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The Power of Place
DeFord Manor Enhances VWU’s Strategic Vision
University News | July 24, 2024
DeFord Manor, the residence of University President Scott D. Miller, Ph.D., and his wife, Annie, has emerged as a pivotal networking site since its completion in March 2022. Strategically located in Coastal Virginia, the manor plays a crucial role in the university’s outreach and partnership efforts. 
Virginia Beach, home to Virginia Wesleyan University, is known for its economic vitality and strategic importance for tourism, military affairs, international supply chains, and more. CNBC recently named Virginia the Top State for Business, in 2024, highlighting its favorable business climate, skilled workforce, wonderful education system, and solid infrastructure. This recognition underscores the strategic advantage of VWU’s location, making DeFord Manor an even more significant site for networking and collaboration.
DeFord Manor has hosted over 3,200 guests since its opening, including many prominent figures like the Supreme Commander of NATO, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, U.S. Congress members Jen Kiggans and Bobby Scott, and other local elected officials, CEOs, philanthropists, alumni, and students. This diverse array of visitors demonstrates the manor's role in fostering essential partnerships and collaborations. It is more than just an event venue; it is integral to the university’s mission and vision.
DeFord Manor's strategic importance is further highlighted by hosting events such as the 4-Cities Collaborative, which brings together leaders from Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth to discuss regional issues, and the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Community Roundtable, where educational leaders and community members gather to discuss and address local education challenges. The manor is known as a welcoming space for civil discourse and forward-thinking initiatives that look to enhance the region as well as the university.
DeFord Manor's location in Coastal Virginia, within a state recognized as the best for business, makes it a nexus for networking and strategic alignment. It stands as a testament to Virginia Wesleyan University’s mission and vision, where wisdom, value, and genuine hospitality are practiced daily in a strategically significant setting.