Year in Review 2023-24 by University of Mary Washington

2023-24 2023-24

greetings greetings from President Paino

“Once again, the University of Mary Washington has proved that ours is an education that matters.”

- TROY PAINO

Together, we celebrate another successful year at Mary Washington, one which polished our academic reputation amidst major rankings, accreditations, and awards and recognizes the hard work behind the scenes. We are eager to acknowledge the achievements of our students, staff, and faculty, in our classrooms and beyond. Through our alumni, we see continued success and service, in their careers and lives and the many ways they connect back to campus.

To our faculty and staff, we appreciate your work each and every day. You give your talent and energy to this place, devoted and invested in our students. From our faculty to our facilities staff, we are educators, with lessons learned and earned. Our alumni exemplify the many pathways possible and bring their stories and experiences back to their alma mater, extending our network. And our supporters and generous donors continue to propel us forward.

The last few years have been tremendously successful in terms of our fundraising and support from the state. Gifts and grants have bolstered high-impact programs, such as undergraduate research, first-year experiences, and study abroad, and we appreciate the many unrestricted gifts that help us remain strategic and agile in responding to needs. Your generous gifts to the Fund for Mary Washington make an impact on individual students, both on campus and after graduation, by supporting scholarships, programs, and the entire Mary Washington experience.

This year, we have leaned into what makes us distinctive and makes us stand out among public liberal arts and sciences universities while setting the stage for what’s next. The mission of Mary Washington is strong, and we appreciate your continued support.

Troy D. Paino, J.D., Ph.D. President

UMW ACES ACCREDITATION REAFFIRMATION

The University of Mary Washington has some exciting news to share – we’ve earned reaffirmation of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) for the next decade. Even better, the SACSCOC Board of Trustees did a thorough review last spring that resulted in zero recommendations.

It’s a strong testament to the quality of a Mary Washington education. From our vibrant classrooms to our dynamic residential life, from our diverse student organizations to our engaging campus activities –everything’s hitting the mark.

And there’s more good news. Our dedicated faculty and staff are taking things up a notch with our quality enhancement plan, Life After Mary Washington: Preparing Students for Life and Career. It’s all about equipping our students with the skills they need to seamlessly transition from campus life to the professional world, ready to take on whatever challenges come their way.

“Once again, the University of Mary Washington has proved that ours is an education that matters,” said President Troy Paino. “We appreciate all who contributed throughout the process and through their work each day, particularly our faculty and staff. Together, we achieve and sustain a highquality, highly ranked educational experience that goes beyond the classroom through student learning opportunities and alumni accomplishments and connections.”

President Troy Paino speaks with students on Campus Walk.

From left: Anna Blake ’24, Killian Petty ’25, and Martina Pugh ’24.

Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce.

ACCESS,

pride pride & & TRADITIONS, EXCELLENCE,

UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle encourages school spirit during Devil-Goat Day.

Opposite page, from top right: 2024 graduates toast to their futures and celebrate becoming Mary Washington alumni; Scholarship Day, which represents the ‘S’ in ‘ASPIRE,’ brought the Majors Fair to Palmieri Plaza; Eagle Gathering on Ball Circle concludes traditional welcome week activities; the 34th annual Multicultural Fair brought a colorful lineup of dancers, singers, and other performers to Campus Walk.

Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce.

CHEERS TO MARY WASH!

A top 10 public liberal arts college

– U.S. News and World Report, 2025

“The Best 390 Colleges”

– The Princeton Review, 2024

Treasured Traditions Circle Back Around

Part of The Princeton Review’s 2023 Guide to Green Colleges

“Best and most interesting” public and private colleges

– Fiske Guide to Colleges, 2025

“Best Bang for the Buck” – Southeast Region listing, Washington Monthly

A “Best College” for quality, affordability, and future earning potential

– Money Magazine

UMW Theatre Ranked Among 25 “Best College Theatre” Programs

– The Princeton Review, 2024

Junior Isaiah Jackson’s Goats may have been bested in 2024’s DevilGoat Day, but he was thrilled that the friendly springtime competition of fun and games, which pits students graduating in odd years (Devils) against those graduating in even years (Goats), had returned to the center of campus. “Ball Circle makes people happy,” Jackson said.

2023 Tree Campus - Arbor Day Foundation

With the conclusion of an underground utilities project, Ball Circle once again played a pivotal part in treasured traditions like Commencement , Multicultural Fair, Reunion Weekend’s picnic, and Eagle Gathering, which marks the beginning of students’ four years at UMW. The Jepson Alumni Executive Center hosted the Senior Toast, which welcomed the Class of 2024 into the Mary Washington alumni family.

This spring, students, faculty, and staff commemorated the University’s newest tradition, ASPIRE Week , now in its second year. The week-long celebration across campus honored Mary Washington’s community values: accountability, scholarship, personal and institutional integrity, inclusive excellence, respect, and engagement. Associate Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Shavonne Shorter expressed pride in the Student Government Association, which organized the activities. “Their enthusiasm to celebrate our community values is a strong testament to their love for UMW.”

Photo by Karen Pearlman

Photo by Tom Rothenberg

Photo by Sam Cahill

Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce

Best in the Business

UMW’s College of Business (COB) has achieved an extension of its accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for another five years, an international recognition that has been earned by only 6% of the world’s business schools.

“This is a significant milestone signifying our commitment to academic excellence and the highest quality standards in business degree programs and in student success,” said UMW College of Business Dean Filiz Tabak.

The review took into account UMW’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, which combines a liberal arts education with the rigorous coursework needed for careers in management or preparation for graduate study, as well as UMW’s innovative and flexible MBA program. Students can major in accounting, business administration, international business or marketing, and as of this fall, management and entrepreneurship. UMW also offers minors in business administration, entrepreneurship, and financial or quantitative analysis.

Read more: UMW College of Business Achieves Accreditation Renewal from AACSB.

Paul Datovech ’25 is pursuing degrees in business administration as well as communication and digital studies, with a minor in sports management. A student-athlete for the Eagles swim team, he received a VaSID Second Team All-State selection along with President’s List honors.

PROMISING DEVELOPMENTS

100% of Tuition is Covered for Pell-eligible Students

Making a college education affordable and accessible remains a major priority at Mary Washington. Announced last fall, UMW’s tuition promise is closing the gap in funding for Virginia students who qualify for federal Pell Grants after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Instate students who are Pell-eligible will receive direct financial assistance toward their undergraduate degree in the form of full tuition funding. They can also access immediate, responsive assistance for short-term emergencies, thanks to additional grant support from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

Mary Wash Day Tops $800K

The University of Mary Washington closed out its most successful Mary Wash Day ever on April 4, raising a grand total of $843,252 to support UMW students, faculty, and programs. Alumni and students spanning eight decades joined with families, faculty, staff, and friends to make 3,377 gifts and show off their Eagle pride during the 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement. Fun and festivities on campus included a student scavenger hunt, trivia in the Eagle Cash Cart, and lighting up the Cedric Rucker University Center in Mary Wash blue. Alumni gatherings were also held in Fredericksburg and Richmond.

Generous donors like Matt Good ’19 and Sarah Balenger Good ’19 sponsored challenges and matches that brought in more than $400,000 in additional funding. “I wouldn’t be where I am without Mary Washington,” said Matt, who teamed up with his wife, hoping to inspire recent graduates to make their first-ever gift to their alma mater. Sarah said, “We want to ensure that students today have the experiences we had and that young alumni get involved at Mary Washington.”

8 decades of alumni and student s

3,377 gifts

$843,252 raised

Top: The Cedric Rucker University Center lit up in blue on Mary Wash Day. Left: UMW students celebrate Mary Wash Day festivities on April 4.

GREETINGS, TOP SCHOLARS, AND LIFE AFTER

WELCOMING MORE THAN 1,000 NEW STUDENTS

Mary

741 first-year students

87% from Virginia

9% out of state

4% international

300 transfer students

The University welcomed more than 1,000 new firstyear and transfer students into the UMW community in August 2024, with more than 700 converging on campus for Move-In Day. Filled with a mix of emotions and aspirations, the new Eagles, who hail from 21 states (plus D.C.) and nine foreign countries, rolled onto Double Drive in cars brimming with bedsheets and blankets, mini fridges and mesh laundry baskets, storage bins and string lights.

