UPDATE - Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges
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SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
VIRGINIA FOUNDATION FOR
INDEPENDENT COLLEGES
UPDATE
WINTER 2021 • VOL. 18 • ISSUE 2
THE HERITAGE SOCIETY
SUPPORTS THE FUTURE OF VFIC STUDENTS & SCHOOLS
OUR VISION AT THE VFIC is to be recognized as the leading funding, so they depend on support from individuals, foundations,
proponent for private higher education in Virginia. Our success and members of the business community.”
today is due in large part to the philanthropic support we’ve
received from foundations and corporations, individuals and By including the VFIC in their philanthropy and estate planning,
civic organizations. members of the Heritage Society can help secure the future of the
young women and men on our campuses. The gifts they make
But what about tomorrow? Next year? A decade from now? through charitable estate planning will help fund scholarships
Even then, our students will need financial support; our schools and endowments, build research facilities, equip classrooms with
will still require the latest resources to create a dynamic the latest technology, recruit prominent teachers, and develop
learning environment. innovative curricula.
Through the VFIC Heritage Society, a planned giving program, “Through your personal act of providing for the VFIC’s future,”
you can have an enduring impact on generations of student says Matt Shank, VFIC president, “you enable us to fulfill our
scholars in the Commonwealth. mission by investing in the people and programs that distinguish
the VFIC and its member institutions.”
“We encourage friends of the VFIC and fellow board members to
help us secure the future for tomorrow’s young women and men Please contact Matt Shank at the VFIC to learn more about
on our campuses by making a planned gift as part of the VFIC becoming a member of the Heritage Society. You can also talk to
Heritage Society,” says George Birdsong, a VFIC board member. your family and financial advisers to learn how philanthropic
“This type of gift is vitally important to our independent colleges, support to the VFIC fits into your estate planning. We encourage you
and that’s why Sue and I included the VFIC in our wills. Unlike to join us. Working together, we can secure the future of our students
public colleges, our independent schools don’t receive state and the quality of private independent higher education in Virginia.
1
TEACHING EXCELLENCE: THE H. HITER HARRIS AWARDS
THREE VFIC FACULTY from our consortium of schools received H. Hiter Harris awards at a special board meeting and awards
presentation. These awards were created by the Harris family to recognize faculty whose professional history reflects a strong and abiding
commitment to excellence in classroom teaching within the undergraduate liberal arts and sciences.
Adela Borrallo-Solís, Ph.D., Associate Amber Peacock, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Lily Zhang, Head of Instructional Design
Professor of Hispanic Studies, Shenandoah of Education, Randolph-Macon College, & Technology and Associate Professor,
University, received the 2020 Libby and received the 2020 H. Hiter Harris III Randolph-Macon College, received the H.
Hiter Harris Excellence in Undergraduate Rising Star Award. Peacock began working Hiter Harris III Excellence in Instructional
Teaching Award. Arriving at Shenandoah at Randolph-Macon College in 2009 Technology Award. Zhang began working
University in 2015, Borrallo-Solís as an adjunct professor to help develop at Randolph-Macon College in 1995 as
has helped grow the school’s Spanish coursework for a K-12 special education the Media Resource Supervisor and an
program through new courses, student licensure track for the school’s education assistant professor. She currently is the
engagement initiatives, and enhancements program. Appointed to a tenure-track head of Instructional Design & Technology
to the curriculum. Along with being an assistant professorship in 2016, Peacock and an associate professor. For over twenty
instructor and advisor, Borrallo-Solís holds also holds positions on the college’s years, Zhang has been working with
a university-wide leadership role as the Academic Integrity Council and the faculty and students at Randolph-Macon
director of the QEP program, Shenandoah Curriculum Committee. In 2019, she was College to enhance courses and curriculum
Conversations. This program gives faculty recognized with the college’s Art Conway through instructional technology. When
and students the tools necessary to engage Award for Enthusiasm in Teaching and the COVID-19 pandemic hit last spring,
in civil dialogue around complex and Learning, an award presented annually by Zhang helped the college transition from
controversial topics. For the 2020-21 students in the Honors Program. in-person classes to remote online-learning.
academic year, Borrallo-Solís serves as Zhang is respected and admired by her
one of the university’s ten Transformative colleagues for her knowledge and expertise
Teaching & Learning Fellows. in digital pedagogy.
SCHOLARSHIPS The VFIC is profoundly grateful for the financial support provided by the following companies,
philanthropists, and trusts for the 2020-21 academic year. Their investment in today’s students pays
dividends for decades to our communities and our schools. If you would like to create a Brighter Futures scholarship, please contact Mary-Beth Johnson at
johnson@vfic.org.
