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Dear friends,

This last month has been full of pomp, circumstance and purpose at Virginia Wesleyan. First, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2022. We celebrated these graduates on Saturday, May 14, and Commencement Weekend events also included our Baccalaureate Service and the Batten Honors College Capstone Ceremony. Once again, we offer our special thanks to our Commencement speaker, S. Bernard Goodwyn, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, for his inspiring address.

In the days following Commencement, we , which included the annual Private College Advisory Board meeting. The two-day event included a reception and dinner where we hosted special guests Aimee Guidera, Virginia’s Secretary of Education; Robert Lambeth, President of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia; and Delegate Cliff Hayes, 77th district, among many others.

Last month, we dedicated DeFord Manor, the on-campus president's residence, with a ribbon cutting and dinner that included a special presentation of gratitude to the home's namesakes, Trustees and benefactors Bob and Nancy DeFord. We celebrated our nine retiring employees who collectively have 232 years of experience at Virginia Wesleyan, and we announced our newest members of the Batten Honors College.

Our students won a variety of national accolades in extracurricular activities, including first place in the undergraduate division of the Intentional Endowments Network "Student Corporate Engagement Competition" and 20 awards in the annual Society for Collegiate Journalists National Contest. In athletics, Geni Roberts of the VWU Track & Field team claimed his this year; this time in the men's triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Meet in Geneva, OH. VWU softball and picked up its along the way.

Congratulations to all, especially to the resilient Class of 2022! We wish them the very best as they pursue meaningful personal and professional goals in their lives.

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.
This is my 18th year serving as Executive Editor (along with Dr. Marylouise Fennell) of the presidential thought-leadership series . In the tenth and final chapter of the 2021-2022 series, “,” Elmhurst University President Troy D. VanAken, Ph.D., describes strategies for ensuring student success at every step of the academic journey, from recruitment to graduation. He explains the importance of selecting students who will thrive within the campus culture, helping students find a sense of belonging, providing resources that support retention, and more.

This year’s series, titled “,” will explore how colleges and universities are approaching their missions with new vigor and re-examining their role in the community as the world continues working through the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of 10 chapters, these experts will provide unique insights into how recent and ongoing events are shaping the college experience.
Â鶹´«Ă˝rtb is a Vaccine Champion University. The VWU Emergency Response Team continues to monitor COVID-19 guidance and conditions.
Dr. Scott D. Miller is president of Â鶹´«Ă˝rtb. Respected as one of the most entrepreneurial higher education executives in America, he is in his 32nd 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.