Photo: Laila Jones | Marlin Chronicle
On July 1, 2026, Virginia Wesleyan University will become Batten University. Since this announcement, alumni have contested the name change.
On the day of the announcement, Devin Cowhey ‘10 created a petition asking the university to “reconsider this decision and maintain the name that resonates with generations.”It rose from 800 signatures in a few hours to 3,800 in a week to over 5,700 as of Sept. 9.
“Some people who disagreed took a mode of communication that is so un-Wesleyan-like,” President of the University Dr. Scott D. Miller said.
Many alumni expressed their initial reactions: shock and surprise. Stewart Howe ‘07 said when he heard the news of the change, “I thought it was a joke at first.”
Andrew Edwards ‘98 said, “Once the reality of it set in, like most alumni, I felt a sense of loss.” Edwards said when he heard the news in real time, he also thought it was a joke.
Crosson Miller ‘25 found out about the name change hours after the announcement from the university’s initial Instagram post. He described his reaction as “shock and disbelief.”
Howe questioned why they made the change: “Didn’t they just become VWU not too long ago? Isn’t the Batten name already recognized on campus buildings?”
Dr. Miller said this change is a recognition of what the Batten family means to the university. In a Sept. 3 interview with The Marlin Chronicle, he said, “Quite candidly, years ago when the institution was on the brink, it was the Battens who really saved this place.”
I hate to say that if the Battens hadn’t gotten involved, I really question whether Virginia Wesleyan would be here today.”
Jane Batten and Chair of the Board of Trustees Nancy T. DeFord during a prayer at
the State of the University on Aug. 20.
Photo: Isaac Fick | Marlin Chronicle
According to Dr. Miller, Batten has been the most pivotal individual in the institution’s history. “No president, no church, no other donor — Jane Batten is the single greatest driving factor in the history of the school, and is very deserving to have her name, or as she puts it, the name of her family, on this institution,” Dr. Miller said.
“I think they should put more emphasis on her and show [that] this woman is the most ethical billionaire of our time. This is why we are naming the school after her: because she has helped out thousands and she’s donated millions of dollars to our local institutions,” sophomore Lynsey Cox said.
“Go up and down the great private institutions, and many of them were named after philanthropists,” Dr. Miller said.
“Jesus told a rich man to give away his money, and that’s precisely what Jane Batten has been doing for decades,” Edwards said, adding how it is to the benefit of students. “I have been ashamed and embarrassed by alumni reactions accusing the Batten family of buying our beloved alma mater.
“I would ask those who are attacking [Jane Batten] personally to think of what kind of a person it would take for such a momentous and unanimous decision to be made by the board,” Edwards said.
Batten was the chair of the Board of Trustees when Edwards was a student. “She really is a remarkable person who believes in higher education in general and the mission of Virginia Wesleyan in particular. Everyone who has met her will say the same thing,” Edwards said.
Oliver Chauncey-Heine ‘24 said he has seen untrue assumptions about Batten in social media comments, and his initial negative reaction was undone by research into the name change.
“She said she was embarrassed to have a university named after her family,” but Chauncey-Heine said this could be a positive response to flattery. “I hope Jane Batten feels that Batten University embodies the name, and that she hasn’t been hurt by alumni comments.”
“In all the video interviews, Jane Batten was pretty vocal about feeling uncomfortable with the situation,” Crosson Miller said. “Why did we go out of our way to convince her to change it?”
For Chauncey-Heine, Batten herself is a primary reason for supporting the name change. “She’s a pioneer for environmental justice; she’s pro-critical thinking and pro-education in a way that speaks to Batten University’s mission to help students succeed.”
Howe said he believes the university’s “attempts to restructure debt, change their image, forge a new path, build a brighter future, etc. … is an exercise in futility masked in adoration.”
Veni Fields ‘00 said a lack of consultation amplified the reaction: “What shocked all of us was that no one was consulted about the change outside the upper echelon — no alumni query went out, and even faculty currently on campus learned with the rest of the world that this was even a thing.”
