Author: Brynn Boyer

Warren Rochelle, professor of English, presented “Terrains of the Mind: Le Guin’s Utopias as Human Landscapes,” at the annual Science Fiction Research Association conference in Detroit, Mich., in June 2012.

University of Mary Washington seniors Jennifer Crystle, Christine LaPlaca and Riham Osman have been chosen as writing interns as part of Phi Beta Kappa’s new two-semester internship program.

During the internship, the students will prepare a series of brief articles for publication on Phi Beta Kappa’s national website for news and alumni relations.

Phi Beta Kappa, based in Washington, D.C., is the nation’s oldest academic honor society focused on the liberal arts. The Kappa Chapter of Virginia was established at Mary Washington in 1971.

Congratulations to Michele Neeley, manager of work management services in facilities services, who has been selected as an Excellent Eagle Employee for the month of July. A parking spot of her choosing has been reserved for her until the end of the month.

Here is what one of her co-workers said about her:

“I work with Michele often on van reservations and work requests and she is always friendly, flexible, and extremely helpful. I often travel to Facilities to chat with her face to face about any requests since she is so helpful and I like to see her smiling face. To me, her interactions with co-workers is what makes UMW feel most like a family. Michele’s level of customer service is something all employees should strive for and that is why I believe she deserves the Excellent Eagle Employee.”

To nominate someone who you believe is an Excellent Eagle Employee, send an email to Priscilla Sullivan (psulliva@umw.edu) with Excellent Eagle Employee in the subject line.  In your email, be sure to list the person’s name, department, work location (with the most convenient parking lot), and of course, the reason why you believe they should be recognized.  Please spread the word to other employees about this wonderful opportunity to recognize a co-worker(s).

This summer, a familiar face is back on campus. After almost a year abroad, Joe Mollo has returned to UMW in his role as director of the office of student activities and engagement.

Mollo, who joined UMW in 2007, was in the United Arab Emirates with the Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 8, known as MSRON-8 .

“We were providing port security for U.S. flagships coming into port there,” he said.

After more than two months of training in the U.S., Mollo left for UAE on October 31, 2011.

Mollo said although he enjoyed the experience overseas, he is glad to be back at UMW.

“It is just a different feeling altogether,” he said. “You live your life over there looking over your shoulder.”

For the upcoming academic year, Mollo said the student activities office will focus primarily on the construction of the new campus center. He also noted the quickly approaching launch of Org Sync, a database program for student organization management.

Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the university’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is co-author of a research article entitled, “Media Coverage of the 2005 Governor’s Race: A Comparison to Presidential Campaign Coverage,”  published in the June 2012 issue of the Virginia News Letter, published by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

On Friday, June 29, Farnsworth was a featured guest on the TBD Newschannel 8 talk show program “News Talk with Bruce DePuyt.” In the interview, he discusses the Supreme Court’s recent decision on the health care mandate and offers and update on the 2012 presidential election.