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Dear friends,

I am pleased to share that students, faculty and staff should plan on a return to fully in-person learning for the fall semester. We are optimistic that the availability and prevalence of vaccines will greatly increase throughout Virginia and the nation by summer, and we eagerly anticipate a return to normalcy come fall.

We are just six weeks away from Commencement, and we look forward to celebrating the Class of 2021 in-person via five smaller graduation ceremonies instead of one large ceremony. We announced Dr. Travis Malone as the next Dean of the Batten Honors College. We launched a new online Master of Education (M.Ed.) program with classes beginning on May 17. We shared that Matthew Nusbaum has joined the VWU Board of Trustees. Additionally, the University entered an agreement with Boston University School of Theology for priority admission of graduating seniors and young alumni. VWU celebrated Women's History Month and was named a Voter Friendly Campus for the third consecutive year.

Improvements in Susan T. Beverly Hall continued with the unveiling of the and in the building's lobby and entrance. Site preparation began on , and the received a makeover. We thank all of the donors and foundations who have taken a special interest in these projects, and we wait impatiently for the day we can show off these campus improvements to our alumni and friends.

Until then, continue to take good care of yourselves and each other as we greet the spring with optimism. The future can't get here soon enough.

Sincerely,
Over the years I have enjoyed writing regular columns and contributing to articles.
Included below are links to several recent publications. Visit vwu.edu/president for more.
President to President: Fostering A Culture of Innovation
The seventh chapter of the 2020-2021 thought leadership series is available online. In "," Mount Saint Mary's University President Ann McElaney-Johnson, Ph.D., explores how higher education institutions can use their overarching missions and longstanding values to guide them as they find innovative solutions to current and future challenges. She describes how her University drew inspiration from its founders' original vision and its core principles in navigating the complexities of a difficult year.

In this year's President to President series, titled "," prominent higher education leaders share how they are meeting the challenges of an unprecedented era through an ongoing focus on innovation. Each chapter contains the invaluable expertise of a college or university president and offers tangible solutions to the issues many campuses now face. We hope this series provides useful ideas for your campus and look forward to continuing to share a new chapter each month.
The Batten Honors College is a highly selective residential program of 160 scholars from around the world. The program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of an ethical and influential global citizen who understands the interdependence of society, culture, and the natural world.

Read the VWU Batten Honors College Spring 2021 Newsletter, , to learn more about the program through students' reflections and experiences.
Â鶹´«Ã½rtb officials continue to monitor the COVID-19 crisis, following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

The University's Emergency Response Team has created VWU CovidSafe to provide information about the current number of confirmed cases impacting our campus. It is updated weekly to keep the community apprised of our current situation.
Dr. Scott D. Miller is president of Â鶹´«Ã½rtb. Respected as one of the most entrepreneurial higher education executives in America, he is in his 31st year as a university president. Dr. Miller has dedicated his career to the opportunities available through education. He especially values the small, classical, liberal arts college environment that offers students personalized pathways to life and career success.

Previously, he was president of Bethany College (2007-2015), Wesley College (1997-2007), and Lincoln Memorial University (1991-1997). He was also Executive Vice President (1988-1991) and Vice President for Development (1984-1988) at Lincoln Memorial University and Director of College Relations and Alumni Affairs at Rio Grande College (now University) in Ohio. Read more.