As they settled into their new digs, students began forming the friendships that will sustain them over the next four years – and beyond. First-year student Nathan Krueger knew he had made the right decision after receiving a warm greeting from his UMW Lacrosse teammates. He said, “When I stepped onto campus, it felt just like home.”

In total, 2,107 students registered for housing , and more students are deciding to stay on campus throughout their college experience.

New first-year and transfer students came from Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.

30 international students in the incoming class from United Kingdom, Sweden, South Africa, Ukraine, Ireland, Ghana, Netherlands, Ethiopia, and Peru.

Mary Wash Mary Wash

Senior Washington and Alvey Scholars Share Advice with Incoming Students

Harmony Peura ’24 has woken up grateful every morning since she earned the Mary Janes Ahern ’46 Washington Scholarship, which provided her with full tuition, fees, and room and board. “Mary Washington is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she told incoming first-year students. “Take this time and cherish it and do as much as you possibly can with it.”

Eighteen students currently benefit from Washington and Alvey Scholarships (a full-ride award for out-of-state students), including over a dozen who attended a reception in their honor last fall at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center’s Kalnen Inn. Newcomers were welcomed into the ranks by their peers, UMW staff, and the Alumni Association

Board of Directors, which established the first five scholarships more than 25 years ago. More than 70 recipients have earned awards since the program’s inception.

Seniors advised the first-year students on how to get the most of their Mary Washington experience. “A lot of opportunities I’ve had … have been because I’ve talked to professors,” said Owen Chong ’24. “Don’t be afraid to get to know yours.”

Hannah Stottlemyer ’24 encouraged them to study abroad. “College is meant for growth and to make you a well-rounded individual,” she said.

150+ new student athletes

87 Honors students 6 Alvey and Washington Scholars Approximately 20% of new students are Pell-eligible.

Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Relatives and friends lend a hand on Move-In Day; Mikyas Telahun embraces his mother, Selamwet Shtye; roommates Matt Hurst (left) and Matt Serafin pose with the high school lacrosse jerseys that decorate their residence hall room. Photos by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Right: Washington and Alvey Scholars attended a reception in their honor at UMW’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center in September 2023. Recipients of the prestigious awards receive full tuition, fees, and room and board to attend the University of Mary Washington. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

AS UMW GRADUATES CLASS OF 2024 RAYS OF SUN –AND SUCCESS

Like most of the Class of 2024, Arden Jones missed out on making memories at the end of her final year of high school.

“We all went into quarantine, so we didn’t have a proper graduation or senior year celebrations,” said Jones, who was among the nearly 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students to participate in UMW’s Commencement ceremony on May 11, 2024.

As the sun shone on Ball Circle, the three-hour ceremony was filled with plenty of pomp and circumstance, with the grand marshal carrying the official academic mace, the bagpipes of the Eagle Pipe

Band, and the singing of the alma mater. Graduates in blue gowns wore personalized mortarboards and colorful collars and cords denoting academic merits.

But what mattered most to the Class of 2024 was savoring the moment with friends, families, faculty, and staff who had supported them along the way.

“Let us make up for what was lost four years ago and make this an especially joyous and celebratory occasion you can remember for a lifetime,” President Troy Paino said. “Take pride in what you have accomplished and use your Mary Washington foundation to help you lead a life of meaningful purpose.”

Left: Graduates Anna Blake, Anna Czernia, Hannah Lee, Harmony Peura, and Abigail Swanson earned the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award for Academic Achievement for completing their degrees with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Right: Assistant Professor of Psychological Science Marcus Leppanen was recognized with the Mary W. Pinschmidt Award for having had the greatest impact on the lives of the members of the Class of 2024.

Photos by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Life After Mary Washington

After earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UMW, Michael Marsh ’23 is back on campus, working toward an MBA while volunteering in the College of Education’s makerspace. Oscar León is putting his theatre degree to work as a membership assistant for D.C.’s Arena Stage. And Olivia Foster ’23, who majored in history, is teaching English in Argentina as a Fulbright Student Award recipient.

Each year, Mary Washington surveys its newest grads to learn about their first destination following Commencement. With results from 91% of the Class of 2023 – well above the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ benchmark of 65% –UMW knows that young alumni are actively planning for life after Mary Washington. Approximately 76% of UMW graduates stay in Virginia for their next steps immediately following graduation, with 27% staying in their college hometown to work throughout the region. Their contributions continue on our campus, in healthcare fields and the technology sector, and through local businesses and nonprofits.

“One very important way to assess our students’ outcomes is by looking at where they land after graduation,” said Associate Provost for Career and Workforce Kimberly Young. The goal is to hear from new graduates within six months, with most data coming from surveys and social media.

Wise Words

Class of 2023 survey shows within six months of graduation:

If the Class of 2024 needed a pep talk to take their first steps following graduation, they got it, thanks to Mark McClure ’96, vice president of technical operations for Major League Soccer, who delivered the Commencement address, chronicling his career journey and how the lessons he learned as a Mary Washington student helped lead him to success. “When it is your time to speak up and help solve the big problems, I know each of you will be ready,” he told the soon-to-be grads. “Mary Washington has taught you to find creative, effective solutions.”

“You already made it through a myriad of challenges to get to graduation, and I know everyone can rise and succeed in the next phase of their lives,” McClure said. Being back on campus reminded him of his own years as a student, drawing wisdom from faculty and classmates. “I think about those great times, from sitting in class learning things that changed my mind to sitting on benches with friends who changed my life.” 67% employed 20% enrolled in graduate school or continuing education 10% seeking employment 2% planning to continue their education 1% in service or volunteer positions

Mark McClure ’96 addresses the Class of 2024.

MAPPING OUT

With a prime location in Fredericksburg, Virginia – a city steeped in American history – the University of Mary Washington gives undergraduate students the opportunity to immerse themselves in groundbreaking research, forge valuable partnerships, and play a meaningful role in unearthing and preserving our region’s rich heritage.

Lafayette Map-Makers

A map made by Professor of Geography Steve Hanna and Brooke Prevedel ’24 stands at the center of a Fredericksburg Area Museum exhibit titled “Lafayette’s World: Revolutionary Ideals and the Limits of Freedom.” The 5-foot-tall map tracks the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1824 journey –all 6,000-miles of it, including three nights in Fredericksburg – through America’s 24 states. Made with meticulous detail meant to take visitors back to the 19th century, it took the pair more than 100 hours to create.

Read more: UMW Map-Makers Bring Lafayette’s Journey to Life.

Fredericksburg

Top: UMW senior Brooke Prevedel ’24 (left), Professor of Geography Steve Hanna, and Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) Curator of African American History and Special Projects Gaila Sims pose at FAM’s new exhibit. Bottom: Meticulous attention to detail went into the creation of the map, including pop-out text boxes that speak to Lafayette’s celebrity at the time and were designed to resemble wayside panels. Photos by Karen Pearlman.

Fredericksburg Fredericksburg

John

Frank

Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry Devine, Professor of Geography Steve Hanna, City of Fredericksburg Tourism Stadium and Sales Manager Victoria Matthews, James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams, Associate Professor of Historic Preservation Christine Henry, President Troy Paino, Sherman White, and Kaye Savage, Mary Washington’s first Black residential student. Photos by Karen Pearlman.

Campus Trail Highlights Civil Rights

Five markers on UMW’s Fredericksburg campus were unveiled this summer as part of the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail, “Freedom, a Work in Progress,” which also includes 16 stops throughout the city and is part of the United States Civil Rights Trail. Situated outside Combs and Monroe halls and on the rim of Ball Circle, the signs lay a path that passes a bust of James Farmer, the late civil rights icon and Freedom Rides leader who taught history at Mary Washington. The on-campus portion of the trail – spearheaded by James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams and the City of Fredericksburg’s Victoria Matthews – stretches to the Jepson Science Center, where a mural honors scientist Venus Jones ’68, the first Black Mary Washington graduate.

