December 5, 2025

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Seven UMW Graduates Earn Perfect 4.0 GPAs

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As the Class of 2025 graduates crossed the stage at the University of Mary Washington’s Commencement to the applause of faculty, staff, family and friends, seven students received top-of-class honors.

Graduates Bonnie Butler, Kathleen Conner, Thomas Held, Austin Moore, Jessica Oberlies, Kelsey Payne and Maria Werner earned the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award for Academic Achievement for completing their degrees with the highest grade-point average in the undergraduate program. All seven – the greatest number of grads earning this achievement in recent history – finished with a perfect 4.0 GPA, graduating summa cum laude, the highest academic distinction, and earning additional honors through their programs. Read their stories!

UMW Graduates (from L) Kelsey Payne, Maria Werner, Bonnie Butler, Jessica Oberlies, Thomas Held, Kathleen Conner and Austin Moore earned the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award for Academic Achievement for completing their degrees with the highest grade-point average in the undergraduate program. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

UMW Graduates (from L) Kelsey Payne, Maria Werner, Bonnie Butler, Jessica Oberlies, Thomas Held, Kathleen Conner and Austin Moore earned the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award for Academic Achievement for completing their degrees with the highest grade-point average in the undergraduate program. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi. Click the photo to read their stories!

 

UMW Students Get Ahead with Complimentary “Intro to AI” Course this Summer

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Professor of Communication Anand Rao (pictured L) designed the “Intro to AI” class to equip new and returning UMW students with foundational knowledge about how AI works, how to integrate it into their work and approach it with critical awareness. Photo by Norm Shafer.

Professor of Communication Anand Rao (pictured L) designed the “Intro to AI” class to equip new and returning UMW students with foundational knowledge about how AI works, how to integrate it into their work and approach it with critical awareness. Photo by Norm Shafer.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we learn, work and communicate – but many students, like much of society, aren’t sure how to use it effectively or responsibly.

That’s why the University of Mary Washington is launching a complimentary one-credit course that gives students the tools to understand and apply AI in an effective and ethical way, particularly in an academic setting. The online, self-paced course – Introduction to AI – launches in summer 2025 and will equip new and returning UMW students with foundational knowledge about how AI works, how to integrate it into their work and approach it with critical awareness.

“One of our responsibilities, and one I take very seriously, is preparing students not just for the classroom, but the world beyond it,” said Professor of Communication Anand Rao, who designed the class. “This means we need to prepare students for an AI world by making sure they have a strong foundation in what AI is, how it works and how you start incorporating it into your work.”

The Introduction to AI course will be offered asynchronously online, making it easily accessible for students with varying summer schedules. This flexible format allows students to engage with the material at their own pace over an eight-week period, starting in June and concluding in July. Upon successful completion, students will receive one credit, free, awarded at the end of the fall semester.

The new course is offered only to incoming and current UMW students, who must have a valid UMW net ID and be enrolled in the fall semester to start the course over the summer. Course materials were developed by Rao, and the course is offered pass/fail, with no additional charge. Students will receive instructions via email about how to enroll in the course. Read more.

UMW Names New Vice President for Student Affairs

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Mike Walsh is UMW’s new vice president for student affairs.

Mike Walsh is UMW’s new vice president for student affairs.

Mike Walsh, a dedicated student affairs leader and champion for the student experience, has been named vice president for student affairs at the University of Mary Washington. With work spanning five universities of varied missions and magnitudes, he brings a focus on the foundation of care for all learners to succeed and make a difference in the world. He will join UMW in the vice president role on July 10.

“Mike Walsh brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of student needs, which will be invaluable as we continue to prioritize experiential learning and student engagement,” said UMW President Troy Paino. “Our students are at the center of everything we do, including activities beyond the classroom, and the new vice president for student affairs will serve a crucial role in expanding these opportunities and ensuring that every student has access to transformative experiences that prepare them for success after graduation.”

Walsh comes to Mary Washington most recently from the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), where he served as vice provost for student affairs. In that role, he created what is now the Office of Student Affairs, encompassing nine areas that center and champion the student experience. Among his initiatives there, he co-founded or provided the leadership for the Center for Learner Diversity and Inclusion, the Academic Success Center, the Student CARE Program, the emergency funds program, OHSU’s first Housing program, increases in healthcare pathway development programs, an increase in student engagement activities and the introduction of a new student services assessment process. Read more.

UMW Launches Microcredentials Through Career Academy by Coursera

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UMW students, faculty and staff will now have complementary access to the global online learning platform Career Academy by Coursera to complement to their coursework and careers.

UMW students, faculty and staff will now have complementary access to the global online learning platform Career Academy by Coursera to complement their coursework and careers.

The University of Mary Washington has launched Career Academy by Coursera, a new initiative that offers students, faculty and staff complementary access to the global online learning platform as a complement to their coursework and careers.

