Campus Events

"In the Cloud" (2013), a striking 4' x 14' mixed-media painting by VWU Professor of Art John Rudel, will be on display through February in the Eleanor and Henry Watts Grand Lobby and Gallery inside the Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center.

More Information

More Information

Love Liberally is a campus-wide symposium to be held during the February 11-21, 2020. Faculty will offer special lectures, workshops, or presentations exploring various aspects of love, each through their own disciplinary lens. During this week, students may attend any of the classes offering a love lecture—some professors offer extra credit as an incentive. These occasions are a great opportunity for students to explore another professor or subject without being enrolled in that particular class.

How does someone work for peace in a deeply fractured part of the world? What steps can be taken? Join 15 VWU students who—in a CSRF-sponsored travel course in January 2020—visited kibbutzim, experienced homestays with Palestinians, had Shabbat meals in homes, talked with Lutheran farmers, met Bedouins and members of the Druze minority communities, and talked with Jewish and Muslim parents whose children were killed in armed conflict. In addition, the students met with a variety of organizations that work toward peace in the region—with people very different from themselves. Join us as these students share their research on the challenges of this fascinating country.

Regional college recruiters from GEICO will be on campus to present on the best career practices concerning resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. This event is open to all majors seeking assistance with their professional documents and online presence. Hosted by Virginia Wesleyan's Career Development Program (CDP) in the Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery. For more information, contact the Director of Career Development, Ms. Jessica Harrington, at 757.455.3107 or jharrington@vwu.edu or visit us on The Lighthouse's webpage or The Lighthouse's page on MyBeacon. 

Filmmaker and physician Dr. Delaney Ruston takes the conversation around screens and teens to the next level with "Screenagers Next Chapter: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience"—a film that examines the science behind teen’s emotional challenges, the interplay of social media, and most importantly, what can be done in our schools and homes to help them build crucial skills to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression in our digital age. This presentation is open to the campus community and to the public and will be followed by an open discussion.

More Information

Discover where your journey will begin by learning more about VWU's study abroad programs offered through the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP). Students interested in studying abroad for a semester with VWU's Global Scholars Program are invited to stop by to learn about the 250 programs in 50 countries that ISEP offers. The deadline to apply to study abroad in spring 2021 is Wednesday, March 11, 2020. For more information, visit The Lighthouse's webpage and The Lighthouse's page on MyBeacon, or contact the director of the Study Away Program, Ms. Mandy Reinig, in The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery at 757.455.3116 or set up an appointment online.

More Information

Pianist Michael Manning has enjoyed an eclectic professional life that encompasses academia, journalism, scientific research, software engineering, and performance. His work as Broadcast Director of WGBH, Public Broadcasting’s flagship station, and with the Boston Globe earned him the industry’s highest awards, including Gold Medals from the New York International Festivals and Columbia University’s Major Armstrong Award. Join us at 11:00 a.m. as Manning explores how music reflects mathematics, how mathematics can be used to study music, and the deeper similarities of these two abstract intellectual frameworks. At 7:30 p.m., Manning will present a piano concert.

Join VWU's Career Development staff for pizza and a discussion about career opportunities with industry professionals. Learn about their typical work day and what they look for in prospective employees. Hosted by Virginia Wesleyan's Career Development Program (CDP) in The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery. For more information, contact the Director of Career Development, Ms. Jessica Harrington, at 757.455.3107 or jharrington@vwu.edu or visit us on The Lighthouse's webpage or The Lighthouse's page on MyBeacon.

On Thurs., Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in Birdsong Hall 102, Counseling Services interns will run an interactive discussion surrounding healthy boundaries in dating, what consent is vs. what it is not, and red flags vs. green flags in relationships. The event is free and open to all VWU students and is sponsored by Counseling Services, Residence Life, and the Women's Resource Center.

Pianist Michael Manning has enjoyed an eclectic professional life that encompasses academia, journalism, scientific research, software engineering, and performance. His work as Broadcast Director of WGBH, Public Broadcasting’s flagship station, and with the Boston Globe earned him the industry’s highest awards, including Gold Medals from the New York International Festivals and Columbia University’s Major Armstrong Award. 

The Tidewater Guitar Orchestra, PC Duo, Anibal Acosta, and Duo Thalassa perform. More information or to purchase tickets. Tickets: $10-30.

