Latest news with #SweetBriarCollege
Associated Press
18-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Nascent Sweet Briar College Farm Winery strikes gold (and silver) in Virginia Governor's Cup
Historic successes for college's first three entries in nationally renowned wine competition SWEET BRIAR, Va., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweet Briar College Farm Winery has rapidly become a rising star in the Virginia wine industry. After bottling its first independent vintage from the 2023 harvest, the Farm entered its first-ever wine competition, achieving a remarkable three medals – one gold and two silvers – in Virginia's prestigious Governor's Cup. The gold medal entry, Earned the Rosé, is named for the institution's motto honoring all Sweet Briar graduates, 'She who earns the rose may bear it.' The new variety delighted the senses of six judges who conducted single-blind tastings over three days. They knew the grape or category of each wine, but not its vintage, winery or name. A 12-judge panel subsequently assessed the highest-ranking wines, sampled all and assigned final marks. Those scoring 90 to 100 were accorded gold medals and are included in the Virginia Gold Medal Wine Trail, where wine enthusiasts flock each year to discover the Commonwealth's finest offerings. Silver medal winners were Leading the Way Chardonnay and Meadow Merlot. 'Our wines are named to honor and celebrate Sweet Briar College's traditions, academic excellence and core curriculum dedicated to women's leadership, and to highlight our sustainability initiatives,' noted Professor Lisa Powell, Ph.D., who heads the school's agriculture and sustainability programs. Grapes for the award winners were grown on the College's campus, overlooking a wildflower field that provides superb forage for both native pollinators and honeybees from Sweet Briar's apiary. The wines are made in collaboration with Michael Shaps Wineworks and are bottled in Charlottesville, Va. 'Students learn about viticulture and the wine industry both through courses and a variety of experiential opportunities. Several honors students have conducted research inspired by our vineyards, including work on marketing and designing traps for invasive pests. Since we planted the vines, groups of students have learned how to prune, how to estimate yields, how to sample to assess readiness for harvest, and bottled some of our wines,' said Powell. Information on visiting campus for tastings and purchases is available at ABOUT SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE Sweet Briar College is an institution for women's education in Sweet Briar, Virginia. For more information, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Sweet Briar College
Associated Press
02-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Sweet Briar College Names Dr. Lisa J. Powell as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the College
Dr. Lisa Powell appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the College, and Chief Sustainability Officer, continuing her leadership at Sweet Briar. 'Dr. Powell is uniquely qualified as the next Dean of Sweet Briar College as an outstanding academic leader with a national reputation who is dedicated to the liberal arts.' — President Mary Pope M. Hutson AMHERST, VA, UNITED STATES, March 2, 2025 / / -- Sweet Briar College's new dean will be familiar to many: Dr. Lisa Jordan Powell will assume her new role as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the College, and Chief Sustainability Officer on July 1, 2025. She was selected following an internal application and interview process in January and February. The college's current vice president and dean, Jeffrey E. Key, Ph.D., will resume his role as an associate professor of political science. 'Dr. Powell is uniquely qualified as the next Dean of Sweet Briar College as an outstanding academic leader with a national reputation dedicated to the liberal arts,' said President Mary Pope M. Hutson. 'Her focus on sustainability is central to Sweet Briar's strategic plan and the College's ethos. She has consistently shown dedication and commitment to education at Sweet Briar, increasing auxiliary revenues through excellent produce and creating and enhancing partnerships across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Accolades like our recent announcement of Sweet Briar College Farm's earned the Rosé, earning gold in the Virginia Governor's Cup, speak to the quality of Dr. Powell's work and her ability to ensure our college's full potential is realized.' 'I am committed to the areas of focus Sweet Briar has set for the coming years, including building academic excellence, raising the profile of the College, and establishing financial sustainability,' said Dr. Powell. 'I am eager to bring my energy and experience to sustain, grow, and move the college forward. I have learned so much from those I've met through Sweet Briar—the amazing students, faculty, staff, alumnae, and friends of the College—and I look forward to continuing to learn from and work with our community.' Dr. Powell serves as STEM Division Head, Director of the Center for Human and Environmental Sustainability, and a tenured environmental science and agriculture faculty member. