Sandel has guided the institution through remarkable growth since 2001, leaving a thriving college that has seen seven consecutive semesters of enrollment growth as the College has emerged from the pandemic. Virginia Western’s accreditation has been secured for the next decade, and the Virginia Western Educational Foundation’s financial strength has reached an unprecedented level, ensuring student support for years to come.

“My greatest satisfaction has been being part of this faculty and staff, serving our students, and working with the College’s Local Advisory Board and Educational Foundation Board,” said Sandel, who arrived at the decision to retire together with his wife, Jane. “Virginia Western’s excellent team demonstrates the spirit of partnership that will propel the College forward.”

Sandel had a vision for a first-class, state-of-the-art campus, appealing to students and functional for academic programs. In his tenure, Sandel has overseen more than $138 million in new building construction and renovations. This investment has made positive impacts on the local economy, quality of student education and preparation of the region’s workforce.

“When I reflect on Dr. Sandel’s profound impact on our region, I am filled with gratitude. We are truly fortunate to have had his leadership at Â鶹¹ú²úAV during this pivotal time. His contributions have made our region a much better place,” said Todd Putney, chairman of Virginia Western’s Local Advisory Board, retired business executive and current chairman of the Rockingham Insurance Group.

“Bobby has a larger-than-life personality that makes you want to join him in championing whatever he is working on. What makes him so unique is that while he is a dynamic, curious and engaging communicator, his ability to follow through and effectively address economic development challenges truly sets him apart. Dr. Sandel is a rare talent, and we are incredibly thankful that he and Jane chose to make the Roanoke Valley their home,” Putney said.

Regional and statewide influence

Sandel is the most tenured president in the Virginia Community College System, with more than nine years as president at Mountain Empire Community College before he became president at Virginia Western. Prior to that, Sandel served more than 20 years in the South Carolina technical college system. His leadership has supported community college education across Virginia.

“During his 23-year presidency, Dr. Bobby Sandel’s visionary leadership has significantly transformed Â鶹¹ú²úAV, resulting in more than doubled enrollment and expanded access to higher education,” said Dr. David Doré, chancellor for the Virginia Community College System. “His unwavering commitment to expanding programs and investing in cutting-edge learning facilities will leave an indelible mark on the region, establishing a legacy that will enrich the lives of students and the community for generations. His creation of strong partnerships will guarantee that higher education remains accessible and meaningful for all.”

Chancellor Doré will work with Virginia Western’s Local Advisory Board and Educational Foundation throughout the presidential search process, the details of which will be announced at a later date.

Today, Virginia Western offers more than 100 programs and trainings to meet the region’s workforce needs. As a healthcare-driven region, the College’s array of health profession programs has grown to nine — the third largest among the state’s 23 community colleges.

Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop, community ambassador with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, highlighted the wide reach of Sandel’s service. “I want to congratulate Dr. Bobby Sandel on an outstanding career and all of his accomplishments and advancements at Â鶹¹ú²úAV,” he said. “While I served as president of Jefferson College of Health Sciences (now Radford University Carilion), building on our close friendship and collegial relationships, we were able to achieve a smooth and orderly transition of our Surgical Technology and Physical Therapist Assistant associate degree programs to Virginia Western,” Bishop said. “More recently, I interacted with Dr. Sandel while serving as a member and chair of the State Board for Community Colleges. I was proud and pleased to witness the statewide esteem with which he is held and the high regard for the continuous innovations he was bringing to Virginia Western programming.”

Foundation firmly established for student success

W. Heywood Fralin, chair of Retirement Unlimited, Inc., and co-trustee of the Horace G. Fralin Charitable Trust, serves as a Virginia Western Educational Foundation board member and chair of the Nominating Committee. “Bobby has had a tremendous impact on the economic development of the region. All economic development depends on well-educated employees,” Fralin said. “At Â鶹¹ú²úAV, Bobby has ensured that workers are well trained and ready to enter their field of study after graduation. He has worked closely with the high schools in the region to make sure the students are aware of the programs available at Virginia Western, which has led to a steady census of students and qualified graduates.”

