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 7 – Spring semester begins
Letter to Faculty & Staff
As the Spring semester gains momentum, I am encouraged by the focus, resilience, and shared sense of purpose that continue to shape our work together. I want to thank you for the professionalism, flexibility, and care you have demonstrated, particularly as we navigated winter weather earlier this term and worked together to ensure continuity of educational and operational activities for our students. Your commitment to student success, especially during moments that require adaptability, reflects the strength of our Virginia Western community.
The past two months have been filled with meaningful opportunities to connect, listen, and lead both on campus and across our region. I am pleased to share a few highlights and reflections as we continue building momentum together.
Highlights and Themes
On campus, I worked closely with our internal leaders to advance initiatives in leadership development, digital accessibility, and office transitions as refurbishing efforts move forward in Chapman and Fishburn. These behind-the-scenes efforts are essential to creating inclusive, functional, and future-ready spaces and practices. I toured Greenfield Education & Training Center to see firsthand how innovation and dedication are shaping our academic and workforce programs.
I led my first Local Advisory Board orientation to welcome new board members into service to Virginia Western, enjoyed student talent at the Peanut Butter & Jam drop-in session, and took in some festive moments that highlight the creativity and connection that make our campus and community such a vibrant place.
January’s in-service week was especially meaningful, and I am grateful for the energy and engagement you brought to that time together. Presenting the employee service awards for the first time was both impactful and humbling. Celebrating your years of service and dedication underscored the depth of institutional knowledge, care, and commitment that sustain Virginia Western every day.
Beyond campus, I continued meeting with community employers and education providers to ensure that Virginia Western grows the partnerships that support our students and region. I was pleased to serve as a speaker for the Greater Williamson Road Area Business Association and was truly touched by the reflections shared by audience members about how Virginia Western has made a difference to those in attendance, their children, and their employees.
For more details about my recent activities, I invite you to continue following along on my refreshed Listen, Link, Lead webpage: virginiawestern.edu/president. You may even find that you’ve made your photo debut. And yes, I will admit that I keep an eye on the page analytics to see if anyone is following along.
Looking Ahead
As we move forward, I remain deeply committed to the intentional development of faculty and staff. I was excited to mark the kickoff of the Virginia Western Leadership Learning Series, an important investment in leadership development and professional growth for our faculty and staff, grounded in my belief that we are all leaders who lead from where we are. While we have encountered some logistical challenges in procuring the desired services for the pilot VIBE leadership teams, this pause will be used productively to ensure that the program launches with clarity, purpose, and the support it deserves.
In the coming weeks, I will also be launching a series of intentional faculty and staff listening sessions rooted in the Listen, Link, Lead framework. These sessions will create space for deeper, more meaningful dialogue, and details will be shared soon as an invitation. I sincerely hope you will consider joining me for these conversations.
I look forward to the work ahead and to continuing this journey together as we move through the semester with focus, collaboration, and optimism.
My best wishes for a strong and rewarding semester,
President Treanor
Highlights
- Engaged with faculty and staff during Spring in-service week, participating in the general session, an EAB-led workshop for Student Affairs, and the Employee Service Awards
- Launched the inaugural session of the new leadership development series to a packed audience of faculty and staff
- Navigated unprecedented winter storms to successfully transition faculty, staff, and students to virtual learning and remote work environments, ensuring academic continuity and campus safety
- Facilitated the first Finance Committee and Local Advisory Board meetings of the 2026 calendar year
- Represented the college at the VCCS 60th Anniversary celebration in Richmond; met with Presidents Hayes (Southwest Virginia), Minus (Eastern Shore), and Johnson (Danville)
- Assumed several key leadership roles, including 2nd Vice Chair of the Roanoke Higher Education Authority Executive Board, member of the Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor steering committee, and board member of the ACE Women’s National Network Executive Council.
- Met with Dr. Lee Learman (Dean of VTC School of Medicine) and Richmond Vincent (President & CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys) to discuss regional collaboration
- Recorded two promotional spots for the Community College Access Program (CCAP) on WFIR radio to increase program awareness
- Presented to the Greater Williamson Road Area Business Association and heard testimonials on the College’s impact on local families and the regional workforce
Stay Connected
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