More Information

We're going places! Celebrate National Study Abroad Day by joining in the fun at the following events:

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (The Lighthouse)  World Map Quiz: How knowledgeable are you about world geography? Test your skills with our Study Abroad Day World Map Quiz. All participants who submit a completed quiz will be entered to win travel-themed prizes.

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Batten Student Center) Hello from VWU - Postcards to Marlins Abroad: Write a postcard to one of the ten VWU students studying abroad this semester. You don’t need to personally know the students to say “Hey.” Postcards and pens will be provided.

4:30 - 6 p.m. (The Lighthouse) Let's Taco Bout It: Grab an ice cream taco and hear from students about their study abroad experiences. Have all your questions answered. What is it really like to study abroad? Is it expensive? Will I be behind academically? Are there classes for me?

For more information about  Virginia Wesleyan’s Study Away Program, consult with the Lighthouse’s Study Away Program Director, Mandy Reinig (areinig@vwu.edu).

More Information

VWU’s Center for Sacred Music presents its annual Evening of Bach in a joyful exploration of Cantatas 23, 84, and 140 from this master of the chorale cantata art form. Free and open to the public. No reservations necessary.

More Information

Dr. Michael Hall, Lambuth M. Clarke Professor of English

In Life Matters, members of the Virginia Wesleyan community offer autobiographical reflections on their emotional, intellectual, and spiritual experiences. These deeply personal talks create meaningful opportunities for greater understanding and connection, encouraging each of us to think about what has shaped us and given our own life meaning. The series is sponsored in partnership with the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, the Chaplain’s Office, and the Center for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning (INTEL) at Virginia Wesleyan University. Please feel free to bring a bag lunch or purchase lunch in the Boyd Campus Dining Center.

This workshop introduces students to Virginia Wesleyan’s research grants, provided by the Undergraduate Research Program (URP). The URP offers grants to students both to conduct research and to present research off-campus at professional and academic conferences. The URP also works with external organizations to secure research grants for VWU students. This workshop reviews the components of a grant application and provides instruction on writing successful grants. Hosted by Virginia Wesleyan’s URP in The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery. For more information, visit the Lighthouse’s webpage or contact the URP Director, Dr. Soraya Bartol, at 757.455.3372 or sbartol@vwu.edu.

James Thomas is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Mississippi. His research focuses on race and racism, inequality, and empire. He is the author of four books, including the forthcoming Diversity Regimes which draws from ethnographic fieldwork at an American public university to illustrate the conflicts between core actors over how to define, organize, and implement diversity within the institution. Thomas’s research has been featured in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Pacific Standard, and Slate Magazine. Join us on Wednesday, 2/26 at 7:00 p.m. for a lecture by Thomas and on Thursday, 2/27 at 11:00 a.m. as Thomas leads a workshop on “Coalitions for Change on College Campuses.”

Students in all majors are invited to talk with employers about part-time employment, full-time employment, and internship opportunities. Attendees should bring an updated resume and come dressed in professional business attire. Hosted by Virginia Wesleyan's Career Development Program (CDP) in the C-MAC. For more information, contact the Director of Career Development, Ms. Jessica Harrington, at 757.455.3107 or jharrington@vwu.edu or visit us on The Lighthouse's webpage or The Lighthouse's page on MyBeacon. 

James Thomas is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Mississippi. His research focuses on race and racism, inequality, and empire. He is the author of four books, including the forthcoming Diversity Regimes which draws from ethnographic fieldwork at an American public university to illustrate the conflicts between core actors over how to define, organize, and implement diversity within the institution. Thomas’s research has been featured in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Pacific Standard, and Slate Magazine. Join us on Wednesday, 2/26 at 7:00 p.m. for a lecture by Thomas and on Thursday, 2/27 at 11:00 a.m. as Thomas leads a workshop on “Coalitions for Change on College Campuses.”

March 5-7: 7:30 p.m.
March 8: 2:00 p.m.

The VWU Theatre Department presents its spring production of "The Shield," by Menander and adapted for the stage by Travis Malone, VWU Professor of Theatre. When a soldier's broken shield is found in battle, all presume the worst. Greedy relatives lay claim to the family estate, lovers are separated, fortunes taken, and it falls to the soldier's servant to set everything right. In this daring new adaptation, a servant's brilliant plan and a surprise reunion help the survivors discover laughter, love, and hope in the aftermath of war. Directed by Dr. Travis Malone.

Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for military/students/children/seniors, and are available at www.vwu.tix.com. Free to VWU students by emailing GoodeCenter@vwu.edu.

More Information

The Center for the Study of Religious Freedom's Nexus Interfaith Dialogue series uses the deliberative dialogue format supported by the Kettering Foundation to explore this crucial issue for our country. Deliberative dialogue is participatory and is best when conducted in small groups that are facilitated by trained moderators. To help the CSRF plan for a good experience, please RSVP to 757.455.3129 or csrf@vwu.edu. Sponsored in partnership with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) and Hands United Building Bridges (HUBB).

Regardless of whether they are called comic books or graphic novels, works like Maus or V for Vendetta use not just compelling characters and engaging plots, but also striking art to shape how readers enter the story. Reflecting on an early comic-book story about the Holocaust—Bernard Krigstein's Master Race—Dr. Stephen Hock highlights how to effectively read comic books and shows the distinctive ways in which they make an impact. Stephen Hock, Associate Professor of English at VWU, has a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to teaching a variety of courses in American literature, he also teaches "The Art of Comic Books," a course that focuses on formal analysis of the narratives produced by the union of words and images. Part of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom's "Leading for Change" series. Free and open to the public.

Applications to study abroad during the spring 2021 semester through Virginia Wesleyan’s Global Scholars Program are due on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. The application and information are on The Lighthouse's page of MyBeacon. For more information, visit The Lighthouse's webpage and The Lighthouse’s page on MyBeacon, or contact the director of the Study Away Program, Ms. Mandy Reinig, in The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery at 757.455.3116 or set up an appointment online.

More Information

In combatting the terrorist group Boko Haram, the Nigerian military used counterinsurgency tactics that resulted in widespread human-rights violations, rape, and gender-based violence against the civilian population. Dr. Modupe Oshikoya highlights the violence perpetrated by those who were supposed to be in charge of protecting the civilians, shows how leadership and oversight came to be distorted, and brings us all to ask “Who guards the guards?” Dr. Modupe Oshikoya, Assistant Professor of Political Science at VWU, has served as a Research Associate at the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria, and as a Senior Officer at the International Affairs and Defence Section, of the House of Commons, Houses of Parliament in London. Her research on the Nigerian military led to her receiving the APCG-Lynne Rienner Best Dissertation in African Politics 2019 award. Part of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom's "Leading for Change" series. Free and open to the public.

Join VWU's Career Development staff for pizza and a discussion about career opportunities with industry professionals. Learn about their typical work day and what they look for in prospective employees. Hosted by Virginia Wesleyan's Career Development Program (CDP) in The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery. For more information, contact the Director of Career Development, Ms. Jessica Harrington, at 757.455.3107 or jharrington@vwu.edu or visit us on The Lighthouse's webpage or The Lighthouse's page on MyBeacon.

The Ceramic Designers Assocation's 22nd Annual Empty Bowls Charity Dinner will be held at Virginia Wesleyan University on Friday, March 13 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in Boyd Dining Center. The Empty Bowls project is an international grassroots movement held annually in many communities to help raise both money and awareness in the fight to end hunger. All funds raised benefit local charities such as the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, Judeo-Christian Outreach Center, Help and Emergency Response, Inc., Oasis Social Ministries, Samaritan House, and Union Mission Ministries. Tickets are $25 prior to the event and $30 at the door. Purchase Tickets

More Information

The Model NATO Challenge will take place at Virginia Wesleyan University, as part of the Norfolk NATO Festival, on Wednesday, March 18, from 4:00-9:00 p.m. in Boyd Dining Center. The Model NATO Challenge is a scholarship competition in which the top 29 high school applicants along with six alternates are chosen to participate in a mock global-crisis simulation, confronting issues facing today’s NATO Alliance. Student diplomats are chosen to represent each of the 29 NATO Member Nations and must work together to address a crisis scenario such as piracy, immigration, or another issue that faces the NATO Alliance today. Diplomats are assigned mentors—military officers from each of the 29 countries—who assist in preparing them for the challenge while teaching about the country's culture, national military resources, and political backgrounds. Based on their leadership and diplomacy skills, the top three finalists are awarded scholarships.

