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Shoring up
Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown are all significant parts of the nation’s foundation, and historic tourism drove the region’s economy during the 20th century. But Colonial Williamsburg hasn’t been enough to keep big crowds coming to the area consistently in the 21st century, even before the pandemic. Visitation droppe[...]
Building an ecosystem
Even though William & Mary is best known as a liberal arts “public Ivy,” it’s also a research university where professors are quietly producing innovative technology — and are less quietly trying to create an entrepreneurial network to support it. Local capital isn’t as available in the Williamsburg area as it is a[...]
U.Va. commerce alum donates $10M for scholarships
A University of Virginia alumnus, John Connaughton, and his wife, Stephanie, have donated $10 million to fund need-based undergraduate scholarships for McIntire School of Commerce students, the university announced Thursday. U.Va. will match the couple’s gift, which establishes the Connaughton Bicentennial Scholars Fund. P[...]
Youngkin announces $8.1M in GO Virginia grants
A variety of projects around the state intended to spur economic and workforce development will get a boost from $8.1 million in state GO Virginia grants, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday. The 17 projects are expected to add hundreds of jobs. Nearly $4.8 million will fund two Virginia Tech projects, including one expected to build […]
UR alumni couple donates $25M for student learning center
Carole and Marcus Weinstein, alumni of the University of Richmond, have donated $25 million — the second-largest single gift in the Richmond university’s history — to support a center focused on student learning, UR announced Wednesday. The Carole and Marcus Weinstein Learning Center will be located in the Boatwright M[...]
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys names chief people officer
Roanoke-based Goodwill Industries of the Valleys has named Rachel Putman as its chief people officer. In her new role, which was effective Feb. 20, Putman will lead mission services and organizational development, which includes human resources, employee engagement and learning and development. Putman comes to Roanoke from Goodw[...]
UMW alumna gives $30M to support research, scholarships
A 1959 graduate of the University of Mary Washington has bequeathed $30 million to her alma mater — the largest donation in the Fredericksburg university’s 115-year history — to support undergraduate research and scholarships, UMW announced Thursday. Irene Piscopo Rodgers, who died in 2022, earned a bachelor’s de[...]
Liberty to pay off $189M in bonds early
Liberty University plans to pay off more than $189 million in taxable bonds next month, according to paperwork filed Wednesday by the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co. NA. The prices will be set March 31, which will include accrued interest. Liberty issued a $100 million bond in 2012 with a 5.1% interest rate, […]
Civilian life
Paul Valentine is on a winding career path. After leaving the Army more than a decade ago, he got his commercial driver’s license at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave. He was taking classes to try to get an engineering degree as well but quit to take full-time work at trucking companies after his […]
The big freeze
Given pandemic-caused interruptions, college students have been through a lot so far this decade, but one silver lining at many Virginia schools has been frozen tuition. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin made it a priority to keep costs flat this academic year, and he succeeded in getting all 15 of the state’s public colleges and u[...]
Va. Tech names new biz school dean
Saonee Sarker, a professor at Sweden’s Lund University, will serve as the next dean of the Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business following an international search. Virginia Tech announced Sarker’s new role Monday. She has been a professor in Lund University’s Department of Informatics in the Schoo[...]
Angela and Carl Reddix donate $1.1M to JMU
James Madison University alumni Angela and Carl Reddix have made a $1.1 million commitment to their alma mater to support first-generation college students, JMU announced Friday. Founder, president and CEO of Norfolk-based ARDX, a health care management and IT consulting firm, Angela Reddix studied marketing at JMU and graduated[...]
