Former Bridgewater College Dean of Students wins legacy award

Dr. William Miracle, who for 36 years was dean of students at Bridgewater College, has been awarded the Student Affairs Legacy Award by the Virginia Student Services Conference (VSSC).

The award was established to recognize lifetime achievement in the field of student affairs and is presented to those who have demonstrated a commitment and dedication to student development and the field of higher education.
Miracle, who is now executive assistant to the president at Bridgewater, received the award at the VSSC gathering at Wintergreen Resort, where 200 student affairs professionals gathered to share best practices in the field of student affairs.
“The reward for a lifetime of working in Student Affairs is how many former students become good friends for life,” said Miracle.
As dean of students at Bridgewater, Miracle oversaw residence life, counseling services, health services, the chaplain’s office, student activities, leadership and outdoor programs, multicultural services, the wellness center and intramurals, student outreach services, judicial affairs and appeals for the housing accommodation review board. He also served as the appeal for Title IX cases.

Miracle has been intensely active professionally at the statewide level. His many professional roles include serving as president, past president and treasurer of the Virginia Association of Student Personnel Administrators (VASPA) and co-chair and treasurer of VSSC. In 2007, at the request of Gov. Tim Kaine, Miracle organized and moderated the “At Risk Student Workshop” in response to the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
In 2009, he was asked to join the Task Force on Legal Issues as part of the Joint Commission on Health Care, which commissioned the “Virginia College Mental Health Study,” a comprehensive examination of mental health services and crisis response on Virginia’s campuses.

Miracle was awarded the Outstanding Professional Award by VASPA in 2008 and, in 2010, the department of student life at Bridgewater College initiated “The William D. Miracle Award,” which annually recognizes the outstanding resident assistant.
Additionally, Miracle has served on the Bridgewater Town Council for the past 10 years, currently serving as chair of the police committee.

Bridgewater College is a private, four-year liberal arts college located in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded in 1880, it was the state’s first private, coeducational college. Today, Bridgewater College is home to nearly 1,900 undergraduate students.