VirginiaWesleyan Fall 2018
UNIVERSITY
BACK TO BACK NCAA Division III National Softball Champs Again!
MAGAZINE
COMMITMENT TO THE LIBERAL ARTS
Environmental Stewardship
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RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE
Chosen as one of the nation’s best by The Princeton Review and featured in its guide: The Best 382 Colleges: 2018 Edition
Featured by U.S. News & World Report in two categories of its 2018 Best Colleges guide – ranked 20th in Ethnic Diversity among National Liberal Arts Colleges and listed among 229 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges
Member of the U.S. Green Building Council, the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work
Selected by The Princeton Review as one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the U.S. and Canada and profiled in its Guide to 375 Green Colleges: 2017 Edition
Recognized as one of the top eight liberal arts colleges in the country for veterans by U.S. News & World Report in a previous ranking of the Best Colleges for Veterans
Recognized by the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) for fifth consecutive year as part of its Green Star Awards competition; saluted for exceptional maintenance of the University’s 300-acre campus
Honored as a 2018-2019 College of Distinction, chosen for excellence in student-focused higher education and exemplary commitment to engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes
Charter signatory of the Climate Commitment, a carbon neutrality and climate resilience initiative created by Boston-based organization Second Nature
Repeatedly receives the Military Friendly School designation by G.I. Jobs, the premier magazine for military personnel transitioning to civilian life
Listed on the Council of Independent Colleges’ site for the Historic Campus Architecture Project for old-growth beech forest–several acres of mature hardwoods, with a very tall canopy and an undisturbed understory, making it a sustainable ecological system on VWU’s campus
Virginia Wesleyan University Dining Services is one of a handful of original Virginia colleges and universities to be designated as a Virginia Green Restaurant by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Honoring Our Mission, Exploring New Opportunities
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elcome to the fall edition of Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine. We invite you to explore our campus through the perspective of four key areas—Leadership, Innovation, a Commitment to the Liberal Arts, and Environmental Stewardship—that help to define our recent success and plans for the future. Now that our transition from an aspiring college to an inspiring university has been completed, Virginia Wesleyan continues its journey to national prominence. With two national niche programs, the Greer Environmental Sciences Center and the Batten Honors College, and through the excellent teaching and scholarship of our faculty, the University continues to strengthen academic opportunities for our nearly 1,600 students. This is especially important in today’s competitive higher-education landscape in which leadership and innovation often translate into positive enrollment, fundraising, and budgetary trends. Our students are learning in new and diverse ways and locations—in our conventional classrooms and laboratories (including outdoors), online, evenings and weekends, at Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay, aboard our shared vessel with the Virginia Aquarium, the Ocean Explorer, in the great museums and galleries of Europe, and as global scholars in other nations on nearly every continent. As we diversify our student experiences, we are also diversifying our enrollment profile as we reach out to new audiences. Going to college is no longer just for the traditional 18-to-21 population. We’re teaching students today from age 8 to 80, from our Tidewater Collegiate Academy school to the popular continuingeducation courses offered at Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to our historic and valued mission—church-related, liberal arts instruction. Recently a campus committee of faculty and staff completed a revised academic-based strategic plan with a new mission statement for the University that is consistent with our best traditions, ideals, and aspirations. Summarized in this edition of the magazine, the plan will guide our academic and co-curricular programs and initiatives over the next decade. With completion of the award-winning, state-ofthe-art Greer Environmental Sciences Center, Virginia Wesleyan has achieved national distinction for our student stewards of the natural world. We are learning more each day about the vulnerabilities of our home in Coastal Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as in many other ecosystems on Earth. From the threat of coastal sea rise to the need to fight pollution and preserve biodiversity, our students and faculty are stepping up with new ideas, applied research, and informed perspectives on environmental public policy. Read more about our environmental programs and recognition, and all the exciting news of Virginia Wesleyan, as we thank you for your support of Coastal Virginia’s Premier University of the Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Sincerely,
Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.
President of the University
REMEMBERING BOB BOYD BARCELONA BOUND
7 FEATURES
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20 Back to Back
Virginia Wesleyan softball brings home second NCAA Division III National Championship
Commitment to the Liberal Arts
A new academic-based strategic plan sets the stage for a grand future
Environmental Stewardship
Conte nt "Conservationist of the Year" award from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation recognizes Greer Environmental Sciences Center
CLIMBING TO THE TOP
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
24 FOND FAREWELL
26 departments 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 4 WESLEYAN WINDOW 10 EYE ON VWU 18 THE ARTS 20 ACADEMIA 23 LIVING & LEARNING 26 ATHLETICS 30 ALUMNI
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2018-19 BOARD OF TRUSTEES David L. Kaufman, Chair Scott D. Miller, Ph.D., President Jonathan E. Pruden, Vice Chair Cynthia M. Rodriguez ’14, Secretary Anne B. Shumadine, Treasurer George K. (Chip) Tsantes III ’83 Parliamentarian Gary D. Bonnewell ’79 H’16 Immediate Past Chair J. Tim Bailey ’83 Susan Torma Beverly ’72 Gary D. Bonnewell ’79 H’16 Nancy T. Deford, Ph.D. Troy DeLawrence ’93* O. L. Everett William H. George Susan S. Goode William W. Granger III Mary C. Haddad Alexander B. Joyner* David L. Kaufman Howard P. Kern Ronald M. Kramer Sharma D. Lewis* John F. Malbon Vincent J. Mastracco Jr. Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.* Tassos J. Paphites ’79 Deborah M. Paxson ’75 Jonathan E. Pruden Robin D. Ray Cynthia M. Rodriguez ’14 Louis F. Ryan Alan H. Shaw Anne B. Shumadine James H. Shumadine M. Wayne Snead* Lee T. Stevenson ’85 Kenneth G. Trinder II George K. (Chip) Tsantes III ’83 D. Henry Watts H’07 Michael J. White ’81 *Ex Officio
TRUSTEES EMERITI Jane P. Batten H’06 George Y. Birdsong H’16 S. Frank Blocker Jr. Joan P. Brock H’10 Thomas C. Broyles Robert W. Collenberg II ’90 Robert H. Deford Jr. William J. Fanney Lemuel E. Lewis John E. Lingo Jr. Elizabeth F. Middleton ’91 Emily S. Miles William S. Shelhorse ’70 William H. Thumel Jr. John A. Trinder
PRESIDENT AND LEADERSHIP Dr. Scott D. Miller President Dr. Timothy O’Rourke Provost and Vice President Dr. Mort Gamble Senior Vice President James E. Cooper Vice President for Finance and Administration Dr. Keith E. Moore Vice President for Student Affairs David Waggoner Vice President for Enrollment Robert Leitgeb Chief Information Officer Tina Hill Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Kelly Barham Executive Assistant to the President ADVANCEMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS Suzanne Savage Associate Vice President for Advancement and Board Relations Lori Harris ’94 Executive Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations alumni relations general inquiries
alumni@vwu.edu
VirginiaWesleyan UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE
PUBLISHER
Stephanie Smaglo EDITOR
Laynee H. Timlin SPORTS EDITOR/ SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER
Samuel Carges ART DIRECTOR
Christine Hall
PHOTOGRAPHER / PRODUCTION MANAGER
Janice Marshall-Pittman CONTRIBUTORS
Allaina Boggs '21, photographer VISIT US ONLINE AT VWU.EDU/MAGAZINE PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER BY JONES PRINTING SERVICE
ON THE COVER: Marlins Softball celebrates their second NCAA Div III National Championship. PHOTO: SAMUEL CARGES
Wesleyan Window
A New Chapter Begins for the Class of 2018 DIPLOMAS IN HAND, 308 GRADUATES SET OUT TO MAKE THEIR MARK ON THE WORLD
It was a commencement of firsts for Virginia Wesleyan. The First Lady of Virginia Pamela Northam delivered the commencement address. The Class of 2018 was the first class to graduate from Virginia Wesleyan “University” and the first class to be permitted to decorate their graduation caps. In addition, the Class of 2018 entered Convocation Hall in the Jane P. Batten Student Center to “Highland Cathedral,” played on the bagpipes for the first time. President Scott D. Miller and Provost and Vice President Timothy O’Rourke conferred bachelor of arts, bachelor of science and/or bachelor of social work degrees as the graduates walked across the stage before a crowd of beaming family and friends, faculty and staff, trustees, alumni and honored guests. Celebratory cheers from the crowd acknowledged the graduates’ milestone achievements and promising futures. CREATIVE CAPS Decorated mortarboards made their appearance with fanfare. Many members of the Class of 2018 took full advantage of this inaugural opportunity to adorn their mortarboards with sparkle, flowers, tributes to family and messages like Hamilton’s “There’s a million things I haven’t done, but just you wait.” Whether optimistic or humorous, each embellishment displayed a meaningful expression for the individual wearer.