Nina Ruiz ‘11 said, “The FAQs distributed by the university did not resolve my biggest question: why alumni weren’t represented in the decision-making process. While I understand that not every voice can be at the table, it is troubling that the Alumni Council was not engaged at all.”
Crosson Miller said he found the FAQs “intentionally really vague and a little misleading,” and he thinks they “sugarcoated a few sections, specifically about how Jane Batten feels about the name change.”
“Contrary to popular belief, you can’t run a popularity poll on something like this,” Dr. Miller said. Out of 36 voting members of the Board of Trustees, he said 11 are elected alumni who were active in discussions on the change. “All 11 were supportive of the name change.”
Leading up to the decision to change names, Dr. Miller said the university conducted interviews with 52 active stakeholders of the institution, and all were in favor of the change.
“I see a lot of alumni complaining that they feel ignored and bulldozed over; I don’t agree. You don’t consult the past in a decision of the future. Batten University isn’t cutting Virginia Wesleyan University, or even Virginia Wesleyan College, loose; it’s taking them in as building blocks to be better,” Chauncey-Heine said. “I don’t understand why so many people are afraid of change.”
One concern stemming from the name change is losing the credentials of Virginia Wesleyan. Junior Avery Lewis said it is a disadvantage for student and alumni resumes because it diminishes credibility.
Regarding resumes and portfolios, Dr. Miller said alumni can continue listing Virginia Wesleyan College or University, adding that some might name Virginia Wesleyan and include “now Batten University” in parentheses.
Referring to alumni as family, Director of the Robert Nusbaum Center, Dr. Craig Wansink said, “for those who are grieving, it’s hard for me not to grieve with them, and for those who celebrate, I’m grateful that they see the possibilities.”
Freshman Somer Herrera said, “I feel like the reactions are because, naturally, we hate change. I feel like it would be a problem even if the name was changed to something most people on campus would vote for.” She said with the Batten name already associated with many facets of the university, “It just seems like overkill.”
Ruiz echoed the shock of other alumni. “I always expected that one day we would move from college to university status, as we fundraised as students to expand resources to support that change. But a full rebrand that changed the identity of the school was something I never imagined.”
Alumni protested the name change outside campus gates on Aug. 29.
Photo: Emilie Dajc | Marlin Chronicle
Not the same university
“I did have some concerns that I think a lot of you in this room probably share the question: What about Virginia Wesleyan? I promise that our over 60-year history and heritage is not being abandoned; building on our Methodist ethics of service and education, this university will just become a better version of itself,” Jane Batten said at the State of the University.
The video that followed Batten’s statement after the announcement began with a voiceover that said, “This is not the university you think you know. Building on 10 years of innovative transformation as Virginia Wesleyan University and decades of visionary philanthropy from Jane Batten and the Batten family, a bold new future comes together in 2026.”
Director of Stewardship Sarah Guzzo said she is excited about the change. At the table offering free Batten University mousepads and coffee mugs, Guzzo said it is “a wonderful way to celebrate the Batten family and continue in a new, bold direction and continue doing great things for the community and the world.”
Edwards said while small religiously affiliated liberal arts institutions have been closing rapidly, Virginia Wesleyan is “still there — and that is something to celebrate.”
“We alumni can be proud that our alma mater is not only surviving but thriving,” Edwards said. “In the past five years, over eighty such colleges have closed or forced into merging with a larger institution, and many more are expected over the coming decade.”
“The name ‘Wesleyan’ and the strong connection to the [United Methodist Church] are largely what drew me to VWC over thirty years ago,” Edwards said. Despite his initial reaction, he gradually came to accept the change. “That identity simply does not resonate with youth and young adults today,” Edwards said, adding that religiously affiliated universities are wise to adapt.
“Aligning our future with the Batten name affirms stability, opportunity and prestige in ways a fractured denominational label simply cannot,” Dr. Miller said.
Heather Weidner ‘89 said, “I understand rebranding, and there are ways to go about it successfully. This is not one of them.”