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Harvard University, an M.S. in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in American Studies with a Sustainability portfolio from the University of Texas at Austin, where she also completed a Graduate Certificate in First-Year Instruction. Before coming to Sweet Briar, Dr. Powell held faculty and administrative appointments at universities in British Columbia, Canada, where her research and knowledge mobilization efforts focused on strengthening regional food systems, agricultural land use policy and planning, adoption of new agricultural technologies, crop diversification, and food literacy education. Dr. Powell officially joined Sweet Briar's community in January 2020. In her time at the College, Dr. Powell has affirmed the Center for Human and Environment Sustainability as a unit combining academic programs and entrepreneurial initiatives that prioritize hands-on coursework and employment experiences for students, such as the community-supported agriculture (CSA) program and produce markets, wholesale produce distribution, apiculture, and wine sales. She developed and secured buy-in from internal and external stakeholders for the Leadership in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Certificate, and with the generous support of the Willits Foundation, she has built and leads the Willits Food Systems Summer Fellows program. Dr. Powell has also worked alongside student leaders to grow the Sustainability Club, one of the largest clubs on campus. In addition to supporting sustainability efforts at Sweet Briar, Dr. Powell has helped to strengthen relationships with partners such as the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, regional wineries and other businesses, and local government. Dr. Powell has extended Sweet Briar's reach by speaking at national, state, and local events on Sweet Briar's work to prepare future leaders in sustainability and agriculture, as well as partnering with the College's admissions department to recruit students interested in sustainability to Sweet Briar. 'Dr. Powell is well-known by faculty and very capable,' said search committee member Dr. Dwana Waugh, Associate Professor of History and Social Sciences & Humanities Division Head. 'She also has a keen sense about the future direction of the college.' Throughout her time at Sweet Briar, Dr. Powell has continued and expanded her research programs to include collaborations with faculty across Virginia and work centered around her students' interests. She has supervised numerous senior honors theses and Honors Summer Research Program projects. Her work has been published in journals such as Agriculture and Human Values, Food, Culture, and Society, Urban Climate, The Geographical Journal, The Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, Teaching and Teacher Education, and The Journal of Rural Studies, among many others. 'Dr. Powell has been remarkably successful doing what she was hired to do at Sweet Briar,' said search committee member Dr. Brent Shea, Professor of Sociology. 'Lisa's administrative background in food and agriculture is ideal for supporting Sweet Briar's commitment to sustainability. Beyond that, Professor Powell has numerous peer-reviewed publications. Lisa exemplifies the teacher-scholar model for college professors to maintain credibility over one's career as a professor of one's field of knowledge. Professor Powell's qualifications compare favorably with deans who have prevailed at Sweet Briar after national searches here in recent decades.' Dr. Lisa Powell's appointment continues a long tradition of excellence among Sweet Briar's administrators, particularly among those who have come to those positions having already served as faculty or staff. Her service to Sweet Briar has extended from the classroom to the greenhouse, apiary, vineyards, forests, and even the wine shop and tasting room in the Wailes Center. In her new role, Dr. Powell will continue teaching selected courses, directing the College's sustainability and agriculture academic programs and initiatives, and serving as a co-leader of Sweet Briar College Farm. 'Dr. Powell will elevate academic excellence at Sweet Briar along with our distinguished professoriate for years to come, as already evidenced through strengthened sustainability and environmental science programs,' said President Hutson. 434-381-6240 X TikTok Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Associated Press
01-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Equestrian Legend Lendon Gray Sweet Briar College Alumna '71 Honored with USEF Lifetime Achievement Award
Lendon Gray '71 Honored with USEF Lifetime Achievement Award for Her Impact on Equestrian Sport 'I love teaching…Just as I love taking any horse and making it better, I love taking any kid and helping him or her become a better rider and to enjoy it.' — Lendon Gray Sweet Briar College Alumna '71 AMHERST, VA, UNITED STATES, March 1, 2025 / / -- Following decades of riding and service to the equestrian community, Lendon Gray '71 was recognized with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award by the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) in December. Lendon has loved horses since she was a small child. During an interview by US Equestrian, Lendon remarked she was on a horse before she could walk. She officially began her riding career when her mother, Corrine Gray '36, started a Pony Club in Old Town, Maine 1956. Earning her A-rating at age 16, she was an eventer through high school and earned money-breaking ponies. When she arrived at Sweet Briar College in 1967, she transitioned to the American Forward Riding System under the tutelage of the late Paul D. Cronin, director of riding at the time. After graduating in 1971, she taught at the College for three years before getting a job in Alabama starting young horses for eventing. Much of Lendon's early career became defined by her transition to dressage, in which she began competing at 27. She made a name for herself riding Seldom Seen, the first horse she trained for the Grand Prix and who helped redefine the type of horse that could compete in dressage. Lendon's highly decorated career was accented by numerous awards and milestones, including multiple Olympic qualifications, winning five gold medals at U.S. Olympic Festivals, receiving a Congressional Gold Medal following the 1980 Olympic boycott, and competing in dressage at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. She also represented the country in the 1991 International Federation for Equestrian Sports World Cup Final in Paris and the 1978 World Championships. 