Spring 2025 Board Updates

The Roanoke College Board of Trustees held its regular spring meeting on campus April 3-4, 2025, and the meeting was punctuated by community events and board sessions that highlighted the power of gratitude, the impact of service, and the importance of giving.

The two most moving events on the board schedule during this visit were a ceremony that celebrated the Administration’s Building’s new naming after Dr. M. Paul Capp ’52 and a dedication of “Authors and Architects,” Roanoke College’s new memorial to enslaved laborers.    

On Thursday, April 3, trustees and other community members gathered in front of the 178-year-old Administration Building to celebrate the structure’s new name, the M. Paul Capp ’52 Administration Building. Capp, who was a community leader and athlete during his time at Roanoke, went on to become an accomplished radiologist and educator. He has served his college in numerous ways, including as a longtime member of the board of trustees.

A first-generation American born to Ukrainian parents, Capp attended the ceremony virtually with his family from their home in Arizona. The ceremony included an especially meaningful introduction by current student Liz Satynska ’25, who is from Ukraine. Satynska explained to the audience that, after war broke out in her home country, she and her family didn’t believe they would be able to afford to send her to Roanoke. Because of the generosity of Capp, who provided financial assistance, Satynska will graduate this spring with degrees in data science and mathematics.

Friday evening, a crowd of hundreds gathered on the lawn across from Roselawn for a dedication of “Authors and Architects,” a memorial to the enslaved laborers who played an essential role in making Roanoke College what it is today. The bronze memorial sculpture, created by artist Sandy Williams IV, bears the names of more than 800 enslaved and formerly enslaved people who have been identified through years of student research in the Center for Studying Structures of Race.

The college’s work to reckon with its history began a decade ago, and the memorial dedication is a significant milestone along that journey. The support of alumna and board member Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo ’78 was instrumental in bringing the project to completion. Click here to read more about this work.

A plenary session opened the board meeting on Thursday, with a presentation by Scott Carlson and Ned Laff, the authors of “Hacking College: Why the Major Doesn’t Matter and What Really Does.” In their presentation, “What is college for?” Carlson and Laff asked the group to reconsider the value of majors as an orienting strategy for students, pointing out that many students have interests and passions that do not align with established pathways. They said that changing the way these students are advised, expanding the conversations we have with them, and exploring the hidden job market can open the door to a goldmine of opportunities and resources.

The plenary session aligns with the third imperative in “Imagine Roanoke,”the college’s new strategic plan: to make the exploration of purpose, the pursuit of character, and the graduation of leaders a distinction of a Roanoke College education.   

During the Marketing and Enrollment Committee report, Vice President Rita Farlow shared that a new marketing campaign, “Small School, Big Sprit,” will emphasize Roanoke’s deep sense of connection, enthusiasm and school pride. Trustees were treated to a commercial that was created by Multimedia Producer Griffin Pivarunas and aired on local station WDBJ7 during March Madness.

Melissa Lacombe, associate vice president of Enrollment Management, shared some encouraging trends, including that deposits from accepted students are up significantly over last year. Farlow also led the board in a brainstorming exercise to uncover new strategies for engaging prospective students and families.

In the College Life Committee report, presentations by Kathy Wolfe, vice president for Academic Affairs; Jay Ellison, vice president for Student Success; and Athletic Director Curtis Campbell were also inspired by the third strategic imperative. Wolfe explained how the virtues that demonstrate character, leadership and purpose are embedded throughout academics at Roanoke. Campbell talked about how those lessons, as well as teamwork, resilience, discipline, responsibility and integrity, can be learned through involvement in athletics. As part of his presentation, Campbell invited trustees Ken Belton ’81 and Dr. Paris Butler ’00 to share with the board how their involvement in basketball at Roanoke instilled important lessons in them.

During the Student Success presentation, Jonathan Lee, senior director of student and alumni success services, explained how the college’s center for Purpose, Life, and Career Exploration (PLACE) helps students and alumni build a successful career path. Lee shared that 84% of Roanoke College graduates feel their job is important based on the mission or purpose of their organization, and this figure is much higher than the national average of 45%. He said people who find purpose in their work are 10 times more likely to have overall well-being.