“Because of you, the future is bright in the Commonwealth of Virginia.” PAMELA NORTHAM, First Lady of Virginia
MEMORABLE DAY for proud graduate: Nicholas Hipple ‘18
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ADDRESS TO THE CLASS OF 2018 Commencement speaker Pamela Northam, also an educator, environmentalist and advocate, delivered the keynote address. Her message espoused “a new chapter” for each of the new graduates. “Change is rarely an easy thing to do,” Northam acknowledged, “It takes courage to dare greatly, to step out into new territory. But as Virginians, we have always been explorers, revolutionaries and innovators.” Northam referenced nature and how it teaches us about evolutionary changes and transformation. She quoted biologist Jane Goodall, telling the graduates, “You cannot get through a single day without making an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” She closed by congratulating the Class of 2018, “Because of you, the future is bright in the Commonwealth of Virginia.” ■
Wesleyan Window
Center for Civic Leadership and Service Learning
CENTER LEADERSHIP: Brian Kurisky began his role as the first director of Wesleyan Engaged: Center for Civic Leadership and Service Learning in December 2017.
Virginia Wesleyan has had a long history of meaningful engagement with the community. In keeping with that long-standing tradition, last fall, President Scott D. Miller shared plans for the creation of a new center that would build on the University’s strong foundation of student volunteerism and further shape, expand, and direct service learning opportunities, neighborhood partnerships, and interfaith dialogue. “My goal is to emphasize the four academic pillars of Virginia Wesleyan University: undergraduate research, international experience, internships, and civic engagement,” said President Miller. Brian Kurisky was named as the Center’s first director. Prior to coming to VWU, Kurisky served in leadership roles at Old Dominion University (ODU), including his most recent position as director for academic initiatives in the Center for High Impact Practices. Kurisky holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, and B.S. degrees in European political science and intercultural communications from ODU, and a M.S.Ed. in College Student Affairs and Leadership from Grand Valley State University. One of Kurisky’s first accomplish-
ments has been initiating membership with Campus Compact, a national coalition of more than 1,000 colleges and universities dedicated to civic education and community development. As the only national higher education association dedicated solely to campus-based civic engagement, Campus Compact enables campuses to develop students’ citizenship skills and forge effective community partnerships. Its resources will support VWU in pursuing community-based teaching and scholarship. Kurisky says that much of what needs to be accomplished requires documentation of the civic impact Virginia Wesleyan makes in the community and he is setting up systems to ensure that Wesleyan Engaged is the central repository for this information. Currently, the Center coordinates student volunteer and outreach programs that have been wellestablished. Those programs (Marlins Read, Marlins Count, Global Marlins, Neighborhood Tutoring, Future Marlins, Bonner Leaders, Marlins Go Green and Terra-Cycling) have provided valuable volunteer opportunities for VWU students as well as much-needed support for organizations surrounding the Virginia Wesleyan community. ■
Students from Puerto Rico Continue Education at VWU DISPLACED BY HURRICANE MARIA, VISITING STUDENTS ATTEND VWU
The arrival of Narmarie Davila and Anto-
nio Crespo on the Virginia Wesleyan campus for the spring semester was the result of a successful fundraising campaign initiated by VWU faculty and staff. Full scholarships supported a tuition-free semester for the students, whose education at the University of Puerto Rico-Humacao had been halted by the devastation from Hurricane Maria in September 2017. While enrolled at VWU, Davila and Crespo worked on a social impact project, using what they learned to help solve the
challenges Puerto Rico is facing in the aftermath of the storm. They hope to be a part of uniting the community when they return. Mavel Velasco, Professor of Hispanic Studies at VWU, was part of the planning team that brought the students to campus. “We’re thrilled that the VWU community supported this important endeavor,” said Valasco, “It builds new and durable alliances between our two regions, and, most importantly, ensures that young people have the opportunity to continue their education.” ■ Virg in ia We sle ya n U n ive rsit y Ma g a zin e | Fall 2018 / 5 /
Wesleyan Window
Partnership with Rikkyo University takes students to Japan during Winter Session Each January brings unique opportunities for students to explore and discover during Winter Session, VWU’s special three-week academic term when students can concentrate their studies on one intensive course. During Winter Session, students can take unique courses not offered during the regular semester, fulfill needed course requirements or participate in exciting study away experiences. During Winter Session 2018, Zoe Traficante’18 and Cassandra Caldwell ’19 had the opportunity to study away in Tokyo, Japan as a result of a partnership with Rikkyo University. A scholarly exchange and collaboration agreement, signed by VWU President Scott D. Miller and Professor Tomoya Yoshioka, president of Rikkyo University, offered two scholarships for VWU students to travel to Rikkyo’s campus for their January Japanese Cultural Immersion Program. The program comprised 45 hours of instruction and 25 hours of lecture on Japanese culture and society, and included field trips. Grants from The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration and
Discovery supported the students’ travel and expenses for room and board. For Caldwell, a biology major/chemistry minor who aspires to work as a physicianscientist, studying abroad in Japan provided a great opportunity to forward her career goals. “I constantly browse international journals that demonstrate the scholarly merit gained when intellectual leaders contribute ideas across borders,” noted Caldwell. “My coursework and experiences at VWU helped to prepare me for this adventure.” Traficante, math major/business minor, was interested in this opportunity to fully immerse herself into Japanese culture. “I’m specifically interested in advanced leadership education at Rikkyo. I can gain more exposure to different leadership styles and techniques while making great strides in my personal independence,” said Traficante. Opportunities to study away are coordinated by Mandy Reinig, VWU’s director of the Study Away Program. “During Winter Session 2018, VWU
Zoe Traficante’18 (left) and Cassandra Caldwell’19 are the first VWU students to study away at Rikkyo University in Tokyo, Japan.
also had 57 students and eight faculty members studying in Costa Rica, Germany, Hawaii and Israel,” said Reinig. “They had opportunities to conduct field research on neotropical ecosystems, examine Berlin’s past through its present, and explore the impact of adventure tourism on the environment, culture, and the economy.” ■
Westminster/Wesleyan Lifelong Learning Institute Fall 2017 was the first semester for the Westminster/Wesleyan Lifelong Learning Institute, an initiative that offers courses, taught by Virginia Wesleyan faculty, to members of the Westminster-Canterbury community through a unique partnership between Virginia Wesleyan University and WestminsterCanterbury on Chesapeake Bay. “Live lectures on our own campus by seasoned professors are a big hit,” noted Ben Unkle, president and CEO of Westminster-Canterbury. “Our members are raving about the quality and they’re excited to have access to the VWU campus with its full course catalog and cultural/sporting events.” Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay is a non-profit life care community for active retirees age 62 and over with a mission to provide members with a stress-free, financially secure, dynamic lifestyle. “The Lifelong Learning Institute was a major upgrade to the intellectual dimension of our
Wellness of Life programs,” continued Unkle. “Now, we are the only independent senior living resort style campus with both a beachfront location and a university affiliation. Our residents love it. Attendance keeps growing.” Though Virginia Wesleyan has had a longtime connection with Westminster-Canterbury, a formal partnership agreement was not signed until last year when VWU President Scott D. Miller and Unkle officially formalized the relationship between the two organizations. ■
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Dr. Craig Wansink, Professor of Religious Studies and Joan P. and Macon F. Brock, Jr. Director of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, discusses “unique scripture” with class participants.
Celebrating the Life of Trustee Emeritus Robert Friend Boyd BOB BOYD WAS THE LAST SURVIVING MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY’S FOUNDING BOARD OF TRUSTEES Virginia Wesleyan Trustee Emeritus Robert “Bob” Friend Boyd passed away on April 7, 2018, at the age of 90. He was a living connection to VWU’s early history and establishment. Boyd’s long and distinguished service to Virginia Wesleyan dates back to the University’s founding in June 1961, when he led the delegation that took the charter for the institution to the State Corporation Commission, which resulted in the chartering of Virginia Wesleyan College the following month. At the organizational meeting of the Board of Trustees in November of 1961, he was elected the first secretary of the Board. For more than forty years, during Virginia Wesleyan’s formative years, he served in a variety of roles, as secretary, treasurer, vice chairman, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Board. He received an honorary degree from Virginia Wesleyan in 2009, and he continued to serve as a Trustee Emeritus until his passing.
A partner in the law firm of Boyd
The Boyds’ son, James M. Boyd, (pictured right) is a 1984 graduate of Virginia Wesleyan, and their grandson, James M. Boyd, Jr., (pictured left) also attended the University.