'The thing that I think I got most out of [my time at the Olympics] in many ways was watching the training of other sports because we don't see other sports,' she said. 'For me, it was the Olympic experience…Just being part of the whole thing, that was amazing.' The accolades and honors Lendon has received are plentiful, including, but not limited to, the Governor's Award from the Maine Sports Hall of Fame, the Exceptional Equine Educator Award, the American Riding Instructors Association Master Instructor Award, as a U.S. Pony Club National Instruction Legend, and Most Influential Trainer Award from Young/Youngish Equine Professionals Group. Lendon was inducted into the Sweet Briar College Athletics & Riding Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Roemer Foundation/U.S. Dressage Foundation Hall of Fame in 2011. Lendon rode various breeds of horses in many styles throughout her successful show career before beginning her decades-long commitment to teaching youth riders. In 1999, she founded Dressage4Kids, which, according to its mission statement, 'provides educational and competitive opportunities to youth riders and the adults who support them.' That same year, Dressage4Kids held the inaugural Youth Dressage Festival. Through coaching, her impact on dressage and youth riders has immeasurable impact on the international riding community. 'I love teaching…Just as I love taking any horse and making it better, I love taking any kid and helping them become better riders and enjoy it,' Lendon said. In addition to teaching and holding countless clinics, Lendon has contributed her years of expertise to written publications such as the Chronicle of the Horse, Dressage Today, Horse People, and Equine Journal. She also authored Lessons with Lendon: 25 Progressive Dressage Lessons Take You from Basic 'Whoa and Go' to Your First Competition 2003. She has served on nearly 50 committees for various riding organizations, is the Dressage Foundation's board chair, and is a member of the Sweet Briar College Board of Directors. Lendon was presented with her USEF Lifetime Achievement Award during the Pegasus Awards Dinner at the 2025 US Equestrian Annual Meeting on Jan. 23, 2025. When receiving her award, Lendon recounted some of her experiences, including her time at Sweet Briar studying under Paul Cronin. She also thanked those who had helped her along the way. 'Thank you very much to everyone at USEF…and especially thank you to the wonderful horses that have given me an opportunity, and the amazing volunteers that are behind what I do make it possible for me to stand up here, but they all should be up here with me. Thank you.' To learn more about Sweet Briar College's prestigious equestrian program or contact Admissions at [email protected] or call 434-381-6142 and discover the opportunities awaiting you. Communications and Marketing + +1 434-381-6240 X Instagram YouTube TikTok Legal Disclaimer:
Associated Press
28-02-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Sweet Briar College and Regional Leaders Celebrate Innovation at Engineers Week Banquet
Sweet Briar College brought together students, industry leaders, and the community to celebrate innovation, problem-solving, and engineering excellence. 'This event brings together engineering students and faculty, practicing engineers, and the greater central Virginia community to learn about engineering challenges and solutions.' — Dr. Jon Bender, director of the Margaret Jones Wyllie '45 Engineering AMHERST, VA, UNITED STATES, February 28, 2025 / / -- In partnership with the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, Sweet Briar College hosted its annual National Engineers Week Banquet on Feb. 20 to celebrate regional engineering. Over 150 students, faculty, staff, and guests attended the event held in the Upchurch Field House. It included an evening of networking, discussion, and a keynote address by Jordan P. Evans, an aerospace engineer and project manager for NASA's Europa Clipper mission. Evans's presentation included anecdotes from his career with NASA, a brief history of space travel, and a description of what it takes to lead a team at NASA, including how to assemble a team, take risks, and recover from failures or setbacks. He also shared what he considers the traits of a highly successful engineering team, including intellectual curiosity, exceptional two-way communication, leadership, diverse technical skills, and more. 'Humans are the core of engineering itself,' Evans said during his remarks. 'We all stand on the shoulders of those that came before us to accomplish these things.' The Europa project, launched on Oct. 14, 2024, is the largest planetary spacecraft in NASA's history. It will explore Jupiter's ocean world, which is of the same name. Evans shared many details about this complex project, which will be active for several years. One challenge his team faced on the Europa project was a devastating hurricane around the launch date. 'It's an honor to be an explorer on behalf of the U.S. space agency. I hope my talk gives you a sense of the challenges this team had to overcome,' said Evans. 'And also provides a glimpse into how engineers make the impossible possible daily' For first-year student Ayla Finnegan '28, Evans's thorough discussion of the various projects gave her insight into his career and motivated her to major in engineering. 