“Our brand must be positioned for strength and broad appeal in the local, state and regional market. Nobody is losing anything in this change — the Batten name formally connects us to the most impactful philanthropic family in Virginia,” Dr. Miller said.
To students, Dr. Miller said, “I think you’ll see in years to come that the brand of Batten University will be valuable to you from a career standpoint, moving forward. I would promise that that will happen.”
“As a student who does not plan to stay in Virginia, or even America, ‘Batten University’ has no global explanation,” Lewis said.
Lewis said while she has seen current students have their own set of concerns, she sees them empathize with alumni. “Alumni have gone through two name changes, and we as current students have empathy to how drastic this feels.”
“I am excited about all the growth and possibilities for the future of the university. I just wish that the Board and administration could have recognized the generous contributions of the Batten family in another way,” Weidner said.
Crosson Miller said this name change has impacted his perception of the university. “This really just made me question if the university that I put four years of hard work and money into really cares about their alumni, or if they’ll only give me a call on Giving Day.”
Ruiz said, “I believe this decision has sparked such strong reactions because it strikes at the heart of legacy. After I was elected SGA president, I was asked by Keith Moore to think deeply about what I wanted my legacy to be. That lesson stayed with me: legacy is about what we leave behind and carry forward together.”
President Scott Miller mingled among the crowd at the State of the University on
Aug. 20 before the announcement of the name change.
Photo: Isaac Fick | Marlin Chronicle
A small community
Crosson Miller said the university’s smaller size influences the name change’s impact. “Not a lot of people know about it, and now we’re willing to whisk away what little recognition we do have to change our namesake for a donor … it shows everyone watching that the Board of Trustees cares more about a donor’s dollar and a name than the religion they were rooted in, the values they’ve cultivated over the years and experiences shared among the tightly knit network of people that have cherished this university.”
Crosson Miller said he chose Virginia Wesleyan to be part of a small, caring community. “I don’t think they should take that away from us because they want to honor someone who felt uncomfortable being honored in the first place.”
Chief Operations Officer and alumni Jason Seward ‘05 said, “I’ll never be able to repay this place [for] what it gave me — to take a chance on somebody who probably didn’t deserve to have a chance taken on him.”
“We’re living in this wonderful community together,” Seward said, adding that regardless of labels, everyone learns at the same institution. “That’s the beauty of this place, and that’s never changed. I don’t care what you call it; that’s not going to change.”
Howe said he does not feel he or other alumni he knows had strong ties with the administration. “It was my coaches, teammates and other students I met during my years who I stay in touch with and still see to this day … the VWC Marlins was a brand that bonded all of my fellow students academically, spiritually and athletically,” Howe said. “A true family identity.”
“Much like they spent four years here getting a degree, I’ve spent 10 years here so far,” Dr. Miller said. “It is a special place.”
In the Aug. 20 special edition of Nota Bene: A Message of Note from President Miller, Dr. Miller said, “We recognize that change, even good change, can bring a sense of nostalgia. For many of us, Virginia Wesleyan is more than just a name — it’s woven into our personal stories, our friendships, and the milestones that shaped us. It’s okay to take a moment to reflect on the past before embracing all that the future holds.” Dr. Miller said regardless of the name change, “we are still Marlins.”
“One alumni reaction in the media claimed that Virginia Wesleyan has ‘died.’ I think that characterization is entirely unfair, though I can see where the impression comes from,” Edwards said.
“Small liberal arts college communities are like extended family,” Edwards said, adding that the tightly knit community has made changes feel more personal. “The alumni reaction is a testament to how meaningful this place is to so many people. But if grief is a process toward accepting loss, I think that grief is being expressed in unhealthy ways — ways that are potentially harmful to the community.”
Edwards said that when alumni felt that the language surrounding the change suggested the erasure of history, it deepened the response. “During Jane Batten’s remarks at last week’s State of the University event, she expressed confidence that Batten University would retain its Wesleyan heritage and traditions. That was helpful and necessary for alumni to hear.”