AEP Foundation Dominion Energy New Horizons Scholarship Fund
Altria Ferguson Enterprises New River Electrical
Anonymous Bob and Charlotte Gammon Fund Norfolk Southern Foundation
Eugene M. Bane Charitable Trust Anne and Til Hazel Moses D. Nunnally, Jr. Charitable Trust
Bank of America Charitable Foundation HRH Endowed Scholarship Fund Robins Family Fund
A. Lea Booth Fund Landmark Foundation Newton B. Shingleton Foundation
Camp Foundation Thomas J. Lennon Fund Donald G. and Barbara B. Smith Fund
Ruth Camp Campbell Foundation Luck Companies Universal Corporation
Council of Independent Colleges Scholars Mars Foundation VFIC 50th Anniversary Fund
through its CIC/UPS Educational Endowment T. Justin Moore Fund Williams Mullen
Walter and Beese Craigie Fund John D. Munford Fund
2
ENHANCING CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES FOR
UNDERREPRESENTED
STUDENTS
WHILE IT’S GRATIFYING to know that VFIC students come
from diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds, we are
equally focused on where our students go to after they graduate. Our
schools feel a responsibility to students not only when they are in the
classroom or lab but also as they prepare to graduate and head into
the job market in pursuit of their career.
Enhancing Career Preparation for Underrepresented Students is a
program the VFIC developed to prepare our graduates for a career
MARY BALDWIN UNIVERSITY
path that offers the bright hope of personal success and economic
independence. With philanthropic support from the Council of
Independent Colleges and matching gifts from VFIC donors, this
IN MEMORY OF program will help underrepresented students at our fifteen schools
address the challenges they face when it comes to career readiness,
job opportunity, and wage equity.
“Enhancing Career Preparation for Underrepresented Students is
JOHN G. STALLINGS, JR. designed to complement the work of career development officers at
VFIC Board Trustee (2012-2020) VFIC schools by providing them with the special resources they
February 1967 - November 2020 need to help first-generation, racial/ethnic minority, lower socio-
economic, and new American students secure a fulfilling, lucrative
job upon graduation,” says Matt Shank, VFIC president. “The
VFIC is perfectly positioned to create and initiate this program. We
can leverage our connections with businesses from every industry
and sector, many in the Fortune 500, in ways that enhance the
efforts of each school’s career development office to improve career
opportunities for underserved student demographics.”
ETHICS BOWL 2021 While underrepresented students typically face significant challenges
UPDATE when it comes to securing employment and launching their career,
the need to remedy this problem could not be more critical than it
is today. The COVID-19 pandemic that nearly caused a global and
personal financial collapse continues to have a dramatic impact
Due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19, the on our students and their families. Many of them have had their
VFIC has postponed the 2021 Ethics Bowl event financial well-being compromised.
and dinner until winter 2022. We’ll announce the
new date in January 2021. “Working together with our board of directors, the career planning
offices at our schools, and the many businesses and organizations
The event will still be held on the campus of that support our foundation,” says Shank, “we will give our
Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. students the best opportunity to become productive contributors to a
competitive workforce.”
Stay tuned!
3
NEWS FROM OUR MEMBER COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
This fall, Bridgewater College launched Marymount University is offering new fully- Sweet Briar had a successful fall semester
the Master of Science in Human Resource online programs in the fields of physical and with students on campus and remaining
Management and Master of Science in occupational therapy designed to advance largely healthy despite the pandemic.
Psychology-Mental Health Professions the working professional through an The new greenhouse officially opened,
programs, bringing the school’s total innovative educational experience. the vineyard saw its first harvest, and
graduate programs to four. school enrollment continued to rise.
RANDOLPH COLLEGE
EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE Randolph College received a $1 million UNIVERSITY OF LYNCHBURG
Emory & Henry’s Theatre Department grant from the National Science Foundation
The University of Lynchburg is lowering
joined professionals from the Barter to expand the popular SUPER program
tuition, as well as room and board, for fall
Theatre to present a virtual, digital series, with mental health and inclusion initiatives
semester 2021-22 from about $54,000 to
called “Outbreak: Appalachia in the Time to advance undergraduate degree
of Covid-19.” They are rehearsing and just under $46,000. The average net cost
completion in STEM fields.
recording using safe practices. for students will be $24,000.
RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE Randolph-Macon College dedicated its
The University of Richmond’s new Well-
In August, Hampden-Sydney College newest facility, Payne Hall, in fall 2020.