Read more: Newest Civil Rights Trail Markers Chronicle Mary Washington History.

Bottom: Former James Farmer Multicultural Center Director Ameeta Vashee poses with her son in Combs Hall. Several of the first Black students admitted to Mary Washington studied in Combs, which then housed the sciences.

Pictured from left to right are:

White, Eunice Haigler,

White,

Top: James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams and City of Fredericksburg Tourism Stadium and Sales Manager Victoria Matthews.

2008 graduate Drew

Telling the Native American Story

Stemming from a UMW course called Preservation in the Community, King George County’s Native American Heritage Trail opened in June. Historic preservation students worked with members of the Patawomeck and Rappahannock tribes – in conjunction with the King George Department of Economic Development and Tourism – to create the seven-sign driving trail, which also includes 10 geocaches. The students’ efforts, which included extensive research to zero in on key narratives, highlights the county’s history through the perspective of Native American tribes from Virginia’s Northern Neck region.

Read more: UMW Course Preserves Native American Stories.

Below: The

READING THE CITY AS TEXT

students assigned to the Hurkamp Park neighborhood focused their presentation on the Fredericksburg Farmers Market. From left are Aurora Madson, Anna Wood, Lynell Boyd, Rachel Tivenan, Azrael Fanning, and Brooke Martin. Photo by Laura Moyer.

Former Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Lauren McMillan ’08 began a collaboration several years ago with the tribes to study Native Virginian sites in the region.

Gruber speaks to McMillan’s students about interpretive signage. The class helped create seven signs with narratives identified by the tribes.

Historic Preservation Major Searches for Mary Washington’s Gravesite

When Blake Bauer ’26 first came to college, he wasn’t even aware of Mary Washington’s prestigious Department of Historic Preservation.

By junior year, he was engaged in field and lab work with his historic preservation professors and Washington Heritage Museums to help uncover the final resting place of the University’s namesake.

Under the guidance of Assistant Professor Katherine Parker, the department’s archaeology director, Bauer has learned to use groundpenetrating radar (GPR) equipment, staked out survey grids, studied archaeological lab methods, and honed general preservation skills.

He showcased his experience during April’s Research and Creativity Symposium, which he hopes will help him pursue a career in archaeology or museum studies near his home in Southwest Virginia. He said, “Everything I’ve gained from searching for Mary Washington will stay with me wherever I go.”

“Everything I’ve gained from searching for Mary Washington will stay with me wherever I go.”

- BLAKE BAUER ’26

Fredericksburg neighborhoods can be welcoming and whimsical, contrasting history with a modern vibe, accessibility with obstacles, and well-tended spaces with wildscapes. Those were some of the observations incoming UMW Honors students made as they explored their new community as part of Mary Washington’s annual City as Text (CaT) program. The trademarked experiential learning curriculum challenges students to observe, research, and reflect on their urban surroundings.

Students shared presentations, enhanced by later research, in a fall showcase attended by their fellow collegians, faculty and staff, President Troy Paino, and city representatives. Many acknowledged that their interpretations and opinions may change over time as they come to know the city better. But their first impressions were overwhelmingly positive, spotlighting local gems like the Fredericksburg Farmers Market, historic ice cream shop Carl’s, lush residential gardens, and businesses housed in mid-century buildings.

“I love this program,” said Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Fredericksburg’s former mayor, who has attended every CaT since 2019. “I really do.”

Top: Assistant Professor Katherine Parker and student Blake Bauer use ground-penetrating radar equipment to search for Mary Washington’s gravesite. Bottom: Other researchers explore with the GPR.

SERVICE STARTS ATUMW

UMW

UMW’s Day on Democracy Propels Young Voters to the Polls

“All the change you want to see in the world starts with one vote.” That’s the way Tonia Attie ’26 summarizes Day on Democracy, an annual student display of civic engagement.

Last year, a flurry of fun incentives – puppies, doughnuts, stickers, and more – drew students to the Bell Tower, where the Fredericksburg Trolley and other rides rolled up and down Double Drive, ushering more than 160 students to the Election Day polls. A Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant will help UMW Votes transport students to cast their ballots in the 2024 election.

Meant to bring “game-day” energy to the democratic process of voting, Day on Democracy is a partnership

between UMW Votes and the Center for Community Engagement. The event aims to catch the attention of students while also sharing information such as what their ballot will look like and how to sign up for same-day voter registration. And it fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility on campus.

The collegial vibes have paid off with a string of awards for voter participation. Recent accolades include the Virginia Student Voting Summit’s first-place Civic Spirit Award, gold status from the All In Campus Democracy Challenge, and a spot on the 2024 All In Student Voting Honor Roll for UMW junior Jorrin Casa de Calvo’s efforts to get out the vote.

Tonia Attie ’26 (left) and Corbin Poyer ’24 take a free trolley ride to the polls during the Day on Democracy event at UMW. Photo by Sam Cahill.

Student Government President Honored for ‘Outstanding’ Involvement

Jaylyn Long ’24 accumulated numerous roles during her four years at UMW: Student Government Association president, Farmer Fellow, Orientation leader, senior student coordinator, and resident assistant. Her campus involvement didn’t go unnoticed, earning her the prestigious Grace Mann Launch Award at April’s Eagle Awards ceremony.

“When we all do better, we all DO better,” Dean of Students Melissa Jones said while introducing Long, who also accepted the Cedric Rucker Eagle Beyond Compare Award and the Outstanding New Program Award for ASPIRE Week, a six-day celebration of UMW’s core values. “Tonight’s recipient embodies this sentiment, challenging every member of the Mary Washington community to strive for improvement.”

Presented by UMW’s Office of Student Activities and Engagement, Center for Community Engagement, and Campus Recreation, the ceremony honored over a dozen award-winners and several campus programs and

organizations for their commitment to community service, citizenship, philanthropy, and academic excellence.

Long also won the Undergraduate Rising Star Award from NASPA, the national organization for student affairs in higher education. The people behind it were the UMW administrators she most admired.

“This award is a reflection of the mentorship that these three phenomenal women have poured into me as a student leader,” Long said of Jones, Vice President for Student Affairs Juliette Landphair, and Associate Provost for Equity and Inclusion Shavonne Shorter, who each penned a nomination letter on Long’s behalf. “I felt like all the work I had done over my four years at Mary Wash was truly complete.”

Read more: Eagle Awards Honor Students for ‘Outstanding’ Involvement.

Read more: UMW Gift Box Drive Helps ‘Open Hearts’ to Area School Children

UMW Gift Box Drive Helps ‘Open Hearts’ to Area School Children – UMW’s COAR (Community Outreach and Resources) staff spent months filling gift-wrapped shoeboxes with winter hats, school supplies, and toys for preschool students in area public schools and the Head Start Program, which provides education and resources for eligible children ages 3 to 5. Here, junior Knox McKinley talks with a group of preschool students as they open gift boxes provided by UMW’s COAR.

by Karen Pearlman.

Jaylyn Long ’24 shares a moment of pride with Grace's mother, Melissa Mann, after receiving the prestigious Grace Mann Launch Award. Photo by Sam Cahill.

Photo

Inaugural Impact Grants Fund Campus Innovation

“These grants show donors and the campus community how the Fund for Mary Washington underpins every aspect of the UMW experience. The process also supports students with experienceseeking and winning grants in a competitive environment, a skill that will continue to serve them in future years.”

– VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT KATIE TURCOTTE

The WMWC radio station entertained Eagles for decades, but it had fallen into disrepair by the time Davy Washington first stepped foot in its studio. In the last year, Washington, now the station’s manager, has ramped up engagement, recruited 80 student deejays, and organized popular events like “Eagles in the ’80s.”

Restoring the online station also requires microphones, mixers, and other updated technology. That’s why Washington took the mic to pitch a proposal that secured a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant.

The Alumni Association Board of Directors and Young Alumni Council awarded a total of $25,000 in donorfunded grants last spring to eight projects or initiatives pitched by students, faculty, and staff during the pilot program, launched by UMW’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement.

