MARLIN

V i r g i n i a

W e s l e y a n

C o l l e g e

Carnegie Hall The Road to

PASSION AND PERSISTENCE: Virginia Wesleyan College makes its debut at one of the world's most prestigious venues

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Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 1 /

photo: thomas mills '15

STRIKING OUT CANCER: The Marlin softball team continued to score big in competition and in our hearts in 2014.

They not only took home the ODAC Championship but raised nearly $13,000 for the American Cancer Society during the Sixth Annual Strike Out Cancer event held on campus in April. Pictured here, Tori Higginbotham ’14 puts on her game face for a good cause.

36 F e at u r e s

18

The Road to Carnegie Hall

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Passion and persistence lead VWC choir to one of the world’s most prestigious venues

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Secrets in the Rocks Communication professor Stu Minnis explores origins of life on earth in a new documentary

VWC 2020: Pathway to Prominence The 2014-2020 strategic plan for Virginia Wesleyan College

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Frigid Glaciers, Warm Hearts Blackfeet immersion: Life and education on a Montana reservation

Board of Trustees CHAIRMAN Gary D. Bonnewell '79

VICE CHAIRMAN

SECRETARY

David L. Kaufman

Vincent J. Mastracco Jr.

TREASURER Anne B. Shumadine

56 Departments 4

FROM THE EDITOR

6

WESLEYAN WINDOW

36 ACADEMIA 44

LIVING & LEARNING

51

MARLIN ATHLETICS

Alexandra G. Arias '03 Jane P. Batten H'06 Susan Torma Beverly '72 George Y. Birdsong Thomas C. Broyles Deborah H. Butler Young Jin Cho* Lynn B. Clements B. Minette Cooper Robert H. DeFord Jr. O. L. (Butch) Everett Dale R. Foley William H. George Susan S. Goode William W. Granger III William T. Greer Jr.* Alexander B. Joyner* Seonyoung Kim* Ronald M. Kramer

John F. Malbon Elizabeth F. Middleton '91 Jerrold L. Miller Tassos J. Paphites '79 Deborah M. Paxson '75 Robin D. Ray Amy Rickard ’98* Richard D. Roberts H'08 Jeanne Polizos Ross Louis F. Ryan Alvin J. Schexnider William S. Shelhorse '70 M. Wayne Snead * Joseph R. Thomas William H. Thumel Jr. John A. Trinder George K. (Chip) Tsantes III '83 D. Henry Watts H'07 *ex officio

56 ALUMNI PAGES

ON THE COVER: (From left) VWC Director of Choral Music Michael John Trotta, Collette Vauthier ’17, Emily Powers ’17, Tyler Turner ’17, Darrell Wood ’17 and Alyana Mack ’15.

(Photography by Janice Marshall-Pittman; Digital Enhancement by Chris Gallagher)

Trustees Emeriti S. Frank Blocker Jr. Robert F. Boyd H'09 Jerry G. Bray Jr.** William J. Fanney James W. Griffiths Helen Hoffman H'03** Henry C. Hofheimer II H'02** H. P. McNeal** Kenneth R. Perry H'02** Ralph G. Roop** Mary W. Thrasher** Benjamin J. Willis Jr. **deceased

As of July 31, 2014

TIMELY TRIBUTE: Mindy Bertram '15 and Josh Begley '15 put the finishing touches on a temporary public art project honoring retiring VWC President Billy Greer.

From the Editor

Creating the Future

By Leona Baker While former U.S. President George W. Bush recently made headlines with his newfound love of painting, during the summer of 2014 a group of Virginia Wesleyan students took “presidential art” in a different direction altogether.

As part of art professor John Rudel’s three-week “Intro to Studio Art” course, Josh Begley ’15, Mindy Bertram ’15, Kadija Corinaldi ’16 and Shauncey Maver ’17, created a three-foot by five-foot poster likeness of Virginia Wesleyan College President Billy Greer.

In choosing Greer as their subject matter, the students wanted to reflect a current topic on campus as well as pay tribute to the College’s leader, who recently announced he would retire in 2015 after more than 20 years as president.

“He has been so good to this school,” student Mindy Bertram told me in June. “We wanted to show that we all really admire him and the work that he has done for Virginia Wesleyan. We wanted him to know that people stand behind him and just to say thank you for everything.”

The image, which was temporarily adhered to the brick wall on the exterior of Bray Village on campus, was created by digitally manipulating a photograph of

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President Greer (originally taken by wellknown local photographer Glen McClure), printing enlarged sections of the photo and then gluing the sections together on the wall with wheat paste, a mixture of flour or starch and water.

The aesthetic look of the piece, which uses planes of color to represent different values, is based on artist Shepard Fairey’s “Hope” poster featuring then presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008. The class got the idea for the poster after studying public art and watching the documentary film Exit through the Gift Shop (2010) by street artist Bansky.

“We began the class talking about the giant Rubber Duck that recently appeared in The Hague at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk and this idea of art as spectacle and playing with the idea of celebrity as well,” says Rudel. “In this kind of art, the reaction to the work is part of it, to be part of the buzz— the feedback loop of popular culture.”

The image includes the name “Billy” in large letters along the bottom, a nod to the president’s personable nature with students and preference for being called by the informal version of his first name.

The poster is not the first of its type to adorn the walls outside of Village I, which

Rudel has unofficially dubbed VWC’s “Arts Plaza.” Students have created several other public art projects under Rudel’s direction in recent years, two as part of “First-Year Experience” courses and another during Winter Session, a special three-week academic term held each January at the College.

Images used for wheat paste posters have ranged from great leaders and classic paintings to animated figures and film icons such as the Minions from Despicable Me and the characters from The Wizard of Oz. Also, in fall 2012, incoming students created paintings on the interior walls of their residence halls as part of a campus initiative called “Embrace Your Space.” These projects create experiential learning opportunities for students concerning not only the nature of public art but how they can interact in a meaningful way with the spaces and places in which they live and work.

The 2014-2015 academic year will be a time of transition, momentum, and tremendous new opportunities at Virginia Wesleyan. As I mentioned in the opening of this letter, the College will celebrate the legacy of its third president, Dr. William T. Greer Jr., who came to Virginia Wesleyan in 1992.

During the president’s 22-year tenure, VWC has experienced significant transformation, including expanded enrollment; the most successful fundraising campaign in the College’s history and significant growth to its endowment; the implementation of a new curriculum; and new construction and renovation of College facilities.

President Greer’s final year in office will undoubtedly be a dynamic one. In his words, it’s “Pedal to the Metal” (page 64).

Fall 2014 marks the implementation of a new strategic plan for the College, called VWC 2020: Pathway to Prominence (page 26) and approved by the Board in May. The plan articulates strategies for the College’s primary goal of providing a transformational educational experience for its students.

Fundraising for the construction of a new academic building devoted to the arts

is key among several capital improvement projects that align with the strategic plan. A three-year effort is underway, launched by an initial $5 million challenge gift made by the Goode family in 2013. This new building has the potential not only to inspire student creativity and engagement on a new level but to change the face of our campus in a way that engenders a more profound sense of place for our college community.

As the Virginia Wesleyan community envisions a future that includes this new facility, the arts continue to be alive and well on campus and beyond. The cover story of this issue of Marlin Magazine celebrates an artistic milestone for the College—the institution’s first-ever appearance at Carnegie Hall (page 18).

For details on all of the exciting arts events—concerts, plays, exhibits and more—taking place on campus this year, see our 2014-2015 Arts Calendar on page 32.

And if you’re on campus any time soon, be on the lookout for those public art projects that have been known to pop up on walls and structures when you least expect it.

Other features in this issue include a story about a new documentary short film about the ancient fossils of Mistaken Point in Newfoundland, produced by Professor of Communication Stu Minnis (page 22), and an article by recent graduate Melissa Snyder ’12 about the Blackfeet Immersion education program in Montana (page 26), a uniquely transformative program offered at VWC during Winter Session.

As always, the pages of this magazine are filled with news and happenings along with stories and features about many of the College’s remarkable students, faculty, staff and alumni and their passions and projects.

I hope you’ll fall for our “Love Your Library” social media photo contest marking the fifth anniversary of the renovation of Hofheimer Library on page 48 and that you’re not too squeamish to meet biology professor Vic Townsend’s “Precious” on page 36.

It’s our privilege to share these stories with you—whether you are a member of the VWC family, a visitor, friend, supporter, partner or neighbor. Thank you for all you do to make the Marlin community a thriving place to live, work and learn.

Leona Baker is the Director of College Communications at Virginia Wesleyan College. For questions or comments regarding the content of Marlin Magazine, contact her at lbaker1@vwc.edu.

MAGAZINE STAFF

ADMINISTRATION

Publisher Laynee Timlin

William Greer, President

Editor-in-Chief Leona Baker Assistant Editor Stephanie Smaglo Art Director Mary Millar Hester Production Manager & Photography Director Janice Marshall-Pittman Contributing Writers Elizabeth Blachman Kristen De Deyn Kirk Melissa Snyder ’12 Victor Townsend Joe Wasiluk Advertising Designer Christine Hall Contributing Photographers Vicki Cronis-Nohe Rebecca Drobis Chris Gallagher Jon Limtiaco/Exposure Photography Amanda McGee Thomas Mills ’15 J.J. Nekoloff Augusta Pittman Dan Proud ’07 Katie Rogers ’15 Richard Thomas Ada van Tine ’14 Joe Wasiluk Aubrey Westfall Contributing Photo Editor Augusta Pittman College Archivist Stephen Mansfield

David Buckingham, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Enrollment Services Timothy O’Rourke, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Kenneth R. Perry Dean of the College Cary Sawyer, Vice President of Finance Laynee Timlin, Director of Strategic Planning and Assistant to the President Mita Vail, Vice President for College Advancement Bruce Vaughan, Vice President of Operations ALUMNI RELATIONS Lina Green, Alumni Relations 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 (above).

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, please contact lbaker1@vwc.edu.

Website: www.vwc.edu Printed on recycled paper by Jones Printing Service

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 5 /

Wesleyan Window HEAD OF THE CLASS: Gary Bonnewell (foreground) as Student Government Vice President in 1978.

He is pictured with fellow students Charlie Jones ‘79 (background) and Mark Webber ‘79 (center).

An Alumnus at the Helm As the first-ever graduate of VWC to be named Chairman of the Board of Trustees, gary Bonnewell ’79 intends to lead the way forward while staying true to the College’s roots

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When Gary Bonnewell ’79 worked for the VWC campus radio station during his junior year, there was a sign on the station wall warning student DJs that they were only permitted to play “Evergreen” by Barbra Streisand once during a shift.

Bonnewell, who in the fall of 2013 became the first alumnus in VWC history to be named chairman of the College’s Board of Trustees, held many jobs while he was a student at Wesleyan. He was the athletic trainer for VWC sports teams. He interned in the Office of College Advancement under Vice President Emeritus James Bergdoll.

He served as vice president of the Student Government Association.

He helped plan the College’s first Homecoming celebration.

In many ways, he is the poster child of the VWC success story. A Norfolk native, he considered several area colleges before financial aid and work study convinced him to become a Marlin. He had a “very rich experience” at VWC that he describes as “truly liberal arts.”

That rich experience has translated into a rich personal and professional life for Bonnewell, who is currently First Vice President, Wealth Management for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Newport News. “‘Bring a spark, light a fire,’ that’s not a trite marketing line,” he says.

“That is the touchstone in my mind.

I believe Virginia Wesleyan is in the transformational business. We transform people from who they are to who they want to be.”

Bonnewell, who succeeds O.L. “Butch” Everett as Chairman of the Board, has a vision for Virginia Wesleyan’s future that embraces growth while remaining true to the College’s roots.

“Core beliefs, core values are core because that is what sets the North compass point,” he says. “You have to know where you’re going. You have to know the ‘why.’ Why are we here? What makes us unique?

What makes us special? Because if we know that, then the where becomes very simple.”

When VWC President Billy Greer recently announced his retirement plans for 2015, Bonnewell noted that, “what President Greer has achieved at Virginia Wesleyan College is nothing short of remarkable.”

As Chairman, Bonnewell will oversee a process that includes a national search for the College’s next president.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: An early rendering illustrates renovation plans for Blocker Auditorium. Updates were completed in summer 2014.

A Better Blocker

photo: Janice marshall–pittman

HISTORIC OCCASION: (From left) Gary Bonnewell, Virginia Wesleyan College President Billy Greer, and outgoing Board Chairman Butch Everett.

photo: Cho Benn Holback + Associates

Wesleyan Window

VWC’s natural sciences building, Blocker Hall, received more than a half million dollars in renovations in summer 2014 due to the generosity of three private donors.

A newly landscaped entryway overlooking Smith Drive was installed at the building’s North Entrance along with the creation of a foyer and reception area. In addition, the auditorium received updated seating, new flooring and ceiling, and improved lighting and HVAC systems. Both areas were made more handicap accessible, benefiting students like Elizabeth Sims ‘16, who uses a wheelchair.

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the donors who have made these renovations possible,” she says. “They help show current and future students, parents, faculty, and friends just how inclusive and welcoming we, as Marlins, strive to be.”

Formerly office and storage space, Blocker 103 and 230 were also transformed into project labs, providing resources for up to five undergraduate research projects per semester.

Construction was done by R.D. Lambert & Son, who also completed Blocker’s $2.8 million modernization of laboratory spaces in 2010 and 2011.

Monumental Impact In his 2013 State of the College Address, VWC President Billy Greer shared the exciting findings of a study done by Dr. James Koch, Board of Visitors Professor of Economics at Old Dominion University, on the economic impact of Virginia Wesleyan College on the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. The study, which characterized VWC as a “large economic enterprise,” found that the College’s overall contribution to the local economy totaled $376.13 million. This figure factored in the spending and ripple effects of Virginia Wesleyan’s 290 full-time and 96 parttime employees, approximately 1,400 students and 4,000 area alumni. Along with the College’s numerous intellectual and cultural contributions to the community, the study underlines the institution’s financial significance in the region’s seven largest cities.

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photo: Janice marshall–pittman

College's financial contribution to Hampton Roads totals $376.13 million, according to 2013 economic impact study

Wesleyan Window

Points of Pride as one of the nation’s best by The • Chosen Princeton Review and featured in its guide:

The Best 378 Colleges: 2014 Edition. among the top tier of National Liberal • Named Arts Colleges in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges guide, which also recognizes VWC as one of the most diverse institutions in the country.

by The Princeton Review as one of • Selected the most environmentally responsible colleges in the U.S. and Canada; profiled in its Guide to 332 Green Colleges: 2014 Edition. as one of the top eight liberal arts • Recognized colleges in the country for veterans by U.S.

News & World Report in its November 2013 inaugural ranking of the Best Colleges for Veterans. as a 2014-2015 College of • Honored Distinction, chosen for excellence in studentfocused higher education and exemplary commitment to the Four Distinctions set forth by CollegesofDistinction.com: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes. with numerous community • Partnerships organizations, including a 25-year relationship with Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads (read more on page 44).

On-Campus Winter Homeless • Week-long Shelter in its eighth year, the only homeless shelter known to be operated on the property of a college campus in the U.S.

photo: Thomas Mills ’15

Virginia Wesleyan received its fair share of commendations in 2014 and beyond.

Pardon us while we pat ourselves on the back.

On Their Own Turf Birdsongs make generous $1 million challenge gift for synthetic turf field

UP TO THE CHALLENGE: The Birdsongs' gift leads the way toward a state-of-the art venue for student-athletes like women’s field hockey captain Jenny Wilkins ’15.

A $1 million challenge gift was made in January 2014

by Birdsong Corporation and George and Sue Birdsong to be put toward the installation of a synthetic turf field at VWC’s Outdoor Athletic Complex.

“The Birdsongs have provided tremendous leadership to the College by supporting some of our most important initiatives,” said Virginia Wesleyan President Billy Greer. “This enormously generous gift will support more than 150 student-athletes playing men’s and women’s lacrosse and field hockey and will support all of our students who desire to play a variety of intramural sports.”

The NCAA Division III athletics programs at VWC are a vital part of the college experience for the student-athletes who represent nearly 30 percent of the student population. This new synthetic turf field will provide a state-of-the-art venue for training and hosting athletic competitions.

In the same spirit of competitiveness and teamwork so vital to successful athletics, the Birdsongs’ contribution was offered as a one-to-one challenge gift. Other donors are challenged to make additional contributions totaling $1 million for this premier outdoor athletic facility by December 31, 2015.

Like the recent gift from the Goode family for a new academic building for the arts, this gift came at a time when VWC was immersed in a strategic planning process that is now setting the direction for the future of the College. The arts building and the Outdoor Athletic Complex will bring a greater sense of arrival and presence to the entrance of the College and will address the overall modernization and beautification of the campus.

For more information about this project, Virginia Wesleyan College and our strategic initiatives, contact Mita Vail, Vice President for College Advancement at mvail@vwc.edu or at 757.455.3205.

The Wesleyan Promise A new program designed to increase assistance to students with financial need was announced in spring 2014 by VWC President Billy Greer and the Office of Financial Aid. Beginning in the 2014-2015 academic year, “The Wesleyan Promise” will provide students with renewable awards based on academic performance, financial need, and extracurricular involvement consistent with the College’s mission and core values.

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“There is much added value to a private liberal arts education,” says Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Enrollment Services David Buckingham. “But there are also considerable costs associated with that value. The Wesleyan Promise helps shrink the affordability gap for many."

In its inaugural year, more than 100 returning students received grants between $1,000 and $4,000, allowing them to continue their education at VWC.”

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 18 • November 8 February 7 • March 7

We can’t wait to meet you!

Contact our Admissions Office by calling 800.737.8684/757.455.3208 or email admissions@vwc.edu

From TCC to VWC program agreements OFFER affordability and streamlined transfer process A series of agreements between Tidewater Community College (TCC) and Virginia Wesleyan now offer students a streamlined transfer process and competitive scholarships, allowing completion of a four-year degree at a private liberal arts college for an affordable price.

The agreements took effect at the beginning of the 2013-2014 academic year and were marked by a ceremonial signing event at VWC in August 2013, cohosted by TCC President Dr. Edna Baehre-Kolovani and VWC President Billy Greer.

“For several decades, we have greatly valued our relationship with TCC and, in particular, their graduates,” says Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Enrollment Services David Buckingham. “These agreements are the result of the work of many and represent a productive partnership that will benefit VWC students for years to come.”

Students can enroll in one of 12 programs upon their acceptance to TCC and may transfer to VWC following successful completion of a two-year associate degree.

Competitive scholarships are available for program participants who complete an associate degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. These scholarships, combined with the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant, reduce out-of-pocket tuition costs between 45 and 67 percent. Students may be considered for additional financial aid and/or loans by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

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photo: Janice marshall–pittman

Faculty Focus

Meet the Faculty: Dr. Alain Gabon Professor never thought he’d live or teach in America; now he can’t imagine a better way to appreciate his native France and newfound home

photo: Janice marshall–pittman

When Alain Gabon, Associate professor of French at Virginia Wesleyan for 14 years, says he’s going to close his office door during an interview, one suspects he might be gearing up to say something controversial. Maybe about religion?