When Sandel arrived at Virginia Western, the Educational Foundation operated out of a cubicle with no grants program and only about $1 million in assets under management. Today, the foundation has $34 million in assets under management. The grants office has secured approximately $48 million in grant funding since its inception in 2002 from the Department of Education: Title III Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP), TRiO Student Support Services, Department of Labor, National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as state, corporate and foundation grants.

Amid the College’s markers of success, Sandel vocally advocates for keeping the focus on students. “We want students to see us as an opportunity to move forward,” Sandel said. Currently, Virginia Western’s Foundation is the number one community college foundation in the state in the value of scholarship support to students. Since its inception, the Community College Access Program, known widely as CCAP, has provided approximately $11.8 million in tuition assistance. That investment has helped alleviate debt for 4,470 students. In addition, CCAP recipients have volunteered 37,000 hours of community service.  

Sandel “earned the appreciation of the citizens of Salem by making our community the first school system to implement the CCAP program,” said Forest G. Jones, retired city manager of the City of Salem. “This program has been a great benefit for students throughout the region in seeking an affordable college education.”

Notably, the Educational Foundation has never raised money for a capital project. The naming gifts received by the Foundation are directed toward student assistance.

“It has been such a pleasure serving on the Educational Foundation Board of Directors and seeing firsthand the impact President Sandel has had on Â鶹¹ú²úAV,” said Deborah L. Petrine, chair and CEO of Commonwealth Care of Roanoke and chair of the Â鶹¹ú²úAV Educational Foundation Board of Directors.

Petrine noted that some of the Foundation’s most important initiatives are CCAP; student scholarships; a student emergency fund; and the Virginia Western Forward Permanent Endowment Fund: a vision of Dr. Charles W. Steger, Jr. “President Sandel has been steadfast in his support of the Foundation’s efforts. He is a tireless advocate for students, accessibility for all, and providing the support and innovative programs needed to meet faculty and staff needs. He has indeed been a transformative leader of Virginia Western and his legacy will last at the college, in students’ lives, in the region and in the Commonwealth.”

Many of Sandel’s partners in the business community have served the College through the Educational Foundation. “My first contact with Bobby Sandel, and I knew things were going to be different at Virginia Western. His question was, ‘Can I come and speak to the Chamber board? I need to know what the business community needs instead of us telling you what you need,'” said Edwin C. “Ed” Hall, founder of Hall Associates Inc. and former board president of the Virginia Western Educational Foundation and chair of the Scholarship and Foundation Grants Committee.

“Because Dr. Sandel understood what education is supposed to be, for students’ betterment, he inspired me and my family to create the Hall Associates Career Center and Hall Family Center for Business Science and be involved in the College in many different ways. As always, he likes to say, ‘We change people’s lives,'” Hall said.

A wide-reaching legacy

In addition to the extensive renovations to existing buildings, notable on-campus facilities added during Sandel’s tenure include:

• Horace G. and Ann H. Fralin Center for Science and Health Professions
• Maury and Sheila Strauss Family Student Life Center
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics building
• College Services building to house campus police and facilities management
• Colonial Avenue streetscape improvements

These accompany significant building projects at off-campus facilities:

• Claude Moore Education Complex at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, home to the Al Pollard Culinary Arts Program
• Greenfield Education & Training Center addition

Additionally, Virginia Western offers programming at the Franklin Center for Advanced Learning & Enterprise in Rocky Mount and the Roanoke EnVision Center in Northwest Roanoke.

Under Sandel’s tenure, Virginia Western has gone beyond the classroom to serve the Roanoke Valley’s changing economy. In 2017, the City of Roanoke received a grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia to open the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP), the region’s first business accelerator. Sandel committed to the effort, with the Foundation running the operations and the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council helping bring in companies.

“RAMP is the first and only accelerator in this region to help startup companies be successful in the initial phases of operation. It is essential for the success of startup companies in our region and would not be in existence without Bobby Sandel,” said Fralin. “At a critical time in RAMP’s early development, it needed a financial sponsor to become operational. Bobby Sandel and Virginia Western stepped up to fill that need, and today, the RAMP accelerator thrives. Bobby is a visionary, and without him this region’s economy would not be where it is today.”

Sandel, a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, was named Roanoke City Citizen of the Year in 2013. He has served on numerous local and state boards including chair of the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, chair of the Pre-K Committee for Smart Beginnings, board president for the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, member of the Friendship Health and Rehabilitation Center’s Board of Trustees, and president of the Board of Trustees for LewisGale Medical Center.

In spring 2024, Dr. Sandel was named to the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council Hall of Fame, and he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Roanoke College. Sandel is being honored this fall by Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia as the 2024 Laureate in the Southwest Virginia Business Hall of Fame.

Sandel earned his bachelor’s degree from The Citadel, his master’s degree from South Carolina State University, and his doctorate from the University of South Carolina. Sandel’s wife, Jane, is a retired educator. They have four children, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Those who have worked with Sandel in the community note the breadth of his accomplishments. Addressing him, Jones said: “Your deeds speak for you far better than anything I can say. You have devoted yourself unselfishly to a host of causes. Your activities have been so extensive it would almost seem one lifetime could not encompass them all. Yet you have found the time and the energy to serve, to work and to lead. In all of my dealings with you, you have always shown patience, tolerance, and common sense, which was needed in your leadership role.”

Sandel’s colleagues at Virginia Western and beyond will long be buoyed by one of his favorite exhortations. “When everyone comes together and nobody cares who gets the credit,” he has said often, “that’s when great things can happen.” 

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“We are delighted to learn the results of SACSCOC’s reaffirmation process, made possible by extensive time and energy that our faculty, staff and administrators have contributed,” said Dr. Robert Sandel, Virginia Western’s president. “This is an important signal that our students can have the utmost confidence in the quality of their education at Virginia Western. We are grateful to the SACSCOC Board of Trustees for recognizing our commitment to ensuring our students are equipped for success and ready to contribute to their chosen professions.”

Accreditation by SACSCOC signifies that an institution has a mission appropriate to higher education; has resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that mission; and maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers, and that indicate whether it is successful in achieving its stated objectives.

The arduous reaffirmation process included a comprehensive review by the Off-Site Reaffirmation Committee, followed by the On-Site Reaffirmation Committee’s visit in the fall of 2023. The committees were charged with reviewing Virginia Western’s Compliance Certification, which demonstrated the College’s judgment of the extent of its compliance with each of SACSCOC’s Core Requirements and Standards.

As part of the reaffirmation process, each institution must also develop a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) focused on improving specific student learning outcomes and/or student successes. Virginia Western’s QEP is “Stand Out. Move Forward,” which focuses on preparing students for professional success. Through enhanced programming, the QEP will ensure Virginia Western graduates are prepared for workplace accountability and that they express professionalism in verbal and written communication.

“The reaffirmation process is rigorous and comprehensive, evaluating all aspects of our institution to ensure we meet the highest standards of quality and integrity in higher education,” said Dr. Jolene Hamm, associate vice president of institutional effectiveness at Virginia Western. “Virginia Western’s success in this endeavor reflects an unwavering commitment to providing exceptional educational experiences and steadfast adherence to the values and principles that guide us.”

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Organizers focused on dynamically introducing career pathways for students through one-week career immersion camps with Â鶹¹ú²úAV Corporate Training Division at the helm, combined with support from many area organizations and employers, the city, and the school district. 

“In addition to all the learning that took place in these career content areas, students gained valuable workplace readiness skills through the experience of attending camp,” said Regina Cook, who is corporate training lead, workforce development specialist, and organizational development strategist at Virginia Western. “We saw many ways in which the camps got the wheels turning in students’ heads about how their passions could translate into potential careers.”

Camps spanned a range of fields:

• Introductory Culinary
• Advanced Culinary
• Artificial Intelligence
• Biotechnology
• Criminal Justice
• Entrepreneurship
• Event Planning
• Mechatronics & Manufacturing
• Social Work & Counseling
• Horticulture, Floral Design, and Community Beautification
• Healthcare/Culinary — Dietary Technician

By the month’s conclusion, 48 students received Camp Certificates of Completion, and seven also received their ServSafe Food Handler Certification. The students achieved 73 Certificates of Completion across the 11 camps.

