University News | August 17, 2026
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Batten University celebrated a historic milestone on Thursday, August 13, as the Sentara College of Health Sciences Class of 2026 gathered for commencement, marking the first graduating class of Sentara College since the College became part of the University on July 1.
The ceremony celebrated graduates earning the Master of Science in Nursing (Entry to Nursing Practice) and RN-to-BSN degrees while honoring the rich history of Sentara College and looking ahead to its next chapter as part of Batten University.
Sentara Health President and CEO Dennis Matheis served as commencement speaker and received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Batten University in recognition of his distinguished leadership and service to healthcare throughout the region.
In welcoming the Class of 2026, Batten University President Scott D. Miller described the ceremony as more than a commencement. It was a moment that brought together two proud educational traditions and celebrated a legacy of health sciences education dating to 1892.
“Tonight we celebrate more than commencement,” Miller said. “We celebrate a legacy of excellence in health sciences education dating to 1892.”
For the graduates, the occasion marked the beginning of a new chapter as healthcare professionals and as the inaugural alumni class of Sentara College of Health Sciences at Batten University. Miller reminded them that their education is more than a credential. It is a promise to serve with integrity, lead with compassion and improve the lives of those who place their trust in them.
In his commencement address, Matheis told graduates they are entering healthcare at a pivotal moment. Communities across the country, particularly in nursing, face significant workforce shortages and need skilled, compassionate professionals.
He emphasized that while technology and healthcare delivery will continue to evolve, compassion, empathy and human connection will remain at the center of healing.
“People may not remember every clinical or medical detail, but they will always remember how you made them feel,” Matheis told the graduates, encouraging them to listen, care and give hope to the patients they serve.
Matheis also reflected on the significance of the ceremony itself. The graduates are the first Sentara College class to graduate under Batten University, a milestone that represents a shared commitment by Sentara Health and Batten University to preserve the College's extraordinary legacy while expanding opportunities to educate the next generation of healthcare professionals.
For more than 130 years, Sentara College has prepared healthcare professionals whose expertise and compassion have touched countless lives throughout Hampton Roads, Virginia and beyond. Matheis noted that Sentara Health has proudly hired thousands of the College's alumni, many of whom now serve as nurses, imaging professionals, laboratory scientists, respiratory therapists, educators and healthcare leaders across the organization. That legacy now continues at Batten University.
The ceremony also recognized two leaders whose careers and service helped guide Sentara College to this historic moment.
Dr. Angela Taylor was honored with the title of President Emerita of Sentara College of Health Sciences. Taylor served the College for 15 years, including as Dean for Academic Affairs and, beginning in 2017, as president. A nurse educator and scholar, she devoted her career to preparing healthcare professionals and advancing nursing education.
Dr. Cynthia Banks was honored as Dean Emerita of Sentara College of Health Sciences. Banks served most recently as Dean of Academic Affairs for eight years following earlier roles as a faculty member and director of the RN-to-BSN program. During her tenure, she helped strengthen and expand the College's academic offerings and prepare generations of healthcare professionals for practice, leadership and service.
The occasion marked an important moment in the integration of Sentara College of Health Sciences and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for health sciences education at Batten University.