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Dear friends,
As autumn arrives, we reflect with gratitude on the vibrant traditions and forward momentum that define Â鶹´«Ã½rtb as we prepare for our historic transition to Batten University on July 1, 2026.
Our community gathered for Founders Day Convocation, honoring our beginnings and celebrating alumni accomplishments. Keynote speaker Joseph P. Ruddy '83, COO of Virginia International Terminals and VWU Trustee, inspired us with reflections on leadership, perseverance, and the lasting impact of a Virginia Wesleyan education.
We welcomed the newest class of Batten Honors College scholars during a special convocation and pinning ceremony. Dr. Todd Mooradian, Dean of William & Mary's Raymond A. Mason School of Business, challenged students to lead with courage, curiosity, and purpose.
This fall, VWU reached a historic milestone with record enrollment of more than 5,100 students across traditional programs and the Global Campus—our eighth record in ten years. Exciting initiatives continue, including VWU Chesapeake, our new Prison Education Program; the upcoming relocation of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art to campus; and the integration of the Sentara College of Health Sciences in 2026.
We were honored to be recognized for the eighth consecutive year in The Princeton Review's Best Colleges Guide and to welcome four exceptional new faculty members who will enrich our academic community. The arts are thriving as well, with the Neil Britton Art Gallery hosting Affinities and Differences: A Dialogue of Abstraction in Painting, featuring works by VWU's John Rudel and artist James Williams.
These milestones remind us that our history is alive and evolving. As we honor the legacy of Virginia Wesleyan and look ahead to the future of Batten University, I am deeply grateful for your partnership and support.
Sincerely,
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