The grants, which ranged from $1,000 to $5,000, will help cover campus needs such as the cost of a trolley for UMW Votes to transport students to the polls on Election Day, dispensers for free menstrual products on campus, and a new Residence Life program for students with autism spectrum disorder. Recipients have one year to use grant funds and must participate in a reporting workshop this fall.

Read more: UMW Awards Inaugural Impact Grants Funding Innovation Across Campus

The Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant program, piloted by UMW’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, awarded $25,000 in donor-funded grants to eight projects

initiatives pitched by UMW students, faculty, and staff this spring. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Volunteer of the Year Hopes to Spread Love of Service

When the student she was tutoring on Zoom seemed to be struggling, Meghan McLees ’23 switched gears, replacing the scholarly lesson she’d planned with an educational game. “He was having a hard time at school,” she said of the student from Stafford Junction, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families struggling with poverty.

At UMW, McLees, a psychology major and contemplative studies minor, discovered a love for helping children who are low income, have language barriers, or just need support. In addition to a career path – McLees enrolled in a master’s degree program for school counseling – her penchant for serving her community earned her the 2023 Outstanding Young Adult Volunteer Award from the Virginia governor’s office

McLees logged over 100 hours with UMW’s Community Outreach and Resources (COAR) in 2022 alone, volunteered at Fredericksburg’s Brisben Center, and worked at the local food bank. She also led students weeding gardens and picking up litter, and joined three Alternative Service Break trips, repairing and building homes with Habitat for Humanity.

“Hopefully more people start volunteering,” she said. “There’s so much more than mentoring people and building houses. Everyone can find their own thing.”

Diversity Award Winner Shines Light on Accessibility

“I want to do as much as I can to make things better for those who come after me.”

– ADRIANNA GIDDINGS ’24

Adrianna Giddings ’24 leaves her white cane behind and makes her way to the front of the room to perform. “I close my eyes, and the words become movement in my mind,” said Giddings, past president of UMW’s Praise Dance Team. When she opens them, Giddings, who is legally blind, cannot see the audience. She began losing her vision at age 16, but that didn’t stop her from lighting the way for others at Mary Washington, where she pushed for accessibility improvements for people with disabilities.

Last year’s Citizenship Award for Diversity Leadership winner, Giddings held roles with the Office of Disability Resources and student club DiversAbility. She pressed for Braille signage, raised blocks that signal ground-level shifts, accessible features in residence halls, and the testing of automatic door openers.

A member of the Disability Awareness Month planning committee, she introduced audio-described movies and an adaptive sports day, and during Assistive Technology Demo Day, she showed others how to operate screenreading software. She also revived participation as president of UMW’s chapter of Delta Alpha Pi for students with disabilities, in hopes of carrying her efforts into the future.

Read more: UMW Senior Shines ‘Light of Awesomeness’ on Accessibility

Adrianna Giddings plans to pursue an advanced degree in disability studies.

UMW alumna Meghan McLees ’23 (left) poses with Center for Community Engagement Director Sarah Dewees.

highlights highlights

UMW Athletics finished 69th among all 400 NCAA Division III institutions in the final standings of the 2023-24 Learfield Director’s Cup, which was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today. Ranking 13th among public institutions, the Eagles accumulated 275 points, with 100 of those points from men’s and women’s tennis alone, and gained points in men’s soccer, volleyball, and women’s swimming.

UMW also partnered with Learfield’s SIDEARM Sports, the nation’s leading provider of collegiate athletics websites, to reshape the digital home of www.umweagles.com. The site features one of the most in depth archives of any school in the NCAA Division III, with information dating back to the beginning of many of Mary Washington’s sports programs.

Other Athletics News:

• Men’s soccer All-America selection Josh Kirkland ’24 was named Male Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year

• Three-time All-America swimmer Kinsey Brooks ’24 and All-America basketball forward Jordan Carpenter ’24 were each named Female Athlete of the Year

• Tennis graduate Rishi Charan Shakar ’24 was named Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year

• Lacrosse player Katie Blair ’24 and volleyball player Jordan Lyons ’24 were each named Female ScholarAthlete of the Year

• Men’s soccer was ranked #1 in the nation for most of the regular season

• UMW women’s swimming won the inaugural New Jersey Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving title, the team’s 33rd conference title in its history

Male Athlete of the Year Josh Kirkland ’24 (left) signed with the Richmond Kickers this past September.

highlights highlights

UMW SWIMMER COMPETES IN PARAPAN OLYMPIC GAMES

Senior Amanda Sheward made a splash last fall in the Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile. The UMW swimmer finished fifth in the women’s 100-meter backstroke in the international competition, which gives athletes with physical disabilities the chance to perform at an elite level.

While still in utero, Sheward had a stroke on the right side of her brain, resulting in permanent weakness on her left side. But it didn’t stop her from learning to swim before she could walk – or from coming to Mary Washington to major in communication and digital studies and compete on the UMW women’s swim team, which won its 33rd conference title this season.

UMW Women’s Basketball Star Bounces Into 1,000-Point Club

With only seconds left on the clock and the opposing team in possession, UMW women’s basketball rallied from behind, with forward Jordan Carpenter ’24 making an unforgettable buzzer-beating shot to win the game on Jan. 27, 2024. It catapulted her to an elite group, joining only 20 other players in UMW history to score 1,000 points. A cybersecurity major who maintained a 4.0 GPA last fall, Carpenter was named Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference for women’s basketball and one of UMW’s two Female Athletes of the Year.

Jordan Carpenter spins her magic on the court.

UMW swimmer Amanda Sheward

In May 2024, UMW Athletics held an alternate graduation for student-athletes at the William M. Anderson Center.

Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

global

globalGOING

Beyond the Classroom Scholarship Brings the World to UMW Students

Nathaniel Huff ’24 attended 19 professional theatre performances in three weeks – including several world premieres – during the UMW Theatre in London trip in summer 2023. When he returned to Mary Washington, he directed a production of a play he had first seen at England’s National Theatre.

His participation in the six-credit course overseas was made possible through the Beyond the Classroom Endowment. As of this fall, generous donors have already raised $1 million in gifts and pledges for the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) initiative, which supports undergraduate experiential learning such as internships, study abroad, and independent research. College of Arts and Sciences Dean Keith Mellinger said, “These opportunities set our students apart from others in a very crowded and highly competitive work environment.”

The Beyond the Classroom Education Abroad Scholarship helped Grace Gower ’26 tour Parisian cathedrals, museums, city parks, and catacombs in a course taught by Professor of Historic Preservation Andréa Livi Smith. Planning a career in historic preservation and urban studies, Gower said, “I’m grateful that this scholarship relieved some of the costs, so I could take advantage of this unique opportunity.”

“It’s enriching to see how other cultures live and to be exposed to different perspectives.”

Read more: Beyond the Classroom Endowment Brings

– MARY BRADLEY MACPHERSON ’71

a CAS Advisory Board member who sponsored a challenge in November 2023

Nathaniel Huff (back row, third from right) in Stratfordupon-Avon during the UMW Theatre in London trip. Photo courtesy of UMW Theatre.

the World to UMW Students.

Alumna’s Scholarship Supports Science Students Studying Abroad

Growing up in rural Southwest Virginia, Sally Brannan Hurt ’92 dreamed of traveling overseas. Mary Washington’s Alumni on the Road trips have since provided her with the opportunity to visit some of the most biodiverse places on the planet. “Being in nature brings me joy,” Hurt said. “I love seeing plants, insects, and animals that aren’t in my neck of the woods.”

UMW students like Kylie Jackson ’24 have been able to explore far-flung locales because of the Sally Brannan Hurt ’92 Study Abroad Scholarship in Biology, which Hurt established after a UMW Alumni trip to the Galápagos Islands. Jackson visited four different islands on a faculty-led spring break trip, where she observed and learned about wildlife from local guides, visited research facilities, hiked and snorkeled, planted native trees, and encountered sea lions, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and blue-footed booby birds.

“I’m beyond grateful to Sally,” said Jackson, who majored in conservation biology and plans to pursue a career protecting endangered species. “Without this scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to experience what life as a conservationist could be like.”

“Sally opens up the world for students who would not be able to travel internationally without support.”

– PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES ANDREW DOLBY

Read more: Why I Give: Sally Brannan Hurt ’92.

