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I am delighted to share two exciting announcements. First, Congressman Bobby Scott will be our keynote speaker at our VWU Global Campus Commencement on December 17, 2022. Congressman Scott has been an incredible advocate for students nationwide, and we're delighted for him to share his experience and vision for higher education with the Class of 2022.

Second, I am pleased to share Dr. Susan E. Larkin has been named Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Larkin has been a member of the VWU faculty for nearly 15 years and has served in academic administration for the last three years. Her commitment to innovation, collaboration, and student success will continue to serve the Marlin community extremely well.

While we plan for the future, the start of the Fall semester also sees traditions like Founders Day, the Alumni Awards celebration, and the Batten Honors College Convocation. Our thanks to Founders Day keynote speaker Hon. Deborah Paxson '75, and our congratulations to alumni award recipients, Michael J. White ’81 (Distinguished Alumnus Award), Brandon L. Adair ’12 (Alumni Service Award), and Jessie K. Dawe ’08 (The Beacon Award). Dr. D. Derek Aday, Dean and Director of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, provided the keynote address at the Batten Honors College Convocation as we recognized the newest BHC scholars with a pinning ceremony to mark their full integration into this elite program.

Virginia Wesleyan was once again recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a top national liberal arts college. VWU is again ranked among the top campuses in “Ethnic Diversity” for National Liberal Arts Colleges and is featured in the "Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” category. The University is also recognized as a “Top Performer on Social Mobility.” We are proud to hold this designation, as it represents the diverse, global community in which our University is located. We are a welcoming, inclusive campus with an outstanding, nationally prominent academic reputation—and we take pride in fostering the kinds of values and traditions that make our students proud to have chosen us for their career and life success.

I hope to see you at one of our many Homecoming and Family Weekend events happening this weekend on campus. Go, Marlins!

The first chapter of the 2022-2023  thought leadership series is available online. In "," Western New England University President Robert E. Johnson, Ph.D., explores the importance of helping students engage in civil discourse and maintain mutual respect, even when disagreements arise. He posits that higher education must play an essential role in creating a civil society, which will help address many of the issues currently plaguing the nation.

This year's  series, titled “,” examines how having a â€śwell” campus depends on meaningful improvements to the lives and experiences of students, faculty, and staff. Each month, a new chapter authored by a college or university president is published online. These higher education experts delve into the various dimensions of a â€śwell” campus and share unique insights into how colleges can support today’s students. As an Executive Editor of the series, I hope you will find value in this series as we explore this topic over the course of 10 chapters.