{"id":6028,"date":"2024-05-08T20:51:09","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T20:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=6028"},"modified":"2025-02-03T14:52:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T19:52:03","slug":"wilmington-university-president-dr-laverne-harmon-offers-keynote-address-at-new-castle-chamber-of-commerce-annual-dinner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2024\/05\/08\/wilmington-university-president-dr-laverne-harmon-offers-keynote-address-at-new-castle-chamber-of-commerce-annual-dinner\/","title":{"rendered":"Wilmington University President Dr. LaVerne Harmon Offers Keynote Address at New Castle Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column6028_c4bf44-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column6028_c4bf44-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column6028_c4bf44-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column6028_c4bf44-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column6028_c4bf44-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column6028_c4bf44-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column6028_c4bf44-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column6028_c4bf44-f2{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column6028_c4bf44-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column6028_c4bf44-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column6028_c4bf44-f2 dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p>Wilmington University President <strong>Dr. LaVerne Harmon<\/strong> offered an inspirational keynote address at the New Castle Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner on May 6, 2024, at the Chase Center on the Riverfront. Her remarks concluded an enjoyable evening that brought together corporate and nonprofit leaders, employees, and policymakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Harmon began by thanking the Chamber\u2019s newly elected President, <strong>Yvonne Deadwyler<\/strong>, its first woman president and first person of color president. She then congratulated awardees Senator <strong>Tom Carper<\/strong> (Lifetime Achievement), DETV Founder <strong>Ivan Thomas<\/strong> (Community Service), REACH Riverside Development Corporation Board Director <strong>Charles S. McDowell<\/strong> (Economic Impact), and Wilmington Mayor <strong>Mike Purzycki<\/strong> (Free Enterprise). She then welcomed the opportunity to share Wilmington University\u2019s many successes, offering exciting news from University colleges and the Wilmington University School of Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After presenting a powerful video that captured the thoughts of students and alumni \u2014including alumnus <strong>Dr. Mark Holodick<\/strong>, Delaware\u2019s Secretary of Education\u2014 Dr. Harmon announced a partnership between Wilmington University and ChristianaCare developed to tackle the nationwide shortage of certified registered nurse anesthetists and expand surgical services in Delaware\u2019s health systems. Called the Delaware Anesthesiology Program at Christiana Care and Wilmington University, the partnership will create a homegrown pipeline of CRNAs to increase access to surgical care in the community and efficiently staff operating rooms. Classes will start in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other highlights included the University\u2019s statewide position at the forefront of trauma-informed training, its Year-Long Teacher Residency Program and membership in the NASA space program, a new MBA with concentrations in banking and financial services, and Wilmington University\u2019s inclusion in Forbes Advisor\u2019s national Top 10 list for several of its online degree programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote wu-blockquote-simple is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cI get excited when sharing our story, our mission, the heart of the institution, the growth, and the lives we\u2019ve changed through opportunity and education.\u201d\u00a0<em><em>&#8211; Dr. LaVerne Harmon<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Harmon concluded with news about the current construction of two landmark buildings at the University\u2019s Brandywine location: a three-story, 52,000-square-foot law building and an 85,000-square-foot Convocation Center that will house a 2,000-seat auditorium with a stage for graduation ceremonies and other events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDr. Harmon\u2019s remarks sent a clear message about the economic impact that Wilmington University has on New Castle County and the state of Delaware,\u201d says NCC Chamber President Yvonne Deadwyler. \u201cThe way she talked about her students, staff and administration displayed her business savvy, but also her heart. As people left the Chase, they told us that Dr. Harmon had made such a great impression, and they were so impressed with the direction of Wilmington University under her leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The President was met with a standing ovation from an audience of over 500 and moved by the audience\u2019s enthusiasm and proud WilmU alumni and employees in attendance. Other attendees who had been unaware of the University\u2019s expertise in serving traditional and non-traditional students said they were now considering attending WilmU to further their career goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The impact of the keynote lay in Dr. Harmon\u2019s ability to authentically convey her respect for the University and compassion for its students, alumni, faculty, and staff. During the keynote, she said, \u201cI get excited when sharing our story, our mission, the heart of the institution, the growth, and the lives we\u2019ve changed through opportunity and education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Image Credit: Courtesy of New Castle County Chamber of Commerce<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wilmington University President Dr. LaVerne Harmon offered an inspirational keynote address at the New Castle Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner on May 6, 2024, 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