UMW students plant trees for a forest restoration project in the Galápagos Islands. For more than a decade, Sally Brannan Hurt’s scholarship has helped dozens of students visit one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Photo courtesy of Professor of Biology Andrew Dolby.

Sally Brannan Hurt ’92 with a giant tortoise in the Galápagos Islands on a Mary Washington Alumni on the Road trip.

Leading IN THE LIBERAL

Leading

Spring Symposium Showcases Student Endeavors

Scientific studies, artistic compilations, and ingenious creations came to life last spring for UMW’s 18th annual Research and Creativity Symposium. Held on the last day of classes, the campuswide event had more than 400 students across disciplines presenting the scholarly research and creative endeavors they cultivated, alongside their faculty mentors, in the past academic year.

Students showcased their work through oral and virtual presentations, posters, music recitals, art exhibitions, and video premieres. They predicted the formation of future stars, displayed a museum of ancient Mediterranean cultures, explored how to minimize waste in the beauty industry, and discussed a pilot program that uses mindfulness intervention in area schools.

“It’s fun to share what we’ve been working on with the wider UMW community,” said Summer Orledge ’25, an environmental science major who investigated contaminants like aluminum, copper, and lead that have leached into the James River. “This is such a locally relevant study. It’s something the general public should know about.”

Read more: Research and Creativity Symposium Showcases Array of Student Endeavors.

Left: Chemistry major Chris Anderson discusses his research with Associate Professor of Chemistry Davis Oldham.

Below: A visitor inside UMW’s duPont art gallery listens to a multimedia installation at the Student Art Exhibit, on view during the Research and Creativity Symposium.

‘Ophelia,’ an oil on canvas by UMW student Gwendolyn Narkinsky, received the Emil R. Schnellock Award for Excellence in Painting.

ARTS AND SCIENCES

FUTURE WORK

Mary Washington is now part of a $25,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant aimed at helping public colleges and universities navigate the world of artificial intelligence. The project, “Developing a Public Liberal Arts Humanities Curriculum: Empowering Students to Navigate an AI World,” is led by five public liberal arts institutions representing distinct regions of the country. Collaboratively, faculty from each school will develop classes, units, or short modules in humanities courses focused on the positive and negative aspects of generative AI.

Humanities Symposium Ensures Skills, Résumés Make the Cut

Stephen McClanahan ’25 saw the five weeks he spent this summer practicing filmmaking as a flash-forward to his career. The video project – packed with interviews, location scouting, lighting setup, and more – was part of UMW’s Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Summer Institute (AHSSSI). An immersive experience designed to give students real-world expertise they can add to their résumés, it also included psychology, environmental sociology, and 3-D design work, alongside faculty mentors. Plus, participants receive free room and board – and a paycheck.

“We were doing real research every step of the way,” said Tobias Conner ’25, a psychology major who plans to pursue a Ph.D. Using cutting-edge technology, his group tracked eye movements of testtakers and built teamwork, troubleshooting, and presentation skills.

Sociology majors Viktor Newby and Maggie Dye braved the heat to weed and water campus areas that host pollinators like bees and butterflies. Another team built on the work of AJ Gluchowski ’24, who used a 3-D printer to build a bagpipe. The group printed drones, stocks, and filaments, and used simulation software to examine how the parts worked together.

The filmmaking crew captured it all, creating videos of the other three AHSSSI projects and promotional spots for local nonprofits. “Wherever I end up after UMW,” said McClanahan, a psychology major who learned to gather B-roll, use footage-enhancing equipment, and make content accessible, “I know this summer experience will follow me.”

Mary Washington Alumnae Advance STEM Careers

Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 became a revered electron microscopist. Anne Hope Scott ’59 was a chemist and consumer safety officer with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 conducted groundbreaking research into rheumatoid arthritis with the National Institutes of Health and recommended the first treatment for AIDS. And Marilyn Shull Black ’69 studied indoor air quality and its impact on children’s health.

“These alumnae overcame obstacles at a time when there were few women in STEM and found success in their fields,” said Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte. “We are so thankful to them and others who continue to invest in their alma mater so that students today can achieve their goals, just as they did.”

UMW recognized these donors and many others throughout the past academic year, celebrating those who have established and contributed toward scholarships and other awards for current STEM students. A total of 21 graduates have given at least $10,000 or more to the sciences at Mary Washington over the years, all of them women. Nearly $43 million has been given in gifts and pledges to designations in the sciences by alumni, families, and friends, mostly in the last decade.

Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Physics Janet Asper (right) works with chemistry major Dorothy Haas ’23 in Experimental Methods, a course that has students separating and identifying the molecules within a mixture.

Bottom left: Hannah Stottlemyer ’24 (left) and Sofia Taylor ’24, who both earned full-ride Alvey Scholarships established by Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59, pose with Ron Pohl, Irene’s friend and attorney, at the 2023 Celebration of Giving. Bottom right: Harrison Miles ’15, ’23, who earned a post-baccalaureate degree in conservation biology, poses with his donor, Jerri Barden Perkins, MD, ’61, at the 2023 Celebration of Giving. Photos by Karen Pearlman.

ENRICHING EXPERIENCES

Teams of high school students lit popcorn and cheese puffs on fire to measure the increasing temperature of a container of water positioned carefully above it. The illuminating experiment, led by Associate Professor of Chemistry Leanna Giancarlo, was just one of the engaging activities in UMW’s Summer Enrichment Program.

From mixing paint pigments to mixing music, teens experienced college-level learning taught by UMW faculty members across disciplines, paired with outdoor activities in the Fredericksburg area. Over 70 high school students enrolled in the week-long program in July, seeing campus up close and getting their first taste of residence hall living.

They started in science and computer labs, spent time in art studios and makerspaces, and explored their home states via map-making and the universe through the solar system. By day three, they had visited Ferry Farm and Kenmore, picked up litter along the Rappahannock River, and tied flies for fishing.

Serenity Kelly, a rising 10th-grader in Montross, shared her enthusiasm for the program. “It’s a good opportunity to learn things early and get you ready for college life.”

Read more: UMW’s Summer Enrichment Program Mixes College-Level Learning With Fredericksburg Fun.

Hands-on experience is a hallmark of the Summer Enrichment Program at UMW.

Top: Fredericksburg Academy sophomore Enoch Huffman partnered up with Towson High School junior Liam Hill to investigate the energy in biopolymers in carbohydrates and proteins by setting food on fire.

Right: Professor of Geography Steve Hanna works with UMW Noyce Scholar Nolan MacDiarmid on Adventures in Mapping.

Photos by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

UMW Students Fund Scientific Research Through Perkins Awards

Conservation biology major Kate Green ’25 spent part of this year’s Summer Science Institute (SSI) wading into the waters of the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers, collecting specimens to study how parasites differently impact male and female freshwater snails. “My studies will help us obtain a fuller picture of how healthy our rivers are,” she said.

The completely novel research topic earned Green an award through the John C. and Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 College of Arts and Sciences Student Research Endowment, with biology major Morgan Hicok ’25 also claiming the top prize. Earth and environmental science major Joseph Gasink ’26 and physics major Boone Fleenor ’26 were runners-up. All four students received funding that will help them continue their research during the academic year.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the 10-week program gives undergraduate STEM students an intensive research experience alongside their professors and peers. During this year’s SSI symposium, the University named the program the Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute, for the late donor who left Mary Washington a transformational $30 million estate gift in 2022 to fund scholarships and undergraduate scientific research.

Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement

Katie Turcotte acknowledged Rodgers and Dr. Perkins for their philanthropy and dedication to advancing scientific education and research. “Their stories of being women in male-dominated fields and overcoming obstacles to find success have and will continue to profoundly inspire our undergraduate students and faculty in their own pursuit of scientific knowledge.”

Read more: UMW Students Earn Perkins Awards at SSI.

Clockwise from right: Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel (left) and Joseph Gasink ’26 collect samples of trace metals near a former coal-tar creosote plant in Delaware.

Boone Fleenor ’26, Morgan Hicok ’25, Kate Green ’25, and Joseph Gasink ’26 earned awards from the John C. and Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 College of Arts and Sciences Student Research Endowment, which will provide funding for them to continue their research during the academic year.