A woman’s role in the world? Politics in America?

After all, Gabon—who was born and raised in Dijon, France—lectures and writes about these topics often. Recent publications include: “Egypt: The 5 Reasons of the Coup,” published in August 2013 in Saphirnews; and “Is Islamophobia Losing Ground in France?,” published

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WORK AND PLAY: French professor Alain Gabon has a passion for film and taking on topics like religion, gender and politics with a diplomatic pen.

in November 2013 in Les Cahiers de l’Islam.

Gabon has been traveling back and forth between the States and his native France for more than 20 years and loves both countries.

“I said I was coming for just one year. After having earned my bachelor’s in English and American literature and civilization from University of Dijon-Burgundy and teaching in London, I took some courses in America and then figured, well, it would be bad to do the courses and not get a degree.”

A year turned into a master’s in French studies and a doctorate in French studies and film.

His passion for film continues in his teaching and writing today. In addition to his current course load of French language, culture and history, he hopes in the future to teach not only French film, but also international and independent cinema.

“I love film for the richness and diversity it offers. It’s not just about entertainment, but a way to revisit moments of history and a tool to explore reality.”

Wesleyan Window

Taking Care of Business

Faculty Focus

MBE professors celebrate noteworthy career milestones in 2014 Arriving at Virginia Wesleyan in 1983, Weiss has taught courses in accounting, international business, and economic development over the last 31 years.

A big supporter of the arts, Weiss attends most, if not all, music and theatre productions on campus. He’s an avid musical theatre fan and even starred in two productions with the VWC Theatre Department.

In retirement, he’ll continue cataloging his massive music collection, travel with his daughter, and spend time with visitors at his oceanfront home. He also looks forward to tackling cultural grounds he’s not yet covered.

“Books I haven’t read, music I haven’t heard, and places I haven’t visited. I’ll do those as long as I can." continued on page 12

FOND FAREWELL: Retiring business professor Fred Weiss will be remembered for his love of literature, musical stage and world travel.

photo: Janice marshall–pittman

2014 was a big year for business at Virginia Wesleyan.

After 31 years at the College, Assistant Professor of Management/ Business/Economics Fred Weiss entered the ranks of retiring faculty, and MBE professors Bob Albertson and Dave Garraty each celebrated 35 years of employment at VWC. Here’s a look back at the lives and accomplishments of these beloved faculty members.

If you’ve ever had the good fortune of spending more than 10 minutes with Fred Weiss, you’re probably aware of two defining interests he holds very close to his heart : his daughter, of whom he speaks proudly and adoringly, and travel, for which he has an unequivocal and deep-rooted love.

Growing up in 1940s Atlantic City, Weiss worked the boardwalk selling newspapers and made-for-TV kitchen gadgets. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Temple University before joining the military as a Naval Supply Officer in 1958.

“People pay thousands of dollars to take cruises, and here, they were paying me [to travel the world],” he says. “And the camaraderie—I enjoyed that. The officers were almost all college graduates and many of them were scholars. There was an intellectual exchange, you see.”

In the early 1960s, Weiss was sent to New York City as a Naval reservist. It was here that he decided to learn new languages.

Today, in addition to English, he’s fluent in seven: Italian, Spanish, Indonesian, French, Deutsch, Modern Greek, and the Portuguesederived Papiamento.

After he married his wife, Mary Ruth, Weiss left the Navy and pursued a graduate degree in international management. He then moved to the Caribbean island of Curaçao, making a name for himself as a controller and later a vice president of finance at a global financial institute.

Weiss found his way to Virginia Beach in the late 1970s, where he became a certified public accountant. It was around this time that he lost his wife and began raising their nine-year-old daughter, Lisa, on his own. Like her father, Lisa has a passion for travel.

Photo courtesy of the Virginian-Pilot | Vicki Cronis-Nohe

Center Transformation Long-time VWC faculty member Craig Wansink has been appointed as the new Joan P. and Macon F. Brock Jr. Director of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom (CSRF).

Created in fall 1996, the Center serves as a resource for education, respectful dialogue, and mutual understanding for people of all faith traditions. Together with new associate director Kelly Jackson, Wansink will lead the College’s plans to modernize CSRF. “The Center seeks to leverage the entire college experience— inside and outside of the classroom—in making the ideals of religious freedom come alive for our students,” Wansink says.

“Determining how we do so in 2014 is what makes this calling both exciting and meaningful.”

Matters of faith: Craig Wansink has been a professor in the Department of Religious Studies since 1993. He will continue to teach part time in addition to his new role as CSRF director.

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 11 /

Wesleyan Window Faculty Focus

Bob Albertson celebrated 35 years of VWC employment in 2014. Known affectionately as “Dr. Bob” to his students, he currently teaches in addition to his responsibilities as business internship director and chair of the Division of Social Sciences. He’s also spent time over the years as coordinator of the MBE Department and associate dean of the College.

“It’s certainly been a wonderful life,” he says. “Working at Virginia Wesleyan has allowed me not only to have a profession and a career, but truly an extension of my own life. I’m able to mix my love of administration and ability to teach. That’s an unusual thing at a college.”

Also celebrating 35 years of service is Dave Garraty, who began his VWC career as a visiting assistant professor in 1979. Throughout the years he advanced his teaching roles before becoming a full-fledged professor in 1992. He spent time as the MBE program coordinator and was awarded Batten Professorship from 2006-2009. He currently teaches courses in economics and finance.

“The College really does provide a caring community where students can grow both academically and personally,” he says. “As a child of the 1960s, that sense of community and the importance of the individual has made it a pleasure for me to teach here for three and a half decades.”

while evoking a more tangible side of history.

“I wanted to create a transformative learning experience that was hands-on and pushed students beyond their comfort zones. It got them out into the community in an important way and helped us find interesting, unknown connections.”

The experimental course “Digital History,” taught by history professor Richard Bond, helps take Casey’s assignment one step further by demonstrating scholars’ increasing use of online methods in historical study and teaching students how to apply digital tools to a variety of projects—including the creation of a digital archive of the recorded Westminster Canterbury interviews.

“We want to use technology to share the human side of history with others,” Casey says. “That takes it from an educational experience to an expanded project with permanent significance.”

Casey was selected as a recipient of the Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning grant in 2014 for her project, “Making History Matter: Bringing Public History to Virginia Wesleyan College.” She plans to develop a public history program that will provide VWC students with continuing opportunities to link theories and skills taught in the classroom to concrete, transformative experiences beyond campus. The program will better prepare students for a wider range of careers while fostering meaningful relationships between VWC and neighboring institutions.

photo: Janice marshall–pittman

business (continued)

LIVE AND LEARN: Kathleen Casey invites students to play an interactive role in living, breathing history.

Keeping History Alive Professor uses technology to bring the past to life Assistant Professor of History Kathleen Casey wants to show her students that history is much more than simply “a stale list of facts about people who don’t seem very real or relevant to us today.”

To accomplish this, she asked her fall 2013 “Introduction to Historiography” students to become oral historians, interviewing residents of Westminster Canterbury retirement community in Virginia Beach. The assignment demonstrated the unique set of challenges historians face

The Virginia Wesleyan campus community was deeply saddened at the loss of one of its own last winter, as Dr. Tina Aldrich lost her battle with a rare form of uterine cancer on December 27, 2013.

Tina worked as an assistant professor in the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department for three years. She loved to teach and was passionate about her students and their learning experiences.

An avid outdoorswoman, Tina had a love for nature and the elements. Her passion for giving back to society was evident in the many lives she touched volunteering her time and expertise in outdoor education and her skill with human powered watercraft.

"Tina had the enviable ability to connect instantly with people she met,” says Wayne Pollock, friend and fellow recreation and leisure studies professor. “That’s one of the many wonderful qualities she possessed which made her such a strong and admired educator, colleague, and friend. Her energy and positive calming presence are fond reminders of how we should treat each other throughout life’s journey."

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photo: Janice marshall–pittman

In Our Hearts

Wesleyan Window Student Spotlight

photo: Janice marshall–pittman

DISPLAY OF EXCELLENCE: 2014 graduates (from left) Cindy Rodriguez, Deven Brown, Scott Westfall and Allison Dazey each shared special projects at VWC's ninth annual Academic Fair.

Research and Recognitions It was a great year for undergraduate research and experiential learning at VWC. The annual Undergraduate Research Symposium was held on campus April 28-May 2, 2014. Students presented their research in nightly forums representing all three academic divisions—Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences & Mathematics.

Project titles ranged from “The Nature of Racism in Harry Potter” (Laura Fitrer ’14) to “Nutrient Excretion in Sexually Dimorphic Fish” (Lisa Murray ’14).

The week of the Symposium culminates in a celebration on Friday that includes the Spring Honors Convocation, at which students from a wide variety of academic disciplines are honored for their achievements in the classroom and beyond. Convocation is followed by a reception and Academic Fair. Students present posters featuring undergraduate research, internships and special projects at the fair. This year’s fair was held in the Hofheimer Library and included a special improvisation performance by VWC theatre students.

The 2013-2014 academic year also boasted a number of undergraduate research related highlights.

Erin Smith ’15, an earth and environmental science major, was accepted into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Greater Research Opportunities Fellowship program.

Smith is the fifth VWC student to receive the fellowship, which includes tuition support and a paid summer research internship.

Also, VWC was awarded $30,000 through Dominion Virginia Power and the Dominion Foundation’s Higher Education Partnership program, which helps fund projects in renewable energy, environmental studies, engineering and workforce development. The one-year grant was used primarily for undergraduate research measuring and monitoring water quality and biota in storm water management ponds that have been planted with emergent, submerged and shoreline vegetation.

Integrity Starts Here A student-led communication campaign designed to promote honor, trust and personal responsibility among Virginia Wesleyan students, saw campus-wide success in the spring and fall 2013 semesters.

“Integrity Starts Here”—created and launched by students in Lisa Lyon Payne’s “Public Relations” classes—sought to increase campus involvement with the VWC Honor Code. Success was measured based on students’ pre- and post-campaign understanding of the code’s five violations: cheating, plagiarism, lying, academic theft, and falsifying data.

To spread awareness, students distributed pocket Honor Codes, stress-relieving “squeeze brains” and a variety of meme-like posters (pictured right) campus wide. They also participated in the homecoming parade and utilized social media. Results from an online survey sent to enrolled students showed a significant increase in ability to define the offenses.

The campaign was a product of Payne's 2013 Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning grant.

She ultimately hopes to see ongoing Honor Code awareness efforts implemented and overseen by a student-run honor council.

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 13 /

photo: Janice marshall–pittman

Student Spotlight

FAB FOUR: (From left) Rebecca Edwards, Kyle Austin, April Christman and Jasmine Motley were the first students to graduate from VWC with a Bachelor of Social Work in 2014.

A Degree for the People College’s new Bachelor of Social Work built on old standard of excellence A group of four women—the first ever to receive Bachelor of Social Work degrees from Virginia Wesleyan—could easily be dubbed “The Fab Four.”

Class of 2014 graduate April Christman went on to Smith College School of Social Work, where she’s studying for her master’s degree and working at Creative Alternatives at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. Jasmine Motley ’14 works as a child protective services case manager in Atlanta.

Rebecca Edwards ’14 is focusing her efforts on ending homelessness; and Kyle Austin ’14 is building on an internship where she worked with emotionally disturbed children.

This makes social work professors Benjamin Dobrin and Sharon Payne

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proud, as they are working together to earn accreditation for the new degree from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Though the process took several years, significant changes were not needed to VWC’s course offerings.

“We were a strong program when we started as a health and human services degree in the ’70s,” says Dobrin. “We needed to make small changes. Other adjustments came along with planned changes as we overhauled the whole College from threecredit to four-credit classes.”

For the most part, Dobrin found himself preparing paperwork, communicating exactly how VWC meets the required 10 competencies and 41 practice behaviors

set by the CSWE. A great deal of effort indeed, but Dobrin was up to the challenge.

He has taught at the college for 19 years, and long before that, he saw his mother’s commitment to the school as well. Dora Dobrin started the College’s human services degree and taught at VWC from 1974 until 2000.

The new degree and the soon-tobe renovated Floyd E. Kellam Jr., Social Science Lab in Village II—which will include versatile classroom space, an upgraded computer lab and interview and observation rooms—provides the direction and facilities needed to fully engage students and set a foundation for excellence in course work and future careers.

Wesleyan Window Student Spotlight

Prepared to Declare

photo: Janice marshall–pittman

‘Declaration Days’ helpS students choose majors

TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW: Theatre major Paul Kaufmann ‘15 sets an example for all with his generous volunteer efforts and creative nature.

When it comes to choosing a major, students are encouraged to pick a subject of interest that’s related to the professional life they’d like to build. Sounds simple, but most young college students would beg to differ. To help undeclared students make this important decision, VWC held its first-ever “Major Declaration Days” in March 2014.

“A major is an anchor to students,” says Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Enrollment Services David Buckingham. “It strengthens commitment to their education and enhances focus as they begin to plan for their careers after graduation.”

The event featured three divisional alumni panels in which nearly 20 Wesleyan graduates shared how their majors helped shape their lives post-VWC. A Majors Fair was also held in the Jane P. Batten Student Center with department representatives on hand to answer questions about each of the College’s majors and minors. Fifty-four students declared a major during the event.

“Learning more about each course made me more interested in the field,” says Jenna Davila ’17, who declared a major in earth and environmental sciences.

A Declaration Celebration was held in the CMAC to mark the significance of the week’s events and students were welcomed to their new departments by VWC faculty, staff and alumni.

Outside the Box Innovative challenge program teaches Paul Kaufmann ‘15 to act creatively

fix photo photo: Aubrey Westfall

Nine-year-old Paul Kaufmann is trapped inside the Internet. He has taken on the persona of Leonardo da Vinci and, amidst chatroom banter about the Mona Lisa and chicken nuggets, he and his third grade Destination Imagination (DI) team members are creating a device to break free of the web. Today, the senior VWC theatre major can’t remember exactly how they escaped, but he does recall that his team placed fourth in the organization’s global finals competition.

That was his first experience with DI—an innovative educational challenge program—and he’s been hooked ever since, now serving as a volunteer and mentor for participants.

“It pushes kids to think outside the box, as opposed to, ‘This is a piece of paper and that’s all it is.’ It asks, ‘How can we make this piece of paper a tower that we can put weight on top of?’

I’ve used rat traps, paint sticks, golf balls, pulleys and cups just to turn on a set of lights.”

Kaufmann’s volunteerism doesn’t stop at DI. He serves regularly at a local soup kitchen and helps keep the College eco-friendly as part of Marlins Go Green. He’s also working to develop a VWC comedy group that will bring clowning performances—and smiles—to local nursing homes and children’s hospitals.

After VWC, Kaufmann plans to audition for the Chicago-based improv comedy group, the Second City. Eventually, he hopes to join the cast of “Saturday Night Live.” But he won’t soon forget DI, the imaginative organization that helped shape his future.

Model Students VWC delegates awarded at international conferences

HONORABLE MENTION: The College’s Sierra Leone delegation received VWC’s first-ever award at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City.

Passion and preparation led to a first for Virginia Wesleyan students in April 2014, as a team of 20 delegates received Honorable Mention at the 2014 National Model United Nations (NMUN) Conference in New York City.

Under the guidance of VWC Assistant Professor of Political Science Aubrey Westfall, the College’s Sierra Leone delegation was represented in 10 committees with eight sessions each throughout the five-day simulation of the procedures and practices of the United Nations.

“This is the first time a team from VWC has received one of the team awards in New York, the largest and most rigorous international conference,” says Westfall. “It is a wonderful testament to the team’s preparation, made

possible by the new four-credit ‘Model United Nations’ course.”

Also led by Westfall, VWC’s Model UN team traveled to the October 2013 NMUN Conference in Washington, DC, where the College’s Rwandan delegation received a Distinguished Delegation Award and their German counterparts took home Honorable Mention. During the trip, the 15 participating VWC students were able to meet with representatives from the Better World Campaign, the United Nations Association of the United States of America and various congressional representatives, including Virginia Congressman J. Randy Forbes, New Jersey State Senator Robert Menendez and staff of Virginia State Senator Mark Warner.

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 15 /

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Eye on

VWC

A visual reflection of Virginia Wesleyan’s 2013-2014 academic year, capturing some of our favorite moments on campus and in the community

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1. Baby Keegan looks up to VWC President Billy Greer in January 2014.

The mini Marlin’s mom, Kelly Donnelly Durso ’07 (pictured left), was honored for her contributions to Women’s Soccer from 2003-2006.

2. Virginia Wesleyan’s Boyd Dining Center was transformed to the site of a mock global crisis simulation in March 2014 as the College hosted the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Model NATO Challenge.

3. Assistant Professor of Mathematics Audrey Malagon celebrated International Pi Day with the VWC Math Club in March 2014, which equated to a Pi(e)-eating contest, a Pi(e) bake sale and plenty of number-crunching camaraderie. (Photo by Thomas Mills ’15)

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4. This photographic self portrait of Ada van Tine ’14, titled Ophelia, was displayed in the Neil Britton Gallery in May 2014 as part of the annual Senior Art Exhibition. (Photo by Ada van Tine ’14) 5. Shameika Harris ’15 participated in a Zumba class as part of the Eighth Annual On-Campus Winter Homeless Shelter. More than 200 volunteers banded together in January 2014 to provide homeless men and women with hot meals, a warm place to sleep and fun activities like this one.

(Photo by Thomas Mills ’15)

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6. Maryland Cox ’15 (foreground) practices her hand-building technique as part of a spring 2014 ceramics course with Batten Professor of Art Ceramics and Sculpture Phil Guilfoyle (background).

7. (From left) Ryan Breen ’16 and professional actor AJ Friday performed in the VWC Theatre Department’s heartwarming November 2013 production of Big River. (Photo by Thomas Mills ’15) 8. Students traveled to Oxford, England in June 2014 to study C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as part of an annual study abroad immersion course led by professors Terry Lindvall, Ben Haller and Chaplain Greg West. Here, the class rejoices with hilarity by the Mob Quad, the oldest student quadrangle in Oxford at Merton College. (Photo by Katie Rogers ’15) 9. Members of the senior court arrived at VWC’s 2013 Homecoming parade in style. (From left) DJ Woodmore, Jasmine Rivera, Aaron Clark and Lauren Davis.

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10. The traditional commemorative tree planting ceremony was held in Wilson Arboretum in May 2014 to honor retiring faculty members. (From left) Paul Rasor—who from 2005-2014 served as the Joan P. and Macon F. Brock Jr. Director of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom and Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies—and current business professor Ehsan Salek.

