Author: Brynn Boyer

Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth’s op-ed “Coming Distractions: Pinocchio Politics” appeared in the Sunday, May 20 edition of The Free Lance-Star. In the op-ed, Farnsworth argues that although personal attacks have long been a feature of American politics, the 2012 election discourse will be worse than past years.

Farnsworth discusses Gov. Bob McDonnell’s time in office in The Washington Post article “Social Issues Cloud McDonnell’s Ups and Downs.” The article appeared in the Monday, May 21 issue of the newspaper.

Courtney Chapman Thomas, director of leadership and coordinator of strategic initiatives, recently graduated from the Leadership Fredericksburg program. Thomas was one of 28 graduates who completed the eight-month leadership program through the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The program, started in 2008, teaches participants about the businesses, issues, government, history, resources and challenges that impact the economic and community dynamics of the Fredericksburg region.

Past UMW participants include Allyson Moerman, Mary Parnell, Leah Cox, Susan Knick and Donna Mejia.

For more information about the program, visit http://www.fredericksburgchamber.org/leadership/index.htm.

Are you interested in volunteering for Reunion Weekend?  We are expecting over 700 alumni and guests to visit UMW the Friday, June 1 through Sunday, June 3, and we need your help to make everything run smoothly.  If you have not done so already, please check out the Reunion Weekend website at www.umw.edu/reunionweekend to see the schedule  and recent announcements.

In order for Reunion Weekend to be a success, we need dozens of volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks.  There are over 150 different shifts available throughout the weekend, and duties range from riding the trolley to Carl’s to taking tickets at the picnic.  This year we’re using VolunteerSpot, an online coordination tool, to help us organize the volunteer registration process.    Please click the link below to view the various volunteer opportunities and to sign up.  Once you enter your email address, select the day you are interested in volunteering and a menu of volunteer opportunities will be available.  Choose whichever ones best fit your time schedule and talents.

http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/762345634252728038

You are welcome to sign up for as much or as little as your schedule will allow.  Each volunteer will receive a free Reunion Weekend t-shirt.  Volunteer shirts will be in red so alumni and guests know who is working the event.   Mark Thaden, director of Alumni Relations, will send a follow up note the week before Reunion Weekend confirming your time and duties as well as any other specific information you may need for your shift.  Please feel free to forward this to any alumni, friends, or colleagues who may be interested in volunteering.

If you would like additional information or if you have any questions, contact Mark Thaden at (540) 654-1011.

Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson’s essay “Assessing NATO’s Experience in Libya” appears in the journal Aspenia. The journal is a publication of the Aspen Institute Italia.

The UMW Center for Economic Education has received a grant from the Council for Economic Education and State Farm to fund learning opportunities for area teachers and students. The $2,900 grant, the first external grant for the newly formed center, will provide training workshops for more than a dozen local educators.

Because of the grant, made available through the generous support of State Farm and the Council for Economic Education, UMW’s Center for Economic Education will train 20 Spotsylvania County teachers this summer who will teach the new economics and personal finance course. The course is a new Virginia high school graduation requirement.

The Council for Economic Education is an organization focused on the economic and financial education of students from kindergarten through high school through professional development opportunities, educational resources and assessment tools.

The UMW Center for Economic Education was established in 2011 as part of the Virginia Council on Economic Education. The VCEE works in partnership with colleges and universities in the Commonwealth of Virginia through a statewide network of university-based centers for economic education. The mission of the UMW Center for Economic Education is to build ongoing partnerships with the region’s school divisions and their teachers, provide professional development workshops for teachers and provide creative, hands-on lesson plans, curriculum and programs for students. These efforts are with the goal of effectively infusing economic and financial education in grades K-12 to promote economic and financial literacy.  For more information, contact Margaret Ray, professor of economics, at (540) 654-1485.