is simply saying that people can be dissuaded from engaging in violence. They can demand better policies of the government under which they live. He calls for dialogue and collective action from people of all racial and ethnic groups, classes, occupations, and political affiliations before a crisis occurs. The central message is that people must recognize their collective interest in ensuring a “space” for all. Yet our world remains one in which companies like Wal-Mart, Nestlé, Microsoft, Apple and others boast profits in the billions, often exceeding the gross national incomes of many countries. Even
after the massive bank failures and crash of 2008, the world’s 50 largest banks amassed $62 trillion worth of assets. By 2011 there were 1,210 billionaires with a total wealth of $4.5 trillion. By contrast, growing levels of economic inequality and human depravation prevail. Today, 2.6 billion people live on less than $2 a day. In the United States, 22 percent of American children live at the federally established poverty level while the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed that a record 23 million American households are on food stamps. And unfortunately, the corrosive material conditions are compounded by the lack of leadership from political quarters. As a result, the autonomy of those outside the mainstream is constantly encroached upon and reduced through economic dislocation from traditional communities and legalized removal of the “unwanted” from areas of prime interest. It is within this context that Tupac commands us to step back, take stock of societal direction and make changes if necessary. Those changes should include making sure that “Heaven” has a “Ghetto” for those who feel they have nowhere to go in today’s world thus reducing the chance of people resorting to irrational measures to express their dissatisfaction with an individual, groups or society at large. Dr. Murrell Brooks is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Virginia Wesleyan College. For the fall 2014 “Readings with Wesleyan” series, part of the College’s Western Bayside neighborhood partnership, Brooks led three sessions on “Community Transformations.” The series, held at Heritage United Methodist Church, examined the music and philosophy of Tupac Shakur as it relates to contemporary movements such as Ferguson, the Arab Spring, and the Civil Rights movement.
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Academia
PHOTO: THOMAS MILLS ’15
TESTING THE WATERS: Business and environmental studies major Sydney Covey’s spring 2015 research analyzes the managerial styles of crab boat captains on a popular reality show.
Reality to Research SYDNEY COVEY ’16 EARNS ACCOLADES FOR STUDY ON DEADLIEST CATCH TV SERIES WHEN VIRGINIA WESLEYAN BUSINESS PROFESSOR PAUL EWELL and then junior Sydney Covey ’16 decided to put their heads together for an extensive management research project, they knew it had to be a subject they were both passionate about. A quick conversation revealed that they’d each grown up in Coastal Virginia communities and that they both followed the hit reality TV series Deadliest Catch, which chronicles life aboard crab fishing boats in the Bering Sea. “It was something we both could relate to,” says Covey, who double majors in business and environmental studies. “We’re both from commercial fishery towns, so we were able to parallel our experiences with what we were seeing.” Together Covey and Ewell co-wrote “The Relationship Between Managerial Orientation and Productivity: An Examination of Captains from Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch.” The pair observed several seasons of the show and developed a 10-parameter observation rubric to determine each captain’s managerial orientation (task vs. relationship). Their study found, in this case, that there was no statistically significant correlation between leadership style and productivity. “It was really surprising,” Covey says. “We thought we’d find that a really strong, autocratic manager would be more profitable, but you also need to have a lot of soft skills, to be able to communicate, to be personable.’”
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In March 2015, Covey presented the research at the Society for Advancement of Management Conference in Las Vegas, where she received two awards—a regional and national Outstanding Student Award for Academics and Professional Development. “When I gave my presentation to a room full of Ph.D.’s they could not believe that I had done this kind of undergraduate research,” she says. “That’s when I realized that it isn’t normal for extensive, empirical research to be done by an undergrad.” The paper has since been selected by the Society for Advancement of Management for future publication in the SAM Advanced Management Journal. Covey also served as the first-ever sustainability intern at Hourigan Construction during the spring and summer of 2015, and before that she interned as a research technician at the Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agriculture Research Extension Center in summer 2014. She’s a member of the Sigma Beta Delta Business Honor Society; Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society; and the Marlin Business Association. “I have all these accolades on my resume that I never could’ve achieved at a larger college. That’s what the faculty and staff here have done for me. They said, ‘You’re smart, you’re going places, let’s help you get there.’” – Stephanie Smaglo
Living & Learning
The Key Word is “We” A CONVERSATION WITH STUDENT ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR KATE GRIFFIN
How can students get involved in campus life? Bring your passion to an event. Bring your talents to a club. Bring your pioneering spirit to a sit-down meeting in my office and tell me your ideas. Two of my favorite things to say to students are ‘why not?’ and ‘how can we make this happen?’ The key word is ‘we’. If it’s your idea, you must be willing to help. Why should they? A good campus is a patchwork quilt of personalities. I want each student to be a vibrant square on that quilt.
Whether you have stripes or polka-dots, or even if you’re a crazy bit of fringe, there is a place for you. Somehow all that calamitous color and fabric is beautiful and effective when sewn together. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
I believe that we learn best by doing. What better way to learn how to facilitate Mud Games than to participate in a belly crawl race? I got mud in places that aren’t suitable for print. Other favorites include the Drag Show and Bubble Soccer.
What makes Virginia Wesleyan special? No place values personal connections more than VWC. It’s tough to be anonymous here, and that’s a quality to be celebrated. At any moment, you can be plugged into an opportunity, just because a faculty or staff member saw something and thought of you. It takes knowing you to make those connections.
Fill in the blank: My office is like a . . . … … Smart phone. It’s a highly customizable, multitasking machine with applications for learning and fun. It makes connecting with people and places easier. It won’t fit in your pocket, but neither will an iPhone 6+.
What is the best part of your job? Laughter! Rare is the day when I don’t find myself in stitches over a student’s story or personal observation. It’s even better when an event we’ve coordinated results in smiles, new friendships, or something learned. What are some favorite events you’ve helped plan at VWC and why? First I’ll share two guiding principles of my work: I don’t ask students to do something I wouldn’t do, and
What do you love to do when you are not at VWC? Long distance running is more than just my hobby; it is a source of pride, euphoria, and even despair, often within the same workout. Endurance sports are great teachers. On longer runs, I've learned to be comfortable with my thoughts, persist when things get tough, and listen to my body. I’ve experienced boredom, discomfort, and exhaustion, but on the heels of those things came great personal clarity. Spiritual people have been exhausting themselves into moments of genius for ages; I’m still waiting for my epiphany.
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
KATE GRIFFIN CAME TO VIRGINIA Wesleyan in June 2014. A native of southeastern Virginia, Kate earned her M.S. in Higher Education and her B.S. in Geology from Old Dominion University. She has been involved in the field of higher education in the areas of orientation, career counseling, and residence life at Trinity University, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Christopher Newport University. As director of Student Activities, she works with students in creating a vibrant campus culture including clubs and organizations, Greek life, traditions, special events and much more.
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PHOTO: JON LIMTIACO OF EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Living & Learning
PHOTO: THOMAS MILLS ’15
SCREEN TIME: The 16-minute film takes viewers through one full night of VWC’s annual shelter.