Morgan Hicok ’25 (left) and Kate Green ’25 collect specimens of freshwater snails in the Rappahannock River at Motts Run Reservoir.

King George High School took first place in the competition, earning $3,500 for STEM learning at the school. Photo by Dave Ellis.

Teamwork was a tactic for the winners of this spring’s High School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren. “We overcame it together,” student Ayla Zook said of the last-minute coding issues that threatened her team’s win at the third annual robotics-style competition held at UMW’s Dahlgren Campus.

More than 100 area public- and private-school students represented 22 teams in the contest, designed to foster STEM learning in Virginia’s fastest growing region. Participants battled it out in lightning rounds, assembling robots and programming them to navigate challenging terrain, recover critical hardware, gather intel, and maintain mission awareness.

“This is a really critical region in our nation and in our state,” UMW Provost Tim O’Donnell said. “You’re training the mind, harnessing talents, and bringing together skills to solve complex problems. That’s what this country needs going forward.”

Along with UMW, the contest was hosted by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), Fredericksburg Regional Military Affairs Council, MITRE Corporation, and King George Economic Development Authority. The victorious team was awarded $3,500; second place received $2,500; and third place took $1,500. Winners also received robotics kits for their schools.

The High School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren, recently joined by similar middle school, collegiate, and industry competitions, is part of the Potomac Tech Bridge, an outreach initiative for building innovation between NSWCDD and its partners.

Photo by Karen Pearlman

Photo courtesy of Kate Green

Photo courtesy of Joseph Gasink

FACULTY

awards

Assistant Professor of Psychological Science Marcus Leppanen was selected by UMW seniors to receive the Mary W. Pinschmidt Award for having had the greatest impact on the lives of the members of the Class of 2024. Leppanen also received the Outstanding Young Faculty Award, presented to a faculty member who has taught full time for two to five years at Mary Washington.

Professor of Classics Angela Pitts received the Grellet C. Simpson Award, named after Mary Washington’s fourth president and presented to a faculty member in recognition of excellence in the University’s primary mission of undergraduate teaching.

Associate Professor Emerita of Education Jane Huffman, who passed away in March, received the Topher Bill Award posthumously in recognition of outstanding faculty service.

Professor of Education Kyle Schultz earned the Graduate Faculty Award recognizing an exceptional full-time faculty member who demonstrates excellence in graduate teaching and professional leadership in a graduate program.

Associate Professor of Psychological Science Laura Wilson received the Waple Faculty Professional Achievement Award, recognizing the significance and impact of a faculty member’s scholarly, creative, or other professional achievements.

Each year, the University of Mary Washington celebrates faculty members who go above and beyond, contributing to the UMW community, dedicating their expertise to their fields of study, and supporting and mentoring students. Since May, six awards have been bestowed on five faculty members, including one two-time winner.

Education Professor Earns Statewide Outstanding Faculty Award

Associate Professor of Education Melissa Wells received the prestigious 2024 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Since joining the College of Education in 2017, Wells has made it her mission to foster connections among teaching, discovery, knowledge integration, and service. She inspires students on campus and in their own classrooms, while finding inspiration from them as well.

“I thrive when students bring their own stories, gifts, and talents into spaces they share with me,” said Wells, who has guided her students in writing and illustrating children’s books, which have been donated to local classrooms and displayed as part of Fredericksburg’s StoryWalk® project. “In my teaching, I intentionally craft learning experiences that provide learners with choice, relevance, and responsiveness.”

Wells holds a Ph.D. in language and literacy from the University of South Carolina, and an M.A. in early childhood education and a B.A. in elementary education and music, both from Furman University. She is the firstever COE faculty member to receive UMW’s Mary W. Pinschmidt Award and has also been a Jepson Fellow.

Read more: UMW’s Melissa Wells Receives Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award.

UMW’s Board of Visitors bestowed emeritus status upon the following distinguished members of faculty :

Professor Emerita of Art Carole A. Garmon

Professor Emerita of Classics Liane R. Houghtalin

Associate Professor Emerita of Education

Jane L. Huffman

Professor Emerita of English Teresa A. Kennedy

Professor Emerita of English Marie E. McAllister

Professor Emeritus of Classics Joseph M. Romero ’93

Professor Emeritus of Economics Robert S. Rycroft

UMW also bestowed emeritus status on two longtime administrative faculty members:

Gari Melchers Home and Studio Assistant Director and Curator Joanna Catron ’79

Simpson Library Head of Special Collections and University Archives Carolyn Parsons ’83

Above: University of Mary Washington Associate Professor of Education Melissa Wells received the prestigious 2024 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

education AN EDGE IN

education

Lab School Opens Doors to New Possibilities

The Academy of Technology and Innovation at UMW (ATI-UMW) rolled out more than red carpet when it opened its doors to over 80 area ninth-graders this fall. The lab school, now in its inaugural year, also showed off its signature flair.

Tyler Limbrick challenged his global studies class –which combines English and world history – to draw the world map in five minutes. Spanish teacher Michael Arriaza, who doesn’t use desks in his classroom, had pupils practice pronunciations. William Schlotter, who previously worked with the FBI in forensics, led a science-class icebreaker.

Approved by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) late last year, ATI-UMW wraps project-based learning experiences around the idea that mastering technology is increasingly important in the workforce

no matter the field, from cybersecurity to fashion.

A $2 million start-up grant from VDOE allowed administrators to reimagine the school’s physical space at UMW’s Stafford Campus, with everything from new carpet and cable to a library packed with communal learning zones. Faculty from Mary Washington’s College of Education provided ideas for a technology-rich makerspace and worked with staff to develop curriculum.

“ATI-UMW is really focused on helping students explore the reciprocal relationship between computer and data science applied across content areas,” said Executive Director Rebecca Towery, M.Ed. ’06. “We’re helping kids develop the skills to pursue the careers they’re most interested in.”

Read more: ATI-UMW Opens Doors, Opportunity for High-Schoolers .

Students work on an art project on the first day of classes at the Academy of Technology and Innovation at UMW. The new lab school, located at Mary Washington’s Stafford Campus, welcomed more than 80 students for its inaugural year. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Teachers for Tomorrow Learn from Today’s Education Students

Eighty Prince William County high-schoolers fanned out in Seacobeck Hall last fall, where they controlled mini-robots in the makerspace, put their heads together in collaborative classrooms, and tapped into the minds of current UMW College of Education (COE) students. For Teachers for Tomorrow participants, there was no better way to prepare for the classroom than learning from future educators already on their way to earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Mary Washington.

“When a kid finally understands what you’ve been trying to teach them, and you can see it in their face,

First-Class UMW Grads Earn Teacher of the Year Awards

Carleigh Rahn ’22 turned her classroom into an “escape room” to prepare for a unit on exploration. Mallory Karnei ’22 used the SkyView Lite app to help students learn about planets. Ivelisse Maddalena ’22 assigned a drawing activity to illustrate the concept that anyone can be a scientist.

What do these educators have in common? All three are recent UMW graduates who are recipients of 2024’s “top teacher” awards in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Stafford, respectively. During National Teacher Appreciation Week, held May 6-10, the University celebrated teachers making a difference in their classrooms and communities.

i t’s a life-changing moment,” said Gabriella ColonCosme ’24, a UMW graduate student in elementary education who participated in the program when she was in high school.

Director of Clinical Experiences and Partnerships

Kristina Peck helped a panel of COE students explain the programs and pathways available at Mary Washington and discussed the mix of reallife classroom experiences the UMW curriculum provides. Students also toured the renovated Seacobeck Hall, including simulated elementary school classrooms, a curriculum lab, a greenroomlike “Imaginarium,” a makerspace, the Weatherly Wing lecture and performance space, and an openair forum at the building’s center.

“It’s exciting to get these guys in here to see the possibilities,” Peck said. “With this new building, there’s such a variety of experiences they can explore.”

“I am extremely proud of the many teaching accolades and awards our graduates ... receive early in their teaching careers,” said College of Education Dean Pete Kelly. “Our students are bright and deeply committed to becoming excellent teachers.”