The board welcomed Steve Capaldo as the college’s new director of students finding purpose. Capaldo, who is serving on the Imagine Roanoke Leadership Team, said that although character is a key component of the college’s strategic plan and day-to-day operations, the community needs a clear, institutional definition of character that is part of the school’s ethos.

In other college life news, the board awarded emeriti status to two retiring faculty: Tom Carter, associate professor of English and communications, and Hans Zorn, professor of philosophy. The board also approved new faculty appointments for 2025-2026 and passed a resolution for the awarding of degrees at next month’s commencement, which takes place May 3.

During the Building and Grounds Committee report, David Mowen, vice president of finance and administration, explained how the college is working to meet the second imperative of the strategic plan: to develop an on-campus residential experience that is an exemplar of a 21st century learning laboratory. Mowen reported that the Shaun McConnon Discovery Center construction project remains on budget and on schedule for completion by the fall 2026 target date. He also said that plans to renovate Crawford Hall remain on track for this summer, with a target completion date of fall 2026. As reported last time, the college has engaged a local architect for the project, which will focus on upgrades to the HVAC system, windows, bathrooms, the kitchen, outdoor spaces and accessibility features.

In addition, the board heard an update on Maroon Village, a project it approved in October 2024. This new student housing community will be established on the south end of campus to handle housing overflow while residence halls are offline for renovation. The college plans to have Maroon Village in place in time to house about 150 students in fall 2025.

The board also learned that fundraising is moving along for a new Athletic Performance Center, which will be built in Alumni Gym. The APC will serve the more than 600 student-athletes who play in 27 varsity sports at Roanoke. It will include performance flooring and turf, more and newer weight racks, updated graphics and signage, new HVAC, wireless internet access and new technology to keep track of workouts. Advancement has raised about two-thirds of the sum needed for the project, and it is working to secure the remainder.

Vice President of Advancement Nate Stewart kicked off his presentation by reminding trustees that Alumni Weekend would begin just as the board meeting ended on Friday. More than 250 alumni were registered to return to campus for the event. Stewart also presented information about Giving Day, which took place April 8-9 and raised more than $600,000.

Stewart shared that his team is striving to raise more money for the endowment, which in turn supports student financial aid. The major gift team is reevaluating its workflow and reprioritizing solicitations to better identify and steward potential donors. Advancement also is working to increase alumni engagement to 25% from its current level of 15%. Stewart said philanthropy is a major key to the future of Roanoke, and it will require everyone who cares about the school to spread the word and encourage deeper levels of involvement and support.

The Society of 1842 luncheon on Friday shined a light on alumni and friends of the college who are doing just that. The society, which recognizes those who name Roanoke College as a beneficiary in their estate plans, has a current roster of more than 1,100 members. At the luncheon, the Rev. Christopher Price ’75 and his wife, Terry Price ’76, were lauded with the Roanoke College Medal, the school’s highest alumni recognition. The Prices both have devoted their lives to service and community, and they have given back to their alma mater in numerous ways.

Also at the luncheon, the Emerging Alumni Award went to Alexander B. Phillips ’01 and Emily Metro Phillips ’01, while the Maroons by Choice Award was given to Chuck Baker, John W. Burress III, and Frank and Pamela DiRamio.

In his remarks to luncheon guests, President Shushok offered a frank and forward-looking message, echoing themes from his letter in the recent alumni magazine. Shushok highlighted meaningful strides the college is making through its “Imagine Roanoke” strategic plan and also acknowledged the substantial financial pressures facing Roanoke and many other colleges and universities across the country.  A key concern for Roanoke is the gap between what students can afford and what the college can sustainably provide. Shushok noted that of the $36 million in aid Roanoke offers each year, only 10 percent is backed by endowed funds, while remaining dollars come in the form of a tuition discount. This places the college in the difficult position of needing to charge more to support the budget, while at the same time, families need to pay less. The solution, Shushok stated, will require greater philanthropic support.

