Thanks, Updates and Searches

Today’s topic is a series of updates, most about ongoing searches:

• Winter Commencement:

My thanks to all of you who have volunteered for our fall commencements! Our morning and afternoon ceremonies have more than enough volunteers, which is wonderful, but as you saw yesterday, we are still looking for individuals to support December’s evening commencement ceremony. I hope that you will sign on to help us put on a fantastic evening event for our students. (And, if you haven’t yet met my husband, Ned Davis, you’ll have the opportunity to do so that night—he’s looking forward to volunteering.) If you can, please register to volunteer here.

Even with three December commencement ceremonies, we know that some fall graduates will not be able to participate for a number of reasons. As in the past, these grads will be invited to return for our larger spring commencement so that we can celebrate their achievements. Spring commencement is scheduled for the afternoon of May 15, at the Eagle Bank Arena at GMU.

• Medical Education Campus Provost Search

Finalists for the MEC Provost position are visiting that campus this week and next; they will meet with MEC students, faculty and staff; their prospective Administrative Council colleagues; and hold open forums in addition to interviewing with me. Please watch the Daily Flyer for information on how to participate in the open forums and to provide your feedback on the visiting candidates. I anticipate being able to announce the new MEC Provost before the end of this year. Many thanks to the search committee for their excellent work and dedication.

To avoid any conflict with the afternoon open forum presentation by one of the MEC Provost finalists on November 22, my office hour zoom has been shifted to the morning.

• VP for Enrollment Management and Student Success Search

The search committee for the VP EMSS anticipates inviting candidates to NOVA in the first two weeks of December. They will meet with students, faculty and staff; their prospective Administrative Council colleagues; and hold open forums in addition to interviewing with me. Look for updates in the Daily Flyer on this schedule and opportunities for feedback. I appreciate the great efforts of the search committee members who have worked hard to finalize this search in the fall. My goal still is to announce the new VP EMSS before the end of the year.

Dr. Syedur Rahman, who has been serving as the interim VP EMSS since Dr. Villagran-Glover’s departure, recently announced his retirement at the year’s end. He has had an extraordinary higher education career, including more than a decade at NOVA. Dr. Rahman is responsible for our success in securing international grants and has led our nationally recognized role in international programming. His commitment to our students is and has been powerful, authentic and transformational. I know you join me in thanking Dr. Rahman.

After the Thanksgiving break, I will update you on how the important and impactful work of our outstanding student services faculty and staff will be supported until NOVA’s new Vice President can come on board in early 2022.

• Annandale Campus Provost Search

The search for the next Annandale Provost will begin in late January 2022. This committee will be formed over the next few weeks and will be chaired by Loudoun Provost, Dr. Julie Leidig.