This year’s camps built on the foundation of two culinary camps in the summer of 2023 spearheaded by Virginia Western’s Culinary Program head, Chef James Zeisler, and Brian Wells, The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center’s general manager who is also the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association’s Roanoke chapter president. Contributing partners included SP Plus (Roanoke City Parks & Recreation) and Roanoke City Public Schools.

This year, the cross-community planning team included Carilion Clinic, Roanoke City Public Schools and the corporate/professional training team at Virginia Western. The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center provided the facility and refreshments for the graduation event, which offered a job/supporter fair to help make career connections between program supporters and campers and their families.

“We are thankful for our partnership with Virginia Western Community College to provide our students with a head start on their careers. Strong partnerships with local community organizations, higher education institutions, and businesses are vital to ensure our students gain a resume of skills and experiences while still in school,” said Dr. Verletta White, superintendent of Roanoke City Public Schools. “We know our students stay safe when they are connected to productive and meaningful activities, and this program provides our students with hands-on experience as they prepare for their future.”

Ashton Abajace, 17, a rising senior at Patrick Henry High School, took part in event planning and culinary camps. “I am so grateful that I allowed myself to have some courage to go and try out these camps,” Ashton said. “All of my teachers did a fantastic job of putting together extremely informative and insightful courses. Learning should be fun, and I think that these camps had that figured out from the start.”

Program Instruction and Supporters:

The Instructional Team for the Summer Career Exploration Camps: Clark BeCraft, Mandi Boltinghouse, Tina Coffey, Regina Cook, Jacob Corvin, Jeff Dodson, Skylar Gentry, Jan Hendrickson, Richard Henegar, Megan Jackson, Carol King, Heather Lindberg, Hanna Martin, Kimberly Mattson, George Studtmann, David Vandergrift and James Zeisler.

Summer Career Exploration Camp Supporters:

• Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers                                                                                 
• Carilion Clinic                                                                                                                                                        
• Catawba Hospital                                                                                                                                                
• Children’s Trust                                                                                                                                                    
• Cintas Uniform Services                                                                                                                                    
• City of Roanoke                                                                                                                                                   
• Commonwealth Care of Roanoke                                                                                                                 
• Friendship Living                                                                                                                                                 
• Good Counsel, LLC                                                                                                                                              
• Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board                                                                                  
• Health Connect America                                                                                                                                   
• The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center                                                                                              
• Intercept Health                                                                                                                                                  
• New Hope Support Services                                                                                                                            
• Roanoke City Public Schools
• Roanoke County Police Department K-9 Unit
• Roanoke City Police Department Forensics Unit 
• Roanoke City Animal Control
• Roanoke City Police Department Drone Team
• Roanoke City Police Department SWAT Team and VSP Recruiter
• Roanoke City Sheriff Project Lifesaver Team
• Roanoke Fruit and Produce Company                                     
• Sentara Healthcare                                                                                                                                             
• SP Plus                                                                                                                                                                    
• Thrifty Hitches                                                                                                                                                      
• United Way of Roanoke Valley                                                                                                                       
• US Foods                                                                                                                                                                
• Verge      
• VRLTA – Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association

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The three-year grant will fund the College’s project, “Cross-Pollination Skillsets: Growing Mechatronics and Agricultural Collaborations for Producing Skilled Agricultural Technicians,” which will test Virginia Western faculty members’ ideas to improve technician education.

“We are very grateful to receive this substantial grant from the National Science Foundation,” said Dr. Robert Sandel, Virginia Western’s president. “Our faculty are always seeking innovative ways to equip our students to meet community needs, and this collaboration builds on that strength. Our state leaders have identified key workforce needs in the agricultural sector, and we are ready to help make Virginia a welcome destination for these employers.”

The Cross-Pollination Skillsets project targets a state government priority for developing business opportunities through controlled environmental agriculture (CEA), according to Dr. David Berry, assistant professor and Mechatronics Program head. As principal investigator, Berry will lead the new initiative with Dr. Mallory White, assistant professor of biology and Agriculture Program head, who is serving as co-principal investigator. The concept of the grant is to train the next level of technicians needed in the state’s agriculture workforce.