& Boyd, P.C., Boyd was active in professional, civic, and community affairs in Virginia all of his life. He was instrumental in starting the Hampton Roads National Public Radio Station (WHRO-FM). He was active in the United Methodist Church, including his home congregation, Park Place United Methodist Church, and he served as a trustee of the Virginia United Methodist Foundation. Boyd also held leadership roles on the Boards of the College of William and Mary, the Regent University School of Law, and Randolph-Macon Academy. The College of William and Mary awarded him its highest alumni award, the College of William and
Mary Gold Medallion, and the United Methodist Church awarded him the 2008 John Wesley Distinguished Education Award. He earned a B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary and a J.D. degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law of the College of William and Mary Since the beginning of Virginia Wesleyan, Boyd and his late wife, Sara, have been at the heart of the institution, as are the Boyd Dining Center and the statue of John Wesley that they generously bestowed. VWU’s Robert F. Boyd Institute is also named in Bob’s honor, paying tribute to his vast contributions to Virginia Wesleyan and the United Methodist Church. ■
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1,500 students
13:1
student/faculty ratio
1/4
out-of-state students
4
–year graduation guarantee
35
academic majors
98%
students receiving financial aid
OUR LOCATION. YOUR ADVANTAGE. LEARN HERE. From biology to business, Virginia Wesleyan students make the most of opportunities to learn through experience in our historic local waterways, in the community, and beyond.
BECOME A MARLIN
www.vwu.edu/scholarship / 8 / Vi r g i n i a
MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE We s l ey a 757.455.3208 n Un i v e rs i t y M a g z i n e | Fa ll 2 0 1 8 | aenrollment@vwu.edu
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athletic teams
25+
academic associations and honor societies
92%
graduates employed or continuing education within a year
Wesleyan Window
Student Leaders Recognized SPOTLIGHT ON SHERIL STEINBERG ‘18
Each year outstanding student leaders are recognized for exemplary
service and performance in a wide variety of leadership categories. Sheril Steinberg ’18 was presented with the Lena E. Johnson Inclusive Community Award at this year’s event, known as “The Bobbies.” Steinberg, who graduated in May with a B.A. in International Studies, has been in the Honor and Scholars Program, participated in the Ethics Bowl, Model United Nations, Village Council, the Student Finance Council, and the Latino Student Alliance. She studied abroad for a semester in Chile, while living with a host family and attending a prestigious Catholic University there. She also helped to coordinate the “I Am an Immigrant” campaign, on campus, as part of the national coalition. Inclusivity is a way of life for Steinberg who believes that all lives are sacred and that everything that is alive is struggling to live. “I don’t like borders or fences and the idea of keeping people out,” she says. “We’re all just trying to survive, and I believe in getting to know people as individuals. When you are scared, just dive in. We need to respect each other more. Just look into someone’s eyes and really see them.” Steinberg admits that she is constantly outside of her culture and she thinks that people who are brave enough to establish bonds with those different from themselves learn a lot and are better for it. She also acknowledges that she is a woman who likes to speak her mind. After graduation from VWU, Steinberg headed to Mongolia to serve in the Peace Corps for two years. She wants to continue work with international nonprofits throughout her career. ■
Graduate and Online Programs Take Off Virginia Wesleyan’s online learning programs are up and running.
After signing a seven-year agreement in January 2017 with The Learning House, a Kentucky-based company, the university’s venture into the online arena has quickly taken shape. The flexibility of the online programs provides unprecedented levels of convenience for students and the potential for significant enrollment growth at Virginia Wesleyan. Virginia Wesleyan first began offering an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) as well as online bachelor’s degree-completion programs in business, criminal justice, and social science for adult students in the fall 2017. In addition, a traditionally delivered Master of Arts in Education is now available. This 4+1 program enables Virginia Wesleyan students to complete an undergraduate degree in four years in a content major related to secondary education, and then complete a year of graduate study devoted to preparation for teaching. Associate Provost and Professor of Biology Maynard Schaus coordinates the University’s online programs. “We have developed 40 courses for online learning,” said Schaus. “Enrollment in the MBA program has exceeded our expectation, and eight undergraduate degree completion programs are nearly ready.” Schaus added that “environmental studies, comprehensive liberal studies, and social science tracks in Psychology and Social Welfare will be ready for the online learning platform beginning in the fall.” ■ FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE PROGRAMS VISIT online.vwu.edu
International Studies major Sheril Steinberg’18 walked away with the Lena E. Johnson Inclusive Community Award during the annual student leadership award ceremony known as “The Bobbies.”
Clarke Memorabilia Donated to Virginia Wesleyan FORMER FIRST LADY ALICE CLARKE GIFTS 32 VOLUMES TO UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
Alice Clarke, former first lady of Virginia Wesleyan,
presented 32 volumes of memorabilia from her late husband Lambuth Clarke’s 26-year tenure as president (1966-1992). The materials were presented in the Stephen S. Mansfield Archives in Hofheimer library.
(left to right) VWU President Scott D. Miller with Alice Clarke, and her daughter Virginia Clarke Hitch, and Stephen Mansfield, former long-time academic dean and now University Archivist.
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EYE ON A COLLECTION OF PHOTOS FROM VIRGINIA WESLEYAN’S 2017-2018 ACADEMIC YEAR
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1. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS: With diplomas in hand, four VWU graduates were commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army on Commencement Day. Congratulations to Joseph Fairbanks, Alexander Gallant, Jake Morgan, and Rolanda Taylor!
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2. 30-YEAR MARLINS: Michele Obenour, administrative assistant to the vice president for student affairs, Douglas Kennedy, professor of recreation and leisure studies, and Elaine Aird, accounts payable coordinator, receive recognition for 30 years of service to Virginia Wesleyan. 3. CAMPUS TOUR5AND MORE: Prospective students and their families tour VWU’s park-like 300-acre campus during Marlins Days to meet faculty, learn about academic offerings, scholarship opportunities, and the financial aid process. 4. BACCALAUREATE SPEAKER: The Rev. Dr. Karla M. Kincannon, ’76 served as the speaker for VWU’s 2018 Baccalaureate Service at Haygood United Methodist Church.
5. MATHEMATICAL MODELING MARLINS: LeMar Callaway ‘18, Andrew Goad ‘18, and Cody Little ’19 were coached by Kristin Burney, lecturer in mathematics, as they competed in a mathematical modeling competition–SCUDEM (Student Competition Using Differential Equations Modeling)–earning highest honors in the local rivalry.
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6. MARLIN WAY: The new East Gate entrance at the outdoor athletic complex (off Baker Road) is complete with a Marlin Way street sign at the Smith Drive intersection and Marlin banners adorning the drive. 7. CAMPUS TRANSFORMATION: An aerial view of the progress on the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center, scheduled to open in spring 2019.
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8. THE ROBERT F. BOYD INSTITUTE: In partnership with the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, Virginia Wesleyan University hosted a workshop for UMC pastors. Dr. Tod Bolsinger, Vice President and Chief of Leadership Formation and Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, was the key presenter at the 2018 Institute. He is pictured with VWU Chaplain Greg West, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Kelly Cordova and President Miller.
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9. GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS: Students assume professional roles and coordinate all aspects of the week-long Marlin Prestige Business Conference held each semester as part of Associate Professor Paul Ewell’s “Principles of Management” Class.
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10. GLOBAL SCHOLARS: Students share their life-changing study abroad experiences
8 when they return to campus. Front row (l to r) Alexandra “Allie” Ghazaleh (Australia); Sheril Steinberg (Chile); Kathleen “Katie” Roberts (Czech Republic); Alexia Vassiliadis (Italy); Ashley Peterson (Spain); Fonyuy “Nyoh” Njoka (Senegal) Back row (l to r) Jenna Dayan Serna (the Netherlands); Ashley Whipple (Tanzania); Edwin Kinsey (New Zealand); Ashley Bologna (Argentina)
11. CELEBRATING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: Emily Vial ’18 and Nicholas Hipple ’18 were awarded the Hite Award for Outstanding Service to the VWU Theatre Program at the Spring Honors Convocation. Pictured with Professors of Theatre Travis Malone and Sally Shedd.
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Members of the National Championship team included: Amanda Archer ’18, Katelyn Biando ’21, Daja Burgee ’21, Hope Burleson ’21, Teresa Cardamone ’18, Julie Fassl ’21, Beth Ford ’19, Madison Gluabke ’20, Carla Hall ’21, Cassetty Howerin ‘18, Hanna Hull ’20, Amy Large ’18, Jessica Lindsay ’19, Alana Peters ’18, Kiersten Richardson ’18, Kerrigan Simpson ’21, Julia Sinnett ’21, Lexi Smith’18, Danielle Stewart ’21 and Maria Weddle ’21. Coach Brandon Elliott ’03 (11th season) with his coaching staff Jim Quinn, Jenna Wilson, Bobby Wills and Chris Smith.