Prince William high-schoolers who participated in the Teachers for Tomorrow program try out VR headsets in Seacobeck Hall’s makerspace. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

class

Case Competition Scoops Up a ‘Sweet’ Deal for Business Students

A capstone experience offered a cool treat for students during the College of Business’ annual Endowed Live Case Competition in April. Teams from a 400-level Strategic Management course came together to analyze a business scenario involving a four-way merger that produced Canadian ice cream company Top Glaciers.

Students presented their findings – including proposals on increasing profits – at a Shark Tank-like event in Woodard Hall. The competition’s sponsors, Andrew Blate ’04 and business partner Craig Schneibolk, were

joined on the judges’ panel by Linda Blakemore ’84 and Lou Marmo ’94. The cherry on top was an award of $3,500, from an endowment established by Blate and Schneibolk.

“The winning team really knocked our socks off,” Blate said of Jenna Diehl ’24 and Brian Gaydos ’24, who put forth a partnership and co-packaging plan. “They gave a very well-thought-out presentation, in a professional and detailed manner, and answered our questions thoroughly.”

“An event like this simulates real-world scenarios and allows students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom throughout their academic careers.”

– COLLEGE OF BUSINESS DEAN FILIZ TABAK

Read more: Case Competition Scoops Up a ‘Sweet’ Deal for Mary Wash Business Students. .

UMW business students Jenna Diehl and Brian Gaydos show off their first-place prize – a check for $3,500 – during the College of Business Case Competition. The judges said they were impressed by the pair’s answering of their questions, and their presentation of a timeline and current financial analysis. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Baseball Executive, Alum Covers the Bases

When Jin Wong ’97 applied for an internship with the Atlanta Braves during his senior year as a business administration major at Mary Washington, interviewing with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron felt like a home run.

“It’s all about making connections and building relationships,” Wong said when he visited campus in January, shortly after becoming assistant general manager of baseball administration for the Chicago White Sox. Speaking to College of Business students, student-athletes, the UMW baseball team (which he played on as a student), and fellow alumni, Wong shared insights from his 24-year career as an MLB executive.

Marie Butler ’24, a geography major and business administration minor, was glad to hear Wong say that there are lots of jobs in the sports industry for college graduates with a liberal arts education. “He told us, ‘If you are confident, passion, and willing to work hard, there’s a career out there for you,’” she said.

Read more: Baseball Executive, Alum Encourages Students to Take Risks, Build Relationships .

“If you are confident, passionate, and willing to work hard, there’s a career out there for you.”

– JIN WONG ’97

At top: Jin Wong ’97 speaks to the UMW baseball team in the Leigh Frackleton Classroom in the College of Business. A business administration major at Mary Washington, he recently became assistant general manager of baseball administration for the Chicago White Sox, after 24 years with the Kansas City Royals. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

CAREER ANDlife

Mock Interview Competition Preps Students to Land the Job

Aniya Stewart ’24 researched how to answer the toughest interview questions and reflected on her past performances when applying for jobs. Sharpening those skills helped her win 2023’s Mock Interview Competition.

Organized for UMW’s Student Alumni Ambassadors, the biennial event equips students with the strategies and techniques to nail any interview – and hopefully, the job. A panel of alumni, faculty, and staff judges evaluated 16 participants over two rounds, selecting Natalie Baca ’24 and Shadwick Yoder ’25 as finalists and Stewart as the winner, which earned her a recommendation by Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte to help her in her future job search.

Michael Gilchrist ’20, who served as a judge, said that taking part in the competition as an undergraduate student helped him secure his current job as a global client and product manager. “Even to this day, I use the feedback I received to better position myself among other applicants.”

“Even to this day, I use the feedback I received to better position myself among other applicants.”

– MICHAEL GILCHRIST ’20

Read more: Mock Interview Competition Preps UMW Students to Land the Job.

From left: Aniya Stewart ’24, winner of the 2023 Mock Interview Competition and finalists Shadwick Yoder ’25 and Natalie Baca ’24.

Photo by Cadiann Treviño Pinto ’22.

Grants Bolster Internship Opportunities

After transferring to UMW, Oulimata Ngom ’26 found her perfect fit, landing a summer internship with LOK Fashion Institute. An international affairs major with a minor in French, she hopes one day to work in support of ethical practices in the garment industry and transparency in the supply chain.

“There’s no substitute for a quality internship as part of the undergraduate experience,” said UMW Provost Tim O’Donnell. And like Ngom, nearly 30% of all Mary Washington students complete at least one work-based experience before graduation.

These types of opportunities are set to grow, thanks to a pair of Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership grants, each for $100,000, awarded to UMW this spring by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. The Student Internship Support Grant will supply 50 students with $2,000 to offset costs such as transportation, housing, and professional attire. The Internship Data Collection Grant will help procure a platform to collect and analyze internship participation statistics.

Network MaryWash Creates Career Connections

Sophia Stil ’23 earned a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and psychology from UMW before beginning graduate studies in human-computer interaction. But the interactions she’s still talking about are the ones she had through Network MaryWash.

Launched last fall by UMW’s Office of Alumni Engagement, the easy-to-use web platform connects students and grads seeking advice on careers, internships, and graduate school with alumni already in the workplace. The initiative aligns with Life After Mary Washington, the University’s quality enhancement plan, and complements resources offered by UMW’s Center for Career and Professional Development.

The funds, part of the Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program, complement a $250,000 grant awarded to Mary Washington in summer 2022, allowing for the creation of the Rappahannock Work and Learn Collaborative. Composed of partners representing GO Virginia Region 6 – Fredericksburg, the Middle Peninsula, and Northern Neck – the collaborative is charged with expanding workbased learning opportunities, especially paid internships, for K-12 and post-secondary students.

Read more: Internships Shape UMW Students’ Summer Experience.

“As experts in our field, we love to talk about what we do and how we got there,” said Dr. Charles Gullo ’91, an immunologist who advised chemistry major Raesa Zia ’23.

“It was reassuring to hear that his path wasn’t set in stone,” said Zia, who recently began graduate studies in microbiology and immunology. “I also enjoyed learning about another alum’s journey and accomplishments in science.”

Read more: Network MaryWash Creates Career Connections Between Students, Alumni.

International affairs intern Oulimata Ngom ’26 hopes to one day work in support of ethical practices in the garment industry.

Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce.

Alumni

Alumni ENGAGEMENT

2024’s Reunion Weekend is One for the Ages

Edna Gooch Trudeau ’59 and Danielle DeSimone ’14 graduated 55 years apart, but both alumnae returned for Reunion Weekend for the same reason. “I’ve kept in touch with friends I met here 69 years ago,” said Trudeau, who was delighted to reunite with several of her classmates, as was DeSimone, who said, “It’s so wild that it’s been a decade since we graduated.”

Over 600 graduates and guests gathered on campus from May 30 to June 2. Some came with canes and walkers, others with strollers in tow. But everyone was ready to partake in parties and picnics, faculty lectures, campus tours, family fun, class photos, arts and culture, alumni awards, trolleys to Carl’s for ice cream, and much more. Throughout the four days of festivities, alumni visited academic departments where they learned, residence halls where they lived, and favorite haunts where they made meaningful memories.

“It’s fun to come back to an environment where you began as kids and left as adults,” said Jennifer Henley ’04, whose class was the last before Mary Washington became a university. The name and campus may have changed, she said, “but the vibe is still the same.”

Read more: Mary Washington’s 2024 Reunion Weekend is One for the Ages.

1979 alumni enjoy themselves at the all-class party. Photos by Karen Pearlman.

2009 grads take their class photo on Saturday during the picnic on Ball Circle.

Left: Alumni show off their best moves on the dance floor during the all-class party on Saturday evening. Right: Iris Harrell ’69, who traveled more than 3,000 miles from California, was eager to reconnect with her alma mater and the friends she made in college.

Alumni Association Presents Annual Awards

Jay Dugger ’90 became the youngest sitting judge in Virginia just over a decade after graduating from Mary Washington. Now chief judge of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in Hampton, Virginia, he was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award during 2024’s Reunion Weekend because of his tireless advocacy for underserved children and their families.

