As you may know, I am a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and most of my higher educational career has focused on service to the UMC and church-related higher education. This week, I had the pleasure of spending a significant amount of time with our new Bishop, the Rev. Sharma D. Lewis. Bishop Lewis's appointment is a historic one as she is the first African-American woman to be named Bishop for the Southeastern Jurisdiction.  In her new role,  Bishop Lewis  will oversee 1,169 local churches and serve as an  ex- officio  member of our Board of Trustees.

It's no secret that the United Methodist Church is experiencing challenging times. A recent report from the UMC warned, "The United Methodist Church has only 15 years to reverse its decline in the United States if it is to have a sustainable future" (from " Economist: Church in crisis but hope remains" by Heather Hahn). Bishop Lewis's vibrant character and sincere spirituality, however, can give us all hope for what's ahead. As Chair of the Association of Institutions of Education, a member of the National Association of Schools & Colleges of The United Methodist Church (NASCUMC) Board, and the President of this college, I am excited about the future of the Virginia Conference under her leadership.