Scenes of Service
DOCUMENTARY HIGHLIGHTS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, ENCOURAGES SIMILAR HOMELESS SHELTER MODELS
New
Heights RELIGIOUS STUDIES MAJOR AND ROCK CLIMBING enthusiast Andrew Tomajczyk ’16 makes it look easy on Virginia Wesleyan’s 36-foot climbing wall located inside the Jane P. Batten Student Center. Installed in 2000 and developed and built by Nicros Wall Systems, the wall is based on molds of real rock surfaces and constructed from glass-fiber reinforced concrete for a finished product “even Mother Nature would be proud of.” The wall is open to all VWC students and community members as well as outside groups. Student employees can complete an annual belay clinic during the summer in order to become certified instructors for the climbing wall. As many as five students at a time are certified instructors. The wall features various climbing routes, some tailored for beginners and others that will challenge even expert climbers. Each year senior wall staff is allowed to create and name a new route on the wall. – Leona Baker
A NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT VIRGINIA WESLEYAN’S ANNUAL ONCampus Winter Homeless Shelter premiered in October 2014, capturing the unique relationship between college students and the homeless and showcasing VWC’s long-standing community partnership with Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless (PVH). Winter Shelter, On Campus: College Students Encounter Homelessness at Home is a 16-minute film directed by VWC Associate Professor of Communication Stu Minnis and Director of Community Service Diane Hotaling. It brings viewers through one full night of the week-long shelter, breaking down the evening’s events into segments including arrival, dinner, social time, lights out and departure. It is the directors’ hope that other colleges and universities will view this structured sheltering model and consider adopting a similar program. Established in 2007 and founded by students, the shelter is hosted by Virginia Wesleyan in partnership with PVH for one week each January. Though it is a collaborative campus effort, the shelter is staffed and managed primarily by student volunteers. It is one of the only shelters of its kind operated on a college campus in the United States. “It is not unusual for college students to serve the homeless population, but it is, indeed, unusual for colleges to host homeless men and women on their campuses,” says Hotaling. “A strong partnership, a supportive campus community, and wide-eyed, energetic, optimistic college students are the elements of our success that others can duplicate.” In the video, VWC Professor of Sociology Kathy Stolley touches on the transferable skills students gain through their experience with the shelter, including leadership and project management abilities, organizational skills and the ability to work and communicate with diverse populations. “From a sociological perspective, we really want our students to learn what’s behind the statistics and what can get easily lost in the classroom,” she says. “Behind all those statistics are people with real lives and real circumstances that have real stories to tell.” View the video and learn more at www.vwc.edu/shelter.
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PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
Hear Her Roar SARAH NWOKORIE ’15 IS THE PICTURE OF POISE DRESSED IN A DARK grey suit, standing tall with her hair pulled back and looking polished in pearls. So it’s rather unexpected when she says, “Should I untuck my blouse? I’ve gained a few pounds since the last time I wore this suit.” A surprising sentiment from a woman exuding this level of self-confidence, but it’s what makes Nwokorie—who founded the VWC campus organization Phenomenal Woman—so immediately relatable. She came to Virginia Wesleyan to study political science, but Nwokorie
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switched her major to women’s and gender studies after taking just one course in the discipline. “I fell in love,” says the Maryland native. “It was like a fire built up within me, and I knew that this is what I had to do for the rest of my life. I knew that women had things to overcome within society, but not like that . I thought, where have I been all this time?” In fall 2013, during her junior year, Nwokorie founded and became president of the gender issues group Phenomenal Woman. That’s woman,
Living & Learning
Technology and the Human Touch In order to be prepared to assist in the research TECHNOLOGY IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE OUR study, says VWC Assistant Professor of lives easier. Yet even the most technically inclined Recreation and Leisure Studies Wayne Pollock, among us knows that sometimes technology can students in the recreational therapy track of the hinder as much as it can help. This is especially true College’s Recreation & Leisure Studies program for the elderly, who may not even be comfortable using a computer. Enter a unique adaptive technology were trained during the spring 2015 semester in the administration of and scoring of assessment program called It’s Never 2 Late—or iN2L for short— developed by a Coloradobased company specializing in connecting older adults to the benefits of digital technology. The iN2L system features a picture-based interface and senior-friendly applications designed to stimulate cognitive functions and brain fitness with everything from education, virtual travel, and spirituality to music, games, trivia, and exercise. Family communication tools such as video chat and user-friendly email also allow users to more easily connect to loved ones. These tools are part of a therapeutic recreation treatment plan aimed at reducing depression and feelings of isolation sometimes experienced by adults in elder care facilities. “The software is incredible COMPUTING WITH CARE: VWC recreation and leisure studies in my opinion,” says recreation major Tenley Scott ’18 with Mrs. Beazley, a resident at Westminsterand leisure studies major Canterbury, which is utilizing in-room adaptive technology called Tenley Scott ’18, one of a "It’s Never 2 Late" as part of a therapeutic recreation treatment plan. handful of VWC students who have worked with residents instruments. The data from the study will be used at Westminster-Canterbury retirement community to measure the effects of computer technology in Virginia Beach in preparation for a study of on increasing socialization and improving mental the effectiveness of iN2L. “It’s versatile based on health in residents at Westminster-Canterbury. resident interests, and it’s frequently updated so Students like Tenley Scott will continue to be there is new material for the residents to explore involved as the project unfolds. The poster for Scott’s and enjoy. From the group sessions of iN2L that I research on the topic, titled “Treating Dementia in the have led, the residents are interactive and verbally Twenty-First Century: The Effects of Technology Use responsive during the recreational therapy.” on Increasing Socialization and Improving Mental Through an initiative made possible by a Health,” earned her first-place recognition in VWC’s donation from Sue and George Birdsong, annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. Westminster-Canterbury recently became the first “Pending the results of the research, iN2L has retirement community in the country to provide the potential to be implemented in retirement in-room iN2L technology to a select group of its communities and long-term care facilities around residents. To gauge the effectiveness of iN2L, the country,” Scott notes in her research abstract, Westminster-Canterbury is partnering with Eastern “becoming the new benchmark of care and Virginia Medical School and Virginia Wesleyan improving the quality of life for older adults.” College on the 12-week quality improvement —Leona Baker study.