'I loved how much detail he provided instead of just skimming over the difficulty of pulling a project like Europa together. I also thought it was amazing to see the issues he addressed that I wouldn't have imagined worrying about. They asked the right questions and figured it out, which is what engineering is,' she said. 'His presentation shows me that I'm allowed to ask questions and that I can find the answers. It's like, what questions can I come up with in the future that I might be able to answer?' Local engineers, representatives from regional companies, students, faculty, and area residents were also in attendance. Students had the unique opportunity to connect with local employers, experts, and industry leaders. Local industry, government, and academia were invited to share engineering achievements from the past year and a half, showcasing projects such as a computer-programmed robotic arm. Support for this event also came from BWXT, Framatome, Innovate Lynchburg, and Randolph College. 'We are again pleased to host the Engineering Banquet at Sweet Briar College! This event brings together engineering students and faculty, practicing engineers, and the greater central Virginia community to learn about engineering challenges and solutions for the future that benefit everyone,' said Dr. Jon Bender, director of the Margaret Jones Wyllie '45 Engineering Program. 'Our students benefit through service by assisting in the preparation and during the event, through engagement with the broader engineering community in which they will enter, and through an inspirational talk featuring today's engineering challenges.' Sweet Briar College is one of only two women's colleges in the U.S. that offer an ABET-accredited engineering degree program Communications and Marketing Sweet Briar College 4343816142 ext. X LinkedIn Instagram YouTube TikTok
Associated Press
09-02-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Sweet Briar College Hosts National Engineers Week Banquet Featuring NASA's Europa Clipper Project Manager
Sweet Briar College celebrates engineering excellence with NASA's Jordan P. Evans, highlighting innovation, leadership, and hands-on STEM opportunities. AMHERST, VA, UNITED STATES, February 9, 2025 / / -- In collaboration with the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, Sweet Briar College is proud to announce the annual National Engineers Week Banquet, scheduled for Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the Upchurch Field House on the Sweet Briar campus. This esteemed event gathers engineers, students, educators, and community members from Lynchburg and the Shenandoah Valley to celebrate regional engineering achievements and foster professional networking. As one of just two all-women ABET-accredited engineering programs, Sweet Briar College is uniquely positioned to inspire and empower the next generation of female engineers. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, leadership development, and real-world problem-solving, preparing graduates to thrive in traditionally male-dominated fields. Sweet Briar's commitment to innovation and excellence in STEM education is reflected in its dynamic curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, and supportive learning environment designed to foster bold, confident leaders in engineering. Keynote Speaker: Jordan P. Evans This year's banquet features Jordan P. Evans, an accomplished aerospace engineer and project manager for NASA's Europa Clipper mission —the largest planetary spacecraft in NASA's history. Launched on October 14, 2024, the Europa Clipper is designed to conduct a detailed survey of Jupiter's moon, Europa. Mr. Evans will share insights into the engineering challenges of exploring Europa and discuss efforts to answer the profound question: 'Are we alone?' Attendees will have the unique opportunity to journey beyond Earth without leaving their seats as Mr. Evans dives into the fascinating world of space exploration. From navigating the harsh conditions of deep space to designing technology capable of withstanding Europa's icy environment, his presentation will highlight the incredible feats of engineering that make interplanetary missions possible. It's not every day you get to hear firsthand how engineers are helping humanity reach for the stars—and maybe even discover life beyond our planet! Event Details Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025 Location: Upchurch Field House, Sweet Briar College Schedule Hors d'Oeuvres and Cash Bar: 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. Dinner and Program: 6:45 – 8:30 p.m. Ticket Information General Admission: $65 College Students with ID: $35 High School Students with ID: $25 Reserved Tables (seating for eight): $600 Reserved tables receive priority placement near the stage, custom table signage, and recognition on sponsor boards. The event is complimentary for current Sweet Briar students, faculty, and staff with valid IDs; however, advanced registration is required. Registration Advanced registration is mandatory, and early ticket purchase is recommended due to anticipated high demand. Registration will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2025. Payments must be received before the event, as tickets will not be available at the door. Exhibit Your Engineering Projects During the banquet, local industry, government, and academic institutions are invited to showcase their engineering achievements from the past 12-18 months. To participate, please submit your organization's project by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 7, 2025. Join us for an evening celebrating engineering excellence and innovation in our region. Sweet Briar College X LinkedIn Instagram YouTube TikTok Legal Disclaimer:
