First LUJ/VWU Global Students Graduate

VWU’s Commencement Ceremony in May included the first four students to graduate through VWU Global’s partnership with Lakeland University Japan (LUJ). The partnership was established in 2020 when VWU and Lakeland University of Plymouth, Wisconsin, agreed to jointly operate a campus in Tokyo with the name “Lakeland University Japan and Virginia Wesleyan University Global.” The agreement partnered VWU with an institution that teaches 400 students from 30 countries in an English-speaking associate’s degree program. LUJ is one of only two approved American universities in Japan and is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Coincidentally, the LUJ/VWU Global students—Momo Higuchi, Reo Nagayama, Moeno Sawai and Risa Yanagita— chose business as their major. Before opting to complete their bachelor’s degrees at VWU Global’s Virginia Beach campus, they graduated from Lakeland University/VWU Global’s two-year program on the Tokyo campus.

Newto the Top 20 list this year is VWU Trustee W. Taylor Franklin ’04, chief operating officer of The Franklin Johnston Group.

Named to the list’s 60 Power Players are VWU Trustee Sharon S. Goodwyn, counsel for Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, and President Miller.

Included in the list’s emeritus section are VWU Trustees G. Robert Aston Jr., executive chairman, TowneBank; Susan S. Goode H’22, community leader; John F. Malbon H’22, retired chairman and CEO of PAPCO; and Vincent J. Mastracco Jr., partner, Kaufman & Canoles, P.C. Also included in the emeritus section are VWU trustees emeriti Jane P. Batten H’06, philanthropist; and George Y. Birdsong H’16, chief executive officer and general counsel, Birdsong Corporation.

“ We are honored and grateful that such distinguished leaders are dedicated to serving our University,” President Miller said. “Their wisdom and guidance are vital to ensuring that VWU and our students continue to thrive.”