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PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
singular, and yes, it’s on purpose. “That’s to emphasize that it’s a different experience for each individual in the organization,” she says. “Everyone has something different to contribute.” The mission of Phenomenal Woman is to “cultivate the leader that is already within each individual, giving them the power to define their own success.” Members participate in special events with area organizations like Dress for Success Hampton Roads and the Take Back the Night foundation, and in April 2015 they held VWC’s first-ever Women of Distinction Award Ceremony. The group also hosts guest speakers who cover topics like domestic violence, eating disorders, and societal pressures and expectations. But the most popular topics by far, says Nwokorie, are self-esteem and confidence—struggles most all women can relate to. “You have to find who you are,” she says. “For me, that meant looking in the mirror and saying, ‘Am I going to love me, or am I going to continue to bring my own self down? Because I’m stuck with me for the rest of my life.’ You have to be your own cheerleader.” Nwokorie, a 2015 graduate, has established a strong base for Phenomenal Woman and plans to stay involved in any way she can. In the meantime, she will head to Thailand as a member of the Peace Corps to serve atrisk youth in rural regions of the country. Eventually she will attend law school and hopes to practice family and criminal law for sexual assault, domestic violence and child custody issues. But she won’t soon forget where she found her own confidence and ignited her passion. “Virginia Wesleyan chose me. I love it so very much. It showed me everything I’m capable of doing. I’ll never forget my foundation.” —Stephanie Smaglo
ILLUSTRATION: BRENDA DAVIS MIHALKO
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
Athletics
Coach's Corner
Q&A
Double Team COACHES DUNMYER AND MACEDO ON A ROLL WITH WINNING SEASONS AND A VWC FIRST BOTH HEAD WOMEN’S Basketball Coach Stephany Dunmyer and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Dave Macedo have a lot to be proud of following a 2014-2015 season that saw the women take home their first-ever Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championship (see page 57) and the men make the program’s third trip to the Final Four. The men’s and women’s dual successes led to both teams being in the NCAA Division III tournament, a Virginia Wesleyan College first. Let’s learn a little more about these two coaches:
Stephany Dunmyer
Dave Macedo
Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Bragging rights
Bragging rights
9 winning seasons 5 trips to the ODAC championship 200-125 record overall 3-time ODAC Coach of the Year
15 winning seasons 2006 NCAA championship win 341-106 overall record 11 straight NCAA championship appearances 6-time Virginia College Division Coach of the Year
Coaching philosophy “My coaching philosophy focuses on the development of the complete student-athlete. We want members of our program to challenge themselves on a daily basis and commit to being a champion in all aspects of their lives. As Bill Walsh says, ‘Champions behave like champions before they’re champions; they have a winning standard of performance before they are winners.’ We believe that we have a choice every day, and we want to choose to be champions in the classroom, on the court, in the community, and in life.” —Stephany Dunmyer
Coaching philosophy: “Our philosophy at Virginia Wesleyan College has always been to trust and appreciate the process. We want to win and hang banners by building relationships and developing our student-athletes. We want to represent VWC with the integrity and class it deserves. Our commitment is to sustain success on a national level while giving our student-athletes a lifetime full of memories and the opportunity to achieve success in life once they graduate!”—Dave Macedo
What the players say: What the players say: “My favorite part about Coach Dunmyer is that she is always there for all of her players and is always looking out for us. I really loved the practices where she challenged us. I became a better player after every practice. Playing for Coach was an amazing experience and I enjoyed every moment. I am so happy that I was lucky enough to be able to help give Coach Dunmyer her first ODAC Championship.”—Symonne Newsome ’15
“Playing for Coach Macedo was one of the best decisions of my life. He knows just what buttons to push to get us to perform at our best, and he makes the effort to get to know players on the court and off. He always says, ‘I’m going to be brutally honest,’ which makes us as players respect him that much more. He teaches the importance of teamwork and that our team is family.”—Nick Doyle ’16
Little known fact: Little known fact: Dunmyer competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. when she was in the seventh grade.
Macedo is a diehard New England sports fan and a science fiction junkie.
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PHOTO COURTESY LYNCHBURG COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION
TEAM PLAYERS: Lacrosse was one of the sports in which improved showings powered strong overall standings for the men’s teams in 2014-2015.
A Big Win for the Marlin Men VIRGINIA WESLEYAN’S MEN’S ATHLETIC TEAMS BRING HOME THEIR FIRST ODAC COMMISSIONER’S CUP THE MEN’S ATHLETIC TEAMS AT VIRGINIA Wesleyan College performed so well across the board in the 2014-15 season that the Marlins captured the first Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Men’s Commissioner’s Cup in school history. As determined by the ODAC Board of Directors, points for the ODAC Commissioner’s Cups are based on regular-season standings in team sports and championship team finishes in individual/meet sports. Each institution has a total number of possible points it can collect based on its sport sponsorship. The total number of points earned is then divided by the total number of possible points to determine the rating for each institution. Virginia Wesleyan earned 68.0 of a possible
95.0 points to earn its first commissioner’s cup title of any kind. The Marlins’ spring efforts were powered by improved showings in baseball, golf and lacrosse, while maintaining its second place finish in tennis from a season ago. VWC had previously earned second-place points in basketball in the winter. Bridgewater’s .699 rating (72.0-of-103.0) proved the runner-up, while Washington and Lee placed third at .664 (71.0of-107.0). “To win our first Commissioner’s Cup really speaks to the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes and coaches,” said Athletic Director Joanne Renn. “I cannot express how proud I am of the efforts of our male sports teams this past year and all of our studentathletes.”
Washington and Lee University secured the Dan Wooldridge Overall Champions Cup and the ODAC Women's Commissioner’s Cup, while the Marlins hoisted the ODAC Men’s Commissioner’s Cup. Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance sponsors both the Dan Wooldridge Overall Champions Cup and the ODAC Men and Women’s Commissioner’s Cups, which reflect the philosophy of the complete student-athlete experience. Celebrating its 37th year of operations, the ODAC is one of the nation’s largest Division III conferences. Athletic opportunities at the Division III level provide positive educational outcomes and growth for participants, as well as other valuable benefits for member institutions and communities.
VWC Men’s Teams Final Records 2014-2015 Soccer
Indoor Track and Field
Lacrosse
11-4-4/7-2-2 (3rd)
(5th)
10-6/7-2 (2nd)
Cross Country
Baseball
Outdoor Track and Field
(7th)
19-14-1/14-6 (2nd)
(7th)
Basketball
Golf
Tennis
27-6/13-3 (2nd)
(5th)
14-5/9-1 (2nd)
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Athletics
Courtney Bogan
2014-2015 All-Americans The following Virginia Wesleyan studentathletes were named All-Americans for the 2014-2105 playing season. For the first time in school history, there were two First Team All-Americans in softball.
Kristina Karagiorgis ’15 PHOTO: KEITH LUCAS
Courtney Bogan ’16
The Battle to Believe
Softball First Team Outfielder - presented by National Fastpitch Coaches Association
VWC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM SCORES ITS FIRST ODAC CHAMPIONSHIP WIN NANCY KELLY ’15 RECORDED SEVERAL BIG rebounding games during her four years of basketball competition for Virginia Wesleyan, but her final rebound in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) title game was one of the most crucial caroms in her career. Kelly snared an offensive rebound with nine seconds on the clock, drew a foul, and hit two pressure-packed free throws to help lift the Marlins to a thrilling 59-57 victory over the Lynchburg Hornets that gave Virginia Wesleyan its first ODAC championship in women’s basketball. VWC teams had advanced to the league’s title game five times previously, including four under the direction of current head coach Stephany Dunmyer, but had to settle for the runner-up finish each time...until March 1, 2015. “I am so proud of this group,” said Dunmyer. “We just kept battling, and to look back at the adversity that these players have overcome over the last two seasons just makes it that much more special. We believed and made enough plays to finally win the ODAC championship! This is also for all of the
Softball First Team At-Large - presented by National Fastpitch Coaches Association
Josh Currier ’16
alums who helped build our program. Their hard work helped set the tone.” Following Kelly’s big rebound and even bigger free throws, the Hornets could not find a shot against a VWC defense that pressured the ball as soon as it crossed midcourt. Lynchburg turned the ball over and Kerri-Leanne Taylor ’15 came up with it as the final buzzer sounded, setting off a VWC celebration at midcourt. Brittany Glasco ’15 was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Andrea Paphites ’15 was named to the AllTournament team, and junior Kelly Jones ’16 led VWC with 15 points. The ODAC title came with an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III championship tournament. VWC made its first NCAA appearance since 1989 and its fifth overall. A standout season was stopped about 4.5 seconds shy of a major upset against New York University. It was the first time in VWC history that both the women’s and men’s basketball teams played in the NCAA national tournament. The men won the national championship in 2006 and took the runner-up finish in 2007.