11. There’s nothing like a #snowday or two to bring out the kid in all of us.

Images of students like Mindy Bertram ’15 from a January 2014 snowstorm were shared on the College’s Facebook page. (Photo by Thomas Mills ’15) 12. Dr. Eric Archer ’90, a geneticist, visited campus in March 2014 to speak to biology students about his work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

13. Lindsey Walker ’17 takes out the trash for Marlins Go Green Campus Clean Up, one of several volunteer efforts completed as part of 2014 Spring Marlins Make a Difference Day. (Photo courtesy of Diane Hotaling)

Unless otherwise noted, all photos by Janice Marshall–Pittman

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Carnegie Hall The Road to

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t’s a bright spring morning in Midtown Manhattan. Sunlight pours through the towering structures overhead, sidewalks are alive with activity, and though it’s still somewhere in the breakfast hour, the smoky aroma of street fare fills the air. But there’s something else. A feeling. The kind that makes you think anything is possible; like something big is about to happen.

And it is.

Tucked away in a room on the 19th floor of the Grand Hyatt, Alyana Mack ’15 can’t help but jump up and down on her bed. It’s the only way to cope with the excitement.

“Today’s the day. This is it. We’re singing at Carnegie Hall today,” yells the soprano psychology major.

Mack has traveled to New York City this Memorial Day weekend along with 48 other members of the Virginia Wesleyan Chorale and Wesleyan Singers—plus a handful of faculty and students from Tidewater Community College and the Hampton Roads community—for two Carnegie Hall performances that make up “The Voices of Virginia Wesleyan College.”

The group arrived Friday evening and their days since have been filled with big city exploration and, of course, practice. It’s now midafternoon on Monday and the singers have just finished their final dress rehearsal. When they take the stage tonight in front of an audience, it will represent the culmination of a long journey—for these students and for Virginia Wesleyan College, which will celebrate its own Carnegie Hall debut along with them. continued on page 20

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Passion and persistence lead VWC choir to one of the world’s most prestigious venues

By Stephanie Smaglo

VWC VOICES: (From left) Courtney Gwin ’16, AJ Ansari ’17, Tyler Turner ’17, Emily Powers ’17, Darrell Wood ’17, Collette Vauthier ’17 and Alyana Mack ’15 were among the students and community members that made up the collaborative chorus that performed at Carnegie Hall in May 2014.

PHOTO: Janice Marshall-Pittman

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2013-2014 / 19 /

PHOTO: Michael Trotta

IN THE LIMELIGHT: The chorus of nearly 50 vocalists arrived in New York in time for some big city exploration as well as rehearsals for their solo and group performances.

The performers spill into their green room chatting excitedly about the thrill of working with internationally acclaimed composer and conductor, John Rutter.

“When you think about working with a celebrity composer,” Mack says. “That’s kind of nerve-racking. But he’s so nice and fun and comforting. He zips around the stage and makes jokes with us.”

Rutter will conduct the VWC ensemble, combined with an orchestra and four other choirs from around the country, as they perform Mozart’s Requiem. But prior to that, the Virginia Wesleyan choir will have a chance to shine solo as they open the concert with original compositions by Michael John Trotta, VWC’s director of choral music and assistant professor of music. Trotta will lead the group, without instrumental accompaniment, in a performance of his works, entitled Music of Stillness, Peace, and Hope.

“To know that we get to rock this house a cappella,” says Mack. “And it’s just us and you’re not hearing anything but our wonderful voices...I’m ready to move mountains. I don’t even have nerves. It’s just excitement now.”

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Like a cat sleeping on a pillow.

That’s how 19-year-old Darrell Wood describes the heaps of hair he lost just days after his first run with chemo. You’d never guess it by looking at him—the picture of strength with his styled blonde hair, shiny skin and warm hazel eyes— but only 19 months ago, then a senior in high school, Wood was diagnosed with cancer.

Two rounds of chemotherapy and two surgeries later he was given a clean bill of health, and in spring 2014 the music and theatre major wrapped up his freshman year at Virginia Wesleyan and prepared for the opportunity of a lifetime: a performance at Carnegie Hall.

He wouldn’t have believed it if you’d told him in February 2013 that he’d be performing as part of a collaborative VWC choir at one of the most prestigious venues in the world. In fact, he might not have even believed you if you’d said he’d be going to college at all.

A student at Peninsula Catholic High School in Newport News, Wood had always been slightly more interested in the performing arts than in schoolwork. It wasn’t until the beginning of his senior year that he began to

take his grades more seriously, setting rigorous academic goals to help him achieve his dream of attending college. It was around that time that he received his testicular cancer diagnosis.

“For maybe 10 minutes I just broke down and cried,” he recalls. “I thought, ‘This just can’t be happening right now. I have schoolwork, graduation, possibly college; this is just too much.’”

Within the next two weeks, he underwent surgery and began chemotherapy at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, who he credits with saving his life. He has since performed in costume for CHKD’s young patients, shared his story at hospital fundraising events, and helped raise money for pediatric cancer research as part of Hyundai Hope on Wheels. He hopes to one day create theatre workshops for children.

With a newfound personal interest in oncology, Wood set his sights on Virginia Wesleyan. He was admitted to the Class of 2017 and began his first semester with plans to become a biology major. It wasn’t long,

In April 1988, Virginia Wesleyan student singers, faculty, staff and guest artists were joined on stage by a full orchestra for a performance revered

by David Clayton, VWC’s first full-time music professor, as a turning point for the College’s music program. The performance, coincidentally, was Mozart’s Requiem.

“It was really amazing,” Clayton remarked in May 2012, just before his retirement. “More than anything it reconfirmed my belief in the magic of music.”

Clayton arrived at VWC in 1972, and under his guidance the music program grew into a dynamic place for students to learn and grow while experiencing the transformative power—the magic—of song.

Michael Trotta took the program’s reigns in 2012 and has orchestrated the College’s trip to Carnegie Hall, providing an opportunity for students to take their music out of the classroom and into the world.

“We’re excited about this trip,” he says.

“Taking part in choral music—whether as an audience member, singer, conductor or composer—is an opportunity to slow down time long enough to allow the beauty of life to catch up with you.”

And a beautiful time it is for the arts at VWC. Plans for the construction of a new academic building devoted to the arts are underway at the College, launched by an initial $5 million challenge gift made in 2013 by Susan and David Goode, their daughters Christina and Martha, and their son-in-law Blair Mielnik.

STORIED VENUE: The VWC group took the stage in Stern Auditorium (pictured), the largest of Carnegie Hall’s three performance spaces.

The building is being designed with input from students, faculty, staff, and friends of Virginia Wesleyan and is envisioned as a gathering place for both the College and the larger community. In addition to stage productions, the facility will be used for lectures, film showings, and as a meeting place for individual classes and larger groups. Scope of the building and a timeline for construction will be determined as fundraising progresses.

In recognition of the Goode family’s commitment to the arts and dedication to the College, VWC’s Board of Trustees voted to name the new facility Goode Hall. It will be situated on a rise of land across from the College’s entrance, serving as a welcoming beacon for all arriving on campus.

At 8 p.m. on Monday, May 26, 2014, the lights are dimmed inside Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium. As if they’ve done this a million times before, Alyana Mack, Darrell Wood and all the members of the VWC choir—ladies in formal black gowns, gentlemen in tuxedos—glide onto stage and into ready position. The next two hours are filled with angelic melodies.

“To know that we were making such a powerful sound and my voice helped

contribute to that, is breathtaking,” Mack later said. “We now have bragging rights.

And the best part is that, through hard work, study and preparation, we earned them.

There’s no better feeling. No one can ever take away the memories we created as a choir and musical family.”

The evening's sounds, filled with emotion, called to mind the many roads traveled to arrive at that pinnacle moment. Journeys of struggle and determination. Journeys of belief and triumph. Journeys like Darrell Wood’s.

“When I walked on stage, I was overwhelmed with joy,” Wood recalls. “Having the opportunity to sing Dr. Trotta’s set showed exactly what I’ve gained in the past year : Stillness, in the storm of cancer. Peace, within myself. And hope, to always keep fighting.”

Wood has not yet decided where his future will take him—maybe Shakespeare in Chicago, musical theater in New York City, or perhaps he’ll end up teaching others how to sing, dance and act. The remarkable thing is that he has a beautiful future to look forward to. A future that begins at Virginia Wesleyan College.

“It’s been a crazy road. A crazy road filled with sadness, happiness, frustration, and confusion,” he says. “But this is what I live for. I love the arts. I know now that nothing can hold me back from pursuing my dreams.”

PHOTO: Jeff Goldberg / Esto; Courtesy of Carnegie Hall

however, until his love for singing and acting prevailed and he chose instead to double major in music and theatre.

A few months into his freshman year testing revealed that his cancer was back, and a week before his nineteenth birthday Wood had surgery to remove 26 lymph nodes. As he recovered, he poured his heart into his music. His medical hurdles—or “dark blessings,” as he calls them—have ultimately made the trip to Carnegie Hall that much sweeter.

“I can’t wait to see the audience from the stage of Carnegie Hall. It’s the enterprise of musicianship. Every well-known composer, maestro, singer and instrumentalist has played there. To be invited to sing there is truly an amazing opportunity that’s not taken for granted.”

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 21 /

photo: Richard Thomas

TREACHERY AND TREASURE: Hidden in the jagged coastline of Mistaken Point, off the coast of Newfoundland, lies the world’s oldest and richest collection of fossils from the Ediacaran Period, known as the dawn of large-scale life on Earth.

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By Leona Baker

n a sunny spring morning, VWC Associate Professor of Communication Stu Minnis was dressed for time travel. Hiking boots, comfortable clothes, and a 25-pound rig containing a small HD camcorder, tripod, sound gear, water bottles, and a trail lunch.

“It was just me and my backpack,” he remembers. continued on page 24

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 23 /

photo: Richard Thomas

LASTING IMPRESSIONS: The chemistry of the underwater volcanic ash flows that killed organisms such as this Fractofusus misrai more than 550 million years ago, also preserved them for the ages.

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Also in the backpack were photocopies of the rare, ancient fossils he was planning to capture on film that day—essential for identification purposes.

It was a 20-minute drive down a gravel road from the Mistaken Point Visitor’s Center to the trailhead and a nearly hour-long solitary hike to the site itself, a rocky stretch of Canadian coastline on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland.

To arrive at a time in the Earth’s history when the organisms fossilized at this site populated the oceans, one would have to travel much, much longer : more than 550 million years.

“They are profoundly old,” notes the narrator of Minnis’ new short documentary film, The Old World: Mistaken Point and the Ediacaran Fossils of Newfoundland.

Minnis, who teaches video production and film and media studies, made the film as the result of a Batten Professorship, a three-year designation

've always been

interested in

geology and paleontology. When I got the Batten grant my first thought was that I wanted to travel and make a film. Then when I researched this topic, I found that there wasn’t really any significant film work on it.

Photo: Amanda McGee

it is still not at all clear even to which kingdom of life these organisms belonged.”

Alex Liu, a Cambridge University paleontologist and expert on Ediacaran life who is also featured in the film, explains that “pretty much everything under the sun that has been alive at some point, and even extinct kingdoms of things that are no longer alive, have been proposed to explain some or all of these things.”

Some of these abundant deep-ocean dwellers, called rangeomorphs, resemble the fronds of a fern. Yet their overall body plan is “completely unlike anything known from any subsequent era.” Are they plants? Animals?

Or something else entirely?

“What I think is that there’s a mixture, as in modern ecosystems, all co-existing together,” says Liu. “And so what we need to do is to try and work out exactly what each of those individuals are to see how they might have interacted within this ecosystem. I think it’s more likely to be very diverse.”

Many questions remain not only about what these organisms were but why they appeared when they did and why they seem to have left virtually no evolutionary descendants. The fact that they existed at a time so long ago that it is almost impossible for the human brain to comprehend (think of the extinction of the dinosaurs and multiply it by nine) makes them all the more enigmatic. It also makes them an intriguing topic for a documentary.

“I’ve always been interested in geology and paleontology,” says director Stu Minnis.

“When I got the Batten grant my first thought was that I wanted to travel and make a film.

Then when I researched this topic, I found that there wasn’t really any significant film work on it.”

Minnis enlisted the help of alumnus TJ Vasquez ’07 to create the ambient music for the film, which helps set its ancient, transcendental mood. Vasquez, who majored in communication at VWC, was first attracted to this kind of music in an experimental film class taught by Minnis.

“He wanted the music to be brooding but not ominous, so I decided on doing major keys and very long, swelling notes,” explains Vasquez, who took inspiration from the minimalistic style of a band called Stars of the Lid. “The fine line with ambient music is that it has to be interesting without demanding too much attention.”

Vasquez’ soundscape combines with the appropriately otherworldly voiceover for the documentary, provided by recent Virginia

Photo: Richard Thomas

that includes an annual stipend for research or special projects.

He traveled to Newfoundland in May 2012 and spent a little over a week interviewing experts and filming at several sites including Mistaken Point, which got its name because of a dubious distinction in maritime history.

In the days before global positioning satellites, the site was often mistaken for Cape Race further east. Many ships in foggy weather turned north too soon and were dashed against the treacherous rocks.

But it’s the strange impressions imbedded in these treacherous rocks that have captured the attention of paleontologists and ignited controversy as to their nature. Today the location is home to an ecological reserve and is on the short list for designation as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

These stony images were known to locals, but it was a graduate student from Newfoundland’s Memorial University, S. B. Misra, who in 1967 first recognized that they constituted a previously unknown treasure trove of Pre-Cambrian fossils. The remains of these organisms are in fact the world’s oldest and richest collection of fossils from the Ediacaran Period, known as the dawn of large-scale life on Earth.

In other words, they represent a turning point at which life on this planet went from single-celled simplicity to the nascence of the vast biological diversity that defines it today.

The specimens are so well preserved due to the geological process by which they were interred. As the film states, they represent “a sort of Ediacaran Pompeii, frozen in time by underwater volcanic ash flows.”

“The chemistry of the ash would have inhibited decomposition of these organisms,” explains Richard Thomas, manager of the ecological reserve at Mistaken Point and one of the interview subjects in Minnis’ film. “The ash killed them, buried them, and preserved them. The organisms themselves eventually decomposed—they’re soft-bodied; there’s nothing left of them—but you can imagine pushing your fingers into some mud, and that’s the impression left.”

The aesthetic forms left behind seem eerily familiar—recognizable as signs of life, yet alien to our modern perception of even the most exotic or long extinct creatures. Are they even “creatures” at all?

According to the film’s narration, “Of the many puzzles remaining to be solved about Ediacaran life, some are fundamental. Indeed,

a world apart: Stu Minnis traveled to Newfoundland in 2012 to capture the footage and interviews for his documentary short The Old World: Mistaken Point and the Ediacaran Fossils of Newfoundland, which is now being shown in the Mistaken Point Visitor’s Center (pictured).

Wesleyan graduate and theatre major Ada van Tine ’14. The result is hypnotic.

“In the final sentence of On the Origin of Species, Darwin refers to ‘endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful,’” van Tine’s voice undulates as the sun sets on the waves that lap the jagged rocks in the film’s closing sequence. “The Mistaken Point fossils show quite clearly that he was more prescient in those words than even he could have imagined.”

The Old World: Mistaken Point and the Ediacaran Fossils of Newfoundland is now being shown on a screening loop at the park visitor center for the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve. Minnis also plans to submit the film to science-focused film festivals. It can currently be viewed at vimeo.com/stuminnis/ the-old-world. Among Minnis’ other film work are Time and Zion and Making Peace with Viet Nam (editor, additional camera).

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 25 /

VWC

2020

On May 21, 2014, the Virginia Wesleyan College Board of Trustees approved a long-­‐term strategic plan that provides a path for growth and positive change.

he approved plan, VWC 2020: Pathway to Prominence, is the result of a two-­‐year collaborative process that involved broad-­‐based stakeholder input from students, alumni, faculty, #$ *, " "%#$ # community members. ! " ' %$

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Pathway to

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Our Goal

Provide a Transformational Educational Experience for Students

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EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Enhance and Expand Experiential Learning Opportunities

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INNOVATIVE TEACHING Support Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning

to grow as principled scholars and community leaders.” ! $ $ $ ! # 4235.

More information on the plan including 20 key actions, planning committee members, plan framework and timeline can be found online at www.vwc.edu/ 4242.

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STUDENT ENGAGEMENT Improve and Integrate the Total Student Experience

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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Strengthen Connections between VWC and the Community

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INSPIRING SENSE OF PLACE

Maintain, Modernize and Beautify the Campus

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 27 /

Frigid Glaciers, Warm Hearts Blackfeet immersion: Life and education on a Montana reservation

PHOTO: Rebecca Drobis

Melissa Snyder ’12

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iery orange sunsets. Glacier peaks accented with the purest white snow. “Big Sky Country” lives up to its name.

But even in a land so vast, some of my most meaningful memories of this place come from a small school with a big spirit.

It was my last day volunteering at the De La Salle Blackfeet School (DLSBS) on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning, Montana. I’d worked with the seventh grade class all week, but today I was asked to help tutor a younger student.

I was introduced to an energetic fourth grade boy with flushed cheeks, just back from a chilly outdoor recess. He was clutching a folder overflowing with makeup work. I wasn’t sure how to approach this daunting task of a squirming boy and what seemed like an endless number of fraction worksheets.

It wasn’t easy. Together we were able to get through a grand total of one worksheet. My heart dropped as we walked back to his class.

I wished that I could’ve done more for him.

At that moment, he paused at the door to his classroom, turned, smiled, and thanked me for helping him.

I learned a valuable lesson that afternoon.

All students, regardless of age, need meaningful, positive encouragement and a compassionate ear. Sometimes that means taking it one worksheet at a time. That simple

smile at the classroom door reassured me that I had helped make a difference that day after all.

I traveled to Montana during my senior year at VWC as part of an interdisciplinary Winter Session class called “Blackfeet Immersion: Life and Education on a Montana Reservation.” The three-week travel course is taught by Associate Professor of Education Hilve Firek, who became involved with DLSBS through her local church while she was a student at the University of Montana.

“I was impressed by the community’s desire to provide a high-quality education to children living on the reservation,” she remembers.

The Blackfeet Indian Reservation spans 3,000 square miles in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, just a stone’s throw from Glacier National Park and the Canadian border. Unemployment runs high on the reservation—tourism is one of its main income sources—resulting in high poverty rates and little emphasis on education. DLSBS tries to break this poverty cycle by serving the at-risk population with small class sizes and many extracurricular opportunities.

Housed in a cozy building, the school’s front windows open out to glaciers in the distance. Inside, students’ artwork lines the hallways and Blackfeet language “Word of the Day” posters decorate the classroom walls.

The school began as a ministry of the

church in 2001 with just one classroom.

Today, it offers grades four through eight and is one of 11 schools across the country that follow the Catholic-based San Miguel Model of Education. It is the only school of its kind that is in a rural area, serving Native American students.

Embodying a unique blended culture, DLSBS incorporates elements of Catholicism and the traditional Blackfeet religion. Its motto is “Building FAITH in EDUCATION,” which according to the school’s website has a double meaning: to build students’ faith through education and to give students faith that education will improve their lives. To help them to realize the latter part of this goal, the school welcomes immersion groups like Virginia Wesleyan’s.

