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President Porterfield’s Notes & News | June 2022

A New Season

Greetings from Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary! It is summer and I am reminded once again that the rhythms of the seasons reflect our own personal and organizational lives. There is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3). For our community, it is a time to gather, heal and to move forward.

This past March I took some time to be by myself to begin drafting our next vision. I used the time to reflect on the current landscape of higher education, campus and colleague conversations, the needs of students and future opportunities. I came away from that time of solitude and reflection with a draft of Vision 2030, and since then have been refining the details of that vision.

In April I presented Vision 2030 to the Board of Trustees and began the collaborative process of envisioning our next strategic plan and the future of our campus. By May, the majority of our faculty and staff had engaged with the new vision and strategic planning process. Our alumni and students will also have an opportunity during the summer months to provide input regarding our “clear distinctive” and our future. It is a time of clarity, hope and new birth – the next season in the 156-year life of our community.

What is Vision 2030? Our official announcement will come in the months ahead, , but the foundation includes the following:

• Who We Are: an institution committed to transforming society through graduates who thoughtfully engage in the world, who are spiritually mature and who are committed to serving others
• What We Will Be Known For: the development of the whole person, education excellence, community engagement and a vibrant community.
• We Will Continue to Be: Christ-centered (Christian) institution, committed to being focused, flexible, innovative, inclusive (reflecting the world in which we live), engaged in our community, and curious.

Out of this foundation comes the clarity of our structure, programs, commitments and opportunities. The eight-year vision is a pivot into our future, secure in the distinctive calling of who we are, but moving to meet the ever-changing needs of our students and community. We will be anchored in Christ, and engaged in the world.

We anticipate a public roll-out Vision of 2030 and the next strategic plan this fall with a celebration in January - aligned with the ribbon-cutting  and grand opening of the new Golisano Community Engagement Center. I look forward to sharing more of Vision 2030 with you and the excitement of the season that is ahead.

With Prayer and Optimism,

Dr. Deana L. Porterfield
President

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