Virginia Wesleyan Letters of Legacy: Devin Cowhey Class of 2010
- News
- Oct 14
- 2 min read
Dear Fellow Marlins,
On Wednesday, August 29, I was walking through Lisbon when I heard the news: Virginia Wesleyan University would become Batten University on July 1, 2026.
I can’t fully describe what I felt in that moment. Sadness and anger, sure—but it was deeper than that. For the first time in my life, I knew I had to fight back. I kept walking until I reached a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city. As the sun set over Portugal, I thought about what Virginia Wesleyan meant to me. I realized I couldn’t stay silent. I started the petition not knowing if anyone else felt the same...but it didn’t take long to find out I wasn’t alone.
Virginia Wesleyan is more than a name. It welcomed me with open arms when I was 18. It’s where I met mentors who believed in me and friends who’ve become family. It’s where I grew, learned, and found purpose.
On that campus, I took classes that still shape who I am thanks to professors like Dr. Kathy Merlock Jackson, Dr. Hultgren, Dr. Lindvall, and so many others. I got involved beyond the classroom—from WAC to the Homeless Shelter to Dancing with the Professors—and built memories that will last a lifetime. Mentors like Lina Green, Kristen Whalen, McCarren Caputa, and Diane Hotaling made me feel like I’d hit the jackpot.
After graduation, I came back to work in Student Activities, the very office that made me fall in love with Virginia Wesleyan in the first place. I wanted to give students after me the same magic I’d experienced: Mud Games, Greek Life, filling The Tank for NCAA games, and everything that makes VWU home.
When I first visited campus in 2005, Coach Jeff Bowers brought me there for soccer. I still remember seeing Dr. Billy Greer and Dean Buckingham for the first time. In that moment, I knew I was home. And it never failed me.
So, I will not fail Virginia Wesleyan. Our legacy is more than a name. It’s who we are, and it’s worth fighting for.
With pride and purpose,
Devin
This kicks off our Virginia Wesleyan Letter of Legacy series, a collection of stories from alumni who are sharing their experience at Virginia Wesleyan and fighting to keep the historic name preserved.
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