Operation Resolve

We need your support.  During the past 3.5 years many of us have received many e-mails from E. Sean Lanier about a very serious diversity issue at VMI. I have been actively engaged with Sean to help improve the recruiting, admissions numbers, matriculation rate and graduation rate of African-Americans at VMI.  It appears that VMI's strategy is for us to assume greater responsibility relative to these goals.
 
Sean immediately and passionately jumped into action. Diversity, inclusion and African-American success at VMI and for the VMI family has become Sean's cause on behalf of all of us. That brings me to my request and our urgent call to action.  Frankly he put his money where his mouth is. His results have been remarkably positive. Evidence of his efforts has been documented acknowledging the fact that we just matriculated the most diverse class in VMI history. 
 
I have known Sean for over 30 years.  Long before he graduated from VMI, earned his master's degree from the University of Kansas, became an Army officer and helicopter pilot - I knew that there was something special about Sean.  I just didn't know that he would sacrifice so much for so little personal gain. 

Sean started working on his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania a couple of years ago but at present he cannot move forward to complete his Doctorate Degree because he has exhausted his financial resources on behalf of “our” cause which is to increase and successfully matriculate African-American Students at VMI.  Candidly I love my VMI community and I have deep appreciation, regard and respect for the Institute; but I don’t know if I would have sacrificed so much.  For this effort I thank Sean for giving so selflessly to see that others like “us” benefit from the VMI experience.  We know that our education at the Institute has truly been one of the foundations to our successes in life and most especially in our careers.
 

Please help me do two things:

1.  Let’s get Sean Reinstated back at Penn.  He currently owes $27,419 and he cannot re-enroll until this balance is paid. He needs to finish his doctorate – Can you imagine what more he can successfully do once that is complete!!!
 
2.  Let’s be the mentors to “our” future leaders at VMI like Glen Jones ‘78 and Lamont Toliver ‘85 was for us.

 

Don "Donnie" Roberts VMI ‘90
President and CEO
Empire Group
(313) [phone redacted]

 
Contributors who would prefer to send personal check please send to:

Attn: Don Roberts
18685 Norborne
Redford, MI 48240