Integral to the project’s formation was the partnership with the project’s Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT). Contributing as members of the BILT are: Matthew Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture; Arturo Gomez Mazatan, Red Sun Farms; J. Scott Lowman, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research; Gus Brennan, Greenswell Growers; Jared Heffron, Novenesis; Stefanie Manbeck, Cattlemen’s Insurance Agency; Kate Stevens, James River High School – FFA advisor/agriculture teacher; and Walter Grigg, TORC Robotics.

“This project has been shaped by our community partners, and we are so grateful for their support,” said Dean of STEM and Workforce Solutions Amy White. “Our faculty investigators were very open and flexible as we began the planning process, and so we were able to be very nimble to respond to the BILT’s input.”

Industry members outside the BILT also note the value of the project’s synergies. “Integrating agriculture and technology into college curriculums is essential for businesses like MOVA Technologies Inc. or Vegg Inc., which offer climate-smart ag-tech solutions,” said Luke Allison, director of advancement and communications for MOVA Technologies, Inc. “The next generation of workers must be leaders in environmental stewardship while advancing technological progress. Higher education needs to ignite their imaginations, fostering a proactive approach to creating innovative solutions for challenges that have yet to arise.”

Through teamwork with Shelley Lyons, Virginia Western’s grant coordinator, and Dean Amy White, investigators Berry and White began preparing the grant proposal with mentoring and technical support from Mentor-Connect, which provides mentoring and technical resources to help two-year college faculty write competitive grant proposals. Mentor-Connect is an ATE project led by Florence-Darlington Technical College in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges. Virginia Western was one of 24 community colleges nationwide selected to participate in Mentor-Connect’s year of training and mentoring sessions to prepare the grant application.

“Much of the credit for our winning proposal must go to the Mentor-Connect program. I was initially skeptical that the program would properly address our focus area. The focus on agriculture is just gaining momentum and I wasn’t certain any mentor would have experience with the subject matter,” said Berry. “However, the mentors worked with us continually, pushing us to make progress even though we were swamped with other responsibilities. The result of this experience wasn’t only a winning proposal; our internal team, our external network and our focus has been strengthened significantly.”

Mallory White pointed to the need this project will fill. “This is new territory. However, our urban college is uniquely poised to instruct the community about hydroponics and controlled environmental agriculture,” she said. “We have a strong science department, so it’s important to take advantage of our existing programs, incorporate new courses, and think of the future to meet the growing need for more advanced agricultural techniques required to ensure more crops can be successfully and sustainably grown.”

Students will be able to combine coursework from Mechatronics and Agriculture programs, plus new courses being developed, to receive an Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies. Because these programs already existed, there is a much smoother on-ramp than the longer process of having a completely new program approved at the state level.

The NSF grant will aid staffing, course development and equipment to better target the focus on controlled environment agriculture. For example, the project is developing a course in vertical growing and hydroponics, which will include equipment that will also benefit the College’s Horticulture Program as well. “We’ll literally be able to cross-pollinate the mechatronics and ag fields — the mechatronics with the sensors and pH meters, giving students more practice with data analysis and the ag field through understanding the technology behind the hydroponics,” Mallory White said. The program also plans outreach to benefit K-12 students.

Another mode of cross-pollination involves increasing gender diversity among the Mechatronics and Agriculture programs’ current populations. The Mechatronics Program enrolls more male students, while female students comprise the majority of Agriculture Program enrollees. “One of our target outcomes is to create a more diverse population in the programs and have men and women explore ideas within this developing field of controlled environment agriculture,” Berry said.

The ATE program focuses on the education of technicians who work in high-tech fields that drive the nation’s economy. Because two-year community and technical colleges are the leading sources of technician education in the United States, faculty from these higher education institutions have had leadership roles in most ATE projects since the program began in 1993. 

“We are thrilled to work within our community to support the growing field of agriculture and look forward to the outcomes of this valuable project. We strive to be good community partners, and this project is yet another way Virginia Western can be a leader in providing opportunity and resources to our students,” said Dean Amy White.

Those interested in seeking this degree may contact Berry for more information by emailing dberry@virginiawestern.edu. More information may be found at .

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The report from data analytics firm Lightcast found that Virginia Western added $329.1 million in income to the Roanoke Valley economy in the year studied, fiscal year 2021-22.

