Uncategorized Archives - Page 7 of 12 - Grants Development & Special Projects at Virginia Western

Feb

Joy is the energy of innovation … and 4 other takeaways from ‘Launching Innovation in Schools’

February 14, 2020Uncategorized

You remember when I said I read about creativity for fun? Just in the last month, I enrolled in an MIT massive open online course (MOOC): “Launching Innovation in Schools.” This course — which is free and open to all — is co-taught by Peter Senge, author of “The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice… Continue Reading Joy is the energy of innovation … and 4 other takeaways from ‘Launching Innovation in Schools’

Feb

Pop quiz! What was the No. 1 soft skill sought by employers in 2019?

February 13, 2020Uncategorized

? ? ? (If you read 20 Ways to Be a Virginia Western Superhero, you probably know already!). ? ? ? Answer: Creativity … followed by persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, and time management (source: LinkedIn). But I don’t need a LinkedIn employer survey to tell me creativity matters. I’ve known this most of my life. Fostering… Continue Reading Pop quiz! What was the No. 1 soft skill sought by employers in 2019?

Feb

I binged that ‘Cheer’ documentary; now I have 3 questions for Virginia Western

February 3, 2020Uncategorized

Perhaps you’ve heard the buzz about “Cheer,” that new cheerleading documentary series on Netflix. What I didn’t know before bingeing all six hours of the series over one weekend (don’t judge) was that the school at the center of the series is a community college. Navarro College, in Corsicana, Texas (outside Dallas), has an open-door… Continue Reading I binged that ‘Cheer’ documentary; now I have 3 questions for Virginia Western

Jan

20 ways to be a Virginia Western superhero

January 31, 2020Uncategorized

Back in April, in a design-thinking session related to Virginia Western’s G3 planning grant, about 30 faculty, staff, and administrators across the college had the opportunity to interview eight students about their experiences at VWCC. Over and over again, the students talked about the personal relationships they developed on their journey, as well as the… Continue Reading 20 ways to be a Virginia Western superhero

Jan

Curious about Innovation Grants? Sign up to learn more

January 29, 2020Uncategorized

If you missed the “5 Secrets to a Funded Innovation Grant” session during in-service, you can see the same presentation during the following times in the grants office conference room (top floor of Fishburn Hall, Room 204): Monday, Feb. 3, 3 to 4 p.m.Wednesday, Feb. 5, 10 to 11 a.m.Tuesday, Feb. 11, 10 to 11… Continue Reading Curious about Innovation Grants? Sign up to learn more

Dec

Wouldn’t it be cool if … (a grant idea generator)

December 18, 2019Uncategorized

We’re on the home stretch before winter break … and just before we leave, I’d like to challenge us to dream up cool ideas for grants, whether they be for Innovation Grants (from the Educational Foundation) to professional development grants (from the VCCS), and beyond. Too often we get bogged down in the rules and… Continue Reading Wouldn’t it be cool if … (a grant idea generator)

Dec

Superheroes, assemble! How we can all help end poverty in the Roanoke Valley

December 11, 2019Uncategorized

“The community college can be the catalyst to end poverty in our community.” I sat through hours of sessions during the VCCS Hire Education conference earlier this month in Hot Springs. But this message got my attention. I’m still thinking about it, so I’ll repeat: “The community college can be the catalyst to end poverty… Continue Reading Superheroes, assemble! How we can all help end poverty in the Roanoke Valley

Nov

Bring joy to your coworkers … with Outlook?

November 18, 2019Uncategorized

OK, so when I use the word “joy” in this headline, I don’t necessarily mean obvious, delicious joy, like, surprising everyone with their favorite candies or work snacks or flowers … (but you can do that with a joy survey). I have broadened my definition of joy-bringing to include making our lives easier. Case in… Continue Reading Bring joy to your coworkers … with Outlook?

Nov

My next Halloween party will be fa-boo-lous thanks to ‘The Fifth Discipline’

November 5, 2019Uncategorized

With as much as we talk about pathways, I have to admit I love my totally non-linear approach to books. Sometimes I find books through random recommendations that float through my Twitter stream … sometimes it’s what’s on the “New in Nonfiction” shelf at the public library (my favorite shelf!) … and sometimes it’s because… Continue Reading My next Halloween party will be fa-boo-lous thanks to ‘The Fifth Discipline’

Oct

How to get the engagement conversation started: Are you in?

October 22, 2019Uncategorized

Engagement is a choice. This is the main takeaway from “Engagement Magic: Five Keys for Engaging People, Leaders, and Organizations,” the book I’ve mentioned in a previous post, where I described the five key drivers of engagement: Meaning, Autonomy, Growth, Impact and Connection. “Engagement Magic” is the latest book on my reading list, which is… Continue Reading How to get the engagement conversation started: Are you in?

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Shelley Lyons is glad to be back on campus as she is a Virginia Western alum, and has served as the Administrative Officer for Grants Administration at Virginia Western since early 2022. Prior to VWCC, her career focus was within the Human Services and Arts fields. She wrote her first grant in 1996 on a whim and has continued to plan and learn since that time. She most enjoys seeing a well-planned project come to fruition, where funder, project manager and beneficiaries can all feel success and see impact.