Men’s Lacrosse Honorable Mention - presented by United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
Mike Moran ’15 Men’s Lacrosse Scholar All-American - presented by United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
Kristina Karagiorgis
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Athletics
Meet a Scholar-Athlete TRACK AND FIELD STAR TREY WHITE ’17 BELIEVES THE key to student-athlete success is equal parts hard work in the classroom and on the field. The business major and aspiring accountant follows his own rules, and it’s paying off. In spring 2015 he was awarded an Altria Leadership Scholarship by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. The prestigious award will provide $10,000 in scholarship funding throughout White’s junior and senior years. Let’s get to know this exceptional scholar-athlete:
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
Trey White ’17
Why did you choose Virginia Wesleyan? I chose Virginia Wesleyan not only to run track, but because of the small class sizes, great academic facilities, the close-knit community, and I was told you end up creating great relationships with professors.
What has been your most memorable moment as a VWC athlete so far? Winning the Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field 400 meter dash conference titles with my mother being there to congratulate me; and also winning the indoor 4x400 meter relay with my teammates.
What is your favorite class? “Accounting” with Ms. [Elaine] Dessouki, who makes it easier to understand; and “Statistics” with Ms. [Linda] Partridge, who makes learning math more fun than any other teacher I’ve had before.
What advice do you have for students balancing academics and athletics? Time management and a good work ethic is key. You have to make sure your time is spent doing the right things at the right time in order to avoid stress. And the amount of hard work you put into being an athlete should be the same in the classroom.
Cox Business is a Proud Sponsor of Virginia Wesleyan Athletics. coxbusiness.com ©2015 Cox Communications Inc. All rights reserved.
Class Notes
Alumni Pages
Alumni Pages
PHOTO: JILL HAAG OF EQUI-KIDS
ANIMAL MAGNETISM: Randi Vogel ’96, co-owner and general manager of Hunt Club Farm, gets friendly with Dahli the llama at the popular Virginia Beach landmark.
On the Farm Randi E. (LaMark) Vogel ’96 RANDI (LAMARK) VOGEL ’96 WAS ONLY looking for a place to live when she first came to Hunt Club Farm, an open-to-thepublic farm in Virginia Beach, in the summer of 1999. It was a time of change in her life as she was divorcing and thinking about maybe getting a new job. “I had dogs, labs, and needed somewhere that they were welcomed,” she shares. “Hunt Club Farm had an apartment over the kennel available, and lots of room for the dogs to run. I took it.” Hunt Club owner J.D. Vogel got more than a tenant. During her free time, Randi Vogel, who was working as a pharmaceutical sales representative, offered a hand with just about everything. “I was looking for something new. I was getting bored at work,” she says. “I remember painting tables at the farm at first.” Initially, she had found pharmaceutical sales challenging. As a political science major at Virginia Wesleyan, Vogel didn’t have much of a natural sciences
background. She had chemistry and medical terms to learn and a new skill— selling—to master. “The fact that I learned how to learn at Virginia Wesleyan helped me,” she says. “I knew I could learn anything I wanted to. Virginia Wesleyan made me want to learn.” Vogel also applied her selling skills to a part-time challenge at Hunt Club Farm: Group sales for Halloween 1999. The farm is well known for its haunted hay rides at night and its Harvest Festival with fun daytime activities. “We wanted to start the corn maze, too,” she says. “J.D. and I started dating, and later he asked me, ‘How would you like to work [full time] for me?’” By May 2000, the couple was married. They went on to have two boys, Nick, now 14, and Taylor, 7. Vogel became co-owner and general manager at the farm. She regularly oversees 10 full-time employees. In the fall, her payroll swells to about 200 employees. Some 100,000 people visit the farm in October. The Christmas season with the farm’s 4,800 square-foot Winter
Wonderland and Easter week with a huge egg hunt are busy times as well. Somehow, Vogel still finds time to volunteer for the Virginia Beach Events Steering Committee. “We help plan the nightly entertainment during the summer, the American Music Festival, the She-crab Soup Festival and the Christmas Parade,” she says. “Hunt Club Farm is a main sponsor for the parade. We build the float for Santa Claus.” Doing it all—running a successful business, raising children, volunteering— isn’t as easy as Vogel makes it look. She says lessons learned in college help her. “Virginia Wesleyan taught me to take a challenge head on; don’t avoid it,” she says. “I also say that teamwork is key. I did a lot of small group work, especially my senior year. Most important, I learned to be positive and work hard. Whatever you study, as long as you work, you’ll be marketable. Virginia Wesleyan makes you well-rounded.” — Kristen De Deyn Kirk
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Class Notes
1970s
Keary Kincannon (1975) received his Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary. He will continue his ministry as lead pastor at Rising Hope Mission Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Doug Welch (1975) is senior vice president group creative director at McCann Erickson. He focuses on the healthcare category, including roles in UNICEF’s Global Polio Eradication campaign and the Clinton Health Access Initiative for childhood pneumonia in Africa. He and his wife, Chesley McLaren, split their time between Manhattan and the 18th century farmhouse they are restoring in the Hudson Valley. Michael Jacobson (1977) died in Norfolk on October 10, 2014. Louisa “Lou” (Mulford) Greig (1977) has worked as a professional actress in more than 100 national, regional, and local commercials and has been cast in print work ads, film and television. She is also a writer and producer and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Robert, and two daughters, Erin and Julia. Thomas B. Dickenson (1978) was the inaugural recipient of the Jerrold G. Weinberg Professionalism Award, presented to him by the Tidewater Bankruptcy Bar Association at the 23rd Annual Hal J. Bonney Seminar on Bankruptcy Law and Practice on June 12, 2015. Ralph Rowley (1978) was appointed to senior pastor at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church. Bryan White (1978), a professor of animal sciences at the University of Illinois, has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. He is among 79 microbiologists chosen for this honor.
1980s
Matthew J. Franck (1980) works as the director of the William E. and Carol G. Simon Center on Religion and the Constitution at the Witherspoon Institute in Princeton, New Jersey. He is a professor emeritus of political science at Radford University as well as a visiting lecturer in politics at Princeton. He and his wife, Dr. Gwen Brown, live in historic Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Randall Peele (1980) accepted a position as associate head men’s basketball coach at Tennessee State University in Nashville.