BACK-TO VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL REPEATS AS NCAA DIVISION III NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Defending National Champions. Only three teams in the history of NCAA Division III have ever been able to use that term. This year Virginia Wesleyan University made it four. After being crowned NCAA National Champions in 2017, most thought that the Marlin softball program had reached the pinnacle of its sport, but Head Coach Brandon Elliott ’03 had other thoughts. “Heading into the 2018 season, we knew we had to put forth a tremendous effort to come close to the output we had in 2017,” exclaimed Elliott. “But with the group of / 12 / Vi r g i n i a We s l e y a n Un i v e rs i t y M a g a z in e | Fa ll 2 0 1 8
women I had, the coaching staff I was surrounded with and the VWU community supporting us, I knew that anything was attainable.” And Elliott was exactly right. The team dominated 2018 winning 35-straight games to open the year and only dropping one contest in its 40-game regular season schedule. The team then fought its way to earn a thirdstraight Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) title and earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship. The squad didn’t have to travel far for its NCAA
SOFTBALL AWARDS AND RECORDS NCAA National Champions (second-straight year) ODAC Champions (third-straight year) ODAC Regular Season Champions (seventh-straight year) Division III Record for wins in a season (55)
VIRGINIA SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR'S ALL-STATE AWARDS Brandon Elliott Coach of the Year Hanna Hull Pitcher of the Year Cassetty Howerin Player of the Year INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES Coach Brandon Elliott • NFCA Division III Coaching Staff of the Year • ODAC Coach of the Year
O-BACK Regional Contests, as it swept through the Christopher Newport University-hosted event with ease. The Marlins then hosted Berry College for the NCAA Super Regional Round where, after much rain delay, they were able to sweep the Vikings and make their way back to Oklahoma City, OK for the NCAA Championship. Back in Oklahoma City, Elliott knew the squad had a chance to do something special. “It hit me when we were on the plane to the [NCAA] Championship,” recalled Elliott. “I was just thinking, this team is relentless and we could do something very few programs have ever done.”
And that they did. Unlike last year’s Championship run that took the team through the loser’s bracket, this year the team skated to the Championship series as they held their opponent’s scoreless over the first three tilts. The wins matched up Virginia Wesleyan with Illinois Wesleyan in the best-of-three Championship Series, with the winner to be crowned National Champions. The Marlins went to work in game one, downing the Titans 6-1 but were upset 5-4 in game two. This forced a decisive winner-take-all game three in which the Marlins defended their crown with a 3-1 victory. ■
Hanna Hull • NFCA National Player of the Year • FastPitch News Pitcher of the Year • First Team All-America • ODAC Pitcher of the Year • First Team All-ODAC • Tied DIII record for most wins in a season (40) • B roke the ODAC record for career wins (72) and career strikeouts (748) • L ed the country in wins (40) and strikeouts (376) Cassetty Howerin • First Team All-American • First Team All-ODAC • B roke the NCAA DIII record for walks in a career (136) • Broke the ODAC record for RBI (221) • B roke the VWU record for career home runs (35), doubles (55), RBI (242), hits (242) and walks (136)
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Vision VIRGINIA WESLEYAN IS COASTAL VIRGINIA’S PREMIER UNIVERSITY OF THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES.
CIVIC LEADERSHIP: Virginia Wesleyan’s 2018 Ethics Bowl Team, coached by Professor of Communication Kathy Merlock Jackson, deliberated ethical dilemmas and won all four rounds of competition in the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges’ 19th annual statewide collegiate Wells Fargo Ethics Bowl. Team members: Kelsi Robins ‘18 (captain), Alex Powers ‘21, Brianna Sandy ‘21, Sarah Roscoe ‘20, and Sheril Steinberg ‘18.
PREEMINENCE ʼ28 The Board of Trustees unanimously adopted the new vision, mission statement, core values and strategic plan at their winter meeting in February 2018. The academic-based plan builds on the 10-Year Campus Master Plan and covers the period from 2018–2028.
COMMITMENT
Mission STATEMENT
An inclusive community dedicated to scholarship and service grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, Virginia Wesleyan University inspires students to build meaningful lives through engagement in Coastal Virginia’s dynamic metropolitan region, the nation, and the world.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION: Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences professor Elizabeth Malcolm engages area fourth-graders in environmental science activities through the “Downstream Collaborative Project,” a partnership between VWU and Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
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CoreValues
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, grounded in the liberal arts, which emphasizes creative and engaged thinking within and across disciplinary perspectives.
INCLUSIVE AND CARING COMMUNITY that empowers members to form meaningful relationships through listening, understanding, and communication. ACADEMIC EMINENCE: C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair in Communication and Christian Thought and Professor of Communication Terry Lindvall presents Kyle Richardson’19 with the TowneBank Young Life Scholarship at Spring Honors Convocation.
PERSONAL INTEGRITY AND SENSE OF PURPOSE that foster initiative, independence, and self-respect. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, rooted in Methodist heritage, which inspires our community members to be engaged citizens, servants, and leaders who have a positive impact on their local and global communities.
to the LIBERAL ARTS Goals
GOAL 1: Create an international campus culture that attracts students from around the world and connects to the diverse communities of Coastal Virginia GOAL 2: Engage all students in a transformational experience that widens their horizons, engages them in a rigorous academic curriculum, and prepares them for the next stage of their lives and careers GOAL 3: Achieve greater academic eminence by continuing to recruit and retain diverse, well-credentialed faculty and staff
The Future Looks Grand A sparkling Steinway Model D Concert Grand Piano will be showcased in the Joan and Macon Brock Theatre of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center, scheduled for completion in 2019. The Center, a 23,000-square-foot facility, will feature an impressive glass-enclosed lobby, a 300-seat theater, and a plaza for outdoor programming, all part of the first phase of a new arts complex on campus.
GOAL 4: Elevate the importance of civic leadership and community engagement in both the curriculum and student life GOAL 5: Strengthen the University’s commitment to be an inclusive campus community GOAL 6: Increase enrollment and retention of traditional and online students, both graduate and undergraduate, to invigorate curricular and extracurricular life and to amplify VWU’s contributions to the region Virg in ia We sle ya n U n ive rsit y Ma g a zin e | Fall 2018 / 15 /
VWU Honored as “Conservationist of the Year” AWARD RECOGNIZES GREER ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES CENTER
President Miller accepts Conservationist of the Year Award
Virginia Wesleyan was honored by the
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) on February 26 with the organization’s “Conservationist of the Year” award. VWU President Scott D. Miller accepted the award at the annual “DC on the Half Shell” gala in Washington, D.C. CBF also presented Washington College with a Conservationist of the Year award. The award recognized Virginia Wesleyan’s new Greer Environmental Sciences Center as well as the University’s vision and dedication to educating the next generation of Bay leaders. “It is especially gratifying for us to be honored by such a distinguished and influential partner as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation,” said Miller. “With our campus situated at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and within a few miles of the Atlantic, we have a direct investment in the future of our natural environment and the systems that sustain us.” Virginia Wesleyan opened the Greer Environmental Sciences Center in fall 2017. The 44,000-square-foot sustainable building was LEED Gold certified by the U.S. Green Building Council in January. The building features indoor and outdoor classrooms and teaching and research laboratories, including the Chesapeake
Bay Aquatics Lab. Energy is produced by the building’s solar panels, and nearly 60 different plant species–including trees, shrubs, perennials, and aquatic plants –are grown in its research gardens and greenhouse. The site’s constructed wetlands and extensive green roof prevent polluted runoff from harming the Chesapeake Bay. The University also uses the waterways around Hampton Roads as living classrooms. Students across disciplines conduct fieldwork on the Ocean Explorer, a 45-foot research vessel jointly owned by VWU and the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. Onboard the boat they collect data on marine organisms, collect and test water samples, and undertake other research. Over the years, VWU has worked with CBF on a number of initiatives, including scientific data collection, oyster restoration, and invasive species removal. Virginia Wesleyan is also a participant in the newly launched Chesapeake Oyster Alliance, a coalition dedicated to helping recover the Bay’s oyster populations, and a member of Virginia’s “ No Child Left Inside” Coalition, a collaborative effort among organizations to promote outdoor learning. ■
Environmental Students across disciplines conduct fieldwork on the Ocean Explorer, a 45-foot research vessel jointly owned by VWU and the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center.
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SPECIAL CARE FOR LIVING LANDSCAPES: VWU’s partnership with Norfolk Botanical Garden (NBG) provides expertise in maintaining the living landscapes that surround the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. NBG Horticulturist Maggie Herrick works with students like Christina Whipple ’21 in the teaching gardens.
Greer Environmental Sciences Center Earns LEED Gold Certification LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (LEED) certification officially recognizes compliance within a rigorous rating system which includes proving measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in energy efficiency, material choice, water efficiency and savings, and site enhancement.
Stewardship Photo ©ALAN KARCHMER
Virg in ia We sle ya n U n ive rsit y Ma g a zin e | Fall 2018 / 17 /
The Arts at VWU VWU HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND
ARTS SHOWCASE Friday, October 5 -6 7:00 pm Saturday, October 6 3:00 pm
Theatre & Music Alumni Come Home!