Being Center is a collaborative, high-
received a $6 million gift from Rob ’87 and This 30,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art
impact environment designed to support
Cindy Citrone to support Compass, the facility houses the college’s Bachelor of
college’s experiential learning program. student learning and well-being. It houses
Science in Nursing Program.
all campus health care and includes
HOLLINS UNIVERSITY ROANOKE COLLEGE mindfulness and meditation facilities.
To help students pursue advanced degrees Dr. Chris Lassiter, professor of biology, was
and careers in high-demand fields, Hollins honored as an outstanding mentor to biology VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
finalized admission agreements with Mary students. Lassiter received the Council of Virginia Wesleyan University and Lakeland
Baldwin University’s Murphy Deming Undergraduate Research’s Biology Mentor University (Wisconsin) have partnered to
College of Health Sciences and Virginia award for mid-career faculty. jointly operate a campus in Tokyo under
Tech’s College of Engineering. the name Lakeland University Japan and
SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY Virginia Wesleyan University Global.
MARY BALDWIN UNIVERSITY Through its Bernard J. Dunn School
This fall, Mary Baldwin University opened of Pharmacy, Shenandoah University WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY
a campus pantry to provide food and other is conducting its own SARS-CoV-2 Washington and Lee University welcomed
essentials to help combat food insecurity surveillance testing through the use of students back to campus for fall term. Tom
on campus, which research shows affects pooled saliva samples. Shenandoah is Jennings joined the university in August as
college students at a higher rate than one of only a handful of universities in vice president for advancement and Lena Hill
other demographics. the country to conduct this testing. was named provost, effective July 1, 2021.
BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE
4
UNIVERSITY OF LYNCHBURG
VFIC RESEARCH
FELLOWSHIPS
SUPPORT STEM-H
EDUCATION
URBAN HEAT has a detrimental impact Urban heat islands are created in cities, Undergraduate students, led by faculty
on communities and the people who live places that are densely populated with lots from VFIC schools, will assess urban heat
in them, and, at the VFIC, we’re creating of heat generating activity from cars, buses, and its impact on people and urban cores
and funding undergraduate research and industrial buildings. Making matters in Virginia. In doing so, they will focus on
opportunities to study this phenomenon. worse is the fact that buildings in these ways to integrate accurate measurements
areas tend to be constructed close together, with community engagement to solve
and any heat that escapes through well- the problem. Students will work under
insulated walls tends to circulate around the guidance of seasoned faculty who are
“One of our goals at the VFIC is to provide
the structures. engaged in research and innovation.
undergraduate students at our colleges with
educational opportunities that enhance their
“Urban heat islands can have worse air The VFIC is eager and excited to initiate this
learning in science, technology, engineering,
research project that we believe will have
and water quality than their rural neighbors
math, and health care – the STEM-H many positive outcomes. Not only will it
because more pollutants from vehicles,
fields,” says Matt Shank, VFIC president. provide valuable data for our schools and the
industry, and people are being pumped
“And what better way to do that than Commonwealth, it also presents a tremendous
into the air,” says Shank. “There’s also
by having our students conduct scientific model for how multiple universities can
the adverse impact on the personal health
research on real life challenges that affect us collaborate on high impact research that has
of those who experience urban heat –
and our environment.” important practical implications.
respiratory problems, heat stroke, asthma,
and general exhaustion and discomfort.”
NEW VFIC TRUSTEES AND SCHOOL PRESIDENTS
John McNamara Curtis Mary Dana Hinton, Ph.D. Esther C. Lee Alison Morrison-Shetlar, Charlotte Porterfield Brian K. Skinner
Sr. Chairman, President, President President and CEO Ph.D. Civic Leader Sr. Exec VP/Chief
and CEO Hollins University Refraction President Roanoke, VA Banking Officer
Perspecta Inc University of Lynchburg TowneBank
5
VIRGINIA FOUNDATION
FOR INDEPENDENT COLLEGES
901 East Byrd Street, Suite 1625
Richmond, VA 23219
vfic.org
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Your gift helps me in my endeavors
as a student and lessens the burden of
financial stresses. Your consideration
to award me a Brighter Futures
scholarship comes with the deepest
gratitude, not only for helping me
but also all the other students that
you help during their academic
Ezekiel H.
journey as well. With the deepest
Virginia Wesleyan
University ‘21, VFIC sincerity, I say thank you for your
Scholarship Recipient help and everything you do.
ROANOKE COLLEGE
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