As Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), Rev. Cornett-Scott will build upon her 25 years of experience in diversity strategies, inclusive programming, and student-centered mentorship at Mary Baldwin to provide strategic vision to develop and implement proactive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) inititatives at MBU and most effectively foster a community of awareness, belonging, and respect.

Artist, human rights advocate, and MBU visiting professor Claudia Bernardi always shares with her May Term students how to find a cause that they’re passionate about. “I recommend that they find what makes them cry from emotion and cry from anger,” she said. “Somewhere in the middle is their passion. They have to find a cause that makes the work totally worth it, even when they’re not paid or well known.”

MBU’s Excellence in Teaching awards debuted in 2019 to recognize the dedication and craft that stand at the very core of the university. After an especially challenging year in the classroom, both in-person and virtual, the university community celebrates recipients of the 2021 awards, who share below what they love about their profession and thoughts about their teaching philosophy.

Mary Baldwin University has announced that Learie C. Nurse, EdD, will become the new associate vice president of student engagement, effective in May. With a strong commitment to social justice and diversity work, Nurse is intentional about creating environments where all voices matter. His philosophy in life is to advocate and provide a holistic and caring environment for students to reach their fullest potential.