The immersion program makes it possible for groups of high school and college students to spend a week on the reservation alongside DLSBS students, getting involved with everyday activities from one-on-one tutoring to a game of gym class volleyball.

Visitors assist with young students’ academic work and are encouraged to share their own educational experiences. In the Blackfeet language, OKI-NI-SOO-KA-WA, meaning “come and see,” boldly expresses the program’s nature.

VWC’s “Blackfeet Immersion” Winter Session course has been offered twice, once in January 2012 and most recently in 2014. A

continued on page 30

LEARNING LANDSCAPE: High poverty rates lead to limited education opportunities for students who live on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, spanning 3,000 square miles in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 29 /

special three-week academic term held each January at the College, Winter Session gives VWC students a chance to explore unusual subjects, immerse themselves in unique experiences, or even learn through travel while earning credits toward graduation.

I was fortunate enough to be a part of the inaugural Blackfeet trip. Because of the fluid nature and flexibility of the class, students are able to craft the experience around their own interests. Throughout the week, I interviewed students to learn more about their academic goals and how the immersion program may be impacting them.

As a student, I majored in English with a secondary education certification, but the course is not just for students on the path to becoming teachers. Summer Morris ’16, an English and earth and environmental science major who went on the 2014 trip, says the class was much more than simply working at a school.

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“It was about learning to appreciate every bit of anything you have,” Morris says. “Remembering the small things, and the importance of patience and persistence.”

VWC senior Lindsay Baker reflected on her experience in a blog she kept throughout the 2014 trip.

“This group of kids was so welcoming and eager to learn everything and anything they could about who I was and where I was from,” she wrote. “In one short week I learned so much about every single one of them and learned so much about myself.

At the end of the day you remember kids are kids no matter where you are, and these kids will leave a lasting impression on me for the rest of my life.”

As the week comes to an end, weather permitting, visiting immersion students are able to take guided snowshoe tours inside Glacier National Park. Though walking with snowshoes proved to be quite challenging, this experience represented the culmination of a truly lifechanging week for me.

SCHOOL DAYS: Virginia Wesleyan students who participate in the immersion program get the opportunity to work closely with faculty and young learners at the De La Salle Blackfeet School.

(Collage photos courtesy of Hilve Firek and Melissa Snyder ’12) We rounded a corner and arrived at a clearing where the view of the mountains was breathtaking.

We stood there on the remote path trying to take it all in, the silence of the uninhabited space hanging in the air.

The towering mountains and snowcapped glaciers seemed so close, yet unfathomably far away. As we internalized our surroundings, an eagle crested over one the peaks. It soared in the wind with its silhouette accented by the vibrant blue sky.

In that moment, despite the crisp air, my heart was warmed with thoughts of the smiles, laughter, and love radiating from the classrooms of the De La Salle Blackfeet School.

A Different Perspective Amanda Irvine, 26, was attending community college and

working as a paralegal at a law firm in Dallas, Texas – about 20 miles from her home town of Rowlett – when she decided it was time for a drastic change in her life.

She Googled colleges in the U.S. that offer criminal justice programs, came across Virginia Wesleyan’s Adult Studies Program (ASP) for working adults and was impressed. She made a visit to campus and, like that, picked up her entire life and moved to Virginia, a state she had never even been to before.

“I was kind of overwhelmed when I found out I was accepted,” she remembers. “I decided if I don’t go, I will probably regret it. It was a great opportunity and my parents were very supportive. It has been absolutely amazing. I have figured out who I am as a person.”

Irvine’s motivation for making this leap was also deeply personal. Her older brother suffered from drug addiction and took his own life in 2009. She resolved to transform this tragedy into positive change by pursuing a career in criminal justice. She hopes to work for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

“I guess I have a different perspective,” she says.

“There are so many people that get involved in drugs, and it definitely ruins your life. I need to make a difference in this world and help people. That’s my plan.”

As a student at VWC, Irvine has jumped right in, taking a variety of courses toward her degree including two in which she was able to visit both the Virginia Beach and Norfolk city jails. She cites “amazing professors” who orchestrated these memorable, hands-on learning experiences. She is working toward an internship in summer 2015, possibly with the DEA or the FBI. She has been able to make connections with fellow students, carry a full course load and continue working part time. The academic and personal support she has received ASP has been especially helpful.

“It’s nice being able to work and then go to school in the evening. Yes, you’ll have long days, but you can still get an education and work.”

As for her decision to move across the country and take charge of her future by pursuing the degree and the career path she’s always wanted, she has no regrets.

Your life. Your future. The support you need.

ADULT STUDIES PROGRAM www.vwc.edu/asp

ASP information sessions held the first Wednesday of each month.

For reservations: 757.455.3263, asp@vwc.edu

”COMING HERE, IT’S THE BEST THING I’VE DONE. I’VE LEARNED NOT TO TAKE THINGS SO HARD. LIFE’S TOO SHORT TO MAJOR ON THE MINORS.” AMANDA IRVINE ’16

VWC Adult Studies Program

The flamboyant and theatrical quartet Red Priest comes to campus November 13, 2014.

The Arts at VWC

2014-2015 Calendar VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE CONCERT SERIES Made possible in part by the Dougherty Visiting Artist Fund and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. in Hofheimer Theater. Public ticket prices range from $5-15; free to the campus community.

Reservations: 757.455.2101.

October 13, 2014 Jewels of the Baroque Virginia Symphony Orchestra musicians Sherie Aguirre, oboe, and Jorge Aguirre, violin, with Lee Jordan-Anders, piano, and Jeffrey Phelps, cello.

November 3, 2014 Eastern Virginia Brass Performing works of the stately Renaissance to the jazz of Louis Armstrong.

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November 13, 2014 Red Priest Described as “visionary and heretical,” this acoustic foursome has been likened to the Rolling Stones, Jackson Pollock, and the Marx Brothers, all rolled into one.

April 20, 2015 Amadi Azikiwe, Viola Classic works by Bach and Beethoven, along with those of 19th-century Spanish composer Pablo Sarasate and modern jazz composer David Baker.

Debby Azikiwe, piano.

September 25, 2014 Anthony Ciotti Selections from classical to jazz showcase the versatility of the instrument when played by this national award-winning accordionist.

(Monumental Chapel)

December 1, 2014 Project Images Student artwork, inspired by music of Claude Debussy, is displayed as Lee JordanAnders, piano, performs music of the Impressionistera composer.

May 4, 2015 Billye Brown Youmans, Soprano The music of Bach and Handel give way to Barber’s poignant “Knoxville: Summer of 1915” and Whitacre’s children’s classic, “Goodnight Moon.”

Lee Jordan-Anders, piano.

October 30, 2014 Eve Watters With Celtic harp, storytelling, and an array of instruments, Watters celebrates timeless tradition with new spirit and style. A discussion and demonstration on the cutting-edge topic of therapeutic music will follow at noon.

April 10, 2015 The Thirteen Thirteen artists—one voice.

Under the direction of Matthew Robertson, this New York-based ensemble with a reputation for exceptionalism performs Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces.

A World of Music A daytime series exploring the sounds around us.

Performances take place in Hofheimer Theater at 11 a.m., unless otherwise noted. Free to all; reservations not required.

November 6, 2014 Abhik Mukherjee and Ranendra Das Ancient melodic patterns of raga with Indian classical sitarist Mukherjee and tabla artist Das. A 4,000-year-old

The Arts at VWC

art form designed to raise the inner being to divine peacefulness and bliss.

March 26, 2015 Word-Beat The artistry of singer/ actor Charles Williams combines with the globaljazz percussion of Tom Teasley in a program of African proverbs and inspirational texts by Langston Hughes and Nelson Mandela.

April 14, 2015 Larissa Venzie The melodic magic of the marimba is showcased through the wonders of classical, folk and pop music.

STUdent Music Performances

Larissa Venzie will share the enchantment of marimba music on April 14, 2015.

October 6, 2014 The Lens of Time Choral music spanning the millennia, from chant through the 21st century.

Performances are free to all and begin at 7:30 p.m. in Hofheimer Theater, unless otherwise noted.

For more information, call 757.455.3282.

vwc.edu/csm

center for sacred music October 26, 2014 Fall Hymn Festival “Enter by the Narrow Gate” In a service exploring the Christian journey, VWC Choral Director Michael Trotta leads the Wesleyan Worship Choir with Sharon Foxwell, organist. Singers from all churches are invited to join the chorus. For more information, visit vwc.edu/csmfallhymnfest.

monumental moments

July 27-August 1, 2015 Sacred Music Summer Conference A non-denominational showcase of instruction steeped in the Wesley tradition of training minds and warming hearts. More than 45 workshop sessions led by 16 guest clinicians and evening worship, hymn festivals, and concerts highlight the week.

Services take place at 11 a.m. in Monumental Chapel. Free to all; reservations not required.

September 11, 2014 A Time to Remember A 9/11 commemorative with special music by the Wesleyan Chorale and reflection by Craig Wansink, Joan P. and Macon F. Brock Jr. Director of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom.

April 2, 2015 What Wondrous Love is This Whether known as Maundy Thursday, Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, or Thursday of Mysteries, this Christian holy day recalls the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his apostles. Reflection by Terry Lindvall, C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair in Communication and Christian Thought. VWC Chaplain Greg West presides.

Sound & Symbol Lecture Series “The Journey” An exploration of the journeys that formed a pivotal part of the world’s major religions, as well as those that form our everyday experiences, and the music that provides the soundtrack. Presentations by VWC faculty and guests will take place in Fine Arts 9 at 11 a.m. Free to all; reservations not required. For further information, call 757.455.3376.

October 2, 2014 A wandering Aramean was my father (Deuteronomy 26:5): Nomadic Experience as Jewish Memory Eric Mazur, Judaic Studies A Journey Down Memory Lane: How Memories (and Beliefs) are Constructed and Reconstructed Over Time Scott Hinze, Psychology October 23, 2014 Pilgrimages into Pain: When Christians Enter into the Suffering of Jesus Craig Wansink, Religious Studies

Seeking Mickey: Disney and the Great American Family Vacation Kathy Merlock-Jackson, Communication November 18, 2014 Two Journeys to Enlightenment: Siddhartha and Thoreau Steven Emmanuel, Philosophy Heroic or Villainous: Claude Debussy’s Journey to his Island of Joy Lee Jordan-Anders, Music February 24, 2015 A Muslim’s Pilgrimage to Mecca Iman Vernon Fareed, Masjid William Salaam

The Inward Journey: Travel as Meditation and Self-Exploration in Ancient Greece Ben Haller, Classics March 12, 2015 Walking the Labyrinth: A Journey for those Who Can’t Make the Trip Sandra Billy, CSM Director (Hofheimer Theater) April 8, 2015 Sacred Steps: Medieval Pilgrimage and the American Myth: Searching for the New Jerusalem George Greenia, Hispanic Studies, Director of the Institute for Pilgrimage Studies (William and Mary)

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 33 /

The Arts at VWC STUDENT MUSIC PERFORMANCES (CONT.) October 18, 2014 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.

December 5-6, 2014 Handel’s “Messiah” Excerpts from Part I of the Baroque composer’s most famous oratorio.

March 9, 2015 The Presidential Masterworks Series Gabriel Fauré’s choral classic Requiem in D minor, Opus 48, and his Piano Trio in D minor, Opus 12, performed by the Alborada Trio.

April 27, 2015 Women of Wisdom A celebration of music by female composers featuring composer-inresidence Susan LaBarr.

Theatre Performances take place in Hofheimer Theater.

Public ticket prices range from $5-$15; free to the campus community.

For reservations, call 757.455.3381.

October 1-5, 2014 “The 39 Steps” by Patrick Barlow A comedic tale of spies and murder, this melodrama is adapted from the 1915 novel by John Buchan and the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock. Showtimes: Oct. 1-3 at 7:30 p.m.. Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.

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November 20-21, 2014 Fall One-Act Play Festival A two-night extravaganza organized and directed by students from the VWC theatre program.

March 4-8, 2015 “Distracted” by Lisa Loomer The story of a boy with attention-deficit disorder and what it does to his family. Note: this production contains adult language and situations. Showtimes: March 4-6 at 7:30 p.m., March 7 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and March 8 at 2 p.m.

Neil Britton Art Gallery Changing exhibitions and programs include the work of both professional artists and students. Admission to the gallery, located inside the Hofheimer Library, is free and open to the public.

For gallery hours visit vwc.edu.

August 1–October 3, 2014 “Sum Accumulation: 15 Years of Painting” John Rudel Rudel has created a dynamic personal language of image-making as a painter. This exhibition displays large scale multimedia paintings highlighting 15 years of awardwinning work by the VWC Batten Associate Professor of Art. Reception: Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m.

John Rudel’s largescale multimedia paintings, including Time (shown right), will be on display August-October 2014.

“Super Bowls” will be on display in the Neil Britton Gallery from February-April, 2015. Pictured above is Ryan Billy’s Triangulated.

October 16–December 11, 2014 “Dragging” Tracy Spencer-Stonestreet Explores the layers of signals and desires extant in the American home, striving to expose the personal struggle to find an authentic and earnest self within the clutter of expectation.

Artist Lecture: Oct. 16, 6 p.m., Blocker Auditorium; Opening Reception: 7 p.m. in gallery.

January–February, 2015 “Musicians Create Images” An exhibit accompanied by “Old Time” music performances, hosted

by VWC professor Dan Margolies. Specific dates, artists and reception information TBA.

February 27–April 10, 2015 “Super Bowls” This juried exhibition invites entries from a nationwide pool of artists, challenging the aesthetic and conceptual possibilities of what a bowl might be. Accompanies fundraising efforts of the “Empty Bowls” charity dinner held on campus annually.

Reception: TBA. Senior Art Exhibition VWC students display their senior thesis work. Dates and reception information TBA. PLEASE NOTE: All event details are subject to change. For the most current listings, refer to the College's website: www.vwc.edu

We’re waiting to welcome you back for a fun-filled weekend Under the Sea. • Homecoming Parade • Children’s Inflatables & Games • Marlin Tailgate • Alumni Games & Reunions • Homecoming 5K • Volleyball, Soccer & Field Hockey • Chrysler Glassblowing • Mermaid Winery & Back Bay Brewing Co. • Theatre Production: “The 39 Steps” For a full schedule go to: vwc.edu/homecoming

Academia

Precious Moments From my grandparent’s basement to the tropical rain forests of Belize, how my fascination with the natural world evolved into a career as a biologist

By Victor Townsend When I was asked to address VWC’s December graduates at the end of the fall 2013 semester, it was suggested to me that I give a speech that only a biologist would dare to give—a speech that would reflect my personality and my approach to teaching and scholarship.

So, I decided to tell the story of “My Precious.” It’s a rather unusual story. It’s a story that has either a tragic or a happy ending, depending upon one’s perspective.

In either case, I felt it was a story that reflected the liberal arts tradition and, if nothing more, it would give the audience something to talk about at their next dinner party.

I met Precious in Belize in July 2012. You

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might say we were very close from the beginning and our attachment only strengthened over the weeks we spent together. Everywhere I went—including when I returned to the USA—Precious went as well.

Even now, as I gaze at my right wrist, I can still imagine Precious being there.

As our relationship progressed and intensified, I told the graduates, Precious really grew under my skin. Near the end of our relationship, however, I think it’s fair to say that Precious caused me real physical pain. So, I had Precious killed.

Precious, you see, was a botfly larva, a parasitic maggot that lived under my skin for four weeks.

Naturally, I took this opportunity to put on my professor cap and give a brief lecture on the unusual reproductive biology of the female botfly. I explained that botflies lay their eggs on mosquitoes, which subsequently bite and infest an unsuspecting warm blooded host with botfly larva. The larva remains embedded in the host’s skin for eight to 10 weeks, or in my case, until it was removed by a surgeon.

When the time came at last for me to be separated from Precious, I had just two requests for the surgeon: that Precious be removed in one piece and that I be able to keep Precious to show my students. Most people would be creeped out by having

Whenever possible, I urge students to get their hands “dirty”—and in some cases, their feet “wet”— by dissecting specimens, conducting experiments, observing living organisms, or taking field trips to natural areas.

PHOTO: Dan Proud '07

Academia

a botfly, the surgeon said. I told him that I thought it was really cool.

So cool, in fact, that I named it “My Precious” after Gollum in Lord of the Rings. On the way out after my procedure, I showed Precious to the nurses, PAs, the receptionist, and other patients. To this day, I keep Precious in a small vial befitting a prized specimen.

So, why did I tell the story of Precious?

You have to admit, it is not a story that just any professor would tell nor is it a story that one can easily forget—I never will. I told that story because I think it reflects my own story as a student and as a professor.

Since childhood, I have been fascinated by the natural world and the “secret lives” of animals. In elementary school, I remember spending hours reading National Geographic, paging through nature-themed books or playing with plastic dinosaurs.

I burned through many summer afternoons on bug-finding expeditions in my grandparent’s garage and basement,

triumphantly surprising my parents with my strange discoveries before sitting down to supper.

I used old baby food jars to collect spiders and insects, searching for and fearing the appearance of a black widow in my samples.

With the aid of an encyclopedia, I even tried to identify the creatures I had captured.

Yet, it was not until my fateful fourth year as an undergraduate that I realized I wanted to be a biologist. That’s when I took and excelled in several lab-based zoology courses including comparative anatomy, parasitology, invertebrate zoology and herpetology. One of my professors encouraged me to consider undergraduate research. So, I devoted myself to taking more biology classes and to completing an honors research project on species distribution of small mammals like voles, mice, rats and shrews.

On a crisp morning in a forested field site in early spring of 1994, I caught several large, suspicious-looking mice. I remembered one of my advisors on the project telling me that the cotton mouse, Peromyscus gossypinus, had not been collected in southeastern Virginia in many decades. And I remember the satisfaction I felt when it was confirmed that my suspicious captives were indeed cotton mice. The thrill of discovery was upon me.

As a master’s student, I honed my research skills and discovered the importance of publishing. I also fell in love with the teaching enterprise and set out on a personal program to improve my teaching skills each time I stepped into the classroom.

As I was completing my doctoral work on the microanatomy and ultrastructure of arthropods, I became focused on seeking employment at an institution that would value and reward excellence in teaching, while simultaneously enabling me to continue conducting research with undergraduates and collaborating with colleagues at other institutions. In March 2000, I interviewed for the zoologist position at Virginia Wesleyan.

My teaching philosophy is based on my enthusiasm for the subject matter. If I can effectively share with my students why I think a topic of discussion is interesting and important—whether it’s botfly larva, cotton mice, or the reproductive organs of arthropods—hopefully they can appreciate its significance and motivate themselves to engage with challenging material. I truly believe that success in the classroom is contagious and is the ultimate product of hard work.

Knowing the importance of undergraduate research in my own development as a biologist, I have also tried to create a dynamic and engaging undergraduate research program at the College. Mentoring research students over the past 14 years has been a joy and has fueled my growth as a scientist and an educator.

