By Jonah Grinkewitz

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the Old Dominion University community can spread their love for fellow Monarchs through the Convey Appreciation initiative.

Launched in 2023, the website allows people to send thank you messages to faculty, advisors and staff members – either with their name or anonymously – which are then reviewed and delivered in a letter to the recipient by the Center for Faculty Development.

Inspired by Virginia Tech’s , nearly 300 messages were sent from April 2023 to April 2024, with faculty (46%) and students (44%) sending the most.

In messages, 51ŗÔšĪPro faculty members have thanked their colleagues for their mentorship and support and students have shared the impacts their teachers and staff members have had on their academic journeys.

“I just wanted to thank her for all the good mornings and good afternoons and having small conversations with me whenever I was stressed and sitting in front of the gym, they meant the world to meâ€Ļ You are the reason I’m graduating. Love you,” a graduating senior shared with a maintenance worker at the University.

“The Convey Appreciation initiative has really grown in popularity over the last year with faculty writing to me personally to emphasize how much positive energy it generates,” said Annette Finley-Croswhite, Ph.D., professor of history and director of the Center for Faculty Development (CFD). 

Dr. Finley-Croswhite and M’hammed Abdous, Ph.D., associate director for Faculty Innovation and Teaching with Technology at the CFD, wrote about the impact this initiative has had on 51ŗÔšĪPro’s campus in .

Agatha Parks-Savage, Ed.D., RN, Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education and professor of Family and Community Medicine at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences EVMS Medical Group at 51ŗÔšĪPro, said showing appreciation for the people we work with – or learn with – is a great opportunity on Valentine’s Day.

“We spend most of our waking hours during the week at our workplace,” Dr. Parks-Savage said. “So, it would make sense to spread this joy to people at work.”

In addition to sending notes like the ones through the Convey Appreciation initiative, creating self-care goodie bags for coworkers, taking a selfie or video to express gratitude for them or – since Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year – ending the week with a potluck or workplace party.