Â鶹´«Ã½rtb
Dear friends,

What a month! The honors continue for our Marlins softball program, who won their third national title on June 1. We are so proud of this team and their great accomplishments during such an unusual season. A special congratulations to , the National Player of the Year; , the National Pitcher of the Year; and Coach Brandon Elliott '03 and his staff, the . Go Marlins!

We announced our 2021 Alumni Awards recipients, who will be honored during Founders Day on September 9. Congratulations to the following alumni on this well-deserved distinction that recognizes their many accomplishments since graduation: William "Bill" Shelhorse '70 (Distinguished Alumnus Award), Vanessa Thaxton-Ward '83, Ph.D. (Alumni Service Award), and Tiffany Boyle '14 (Graduate of the Last Decade Award). Our Founders Day keynote speaker will be Gary D. Bonnewell '79, H'16. 
 
The Â鶹´«Ã½rtb journey began for our newest Marlin class during Marlin Nation Orientation. First-year students and their families participated in one of four orientations designed to prepare them for life on campus this fall. It was wonderful to have such an event offered in person once again.

Because of COVID-19's economic impact on our communities, VWU—in partnership with the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development—is once again offering online professional development courses at no cost to Hampton Roads residents. The eight self-paced training courses will improve professional skills and are offered through VWU Global Campus. We are proud to serve our community in this important initiative which is helping Coastal Virginia not only recover from the pandemic, but become stronger and more resilient.

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.
The complete 2020-2021  thought leadership series is now available to download . This year's book, titled "," features unique ideas and creative approaches to the myriad challenges higher education institutions now face, many of which were once considered unimaginable. It re-examines what it means to be truly innovative, especially in times of crisis and recovery.

For more than a year, the world has had to rapidly adapt to a barrage of changes and overcome countless challenges. Higher education has been no exception. This edition of  contains unique insights from 10 college and university presidents, who share the creative approaches their institutions are using to navigate this complex new landscape. From shifting to digital learning and working with corporate partners to finding inspiration in the institution's core mission and embracing opportunities for change, these esteemed industry leaders are at the forefront of an evolution in higher education.

We would like to thank each of the authors for contributing their perspectives on these important topics. Each chapter of  offers ideas for leveraging the ongoing changes in higher education and using them as tools for sustained achievement and success.
Â鶹´«Ã½rtb's Emergency Response Team has created VWU CovidSafe to provide information about the virus's impact on our campus. VWU 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).

VWU is a . Students, faculty, and staff must submit proof of vaccination prior to return for the Fall 2021 semester. Learn more.
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.