Dear Fellow Monarchs:
Welcome to Â鶹´«Ã½'s Spring 2025 semester! As we embark on a new year and promising semester, I am thrilled to share several exciting events and initiatives that will continue to shape our community in meaningful ways.
On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the entire campus and the broader community are invited and encouraged to attend the University’s 40th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Observance. We are honored to welcome attorney, author, and Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) Chief Executive Officer Bernice A. King, Ph.D. as our keynote speaker. During this event, we will also recognize Hampton Roads Community Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Deborah DiCroce, Ph.D. with the Hugo Owens Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Award, which recognizes an outstanding individual or organization that has made considerable contributions to civil rights, politics, housing, and social programs through leadership, dedication, and persistence. This momentous event will take place in Chartway Arena beginning at 6:30 PM.
As we look ahead, I am pleased to announce the launch of a national search for our next Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. This search will conclude before the semester's end and be guided by a 16-member search committee under the leadership of Ruth Triplett, Ph.D. and Ashley Schumaker with assistance from WittKieffer. Additional details will be shared following the search committee’s initial meeting to be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Please know that our campus community will be actively involved in this important process as it moves forward, including the opportunity for campus visits by the selected finalists.
In the spirit of innovation, as well as excellence, Forward-Focused is being unveiled as a new tradition to occur during Activity Hour on Thursday, February 13, 2025 in Chartway Arena’s Big Blue Room. Replacing our traditional fall State of the University address, this special event will provide a unique platform to reflect on our past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. During this hour-long event, we will celebrate the inaugural winners of the Monarch Pillar of Innovation and Excellence Award with an opportunity to nominate a fellow Monarch at . To indicate your attendance plans and also submit a question to be considered for the upcoming dialogue, please visit .
Additionally, this semester marks the culmination of our multi-year master planning effort. At this time, I would like to acknowledge the dedicated members of the Master Planning Committee for their exemplary service as they enter the final stage of their important work. I would also like to recognize the countless Monarchs who participated in online surveys and attended open forums. The final ten-year plan, which will be available in draft form later in the semester for valuable campus feedback, is pending Board approval with finalization, adoption, and implementation slated for this June.
And, we cannot forget our concentrated effort to embrace the opportunities associated with artificial intelligence, or AI. Throughout 2024, we thoughtfully planned and pursued a multi-faceted initiative with a focus on three specific pillars – education, operations, and research. We have made significant progress in all areas, including the approval of certificate programs, the launch of MonarchMind, and the allocation of seed funding for a total of seven research projects – just to name a few. This critical work will continue in 2025 and beyond!
Together, let us continue to foster a caring campus environment as strong citizen leaders by showing concern and compassion in our daily lives and regular interactions. It is through these individual actions and collective opportunities that we exemplify the true spirit of our Monarch community, which is one that fosters collaboration and promotes understanding. Best wishes for a productive, memorable, and rewarding semester, and GO MONARCHS!
With Monarch Pride,
Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D.
President