Uncategorized Archives - Page 4 of 13 - Grants Development & Special Projects at Virginia Western

May

Why this matters

May 4, 2021Uncategorized

Graduation is on the horizon, so if you haven’t heard it enough: THANK YOU to all of our faculty and staff and leadership who made this possible, during such a harrowing, historic year. What we do matters, and our community will not forget it. I know we all have moving stories to tell about our… Continue Reading Why this matters

Apr

What ‘The Great British Baking Show’ can teach us about teaching and learning

April 27, 2021Uncategorized

“The Great British Baking Show,” class of 2020 I never thought I would get this emotionally involved with a cooking show. Or, to be more precise, a *baking* show. It’s not that I haven’t watched them before. My 7-year-old is a HUGE fan of the Kids Baking Championship on the Food Network. In fact, Taylor… Continue Reading What ‘The Great British Baking Show’ can teach us about teaching and learning

Apr

Don’t be the piñata: 5 lessons learned as a workgroup facilitator

April 21, 2021Uncategorized

I recently attended a child’s birthday party in a beautiful city park, and it involved a piñata. After joking with another parent about why we love this tradition — where kids beat their cartoon heroes with a stick until candy falls out — I focused my attention on Birthday Dad, who was managing the festivities.… Continue Reading Don’t be the piñata: 5 lessons learned as a workgroup facilitator

Apr

Time again for the Virginia Western Game of Trivia (G3 edition)

April 13, 2021Uncategorized

Hello! Are you looking for information about the G3 program at Virginia Western? *** Hello, and welcome back to the Virginia Western Game of Trivia, which is really a quiz, but GOT is the only acronym that makes any sense. (Cue the laugh track) The game is a quick way to relay important data points… Continue Reading Time again for the Virginia Western Game of Trivia (G3 edition)

Apr

How to build better relationships with Goofus, Gallant and ALICE

April 7, 2021Uncategorized

Did you read Highlights magazine as a kid? One of our neighbors — a retired military colonel who I only remember as “The Colonel” — gifted our family a subscription when I was just learning to read in San Antonio, Texas. The subscription continued when we moved to Roanoke — and one of the features… Continue Reading How to build better relationships with Goofus, Gallant and ALICE

Mar

Please welcome our new Get REAL coordinator: Crystal Hall

March 25, 2021Uncategorized

We’re excited to introduce Crystal Hall, Virginia Western’s new Get REAL Activity Coordinator, who started March 25. Crystal Hall This role is foundational to our 5-year, $1.8 million Title III project, as Crystal will lead the day-to-day grant activities and serve as a connector across college departments and the greater community to help Refocus Education… Continue Reading Please welcome our new Get REAL coordinator: Crystal Hall

Mar

Wa-hoo! Please congratulate Cathy Ferguson on her latest adventure

March 24, 2021Uncategorized

Many of us already know Cathy Ferguson. Beyond advising students through the Career Center for the past five years, she currently chairs the Staff Senate and serves on the college Reopening Taskforce. Cathy Ferguson Last year, she was awarded a $5,000 Innovation Grant to advance the work of our Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) workgroup.… Continue Reading Wa-hoo! Please congratulate Cathy Ferguson on her latest adventure

Mar

DIY creativity retreat: Choose your own adventures

March 9, 2021Uncategorized

Just in time for spring break … or when you just need a day to hit the reset button: I’ve boiled down years of research about creative people, creative spaces, and creative habits into a simple way to plan your own creativity retreat, which you can do ASAP, in your own home, with stuff you already own.… Continue Reading DIY creativity retreat: Choose your own adventures

Mar

What can we learn from one of the most innovative schools in higher ed? (Plus: Your professional development ideas)

March 8, 2021Uncategorized

About three years ago, I first learned about Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). The private, nonprofit school has been celebrated as not only one of the most innovative colleges in the America … but one of the most innovative organizations in the world. They are able to serve over 3,000 residential students on their campus… Continue Reading What can we learn from one of the most innovative schools in higher ed? (Plus: *Your* professional development ideas)

Mar

Sunny? Cloudy with a chance of rainbows? You have the power to make the weather

March 2, 2021Uncategorized

This is going to sound way more boring than it was, but here goes: Over the summer, in an effort to better understand my role in the grants office, I read books including “Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager” and “Meeting Design.” In those books, I learned some valuable tips, like this one: The… Continue Reading Sunny? Cloudy with a chance of rainbows? You have the power to make the weather

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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.