Three alumni were recognized at the UMW Alumni Association’s annual awards ceremony, held in Seacobeck Hall’s Weatherly Wing during Reunion Weekend. The University also named former Board of Visitors Rector Dori Eglevsky, now on the UMW Foundation Board of Directors, an honorary alumna of the Class of 2024.

Susan Leavitt ’83 earned the Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service Award. A charter and current member of the College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, Leavitt has established scholarships for students in need, served on reunion committees, and contributed

Alumni of Distinction Gallery Honors Grads Across Generations

A New York Times bestselling author. An Emmynominated television host. An award-winning chef and restauranteur. And the assistant general manager of the Chicago White Sox.

These are just a few of the individuals recognized in UMW’s inaugural Alumni of Distinction Gallery, featuring 35 exceptional graduates who excel in business, law, medicine, arts and entertainment, literature, human rights advocacy, philanthropy, education, and other fields. Their accolades can be found displayed on the first floor of George Washington Hall and in an online gallery. The University is accepting new submissions on the Alumni website and fresh faces will be added every five years.

“We’re thrilled that our alma mater has chosen to recognize our achievements in this way,” said Maria Dubiel ’19. She and husband Jalen Brown ’19, who earned bachelor’s degrees in French and international affairs at UMW, created The Francofile, an online project

Simran Kaur-Colbert ’11 earned the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. She was recognized as founder and chair of UMW’s Multicultural Affinity Group and for her dedication to fostering diversity, inclusion, and belonging at UMW.

chronicling their life in France and providing information on living, working, and going to graduate school abroad. “And we’re thankful for an undergraduate experience that continues to challenge us to realize our potential.”

the $52 million raised during the Mary Washington First Campaign.

2024 Alumni Award recipients Simran Kaur-Colbert ’11, Susan Leavitt ’83, and Jay Dugger ’90 with President Troy Paino at UMW’s Alumni Awards ceremony during Reunion Weekend in June. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

2019 graduates Jalen Brown and Maria Dubiel publish The Francofile, an online project documenting their life and work in France. Photo courtesy of Jalen Brown and Maria Dubiel.

Advancement

UMW REPORTS $14.5 MILLION RAISED IN 2023-24

The University ended the fiscal year on June 30, announcing an impressive $14.5 million in gifts and pledges that will help strengthen and enhance the UMW student experience.

Private support from 5,146 generous donors helped Mary Washington continue its commitment to providing students with an outstanding liberal arts and sciences education filled with impactful learning opportunities. Gifts benefited 315 areas across the University, including academics, arts, athletics, service and leadership initiatives, career services, and cultural programs.

“We are deeply appreciative of the investments the UMW community has made in our institution this year,” said Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte. “The generosity of our alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students is vital to advancing our mission and helping to attract, retain, and graduate exceptional Mary Washington students.”

UMW SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

SHOW GRATITUDE

TO THEIR SUPPORTERS

Advancement

In FY24, the following scholarships were awarded for the first time:

Negm Transfer Scholarship

Kathleen Johns Turner Scholarship in Classics

Ethel R. Chrisman ’48 Modern Foreign Language Scholarship

Elliott Morgan Brooks ’19 Scholarship

Craig Family Scholarship

Kelly Ragsdale Paino Scholarship for Future Educators

Clare Woodell Houseman ’70 Scholarship

Class of 1972 Dr. Michael L. Bass Scholarship

Joella C. and Michael D. Killian Theatre Scholarship

Sybil Sullivan Barden Education Scholarship

Kenneth L. Steen Scholarship

Juliette Breffort Blessing Scholarship for French Study

Carl B. Frye Jr. ’93 Scholarship

Marcia Virginia Boyles ’58 Scholarship

Jackson Family Scholarship

Carol Merklinger Condon ’59 and Joseph H. Condon Scholarship

Kathy A. Ormond ’68 Scholarship

Patricia Boise Kemp ’69 Scholarship VI

Make a gift that is meaningful to you and help outstanding students achieve their dreams at UMW:

• Fund a named scholarship to award aid to those with exceptional merit and/or financial need.

• Create a named endowment to enhance academic offerings or support museums or specialized centers.

• Establish a named award to provide research opportunities, recognize innovative teaching, and acknowledge scholarly achievement.

• The Office of University Advancement can explain naming and customized giving options to guide you through the process. Contact us at 540-654-1024 or email advance@umw.edu for more information.

When Sofia Taylor ’24 earned a full-ride Alvey Scholarship to study psychology, music, and neuroscience at UMW, she penned the first of many letters to Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59. Taylor thanked her late donor – who left a transformational $30 million estate gift to UMW for full-ride scholarships and undergraduate research in the sciences – at December’s Celebration of Giving and April’s Scholarship Luncheon and Student Showcase.

These annual advancement events give UMW students the chance to meet the dedicated supporters who have made their education possible, affordable, and accessible. Donors contributed $3.3 million for endowed scholarships in 2023-24. UMW gave 814 scholarships and awards, totaling more than $2.4 million, to 814 students during this fiscal year. Eighteen scholarships were awarded for the first time.

“We always look forward to this occasion and for you to connect with our students who are the beneficiaries of your generosity,” President Paino told the donors who attended the Scholarship Luncheon during the spring, “so you can see, witness, and experience what is happening here because of your investment.”

Sofia Taylor shares her research into the minds of the world's great composers with Bill Williams and Pat Poole at the Scholarship Luncheon and Student Showcase in April. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Belmont, the historic home and studio of artist Gari Melchers, features a 27-acre estate, art studio and galleries, tours, gardens, historic buildings and several miles of walking trails.

Arts

& CULTURE

Set the Stage

Our classrooms, labs, and studios are just some of the spaces for learning on campus, with galleries, auditoriums, museums, and theatres setting the stage for major moments in 2025.

The Great Lives Lecture Series will return for its 22nd season on Jan. 21, with a lecture by Liza Mundy, delving into her book, The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA . Other subjects this season include Pete Rose, Barbara Walters, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, Rod Serling, and John Lewis.

Visitors to Mary Washington have a few more weeks to view the Mid-Atlantic New Painting Biennial exhibit , which highlights new developments in painting by talented artists in our region, including UMW senior Kathleen Trenchard and several alumni. Featuring impressive works by 69 artists from eight states and Washington, D.C., the exhibit will be on display in the Ridderhof Martin and duPont galleries through Jan. 19.

UMW Choirs and Philharmonic will combine their forces April 13 for Mozart’s Requiem, featuring a new completion of the unfinished work by Michael Ostrzyga, performed in Dodd Auditorium. Music Professor and Chair Brooks Kuykendall will also present a lecture on April 5 with Ray Tuttle from the University’s Student Affairs Office on the Requiem in Seacobeck Hall’s Weatherly Wing.

UMW Theatre Receives Top Billing in Princeton Review

Ranked among the 25 “Best College Theatre” programs in The Princeton Review for the second consecutive year, UMW Theatre will kick off the spring semester with John Proctor Is the Villain. Set in a rural Georgia town, the play follows teens as they reevaluate Arthur Miller’s The Crucible while navigating young romance and school scandals. UMW Theatre will also present the whimsical musical fantasy Peter and the Starcatcher this spring.

EVENTS

Mid-Atlantic New Painting Biennial Through Jan. 19, 2025

Great Lives Lecture Series begins Jan. 21, 2025

UMW Theatre: John Proctor Is the Villain Feb. 6-16, 2025

Destination UMW

March 15 and April 12, 2025

Scholarship Luncheon and Student Showcase March 22, 2025

Mary Wash Day April 3, 2025

UMW Theatre: Peter and the Starcatcher April 3-19, 2025

Multicultural Fair April 5, 2025

UMW Choirs and Philharmonic, Mozart's Requiem

April 13, 2025

Commencement

May 10, 2025

Reunion Weekend

May 29-June 1, 2025

Gari Melchers Home and Studio garimelchers.org

James Monroe Museum jamesmonroemuseum.umw.edu

Cora Denny ’25 performs in UMW Theatre’s production of Murder on the Orient Express. Photo by Geoff Greene.

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