Those $329.1 million in contributions come from three sources: college operations, students and alumni. The net impact of the college’s operations spending added $32.9 million in annual income to the regional economy. The expenditures of students who relocated to the Roanoke Valley or who would have left if they had not attended Virginia Western added $3.5 million in income to the Roanoke Valley economy. Significantly, the net impact of Virginia Western’s former students currently employed in the regional workforce amounted to $292.7 million in added annual income.

“Virginia Western has invested great energy into being a responsive contributor to the Roanoke Valley’s economy,” said Dr. Robert Sandel, president of Virginia Western. “The Lightcast study shows the many ways the College helps fuel the valley’s economic engine.”

Virginia Western’s impact supported 4,405 jobs. For perspective, the activities of Virginia Western and its students support one out of every 46 jobs in the Roanoke Valley.

On an individual level, Virginia Western students see tangible benefits of investing in their education. The average Virginia Western graduate receiving an associate degree in the year studied will see annual earnings that are $8,900 higher than a person with a high school diploma or equivalent working in Virginia.

Students’ increased earnings in turn help taxpayers see a return on investment. Taxpayers provided Virginia Western with $21.6 million of funding in the year studied. For every dollar of public money invested in Virginia Western, taxpayers will receive $2.40 in return, over the course of students’ working lives.

On a larger scale, for every dollar invested in Virginia Western in the year studied, people in Virginia will receive $8.00 in return. Altogether, the social benefits of Virginia Western equal a present value of $574.5 million. These benefits include $390.9 million in added student income over a 40-year working career, $138.4 million in added business income, $32.9 million in added income from college activities, as well as $12.2 million in savings related to reduced government spending for health, the justice system, and income assistance in Virginia, thanks to a more educated workforce.

“Not only do our students reap benefits when they attend Virginia Western, but the ripple effects of their decision to attend here spread out to benefit our community,” Sandel said. “This rigorous study highlights the significant gains that society reaps from investing in Virginia Western.”

For more information about the study and Lightcast, visit virginiawestern.edu/impact. 

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• John Lugar, President, Virginia Varsity Transfer Inc.
• Jamal Millner, President, M3: GRAFIX
• Angela Penn, CEO and President, Total Action for Progress (TAP)
• Craig T. Ramey, Ph.D., Research Professor and Distinguished Research Scholar of Human Development, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

The volunteer Board of Directors guides the Educational Foundation’s mission as an independent nonprofit organization supporting student scholarships, faculty development and endowment initiatives at Â鶹¹ú²úAV. Board members are the driving force behind Virginia Western’s Community College Access Program (CCAP), a successful public-private partnership that provides up to two years of tuition to eligible students, and the Virginia Western Forward Fund unrestricted endowment. As of 2024, the Educational Foundation is led by: Deborah L. Petrine, chair; Russell Ellett, vice chair; Tammy Moss Finley, secretary: Chris Carey, treasurer; William Farrell II, immediate past-chair; and College President Dr. Robert H. Sandel.

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The CCIC is a national competition in which community college student teams, working with a faculty or administrator team mentor, use science, technology, engineering and mathematics to innovate solutions to real-world problems. The 12 finalist teams attended an Innovation Boot Camp to share their ideas with industry leaders and compete for cash prizes.

Team Plastic Up-Cycling is part of the Appalachian Engineers Club at Virginia Western. This marks the second consecutive year the Appalachian Engineers have succeeded in reaching the CCIC finals. This year’s team consisted of students Kiana Watt, Erynn Martin and Joshua Hawks. The team proposed an affordable and sustainable way to reuse plastic through the development of a 3D filament printer, which turns recyclables into reinforced filament.

This competition teaches incredibly valuable skills applicable in all aspects of life and provides experiences that expand what students learn in their academic programs to real-life applications.

The team learned a great deal at the boot camp, which was held in Washington, D.C. on June 10-13. Outstanding subject matter experts provided training and coaching on the process of taking a STEM idea and turning it into a business or a nonprofit to address a significant problem in the world.

Students had great experiences, including presenting their project on Capitol Hill and creating a final pitch to share their idea with an expert panel of entrepreneurs.