With more than 45 entry-level professional certificates from leading companies such as Google, IBM, Microsoft and Salesforce, Coursera Career Academy focuses on innovative, career-aligned courses and microcredentials. Students can earn numerous certificates while completing their degrees at UMW. The platform is available to undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff, with forthcoming access for Mary Washington alumni.

“We are thrilled to offer the Coursera Career Academy to our UMW community,” said Filiz Tabak, dean of the college of business, which has been leading the initial implementation. “This partnership aligns with our commitment to providing innovative learning opportunities and preparing our students for successful careers in a rapidly changing job market.”

The Coursera Career Academy is available through single-sign-on with a UMW NetID, and it’s already been included in several classes this spring semester through a pilot program. Instructors can assign modules to directly link with coursework and provide feedback, or students can pursue credentials at their own pace and interests. Supervisors can assign professional development opportunities too. It’s free of cost to current students, faculty and staff. Read more.

UMW Board of Visitors Sets Tuition and Fees for 2025-26

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University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors sets tuition and fees for 2025-26 academic year.

University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors sets tuition and fees for 2025-26 academic year.

At its quarterly meeting on April 11, 2025, the University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors set tuition and fees for the 2025-26 academic year. The Board voted unanimously to authorize a 2.5% tuition increase for undergraduate and graduate students and a mandatory comprehensive fee increase of 4% for the 2025-26 academic year.

The tuition and fee increase supports state-mandated compensation actions for faculty and staff; increases in the minimum wage and health insurance benefit rate for employees; cost increases and inflation impacting the price of goods, materials and services; and state administrative system charge increases. At an operational level, it ensures that UMW maintains its educational distinction, where all classes are taught by faculty (not teaching assistants), staff are experts in their fields and trusted mentors for students, and the campus experience is more than a college home, it’s a launch point for life after Mary Washington.

For 2025-26, housing rates will increase by 2%. Dining rates will remain unchanged. A student can live in an on-campus residence hall at the University of Mary Washington for the fall and spring semesters for less than $10,000. On-campus apartment rates are around $13,000 for the academic year, with a variety of single- and double-room options. The new student programs and arrival fee, which is a one-time fee for new incoming students, will increase by $50. Read more.

UMW Provides Career Resources, Hosts May 15 Mini-Conference for Alumni and Federal Workers

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UMW’s Center for Career and Professional Development offers a range of career resources and programs to serve alumni and the community.

UMW’s Center for Career and Professional Development offers a range of career resources and programs to serve alumni and the community.

Whether it’s for a first job after college or a career change, the University of Mary Washington provides a range of resources and programs for taking the next step.

With a ground-level network spanning the I-95 corridor – stretching from Fredericksburg through the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C., to the state capital in Richmond, Virginia – UMW is uniquely positioned to assist government workers and contractors looking to stay employed in the area. Combined with an online support system made up of more than 45,000 alumni around the world, the connections are endless.

The University also will host a mini-conference on Thursday, May 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center to help job seekers learn to effectively communicate their experience, craft compelling résumés and tap into resources.

“We want to serve our alumni and the community around Mary Washington in a truly meaningful and positive way, and that is what this event is for,” said Assistant Director of Career Education Mary Becelia. “With options for many career paths and resources tailored to federal workers, UMW continues to be an educational resource for the local as well as the Northern Virginia region focused on meeting the needs of our community, particularly as it relates to career management in the current moment.” Read more.

UMW Recognizes Spring 2025 Phi Beta Kappa Student Inductees and Scholarship Recipient

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UMW senior Carleigh Wood poses with Professor of Chemistry and Honors Program Director Kelli Slunt, who presented her with the Roy H. Smith Phi Beta Kappa Award.

UMW senior Carleigh Wood poses with Professor of Chemistry and Honors Program Director Kelli Slunt, who presented her with the Roy H. Smith Phi Beta Kappa Award.

Each spring, dozens of University of Mary Washington students join the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society – Phi Beta Kappa – with a Sunday afternoon induction ceremony and the applause of faculty, staff, campus community members and their families.

Fifty-seven UMW juniors and seniors were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa during a recent ceremony announcing the 2025 cohort of the University’s Kappa of Virginia chapter. They join an impressive roster of members, including 17 U.S. Presidents, 42 Supreme Court Justices and more than 150 Nobel Laureates.

The ultra-selective, merit-based, invitation-only honor is reserved for the best and brightest liberal arts and sciences undergraduates from fewer than 300 top schools across the nation. Only 10 percent of American colleges and universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters, and at each of those schools, fewer than 10 percent of students are selected as members.

This year’s ceremony was held April 6 in the Hurley Convergence Center’s Digital Auditorium on UMW’s Fredericksburg Campus, with guest speaker Rusty Spears, from the Richmond Association of PBK. Read more.