Mike Evans (1981), a former principal of Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia, and then director of student leadership for the city’s school system, is now an educational consultant working with schools featured in a February 2015 PBS NewsHour segment about the economic plight of counties in the coal belt of West Virginia. Mary Hodges (1981) died on May 26, 2014. She loved to volunteer her time and for many years was the historian for the Board of Circles at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. She was also a past president of the Thalia Hope Circle at CHKD. Jean (Sutton) Odachowski (1981) has been named to the Virginia Inter-agency Coordinating Council. She is the regional director for the Family Preservation Service in Martinsville, Virginia. Don Staley (1981), Foley, Alabama’s first executive director of sports, was honored by the Alabama House of Representatives with a resolution commending his outstanding record of public service in sports and tourism. Robert Fallon (1982) and wife, Kerry, proudly announced the arrival of their first grandchild, Savannah Lee, on May 12, 2015 to Steven and Lauren in Overland Park, Kansas. Tim Bailey (1983) returned to campus in April 2015 to speak at VWC’s student-led Spring Business Conference as part of the annual Business Speaker Series. Bailey is division president for Canteen, the largest vending services company in the United States. Edward O’Brien (1983) was named to the chairman’s council of New Your Life Insurance Company, where he has worked since 1983. Members of the chairman’s council rank in the top three percent of the company’s sales force of more than 12,000 licensed agents. Richard Carmichael (1986) and Elizabeth welcomed a granddaughter, Brooklyn Paige, on July 12, 2014 to proud parents Jason and Rebecca Carmichael. Brooklyn weighed 9 lbs., 2 oz. Walter Lohman (1988) has been named director of The Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center. He joined The Heritage Foundation in 2006 as senior research fellow for Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. He is also currently an adjunct professor at Georgetown
University, leading a graduate seminar on American foreign policy interests in Southeast Asia.
1990s
Janet Adams (1990), Savvas Mathopoulos (1990), Anne Woodruff Dalton (1987), Amy Gallup Klann (1989), and VWC’s Lambuth M. Clarke Endowed Professor of English Michael Hall held a reunion of their 1987 J-Term trip to London and Paris. Andrew Walker (1990) accepted a position as supplier account manager for combat support equipment at ADS, Inc. in Virginia Beach. Christine Cipriani Jones (1991) and Ben announced the birth of a baby girl, Sierra Simone, on August 30, 2014, weighing 7 lbs., 3 oz. In January 2015, Christine was named vice president of the entertainment division of Studio Center, the country’s largest commercial production company. Brian Kirwin (1991) opened his own consulting business for candidates running for public office. In January 2015, he was featured in an Inside Business article titled “Brian Kirwin strikes out on his own with campaign consulting startup.” Thomas Whitten (1991) completed the Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas in The Woodlands on May 17, 2014. Jennifer Miley (1993) and Christopher Greer happily announced their marriage on November 25, 2011, as well as the birth of a baby boy, Charles Joseph “Charlie”, born on April 10, 2012. The couple also welcomed a daughter, Grace Lydia, on July 30, 2014 weighing 6 lbs., 10 oz. The family resides in Blountsville, Alabama. Kelly (Appleton) Latta (1994) has launched a website for her ministry. “Finding Life and Love in the Pursuit of Jesus” can be found at kelleylattaministries.com. Eric Nyman (1994), senior vice president for global marketing at Hasbro, returned to campus in November 2014 to speak at VWC’s student-led Fall Business Conference. Kimberlie (Meyer) Russell (1994) was promoted to vice president, contract administration at Valkyrie Enterprises, LLC in Virginia Beach. John Wink (1994) works for Heinz North America’s Mid-Atlantic Foodservice Region. As a territory business manager, he supports a broad portfolio of Heinz products, brands and customers. He received the Heinz Ring of Excellence
Please note: Class Notes are user-submitted and are reprinted with only minor edits for style and consistency.
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Alumni Pages
Award in 2013 and has been recognized as one of the Top Performing Business Managers in North America. He lives in his hometown of Delran, New Jersey. Adam Blagg (1995) was appointed minister at Otterbein United Methodist Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Julie Conley-Johnson (1995) and Heather welcomed a son, Lincoln, on April 1, 2015. Donna (Stoiber) Palmer (1995) joined the board of the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. She also serves as business development manager for the Hampton Roads region at Long & Foster Corporate Real Estate Services. Nicole Aldrich (1996) is director of choral activities at Washington University in St. Louis, where she directs two choirs and teaches conducting. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of Maryland. Matthew Greathouse (1996) and Natalie announced the birth of a baby girl, Scarlett Marie, on August 14, 2014. William “Monty” Hilliard (1996) and Annette Terlizzi Hilliard (1993) celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on March 11, 2015. They made a trip to “Birdsong Lounge,” where they met on the on couches while watching the Price is Right and the Golden Girls. Michael Loyd (1996) and Lauren welcomed a baby boy, Logan Bennett, on July 4, 2014 weighing 5 lbs., 10 oz. Marie (Insley) Nicolo (1996) accepted a position as administrative assistant to
Judge Richard S. Bray, president of the Beazley Foundation. Susan (Fussell) Whiteside (1996) is vice president of public relations and marketing communications for the National Confectioners Association and NCA’s Chocolate Council. She is the goto expert on candy and chocolate sales and trends, celebrations and traditions, and all things sweet. James MacLeod (1997) announced the birth of a baby boy, Andrew “Drew” Thomas, born February 19, 2014, weighing 11 lbs., 5 oz. Christine (Langsam) Williams (1997) has been selected by her peers for inclusion in the 21st edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Commercial Litigation. She practices with DurretteCrump PLC in Richmond. John Helms (1998) was appointed assistant professor of chemistry at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. He recently completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Molly (Long) Mastantuona (1998) and husband, Massiomo, welcomed daughter Emilia Valentina on March 30, 2015 at 7 lbs., 12 oz., 20 in. She joins big sister, Iliaria. Bria Monahan (1998) starred in Virginia Stage Company’s November 2014 production of “The Book Club Play.” Lindsey Reynolds (1998) was promoted to chief operating officer of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, DC. (see pages 38-39)
Amy Mallett Rickard (1998) was honored at Inside Business’ “Top Forty Under 40” awards ceremony in October 2014, recognized for her career achievements and involvement in the community. Jennifer (Smith) Esquivel (1999), her husband Valentine, and their son, Jacob, welcomed a daughter/sister, Mikayla Grace, on June 9, 2015. Chad Longe (1999) has been named athletic and activities director for Lanier High School in Sugar Hill, Georgia. He will also continue to serve as Lanier’s head baseball coach, a role he’s held since the school opened in 2010. Chad and his wife, Colleen, also announced the birth of a baby boy, George “Jordy” Edward, on September 9, 2014. He weighed 8 lbs., 2 oz.