More Information

The Robert F. Boyd Institute will feature Rev. Olu Brown as keynote speaker on March 23-24, 2020. Rev. Brown is the lead pastor of Impact Church near Atlanta. In 2016, Impact Church was listed as one of the top 100 fastest growing churches in America. A graduate of Jarvis Christian College and the Interdenominational Theological Seminary, Rev. Brown says he is “truly a church planter at heart.” He is the author of Zero to 80: Innovative Ideas for Planting and Accelerating Church Growth, and Leadership Directions from Moses. His latest book, 4D Impact: Smash Barriers Like a Smart Church, was released in April 2019.

This two-day seminar focuses on how to anticipate and embrace change, particularly in an institution—the church—that frequently is reluctant to do so. Lunch is included on Monday and light breakfast on Monday and Tuesday. March 23, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday, March 24, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. This $75 seminar is open to all, but also awards one continuing education credit for clergy from the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. If you are interested in registering for the 2020 Boyd Institute, please contact Kelly Jackson (kjackson@vwu.edu) at the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom.

More Information

The New York Times bestselling author of Body Drama and Diet Drama, Nancy Redd, will explore body positivity and the ways that media shapes people’s perceptions of body image. A former Miss Virginia and swimsuit winner at Miss America, Redd is an award-winning on-air host, The New York Times's Wirecutter beauty and health writer, and an NAACP Image Award nominee. This event is held in conjunction with National Eating Disorder Awareness Month and Women's History Month. It is co-sponsored by VWU’s Women's Resource Center, Psychology Department, and Women's & Gender Studies Program.

Join The Lighthouse:Center for Exploration and Discovery for a day in Washington, D.C. Buses depart from the Jane P. Batten Student Center parking lot at 7:00 a.m. Busses leave D.C. at 6:00 p.m., returning to campus at approximately 10:00 p.m. Reservations are required. The cost is $5. Register and pay in The Lighthouse (Clarke Hall, Office 113) by Friday, March 1. Space is limited, so reserve your seat early.

Virginia Wesleyan students are invited to practice interviewing in mock interviews with one of four employers. Students in all majors are welcome to participate in a day of mock interviews. Advance registration is required by March 23 at 12:00 p.m. Come dressed in professional business attire, and bring copies of your updated resume. Interviews typically last 30 minutes. Each student will receive immediate feedback on his/her responses, attire, resume, and communication style. Hosted by Virginia Wesleyan's Career Development Program (CDP) in the Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery. For more information, contact the Director of Career Development, Ms. Jessica Harrington, at 757.455.3107 or jharrington@vwu.edu or visit us on The Lighthouse's webpage or The Lighthouse's page on MyBeacon. The mock interviews take place at various locations on campus.

This workshop explains the qualities of an effective abstract and reviews strategies for writing abstracts. It is especially helpful to students who will present their research at Virginia Wesleyan’s Port Day on April 30, 2020. This workshop is hosted by Virginia Wesleyan College’s Undergraduate Research Program (URP), located in The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery. For more information, visit the Lighthouse’s webpage or contact the URP Director, Dr. Soraya Bartol, at 757.455.3372 or sbartol@vwu.edu.

The world-renowned American Shakespeare Center takes up residency to perform Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece. In Midsummer, there are no easy solutions, no black and white, no good guys or bad guys. In Midsummer, love is not a thing to be won, but is rather a thing to be lost, to fight for, and to regain. The American Shakespeare Center casts a theatrical spell powerful enough to make audiences of all ages believe in anything. This mischievous comedy of lovers, heroes, fairies, and rude mechanicals is his tribute to humankind’s power of imagination, and it reveals that the course of true love can be altered with just one touch of magic.

Join VWU's Career Development staff for pizza and a discussion about career opportunities with industry professionals. Learn about their typical work day and what they look for in prospective employees. Hosted by Virginia Wesleyan's Career Development Program (CDP) in The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery. For more information, contact the Director of Career Development, Ms. Jessica Harrington, at 757.455.3107 or jharrington@vwu.edu or visit us on The Lighthouse's webpage or The Lighthouse's page on MyBeacon. 

Join the Wesleyan Vox Vera for a fun evening of popular songs from all eras, including songs by Chicago and OK Go, songs made popular by The King's Singers and The Real Group, as well as classics like "I Wish You Love" and "My Funny Valentine." Dr. Bryson Mortensen, Conductor. Free to all.

