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Dear friends,

As we celebrate our achievements, cherish our traditions, and eagerly anticipate the future, I am excited to share some highlights from the end of our fall semester.

We celebrated the Class of 2023 at our VWU Global Campus Commencement Ceremony on December 16. We extend our gratitude to Dr. Janice Underwood, Director of the White House Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, for her inspiring keynote address at the ceremony. In recognition of her outstanding contributions at both state and national levels, Dr. Underwood was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters (honoris causa). We also presented faculty awards to Dr. Robert Ariel, Assistant Professor of Psychology, for Distinguished Scholarship and Dr. Maury Howard, Professor of Chemistry and Director of Nursing and Allied Health, for Campus Service. We thank them for their dedication to our students and to the advancement of this university. 

Before our students left to enjoy their winter break, our campus was alive with festive joy during 'A Wesleyan Christmas' and our annual tree lighting ceremony. These events brought us together, creating a warm sense of community and shared celebration. I am also incredibly proud of our Marlin alumni and friends, who demonstrated their unwavering support by surpassing our Giving Tuesday goals on the National Day of Giving on November 28.

Our students showcased their capstone experiences at our biannual Academic Symposium, highlighting the rigorous and enriching education we offer. I was particularly impressed by a Batten Honors College student who applied their classroom learning to summer research in Belize, embodying our mission of experiential learning.

Finally, we were delighted to announce Mark Johnson, Senior Vice President and Community Development Manager at Truist Financial Corporation, as our speaker for our commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 15. Mark has been a wonderful friend to VWU and is known for his remarkable leadership and dedication to community service, making him an ideal speaker for this occasion.

As we look forward to the new year, I am filled with optimism and excitement for the new possibilities that await us. We are committed to fostering growth and embracing innovation at Virginia Wesleyan in all the new years to come.

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 2023-2024 edition of , a groundbreaking higher education thought leadership series featuring insights from college and university presidents, begins now! This year’s series, titled “,” will examine the many facets of sustainability as well as its importance to students and its impacts on campuses.

The fifth chapter of the 2023-2024 President to President thought leadership series is available online today. In “,” Sam Houston State University President Alisa White, Ph.D., shares ideas for gradually developing a comprehensive sustainability program. Starting with a building management project that had clear, tangible results and looking for opportunities to expand from there helped her campus build the right momentum and ensure success. 

We hope you will enjoy delving into these important topics with us and perhaps gaining a new perspective. aims to provide valuable insights that you can apply to your own campus as you work through the unique and ongoing challenges of modern higher education.
Dr. Scott D. Miller is president of 鶹ýrtb. Respected as one of the most entrepreneurial higher education executives in America, he is in his 33rd 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.