Winter 2026 Board Update
The regular winter meeting of the Roanoke College Board of Trustees, on Feb. 5-6, 2026, featured a new format that centered learning, in-depth discussion and creative idea generation. As the board heard updates on the state of the higher education sector and progress toward the goals in Roanoke’s strategic plan, “Imagine Roanoke,” the seminar-style format encouraged collaborative and innovative problem-solving.
Members of the board joined faculty and staff to explore the implications of higher education’s challenges on Roanoke College’s strategic imperatives. During small-group discussions, they also considered how to competitively leverage the college’s distinctive features in a difficult market, how to approach challenges with ingenuity, and how to prioritize for maximum progress on “Imagine Roanoke” over the next 12 months.
Two special guests were on hand during the board meeting with tools and context to frame the discussion: keynote speaker Allison Briscoe-Smith and plenary speaker Khadish Franklin.
Briscoe-Smith is a child clinical psychologist, author, trainer and senior fellow at the Greater Good Science Center. Her interactive talk, “The Power of Hearing: Practicing Active Listening,” armed an audience of trustees, faculty, staff and students with techniques to genuinely listen and connect with others across differences in a world of polarization. “In a lonely world,” she told the audience, “giving someone your undivided attention is a radical act of care.”
Briscoe-Smith’s talk was sponsored by the college’s Center for Civic and Religious Pluralism, which aims to engage individuals of all perspectives in discussions about the beliefs, values and commitments that shape our shared civic life.
“The college remains deeply committed to an educational environment where free speech and perspectives across political, ideological and philosophical spectrums are not only welcome but encouraged,” said President Frank Shushok Jr. “This forms the heart of a Roanoke College education.”
Khadish Franklin, managing director and team lead for the Research Advisory Services Division of Education Advisory Board (EAB), presented the plenary discussion on the state of the higher education sector. He began his talk by declaring that 2026 will be the hardest year ever in higher education, outlining upheaval on four separate fronts: external accountability, financial sustainability, market relevance and institutional agility. In a very populated sector where schools compete on price and niche, he said, those in the “undifferentiated middle” must find themselves and decide how to articulate their value proposition.
Trustees carried advice from Briscoe-Smith and Franklin into their discussions over the next two days, beginning with a special two-hour working session with Franklin. There, board members expressed the importance of balancing current issues with long-term planning and dreaming, as well as managing the college’s reputation amidst necessary transformation. Franklin guided small groups to consider the four fronts he mentioned in his plenary and how well Roanoke is positioned to weather each one.
During his visit, Franklin repeatedly noted that colleges must offer flexible learning modalities, including online courses, to meet the needs of today’s market. The board received an update on Roanoke’s foray into virtual learning with a presentation from Lisa Stoneman, assistant vice president for Roanoke College-Roanoke Valley (RC-RV), Roanoke’s new independent, co-educational initiative. Along with Chief of Staff Ryan King, Stoneman shared information about new certificate courses and accelerated degrees in the works through RC-RV. Trustees also heard about the college’s new, fully online Master of Business Administration program.
King also presented an update on the college’s progress toward its six strategic imperatives. Highlights included the college’s highest retention rate in 10 years, significant cost savings associated with the implementation of zero-based budgeting, and a new professional advising model that resulted in more than 1,500 advising appointments with students during the fall semester alone. King also announced another $1 million matching grant for the President’s 25 (P25) fundraising initiative for endowed student financial aid.
On Thursday, President Shushok led a brainstorming exercise that asked each small group to either design a college from scratch or redesign Roanoke College. This 90-minute exercise freed trustees from the constraints of operational hurdles and allowed them to dream big about new ways to meet the needs of today’s learners.
The collaborative idea generation continued on Friday when attendees were divided into four focus groups, with one each for Advancement, Buildings and Grounds, Academics, and Marketing and Enrollment. Each group was directed to consider progress to date on strategic imperatives, what challenges and opportunities present themselves for the next 12 months, and what they would like to see accomplished by this time next year.
The Academics group talked about how to create an environment that encourages students to explore their values and develop their own sense of character. It also addressed the importance of experiential learning and how the college can weave AI literacy into the curriculum so students gain crucial knowledge about how to appropriately and efficiently use ever-changing technology.
The Buildings & Grounds group reaffirmed its commitment to completing a master plan that can guide the college's facility work for years to come. Building on the positive momentum of the new Shaun McConnon Discovery Center and the Crawford Hall renovation, group members noted that a comprehensive master plan will help set clear priorities, support fundraising efforts and guide maintenance planning. Important progress on a master plan has been made, they said, but more work and facility assessments are needed to complete it.
The Advancement group’s conversation centered on building a culture of philanthropy. A culture of philanthropy starts on the inside of an organization and grows outward. Buy-in from trustees, alumni, students, faculty/staff, and friends of the college is critical to its success. The new alumni board has set a strong foundation for growth. The board, filled with alumni of different decades, will conduct outreach to their Maroon community, sharing campus news and ways to get involved.
In the Marketing and Enrollment group, members discussed what distinguishes Roanoke College from the field, how to leverage those differences in marketing efforts, and how to gather better feedback from prospective and current students. Members noted new ways to market the college’s commitment to hands-on learning experiences, character and leadership growth opportunities, and positive outcomes. They also shared creative ideas to mix up Admissions events, and how to enlist more alumni, faculty and staff in outreach to prospective students.
President Shushok and members of the college cabinet pledged to distill the board meeting’s many fruitful discussions into 3-5 ideas per division that can be prioritized and executed within the next 12 months.
The winter meeting of the Roanoke College Board of Trustees included two new members, Michael Haley ’73 and Chris Turnbull ’00, as well as two new faculty representatives, Assistant Professor of Education Karin Carneal and Biology Professor Brooks Crozier.
On Thursday, board members met members of the Roanoke College cycling team and their coach, Shelley Olds ’03. After hearing inspirational stories about what the sport means to the athletes and how they support one another as teammates, board members joined the athletes for lunch in Sutton Commons. On Friday, the board had lunch with faculty members and learned about new undergraduate academic programs in engineering and biotechnology, as well as a new Master of Science in Psychology and Online Master of Business Administration.
A social hour for trustees, faculty and staff on Wednesday evening doubled as a retirement reception for David Mowen, recently retired vice president of finance and administration. Mowen was presented with a resolution recognizing his many essential contributions at Roanoke College. The board also welcomed David Meadows, the college’s new interim vice president of finance and administration.
Board members also enjoyed a tour of the McConnon Discovery Center, which is nearing completion and expected to open this fall, and dinner at The Train Station, a new event venue located inside an historic railway station in Roanoke.
The board will convene again on April 16-17, 2026, for its annual spring meeting.