Ride Along with Reynolds -- November 2025
Ride Along with Reynolds, a series about where the college is heading, who's joining us for the ride, and why it matters for our students and the community.
In this episode of Ride Along With Reynolds, we celebrate progress and milestones at our College In-Service, kick off a vibrant new partnership with VCU, welcome the community to campus, and open a new Nest for students!
Transcript
Hi, I'm President Paula Pando inviting you to Ride Along with Reynolds — a regular update on where the college is heading, who's joining us for the journey, and why it all matters for our students and our community.
The leaves are turning, the days are full, and the evenings are crisp — welcome to fall at Reynolds Community College. This season always brings a renewed sense of energy, and this year, that energy feels especially strong.
At our 2025 College In-Service, titled "In Motion, With Purpose," we came together as a college community to celebrate our progress, share major announcements and look ahead with pride and purpose.
Record-Breaking Success
From record-breaking enrollment to the highest retention rates in a decade, and 2,145 credentials awarded to graduates, Reynolds is in motion — and the momentum is real.
We were also joined by Dr. Michael Baston, president of Cuyahoga Community College, who delivered a powerful keynote reminding us that community colleges must build systems worthy of our students' dreams. His message resonated deeply, especially as we continue to focus on what happens after our students leave us.
Joining the Aspen Network
That's why it's such an honor that Reynolds has been selected to join the Unlocking Opportunity Network of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program — one of only 55 colleges nationwide chosen for this work.
Through this multi-year partnership, we'll collaborate with colleges across the country to strengthen the connection between what students study and the economic opportunities that await them. In short, it's about ensuring that every Reynolds graduate leaves not only with a credential, but with a clear path to a good job with strong wages or a bachelor's degree that leads to meaningful career advancement.
Building on Our Foundation
This work affirms what we know to be true: the real measure of our success lies not just in how many students enroll, but in the quality of the opportunities they can access once they complete their studies. And one of the ways we're putting that commitment into action is through our growing partnerships with four-year universities — especially our largest transfer destination, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
Together with VCU, we recently launched Next Step VCU, a new dual-admission transfer program designed to make the path from Reynolds to a bachelor's degree smoother, faster and more affordable. Through coordinated advising, transition support and community-building activities, Next Step VCU helps students stay on track — and thrive — at every step of their journey. This partnership marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration, one that will open doors, accelerate success and expand opportunity for the students we are so proud to serve. When Reynolds and VCU work together, our students — and our region — are stronger for it.
Community at Our Core
Community is at the heart of who we are, and this fall, we've opened our doors wide to welcome our neighbors back to campus.
Hundreds of families joined us for Hawk Fest at our Parham Road Campus — a day of celebration and connection hosted with our partners at Henrico Recreation & Parks. Despite wind and rain, the spirit of community shone bright. It was a joyful reminder that the most important word in our college name is community.
That same spirit carried into our "Before Virginia Votes" event, co-hosted with the Virginia Public Access Project. The discussion centered on civic engagement — why it matters, and how each of us plays a role in shaping the future of our commonwealth.
Democracy, after all, isn't a spectator sport — it's an action word, and it works best when everyone participates.
A Brand-New Nest
Finally, our Reynolds Red Hawks have a brand-new Nest.
We recently celebrated the opening of a refreshed student commons — a vibrant, welcoming space designed for learning, studying and connecting.
The Nest is more than just a building — it's a symbol of our commitment to creating environments where students feel safe, supported and inspired to soar.
Moving Forward
It's been quite a ride already this semester — and we're just getting started. Thank you for joining me for this episode of Ride Along with Reynolds. Until next time, keep moving in motion, with purpose.