More Information

Future Marlins and their families are invited to visit Virginia Wesleyan for our Marlins Day Open House on Saturday, April 4. Prospective students will have the opportunity to tour the beautiful 300-acre campus, meet VWU faculty and staff, and learn about academic offerings, scholarship opportunities, and the financial aid process. More

Get ready for Virginia Wesleyan’s next Port Day, on Thursday, April 30th!! This workshop explains how to create a poster that effectively represents an internship or undergraduate research experience. It focuses on the technical elements of poster design as well as content. We also discuss strategies for effective oral and poster presentations. Hosted by Virginia Wesleyan’s Career Development Program (CDP) and the Undergraduate Research Program (URP) in The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery. For more information, visit the Lighthouse’s webpage or contact the URP Director, Dr. Soraya Bartol, at 757.455.3372 or sbartol@vwu.edu.  

Professor and Goodrich Endowed Chair for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Alabama, Patrick J. Murphy explores how to navigate in a society that increasingly focuses on social entrepreneurship in every aspect of life. During the last twenty years, many Americans shifted their self-understanding from an industrial/organizational paradigm to one that is primarily entrepreneurial. This talk highlights how shifts today are illuminated by travelers during the Age of Discovery and through the vision they had and the mutinies they encountered. Part of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom's "Leading for Change" series. Free and open to the public.

Based at Windsor Castle, Queen's Six members are Lay Clerks of Windsor Castle's St. George Chapel who perform regularly for the British Royal Family. They perform repertoire that spans austere Medieval chant, florid Renaissance polyphony, lewd madrigals, haunting folk songs, upbeat jazz, and pop arrangements of modern classics. Co-sponsored by the VWU Concert Series. 

"Everyone knows somebody with a mental health challenge, you just don't know who until we tell you." The VWU Camerata performs a new composition by librettist Deborah Kennedy and composer Rob Redei, "Open Minds Save Lives," explores the stigma surrounding mental health with opportunities for openness and change. Dr. Bryson Mortenson, Conductor. Free to all.

More Information

Free to all.

More Information

The Center for the Study of Religious Freedom's Nexus Interfaith Dialogue series uses the deliberative dialogue format supported by the Kettering Foundation to explore this crucial issue for our country. Deliberative dialogue is participatory and is best when conducted in small groups that are facilitated by trained moderators. To help the CSRF plan for a good experience, please RSVP to 757.455.3129 or csrf@vwu.edu. Sponsored in partnership with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) and Hands United Building Bridges (HUBB).

In celebration of Earth Day, VWU will host fun and educational events that demonstrate our environmental awareness, past, present and future.

A concert by the Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble led by Dr. Jason Squinobal, conductor. Free to all.

More Information

Dr. Larry Hultgren, Professor of Philosophy and Batten Professor

In Life Matters, members of the Virginia Wesleyan community offer autobiographical reflections on their emotional, intellectual, and spiritual experiences. These deeply personal talks create meaningful opportunities for greater understanding and connection, encouraging each of us to think about what has shaped us and given our own life meaning. The series is sponsored in partnership with the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, the Chaplain’s Office, and the Center for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning (INTEL) at Virginia Wesleyan University. Please feel free to bring a bag lunch or purchase lunch in the Boyd Campus Dining Center.

Join us in the Lighthouse for pizza and a discussion with industry professionals. Learn about their typical work day and what they look for in prospective employees. Hosted by Virginia Wesleyan's Career Development Program (CDP) in the Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery. For more information, contact the Director of Career Development, Jessica Harrington, at 757.455.3107 or jharrington@vwu.edu or visit us on The Lighthouse's webpage or The Lighthouse's page on MyBeacon. 

A concert by the Wesleyan Orchestra led by Kelby Schnepel, conductor. Free to all.

More Information

Free to all.

More Information

Free to all.

More Information

Born in Alabama to a Korean mother and African-American father, Paul K. Chappell is a West Point graduate, former Army captain, and Iraq War veteran. His military service taught him that people don’t simply gravitate toward peaceful behavior, in large part because they aren’t trained to do so. In an era when humanity has the technological capacity to destroy itself, and when humans frequently don’t control their own dispositions, Chappell realized the pressing need for us to become as well-trained in waging peace as soldiers are in waging war. During the 2020 Justine L. Nusbaum Lecture, he shows how peace literacy frames peace not merely as a goal but as a practical skill-set that addresses the root causes of our human problems.