Author: Brynn Boyer

Margaret A. Mi, professor in the College of Business’ Department of Management and Marketing, has received the O’Hara Leadership Award from the Direct Marketing Association of Washington’s (DMAW) Education Foundation. She was chosen for the recognition from a field of marketing faculty from Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The award was presented at the association’s annual gala in December at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. The organization is the largest regional direct marketing association in the United States, according to its website. Its members include end-users, vendors, suppliers, agencies and educators in the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas and central Virginia.

The award states that Mi has actively participated in the DMAW Educational Foundation’s Professors’ institute for more than twelve years. Mi created an e-commerce course, funded by a grant she received from the foundation, that was the first advertising-related course offered at UMW. She developed a prototype course for adoption by other colleges. For years, Mi drove a van of students to the foundation’s University Day.  Due to her encouragement, one of her students sought and received a scholarship from the foundation, which helped the student earn a master’s in marketing communications, leading the student to a job in direct marketing and to a Ph.D. program in order to teach direct marketing.

In addition, Mi presented a workshop on sports marketing at the American Institute of Higher Education’s fifth international conference recently in Orlando, Fla. Mi was one of two submissions selected to present workshops.  The workshop was an application exercise for educators interested in teaching a sports marketing course. Participants emulated a sports team, completing project components required of Mi’s UMW marketing students.  These components included developing and implementing marketing strategy and plan for a new team.  Teams used research data for Nashville, Tenn., which has no major league baseball team. Data included city demographics, transportation infrastructure, per capita income, venue (new or current), and parking possibilities.  Teams selected players and coaches and listed their salaries.  In addition, teams created team names, logos, colors, mascots, licensed and branded merchandise, ticket and merchandise pricing, special promotions with charities, sponsorships, venue-naming rights, public relations, and electronic media use.

Just days before Isiah Willis executed slashing runs and skip passes during the recent state tournament, the University of Mary Washington Mother’s rugby player received some motivational news. The freshman outside center became the first ever UMW club sports player to be awarded a national athletic scholarship. Willis is among only eight players nationwide to receive the 2010 Kevin Higgins College Scholarship that honors former U.S. team rugby player Higgins.

Preschool Palette is a new early childhood program especially for children ages 3-5.  The workshop introduces art and art museums to young children through developmentally appropriate activities, including a visit to Gari Melchers’ studio and art gallery and a chance to explore ideas through a variety of materials and techniques. 

Printable Flyer and Schedule:
http://www.umw.edu/gari_melchers/education/documents/preschoolpaletteflyer.pdf

Torre Meringolo, Vice President for Advancement and University Relations, has announced a reorganization of Alumni Relations that is in line with feedback received at regional alumni events across the country and supportive of a key recommendation of the UMW Strategic Plan to “actively recruit alumni to participate in . . . the life of the University, and maintaining a strong, active relationship with the alumni as invested and on-going partners in the institution’s identity and future.”
The position of Director of National Alumni Engagement has been created following the model found in other leading universities and colleges. The primary purpose of this position will be to develop local alumni networks in regions of the country with large UMW alumni populations. Core groups of alumni volunteers will be identified in these areas in order to build a strong, national network. The impact of the initiative will be multiplied by this volunteer network as new opportunities for alumni engagement are identified in areas such as admissions, career services, and fund raising.
Cindy Snyder has agreed to serve as the University’s first Director of National Alumni Engagement. She brings to this position a deep appreciation and knowledge of the UMW alumni community. A national search will be commenced early in the new year for a new Director of Alumni Relations, and Cindy will remain in her current position until the search process is complete.
Additionally, in order to gain greater organizational efficiencies and support for the totality of alumni responsibilities, both positions will report to Ken Steen, Associate Vice President for Advancement.

Margaret A. Mi, professor in the College of Business’ Department of Management and Marketing, has received the O’Hara Leadership Award from the Direct Marketing Association of Washington’s (DMAW) Educational Foundation.