Campus Resources, Bingo and A-S-P-I-R-E Anchor Annual Tradition at UMW

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Past and present UMW student leaders Amira Said '26, Shadwick Yoder '25 and Jaylyn Long '24 pose during ASPIRE Week. This year's six-day event, recognizing Mary Washington's core values, begins on Monday, April 14.

Past and present UMW student leaders Amira Said ’26, Shadwick Yoder ’25 and Jaylyn Long ’24 pose during ASPIRE Week. This year’s six-day event, recognizing Mary Washington’s core values, begins on Monday, April 14.

The annual celebration of ASPIRE Week is on the spring agenda at the University of Mary Washington, where student-led activities embracing and exemplifying community values span six days starting April 14, 2025. Each day focuses on a value within ASPIRE, an acronym for Accountability, Scholarship, Personal and Institutional Integrity, Inclusive Excellence, Respect and Engagement.

The weeklong celebration first convened in 2023, led by then UMW Student Government Association President Jaylyn Long ’24. Since then, SGA members and senators have participated in key events. This year the committee chair, Amira Said ’26, is senate vice president.

“Coordinating this year’s ASPIRE Week has been an incredible experience due to the amazing leader that passed it on to me. This year, I really focused on integrating every part of our campus community into the week, and with our committee’s work, we’ve achieved a full schedule showcasing all that UMW has to offer,” noted Said.

This 2025 ASPIRE Week kicks off Monday, April 14, with a theme of accountability, showcasing student resources such as the Honor Council, Student Conduct and Responsibility, and Eagles in Recovery through an afternoon Well-Being Resource Fair, with training opportunities. UMW’s Office of Police and Public Safety will host “Dunk a Cop,” and the evening highlight will be a civil discourse dinner, facilitating thoughtful discussion while sharing a meal. Read more.

UMW Announces 2025 Commencement Speaker, Alumna and Educator Melanie Kay-Wyatt

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Longtime educator and Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt ’92, M.Ed. ’07, will be the University of Mary Washington’s 2025 Commencement speaker.

Longtime educator and Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt ’92, M.Ed. ’07, will be the University of Mary Washington’s 2025 Commencement speaker.

When the University of Mary Washington’s 2025 Commencement speaker shares her remarks during the May 10 ceremony, the soon-to-be graduates can be certain they are the center of her attention. That’s because Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt ’92, M.Ed ’07, superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), takes a student-centered approach and keeps education at the heart of everything she does.

She is also very familiar with the commencement stage, having celebrated thousands of high school graduates through her time as a teacher, principal, human resources professional and superintendent, and having graduated from Mary Washington twice, first with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and then with a Master of Education in educational leadership.

“This dual perspective has been invaluable in my journey, especially as I work to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education and that our schools operate effectively and equitably,” she says. “My education at Mary Washington provided me with a strong foundation in leadership, resilience and perseverance – qualities that have been essential throughout my career. Starting my career as a special education teacher, I learned the importance of advocacy, patience and meeting students where they are on their educational journey. These skills carried over as I moved into leadership roles, including principal, director of human resources and chief of human resources. Each step reinforced my ability to navigate complex systems, foster equitable opportunities and build strong teams.” Read more.

An Enriching Summer Awaits With UMW’s Program for High School Students; Apply by March 21

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High school students participate in hands-on learning opportunities during last year’s Summer Enrichment Program. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

This summer, the University of Mary Washington invites high school students to experience college and get ahead academically through the 2025 Summer Enrichment Program (SEP). Combining cutting-edge courses with hands-on activities, the program is open to rising 10th- through 12th-graders, with applications open now through March 21, 2025.

Apply online for UMW’s Summer Enrichment Program.

Through the Summer Enrichment Program at UMW, high school students can spend a week on a college campus, staying in the residence halls, taking classes with faculty and exploring the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, a location steeped in history and primed for the future. Located halfway between the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C., and the state’s capital of Richmond, it’s easily accessible from I-95, nearby airports and Amtrak or VRE, opening doors to a one-of-a-kind opportunity for students across the nation to get connected to college.

The 2025 program takes place July 13-19, with a cost of $1,200 for the week, including tuition, room and board, all course materials, field trips and recreational activities. Students take courses to test out potential college majors, explore career fields across subjects and get a taste of college life, from the dining hall to the residence halls during the week-long residential program.

Courses range from photography and printmaking to environmental engineering and electronic music. Students can uncover the secrets of cybersecurity, produce a live video broadcast and learn to harness the power of persuasion. In addition, aspiring teachers can apply for the future teachers courses through the Summer Enrichment Program, connecting directly to UMW’s College of Education and expert faculty. Tuition assistance may be available for the Explore Teaching courses. Read more.