Month 4 – Gratitude and Momentum Across Campus
Letter to Faculty & Staff
Dear Colleagues,
As we move through a busy and inspiring fall semester, I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude for all that you do each day to support our students and strengthen our Virginia Western community. Your dedication and creativity continue to make our College a place of innovation, opportunity, and genuine care. I am pleased to share a few highlights from the past month that reflect our shared commitment to student success, community engagement, and system-wide collaboration.
Highlights and Themes
Over the past several weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to meet individually with many of our campus leaders to listen, learn, and deepen my understanding of each area’s strengths and opportunities. Tours of our Schools of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Health Professions and the Franklin Center have provided valuable insights into how our teams are advancing programs that serve both students and the region’s workforce. I also held two student listening sessions, where I heard uplifting feedback about YOU, the exceptional faculty and staff who make a daily difference in our students’ lives. Students also shared some great ideas about how we can continue to better support them in reaching their goals. Beyond the classroom, it was a joy to connect with students at the PB & Jam, Gaming Club and Pumpkin Painting events, reminders of the vibrant community you all help to create.
In the broader community, I represented Virginia Western at a philanthropy conference in Denver, met with individual Educational Foundation board members, and attended the GO Virginia Region 2 Council meeting as well as the 34th Annual Southwest Virginia Business Hall of Fame. I also had the privilege of delivering welcoming remarks at Beth Macy’s book launch benefiting Virginia Western’s Great Expectations program, a powerful initiative designed to support current and former foster youth successfully transition to higher education. At the system level, I served as a panelist for Germanna Community College’s Convocation and was honored to be named to the Roanoke Higher Education Center Executive Board. Each of these engagements reinforced Virginia Western’s leadership role within the region and state.
Looking Ahead
Internal work also continues on the VIBE (Visionary Innovation and Bold Engagement) initiative as we refine the framework and prepare for a spring launch of cross-campus teams and goals centered around teaching and learning, innovative partnerships, workforce development and operational efficiency. This phase is focused on strengthening leadership development that fosters innovative thinking, collaboration and the kind of shared problem-solving that will shape the next generation of college initiatives.
As we near the final stretch of the semester, I am encouraged by the momentum and the energy you bring to our mission. Together, we are shaping pathways that empower our students and communities. Want to see what I’ve been working on? Visit my Listen, Link, Lead webpage at https://www.virginiawestern.edu/president/. Give it a click and help boost the page count!
Thank you for your dedication, your professionalism, and your unwavering commitment to our shared goals. Wishing you a joyful Thanksgiving season!
With gratitude,
President Treanor
Highlights
- Toured the Schools of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Health Professions, and the Franklin Center to better understand how programs serve students and regional workforce needs
- Held two student listening sessions, hearing uplifting feedback about faculty and staff and gathering ideas to further support student success
- Integrated into our vibrant campus community by connecting with students at PB & Jam, Gaming Club, and Pumpkin Painting
- Represented Virginia Western at a national philanthropy conference in Denver, the GO Virginia Region 2 Council meeting, and the 34th Annual Southwest Virginia Business Hall of Fame
- Delivered welcoming remarks at Beth Macy’s book launch benefiting the Great Expectations program, reinforcing our commitment to foster youth success
- Engaged at the VCCS system level as a panelist for Germanna Community College’s Convocation, joined the Roanoke Higher Education Center Executive Board, and met with VCCS college presidents
- Hosted a listening session with regional talent partners to understand challenges, identify opportunities, and strengthen pathways and partnerships
- Connected with prospective students and families at Virginia Western’s annual Open House and deepened my understanding of CCAP
- Continued internal planning for upcoming initiatives to advance leadership development and launch VIBE teams in the spring