2000s
Rhiannon (Farmer) Boyd (2000) was named a 2014-2015 Teacher of the Future by the National Association of Independent Schools. A senior seminar and journalism teacher at Collegiate School in Richmond, Boyd was one of only 35 teachers across the nation to receive this honor. Jennifer (Raines) Eby (2000) and her Williamsburg shop “Quirks of Art” were featured in the August 2014 edition of Williamsburg’s Next Door Neighbors. Catherine (Wick) Dantsin (2000) accepted a position as executive director of the Women’s Leadership Institution at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. continued on page 63
2014 Alumni Awards VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE’S 2014 ALUMNI AWARDS WERE presented to Teresa Annas ‘76, Distinguished Alumna Award; Howard D. Bartner ‘82, Alumni Service Award; and Jason Seward ‘05, Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award. The awards also recognized honorary alumni Courtney Beth Dickerson Atwater and Anthony Stile, and remembered former mathematics professor Thomas R. Fanney ’76. An awards ceremony took place during VWC’s annual Fall Convocation in September 2014. Each year since 1981, the Virginia Wesleyan College Alumni Association has presented accomplished graduates with Alumni Awards, celebrating those who have achieved distinction in their fields and served their communities in a variety of ways. An awards ceremony for the 2015 recipients took place during Fall Convocation on Thursday, September 3. If you know a VWC graduate who deserves to be recognized for their achievements, submit a nomination at www.vwc.edu/alumniawards.
PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
ACCOMPLISHED VWC GRADUATES HONORED
HONORARY ALUMNI: 2014 Alumni Awards honorees (from left) Howard D. Bartner ‘82, Anthony Stile, Jason Seward ‘05 and Teresa Annas ‘76.
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Make What Matters Count ROBERT and MERCEDES McNUTT of Erie, Pennsylvania consider Virginia Wesleyan College an extension of their immediate family. Their sons, Josh and Matt, chose to attend VWC, and for nine years the McNutt family has been closely connected to the College. They have supported VWC with their active involvement and service on the Parents’ Council. As a result of their close connections and the quality education, personal attention and financial assistance their sons received, the McNutts have made an estate gift to ensure that future generations of students will have the same opportunities afforded their sons. By choosing to include Virginia Wesleyan in their estate plans, the McNutts will leave a lasting legacy to the College to benefit future students.
PAY TRIBUTE TO YOUR PASSION Like the McNutt family, you can make a meaningful investment in a young person’s future. Naming Virginia Wesleyan College as a beneficiary of your estate can be a powerful tool for making what matters count. For a confidential conversation about including the College in your estate plans, please contact Lori McCarel ’94, Director of Leadership Giving, at 757.233.8786 or lmccarel@vwc.edu.
Alumni Pages
Michael Olmstead (2000) and Kelly Turner Olmstead (2001) welcomed a son, Kason Manning, to their family on May 29, 2015. He joins three older sisters, Madison, Kenzie and Kaylee. Matt Chester (2001) married Alana Jo Lincoln on May 2, 2015. Matt’s son, Jackson, was a handsome member of the wedding party. Amanda Elliott (2001) was promoted to assistant vice president at TowneBank in fall 2014, serving as the website and online product coordinator for eChannel Marketing. She joined TowneBank in 2012 and has nearly 15 years of marketing experience. Nicole (Linstedt) Morganthau (2001) owns Finch Sewing Studio in Leesburg, where she not only sells fabric and sewing supplies, but also offers sewing classes and sip and sew socials (or sew-cials, as she calls them). Her business was referred to in a recent Washington Post article as “a new hub for ‘modern sewists.’” Thomas Braca (2002) and Kari welcomed a baby boy, Deklyn Stephen, on September 23, 2014, weighing 6 lbs., 10 oz. Patrick McMahon (2002) and his wife, Aarynn, welcomed a daughter, Rorie Elizabeth, on June 6, 2015, at 8.2 lbs., 20 in. Big sister Mary Walsh is thrilled. Patrick serves as vice president at Nuveen Investments. Teresa Alutto-Schmidt (2002) recently joined Potomac Law Group as counsel. She focuses her practice on internal investigations and government enforcement litigation as well as traditional civil litigation. Tanisha Davis (2003)—leader of Family and Community Support Services for the Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation—was recognized for her service on the VBCDC affordable housing blog, Common Grounds. Bladen Finch (2003) was honored to receive Senate Resolution No. 44 in February 2014, commending his service to the Legislative Information and Communications Services staff section for the National Conference of State Legislatures. He was appointed to the staff section in 2009 as a director and rose to vice chair in 2011 before assuming the responsibilities of chair for the 20122013 term. He is employed as director of the Senate Page Program within the Senate Legislative Information and Constituent Services Office at the State Capitol in Richmond.
Monica Mapp (2003) resides in London, England, where she is enrolled in the Accelerated Master’s Program for Fashion Marketing and Management at the University of The Creative Arts. She plans to move to Italy or France to work as an international fashion buyer in a European Fashion Houses when she graduates in September 2015. Taylor Franklin (2004) is serving a five-year term as board chairman at Norfolk Collegiate School. He is chief operating officer and principal of the Franklin Johnston Group, a multi-family management and development company he co-founded in 2013. Kristi Lafoon (2004) is pursuing a master’s in literature through Northwestern State University’s online program. Nina (Hlebarova) Malone (2004) works at the Port of Virginia as director of market analysis, where she examines port terminal activity, international trade, and market data as it relates to the Port’s strategic trends and competitive position. She is married to her husband, Marty, and they have one daughter, Maya. Kindra McDonald (2004) will soon publish her first poetry collection, Concealed Weapons, with ELJ Publications. Julia (Green) Marks (2004) and Jeremy welcomed a daughter, Tessa Joan, on June 6, 2015. Older sisters, Amelia and Everly, are excited to welcome their baby sister. Ben Seidl (2004) and Aaron Foster Randolph (2008) returned to VWC during Winter Session 2015 to perform as part of the German indie folk project, roemer. Seidl is the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the musical collaboration. He relocated to Berlin after studying abroad and meeting his future wife, Jasmin, during his junior year. Erica Clarke (2005) and Evan Tachoir are happy to announce their engagement. The wedding ceremony will take place in March 2016. Clarke is the director of career services and senior instructor of communication at Penn State Greater Allegheny. Jeff Bradford (2005) and Rebecca (Leedom) Bradford (2010) welcomed a son, Zach, on March 19, 2015. He joins older brother, Landon. Kevin Otey Jr. (2005) was honored at Inside Business’ “Top Forty Under 40” awards ceremony in October 2014, recognized for his career achievements and involvement in the community.