Gather to honor the past, celebrate the future, and memorialize your spot in VWU history! Dr. Rick Hite, Professor of Theatre Emeritus, and Dr. David Clayton, Professor of Music Emeritus, join Dr. Stephen Mansfield, University Archivist and current faculty for a retrospective of VWU programs.
VWU ARTS EVENTS
2018-2019 Season Highlights For more information visit
www.vwu.edu/arts
ART
BARCLAY SHEAKS GALLERY
Featuring exhibits of the work of Barclay Sheaks, renowned local painter and founder of the Art Department at Virginia Wesleyan
NEIL BRITTON GALLERY
Diane Edison – “Black and White” Sept.1 – Nov. 2
Clayton Singleton ’94 Solo Exhibition
Nov. 15 - Jan. 17, 2019
Abstraction: Invitational Group Show
Feb. 7 - March 7, 2019
THEATRE The Tempest by William Shakespeare Oct. 24-27 7:30 pm | Oct. 28 2 pm Fall One-Act Play Festival
Nov. 30 - Dec. 1 Legally Blonde: The Musical April 11-13 8 pm | April 14 2 pm
MUSIC
Peace: 100 Years since WWI Armistice, VWU Choirs Nov. 9 7:30 pm
Winds, Strings and Mor VWU Jazz and Orchestra Nov. 14 7:30 pm
Sing We Now of Christmas!
VWU Choirs Dec. 7 7:30 pm, Dec. 8 2 pm
Darkness into Light
VWU Choirs April 20, 2019 7:30 pm
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
Art Majors Portfolio Review
CONCERT SERIES
Student Juried Exhibition March 25 - April 5, 2019
Made possible in part by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the Dougherty Visiting Artist Fund
March 12 - 14, 2019
Senior Exhibition
Duo Thalasse
THE CENTER FOR SACRED MUSIC
An Evening of Bach
April - May, 2019
Fall Hymn Festival Wycliffe Presbyterian Church
In Time of Trouble, O God of Peace Nov. 11 4 pm
Feb. 11, 2019 7:30 pm
Feb. 25, 2019 7:30 pm
Aura CuriAtlas
April 1, 2019 7:30 pm
Wild Men of the Seicento April 16, 2019 7:30 pm
In fall 1981, the Hofheimer Theatre opened with a production of “The Tempest” featuring former Professor of Theatre Rick Hite as Prospero and Toni French ʼ85 as Miranda. With the opening of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center in spring 2019, VWU bids farewell to the Hofheimer Theatre as a mainstage space with a revisit of this Shakespearean classic. With this production, “our revels now are ended” in Hofheimer Theatre.
DuoJalal
April 24, 2019 7:30 pm
St. Petersburg Piano Quartet April 29, 2019 7:30 pm
Jimmy Greene Quartet May 3, 2019 7:30 pm
Sonatas and Stories
May 8, 2019 6:30–7:30 pm
The Virginia Chorale “Pioneering Voices: Celebrating Women Composers” May 12, 2019 4 pm
SOUND & SYMBOL LECTURE SERIES “HERE COMES THE BRIDE” FALL 2018 SERIES Sept. 13 11 am
Weddings & Marriage in the Hindu Tradition Dr. Raji Kaloji Puppy Love: Incorporating Animals into Wedding Ceremonies and Family Dr. Kathy Stolley Oct. 11 11 am
Weddings & Marriage in the Christian Tradition Mary Charlotte Elia ’03
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Someday My Prince Will Come: Marriage in the Disney Tradition Dr. Kathy Merlock Jackson Nov. 15 11 am
Weddings & Marriage in the Jewish Tradition
Rabbi Michael Panitz
Wedded Blitz: Pre- and PostProduction Promotion of the Wedding Dr. Linda Ferguson
“LET HEAVEN AND NATURE SING” SPRING 2019 SERIES An exploration of the nature of sound
February 21, 2019 11 am
I’m Picking Up Good Vibrations
Dr. Katrina Henry and Henry Faivre April 4, 2019 11 am
Don’t Stop the Music Becky Watson
April 25, 2019 11 am
All the Better to Hear You With
Dr. Stephanie Moody-Antonio February 25, 2019 7:30 pm
An Evening of Bach
Dr. Bryson Mortenson, Conductor
HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6
2:30 P.M. HOMECOMING PARADE
9:00 A.M. THE EDGE 5K FUN RUN
Campus community tradition
5:30 P.M. ANNUAL ALUMNI SOCIAL Friday Night Flights Shorebreak, JB Maas ’01 co-owner
6:30 P.M. VOLLEYBALL vs. Randolph College Jane P. Batten Student Center
7:00 P.M. ARTS SHOWCASE Hofheimer Theatre
9:00 P.M. HOMECOMING DANCE Marlin students celebrate Homecoming
ALUMNI GAMES Saturday, Oct. 6 WOMEN’S LACROSSE
11:00 A.M. Campus Tours 12:00 P.M. FIELD HOCKEY vs. Roanoke College, Birdsong Field 12:00 P.M. HOMECOMING TAILGATE Trinder Center Lawn
1:00 P.M. WOMEN’S SOCCER vs. Ferrum College, Trinder Center 3:00 P.M. MUSIC & THEATRE PANEL Hofheimer Theatre
3:30 P.M. MEN’S SOCCER vs. Ferrum College, Trinder Center 7:00 P.M. ARTS SHOWCASE & OPEN MIC NIGHT Hofheimer Theatre
Birdsong Field
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7
BASEBALL
10:00 A.M. INTERDENOMINATIONAL SERVICE Monumental Chapel
Kenneth R. Perry Field
SOFTBALL
Tom and Betty Broyles Field
MEN’S LACROSSE Birdsong Field
OCTOBER 5-7, 2018
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN ALUMNI
Academia
BARCELONA BOUND: Professor Sara Sewell prepares Batten Honors College students for their first study away experience.
Faculty-led Travel to Barcelona Sara Sewell, professor of history and executive director of The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration and Discovery and the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), led the first cohort of students in the Batten Honors College to Barcelona, Spain as part of the four-credit summer session course, “The People and Cultures of Barcelona.” This was the first faculty-led study away course for this group. To prepare the students for an optimal experience, study began on campus in classes held for four days prior to their departure. The students learned about Catalonia, Catalan identity, and the Catalans’ efforts to secede from Spain. While in Barcelona, the students attended class for at least four hours every day – two hours in the classroom and the rest of the day experiencing the sights and sounds of Barcelona. They visited famous places like Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, and connected with the community while studying Barcelona’s history and taking tours of the Roman ruins, a medieval Jewish neighborhood, and a bomb shelter from Spain’s Civil War (1936-39). There was also plenty of time for fun, including a tapas-making workshop, which turned out to be one of the students’ favorite undertakings. “The activities in Barcelona profoundly challenged and touched students intellectually, culturally, and personally, while prompting them to rethink their views and consider ways that they can make a difference in our world,” observed Sewell. While away, students blogged about their adventures, reflecting on their experiences and observations. For Marie Brazille ’21, the adventure was life-changing and marked many firsts, including her first airplane flight. / 20 / Vi r g i n i a We s l e y a n Un i v e rs i t y M a g a z i n e | Fa ll 2 0 1 8
The first cohort of the Batten Honors College on the rooftop of Casa Battló by Gaudí
“The things I’ve experienced and learned while abroad will stay with me for the rest of my life. When I’m at home, I hope the ways I’ve grown as a person stand out to everyone more than any of the stories I tell.” MARIE BRAZILLE ‘21
Academia
Emmanuel Receives Outstanding Faculty Award
Margolies Awarded Mednick Fellowship
THE AWARD, PRESENTED BY VIRGINIA GOVERNOR RALPH NORTHAM, WAS FROM THE STATE COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR VIRGINIA
Dan Margolies, Professor
Professor of Philosophy
Steven Emmanuel was honored with an Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). The award, presented by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, sponsored by Dominion Energy, is the Commonwealth’s highest honor for faculty at Virginia public and private colleges and universities, recognizing superior accomplishments in teaching, research and public service. Emmanuel was honored as one of 12 award recipients. VWU Provost and Vice President Timothy O’Rourke describes Professor Emmanuel as the “quintessential teacher-scholar…a person of uncommon ability, good spirit, integrity, and civic commitment. His accomplishments and upstanding character are admirable and his academic and community impact is far reaching.” A teaching affiliate with the Pluralism Project at Harvard University, Emmanuel is a past recipient of the Samuel Nelson Gray Award, Virginia Wesleyan’s highest award for distinguished teaching. He has served as chair of the Humanities Division and chair of the campus chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). He has received VWU’s Sara Rose Award for Leadership in Service Learning and the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace and Justice Award. He is a past chair of the board of directors of the ASIANetwork and was a statewide coordinator for the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges Ethics Bowl (2005-2017). He also received a Mednick Memorial Fellowship in 2014, which supported his travel to Japan to investigate the intersections of Zen Buddhism and warfare. A former Fulbright Fellow at the University of Copenhagen, Emmanuel has published extensively on Kierkegaard and other philosophers. He is also the author or editor of six other books on philosophy, most recently “Buddhist Philosophy: A Comparative Approach” (2017). In addition, Emmanuel is co-editor of “Revisiting Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: Teaching and Learning about Self and Community” (2016) with Kathy Merlock Jackson, VWU Professor of Communication.
of History and Chair of the History Department and the American Studies Program, has been awarded the 2018 Maurice L. Mednick Memorial Fellowship by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges for his project “Jurisdictional Disputes over Offshore Submerged Lands and the Spatiality of State Sovereignty, 1947-1953.” Margolies, who has been on the faculty at Virginia Wesleyan since 2000, will further investigate tension between state sovereigntist claims and state affirmation of empire by examining the state political and legal responses to three Supreme Court cases, starting with United States v. California, the 1947 case which clarified the boundaries between ownership (dominium), jurisdiction, and sovereignty as expressed in the foreign relations imperium. This project will complete archival research for a chapter on the submerged lands (“Tidelands”) controversy for Margolies’ current book project, “Zones of Sovereignty and Exception: United States Jurisdictional Regimes Through the Law of the Sea Conventions”.