I also believe that laboratory and field experiences are vital to the effective teaching of biology courses. Whenever possible, I urge students to get their hands “dirty”—and in some cases, their feet “wet”—by dissecting specimens, conducting experiments, observing living organisms, or taking field trips to natural areas. In an effort to broaden the experiences and nurture the enthusiasm of my students, I have taught 11 travel courses, with tropical destinations including Trinidad, Costa Rica and Belize.

The common thread of all of these experiences is that they are part of a larger journey of exploration—the type of journey that fuels a lifelong love of learning and is one of the hallmarks of a broad-based liberal arts education like the one students receive at VWC. Which brings me back to Precious. There is a saying among tropical biologists with respect to botflies: The question is not if you will ever get a botfly, but when you will get your first. I like to think that at field stations and scientific conferences around the world, biologists gather to share their botfly stories, just as I shared my story with our graduates.

Twenty years ago, I had no idea that I would ever have a Precious story of my own. It took a lot of getting my hands dirty in the discovery process to arrive at that particular rite of passage—including a trip to the Caribbean island of Trinidad hunting for snakes in 2003 only to discover the “harvestmen” (AKA daddy longlegs) that would become my primary research focus.

Though some of my students may not think of the discovery of a botfly in one’s arm as “really cool,” I hope that they will find a passion for the discovery process—one that will lead them to fulfilling lives and careers and perhaps a rendezvous with a “Precious” of their very own.

Dr. Victor Townsend is a professor of biology and a 2006 recipient of the Frank and Jane P. Batten Distinguished Scholar Award. He served as the primary investigator for the National Science Foundation grant that allowed the College to acquire a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 37 /

Academia

One Chair to Rule Them All Undergraduate research explores history of iconic furniture designers Charles and Ray Eames “What the heck is this doing in an art museum?” Cory Reeves ’14 knew he must find the answer to this and other questions when he stumbled upon the Eames Lounge and Ottoman at the Art Institute of Chicago. Curiosity led the history major to an award-winning undergraduate research project: “Charles and Ray Eames Create Stylish Plywood: Plyformed Chairs and Their Relation to Suburban Consumers, 1941-1959.” Here’s a glimpse of what Reeves learned about the stylish seat and its cutting-edge creators.

PULL UP A CHAIR: The Eames Lounge and Ottoman (1956)—a high-end luxury set made of molded plywood and leather—is the one exception to the Eames’ aim to develop affordable furnishings for the masses.

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Charles and Ray Eames are a husband-and-wife design team whose creations influenced modern architecture and furniture throughout the mid- to late-20th century.

The Eames’ lived and worked by the motto: “Create the best for the most for the least.”

The pair invented a molding machine in the early 1940s that used a combination of heat and pressure to bend plywood. It would eventually allow for inexpensive mass-production of high-quality furniture for middleclass Americans.

During World War II, the Eames’ molding machine—dubbed the Kazam!—was used to manufacture splints and stretchers for the U.S. Navy.

The couple’s first plywood chair, the Eames Lounge Chair Wood (LCW), consisted of two separate pieces for the seat and backrest, supported by a plywood spine and legs. The stark concept was hailed by Time Magazine as one of the greatest designs of the 20th century.

Academia The LCW’s “shock mount” technology was used again in the Eames Lounge 670 (pictured), released in 1956. The chair and ottoman are still produced today by furniture manufacturer Herman Miller, retailing for around $4,500.

Serving millions of travelers every day, Eames Tandem Sling Seating is perhaps the best known creation by the duo, originally designed for Chicago O’Hare International Airport in 1962.

What Reeves found most interesting about the Eames’ is their curiosity and outlook on the world. He says, “Everything was wondrous to them; every day they found things to study or improve.”

Battle of the Bites

. s v Annual Jewish food debate is all in good fun You say “po-tay-to,” I say “po-tah-to.”

Or maybe you say “potato pancake” and I say “triangular fruit-filled pastry.”

Either way, you’d better come prepared to pick a side as an audience member at a “Latke-Hamantashn Debate,” an annual event that began at the University of Chicago in 1946 and is now held at many institutions of higher learning around the country.

The humorous debates often feature prominent academics and community leaders who passionately argue—tongues planted firmly in cheeks—the relative merits of two traditional Jewish food items: the latke and the hamantashn.

The latke is a fried potato dish typically served during Hanukkah. The oil in which the potato is fried symbolizes the oil that miraculously lit a Temple menorah for eight days. The hamantashn is a sort of cookie or small flour pastry associated with the Jewish holiday of Purim and is recognizable by its three-sided shape and various fillings from poppy seeds and prunes to chocolate and cheese.

The debaters invoke all manner of cultural and historical references—some logical, some profound, others deliciously absurd— in pleading their cases: “If Mother Earth was shaped like a gigantic latke, Columbus would have fallen off the edge.” It’s all in good fun and in the spirit of open dialogue.

Organized by Gloria & David Furman Professor of Judaic Studies Eric Mazur, the debate was held for the first time at Virginia Wesleyan in February 2013 but dubbed the Fifth Annual Latke-Hamantashn Invitational Debate—an inside joke referencing Mazur’s numerous attempts to get the event off the ground in previous years.

The debate took place in the College’s Women’s Resource Center and raised funds for the Jewish Family Service of Tidewater and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia.

“This is a nice way to bring members of different congregations together for Purim and for area Jewish leaders to engage with their congregants and friends,” Mazur said in anticipation of the debate. “But most importantly, it’s a fun way to raise food, funds and awareness for two local organizations that do so much work for area residents who don’t have enough to eat, particularly during the late winter days as colder weather lingers.”

In 2014, the debate was held at the Simon Family Jewish Community Center in Virginia Beach. Mazur got in the spirit by sporting a customized VWC t-shirt that read “Fear the Gefilte Fish.” Like all Latke-Hamantashn Debates, however, these two left the question of which food reigns supreme still unanswered.

“In many ways, that is very Jewish,” Mazur is quoted as saying in an article that appeared in the Virginian-Pilot following the second debate.

He noted that the Talmud, a sacred Jewish text, “debates the most important questions of Jewish practice and never comes to a conclusion, either.”

Mazur hopes to keep the debate going locally. Plans are still underway for a 2015 event.

—Leona Baker

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 39 /

Academia Publisher's Desk “This forthcoming volume represents the achievement of that dream,” says Drees.

To research the life of Fox, Drees traveled to England on sabbatical in 2003. There he went to the Corpus Christi College archive in Oxford and paged through unpublished documents like Fox’s 1516 Foundation Charter. He went to the Hampshire Record Office in Winchester and studied volumes that detailed Fox’s acts as bishop. At the Huntington Library in California, Drees examined a published volume of Fox’s letters and his handwritten episcopal registers from the dioceses of Durham and Bath & Wells.

“It was especially exciting to handle and read the very manuscript documents that Fox himself had penned some five centuries ago,” he says.

Drees found that Fox spanned the worlds of church and state–serving as an episcopal leader and also serving the “body politic.”

“The importance of Richard Fox for 16th century England lies in his closeness to the house of Tudor–he was their “family priest” of sorts–and his negotiation of most of the marriage alliances that defined the Tudor and Stuart dynasties for the next two centuries,” Drees explains.

He was surprised to learn that Fox launched the careers of Bishop John Fisher of Rochester and Thomas, Cardinal Wolsey–two luminaries of the period. Fox shaped history by negotiating the marriages of Katherine of Aragon and James IV of Scotland to Tudor royals. In 1516 Fox founded Corpus Christi College in Oxford–creating England’s first endowed chairs in humanistic studies.

Drees says that Fox’s piety, intelligence and loyalty to his Tudor patrons are apparent from the historical record, but it’s hard to tell what Fox was like as a man.

“He does not appear to have had much sense of humor, but he was a man of deep faith whose nagging conscience led him to resign from government in 1516 to tend to the neglected souls in his diocese,” Drees says. “I’m not sure I would have liked him much, but then, I don’t think he would have liked me much, either!”

Nearly three decades after Drees first came upon Fox, and nearly five centuries after Fox’s lifetime, Drees is bringing his deeds to the page.

“This is the one book I really wanted to get into print before my career is over,” he says.

Building History Bishop Richard Fox of Winchester: Architect of the Tudor Age Clayton J. Drees McFarland and Company, 2014

C

lay Drees first chanced upon Bishop Richard Fox in the late 1980s while writing his dissertation. He realized that though the clergyman had dramatically shaped politics, religion and education in the late medieval and early Tudor periods, no biography of him had yet been written. Drees hoped to someday fill the gap and illuminate the life of Fox. Bishop Richard Fox of Winchester: Architect of the Tudor Age will be published by McFarland Press in winter 2014.

Dr. Clay Drees earned his doctorate from the Claremont Graduate School in California in 1991 after having taught high school for seven years, including a two-year stint with the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone, West Africa. He is a professor of history and director of faculty mentoring at Virginia Wesleyan, where he teaches courses in medieval and early modern European, African and Islamic history. A past recipient of the Samuel Nelson Gray distinguished teaching award, Dr. Drees also served six years as chair of the Division of Social Sciences from 2005-2011. His other publications include Authority and Dissent in the English Church (1997) and The Late Medieval Age of Crisis and Renewal (2001).

— Elizabeth Blachman

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Academia

How to Change the Course of a River The Case for Grassroots Collaboration: Social Capital and Ecosystem Restoration at the Local Level John Charles Morris, William Allen Gibson, William Marshall Leavitt and Shana Campbell Jones Lexington Books, 2013

F

our citizens sit around a kitchen table and decide to clean up the Elizabeth River. Two longtime friends, having completed a capital campaign for the Chrysler Museum, decide that they should tackle pollution in the Lynnhaven River. A retired executive convinces neighbors and friends about the need for stewardship of the Nansemond River.

The Case for Grassroots Collaboration: Social Capital and Ecosystem Restoration at the Local Level documents the surprising environmental impact of three local organizations–The Elizabeth River Project (ERP), Lynnhaven River NOW (LRN) and the Nansemond River Preservation Alliance (NRPA).

Appropriately enough, the genesis of the book was also marked by a collaboration. ODU professors John Charles Morris and William Marshall Leavitt entered into a conversation with VWC professor William Allen Gibson at a 2010 conference. The idea for the book was born, and they soon involved environmental lawyer Shana Campbell Jones as the fourth co-author.

After setting the scene for the three projects, the book provides a case study with data and

Words to Think By Kierkegaard’s Concepts: Tome III Steven M. Emmanuel, William McDonald and Jon Stewart (co-editors) Ashgate Publishing, 2014

S

teven Emmanuel originally had a contract to create a Kierkegaard dictionary for a philosophical dictionaries series, but Kierkegaard’s complexity and experimentation with genre didn’t seem to fit into a simple dictionary format.

“To make matters worse, many of his most important works were composed under pseudonyms, each with its own distinct voice and worldview,” says Emmanuel.

“Key concepts are used in different ways by different pseudonyms. Even in works written under Kierkegaard’s own name, we can sometimes see a gradual evolution in his thinking from earlier to later works.”

So emerged Kierkegaard’s Concepts, edited across three continents by Emmanuel, Jon Stewart of the

interviews that document the way each organization navigated partnerships with the residents, schools and industries along their respective rivers. All three of the groups were careful to apply an approach that reached out to homeowners and industries rather than pointing fingers.

Gibson also has a personal interest in the project. That kitchen table meeting where the ERP was born took place in 1991 at Gibson’s home in Virginia Beach.

He admits that the success of the project has exceeded his expectations.

“I thought that if headway was made, a point would be reached where the major industrial players on the river would balk at making the kinds of commitments necessary for further success,” says Gibson. “I am happy to admit that I was wrong. The industrial players–that’s more than a hundred of the industries along the Elizabeth, almost all industries on the river–seem to be pleased as can be to be involved and making contributions beyond those mandated by government regulation.”

The book does indeed make a compelling case for grassroots collaboration. These three organizations’ decisions to “set aside the estuary wide policy questions in favor of direct action” have had measurable results.

As the concluding chapter reports, 40 percent of the Lynnhaven River is open to oyster production, in contrast with the less than 1 percent when LRN was founded.

The ERP has revitalized the ecosystem at the formerly

toxic Money Point, and the Paradise Creek Park is in the midst of a similar transformation.

NRPA, the newest of the three organizations, has instituted oyster-gardening and waterquality testing programs. All three groups have created successful educational programs.

The implication of the final chapter is that where larger policy efforts often seem futile to effect environmental change, smaller organizations can have tangible results. As the four authors of the work report, the surprising news about these local grassroots collaborations is that they have worked.

For more information on this project, visit watershedrestorationhr.org.

University of Copenhagen, and William McDonald of the University of New England in Australia. The work is divided into six “tomes,” and it tackles an alphabetical list of concepts–from Absolute and Absurd to Worldliness and Writing. In the preface, the editors note the importance of understanding the nuances of the everyday words that Kierkegaard used in his journals and writings.

“Famous Kierkegaardian terms such as ‘the moment’ or ‘repetition’ can be heard in daily speech, but in his conceptual universe they are invested with a rich meaning that must be established, often painstakingly, by the reader,” they write.

The entries are by multiple scholars from a wide variety of fields, and each entry traces the meaning of a Danish term, examines how the concept threads through Kierkegaard’s works, and places it in a broader context. For

instance, the eight-page entry for Envy by Janne Kylliäinen touches on such items as theological texts about the Greek idea of “divine envy,” journals in which Kierkegaard describes how he personally has been envied, and a discussion of an 1854 work in which Kierkegaard says that sometimes in society “envy produces the extraordinary.”

Tome III, from Envy to Incognito, and Tome IV, from Individual to Novel, will be released by Ashgate Publishing this year, and the final volume, Tome VI, will go to press by the end of the year.

Dr. William Allen Gibson is a professor of political science at Virginia Wesleyan College where he teaches environmental policy and public administration. In the late 1970s, he helped develop the field of alternative environmental dispute resolution and later developed a mediation process for resolving city-county annexation disputes in Virginia. He consults with local governments, state agencies, and non-profits on managing conflict and change, and has worked with grassroots organizations to develop strategies for retaining local control of natural resources.

— Elizabeth Blachman

Dr. Steven Emmanuel received his Ph.D. from Brown University and for the past 20 years has taught at Virginia Wesleyan College, where he is a professor of philosophy. He is the author of Kierkegaard & the Concept of Revelation and editor of several volumes for Blackwell, including The Modern Philosophers: From Descartes to Nietzsche and A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy. In 2008, he produced and directed an award-winning documentary film entitled Making Peace with Viet Nam. — Elizabeth Blachman

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 41 /

Academia

Unco nvent ional Cool Courses:

Leadership

Che Guevara

Taught in Spring 2014 by Aubrey Westfall and Imre Porkolab

What defines an unconventional leader?

What do Pope Francis, Che Guevara, Beyoncé, Norman Schwatzkopf, Jim Jones, Mary Rumsey, and Eleanor Roosevelt have in common?

Each of them was the subject of a final research paper, chosen by a student in VWC’s Political Science 323 course as an example of an unconventional leader. But what makes someone an unconventional leader? According to Michael Maccoby, the author of The Leaders We Need (one of the required texts for the course), they may be one of three types: transformational visionaries, operational obsessives or trustcreating bridge builders. But they share a willingness to step out of the bureaucratic comfort zone and adapt to changing environments and complex problems.

Why does the world need unconventional leaders?

The course looked at examples of leaders from the business and military worlds. In both cases, leaders and the organizations they represent are faced with fast-paced challenges, ever-evolving technology and a constantly shifting social, political and economic landscape. According to the course syllabus: “In the military, forces are engaged in asymmetric conflicts, where it is unclear who the enemy is, what their real intentions are, and which goals will defeat these networks. In business, bureaucracies are stagnant, while many startups are gaining ground with the speed of light.” New kinds of leaders and bold new leadership strategies are needed to take on these challenges.

What can we learn from these leaders?

The main goal of the unconventional leadership course was to “gain insight into unconventional methods, tactics and strategies, where followers magically appear even when there is no authority.” If we can understand how these out-of-the-box thinkers solve problems and inspire others, we can do the same: “The amazing thing about unconventional leadership is that this leader can be anyone, even you!” The class represented the College’s first-ever team-taught course with a NATO officer. Assistant Professor of Political Science Aubrey Westfall co-taught the class with Colonel Imre Porkolab, National Liaison Representative of the Hungarian Defense Forces in the United States, NATO. Virginia Wesleyan College entered into a formal agreement with Norfolk-based NATO-ACT in June 2013. In addition to scholarships for NATOACT employees, the agreement provides a variety of interactive learning opportunities for VWC students.

/ 42 / MARLIN

Academia

Beneath the Veil

Professor Aubrey Westfall examines the complexity of religious practice for Muslim-American women What started as a casual bar conversation between four interdisciplinary scholars—two comparative political scientists, a political theorist and an anthropologist—has resulted in one of the largest surveys of Muslim-American women ever conducted in the United States.

Islamic headscarves were the topic of discussion, as VWC political science professor Aubrey Westfall (one of the comparative political scientists) and three female colleagues spoke of the sizeable gaps in literature on Muslim-American women’s opinions and experience wearing hijabs, veils that cover the head and chest.

A bulk of the research that does exist, Westfall says, comes from countries like France and Turkey, where veiling has become politicized and legislation exists to regulate the wearing of the headscarves.

In the United States, it remains underexplored.

“There’s all this speculative research about what Muslim-American women are doing,” says Westfall.

“But few researchers seem to be investigating how the women themselves feel about this practice, how it relates to their political life, their social life and their religious life.”

The four colleagues began developing an online survey in August 2012 and sent it to more than 1,300 Islamic organizations, including mosques, cultural centers and schools. Expecting maybe 100 responses, they were stunned to hear back from more than 2,300 participants. Because of the interesting statistical relationships gleaned from the survey data, the scholars decided to take their investigation a step further with focus groups.

“We didn’t want to speculate about the statistical relationships generated by the online survey, especially since none of us are Muslim,” Westfall

says. “We wanted the women to tell us why these relationships exist, to use their words and their vocabulary to describe these relationships.”

In support of her research, the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges awarded Westfall with the Maurice L. Mednick Memorial grant in April 2013.

The $2,000 fellowship helped fund some of the 30 focus groups held nationwide as part of her project: “Veil and the Voice: Muslim American Women and the Decision to Veil.”

Not surprising to Westfall, research showed that the largest percentage of Muslim-American women choose to veil as a symbol of their religiosity and piety. But what she’s more interested in is the smaller fraction that chooses to veil—or not to veil—for political and social reasons.

“Our results suggest that women who veil are less likely to belong to a major political party and are less likely to vote. So we think that the veil, in a way, is a proxy for disengagement. Our political system isn’t representing their interests, at least at a national level, so those women are not engaging. It’s not about extremism, it’s about representation.”

Results also showed that the veil is an indicator of social connectedness and networking, serving as a marker for Muslim women about who’s in their community, who they belong with, and as a way to build community.

Westfall and her colleagues completed their data collection in December 2013 and currently have two articles with their findings under review. A book focusing on the relationship between politics and veiling is also in the works and is scheduled for completion in December 2015.

