Virginia Wesleyan University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU), formerly Virginia Wesleyan College, has a rich history of producing accomplished individuals across diverse fields. This article explores some of the university's notable alumni, highlighting their contributions and achievements. Founded in 1961 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church, VWU has grown into a respected institution known for its commitment to academic excellence and community engagement. The university, situated on 300 acres in Virginia Beach, comprises several schools, including the Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities, the Joan P. Brock School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the Birdsong School of Social Science, and the D.
Arts and Entertainment
Ted Cassidy: Best known for his role as Lurch on The Addams Family television series, Theodore Crawford Cassidy was an American actor who often portrayed unusual characters in science fiction and offbeat productions, such as Star Trek and I Dream of Jeannie. He also narrated the intro sequence for the 1977 live-action The Incredible Hulk TV series and provided the growls and roars for the Hulk during the first two seasons.
Pare Lorentz: Leonard MacTaggart Lorentz, known professionally as Pare Lorentz, was an American filmmaker celebrated for his documentaries about the New Deal era. Educated at Buckhannon High School, West Virginia Wesleyan College (1921-1923), and West Virginia University, Lorentz began his career as a film critic in New York City and Hollywood, where he advocated against censorship in the film industry.
Joss Whedon: Though not an alumnus of VWU, it is important to note the existence of alumni from other Universities, such as Wesleyan University, with outstanding achievements in the field of arts and entertainment. Joss Whedon (1987) - Emmy Award, Nebula Award, two Hugo Awards; writer, creator, producer, director, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, *Dr.
Sports
Greasy Neale: Alfred Earle "Greasy" Neale was a versatile athlete and coach, excelling in baseball, basketball, and American football.
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Jason Koon: A professional poker player hailing from Weston, West Virginia, Jason Koon is recognized for his accomplishments in both live and online poker tournaments.
Sheriff Blake: John Frederick "Sheriff" Blake was an American pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1920 to 1931 and in 1937, representing teams such as the St. Louis Browns, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs.
Brandon L. Adair: A standout basketball player at Virginia Wesleyan, Brandon L. Adair '12 went on to play professionally in Germany for two seasons. He was inducted into the Virginia Wesleyan University Athletic Hall of Fame as an individual athlete and as a member of the 2006 Men's Basketball National Championship Team. Currently, Adair is an NBA official, having officiated 80 regular-season games in his first few seasons.
Politics and Public Service
John Swan: Sir John William David Swan KBE is a former Bermudian politician and real estate developer who served as Premier of Bermuda from 1982 to 1995.
Okey L. Patteson: Okey Leonidas Patteson served as the 23rd governor of West Virginia from 1949 to 1953. He was a member of the Democratic Party and part of the political "machine" that dominated the state during that time.
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Edward Gay Rohrbough: Edward Gay Rohrbough was a Republican United States Representative from West Virginia. Born near Buckhannon, West Virginia, he served in the Seventy-eighth and Eightieth Congresses.
Daniel Pitt O'Brien: Daniel Pitt O'Brien held the position of Secretary of State of West Virginia from 1948 to 1957.
Heather A. Conley: Heather A. Conley served as president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States in Washington, D.C.
Social Sciences and Activism
L. J. Hanifan: Lyda Judson Hanifan, known as L. J. Hanifan, is credited with introducing the concept of social capital. Robert Putnam cites Hanifan's 1916 paper as the first recorded use of the term in his book, Bowling Alone (2000). Hanifan also authored a book in 1920 that included a chapter titled "Social Capital".
Matt Foreman: Matt Foreman is an American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights lawyer and activist with a background in political advocacy and civil rights work. He is the Executive Director of the AIDS Legal Referral Panel in San Francisco.
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Academia and Research
Katherine A. Hoadley: Katherine A. Hoadley, who attended West Virginia Wesleyan College from 1997 to 2001 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science, is an American breast cancer researcher. As of 2017, she has served as the Associate Director of Cancer Genomics for the High-Throughput Sequencing Facility at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research focuses on understanding cancer biology through gene expression analyses and integrative genomic approaches.
Business and Entrepreneurship
W. Taylor Franklin: W. Taylor Franklin is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of The Franklin Johnston Group. His responsibilities include new business development, multi-family management, supervision of new construction, and identifying new development opportunities.
Eric C. Nyman: Eric C. Nyman, a 1994 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in history, has had a successful career in marketing and business. Prior to his role as president of a company, he served as general manager and senior vice president of marketing at Hasbro, and also worked in brand management roles for Timberland and LEGO.
Awards and Recognition
Virginia Wesleyan University recognizes alumni achievements through various awards:
- Distinguished Alumnus Award: Recognizes alumni for outstanding professional and personal accomplishments.
- Alumni Service Award: Honors alumni who have exhibited good citizenship through service to their community.
- Alumni Relations Award: Recognizes alumni who have given service to the alma mater through their leadership and involvement.
- Golden Marlin Award: Recognizes alumni who have rendered outstanding continuing service to the University as a whole and/or meritorious public service.
The University's Growth and Evolution
Originally named Virginia Wesleyan College, the institution transitioned to Virginia Wesleyan University, reflecting its expanded academic offerings and global reach. VWU has also established partnerships such as VWU-Chesapeake, a program for incarcerated individuals, and the Jane P. Batten and David R. Black School for International Studies in collaboration with Lakeland University.
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