Elizabeth (Robinson) Culpepper (2006) and Wayne welcomed a baby girl, Lillian Jeanne, on December 5, 2013. Joseph Durso (2006) and Kelly (Donnelly) Durso (2007) welcomed a son, Rylan James, on June 11, 2015. Big brother Keegan is very excited. Wendy Schafer Kuzinar (2006) welcomed a baby boy, Lucas, on February 2, 2015, weighing 7 lbs., 15 oz. Harley Swan (2006), an alumna of the VWC Cross Country Team, has run at least one mile every single day since 2005. She marked a decade-long running streak on January 29, 2015. Rob Thompson (2006) and Corrina (Clark) Thompson (2007) welcomed a son, Lukas Clark Thompson, on March 21, 2015. He joins big brother, Anton. Cara Wehman (2006) married Nolan Bradshaw in May 2015. Jenna Zitz Adams (2007) and John Adams welcomed a baby boy, Brooks Lewis, on September 22, 2014, weighing 8 lbs., 3 oz. Kristen Byrnes Alutto (2007) and husband, John Alutto (2007), welcomed a baby girl, Thea, on February 19, 2015, weighing 6 lbs., 5 oz. and 19.5 in. Thea joins brother, Wesley. Lyndsie Kidd Blakely (2007) was ordained as a deacon in full connection with the United Methodist Church in June 2015. She received her Master of Divinity from Duke University in 2010. Jennifer (Hurst) Cardenas (2007) has been promoted to benefits manager at HHHunt Corporation in Blacksburg, Virginia. Lauren Rector Doino (2007) and husband, Dave Doino (2005), welcomed a baby boy, Joseph, on February 6, 2015. Joseph joins big brother, Anthony, who is three. Dave is the head men’s basketball coach at Averett University in Danville, Virginia. Chelsea (Fry) Hansen (2007) was appointed provost and chief academic officer at Allied American University. She first joined the university in February 2014 as the dean of general studies. Wendy Schafer Kuznian (2007) and husband, Keith, welcomed a baby boy, Lucas, on February 2, 2015, weighing 7 lbs., 15 oz., and 20 in. Lucas joins older brother, Hunter. Laura (Nogrady) O’Gorman (2007) and Sean welcomed a daughter, Caitlin, on June 2, 2015.
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Class Notes
Christa (Mercer) Springstead (2007) and David Springstead Jr. proudly announced the birth of a baby boy, David “Davey” Springstead III, born August 3, 2014. Nicole Thurston (2007) accepted a position as an attorney in the Divorce/Family Law Group at Poole Mahoney PC in Virginia Beach. Desiree’ (Todd) Ladyman (2008) has accepted a position as a realtor at William E. Wood in Virginia Beach. Jennifer (Marshall) Rivas (2008) returned to Mukono District, Uganda for a second time in fall 2014 to teach at Grace Day School and Orphanage. Rivas has a long history of volunteering, spending her time visiting nursing home residents, mentoring children, helping with environmental restoration projects and delivering meals to senior citizens. Vickie Brynildsen Weber (2008) and husband, Robert, welcomed a baby girl, Abigail Jane, on February 7, 2015. She was 6 lbs., 14 oz, and 20 in. Lindsey Williams (2008) was named director of communications for the Great Lakes Valley Conference in February 2015. In this role, she oversees the promotion of several of the league’s 20 sports. She was also inducted to the seventh class of the VWC Athletic Hall of Fame in February 2015 (see below). Sebastien Austin (2009) appeared in a Reebok commercial in summer 2014, developed
as part of the athletic chain’s ZJets Human Dispatch Service campaign. Alex Hatcher (2009), program coordinator at Dare County Center (Older Adult Services), was the October 2014 Dare County Employee of the Month. She was presented with the award at a Board of Commissioners meeting. Sarah Tytler (2009) is moving to Scotland to attend the University of Glasgow’s Master in Fine Arts program for creative writing.
2010s
John Novak (2010) and Kristy (White) Novak (2010) welcomed a baby, Avery, on June 15, 2015. Patricia (Wilhelm) Stillwell (2010) and Adam Stillwell (2009) proudly announced the birth of a baby boy, Jeffery “Trace” Adam Stillwell III, weighing 7 lbs., 7 oz., on August 26, 2014. Ashleigh (Roberson) Diehl (2011) and her husband, Spencer, welcomed a daughter, Miah Elizabeth, on March 27 at 8 lbs., 19 in. Ashleigh and Spencer were married on the Tappahannock River on July 27, 2013. Rebecca Driscoll (2011) accepted a position as reference services and archives librarian at Caldwell College in New Jersey. Ari Durall (2011) has a regular blog called “Take the Long Way Home” on HamptonRoads.com, covering culture and lifestyle in the region. Brian Boettcher (2012) recently graduated from the Candler School of Theology at Emory
University. He began his appointment as associate pastor at Community United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach on July 1, 2015. Brandon Nichols (2012) was recently commissioned as a probationary elder in the United Methodist Church. He has been appointed to Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Suffolk, Virginia. Clancey Mayer (2013) and Jon Page were married on August 30, 2014. Tanisha McNeil (2013) accepted a position as staff accountant at McPhillips, Roberts and Deans, PLC in Norfolk. Tiffany Boyle (2014) is the chief executive officer and editor in chief of Emerge the Magazine, a Newport News publication that focuses on promoting entrepreneurs and cultural events. She is also executive director of Access Virginia, a non-profit organization that provides access to live theatre and the public venues for the disabled by providing open captioning and audio description accommodations. She is also executive director of Access Virginia. Katie Tassa (2014) graduated from the Virginia Beach Police Academy on January 9, 2015, finishing with the highest academic standing in her class with a 96.1 average. Please note: Class Notes are user-submitted and are reprinted with only minor edits for style and consistency.
Athletic Hall of Fame ESTABLISHED IN 2007, THE VIRGINIA Wesleyan College Athletic Hall of Fame honors those whose outstanding athletic achievements, service or significant contributions have had a lasting effect on VWC’s intercollegiate athletic program. Nominations for the Athletic Hall of Fame are accepted annually from April 1-August 31. Student-athletes are eligible for nomination five years after they’ve graduated. Marlin teams, coaches and friends of VWC athletics may also be nominated. The College’s eighth class will be recognized at the 2016 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon on Saturday, February 13. Join us to celebrate Marlin athletic accomplishments and to reminisce with fellow alumni and coaches. More information available at www.vwc.edu/HOF.
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PHOTO: JANICE MARSHALL-PITTMAN
COLLEGE TO INDUCT EIGHTH CLASS OF HONOREES ON FEBRUARY 13, 2016
BEST GAME: The seventh class of the VWC Athletic Hall of Fame included (from left): Lindsey J. Williams ’08 (women’s soccer); Matthew D. Sinnen ’83 (baseball and golf); Kelvin D. Murray, Jr. ’06 (men’s soccer); and retired VWC President Billy Greer.
Alumni Pages
PHOTO: ALYSHA YODER PHOTOGRAPHY
IN STORE: “Versatility is the modern-day insurance policy for professionals,” says grocery retail executive Spencer Baird ’00, pictured here in a Giant supermarket in Wertzville, Pennsylvania.
A Buyer’s Market Spencer Baird ’00 SPENCER BAIRD, A 2000 GRADUATE AND vice president of merchandising strategy at the $26 billion grocery retailer Ahold, is honest when asked what attracted him to Virginia Wesleyan College. He says it came down to sports. “I played basketball and tennis and wanted to play in college,” Baird says. “I could do that at Wesleyan.”
