Bill Text: VA SJR175 | 2018 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending W. Taylor Reveley III.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2018-03-02 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ175ER) [SJR175 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-SJR175-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, after more than a decade of exceptional service to The College of William and Mary, W. Taylor Reveley III retires as president on June 30, 2018, the same year the historic institution celebrates its 325th anniversary; and
WHEREAS, Taylor Reveley holds a bachelor's degree from Princeton University and a law degree from the University of Virginia; after completing his education he served as a clerk to Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., and went on to become a respected expert in administrative law and constitutional law, particularly on the separation of war powers between the executive and legislative branches; and
WHEREAS, prior to joining The College of William and Mary, Taylor Reveley practiced law at Hunton & Williams in Richmond, including nine years as a managing partner; he specialized in energy matters, with a focus on commercial nuclear power; and
WHEREAS, Taylor Reveley became the 20th dean of William and Mary Law School in 1998 and served students in that capacity for 10 years, until he was named interim president of The College of William and Mary on February 12, 2008; he was officially appointed as the institution's 27th president on September 5, 2008; and
WHEREAS, Taylor Reveley immediately developed a new strategic plan for The College of William and Mary, emphasizing the institution's stature as a "Public Ivy" and its unique academic position as a research university with a strong history as a liberal arts college; and
WHEREAS, Taylor Reveley led efforts to convey the institution's heritage as the Alma Mater of the Nation by promoting the accomplishments of alumni James Monroe and George Washington, who received his only academic credentials, a surveyor's license, from The College of William and Mary; and
WHEREAS, Taylor Reveley oversaw a renewal of the general education portion of the undergraduate curriculum, bringing The College of William and Mary back to the forefront of liberal arts education, while also strengthening international affairs, engineering, data science, and public policy curricula; and
WHEREAS, under Taylor Reveley's leadership, The College of William and Mary significantly increased efficiency and revenues; he launched an ambitious capital campaign with a goal of $1 billion, which by December 2017 had raised more than $740 million, including nearly $240 million for scholarships, ensuring that the institution will have a strong financial foundation for years to come; and
WHEREAS, Taylor Reveley helped expand the beautiful, historic campus of The College of William and Mary, increasing the institution's ability to support scientific research, the arts, and professional schools, as well as provide new residence halls for students; and
WHEREAS, during his decade as president, Taylor Reveley built strong relationships with faculty, staff, and students and worked to address concerns promptly, fostering an atmosphere of trust, civility, and community on campus; and
WHEREAS, supporting the community in many other ways, Taylor Reveley has offered his wisdom and leadership to Princeton University, Union Theological Seminary, St. Christopher's School, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, JSTOR, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, the Richmond Symphony, and the Presbyterian Foundation; and
WHEREAS, throughout his tenure as president of The College of William and Mary, Taylor Reveley has enjoyed the love and support of his wife, Helen, and their four grown children, Taylor, Everett, Nelson, and Helen, and their families; and
WHEREAS, Taylor Reveley followed in the footsteps of his father, a former Hampden-Sydney College president, as a college administrator; and his own son, Taylor, was appointed as president of Longwood University in 2013, carrying on a proud family tradition; and
WHEREAS, Taylor Reveley has helped The College of William and Mary embrace its rich history and long legacy of academic excellence, while taking bold steps to lead the institution into the future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend W. Taylor Reveley III on the occasion of his retirement in 2018 as president of The College of William and Mary; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to W. Taylor Reveley III as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his outstanding leadership of The College of William and Mary and his contributions to higher education in the Commonwealth.
