summer 2010 / u NIV e r s I T Y N e W s Sitting in Standing up p a g e 4 V u u – The Prom I s e o f a L I m itl e s s f u T u r e © VUUFrom The President s U m m e r 2 0 1 0 / U n i V e r s i T y n e W s Dear Alumni and Friends: January 21, 2009, was the starting date for my tenure at Virginia Union tABLE OF CON t EN t S University. Since that time we have been proactively engaged in thoughtful reflections of the university’s past history while moving quickly to address the F ea t u r es present needs of the institution. Founders’ Day 2 Syphax School of Education Dedication 3 As you have placed your trust in me to steer the university in a positive direction, I am committed to developing “one voice” for the institution that A One of A Kind Gift for a Servant Leader 9 will be a synthesis on thoughtful decisions of which we all can abide. Commencement 10 It is clearly our desire to become a student-centered university where C O v E r S t O r y student successes will be the yardstick by which the university will be measured. So the center of all our endeavors will connect directly or Sitting In – Standing Up 4 indirectly to the intellectual growth and social development of our students. The Richmond 34 4 In our transformative perspective we feel that “little things mean a C O m m u N i t y S E r v i ce lot” and the embodiment of all we do should add to the total fabric of our A True Spirit of Service 12 organizational culture. We must therefore take the time to celebrate the successes of our students and faculty in all endeavors and call upon our S t u d en t N E w S spiritual foundation as one of the important ingredients that makes Virginia Union University a special place. We must embrace those rituals important Mr. & Miss VUU 2011 Crowned 14 to our organizational culture. This will keep our program and practices in the Unionite Magazine is pUblished Students Attend National Model United Nations NY Conference 15 balance with our goals, priorities and mission. seMi-annUally by the office of Public Relations foR alumni and fRiends of ViRginia Union UniVeRsity. A t h le t i cs We are making marked improvements to the campus – installing National Championship Winner Named Women’s Basketball Coach 16 security measures, updating computer labs, and replacing or installing air conditioning in several buildings, including residence halls. We are striving V i R ginia Union Uni V e R s i t y CIAA 2010 18 1500 North Lombardy Street for and achieving continuous quality improvement. Richmond, VA 23220 (804) 257-5860 F ac u L t y / S t aff N E w S www.vuu.edu We are making a concerted effort to crystallize our long-held values – Faculty Profiles 20 service, excellence, integrity, justice and stewardship – so that our University Dr. Evelyn Davis 21 might translate concept into action. In short, we are striving for excellence Claude G. Perkins, Ph.D. and working hard to make Virginia Union University into the transcendent President Ms. Patricia Murray 22 institution it can be. Editor Dr. Mary Young 24 Shena L. Crittendon ’92 Dr. Raymond Hylton 25 We thank you for your dedication to Virginia Union University and as Design College Company always, we ask for you support. Dr. Phillip Archer 26 Contributing Writers Samantha Brown ’11 Faculty Updates 22 Sincerely, Shena L. Crittendon ’92 Charmica Epps ’08 Kristie N. Swink A L u m N i N E w S Claude G. Perkins, Ph.D. Photography What Union Means to Me 28 President Rudolph Powell Ayasha N. Sledge VUU Alumna Heads NAACP Board of Directors 29 Send Questions or Comments about Unionite Magazine to: Alumni Updates 29 Shena L. Crittendon [email protected] Giving Back to VUU 30 Send Alumni News and Chapter Updates to: In Memoriam 32 V U U – T h e P r o m i s e Charmica Epps o f a L i m i tl e s s f U T U r e © [email protected] VUUFeatures F o U n D e r s ’ D a y : vuu bu i ld i n g D e D i C a t i o n : Stay Involved In The Joyful Legacy of VUU VUU’s School Of Education elebrating its 145th year of existence, Virginia Union Named After Largest Donor University (VUU) held its annual Founders’ Day on March 25, 2010. the speaker for the occasion was “If we can teach them this – to be able to work, study, and live rev. Joe B. Fleming, pastor of the third Baptist Church together – the rest will come naturally, because good human in Portsmouth, Va and a graduate of the samuel relations is the basis for all success in the future.” DeWitt Proctor school of theology. taking his message from Luke 6:38 – Give, and it shall be – Dr. EveLyn reiD syphax given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. irginia Union syphax made a major For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be University has impression in the education measured to you again. – Fleming exhorted the audience of named the school arena in the state of Virginia. administrators, students, alumni and guests, to give generously of education, Psychology Beginning her teaching back to Virginia Union. and interdisciplinary studies career in Lynchburg Public “When i began to think about how i got here, i am indebted in honor of the late schools, she went on to to Virginia Union… When i come back to this place i am Dr. evelyn reid syphax, become founder of the overwhelmed with joy. How much i owe!,” Fleming shared. the university’s largest syphax Child Care Center. Calling the University the center of his being, Fleming went individual donor. Her focus in life was to on to say that Founders’ Day was the perfect time to renew syphax was a 1948 teach good human relations dedication to the cause and purposes of Virginia Union. graduate of VUU and former to her students. “if we can Virginia Union University was founded in 1865 by the member of the Board of teach them this – to be american Baptist Home Mission society and formed by the trustees. Her gift of $1 able to work, study, and live merger of four institutions: richmond theological seminary, million to the University is together – the rest will come Wayland seminary, Hartshorn Memorial College for Women, and storer College. each of these institutions was established to “When i began to think about still the largest ever by an naturally, because good educate and advance the former slave population. individual. syphax was a human relations is the basis From modest beginnings, established on the site of Lumpkin’s how i got here, i am indebted to member of the VUU Board for all success in the future. Jail, a holding cell for runaway slaves, Virginia Virginia Union… When i come back of trustees from 1979 to 1991, when the the dedication ceremony Union University today, has the distinction of being one of University honored her by awarding her an commemorated syphax’s outstanding the oldest historically black institutions in the country and one to this place i am overwhelmed honorary doctorate degree. contributions to the field of education as of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the city of with joy. how much i owe!” a renowned educator, syphax well as to Virginia Union University. richmond. developed the first Montessori program VUU also held its 2010 Founders’ Day rally in the Henderson – reV. Joe B. FLeMing in arlington, Va, served as Chair of the aBoVe: Craig and Archie Syphax, Jr., Center, where a number of churches were represented. several arlington County school Board and was an sons of Dr. Evelyn Reid Syphax hold the gave financial gifts to the University totaling more than $40,000 appointee to the state advisory Council on picture of their mother that will be on that day. displayed in Martin E. Gray Hall. Vocational education. BELOW: Dr. Perkins embraces Mrs. Ethel Reid VUU needs yoUr commitment and sUpport. to make an Walker, sister of Dr. Evelyn Reid Syphax. ongoing difference in the liVes of oUr stUdents, contact the diVision of institUtional adVancement at (804) 342-3938 or Use v U U – t h E P R o M i se o f a L i M i t less f U t ure © the enVelope enclosed in this issUe for yoUr conVenience. 2 Virginia Union Uni V e r s i t y U n i o n i t e Virginia Union Uni V e r s i t y s U m m e r 2 0 1 0 3 VUUCover Story v U U – t h E P R o M i se o f a L i M i t less f U t ure © P r EL u d E Sitting in... Standing up segregation was heavy throughout the By: CHarMiCa Epps anD Shena L. CrittenDon south in 1960 and tension was growing across the states. african-americans were, Leroy M. Bray, Jr. “sick and tired of being sick and tired”, says the group kept their focus by reminding “the church was the center of the black It’s been a long time coming, Gordon CoLeMan samuel shaw, one of the richmond 34 the participants of a talk by Dr.