THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 19, 1995 TAG: 9510190352
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Civic activist Jane P. Batten was elected chairwoman of Virginia Wesleyan College's Board of Trustees on Wednesday. She succeeds Jerry G. Bray Jr., who served as chairman of the board for 30 years.
Batten said Wednesday that she wanted ``to continue to build on the strengths'' of the college, such as its commitment to strong teaching. ``At the same time,'' she said, ``we have a lot of challenges'' - including boosting the use of technology in the classroom.
``I'm really high on this place,'' Batten said. ``I don't think the community realizes how much of a return they've gotten on their investment here.''
Batten, 58, has been a member of Wesleyan's board since 1981. She is also a trustee of the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges, the Parsons Foundation and the Virginia Beach Foundation.
Batten, a Norfolk native who lives in Virginia Beach, is married to Frank Batten, chairman of Landmark Communications Inc. They have three children. One of them, Mary Batten Jacobson of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., attended Wesleyan for two years before transferring to the Maryland Institute of Art.
Wesleyan's president, William T. ``Billy'' Greer Jr., said: ``I don't think it's too dramatic to say it's the beginning of a new era for Virginia Wesleyan. She's an enormously able individual. I believe that Jane Batten will offer us decisive, bold, visionary leadership as we move rapidly toward the 21st century. . . .
``Jane Batten possesses a genuine passion for Virginia Wesleyan. She feels, as we all do, that a quality, small liberal-arts college is critical to the growth and development of our region.''
Batten is also chairwoman of Wesleyan's $25 million fund-raising campaign, launched in April. She said Wednesday that Wesleyan has raised $10.7 million so far. It recently received a $500,000 donation earmarked for technology from a source who wished to remain anonymous.
Bray, a retired chief judge of the Chesapeake Circuit Court, will continue to serve as a board member.
Batten said, ``I can succeed Judge Bray, but I can't replace Judge Bray. It's going to take the whole board to fill his shoes.''
The board also elected two vice chairmen - Robert F. Boyd, a Norfolk attorney, and Benjamin J. Willis Jr., chairman of Willis Wayside Inc. by CNB