Professor Retires after 25 Years at VWU Virginia Wesleyan
bids farewell to retiring Professor of Management, Business, and Economics Ehsan Salek after 25 years of service. The campus community gathered in his honor in May for a reception and the traditional commemorative tree planting ceremony in the Wilson Arboretum. Salek, who first arrived at Virginia Wesleyan in 1993, devoted his time to teaching, research, and consulting interests in strategic management, human resource management, ethics and workforce diversity. He says that his experience at Virginia Wesleyan has been “the greatest experience of his life.” He plans to retire in California and continue to teach online courses through VWU Online. Virg in ia We sle ya n U n ive rsit y Ma g a zin e | Fall 2018 / 21 /
Academia
Schaus Selected for National Leadership Program Maynard Schaus, Associate Provost and
Professor of Biology, is one of 45 mid-level administrators in higher education nationwide selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in the 2018–2019 Senior Leadership Academy. The Academy is designed to prepare prospective leaders to assume positions as the chief officers in any division—including academic affairs, student affairs, finance, enrollment management, and advancement—in independent higher education.
GRANTED! GRANTS FUND ACADEMIC INNOVATION PROJECT: $250,000 Challenge Grant for updates and the purchase of new Steinway pianos for VWU’s existing Fine Arts Building FUNDER: Mary Morton Parsons Foundation To help the University match this challenge, please contact Virginia Wesleyan’s Center for Advancement at 757.455.3217. PROJECT: Steinway Concert Grand Piano to be showcased in the new Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center RECIPIENT: Bryson Mortensen, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Music FUNDER: E.K. Sloane Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation ($71,000). The grant will be matched by funds from other donors to underwrite the full cost. PROJECT: Phishing for Dollars: Don’t Get Caught in the Trap offers cybersecurity/online safety education to residents throughout Virginia Beach, via courses hosted through the Wesleyan/Westminster Lifelong Learning Institute RECIPIENT: Brian Kurisky, Director of Wesleyan Engaged: Center for Civic Leadership and Service Learning FUNDER: The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), in partnership with AARP Foundation, through the Intergenerational Connection: Students Serving Older Students Grant ($13,000)
Awards FA C U LTY
During the 2018 Commencement Ceremony, Provost and Vice President Timothy O’Rourke announced the recipients of four prestigious faculty awards: 2018 SAMUEL NELSON GRAY DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD
Taryn A. Myers
Batten Associate Professor of Psychology THE FRANK AND JANE P. BATTEN DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR AWARD
Kathy Merlock Jackson Professor of Communication SERVICE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD
Takeyra M. Collins
Instructor of Recreation and Leisure Studies United Methodist Church General Board of Higher Education and Ministry 2018 EXEMPLARY TEACHER AWARD
B. Malcolm Lively
Associate Professor of Education
PROJECT: Environmental Explorers VWU and YMCA partner to provide meaningful training and experiences for elementary preservice teachers and elementary-aged camp participants RECIPIENT: Bill McConnell, Assistant Professor of Education FUNDER: Dominion Energy Environmental Education and Stewardship Grant ($15,000) PROJECT: VWU Sustainable Cell Phone Chargers add charging stations for students which rely on solar- and human-power using solar-powered umbrellas and human-powered desk bikes RECIPIENTS: Maynard Schaus, Associate Provost, and Katrina Henry, Department of Physics and Earth and Environmental Science FUNDER: PepsiCo Recycling Zero Impact Fund Program ($7,000) / 22 / Vi r g i n i a We s l e y a n Un i v e rs i t y M a g a z in e | Fa ll 2 0 1 8
Kathy Merlock Jackson receives her prestigious award from Provost and Vice President Timothy O’Rourke
Living & Learning SENIOR ART SHOWCASED: STUDENT WORK IN CERAMICS, PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY AND SCULPTURE CULMINATES IN EXHIBITION
Seven art majors showcased their special talents as part of the 2018 Senior Art Exhibition in the Neil Britton Gallery, in Hofheimer Library. The exhibition, “Up Close and Personal,” featured student work in ceramics, painting, photography, and sculpture created by senior art majors Joshua Davis, Tatiana Eubanks, Carly Koenig, Riley Koenig, Lydia O’Connor, Aimelie Ronquillo, and Jennifer Taylor. “The Senior Art Exhibition is the culmination of our art majors’ experiences and a valuable opportunity for them to display their work for audiences in a professional gallery setting,” said Professor of Art Phil Guilfoyle. “This capstone project enables them to envision, plan and create art that reflects what is meaningful to them.”
Up Close and Personal
Lydia O'Connor '18 showcases her pottery, inspired by a parable from the gospel of Mark.
Riley Koenig ’18 worked with plaster and kiln cast glass to create a “show of hands” for her exhibit titled “Personality.” Virg in ia We sle ya n U n ive rsit y Ma g a zin e | Fall 2018 / 23 /
Living & Learning
TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCES Through Internships
CLIMBING TO THE TOP: Cody Lichvar ‘18 experiences life at the top of NASA’s Gantry during his internship with NASA Langley Research Center.
VWU’S CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ENCOURAGES ALL STUDENTS TO COMPLETE AN INTERNSHIP
From high atop NASA’s Gantry, Virginia Wesleyan senior Cody Lichvar experienced the environment where the Apollo astronauts were trained to land on the moon. This incredible experience and many others were part of Lichvar’s internship with NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. Majoring in business, Lichvar received academic credit for the experience while enrolled in a Management, Business and Economics course. “The work at NASA was phenomenal,” says Lichvar. “And the company culture creates a great working atmosphere. I was fortunate to work there as a ‘Pathways’ employee in the government contracting field.” Through this experience, Lichvar had many valuable opportunities. Climbing to the top of NASA’s gantry, a 240-foot-high, A-frame massive steel structure, is certainly a memorable one. The gantry has been serving NASA for more than 50 years and still holds a vital place in research, discovery
and exploration. Originally built in 1963, it was used to model lunar gravity. Virginia Wesleyan’s Career Development and Internship Program (CDIP) facilitates transformational workplace experiences for students through internships. The CDIP is specifically focused on assisting students in discovering their academic and professional pathways and helping them to create plans to achieve their professional goals. The staff assists students at all levels, from first-year students exploring career options to seniors preparing for postcollege employment. “Now more than ever, quality, high-impact internship opportunities are critical to the overall development of our students,” says Mollie Dunmyer, director of CDIP. “The experience assists students in thinking analytically and critically, developing leadership qualities, embracing the creative process, and moving forward with confidence in all that they do.” In the 2016-17 academic year, the number of students completing internship courses rose to 157, a 15 percent increase in enrollment from the average enrollment for the previous four years. That’s a trend that Dunmyer hopes will continue.
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Living & Learning
OPUS Program Provides Opportunity The OPUS student work program
employs students who demonstrate commitment to their academics and a desire to continue their studies at VWU, but are challenged by unmet financial obligations. Made possible by a generous private gift, the program first began in summer 2017 with 16 students hired to assist the physical plant staff with corrective and preventative maintenance initiatives and campus beautification projects. Jason Seward, assistant vice president for student affairs, coordinates the program which employed 22 students in 2018. He says that reflections from the students on the work experience indicates great appreciation for everything that happens “behind the scenes” on campus and the dedicated staff who make those things happen. “Thirty-eight students have been able to continue their academic pursuits at Virginia Wesleyan because of OPUS,” says Seward. “It is helping retain students who benefit greatly from VWU’s liberal arts education and family atmosphere, more importantly, it’s helping to retain students who make our institution a better place.”
