Contact Information

Address:
Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership
Mary Baldwin College
215 N. Market St.
Staunton, VA 24401
Phone: (540) 887-7042
Fax: (540) 887-7132
E-mail: vwil@mbc.edu

Staff:
Brigadier General Mike Bissell, Commandant of Cadets
Velma Bryant, Director of Leadership Programs
Karen Parker, Assistant Director of Admissions for VWIL/Athletic Recruitment
Captain Julia Ireland, Deputy Commandant of Cadets
Senior Chief Patricia Brown, Chief of Staff
Andrew Reed, Band Director

About the VWIL Leadership:

Brigadier General Mike Bissell, Commandant of Cadets

Brigadier General N. Michael Bissell (Mike) graduated from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1961 and was commissioned into the U.S. Army. He retired from the U.S. Army in November of 1987 to become a Program Manager in industry.  In 1990, he returned to VMI to be the first full time Commandant of Cadets. After four years, Bissell became the Deputy Superintendent responsible for the assimilation of women into the Corps of Cadets. In addition, he coordinated VMI’s role in support of the creation of the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership (VWIL) at Mary Baldwin College where he also performed as the part time Acting Commandant of Cadets. In 1999, he left VMI to become the first Commandant of Cadets at VWIL. 

He received a Bachelor of Arts from VMI and a Masters of Arts from the University of Missouri.  Bissell was selected by the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army to be the Senior Army Fellow at Harvard University in 1985.  He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. 

He served two tours as a combat helicopter pilot in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he was nominated for the Medal of Honor and received the second highest award for valor - the Distinguished Service Cross. In addition, he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with “V” device and 24 Oak leaf Clusters.  His other assignments included Commander of the 17th Aviation Group, Commander of the Joint Republic of Korea Army and the U.S. Army Combined Aviation Force, Director of the U.S. Army Flight Training and Deputy Chief and Acting Chief of Staff of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).  He spent two years in the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon as Executive Officer to the Director of Operations (J3). With these assignments came additional awards and decorations: the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters.  Before retiring from the U.S. Army, Bissell’s last assignment was as the Executive Officer for the Assistant Secretary of the Army.  He retired from the U.S. Army and went on to become the Program Manager for the U.S. Army’s new stealth helicopter (Commanche) for the Boeing and Sikorsky Team. When the team won the contract with the Army, he returned to VMI to be the Commandant of Cadets.

Bissell’s schools and qualifications include the Ranger tab, Airborne and Air assault Badges and the Expert Infantryman’s Badge (EIB). He was awarded the Gold Order of Saint Michael Medal by the Army Aviation Association of America for his career contributions to Army Aviation. This year he was nominated and selected to be inducted into the U.S. Army Aviation Hall of Fame.

Gen. Bissell and his wife, Jan, have seven children and 14 grand children. He is a Eucharistic Minister at Saint Patrick’s Church in Lexington, Virginia.

Velma Bryant, Director of Leadership Programs

Velma Bryant is the latest addition to VWIL, joining the office in summer 2007. She will be responsible for the academic advising of all new incoming nULLS and the Leadership Challenge Program.  

Mrs. Bryant received her bachelor of arts in communication from Mary Baldwin College in 2001 and her masters of education in counseling psychology from James Madison University in 2005. While at Mary Baldwin College she served on the Student Government Association as the Residence Hall Association Chairwoman and received a Student Leadership Award. 

Mrs. Bryant began working for the college in the Office of Admissions upon graduation in 2001, traveling and recruiting early admissions students. She later served a year in Freshmen Services, working with incoming freshmen to ensure a smooth transition to college life. Mrs. Bryant also served two years as the Director of Student Activities, advising the Baldwin Program Board, class officers, and serving as a resource to all clubs and organizations. Before coming to VWIL she served as the director of Student Engagement where she advised the Student Government Association, coordinated the wellness and community service programs, and oversaw social programming.

Velma Bryant resides in Staunton, Virginia with her husband, Brad.