“But within minutes, President Miller seemed to walk that sentiment back by proclaiming it’s a new day, a new institution, etc.,” Edwards said. “I think the administration and its communications team should tone that down. That sense of losing something dear and beloved is precisely what is animating the alumni reaction.”
Moving forward with this transition, Ruiz said meaningful engagement with the community is the most important step. “Change of this magnitude cannot be one-sided; it requires transparency, dialogue and respect for the community that built Virginia Wesleyan into what it is today,” Ruiz said.
The crowd reacted to the announcement at The State of the University in
Townebank Arena on Aug. 20.
Photo: Isaac Fick | Marlin Chronicle
Batten University’s backstory
Prior to the announcement of the change, The State of the University honored the to-be namesake, Jane P. Batten, and discussed how the Batten family has shaped the institution. Dr. Miller’s speech traced the influence of the Batten family back to where it began: “We can never fully anticipate the ripple effects of a single decision or how far the echoes of one choice can travel, but this decision, made by a teenager and her family, forever altered the trajectory in profound and lasting ways.”
Dr. Miller’s speech explained how it began when Batten’s daughter became a student at Virginia Wesleyan, and a few years later in 1981 Jane Batten became a Board of Trustees member. He detailed how her contributions only grew from there.
“There is no other visionary philanthropist like Jane Batten, and the tremendous transformation that Virginia Wesleyan has had during the last 10 years can be attributed 100% to the visionary philanthropy that Jane has provided,” Dr. Miller said.
At the State of the University, Jane Batten said, “You need to know one really important thing: this was not my idea.”
On the university’s “About Jane P. Batten” page, it says, “Getting her on board with the idea required drafting a white paper about the benefits of the name change, followed by several months of discussions.”
The news of the change has reached outlets of WAVY 10, WTKR News 3, Inside Higher Ed, The Virginian-Pilot and The Washington Post.
An article on the name change from The Washington Post discussed the influence of the “white paper.” In the article, Batten said she had to be persuaded by several people adamant about the name change, and one of the faculty members she admires most wrote her a “white paper” that convinced her.
Later in the article, The Post attributed the “white paper” to Wansink. Wansink said he wrote the paper because he was told the Board of Trustees was in support of the name change, and Batten wanted to hear his thoughts.
Wansink said he does not know Batten well and felt surprised by this opportunity to share his thoughts. He said he assumes that the university community sees him as qualified for input on ethical decisions because of his Nusbaum Center position.
Referring to Wansink as a balanced and fair individual, Dr. Miller said, “He represented more than his own opinion, and it was well done.”
While Wansink said a white paper typically has many details, data and pros and cons, “I didn’t write that at all because I wasn’t in on that part of the conversation.”
Because of this, Wansink said, “It wasn’t a white paper. It really was intended to be for her, and holy cow, I would have written it very differently if I knew it would have been used more broadly.”
Dr. Miller said Wansink elected not to release the paper, “because some things have unfortunately gotten twisted and politicized.”
“I wouldn’t have come up with an idea of saying, ‘hey, let’s change the name of the school,’” Wansink said. He said people have implied he had a bigger role in the change, but he does not see it that way.
Wansink said there was a small group of people who set up logistics for the change, but all he did was ask questions.
Dr. Miller said following the unanimous vote by the Board in February for the name change, a group of 18 individuals began the plan for implementing and announcing the change, which received another unanimous vote during the May Board meeting. Dr. Miller said this announcement, and the materials that accompanied it, aimed to communicate a start to finish explanation for the change.
Regarding the finality of the name change, Dr. Miller said, “the Board of Trustees has that final authority and they have issued that final authority.”
“We understand how many feel,” Dr. Miller said. “We just ask that those opinions be shared with us in a respectful way.”
“I believe that as time passes, people will see it’s the right decision,” Dr. Miller said, adding that he anticipates they will come to accept it as what’s best for the institution.
By: Isaac Fick & Lily Reslink
ihfick@vwu.edu
lbreslink@vwu.edu