Uncategorized Archives - Page 12 of 13 - Grants Development & Special Projects at Virginia Western

Nov

If Virginia Western were a theme park …

November 6, 2017Uncategorized

If you’ve ever been in my office in Fishburn, you probably noticed my bulletin board. Half of it is designated as an “Idea Shelf” — where I jot down creative thoughts to use for later. The other half prominently features a Busch Gardens park map. Let me explain. Months ago, as our office brainstormed through… Continue Reading If Virginia Western were a theme park …

Oct

We face wicked problems, personally and professionally. Design thinking can help.

October 30, 2017Uncategorized

It’s my favorite time of year — Halloween! — so I thought I’d discuss wicked problems. Wicked problems are complex, social problems that are constantly changing — which are exactly the kind of problems we face at Virginia Western. Design thinking is a methodology that can help us address these wicked problems (and write grants… Continue Reading We face wicked problems, personally and professionally. Design thinking can help.

Oct

Let’s ask students: How might Virginia Western boost enrollment and retention?

October 23, 2017Uncategorized

One of my favorite genres of articles involve creativity in the schools, which are usually about K-12 initiatives that stretch way beyond our standardized-testing mania. I can’t resist sharing some of my favorite ideas I’ve learned about in the last few months: Grand Rapids Public Museum School, where a struggling school district opened a school *inside*… Continue Reading Let’s ask students: How might Virginia Western boost enrollment and retention?

Oct

Amanda Decker, Workforce career navigator, is really a grant-weaving superhero

October 17, 2017Uncategorized

She laughs when I call her a “grant dreamweaver,” but that’s how I see Amanda Decker and her superhero role at Virginia Western. Amanda is currently the Workforce Student Services Team Lead and Career Navigator. She’s my go-to contact whenever I have grant-related questions involving the Workforce division … and those questions are multiplying, especially… Continue Reading Amanda Decker, Workforce career navigator, is really a grant-weaving superhero

Oct

CityWorks (X)po: 5 ways I’m turning ideas into ACTION

October 16, 2017Uncategorized

So I’m writing this just a few days since CityWorks (X)po 2017, while it’s still fresh. I’m still processing all of the stories and ideas and heavy subject matter — including institutionalized racism — that we discussed during the annual conference in Roanoke’s Grandin Village, but I thought I would focus on my concrete actions… Continue Reading CityWorks (X)po: 5 ways I’m turning ideas into ACTION

Oct

Help! I have no idea where to begin with grants!

October 9, 2017Uncategorized

Last week, I received the following email from a faculty member here on campus: I am reaching out to you for direction regarding finding grant opportunities. This is a completely new process for me and I have no idea where to begin! I’m so happy when faculty and staff step forward with this humble question,… Continue Reading Help! I have no idea where to begin with grants!

Sep

Soft skills and service learning: Can Virginia Western do more?

September 25, 2017Uncategorized

I’ve been thinking a lot about the “community” part of community college lately. I light up every time I hear community-service ideas in our college forums, like the idea of building a Habitat for Humanity house (heard that one at a strategic planning brainstorm). Or forming a Relay for Life team (Staff Senate). Or establishing a… Continue Reading Soft skills and service learning: Can Virginia Western do more?

Sep

Sam Steidle can talk entrepreneurship for hours (and other fun facts about Virginia Western’s Innovation Officer)

September 6, 2017Uncategorized

Last week was a good one for the grants office, as we learned one of our projects was funded by the state. (Yay!) For the second year in a row, we helped secure a $40,000 grant to the college’s Educational Foundation to develop Virginia Western programming at RAMP, the new business accelerator in downtown Roanoke.… Continue Reading Sam Steidle can talk entrepreneurship for hours (and other fun facts about Virginia Western’s Innovation Officer)

Aug

3 reports that could change the way you think about Virginia Western and our healthcare economy

August 28, 2017Uncategorized

As I’ve noted before, I do A LOT of reading in the grants office. Today, I wanted to call attention to a few enlightening reports that I spelunked while working on our latest grant proposal, a three-year plan for the Claude Moore Health Professions Academy, which has launched in Roanoke city and Roanoke County high… Continue Reading 3 reports that could change the way you think about Virginia Western and our healthcare economy

Aug

5 reading habits of a creative grant champion

August 21, 2017Uncategorized

I’ll never forget one of the lessons of “Working Girl.” Tess McGill, played by Melanie Griffith in this 1988 film, weaves a brilliant Wall Street deal because of her reading habits, and *spoiler alert*, she crafts a winning merger based on information she learned from a gossipy entertainment column. I spend most of my time… Continue Reading 5 reading habits of a creative grant champion

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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.