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Dear friends,

As we complete this academic year—one that has been full of new opportunities and unprecedented challenges—I am grateful that we made it through two full semesters of in-person instruction during a global pandemic. We accomplished such a remarkable feat thanks to the care and commitment of every member of the Marlin community.

Speaking of remarkable feats, softball star is now the all-time winningest pitcher in NCAA Division III history. What a legacy! Additionally, thanks in part to matching gifts from Trustees Tim Bailey '83 and Gary Bonnewell '79, our third annual Day of Giving surpassed last year's total with a new record of support. I thank all of our generous donors for their participation.

We announced W. Taylor Franklin, èßäÊÓƵClass of 2004, as a new member of the Board of Trustees and named as Head Volleyball Coach. We welcomed , VWU's incoming Chaplain, to campus for a special visit. We shared our vaccination requirements and look forward to welcoming the Marlin community back to campus for a fully in-person semester of learning, fellowship, and fun in Fall 2021.

Finally, we are excited to celebrate the Class of 2021 during a virtual Baccalaureate program and five in-person Commencement ceremonies this month. My special congratulations to members of the Class of 2021 and their families on this momentous occasion.

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 eighth chapter of the 2020-2021  thought leadership series is now available online. In "," Southern New Hampshire University President Paul LeBlanc, Ph.D., shares practical ideas for fostering innovation in higher education, detailing how campuses can pursue the creative approaches that best fit their current and future needs. He explores various levels of innovation and offers tips for clearly identifying and pursuing the types of innovation that are right for each campus.

In this year's President to President series, titled "," prominent higher education leaders share how they are meeting the challenges of an unprecedented era through an ongoing focus on innovation. Each chapter contains the invaluable expertise of a college or university president and offers tangible solutions to the issues many campuses now face. We hope this series provides useful ideas for your campus and look forward to continuing to share a new chapter each month.
èßäÊÓƵ University's Emergency Response Team has created èßäÊÓƵCovidSafe to provide information about the virus's impact on our campus. èßäÊÓƵofficials continue to monitor the COVID-19 crisis, following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

It was recently announced that students, faculty and staff must submit proof of vaccination prior to return for the Fall 2021 semester. Learn more.
Dr. Scott D. Miller is president of èßäÊÓƵ University. Respected as one of the most entrepreneurial higher education executives in America, he is in his 31st 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.