“It’s such a testament to our students to have them reach this elite level of competition two years in a row,” said Virginia Western Dean of STEM and Workforce Solutions Amy White. “We are very proud of the team and so glad they had this real-world opportunity.”

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Pennell has been a registered nurse for over 20 years, an advanced practice nurse for 15 years and is board certified as a clinical nurse specialist in adult health. She holds a DNP in Executive Leadership Concentration from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; MSN-Adult Holistic Nursing Clinical Nurse Specialist from the University of Texas at Austin; and BS in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Santa Clara, Calif. 

“I am excited to be a part of the Virginia Western Nursing Program and reap the rewards of the partnership between myself, the administration, nursing faculty, and students,” Pennell said. “Virginia Western already has a stellar nursing program and I hope together we can elevate it even higher.”   

Prior to joining Virginia Western on June 25, Pennell served as director and faculty member of the RN-BSN Program at Galveston College in Galveston, Texas. She has previously served as the Texas undergraduate programs director at National American University; campus president, Chamberlain University San Antonio Campus; and clinical instructor at the University of Texas at Austin. 

“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Pennell as Virginia Western’s new nursing director of the AAS (pre-licensure RN) Nursing program,” said Marilyn Herbert-Ashton, vice president of institutional advancement and dean of nursing at Virginia Western. “Dr. Pennell has a robust portfolio of innovative and transformative leadership and excellence in nursing education. Her history of successful leadership as well as genuine care for students, faculty, staff, and community collectively will elevate the Nursing Program to achieve even greater success.”   

Pennell is passionate about patient care, specifically patients that have chronic pain, and has traveled throughout Texas presenting pain-related best practice information at leading Texas medical organizational conferences. She also has volunteered in the Medical Reserves Corps in Galveston and Harris counties. 

She translates that focus to the classroom. “I feel honored that students allow me to be a small part of their educational journey to becoming a nurse,” Pennell said. ”My decision to become involved in nursing education has been one of the most rewarding of my career.” 

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The six-week course, starting on September 9, 2024, will equip participants with the essential skills and certification necessary to pursue careers in medical office administration.

“The EnVision Center and the are proud to partner with Â鶹¹ú²úAV to bring invaluable educational opportunities to the residents we serve,” said Lynelle Lewis with the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority. “The upcoming CMAA class is a testament to our commitment to empowering our community through accessible, high-quality education. This course will equip residents with essential skills and credentials, opening doors to meaningful employment and career advancement, and ultimately enhancing the quality of life for our community members.”

The course will be conducted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., offering a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for the Medical Administrative Assistant Certification through the National Healthcareer Association. Successful completion of the certification exam opens doors to employment opportunities at local hospitals and private practices, with an annual median salary of $35,403, according to Lightcast economic data for this area.

“We are excited to bring back this valuable training program to the community after more than five years,” said Brittany Boltinghouse, workforce solutions coordinator for healthcare programs at Â鶹¹ú²úAV. “By preparing individuals for successful careers in front office healthcare administration, we aim to meet the workforce needs of our region while empowering our community members to achieve their professional goals. With only 12 spots available, we encourage interested individuals, especially residents of the Roanoke Redevelopment & Housing Authority, to secure their place early.”  

Enrollment is now open, and high demand is anticipated. Financial assistance options are available to make the training accessible to qualified Virginia residents, ensuring minimal out-of-pocket expenses for many residents. Registration will remain open until August 26, 2024, or until all spots are filled. Prospective students are encouraged to contact Lisa Russell at (540) 857-7306 for more information or visit the EnVision Center at 2607 Salem Turnpike in Northwest Roanoke.

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The MotoEV Electro Bubble Buddy LSV 4 Passenger Police Hard Door arrived on campus in the spring semester, thanks to a grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services for equipment needs that could enhance campus safety.*

The electric vehicle helps Virginia Western Campus Police serve students and employees with a variety of needs while being able to navigate campus more nimbly than in a full-sized police vehicle. Two main areas of need were assisting stranded motorists and aiding campus community members who have requested a police escort, especially after dark.

The MotoEV can travel on sidewalks and other places a regular vehicle can’t go, giving Campus Police a new tool in the tool belt to serve the community.

* This project was supported, in whole or in part, by federal award, awarded to Treasurer of Virginia by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

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