Similar to the Aug. 29 rally, alumni against the impending university name change came to protest outside campus gates on Oct. 4 with signs and custom merchandise — getting attention in the form of beeps from passing drivers and coverage from local news outlets.
Photo: Carter Kellam | Marlin Chronicle
Alumni who feel at odds with the university say Homecoming festivities hold new implications.
Without university affiliation, alumni organized events separate from Virginia Wesleyan’s 2025 Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 3-5. Alumni planned what they called “No-Home Homecoming” as an expression of disconnection from their alma mater.
“We thought [No-Home Homecoming] was important, since the President wouldn’t speak to any of us directly, … to sort of make a stand and show that it actually matters, and it’s not just one person, and it’s not just nostalgia; It’s real, tangible issues,” rally participant Amy Gallup Klann ‘89 said.
Concurrent with campus-affiliated events, No-Home Homecoming invited alumni to gather at Shorebreak Pizza & Taphouse, the campus entrance, Cova Brewing Co. & Coffee House and Scott Memorial United Methodist Church UMC during Homecoming weekend. Participants largely attributed the disconnect with their alma mater to the university’s name change to Batten University and criticism of administrative leadership.
Alongside ‘No-Home Homecoming’ primary coordinator Devin Cowhey ‘10 [TOP RIGHT], alumni gather at COVA Brewing Co. & Coffee House on Oct. 4.
Photo: Laila Jones | Marlin Chronicle
As part of No-Home Homecoming, alumni gathered outside campus gates on Oct. 4 for the second time after the name change announcement. “I’m here to rally with fellow alumni and just to make our voices heard. It’s very disheartening when you kind of built your identity around your college,” Michelle Asaro Maxfield ‘93 said.
First-year Enrollment Counselor Zion Purvis Allen ‘24 said for those who oppose the name change, “I completely understand where the discomfort could come from, but I’m excited about what this could bring for the years to come.”
Devin Cowhey ‘10, leader in coordinating No-Home Homecoming and alumni mobilization against the name change, said for around 15 years Virginia Wesleyan has hosted a Homecoming gathering at alumni-owned Shorebreak Pizza & Taphouse. “It wasn’t on the schedule this year,” Cowhey said. Instead, alumni reserved the restaurant for a No-Home Homecoming dinner on Friday, Oct. 3.
While Cowhey can’t confirm if VWU intended to make their usual reservation, she said Shorebreak was “holding it for the college, and they hadn’t heard any confirmation.”
Regarding off-campus events, “because our campus is located in such a metropolitan area, Marlins have gathered outside of official campus events for forever,” Director of Alumni Engagement Kayleigh Poggioli said.
“We had an amazing turnout [at Shorebreak on Oct. 3]. I think it really shows that there is a problem with this name change, and we’re really concerned about it,” Debbie Kelleker ‘82 said.
Bob Valvano ‘79 said more than 200 attended the Shorebreak dinner. “You should be trying to figure out how you can galvanize those people, not alienate them. Isn’t it just good business?”
“They don’t have to do anything, but they should give some indication they hear us — not just dismiss us as ‘mean-spirited’ or ‘un-Wesleyan-like,’” Valvano said.
“I was super involved with the college after I graduated,” Janet Adams ‘90 said, including membership of the Alumni Association Board of Directors in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Adams said she contrasts current university changes to the college’s process of changing their tagline to “bring a spark, light a fire.”
“There were months of surveys and focus groups and contacting alumni and different groups and getting feedback just for a tagline. We’re changing the entire name of the university, and none of that happened,” Adams said.
In an interview with the Chronicle, President Scott Miller said “there were 52 individuals that were considered major stakeholders in the university that were interviewed in 60 to 90 minute interview sessions between December and February,” and all were in support of the change.
Future President of the Undergraduate Alumni Association, junior Miles Pifer [RIGHT] and Director of Alumni Engagement, Kayleigh Poggioli [LEFT], enjoy the Fin Fest at a tent representing VWU’s Trinder Center for Advancement team.
Photo: Isaac Fick | Marlin Chronicle
As a student-led organization to connect alumni to current students, Junior Miles Pifer is the project leader and incoming president of the Undergraduate Alumni Association, launching Spring ‘26.
Pifer said the association aims to connect alumni to the university. “The way that we connect even more is at the personal level. It’s never all the way at the top. It’s right on the field, with all of us within these tents,” Pifer said.
Pifer attended VWU Homecoming events before he was a student, and said it is beneficial for gatherings like this to connect people over shared experiences, such as participating in the same sports team or organization.
Valvano said he found the No-Home Homecoming events to be an impactful bonding experience: “It’s not just ‘let’s have fun.’ … there was a purpose behind it.”
Valvano said he does not usually participate in Homecoming, but he flew in from his home in Kentucky to be there because it “meant that much” to him.
“We are glad to see alumni continuing to find ways to come together and celebrate their shared experiences and connection to the university,” Poggioli said. She said university Homecoming events were well attended.
As Homecoming is a primary time for giving, alumni voiced the financial impact of their detachment from the university. Gallup Klann said she wants “to understand how such an important decision could be made with… no discussion among key stakeholders, including thousands of alumni, many of us who have estate plans to leave significant amounts of money to this college or university.”
“If the name changes to something that has no relation to us … then we’re going to have to pay money to change our legacy estate donations,” Gallup Klann said.
“I do contribute every year to the ‘excellence fund.’ I will not be contributing another dime when it changes to Batten University,” Maxfield said.
Valvano said the Virginia Wesleyan community once felt like being a part of something bigger than himself. “Now, they want to take that away, and it’s very, very hurtful to a lot of people,” Valvano said.
Valvano pointed to the college’s early days, where he said it had few resources, but the people had lots of love for each other. “There are people making this decision that weren’t here at that time,” Valvano said, adding that he knows this has been repeated, but he maintains that it is important. “They don’t understand that. They don’t seem to want to understand it. And that’s what’s really offending some people.”
“We didn’t feel like we were very important [to the university],” Suzy Brett ‘72 said, which is why she participated in No-Home Homecoming.
On behalf of her and her husband, Tom Brett ‘71, she said she feels like her board position with the college and their accolades on the wall no longer mean anything.
With other No-Home Homecoming attendees, Brett said she is a part of a cohesive group. “We love each other. We love the college, but we have something that we’re challenged to work toward over there,” Brett said.
Some made themselves at home both on and off campus during Homecoming weekend. While participating in the rally, Gallup Klann said, “We’ve been part of what built this from nothing, and we love it, and I still am going to go on campus today.” Gallup Klann said she still loves to look around the bookstore and check on campus updates.
By: Lily Reslink & Isaac Fick
lbreslink@vwu.edu & ihfick@vwu.edu