—Stephanie Smaglo

Mastering Mastermind During the 2013-2014 academic year, mathematics professor and faculty mentor Audrey Malagon led a team of three VWC students in an undergraduate research project on combinatorics, the study of finite or countable discrete structures. As part of Malagon’s course “Research in Mathematics,” Tyler Chang ’16, Samantha Eanes ’15 and Thomas Simmons ’16 took a modern look at Hasbro’s 1970 board game, Mastermind, studying today’s mobile app versions of the codebreaking challenge.

In the traditional game, one player creates a hidden code using four pegs available in six colors, and a second player tries to determine the code in fewer than 12 guesses. In 1977, computer scientist Donald Knuth produced an algorithm that could solve the game in five moves or fewer.

In their project, titled “The New Mastermind,” the students studied the electronic games’ new variables, such as number of pegs, number of colors, repetition of colors and player feedback. To test the effects of these variations and explore new bounds on the number of moves required to win, they began drawing game trees and eventually developed a computer program that would generate the trees for them.

The team presented their work at the January 2014 joint meeting of the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America in Baltimore, and also as part of VWC’s Ninth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in April-May 2014.

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine / 43 /

Living & Learning

Laying the Foundation 2014 marks 25 years of community partnership with Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads In 1988, a group of concerned Portsmouth citizens founded Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads, a local affiliate of the international organization created to address issues of poverty housing. Among those citizens was Virginia Wesleyan graduate Scott Davis ’84, who arrived on campus later that year as VWC’s Chaplain. With him he brought his building background and a passion for service, and the rest is history. Here’s a look back at VWC’s 25-year partnership with Habitat SHR. / 44 / MARLIN

1989

One year after the formation of Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads, then VWC Chaplain Scott Davis ’84 implements “The Campus Chapter” at Virginia Wesleyan; VWC is the first college chartered in the area. Student volunteers begin supporting Habitat construction, fundraising, public relations, volunteer coordination, family support, and more.

1993

A project is organized by the VWC Habitat Chapter to re-roof the North Carolina home of biology professor Ed Hoover, who sadly lost his battle with cancer later that year.

1996

“Habitat Heads Southward” for the first of three January Term trips to Miami; Students help build new homes in areas devastated by Hurricane Andrew. Inaugural trip is led by Chaplain Davis and Professor of Religious Studies Craig Wansink.

1995 VWC Habitat Chapter holds first week-long Freshman PreOrientation in August, inviting incoming students to build houses and new relationships.

1998

A dedication ceremony (pictured below) is held for the VWC Chapter's first official build in Norfolk’s Ocean View neighborhood, a project three years in the making. “A House for Mary” is completed on April 5 for Mary Golding and her son, Tommy.

Project leads: Cynthia Wells ’99, John Hellein ’99, Katie Wick ’00.

Living & Learning BALANCED DIET: The VWC Healthy Living Club, founded

by Kaitlyn Dozier (pictured), tackles topics like making nutritious choices in the dining center.

(Produce courtesy of Sodexo)

Healthy Start

photo: Janice marshall–pittman

Kaitlyn Dozier ’14 establishes Healthy Living Club to exercise mind and body

2001

Chapter’s second home, “A House for Demetria,” is completed in January.

The Virginia Beach home is dedicated to Demetria Gordon and Deonne Jenkins. Project leads: Beth Webster ’02, Katie Wick 00, Homer Babbitt ’00.

2003

Maintaining a vegan and gluten-free lifestyle requires a hefty serving of consideration and planning, so when Kaitlyn Dozier ’14 transitioned to this diet two summers ago, she had reservations about keeping it up on a college campus. Returning to Virginia Wesleyan for her senior year in fall 2013, Dozier got proactive and established the VWC Healthy Living Club.

“I wanted the focus to be on healthy living overall,” she says. “Whether that’s in the form of nutrition, exercise or mental health. It’s a way for students to connect and help each other.”

The club serves as more of a support community, where members can share tips, information and success stories that promote a healthy lifestyle. Topics of discussion have included making better choices in the dining center (including vegan and gluten-free options); learning to grocery shop on your own; and even reassurance about getting on that intimidating cardio contraption in the fitness center.

The group is not just limited to physical health, however, as Dozier also emphasizes emotional well-being..

“A whole other level I’m interested in is stress reduction, meditation and mindfulness,” she says. “How to get in tune with yourself as a person and how we can apply that to the college setting.”

The club took advantage of VWC’s own parklike setting in April 2014 by hosting a “Walking Meditation.” The peaceful stroll led students, faculty and staff along campus trails, ending with reflection at Lake Taylor.

2004

Habitat for Humanity International founder Millard Fuller speaks at VWC commencement ceremony, bringing the message that: “To whom much is given, much is expected.” While in the area, Fuller visits Higher Education Build site in Norfolk’s Berkeley neighborhood.

Director of Community Service Diane Hotaling, now serving as Chapter advisor, spearheads “Habitat SHR Higher Education Build,” a collaborative build effort between VWC, ODU, TCC, NSU and EVMS.

2005

In its first year, the club has planted many seeds for healthy opportunities to come. Working with faculty advisor and communication professor Lisa Lyon Payne, wheels have been set in motion for the eventual development of an on-campus community garden or perhaps the return of weekly produce delivery through a community supported agriculture subscription.

Dozier hopes the club will also serve as a reminder for people to remain open to alternative dietary lifestyles.

The double communication and Hispanic studies major explored “Vegetarianism in America” for her senior undergraduate research project.

“It’s been fascinating to examine how just this one diet has so many deeply rooted tenets to it that clash with what we, as Americans, value.”

In addition to leading the Healthy Living Club, Dozier kept quite a full plate during her time at VWC. She also served as president and founder of Wesleyan Wheels, captain of the women’s lacrosse team, editor-in-chief of The Marlin Chronicle, president of the Society of Collegiate Journalists, supervisor of the campus rock wall, and a member of the Spanish Honor Society and the Honors and Scholars Association. Still, she found time for homework, maintaining a 4.0 GPA in both majors.

“Having only four years here, I wanted to take advantage of every single minute of it. That’s another reason I think daily reflection is necessary. To be able to take time and just recognize all these incredible opportunities really helps keep me balanced as a person.”

—Stephanie Smaglo

2010

In June, VWC’s Habitat Chapter completes the “Alice in Wonderland House,” the only student-built playhouse in the Norfolk Botanical Garden’s Enchanted Storybook Forest. The College’s very first Alternative Fall Break sends students to the Eastern Shore in October for a four-day student-led Habitat collaboration. Project leads: Maura Bradley ’11, Liz Griffith ’11, Jennifer Forbes ’11, Tammy Dhority.

Higher Education Build is completed; “A House for Tonya” is dedicated on April 30 to Tonya Cook and her two teenage sons. The home represents the dedication and hard work of hundreds of college students in South Hampton Roads. VWC project leads: Sarah McMurtrie ’05, Mary Douglas ’05, Alacia Earley ’03.

2014

VWC’s Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter President Jonathan Snow ’15 will sign the 25th covenant with Habitat SHR during the College’s Homecoming & Parent Weekend in October. The occasion will set forth a year-long celebration of partnership in which the Chapter will complete 25 days of service alongside the local affiliate.

2012

The College’s fifth build is completed in January as the “Morris Family Townhouse” on Nelms Lane in Virginia Beach is dedicated to Kiska Morris and her two young sons.

Project leads: Maura Bradley ’11, Melissa Snyder ’12.

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 45 /

QUIZ

John Wesley’s World Virginia Wesleyan College —like other higher education institutions with “Wesleyan” in their monikers—is named after Oxfordeducated 19th-century theologian and founder of Methodism, John Wesley. How well do you know the College’s namesake? Take our quiz, created by Terry Lindvall, C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair in Communication and Christian Thought and Professor of Communication, and Greg West, VWC Chaplain and Methodist minister.

QUIZ

QUIZ

Living & Learning

3. What phrase described the religious experience that transformed him into an enthusiastic Christian? a. “Bring a spark; light a fire” b. “Born again” c. “The Force be with you” d. “Let us agree to disagree” e. “Strangely warmed heart”

5. Which of the following did John Wesley not do? a. Preached outdoors and from gravestones b. Advocated prison reform, the abolition of slavery, and women in ministry c. Rode over 250,000 miles on horseback to preach d. Pioneered electric shock treatment for toothaches and baldness e. Married a woman by casting lots to see if she were the right one

4. Which of the following is not identified as a Methodist? a. Hilary Clinton b. Dick Cheney c. Jeff Foxworthy d. Superman e. VWC professor Craig Wansink

QUIZ

1. Which of the following is not true of John Wesley’s life? a. His mother Susanna taught him Latin and Greek when he was able to walk and talk b. His home Epworth Manse was haunted by a ghost, Old Geoffrey c. He and his brother formed “Holy Club” at Oxford University and were mocked as “Methodists” d. He was a missionary to Savannah, Georgia, but women troubles sent him back to England e. He rebelled against the Church of England as a Dissenter

2. Which Christmas carol did John’s brother Charles write? a. “Joy to the World” b. “White Christmas” c. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” d. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” e. “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”

Answers: The correct response to all five questions is “e.”

/ 46 / MARLIN

photo: Janice marshall–pittman

ACTION SHOT: Thomas Mills and his camera are fixtures at many VWC campus events.

His photos can be found throughout the pages of this magazine.

Making Headlines

Thomas Mills ’15 captures love for journalism and photography asThe Marlin Chronicle’s newest editor-in-chief It’s 11:15 p.m. on a Tuesday and students inside The Marlin Chronicle newsroom are working feverishly to knock out the spring semester’s final issue. A half-eaten slice of pizza sits lazily in a box as a frenzied debate takes place over which illustration should appear in the Opinions section. It’s a surreal moment for Sports Photographer Thomas Mills ’15, who in fall 2014 will begin his senior year as editor-inchief—or EIC—of Virginia Wesleyan’s studentrun newspaper. It’s a role Mills has worked toward since arriving on campus three years ago.

“It was sort of like fate. I was walking through the Batten Center with my mom and a person working at the Hub asked if we were lost—she turned out to be editor-in-chief of the Chronicle. I remember coming to my very first photography meeting and thinking it’d be really cool if I did something unique and special here.”

From there Mills began capturing photos of athletic events and campus life and building a name for himself as part of the newspaper staff.

As EIC, he will oversee all Chronicle meetings and operations, managing more than 30 student writers, photographers and illustrators. He will make the ultimate decisions on which content makes the cut and approve the bi-weekly paper’s final layout.

The publication will get a makeover under Mills’ leadership, as one of his first orders of Chronicle business is a redesign. He plans to create a brighter, more modern look for the paper—which was founded in 1983—by updating its masthead, fonts and layout. He’ll also make room for more content, increasing the page count from 10 to 12.

The new look will complement the March 2013 overhaul of the Chronicle’s website.

As if his Chronicle duties weren’t enough, they’re actually just a small sampling of Mills’ many extracurricular responsibilities.

During his junior year he also served as a sports photographer for the VWC Athletics Department; vice president of the Student Government Association; student ambassador

for the Office of Admissions; treasurer of the Society for Collegiate Journalists; and a member of VWC’s Honors and Scholars Association and the PORTfolio Program.

A communication major and business minor, Mills hopes to eventually take his education down an entrepreneurial path. The selfproclaimed “phone-aholic” plans to one day develop a mobile application—he’s thinking a cleaner, more user-friendly version of a wire service for journalists, public relations and social media professionals.

“I love new technology," he says. "It’s fun.

And if I find it fun, why not go into that area of business?”

As for taking photos, which he considers “a hobby that I sometimes make money off of,” he will continue in the future with his freelance business, Mills Photography. For now, though, the Chronicle is Mills’ main focus.

—Stephanie Smaglo

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 47 /

Kayla Skeete ‘16, Honorable Mention Due Date

Branner Johnston ‘15, First Place Heart of Literature

Kayla Skeete ‘16, Second Place Beyond Our Shelves

Kayla Skeete ‘16, Honorable Mention Take Care

/ 48 / MARLIN

Living & Learning

In celebration of the fifth anniversary of Hofheimer Library’s renovation, the Love Your Library Photo Contest was held March 24-April 30, 2014. The contest challenged VWC students with a passion for photography and love for their library to capture an image of Hofheimer and share it via Instagram or Twitter. Submissions boasted not only students’ creativity, originality and unique style, but also Virginia Wesleyan’s beautiful library and its extensive resources. “Hofheimer Library is the academic hub of campus,” says library director Sue Erickson. “The renovations addressed 21st century learning, teaching and research needs with the creation of a 24-hour study hall, technology classrooms and enlarged computer labs, expanded floor space, more comfortable seating and the addition of the 1,200 square-foot Neil Britton Gallery, which showcases both professional and student artwork.” Contest winners were chosen by Hofheimer Library and College Communications staff.

Here’s a look at the top three photos along with some honorable mentions.

Kaitlyn Dozier ‘14, Third Place Love is a Rose

Joval Marin ‘15, Honorable Mention Literary Perspective

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 49 /

Living & Learning

What’s in a

Tradition?

The Stories They Tell Though VWC senior Brian Drake began collecting coins unintentionally, the tokens have become part of his own history

photo: Thomas Mills '15

It’s Christmas morning 1998 and Brian Drake is hoping for a new Discman. He can hardly sit still as he rips the shiny bow off the square-shaped Sony box, but inside is a gift he wasn’t expecting: a satchel filled with old coins. Though he wasn’t amused at the time, the fortuitous prank would set forth Drake’s passion for numismatics—the study and collection of coins.

Sixteen years later the Virginia Wesleyan senior has amassed a collection of nearly 2,000 coins, focusing on U.S. coinage dating from 1792-1964. And while their value is technically graded on a condition scale—a score of 70 being impeccable, and one, almost unrecognizable—Drake prefers his assortment somewhere in the middle; coins with a story.

“You could have a perfect Liberty Seated Half Dollar that was never touched, or you could have one that went through the Great Plains, saw the Oregon Trail, bought a cabin and a farm. It could’ve even been handled by a president or an influential leader in our history. You just never know where these coins have gone or who’s traded them.”

Drake has worked full time at a Virginia Beach coin store since 2009 determining the values of customer’s treasures. But in summer 2014, the Tidewater Coin Club member formed his own online store, Drake’s Collectibles. As part of his business he travels to at least five coin shows per year, selling pieces from his own collection and taking advantage of his insider status to find great deals on new additions.

The double political science and criminal justice major—who also helps manage VWC’s on-campus winter homeless shelter—plans to pursue a career in his field following his December 2014 graduation.

The Indiana native hopes to become an officer with the Bloomington Police Department before making his way to the U.S. Marshals. He also plans to keep gathering and selling coins on the side, eventually using his earnings to run for congress.

“Regardless of where I am, I’ll always be collecting coins,” he says.

Two hundred years from now, a child may receive a small sack of old coins as a gift. And maybe, just maybe, one of them will have passed through Brian Drake’s hands.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN: Originally prompted by a campus rain storm, the Mud Games now take place in early fall and incorporate all kinds of down-and-dirty fun.

It’s a mess. But it’s all in good, clean fun.

“Rain turned the fall 1995 ‘Outrageous Olympics’ to mud and inspired the first Mud Olympics the following year,” writes College Archivist Stephen Mansfield in his book, Wisdom Lights the Way: Virginia Wesleyan College’s First Half Century. “The ‘Mud Games’ became an annual tradition for teams of students, staff, and faculty members.”

There have been obstacle courses, tug-of-war battles, treasure hunts, dizzy bat contests, and all manner of silly relay races using everything from sacks to sit-and-bounce balls. But the games themselves are perhaps less important than the key ingredient: mud, created by hosing down a large rectangular patch of earth behind Village II on campus.

Though some alumni remember impromptu events on campus following heavy rain storms, the first officially sanctioned Mud Games, put on by the Office of Student Activities and the Wesleyan Activities Council, took place in the fall of 1996.

Fraternities and sororities, athletic teams, groups of friends, residence halls and even faculty and staff groups have competed over the years.

Teams register for the games by choosing a team name and submitting their roster.

“The mud brought everyone on campus together as one,” says Oliva (Casero) Worley ’10. “The mud covered the athletic team logos, the Greek letters, and color—allowing us all to have a blast together!”

There have been some symbolic prizes for winners in the past, but mostly participants do it for the bragging rights and the chance to get really, really dirty and live to tell about it—or at least capture it in photos.

At one point the games incorporated an Olympic torch. Each Mud Games takes on the personality of the students who participate in it.

“It has been interesting over time to see how it has evolved, how different students take it on and embrace it,” says Dean of Freshmen Jason Seward ’05, who also participated in Mud Games as a student at VWC. The 2014 Mud Games take place September 19. / 50 / MARLIN

—Stephanie Smaglo

PHOTO:thomas mills '15

>> Mud Games

RARE FIND: Numismatist Brian Drake ’15 has nearly 2,000 coins in his collection, his favorite of which is a Proof Mercury Dime (similar to the one pictured above).

Athletics

Anatomy of an Athlete In his own words, VWC mascot Bob Marlin recounts his recent makeover Holy mackerel! I am still reeling from the excitement of the February 2014 VWC Men’s Basketball game against Hampden-Sydney. Not only did our guys pull off the win in a fierce last-minute showdown—sends chills down my dorsal fin just thinking about it—but it also gave me the oppor-tuna-ty to show off my “new look” and say goodbye to my former self. Let me set the scene. It was a frigid, snowy night, but things were really heating up inside the Batten Center, where Marlin fans were packed in like sardines.

During a special halftime event, the crowd bid farewell to the old me, sending me out to sea for retirement. Next they brought the completely redesigned new me onto the court via motorcycle. You may think I’ve always been this tall drink of water that you see today. But, the truth is, there is quite a history behind my fishy physique, and I would feel gill-ty if I didn’t share some of the details.

[BOB IS BORN] I am a student invention, the result of a class project assigned by Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies Doug Kennedy. His students came up with my previous look more than 10 years ago, selecting a designer and even raising the funds needed to create me. By the way, if my name reminds you of a certain reggae icon, it’s no koi-incidence. In fact, Dr. Kennedy says that his whole class immediately agreed that I should be named after the perennial student favorite, Bob Marley.

[BEST FIN FORWARD] From the very beginning, I really dove headfirst into all things Virginia Wesleyan. I am the #1 cheerleader for all Marlin athletics, and I also serve as an honorary member of each and every one of VWC’s 70+ clubs and organizations. I guess you could say I’m hooked on Marlin spirit.

[FISHY FLASHBACK] Inspired by my legendary fighting fish lineage, the College’s very first Board of Trustees adopted the marlin as VWC’s mascot in 1963.

It wasn’t until 2003 that the “Bob Marlin” as you know me arrived, with my colorful mischief-making, pompom-swiping persona.

[TEAM EFFORT] Years of involvement across various channels can take its toll on a fish’s physical appearance.

