A periodic communiqué
from Virginia Wesleyan University
Fall 2020 Edition
A Letter for Leaders in the Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church
Greetings from Virginia Wesleyan University!

I am happy to be writing you today from our campus, which is fully open for in-person instruction and on-campus living for our students. While there are certainly challenges we face daily to ensure the safety and well-being of our Marlin community, I am proud of our students, faculty, and staff for upholding their end of the health and safety guidelines.

If you'd like to stay up-to-date with our response to the ongoing pandemic, please visit www.vwu.edu/coronavirus.
North American Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAAMSCU)
Throughout my career in higher education, I've enjoyed being actively involved in church-related institutions. As many of you know, I have served as president of the national umbrella organization representing over 100 schools, colleges/universities, and seminaries of the United Methodist Church. 

I am pleased to announce that the National Association of Schools, Colleges, Universities, of the United Methodist Church (NASCUMC) has officially become the North American Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAAMSCU). This change in name, which is the result of extensive work undertaken by leadership of the association, represents an expansion of the geographic focus of the association and its intent to be more broadly inclusive of educational institutions across the Methodist spectrum. 

This is an important point for this organization and this moment represents more than a name change, but an organizational reset. The NASCUMC organization has often focused its attention almost exclusively on the facilitation of conversation between higher education institutions and the United Methodist denomination. While this priority is still important, our goal is to shift the organization into becoming more of a strategic partner with the institutions we serve.

I am proud to have led the organization through this historic and much-needed change, and look forward to seeing the evolution continue after my term as NAAMSCU president ends in 2021.
The Robert Nusbaum Center
The Center for the Study of Religious Freedom at Virginia Wesleyan University has grown in prominence and national stature since its inception in 1996. With that growth in mind, and in consultation with major contributors and family members of its late Founding Fellow Robert Nusbaum, the center has been renamed in his honor. The Robert Nusbaum Center will continue to expand its focus to encompass diversity, dialogue, faith and freedom. Read more about Robert Nusbaum and the Center's founding here.
Virginia Wesleyan Welcomes Marie Porter as New Chaplain
On August 1, we welcomed Marie Porter to the Marlin Family as our new University Chaplain. Marie has served as the Director of Youth Ministry at the neighboring Haygood United Methodist Church since 2009 and will join us at VWU in a part-time capacity while continuing her service at the church. Marie is Lay Person Certified by the Virginia Conference of the UMC, Elizabeth River District. This partnership developed due to the reduced funding we receive from the Church, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Marie's energy, enthusiasm, and interest in serving our campus community is inspiring, and we are glad she's with us.
Class of 2020 Baccalaureate and Commencement Ceremonies
As a result of health and safety precautions prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Virginia Wesleyan University's 2020 Commencement Ceremony has been rescheduled for Sunday, December 6. Commencement will be preceded by a Baccalaureate Service on Saturday, December 5. A pre-service concert by the Virginia Wesleyan Choirs will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Dr. Jim Noseworthy will serve as the Baccalaureate keynote speaker. Jim retired as the Vice President for Administration at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and is the former President of Hiwassee College and former Assistant General Secretary for Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church. A friend and colleague for over 20 years, I am delighted to welcome Jim and his wife, Rev. Dr. Karla M. Kincannon of the Class of 1976, back to Virginia Wesleyan in December.
Robert F. Boyd Institute
We had been looking forward to hosting Rev. Olu Brown of Impact Church in Atlanta, Georgia, as the keynote speaker for the Robert F. Boyd Institute in March 2020. As you know, that event was rescheduled to November 2020 but now has been postponed once again. It is our hope to host Rev. Brown in Spring 2021. We will keep you informed as those plans are confirmed.
Have a safe and healthy autumn,




Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.
President
Virginia Wesleyan University
5817 Wesleyan Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Phone: 757.455.3215