DEEPER UNDERSTANDING
Through Undergraduate Research NEARLY HALF OF VWU STUDENTS ENGAGE IN RESEARCH AS PART OF THEIR UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
Mathematics major LeMar Callaway III’18
conducted his first research project in collaboration with Assistant Professor of Biology Eric Johnson. That plant molecular biology project began his active engagement in research throughout his years at VWU.
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Early research opportunities garnered LeMar Callaway III '18 a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) award from the American Society of Plant Biologists.
He’s now prepared to continue his studies in a master’s program at the University of Michigan. The Undergraduate Research Program, formally launched in 2006, initially documented 25 percent of graduates who completed a capstone research project. Last year, the percentage grew to 49 percent, with 188 students completing mastery level projects in 18 major programs across the curriculum. Soraya Bartol, director of undergraduate research and professor of marine biology at VWU, oversees the program. “The program promotes a developmental approach that guides students from general research to advanced research under the careful mentorship of faculty,” says Bartol. “These experiences cultivate the ability for students to think critically, advance original ideas, and develop innovative solutions to complex problems.” The result is not only impressive papers, posters and presentations about their discoveries, but also new found knowledge and a deeper understanding of their fields of study.
Shack-A-Thon Raises Awareness for Hunger & Homelessness VWU’s Art Club fashioned their winning “Rainbow Shack”
from sticks, twigs, sheet plastic, colorful cloth and other collected materials to take the “Top Shack” and “Most Creative Shack” honors at Shack-a-Thon, which took place on campus during National Hunger & Homelessness Week. Nine campus organizations and 86 participants constructed and inhabited temporary shacks on Batten Lawn to raise funds and awareness for hunger and homelessness. The event was organized by Recreation and Leisure Studies Instructor Takeyra Collins and the student managers for the 2018 Off-Campus Winter Homeless Shelter.
PHILANTHOPY IN ACTION: Sindy Jessup ʼ21 helped to create the “Rainbow Shack” as part of the Art Club Team. Virg in ia We sle ya n U n ive rsit y Ma g a zin e | Fall 2018 / 25 /
Athletics Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Joanne Renn, Retires after 25 years with Marlin Athletics Joanne Renn retired from her role as Executive
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics in June. She oversaw 22 intercollegiate sports programs and a staff of more than 55 coaches, administrators, and support personnel. At the time of her appointment to athletics director in 2007, Renn was the first female to hold the role at a co-educational institution in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Prior to that time she served as head women’s tennis coach and as head women’s basketball coach. Virginia Wesleyan’s athletic program has experienced many successes during Renn’s tenure including the men’s basketball’s NCAA Division III National Championship in 2006; the women’s soccer team in the final four in 2006, after winning the ODAC tournament for the first time in program history; Evan Cox as the Individual NCAA National Champion for men’s golf in 2016; the Virginia Wesleyan softball team as the NCAA Division III National Champs in 2017 and 2018; and senior Marissa Coombs as a four-time All-American in cross country and track and field. Improvements to the institution’s athletic facilities also took place, including the construction of Birdsong Field, the Betty S. Rogers Track and Field Center, development of the outdoor athletic complex, upgrades and naming of Kenneth R. Perry Field, a new East Gate campus entrance and the adjoining Marlin Way, and the forthcoming TowneBank Park and Broyles Field. Renn was also was instrumental in the initiation of men’s and women’s swimming, a relationship with Harlaxton College of England, and establishment of the Batten Honors College. Upon her retirement, the grassy plains and pond area at the outdoor athletic complex was named in her honor as“Renn Reserve and Pond.” She was presented with a plaque honoring her with the distinction of Athletics Director Emeritus, a resolution from the VWU Board of Trustees recognizing her 25 years of service, and a traditional Virginia Wesleyan commemorative chair.
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Athletics
Terrific Traficante Jordan Sprouse ’19 (left) and Brandon Kussmual ’18 (middle) visit Chance Pauley ’18 (right) on the mound
Baseball Makes Postseason Waves
Senior Zoe Traficante of the Virginia Wesleyan University women’s soccer team has been a stalwart at the midfield for the Marlins, taking home First Team AllODAC honors her last three seasons and Second Team All-State honors this year. But what may be even more impressive is her work in the classroom. An honors student, Traficante has been named to the ODAC’s All-Academic Team every single season. This season, the Chafront, PA, native excelled even further, as her 3.77 GPA in mathematics earned her Second Team Academic All-America honors.
The Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team made history this season,
embarking on its first trip to the NCAA Championship since 2006. Despite a shaky beginning to the season, the Marlins rallied, churning out its fifth 30-win season (31-16) in program history and its first in 14 years. The squad’s success trickled into its postseason, earning the No. 2 seed in the ODAC Championship tournament. Though they did not win the tournament, their efforts still earned them a spot in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional played in York, PA. There, the Marlins emerged victorious in three games, finishing the season at the highest level in program history.
Marlins Hop in the Pool! It was a big year for the Virginia Wesleyan University athletic department as it added the men’s and women’s swim teams. Swimming in the VWU Natatorium located right in the Jane. P. Batten Student Center, the swim teams competed in their first season as a NCAA collegiate program. Headed by Coach Mike Ginder, the two squads competed in over 15 events a piece, including four in the home pool. “It’s exciting to start a program like this,” smiled Coach Ginder. “With the talent in this area and the support we have from the campus, it will only be a matter of time until we are competing at the highest levels.” Virg in ia We sle ya n U n ive rsit y Ma g a zin e | Fall 2018 / 27 /
Athletics
Virginia Wesleyan Welcomes Tina Hill as New Athletics Director Tina Hill joined Marlin athletics this summer
as the new Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Hill has spent the past 28 years in the field of NCAA Division III athletics. She comes to Virginia Wesleyan from Randolph College, where she was athletics director for 10 years. She has also worked at Cornell College, California Lutheran University, and Elizabethtown College. Hill received her B.S. in physical education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and her M.S. in sports management from the University of Richmond. As an undergraduate at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, she was a two-time, first-team, allconference volleyball player and earned academic honors including The Chancellor’s Leadership Award and the Outstanding Female Athlete Award.
Harris Hits 1,000 Point Milestone Entering her senior season, Jayla Harris has accomplished a milestone that most will never come close to in their collegiate careers: scoring 1,000 points. The Fredericksburg, VA native eclipsed the mark in just the fourth game of the year, knocking down 34 points against Ferrum College. Throughout the season, Harris averaged 16.8 points per game, topping the Marlins and ranking second in the conference. The guard now has 1,382 career points, ranking her third in Virginia Wesleyan University history with a season still to go.
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COOMBS CAPS CAREER AT VWU Virginia Wesleyan University has had plenty of tremendous
runners walk through its doors, but Marissa Coombs may be the most prolific to ever don the Marlin uniform. The senior has been crowned an All-American four times (3x indoor, 1x outdoor) and has set numerous other school records. Coombs left it all on the table her senior campaign beginning with an incredible cross country season that saw her win the ODAC Championships and earn a spot at the NCAA National Meet. Her success spilled into her indoor season, where she earned the title of ODAC Female Track Athlete of the Meet at the Conference Championships. She then went on to the NCAA Championships, where she used a thrilling run to take third in the one mile race and earn All-America status. In her final semester as a Marlin, the Newton, NJ native excelled once again as her time in the 1500-meter race earned her yet another bid to the NCAA National Meet. Coombs may be leaving the campus, but her name will remain scattered across the record books as she holds four different VWU best individual times and two relay times.
A New Home for MARLIN SOFTBALL
The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team will have a
new stadium to call home in 2018-19. Through the leadership of former Trustee Bob Aston, a generous gift from the TowneBank Foundation will establish the new Tom and Betty Broyles Field, named in honor of Trustee Emeritus Tom Broyles and his late wife. The improvements will include grandstand seating, a press box, new backstop screen, new field fencing, and a batting cage. Construction for the new facility will begin in summer 2018 and is scheduled to be completed before the start of the 2019 season.
FEAR THIS FISH!
Athletics
VWU’s rebranding continues, now with a new logo for Marlin athletics. No worries, Bob Marlin is not going anywhere; he’s just sporting a sleeker and fiercer look. The freshly stylized adaptation is complemented by a new Marlins logotype, complete with a customized font.
MARLIN MAKEOVER: The new Marlin, created by Christine Hall, design manager of Marketing & Communications, makes a splash this fall at VWU.
FOR 2018-19 MARLINS GAME SCHEDULE AND THE LATEST SPORTS INFORMATION VISIT VWUATHLETICS.COM
Photo JERRY SPROUSE, SR.
JACOB PILARSKi was the baseball program’s first All-American (honorable mention) since 2010 as he broke the VWU record for wins in a season (11) and also led the conference in ERA (2.05).
Cox Business is a Proud Supporter of Virginia Wesleyan Athletics.
Alumni Virginia Wesleyan’s tenth class was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at a special ceremony on January 20 in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. Established in May 2007, the Athletic Hall of Fame honors those who, by outstanding achievement in athletics, by service to athletics, or through significant contributions to athletics, have made lasting contributions to Virginia Wesleyan’s intercollegiate athletic program. Members of the tenth class represent the best of the best from Virginia Wesleyan’s athletic history.
