Shenandoah Valley event highlights VIMS’ impact beyond the Bay
On a warm April evening, VIMS Dean & Director Derek Aday spoke at a special reception at the Long Branch Historic House and Farm in Boyce, Virginia. Hosted by VIMS supporters Rick Wallace, Dr. Tim Harvey ‘79 and Dr. Karen Kennedy Schultz ’75, the event was organized to highlight how VIMS science reaches beyond the Chesapeake Bay.
“In the past few years, as we learned even more about VIMS and its impact,” says Harvey, “we realized that many folks in our area were unaware of the gem that VIMS is and how it has potential to grow and expand its reach and mission. So, we set up an event in lovely Clarke County with the team at VIMS so that Dr. Aday could speak and interact with folks in the Piedmont and upper Shenandoah Valley to share how VIMS directly helps the economy of the Commonwealth while working on protecting waterways, habitat, and coastal resiliency in challenging times, all the while educating the next generation of scientists.”
Aday delivered a presentation, “The World Around You… Thanks to VIMS,” to discuss VIMS’ critical influence on Virginia’s preparedness for flooding and storm events, sustaining healthier waterways in the Commonwealth, and even the seafood we all enjoy.
Event attendees included nature enthusiasts and informed citizens concerned about the effects of global change . The engaged crowd asked questions about sustainability and actions they could take to make a difference.
“Our family loves the waters of Virginia,” says Wallace, “and has strong, generational ties to William & Mary. In honor of our much-missed Aunt Geraldine who instilled a deep love of the Piankatank River for so many of us in our youth, we set up a small fund at VIMS. The extended family joined in enthusiastically. We intend to do more during estate planning.”
Located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the beautiful 400-acre property was the perfect setting for a robust conversation about how VIMS research has important, practical implications for citizens and policymakers across the Commonwealth and beyond.
Interested in hosting a VIMS event? Contact Crystal Booker at cbbooker@vims.edu or 804.684.7099.