A Mary Baldwin University tradition in leadership training celebrates 30 years in 2025 of preparing young women for America‘s workforce.
A celebration will be held for the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership (VWIL) in conjunction with MBU’s Homecoming weekend Oct. 17 and 18.
The 30-minute Twilight Tattoo parade on Friday, October 17 at 5 p.m. is the MBU version of the U.S. Marine Corps parade.
“As a part of our parade that we do, the alumni will march down with the cadets,” said (retired) Brig. General Teresa Djuric.
The Breast Cancer Awareness 5K Marathon at 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 18 is run in honor of Dr. Brenda Bryant, the founding director of VWIL who died of breast cancer in 2012.
“It’s a way to bring the history of VWIL alive for the cadets,” Djuric said.
The marathon is special for alum, the oldest of whom are in their 40s now, who knew her, and important for current cadets, who wear a shirt in her honor and have a chance to learn about her.
Mentoring sessions between alum and cadets will happen throughout the weekend in the business center, which cadets raised $15,000 last year to renovate. Djuric served as project manager. The space contains two computers and a large screen for video conferencing.
“The vision is that the students can go in there, reserve it for interviews if they need to,” Djuric said of the space, which also allows for classes and training opportunities and teaches the cadets about business, security and technology in today’s workforce.
Saturday night will bring a Marine Ball at 5 p.m.
Thirty years later, VWIL’s mission and vision remain the same. A military structure and civilian leadership structure continue to be at the organization’s core, and cadets live together on MBU’s Staunton campus.
“It is a living, learning leadership community,” Djuric said.
According to Djuric, VWIL teaches young women about relationships in the workforce and necessary leadership skills for success before they graduate college. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cadets learned about leading through times of change.
“They’re moving forward faster than their peers because they’ve done it,” Djuric said.
As an Air Force commander, Djuric learned that if something is not broken, it is unnecessary to fix it.
She served 30 years active duty for the U.S. Air Force and knew that when she retired she wanted to work at a university. She came to MBU 12 years ago.
“This is the longest I’ve lived anywhere,” Djuric said.
She grew up all over the world when her father served in the U.S. Army. She spent high school in Saudi Arabia, Italy and Germany.
“The mission [of VWIL] is timeless,” she said. Because leadership skills remain timeless.
MBU provides many opportunities for youth pursuing an education beyond high school. Recruitment to MBU for VWIL has changed in 30 years. Djuric said that 70 percent of the Corps of Cadets used to be from Virginia, but now 70 percent are from out of state.
The cadet uniform has also changed a few times over the years. Now it is a camouflage similar to the U.S. military class system.
“But when Brenda Bryant created this, she created a great program,” Djuric said.
Djuric still teaches the same introductory course that Bryant taught cadets.
The VWIL official seal and flag changed a few years ago when Mary Baldwin College became Mary Baldwin University.
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Homecoming weekend is also an opportunity for Djuric to recruit donors and future cadets.
“There will be more opportunities for cadets to grow in quality and quantity, and people will want to invest,” Djuric said of VWIL’s future.
The Corps of Cadets will always be “the touchstone at Mary Baldwin for leadership.” Cadets hold multiple leadership positions on campus. VWIL continues to carry the core values of its parent organization, Staunton Military Academy.
VWIL’s 30th anniversary is important because it proves a strong partnership was formed.
“I think it reestablishes to the university that this is one of the programs that make MBU unique,” Djuric said.
Djuric said VWIL is “here to stay” and she sees at least 30 more years of the program at MBU.
“MBU in and of itself is special and important to this Valley,” she said.
Cadets will be in downtown Staunton for Queen City Mischief & Magic helping with parking. Staunton cannot “do without the Corps of Cadets and Mary Baldwin, and we love that partnership.”
“So what they created was strong and resounding,” Djuric said.
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Rebecca Barnabi