“The only way to bridge the financial gap for our students and the college is through philanthropy,” he said. “What we do together now will shape Roanoke’s future—and the opportunities we can offer the next generation of students.”

Shushok closed his remarks by inviting donors to support two key initiatives: 

• The President’s 25, a five-year, $25,000 commitment ($5,000 per year) toward growing unrestricted endowed scholarships. More than 30 generous donors have already signed on, and an anonymous benefactor has pledged $1 million in matching funds to support student needs now.
• Roanoke Excellence Now Funds, which address the college’s most immediate needs, including scholarships, academic innovation, student services, and support for the strategic priorities outlined in Imagine Roanoke.

Those interested in learning more about these initiatives can contact Nate Stewart, vice president for Advancement, at nastewart@roanoke.edu.

During the board’s business meeting, which followed the luncheon, faculty moderator Jon Snow presented his report. Snow, an associate professor of public affairs at Roanoke, acknowledged the challenges facing academic institutions in America at this time, encouraging college leaders to lean into Roanoke’s values of civic-minded education. Snow also told the board that the college has made great strides in improving communication between campus constituencies, and that a formal structure for staff representation remains an important goal. He said faculty retention should also be a priority for the school. As he presented his final report as moderator, preparing to cede the role to Biology Professor Rachel Collins, Snow thanked the board for the opportunity to participate and represent his colleagues. He will stay on as a faculty representative.

Student Government Association President Max Cardwell ’25 reported that the Student Leadership Council has approved four new clubs: the National Association for Blacks in Criminal Justice, a Ping Pong Club, a Culinary Club, and PASS for Hunger. The latter initiative allows students to donate unused meal swipes to the campus food pantry. Cardwell also said he is gathering ideas from students about a Maroon hand signal, and that the SGA recently enjoyed a visit from Chris Drew, director of Residence Life and Housing.

President Frank Shushok Jr. also presented his report to the board, highlighting the six imperatives of “Imagine Roanoke” and reminding trustees of the ways in which it is guiding the work of leadership, faculty and staff. As Roanoke continues to march against strong headwinds, Shushok stressed that bold leadership, innovation and philanthropy continue to be essential. He gave thanks for the many ways in which board members serve the college as volunteers.

“It is taking a village to support the college in this important moment,” he said, “and you’ve given of yourself in the most inspiring ways.”

The contributions of the Rev. Dr. Theodore “Ted” Schneider ’56 are a fitting example of that sacrifice. Schneider is a retired Lutheran minister who served as bishop of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He is a Roanoke College Medalist who has served on the board of trustees for 18 years. He and his wife, Doris (Smith) Schneider ’56, also a medalist, have generously given their time and talents to Roanoke in numerous other ways, including as members of the Society of 1842.

During the spring meeting, Schneider formally announced his retirement from the board. Honoring his service and contributions to the board and the college, the board voted unanimously to appoint Schneider as trustee emeritus. Schneider, an enthusiastic advocate for the return of football at Roanoke, received a standing ovation and a very special treat: a visit from Maroons football coach Bryan Stinespring and several team members, who came bearing a football signed by the whole team.

During the spring meeting, the board welcomed three new board members: Jared Herr ’04, an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco; David Robertson ’89, vice president and co-owner of Robertson Marketing Group in Salem, Va.; and Peter Treiber ’79, a retired insurance executive and the owner of Treiber Farms, a 60-acre family farm on Long Island.

The spring meeting was preceded on Wednesday night by a social hour for faculty, staff and trustees, sponsored by the President’s Office, the Teaching Collaborative and RC-RV (Roanoke College-Roanoke Valley). Following the social, trustees were invited to attend an Emancipation Week keynote lecture by Dr. Charmaine A. Nelson titled “Male or Man? American Slavery, Public Monuments, and the Containment of Black Manhood.” Nelson is a Canadian art historian, educator and founding director of the Slavery North Initiative.

The board will convene for its annual fall meeting Oct. 30-31.