Tenth Class Inducted to Athletic Hall of Fame
Pictured from left: Jennifer L. Perkinson '07, Stephen D. Fields '11, Sharon Hay Stokes '05, Sean R. Whitson '12, and Conrad Parker.
STEPHEN D. FIELDS ’11
Men’s Basketball (2007-11)
Stephen Fields is No. 5 in VWU history in most points in a season (603), No. 6 in points in a career (1,657), No. 4 in free throws made in a career (392), No. 1 in free throws made in a season (179), and No. 5 in steals in a career (155). He was honored as d3hoops. com All-Region (2010), NABC All-South (2010), AllState (2010), and All-ODAC (2008-10). He also was named to Reese’s NABC Division III All-Star game as a senior. Fields’ four-year record at VWU was 91-31 and includes four appearances in the NCAA tournament. Fields is a firefighter and paramedic in Alexandria and lives in Woodbridge, VA.
WILLIAM CONRAD PARKER
Softball (1998-06), Golf (2006-08)
Conrad Parker taught and coached in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools for 30 years. He coached basketball, football, golf, softball, and tennis while at Bayside High School. His softball teams were Beach District Champions in 1993, 1994 and 1995; Regional Champions in 1994 and 1995; and advanced to the state final eight in 1995. Among Parker’s accolades, he was named three-time Softball Coach of the Year in Virginia Beach (1993, 1994, and 1995); Virginia Beach sports Club Male Coach of the Year in 1996-97 and Chesapeake Athletic Club Coach of the Year in 1996. Upon his retirement from Bayside, Parker easily transitioned to coaching softball at Virginia Wesleyan. At VWU, Parker had a 217-156-1 overall record with a 90-42 conference record, including the first unbeaten conference record in softball program history (10-0 in 1998). Parker is retired and lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, Nancy.
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Alumni
JENNIFER L. PERKINSON ’07
Volleyball (2003-06)
Jen Perkinson was part of the first varsity volleyball team and helped lead the Marlins to a 17-10 record in its inaugural season. She owns the match record in total attacks (74) vs. North Carolina Wesleyan and holds the best hitting percentage (.900) vs Chowan. She ranks No. 3 in VWU history in career kills (1,118), No. 3 in total attacks (3,518), tied at No. 4 in career solo blocks (55), No. 4 in block assists (153), and No. 5 in total blocks (208). She was named All-State in 2005 and 2006, All-ODAC in 2004-06 (first in program history) and CoSIDA Academic All-District (2006). During her career, the Marlins posted four winning seasons with an overall record of 74-41. Perkinson is manager of the New Student Support Office at Tidewater Community College and lives in Portsmouth, VA.
2018 SPRING ALUMNI WEEKEND VWU CELEBRATES SPRING ALUMNI WEEKEND
Alumni, family, and friends celebrated Spring Alumni Weekend on April 13-14, 2018. The weekend began with an alumni social at ShoreBreak Pizza and Taphouse on Friday evening. On Saturday afternoon, the VWU campus community relaxed and reunited in the beautiful weather at our very first Spring PigPickin’ Picnic and cheered on the Marlins in athletic contests and alumni games. During the picnic, the Class of 1993 came together for a special scroll-signing ceremony to commemorate their 25th graduation anniversary. Miles Baynard ’19 took home the title in our inaugural Pie Eating Contest. The weekend concluded with the 36th Annual Seafood Party in the Dell on Saturday evening. We hope to see you there next year!
SHARON HAY STOKES ’05
Women’s Soccer (2002-05)
Sharon Stokes ranks No. 2 in career goals (47), No.4 in goals in a season (20), tied at No. 2 in goals in a game (4), No. 5 in career points (107), tied at No. 2 in most shots in a game (10), and No. 3 in shots in a career (272). Stokes was named an All-American (2005), All-South honoree (2004 and 2005), Virginia College Division Player of the Year (2005), All-Virginia (2004 and 2005), ODAC Player of the Year (2005) and All-ODAC (2004 and 2005). She helped guide the Marlins to a four-year record of 67-12-8 overall, 39-2-3 in the ODAC and three NCAA tournament appearances. Stokes is a teacher and lives in Virginia Beach with her family.
SEAN R. WHITSON ’12
Men’s Cross Country and Track and Field (2008-12) Sean Whitson is the greatest distance runner in Virginia Wesleyan history. In cross country, he is the only fourtime All-ODAC honoree, the 2008 ODAC Rookie of the Year, 2010 Regional Champion with a time of 24:54, threetime national qualifier (only male to qualify more than once) and holds the top three men’s 8K times in school history. In 2010, Whitson was named the USTFCCCA South Region XC Athlete of the Year. For indoor track and field, Whitson is a two-time ODAC Champion in the Distance Medley Relay (2011 and 2012), the ODAC Champion in the 5,000m in 2010, five-time All-ODAC honoree, and five-time All-Region honoree. In track and field, he tallied the fifth most career points scored in the ODAC indoor and outdoor track and field competition in school history (41) and was a two-time All-ODAC honoree and two-time All-Region selection. Whitson is a firefighter and lives in Winchester, VA. Virg in ia We sle ya n U n ive rsit y Ma g a zin e | F all 2018 / 31 /
Alumni
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD
2017 Alumni
Awards
GRADUATE OF THE LAST DECADE (GOLD) AWARD
Each year, the Virginia Wesleyan University Alumni Council presents accomplished graduates with Alumni Awards, celebrating those who have achieved distinction in their fields and served their communities in a variety of ways. The 2017 Alumni Awards recipients were honored during the University’s second annual Founders Day on September 7, 2017.
DOUG WILSON ’86
ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD
Executive Vice President, LifeNet Health Doug Wilson is the Executive Vice President responsible for the Marketing and Business Development, Corporate Public Relations (PR) and legal matters at LifeNet Health in Virginia Beach. His entire career has been spent in biologics as he started working in transplantation as an administrator for a blood center and joined LifeNet Health in 1989. Doug began as a field representative and went on to establish the marketing and sales departments at LifeNet Health. He also serves as Vice -President of the LifeNet Health Foundation, which provides resources for the research and donor family support missions of LifeNet Health. Doug has received the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Medallion award for Excellence in Communications. He received his B.A. degree in Political Science, with focus on communication, from Virginia Wesleyan in 1986.
W. TAYLOR FRANKLIN ’04 Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, The Franklin Johnston Group W. Taylor Franklin is co-founder and Chief Operating Officer with The Franklin Johnston Group. His primary responsibilities include new business development, multi-family management, the supervision of new construction and the location of new development opportunities. Taylor works alongside the company’s development team designing, planning, financing, and
stabilizing new apartment communities. He has been responsible for the development of 15 communities over the past 12 years with a total value of $500 million. Taylor serves on the boards of many local organizations, including the Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic, Access College Foundation Board, and The Virginia Gentlemen. He is the chairman of the board at Norfolk Collegiate School.
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SYDNEY COVEY ’16
Sustainability Program Analyst, Hourigan Construction
As the Sustainability Program Analyst for Hourigan Construction, Sydney has been leading the Sustainable Construction certification processes on many commercial and federal projects for Hourigan Construction, including the Greer Environmental Sciences Center at Virginia Wesleyan University and the interior fit out of the ADP Office in Norfolk. While green building and construction practices are her focus, Sydney is also assisting in developing Hourigan’s sustainability plan to manage the company’s impact on the environment, community, and economy. Sydney started with Hourigan as a sustainability intern. She currently serves on the Market Leadership Advisory Board for the USGBC-Hampton Roads Community, as well as the Program Partners Committee for the Lynnhaven River Now and the Hampton Roads Corporate Volunteer Council.
YOUR GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Thank You! A gift to The Excellence Fund at Virginia Wesleyan University does so much more than show your support. It helps students today become who they want to be tomorrow.
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Having had the opportunity to work with professionals and undergraduates in a scientific environment during my study-away experience has shown me that I have the knowledge, skills set, humility, and intellectual capacity to be successful. Maybe it isn’t even so much confidence in my abilities as a student, but more so a general confidence in who I am, what I believe in, and the things I know I am capable of.
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EDWIN KINSEY ’18
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Overall, my undergraduate research experience was amazing and has influenced me to further my education by attending graduate school in the field of environmental science. MAYANNI MCCOURTY ’19
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One of the most important outcomes of my internship with Texas Congressman Pete Sessions on Capitol Hill was confirming that I want to pursue a career in politics and be in a field where I can make a difference. That’s all I want to do – is make a difference.
Support the Excellence Fund Use the envelope provided in this publication, visit www.vwu.edu/giveonline, call the Office of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations at 757.233.8786, or email excellencefund@vwu.edu
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AMANDA GERNI ’19
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