I’ve certainly pulled my fair share of mussels along the way. So, in 2012, students in Dr. Kennedy’s “Management of Recreation and Leisure Services II” class began the process of giving me another makeover.

Over the last three years, students raised the funds needed to implement my flashy new style and held focus groups to get a better idea of how the VWC community wanted me to look (more athletic, more approachable and tougher than the old Bob, they said). Students took that feedback and worked with the mascotdesign company BAM! to develop this new version of me.

[MARLIN SWAGGER] The fin-ished product, as you can see, is nothing short of a prize-winning catch. I’ve got bigger muscles, a brighter complexion, and a sassy interchangeable wardrobe (a fish needs options, after all). I’d sincerely like to “tank” all those who were involved in my new transformation. I’m looking forward to this new chapter in Bob history.

Go Marlins!

PHOTO:thomas mills '15

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 51 /

photo: J.J. Nekoloff

Athletics

Team Efforts Men’s soccer, basketball and softball claim ODAC titles in 2013-2014 There were tense moments in overtime. Brilliant performances by star players. But most of all, there was a lot of dedication and hard work that paid off for three Virginia Wesleyan teams that walked away with Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) titles this year.

In men’s soccer, Brian Cornell ’14 connected on a penalty shot less than two minutes into overtime that represented not only his last as a Marlin and a career-high 10th goal of the season, but also the winning moment that lifted secondseeded VWC to a 2-1 victory over top-seeded Randolph College in November 2013.

Cornell’s goal capped a hard-fought effort by both teams, which featured alert defensive play that stepped up when needed. Virginia Wesleyan, which finished as conference runner-up last season after losing in overtime at Roanoke College, recorded its first ODAC title since 2008 and its first with Chris Mills ’06 as head coach (see facing page).

The Marlins went on to play in VWC’s 17th NCAA appearance in men’s soccer, but were eliminated from tournament play by 12th-ranked Carnegie Mellon University.

Virginia Wesleyan closed its season with a 16-5-1 record, the best for the program since 17 victories in 2007.

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It was all about balance for the men’s basketball Marlins—three-point shooting, free throw production, scoring, consistent defensive play—in their thrilling 77-74 ODAC championship victory over the HampdenSydney College Tigers on March 2, 2014, at the Salem Civic Center.

Hampden-Sydney entered the match-up averaging 92 points per game through three tournament victories. Virginia Wesleyan, which has competed in three straight ODAC championship games and eight in 11 seasons, won the league’s title for the second time in three years and fifth time overall.

Virginia Wesleyan hosted the opening round of NCAA Division III tournament play in basketball for the fourth consecutive year. The Marlins advanced to the Sweet 16 but had their roll toward a berth in the final four halted by host team, University of Mary Washington.

The loss ended the outstanding four-year intercollegiate careers of VWC seniors D.J. Woodmore, Aaron Clark, Colby Heard and Trent Batson. The quartet helped guide VWC to a brilliant 99-21 four-year record, highlighted by two ODAC championships and four straight NCAA appearances. The game also beaconed continued success with players like rookie Khory Moore, who turned in a stellar effort.

GOAL ORIENTED: The men’s soccer Marlins took on top-seeded Randolph College for the ODAC win in November 2013.

Men’s basketball coach Dave Macedo celebrated his own personal victory this year, as the January 2014 defeat of Randolph College marked his 300th win as VWC’s head coach.

Finally, Virginia Wesleyan’s top-seeded softball Marlins—whose Head Coach Brandon Elliott celebrated his 200th career win this season—capped an undefeated run through the 2014 ODAC title event in Salem, Virginia, with a 5-2 victory over the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College. The championship is VWC’s eighth overall, tying Roanoke for the most ODAC softball titles in league history.

Virginia Wesleyan, which compiled a 19-4 record in ODAC tourney play in the last five years, outscored foes 32-5 in this year’s event en route to tourney wins over Bridgewater College, Guilford College, and Randolph-Macon.

For the first time in program history, VWC was selected as a host site for a four-team, double-elimination regional tournament in softball, which took place May 9-11 at Marlins Field. VWC competed against Catholic University’s Cardinals and Christopher Newport University’s Captains, who ultimately put an end to the Marlins’ 2014 NCAA Division III tournament bid.

Coach's Corner

Athletics

Q&A

Leading by Example Stopping the clock with Head Men’s Soccer Coach Chris Mills ’06 Chris Mills did not take long to make an impact as Virginia Wesleyan’s head men’s soccer coach, leading the program to its 10th all-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championship in his first season in the lead role. A 2006 graduate of VWC’s Recreation and Leisure Studies program, Mills spent five seasons as an assistant coach and one year as associate head coach before taking over the team’s reins in the 2013 season. After winning the ODAC's automatic qualifier, VWC made their 17th appearance in the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament. In recognition of his accomplishments, Mills earned the honor of 2013 ODAC Coach of the Year and, serving as a reflection of his mentoring abilities, then-freshman Kyle Fisher was named 2013 ODAC Rookie of the Year. As a player, the defenseman was a three-time AllODAC honoree and a two-time All-Virginia honoree.

He helped bring the Marlins two regular season league titles, two league tournament titles and two NCAA appearances. We took some time out with Mills to find out more about his coaching techniques and team philosophy.

Complete this sentence: “My coaching season has been successful if the majority of my players...” ...have continued to develop both as soccer players and as people. College coaching is so much more than just athletics. We want our studentathletes to be successful in all aspects of life. We have a group of guys that take academics as seriously as athletics and that’s what we like to see. Our goal is to help our players develop as individuals; there’s life after soccer and we want them to be successful once they graduate.

FOR THE WIN: Chris Mills led the men’s soccer team to an ODAC championship in his first year as head coach.

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve implemented in your first year as head coach?

Right from the start we’ve been building team identity. We created a team crest that symbolizes the program’s past and present, incorporating Monumental Chapel, the Marlin and the VWC flame.

It’s a bridge to connect the players who built the program with those who are bringing it to the next level.

We also created a team slogan, 'More Than a Team,' which represents fellowship on and off the field.

Tell us about your recruiting process. What qualities do you look for in a player?

When you are out recruiting future student-athletes, obviously the first thing that catches your eye is the player’s talent level on the field. But, there is a lot more that goes into the process. We look at a player’s character and academic success in addition to technical abilities and athleticism. All of these qualities are equally important in order for our program to succeed.

photo: Janice Marshall-Pittman

You’ve said Head Women’s Soccer Coach Jeff Bowers has been a great mentor for you. What’s the best piece of coaching advice he’s given you?

I would say the best piece of advice Jeff has given me is to have open communication with the players.

He continues to help me with different ideas for different situations that may come up on the field.

To have someone so knowledgeable working in the same office is a huge help for my own personal growth as a coach.

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 53 /

Photo courtesy of Sideline Media Productions

Fast Finish 2014 graduates Randy Lott and Courtney Mebane make track and field history at VWC Virginia Wesleyan’s young track and field program capped its 10th season of intercollegiate competition in May 2014 by producing its first-ever All-American in the sport. Sprinter Randy Lott ’14 made history for the College by placing seventh in the 100-meter dash at a NCAA Division III Track & Field Championship meet, clocking a final time of 10.76 seconds and earning the All-American honor.

“This is huge for our program,” says Mat Littleton, VWC’s head men’s cross country and track and field coach. “It helps others believe they can achieve the same thing. It always takes that first

/ 54 / MARLIN

PASSING THE BATON: Randy Lott raised the bar for track and field at VWC, earning the program’s first-ever All-American honors.

person to believe, and then the bar is raised and others follow.”

Lott’s All-American honors were accompanied by nine ODAC titles, including Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

VWC Women’s Track and Field team member Courtney Mebane ’14 received five ODAC titles in the hurdles and tallied over 20 All-ODAC honors among other accolades. The business graduate also competed in mid-distance, sprinting and jumping events.

Their achievements make Lott and Mebane the most decorated athletes in the history of Virginia Wesleyan’s track and field programs.

Other All-American Honors for the 2013-2014 Season Josh Currier ’16 (Men’s Lacrosse) Named second team All-American by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association

Tori Higginbotham ’14 (Softball) Named first team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and a 2014 Capital One Academic All-American

Nick Pappas ’14 (Men’s Lacrosse) Named honorable mention All-American by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association

D.J. Woodmore ’14 (Men’s Basketball) Named a first team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and a second team All-American by D3hoops.com and DIII News

Athletics

Meet a Scholar-Athlete Kerri-Leanne Taylor ’15 When asked to describe herself in 10 words or less, VWC senior Kerri-Leanne Taylor says simply: “Determined to be the best in everything I do.” The Stockport, England native is definitely living up to her own expectations. In 2013, the standout women’s basketball guard/forward received the W. B. Shafer Jr. Scholar-Athlete Award, honoring the female athlete with the highest grade point average at the College. As a double communication and English major, Taylor consistently maintains a 4.0 GPA while juggling the commitment and responsibility of playing a collegiate sport. Let’s get to know this exceptional scholar-athlete a little better:

What is your favorite class?

My favorite class was “Feminist and Gender Theory” with [Assistant Professor of English] Dr. Slivka. I would recommend it to anyone, as it really opens your eyes to current gender disparities in society.

Why did you choose Virginia Wesleyan?

I chose VWC because on my recruiting visit it felt like a second home. My coaches and teammates were very inviting, and I was also looking forward to the small class sizes. The location near the beach is great too!

What advice would you give other students on balancing academics and athletics?

Plan your time accordingly and be prepared to make sacrifices to succeed both academically and athletically...and get enough sleep!

Cox Business is a Proud Sponsor of Virginia Wesleyan Athletics coxbusiness.com © 2014 Cox Communications, Inc. All rights reserved

Photo: joe wasiluk

What has been your most memorable moment as a VWC athlete so far?

We have lost to Guilford College each year in the ODAC tournament throughout my current college career, but my junior year we beat them on their home court. It was such a great feeling.

Hopefully we will beat them again and finally knock them out of the tournament this year.

photo: augusta pittman

Alumni Pages

ART IMITATING LIFE: Her playful clay sculptures are reminiscent of the way Robyn Larson Bailey ’98 raised her own children.

Alumni profiles

HARE RAISING Robyn Larson Bailey ’98 In Robyn Larson Bailey’s sculpture Raising Hares, a rabbit and a child are astride a yellow shoe-like vehicle. The child’s delicate, clay face is soulful. The long-eared rabbit in front—sporting blue pajamas—looks triumphant and also like he’s up to something.

Bailey is a sculptor and lives in Chick’s Beach with her husband Curtis. In the backyard of their home, she has a studio where she creates whimsical figures out of clay slabs. One of her favorites is called Pajama Party.

“I do a lot of children and animals,” Bailey says. “My work is playful, and a lot of it is about how I’ve already raised my children— I’ve been there, done that—and now I can have fun looking back at it.”

In the morning she sketches and plans, and then she heads to the studio to roll some slabs. Sometimes she make three or four clay platters. She warms up with easy

/ 56 / MARLIN

pieces to relax, and then she sets to work on the sculpture she’s been thinking about. Her pieces often take four or five days to complete, even before she starts the complicated process of glazing them.

Last year she went to lots of gallery shows, getting her work into adjudicated exhibitions. She participated in the VWC alumni show two years ago at the Neil Britton Gallery. She also has a dozen or so artist friends who put together shows twice a year in people’s homes.

Bailey came to Virginia Wesleyan after a first career as an accountant. Her two children were young, and her original plan was to study religion.

“Then I took one art course,” she recalls.

“And I thought, oh that’s it. That’s what I want to do.”

Bailey took classes in jewelry, weaving and painting, and she loved working with professors Barclay Sheaks and Neil Britton.

“I felt like the professors were very open to letting you try new things no matter what direction you would take,”

she says. “I did a lot of things there that I never did again, but I use those experiences to enhance what I’m working on now. It gave me the ability to play.”

She particularly remembers a film class where she got to put Professor Britton in a kiln in the ceramics studio for a project. And she vividly recalls Virginia Wesleyan trips to Greece, London and Italy.

Bailey says that her time as an artist has also impacted the lives of her children. One of her sons is a jazz musician, and the other just graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

“We could encourage them and allow them the freedom to go into art,” Bailey says. “I think that many people don’t see that as a way to make a living or a career, and we did. We just led them on their way.”

Bailey says that her artistic ideas just happen. Tomorrow she’s going to head out back to her studio and start a new piece.

“It’s in my head,” she says.

—Elizabeth Blachman

Alumni Pages

Class Notes

1970s

Major Eric Montgomery (1973) died on September 15, 2013. He retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1993 and served as a computer programmer for the Beaufort County Board of Elections and Voter Registration in South Carolina.

He is survived by his wife, Carol (Palmer) Montgomery (1972), two daughters and four grandsons.

Thomas Sharpley (1974) and his son provided all of the requested food items for the alumni sponsored turkey dinner held as part of VWC’s annual on-campus Winter Homeless Shelter in January 2014.

Elbert “E.J.” Faust Jr. (1978) died in Raleigh, North Carolina on December 20, 2013.

Mary Ella Douglas (1979) has been promoted to director of membership services at Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast. She previously served as the assistant vice president of field support for the American Lung Association, where she oversaw volunteerism and the organization’s performance-based management system.

1980s

Randall Peele (1980) accepted a position as assistant men’s basketball coach at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia.

Captain Richard F. Gonzalez (1980) retired from the U.S. Navy on March 1, 2011 after 30 years of active service. He was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal during a change of command ceremony held at the Defense Contract Management Agency’s Naval Sea Systems Operations Command in Moorestown, New Jersey.

William Dean (1980) accepted a position as head baseball coach at Lakeland High School in Suffolk, Virginia.

Darlene (Whitley) Rawls (1982) serves as the community integration and rehabilitation clinical services director at Western Tidewater Community Services Board, an organization providing quality recovery oriented care in mental health, intellectual disability and substance abuse.

Edward O’Brien (1983) was named Hampton Roads New York Life Agent of the Year. A first-person look at his career and motivation was featured in Inside Business in March 2014.

James “Tim” Bailey (1983) serves as division president for Canteen, the largest vending services company in the United States.

He is the recipient of the Virginia/North Carolina Vendor of the Year Award; the Penta President’s Award; and is on the Board of Directors for the Police Activities League in Charlotte, North Carolina.

David Patterson (1984) has been promoted to executive vice president and chief accounting officer at TowneBank in Suffolk, Virginia. He has 29 years of banking and accounting experience and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Captain Gail (Johnson) Manos (1986) was featured alongside other notable “Women in Medicine” on the Commander’s Blog for Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in September 2013.

The article noted her academic and military accomplishments along with her work as a psychiatrist.

Heather (Baker) Weidner (1989) has a short story published in Virginia is for Mysteries.

Each story is set in the Commonwealth, and all authors are members of the “Tell Tale Heart” or “Mysteries by the Sea” chapters of the women’s crime fiction organization, Sisters in Crime.

1990s

Frederick (Eric) Ivan Archer II (1990) lives in San Diego, California and works as a principal investigator in the Marine Mammal Genetics Group at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, a science lab in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). His work involves studying population genetics, taxonomy, and fishery interactions of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises).

Rodney Obien (1992) was appointed by New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan to serve on the State Historical Records Advisory Board. He also serves as the archivist and an assistant professor at Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire, as well as president of the New Hampshire Archives Group.

Michele (Mazzarulli) Quinlan (1992) was appointed in May 2013 to the board of directors of Monty’s Home, a canine rescue organization, as the New Hanover County Prison Coordinator. She is also employed as a senior officer for the Department of Homeland Security in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Christine Harris (1992) was featured for her artwork in the August 2013 issue of Art Doll Quarterly.

Robert Fox (1994) was promoted to vice president at TowneBank, serving as a senior credit risk review analyst at the Member Service Center in Suffolk, Virginia. He has 14 years of experience in the commercial banking industry, most recently working as senior commercial credit officer for an international bank.

Victoria (Lowell) Walker (1994) was elected to serve on the board of directors for the Association of Education Communication and Technology for the Division of Distance Learning. She was as nominated to serve as the division’s awards manager.

John Lockerby (1996) has been named town manager of the Village of Skokie, Illinois. Lockerby has worked in municipal government for nearly 20 years and was promoted in January 2014 after serving as assistant village manager for nine years.

Randi (LaMark) Vogel (1996), co-owner of Hunt Club Farm in Virginia Beach, was featured in Inside Business for the expansion of the agricultural-based entertainment business to a yearround venture.

Jaimie Reese (1996) and husband, Dean Jones, proudly announce the birth of a baby girl, Charlotte Sydney, born March 10, 2014 at 7 lbs., 1 oz.

Jennifer (Bush) Lawson (1997) died on February 24, 2014. She will be remembered for her devotion to family, her love for her children, her effervescent spirit and beautiful smile.

Jonathan Trullender (1998) and wife, Mallory, welcomed a daughter, Isabella Cora, on September 8, 2012.

Beth (Hodges) Clarke (1998) and husband, Jeb, are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Addison Juliette. She was born on September 8, 2013 and weighed 4 lbs., 4 oz.

Peter Derby (1998) and Lauren are proud to announce the September 16, 2013 birth of twins, Penelope Jane (3 lbs., 1 oz.) and John Michael (3 lbs., 10 oz.).

Wendy (Smith) McCoy (1998) and Ryan happily announced the birth of a baby girl, Alaina Jewell, born January 16, 2014, weighing 9 lbs., 1 oz.

Kristie (Sigmon) Middleton (1998) serves as food policy manager for the Humane Society of the United States, leading the organization’s “Meatless Monday” movement. She works with some of the nation’s largest school districts, including Los Angeles Unified School District and the Detroit Public Schools, to improve cafeteria food options in ways that benefit students, the environment and farm continued on page 59

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 57 /

G

rateful for the liberal arts education

she received at Virginia Wesleyan College, Mary Elizabeth Orse ’77 wanted to give back. With a goal to help others receive a well-rounded, transformational college experience like the one she had, Mary established an endowed scholarship during the last years of her life. It was important for her to leave a legacy that provided quality educational experiences for students who might not have the opportunity otherwise. Sadly, Mary lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in 2011. Her estate gift to Virginia Wesleyan College ensures that her passion for making a difference for future generations lives on in the Mary E. Orse ’77 Endowed Scholarship.

Make What Matters Count Pay trIbutE tO yOur PaSSIOn Like Mary Orse, 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

Class Notes animals. Her work has been covered by national media, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and CNN. Craig Harrison (1999) and Rian are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Aiden Audrey, born January 10, 2014, weighing 7 lbs., 4 oz.

2000s

Neil Forbes (2000) was promoted to partner in charge of disaster recovery services at Horne LLP in Ridgeland, Mississippi. He is responsible for government grant program management, financial and regulatory compliance with grant regulations and coordination of disaster related activities.

The VWC alumnus also spent eight years in the Army serving in Korea, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the Virginia Army National Guard.

Olivier Mussat (2000), principal investment officer for oil and gas at the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation, served as a guest speaker at the VWC Fall Business Conference in November 2013.