A typical teenage boy, for sure. The Lynchburg, Virginia native ended up playing basketball for two years and tennis for four at Wesleyan—great experiences and supplements to his classes in VWC’s Liberal Arts Management Program (LAMP). “Basketball Coach Dave Macedo’s success was and is so inspiring,” says Baird. “He and the legends of the business program—Bob Cass, Dave Garraty, Linda Ferguson, Ehsan
Salek—created such warmth on campus. The relationships formed with teachers were strong.” Baird jokes that he can’t remember the information from his economics classes. Or what might have been covered on his final exams. “I wasn’t the best student,” he says with a laugh. “I was prepared, though, when I did my internship. LAMP, as indicated by the name, was diverse in the classes we took. Versatility is the modern-day insurance policy for professionals; success requires versatility.” Baird’s internship came via classmate Kim Weling ’99. “She told me, ‘you’ve got to meet my boss,’” he remembers. At age 22, he found himself interning with Weling’s boss at Management Venture, Inc., earning 12 credits and getting paid. “I was learning why retailers make the decisions they do and sharing that information with manufacturers. I was so young, making good money and making contacts with presidents of companies.” Baird was hired after graduation and soon took on more responsibility. “I convinced my boss to let me meet a company representative in person. That wasn’t something we had money for, but he agreed that if I landed the deal, he’d pay me back for my airfare,” Baird says. “I did and became responsible for nearly 25 percent of our business.” He went on to earn top positions with HJ Heinz, The Dannon Company and Kellogg. His jobs, which have combined grocery retail with financial management, match his background perfectly. “What I do know is the best of both worlds,” he says. "My grandfather was a meat cutter and a grocery store owner. My other grandfather was a commodity trader. I’m right in the middle. I connect on both sides.” The now Pennsylvania resident travels a great deal. He is married to his wife, Amanda, with one son, Hunter, and a daughter on the way in September 2015. Work and family are certainly keeping him busy and will continue to, but he hopes to visit Wesleyan in the future. “I have been back before, to talk with students,” he says. “I’d like to do that again. I like to tell them and everyone: You have to take advantage of internships. You’re missing out if you don’t.” — Kristen De Deyn Kirk
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Alumni Pages
The House That Built Us A MESSAGE FROM AMY RICKARD ’98, VIRGINIA WESLEYAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD PRESIDENT IT IS WITH GREAT enthusiasm and excitement that I continue to serve as president of Virginia Wesleyan’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. I often reflect on the education I received at VWC—an education that has provided me with a strong foundation for a successful and fulfilling life. I’ve long felt the need to give back to VWC, both with my time and with financial contributions that help advance the College. I am proud to announce that 100 percent of the Alumni Board made gifts to VWC during the 2014-2015 fiscal year. I am personally grateful to each of our members, and I hope you will join us in supporting Virginia
Wesleyan’s strategic priorities—the Annual Fund for Academic Excellence, Marlin Athletic Club, the Alumni Legacy Endowed Scholarship Fund or other special projects. It is said that without change, there cannot be progress. This is a formative time for our alma mater, with the arrival of VWC’s fourth president, Dr. Scott D. Miller, and the forthcoming Greer Environmental Sciences Center. As alumni, we have a unique ability to help grow the foundation that built us. I encourage you to get involved, whether through recruitment, interaction with current students, campus events, or support with a financial gift. I look forward to this new year of progress and hope to see you on campus.
2015-2016 Alumni Association Board of Directors The Alumni Association Board of Directors represents all VWC alumni by serving as advocates for the College. Members volunteer their time each year, actively participating in the planning of networking events, regional socials and Homecoming & Parent Weekend. The Board’s goal is to provide leadership as alumni and to connect, participate, champion and support Virginia Wesleyan College. Meet the members of our 2015-2016 Board: OFFICERS Amy Mallett Rickard ’98 President Vice President of Marketing AAA Tidewater Virginia Ron Swan ’77 Vice President President Advanced Dealer Services, Inc. Aaron Bull ’95 Secretary CEO/President/Founder Bull & Company MediaWorks Cathy Holava ’93 Treasurer Vice President Global Fraud Detections Senior Programmer/Analyst, Bank of America
MEMBERS Anne Marie Burroughs ’04 Realtor, William E. Wood Angela D. Costello ’87 Vice President, Marketing & Client Relations, AdAir & BOSH Technologies
Kelly Keys ’13 RecX Supervisor Virginia Wesleyan College
Troy DeLawrence ’93 Sr. Quality Assurance Analyst, CACI
John Maravich ’11 Energy Data Analyst, PlotWatt
Jesse Fanshaw ’72 Retiree, Virginia Wesleyan College
Mavis McKenley ’11 Vice President and Trust Officer AMG National Trust Bank
Linda A. Ferguson, Faculty Liaison VWC Professor of Management, Business, and Economics Laura B. Gadsby ’90 Director of Enrollment and Marketing, Beth Sholom Village Kimberly H. Harriman ’90 Admissions Counselor/Coordinator of Special Projects Virginia Wesleyan College
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Vikki Holliday-Keifer ’05 Special Projects Manager/ Documentation Specialist Mode Transportation
Patrick McMahon ’02 Vice President, Advisor Consultant Nuveen Investments Kevin Otey ’05 Community Partnership Manager Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore
Molly Phillips ’02 Teacher and Coach Dover High School Amber Randolph ’05 Attorney, Willcox & Savage, P.C. Rachel Rigoglioso ’10 Certified Paralegal-Licensing LoanCare, LLC Shelby St. Gelais ’12 Assistant Director of Admissions for Transfers and Special Populations Virginia Wesleyan College Nicole Thurston ’07 Attorney, Poole Mahoney PC Beth Widamier ’99 Registered Nurse, Riverside Regional Medical Center
CONNECTING Classroom to Career “
At Virginia Wesleyan, each class is engaging and small, enabling students to speak their minds and voice their opinions freely. Most of the classes I took had real world examples integrated into the lessons. As a result, I received an education that directly correlates to what I’ll experience in the professional world.
“
THOMAS MILLS ’15
Thomas Mills ’15 is pursuing his passion. With
an entrepreneurial approach to his role as editor-in-chief
a bachelor’s degree in communication from Virginia
of VWC’s student newspaper, The Marlin Chronicle, by
Wesleyan, he’s off to the prestigious Grady College of
redesigning its online presence and initiating podcasts.
Journalism and Mass Communication at the University
His internship with the College Communications office
of Georgia to earn an M.A. in advertising. At Wesleyan,
helped hone valuable writing and photography skills.
he was actively involved in the classroom and on
The Annual Fund for Academic Excellence supports annual scholarships, undergraduate research opportunities, and study away programming and internships, ensuring that Virginia Wesleyan students like Thomas have access to a 21st century liberal arts education that prepares them well for their futures.
campus. An independent research project enabled him to experience journalism in a meaningful way while presenting at conferences nationwide. He brought
CONTRIBUTE TO MEANINGFUL FUTURES Support the Annual Fund for Academic Excellence Visit www.vwc.edu/giveonline, call College Advancement at 757-455-3242 or email annualfund@vwc.edu
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Norfolk, VA Permit No. 27
OFFICE OF COLLEGE COMMUNICATIONS 1584 Wesleyan Drive Norfolk, Virginia 23502 757.455.3200 www.vwc.edu
I am Virginia Wesleyan.