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The heart of the region
When the first class of Northern Virginia Community College’s cloud computing program graduated in spring 2020, its members may not have had the trappings of an in-person, pre-pandemic graduation, but they did get something with even more long-term value. Every graduate who sought employment after earning their associate d[...]
Remote learning
For Virginia’s college students and faculty, 2020 was the year of Zoom. For the institutions themselves, though, it was a year that brought economic heartbreak and difficult decisions, although it also had a few brighter spots. Many universities faced budget crises due to the costs of housing refunds and moving classes onl[...]
ODU hires executive director of coastal institute
Old Dominion University announced Thursday that Jessica Whitehead has been named the first Joan P. Brock endowed executive director of its Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (ICAR), launched in 2019. Her first day was Thursday. Whitehead comes from the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency, where she serv[...]
Roanoke College taps alumna for resource development VP
Roanoke College announced this week it has appointed an alumna to become its new vice president of resource development. Kimberly P. Blair, a 1993 graduate, will join the college on May 22 and serve in President Michael C. Maxey’s Cabinet. Blair is currently Virginia Tech’s assistant vice president of advancement for[...]
Mary Baldwin names interim provost/chief academic officer
Tynisha Willingham, dean of Mary Baldwin University’s College of Education, has been named the Staunton school’s interim provost and chief academic officer. She replaces Ty Buckman, who joined the Foundation of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture as its executive vice president this month. “I am delighted[...]
GMU establishes President’s Innovation Advisory Council
George Mason University President Gregory Washington on Monday announced he has formed an advisory roundtable of nearly 30 regional business executives and community leaders to focus on the university’s innovation initiative. The President’s Innovation Advisory Council will focus on issues such as GMU’s efforts[...]
ODU announces $3.9M cybersecurity scholarship program
Old Dominion University announced Thursday its School of Cybersecurity and Center for High Impact Practices has received a $3.9 million National Science Foundation grant to offer scholarships to cybersecurity students. Through the grant, ODU will work with Tidewater Community College and Thomas Nelson Community College to provide full in-state tuition scholarships, an annual stipend ranging […][...]
Yorktown consulting firm sues SCHEV over VMI probe contract
A Yorktown-based consultancy is suing the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the firm conducting an investigation into Virginia Military Institute’s racial attitudes and practices, a contract the plaintiff unsuccessfully bid on last year. In a civil suit filed Feb. 11 in Richmond Circuit Court, the Center f[...]
Averett University hires VP for philanthropy
Averett University announced Wednesday it has hired Melissa Wohlstein as vice president for philanthropy, effective Tuesday. Wohlstein has nearly 20 years of experience in higher education settings. She most recently served as the associate vice president of development at Hollins University. “With her existing connections to [...]
Toronto acquisition firm buys Richmond software company
Volaris Group, a Toronto-based buyer and operator of vertical market software companies, announced last week it has acquired Richmond-based educational software company SoftChalk LLC. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Using the SoftChalk platform, instructors can develop custom course materials and interactive content, including quizzes and annotated text. “The team at Volaris shares […][...]
SCHEV releases updated goals for higher ed in Va.
The State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) on Tuesday released an updated statewide strategic plan, which focuses on making higher education more “equitable, affordable and transformative.” The Pathways to Opportunity: The Virginia Plan for Higher Education (The Plan) is reviewed every six years. “The events of 2020[...]
Virginia Tech Innovation Campus director named to National Academy of Engineering
Virginia Tech announced Monday that Lance R. Collins, vice president and executive director of the university’s Innovation Campus, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for 2021. The former Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering at Cornell University was named as head of Tech’s Innovation Campus in February [...]