Molly McConnell-Tracy (2001) and husband, Patrick, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Tatum Sterling, born July 2, 2013.

John “Jack” Lingo (2001) was named Delaware State Coach for Boys Lacrosse.

His team, the Cape Henlopen Vikings, won the DIAA State Championship. Rep. Steve Smyk presented Lingo with a proclamation from the Delaware State House of Representatives on June 12, 2014.

Brad Cashman (2002) helped launch an “Empty Bowls” charity event to fight hunger in Charleston, South Carolina, raising $4,000 in its first year. Similar to the annual event held at VWC, dinner is served in a handcrafted bowl that guests are able to take home as a meaningful memento.

Raegan Baker (2003) is in the process of finishing her second book focused on Grand Duchess Olga Nicholaievna, and a third book is in the works. Her first book, Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nicholaievna—1913, was published by Gilbert’s Royal Books in 2008. Baker has an M.A. in public policy from Regent University and is currently working toward a Ph.D. in Nonprofit/Philanthropic Leadership at the University of San Diego.

Jason Knowlton (2003), a theatre alumnus, helped to write the 400th anniversary of the Pocahontas wedding for Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown.

Knowlton portrays a minister at Colonial Williamsburg.

Bladen Finch (2003) was accepted into the fall 2013 session of the Commonwealth Management Institute, a program that

Good Sports 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. The College’s seventh class will be inducted during the 2014-2015 academic year.

Nominations for the Athletic Hall of Fame are accepted each year from April 1-August 31. Stude-athletes are eligible for nomination five years after they’ve graduated. Marlin teams, coaches and friends of athletics may also be nominated. More information is available at www.vwc.edu/HOF. The 2015 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon will be held Saturday, February 21.

Join us to recognize Marlin athletic accomplishments and to reminisce with fellow alumni and coaches!

continued on page 60

Commendable Competitors: The sixth class of the VWC Athletic Hall of Fame included (from left): Evan Whitson ’96 (soccer), Jordan Kenney ’08 (lacrosse) and Kelly Donnelly Durso ’07 (soccer). Not pictured: Gary Edwards ’79 (basketball, cross country and golf).

photo: Janice Marshall-Pittman

College to induct seventh class of honorees into Athletic Hall of Fame on February 21, 2015

increases one’s ability to effectively design, implement, and evaluate public programs and policies.

Brad Schloss (2004) has been promoted to assistant vice president at TowneBank Mortgage. He has been in the mortgage industry for almost 10 years and was named a Top 1% Mortgage Originator in America for 2012 by Mortgage Executives Magazine.

Justin “Clay” Rushing (2004) and Lynette are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Isaiah David Rushing. He was born on July 2, 2013.

Kerrie Vytlacil (2004) earned a Ph.D. in education from Capella University on August 31, 2013. Her dissertation was titled: “Beyond minimum technology requirements: Learner characteristics for the instructional design of virtual programs at the elementary grade levels.”

Julia Green (2004) and Jeremy Marks are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Everly “Evie” Rose, born on January 14, 2014, weighing 8 lbs., 5 oz.

Courtney Turner (2004) and Marshall Young were married June 6, 2014 in Richmond.

Rex Hamaker Jr. (2004) fuses his Wesleyan education and global perspective with his passion for the Hampton Roads region as director of marketing and administration for Taste Tidewater Tours.

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 59 /

Applause for Alumni

GRAD GATHERING: In their formal regalia, recipients of the 2013 Alumni Awards reconnected with VWC Director of Alumni Relations Lina Green (second from left) at the September 2013 awards ceremony.

(From left) Thomas Taylor '00, Bonnie Sutton '99 and Bladen Finch '03.

photo: Janice Marshall-Pittman

Wesleyan grads honored with 2013 Alumni Awards

Class Notes Jeffrey Bradford (2005) and Rebecca (Leedom) Bradford (2010) are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Landon Jeffery. He was born on July 30, 2013 and weighed 7 lbs., 5 oz.

Justin Blazer (2005) was promoted to director of player development and instruction at Duran Golf Club in Viera, Florida.

Michelle Rowe Willke (2006) and Karl Willke are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Ariel Cassidy, born September 14, 2013 at 7 lbs., 5.5 oz.

William “PJ” Foster (2006) and his wife, Tenishia, are proud to announce the February 21, 2014 birth of a baby boy, Masen Desales, at 7 lbs., 10 oz.

John Alutto (2007) and Kristen (Byrnes) Alutto (2007) are proud to announce the birth their son, Wesley Lawrence, on July 21, 2013, weighing 6 lbs., 9 oz.

Jenn White (2007) has been recognized as a 2013 “Top 40 Under 40” by Inside Business. White serves as senior communications and marketing specialist at the Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority and volunteers as the chair of the Mentor and Internship Program with the Roundtable of Business Leaders. / 60 / MARLIN

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.

The 2013 Alumni Awards went to Bonnie Sutton '99, Distinguished Alumni Award; Thomas Taylor '00, Alumni Service Award; and Bladen Finch '03, Graduate of the Last Decade Award. The recipients were honored with a special brunch reception followed by an awards ceremony at the College’s annual Fall Convocation in September 2013.

An awards ceremony will be held for the 2014 Alumni Awards recipients during Fall Convocation on September 4.

If you know a VWC graduate who deserves to be recognized for their achievements, submit a nomination at www.vwc.edu/alumniawards.

Aaron Johnston (2007) and Suzanne (Lazarowitz) Johnston (2009) are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Camryn Adelle. She was born on December 30, 2013.

Scott Roberts (2008) performed at VWC’s Homecoming & Parent Weekend in October 2013 with his band, the Swell Luck Beach Band.

Holly (Phaneuf) Taylor (2008) and Joshua are proud to announce the April 9, 2014 birth of a baby boy, Robert Cameron, weighing 7 lbs., 4.9 oz.

Robert Aaron (2009), a Norfolk, Virginia police officer, received a Bronze Medal of Valor from the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and TowneBank in April 2014.

Jessica Rucka (2009) and Kathleen (Mabry) Rucka (2009) are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Harleigh Renee. She was born on September 24, 2013 and weighed 8 lbs., 2 oz.

2010s

Carmen Dawkins (2010) proudly announced the birth of her baby girl, Camille Mae Tolliver, born on September 21, 2013, weighing 7 lbs., 7 oz.

Timothy Trask (2010) and Ashley (Downey) Trask (2010) are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl,

Savannah Lee, on May 11, 2014. She weighed 8 lbs., 10 oz., has blue eyes and is a Phi Sig legacy.

Katerina Barnes (2011) is applying Peace Corps service in the West African nation of Senegal toward her graduate studies at the School for International Training (S.I.T.) in Vermont. She lives in a small village of 500 people and spends her days working as an agroforestry extension agent.

Amanda Crow (2012), a Marlin veteran and Hampton Roads business owner, was in the national spotlight in March 2014 when she was featured on the hit CBS show “Undercover Boss.” The tables were turned in the episode as an “Undercover Employee” checked in on Crow’s PostNet franchise. In the end, Crow received $50,000 to help her achieve her dream of owning a second store in Virginia Beach.

Kathryn Zitz (2013) and Scott Courlander proudly announced the birth of a baby boy, Calvin Joseph, born on April 27, 2014 at 7 lbs., 11 oz.

Anderson Brown (2013) was awarded membership in the Sigma Nu fraternity’s Alpha Chapter Affiliate Program for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Please note: Class Notes are usersubmitted and are reprinted with only minor edits for style and consistency.

Alumni Pages Alumni profiles

talk of the town Kaj Dentler never thought he would leave parks and recreation. Dentler majored in recreation/leisure services at Virginia Wesleyan and got his first job in the field with a post in Chesapeake a few months before he graduated.

“My goal was to become a director of a parks and recreation department—end of story,” he says. “That was the pinnacle for me career wise, along with winning the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management—both in Herndon and Leesburg.”

But in 2007, when he was serving as director of parks and recreation in Leesburg, Dentler was tapped to become the deputy town manager, and in October 2014 he will take over as town manager.

Dentler works with the Mayor, Town Council, department heads, residents and businesses to provide government services to the people of Leesburg. He says that his entrepreneurial mindset helps him serve his customers and the public.

Dentler currently lives in Leesburg with his wife, Debbie, and has three children. He thinks that the skills needed to manage a town are pretty similar to those he’s been developing all along.

“You learn to work with all people and are used to doing just about anything, which is exactly what is expected in the parks and recreation field,” he says.

Dentler got into the field because he wanted to work with people.

“There is nothing like making a difference in someone’s life or providing them with unexpected levels of customer service,” he says.

Once, when Dentler was involved in the building of a 20-acre athletic complex in Leesburg, a resident didn’t trust the Town and initially resisted the project.

“But several months after the park opened, the person sought me out to apologize for how he addressed the staff and me, and thanked us for delivering what we promised,” Dentler recalls.

“Over the next several years before his death, the gentleman became a staunch supporter of the park and its operations and a true friend to me.

I’ll never forget that.”

From his time at Virginia Wesleyan, Dentler remembers laughing a lot on senior backpack trips led by professor John Braley—who taught in the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department until 2013. He also remembers that work-study jobs in the cafeteria and in the athletic department along with serving as an RA taught him that hard work and taking on responsibilities pays off—in the classroom and in life.

“When you work hard, treat people right, and get the job done, people begin to trust you…from there, opportunities present themselves,” he says.

— Elizabeth Blachman

photo: Jon Limtiaco of Exposure Photography

Kaj Dentler ’83

PEOPLE PERSON: Kaj Dentler ’83 strives to provide “unexpected levels of customer service” as town manager of Leesburg.

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 61 /

photo courtesy of nelly's house

Alumni profiles

At Your Service Taylor Grissom ’87 Taylor Grissom remembers acting out the role of entrepreneur in skits for one of his classes in Virginia Wesleyan’s Liberal Arts Management Program (LAMP). The class was learning how to handle practical situations that might come up in the real world, and Grissom recalls that there was a fair amount of kidding around.

“But when I had my first business, there were times it was very similar to that, and those skits popped into my mind,” he muses. “What kind of owner are you going to be?

What kind of principles are you going to put into place? And that was one thing that I really thought the classes prepared you for.”

These days, the Chesapeake native and father of three no longer has time for pretend businesses. He has five real ones to juggle. He’s the owner of Blue Water Pools, a partner in Davenport Land Management, and a director and co-founder of Monarch

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Bank. He started on the path that led to his current web of ventures during his time at VWC where, in addition to his schoolwork, he spent 40 hours a week working for a local developer and builder.

Soon after graduating, Grissom branched out to owning a sand mining operation, working for a contractor and partnering in neighborhood development throughout Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg.

“Thirty years ago you heard the term entrepreneur and it was a bad thing—people in business who can’t make up their minds what they want to do,” he says. “Today, it’s someone who’s creative. The liberal arts management degree gives you a wide background of experience and teaching.”

Grissom, who lives in Chesapeake with his wife Kerry, says one venture that is very close to his heart is My Brother’s Keeper, an aide organization that focuses on biblical principles and reconciliation.

Through My Brother’s Keeper, he traveled to Haiti on a mission trip in 2012 where he learned of a program called Nelly’s House that at the time fed 250 children a hot meal every school day.

He returned to the U.S. with his own mission to raise funds for the organization and today helps provide support for Nelly’s House through various fundraising efforts. Grissom returned to Haiti in summer 2014 to help expand the program.

SOURCE OF HOPE: Through fundraising efforts, Taylor Grissom '87 helps support Nelly’s House, a program that feeds one hot meal to nearly 900 school-aged Haitian children on a daily basis.

“The need: it’s just great. It’s something you can’t describe in words, their living conditions and what they go through on a daily basis,” he says. “When you can see these kids and know that you can help them have a basic need—just food—it’s very humbling.”

Grissom is currently organizing the second annual Chesapeake Christian Music Festival, an event he spearheaded in 2013 to raise funds for Nelly’s House.

And though his Wesleyan days are behind him, he hasn’t finished learning.

“Oh man, I just like to sit back and watch and learn,” he says. “I realize every day how much more is out there to be a part of—projects to help with, ways to gain knowledge or just things to experience.”

—Elizabeth Blachman

Alumni Pages

My Challenge to You A message from Amy Rickard ’98, VWC’s new Alumni Association Board President I love a challenge.

Personal, professional, even physical, there’s nothing like the motivation of a good challenge to get me going. I say this because that’s how the Alumni Association Board of Directors is tackling the 2014-2015 academic year.

To start, the Board was presented with a 2:1 challenge to match a generous anonymous donation of $10,000 to our Alumni Legacy Endowed Scholarship Fund, which benefits children of VWC alumni who also choose to attend Wesleyan. I am pleased to report that we are just $2,000 shy of satisfying that challenge.

Next, as the Alumni Association’s strategic plan moves into its second year, we continue

to encourage all alumni to get involved with the life of the College. That relationship may take the form of recruitment, interaction with current students, guest speaking opportunities, campus event participation or support with a financial gift that helps meet the College’s strategic priorities.

I challenge each and every one of you to get involved this year; to contribute to the plan’s ongoing mission to connect, participate, champion, and support the College.

I look forward to a new year as we continue to build on the successes of our strong alumni family. For more information, please reach out to Director of Alumni Relations Lina Green at lina@vwc.edu or 757.455.2115.

Hope to see you around campus!

2014-2015 Alumni Association Board of Directors

The Alumni Association Board of Directors represents all VWC alumni by serving as advocates to 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 2014-2015 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, Bull & Company MediaWorks Cathy Holava ’93 Treasurer Vice President Fraud Reporting, Senior Programmer/Analyst, Bank of America

MEMBERS Anne Marie Burroughs ’04 Realtor, William E. Wood Troy DeLawrence ’93 Senior Testing Specialist, Capital One Desiree Ellison ’08 Corporate Sponsorships and Promotions, Norfolk Tides

Kelly Keys ’13 RecX Supervisor, Virginia Wesleyan College John Maravich ’11 Energy and Environmental Management Specialist, Sustainable Industrial Solutions

Jesse Fanshaw ’72 Retired Laura Gadsby ’90 Social Worker, Beth Sholom Village Kim Harriman ’90 Assistant to the Dean of Admission, Virginia Wesleyan College

Vikki Holliday-Keifer ’05 Special Projects Manager/ Documentation Specialist, Mode Transportation

Kevin Otey ’05 Chief Operating Officer, Children’s Harbor Molly Phillips ’02 High School Teacher/Coach, Capital School District (Dover High School)

Amber Randolph ’05 Associate Attorney, Wilcox Savage Rachel Rigoglioso ’10 Paralegal, Boleman Law Firm Shelby St. Gelais ’12 Admissions Counselor, Virginia Wesleyan College Nicole Thurston ’07 Associate Attorney, Poole Mahoney PC Angela Ward-Costello ’87 Owner/Creative Director, Angela Costello Group Beth Widmaier ’99 Registered Nurse, Riverside Regional Medical Center

Virginia Wesleyan College Magazine 2014-2015 / 63 /

photo: Janice Marshall-Pittman

Parting Words

Pedal to the Metal A letter from President Billy Greer ON MAY 21, 2014, I ANNOUNCED TO OUR Board of Trustees that I would be retiring as president of the College on June 30, 2015. My 22 years at Virginia Wesleyan are among the best years of my career and I have been very proud to be a part of this College community.

Though this will be my last year as president, I have no plans for slowing down. Rather, it’s pedal to the metal—as I still have much I want to accomplish before I pass the torch.

One of the most important things on my agenda is launching our newly approved strategic plan, VWC 2020: Pathway to Prominence. Implementation of our plan requires our focused attention to five key areas of growth and development for the College that are critical to distinguishing Virginia Wesleyan in the future: increased attention to experiential learning, innovative teaching, student engagement, community connections and an inspiring sense of place on the VWC campus.

My last year will be devoted to providing resources and aligning infrastructure to support those key priorities. Fundraising for our new academic facility for the arts, a turf field for lacrosse and field hockey, and a track for our track and field teams are on the agenda, as are designing a grand entrance to the College and seeing us through a 10-year accreditation

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MEASURES OF SUCCESS: President Billy Greer with Joe Ruddy ’83, Chief Operating Officer for the Port of Virginia, who served as keynote speaker at the College’s most recent commencement ceremony. renewal process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

I’ve always believed that the finest kind of education is one in which the classroom is linked to the outside world. The stories in this issue show you how we do just that. As you’ve turned the pages of this edition, you’ve read about our distinguished faculty : from Dr. Alain Gabon’s passion for film and his native France and Dr. Vic Townsend’s early years as a budding biologist to Dr. Stu Minnis’ exploration of Newfoundland.

These pages are also packed with examples of our students’ successes with undergraduate research and rigorous study on our campus, in our community and throughout the world. I know that their experiences at Virginia Wesleyan place them on promising pathways to prominence for their own lives and future careers.

That promise is evident in the successes of the alumni featured in this publication, just as it is in Virginia Wesleyan graduates like Joe Ruddy ’83 (pictured). Ruddy, who served as keynote speaker at the College’s most recent commencement ceremony, makes a difference in the Hampton Roads community every day as Chief Operating Officer for the Port of Virginia.

In this issue of Marlin Magazine, you’ll also read about several firsts for the College. In May 2014, our chorus performed at the prestigious Carnegie Hall for the first time ever. We recently bestowed our first Bachelor of Social Work degrees; received our first award at the National Model United Nation’s Conference in New York City; elected our first alumnus to serve as chair of our Board of Trustees; and were named a top-tier national liberal arts college in U.S. News and World Report for the first time. Those firsts are milestones for the College that move us forward on our pathway to prominence.

Since I announced my retirement plans in May, I’ve often been asked what I’ll be doing after June 2015. I’ve given that considerable thought. I’ll most likely be enjoying more time with my family, catching up on a lot of reading and doing some writing of my own.

I also plan to warm up my baseball glove to play with my grandchildren. Until then, it’s pedal to the metal.

Billy Greer President

Connecting Classroom to Career Nicolletta Cuthbert ’14 is well on her way to becoming a mixed animal veterinarian and eventually running her own veterinary practice.

As a member of VWC’s field hockey team and a double major in biology and chemistry, she was actively engaged on campus and in the classroom. She completed several comprehensive research projects, utilized the College’s scanning electron microscope, applied her studies at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and completed an internship at a veterinarian’s office. In fall 2014, she plans to attend Virginia Tech’s prestigious veterinary school.

“The scholarship I received was really helpful and I loved the small class sizes and one-on-one time with my professors at Virginia Wesleyan.” NICOLLETTA CUTHBERT ’14 The Annual Fund for Academic Excellence supports annual scholarships, undergraduate research opportunities, study abroad programming and internships, ensuring that Virginia Wesleyan students like Nicolletta have access to a 21st century liberal arts education that prepares them well for their futures.

CONTRIBUTE TO MEANINGFUL FUTURES Support the Annual Fund for Academic Excellence Visit www.vwc.edu/annualfund, call Kristin Williams at 757.455.3115 or write to President’s Office, 1584 Wesleyan Drive, Norfolk, VA 23502

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.