I’m honored to serve as your new president. My first year will be guided by a simple yet purposeful approach: Listen, Link, and Lead. I believe effective leadership begins with listening–hearing from those who care deeply about this College and the region we serve. By building connections and fostering collaboration, we will shape a bold vision for Virginia Western’s future, rooted in student success and community impact. I look forward to learning from you and leading together.
Dr. Laura J. Treanor
Month 5 – As We Close the Semester
Letter to Faculty & Staff
Dear Colleagues,
As we reach the conclusion of the semester, I am grateful for the collective energy, leadership, and commitment that continue to move Virginia Western forward. I remain grateful to each of you for helping me settle into this role and want to take a moment to share my sincere appreciation for our Executive Leadership Team, as well as Carrie Duckwall and Amy Balzer, for their care, guidance, and behind-the-scenes excellence these last five and a half months.
This transition into winter break offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the momentum being built together and to look ahead with optimism. Each conversation, initiative, and student interaction continues to affirm the strength of our Virginia Western community and our shared commitment to student success.
Highlights and Themes
This past month focused on relationship-building and strategic alignment on campus and across the region. I met with government officials and hosted listening sessions with economic leaders and regional employers to discuss workforce development, talent pipelines, and workforce Pell rulemaking. These conversations reinforced the intention and dedication each of you put in to ensure Virginia Western’s leadership role in advancing workforce readiness, strengthening regional partnerships, and responding to evolving workforce needs.
Regionally, I was honored to join the Boards of the Roanoke Higher Education Authority and the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers, securing Virginia Western’s seat at the table where regional workforce and healthcare policy is made. Additionally, I met with Roanoke City Public Schools Superintendent Verletta White to continue advancing seamless K-12 to higher education pathways.
Internally, we are bringing our VIBE framework to life by turning big ideas into action. I recently met with Dr. Elizabeth Wilmer and our Deans to listen to their perspectives on how we can better support academic and workforce growth. To ensure that each of you has the tools to lead and innovate within your own roles and areas, we are prioritizing new investments in professional development. To start, this includes a new leadership development series for faculty and staff that will launch in January. Efforts like this are about more than just change; they are an investment in the creativity and expertise you bring to Virginia Western every day. I look forward to sharing more about this at in-service when we return.
Looking Ahead
As we look ahead to the new year, I am excited about the strong foundation we are building together and the opportunities before us. The work underway across the College is positioning us to move forward with clarity, collaboration, and purpose.
I invite you to visit my Listen, Link, Lead webpage, which has been refreshed with new formatting, photos, and highlights from recent activities. I hope you will take a moment to explore the page and see how our shared priorities are taking shape across the College–and yes, I do notice (and appreciate!) every click: virginiawestern.edu/president.
Thank you for the professionalism, dedication, and care you bring to Virginia Western each day. I wish you a restful winter break, a joyful holiday season, and time to recharge as we prepare for the year ahead.
Warm Wishes for the Holiday Season,
President Treanor
Highlights
- Toured the Schools of Health Professions and Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, as well as the Al Pollard Culinary Arts program at the Claude Moore Education Complex for a deeper understanding of how programs prepare students for workforce opportunities in our region
- Represented Virginia Western at the 34th Annual Southwest Virginia Business Hall of Fame, the VCCS HIRE ED Conference, the Chancellor’s Awards Brunch, and the Arboretum Volunteer Lunch to strengthen connections and build partnerships locally and statewide
- Hosted a listening session with regional economic development professionals and met with influential leaders to explore workforce challenges and opportunities, reinforcing Virginia Western’s role in talent development
- Joined the Boards of the Roanoke Higher Education Authority and the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers to ensure Virginia Western has a voice in shaping regional education and healthcare policy
- Met with Delegate Sam Rasoul, Roanoke City Public Schools Superintendent Verletta White, and several other regional partners to advance pathways from K-12 to higher education and advocate for workforce readiness
- Engaged with donors, Educational Foundation Board members, and welcomed new Local Advisory Board members to expand resources and opportunities for students
- Participated in a media interview with WFIR to share Virginia Western’s vision and commitment to student success with the broader community
- Attended the internal planning sessions focused on student and employee recognition to ensure we continue to foster a culture of appreciation and engagement
- Continued internal planning to launch a new leadership development series for faculty and staff in January, turning VIBE framework goals into actionable strategies
Stay Connected
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