Six computer science students, with Professor of Computer Science Jennifer Polack, presented their Apple iTouch/iPhone research at the Eighteenth Annual Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Northeastern Conference held April 12 and 13. The student programming team from UMW placed seventh place out of 33 teams at the conference.
Julius Esunge Receives National Science Foundation Grant
Assistant Professor of Mathematics Julius Esunge received a grant from the National Science Foundation to support his participation in the Summer School and Conference on Financial and Actuarial Mathematics in Cameroon. The conference will be held at the University of Buea in Cameroon from April 22 to May 3. As part of the grant, Esunge will present a series of lectures from May 5 to 10.
Starts Today: Drop ‘N Go Program – Sustainability Event
The following message is from the Office of Residence Life:
The University of Mary Washington is co-sponsoring a campus sustainability event to encourage faculty, staff and students to donate old or unwanted clothing and household items. “Drop ‘N Go!” a collaboration with the Rappahannock Goodwill Industries (RGI), will begin Thursday, April 25, and will continue through Saturday, May 4. Bins for the donations will be provided in all residence hall lobbies, Seacobeck Hall, the Fitness Center, Facilities Services, and in Lee Hall.
Help us get this program off to a great start! Please contact Chris Porter (cjporter@umw.edu) or Joni Wilson (jwilson@umw.edu) if you have questions.
UMW New Student Orientation Volunteer Sign-Up
The following message is from the Orientation Planning Committee:
Dear UMW Faculty and Staff:
As you are aware, in June 2013 UMW will host New Student Orientation for all incoming students. In planning for this program, the Orientation Planning Committee is looking for faculty and staff to assist with various roles and activities. The committee is asking for volunteers from all UMW Faculty and Staff to help partner with students and their guests as they transition to UMW.
New Student Orientation starts on Friday, June 14, with Transfer Student Orientation scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starting on June 17, there will be six sessions for first-year students, each session lasting 1.5 days. A second Transfer Orientation is scheduled for Friday, June 21, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Listed below are the dates for the six First-Year Sessions:
Session #1: June 17 & 18
Session #2: June 18 & 19
Session #3: June 19 & 20
Session #4: June 24 & 25
Session #5: June 25 & 26
Session #6: June 26 & 27
Below are descriptions of each of the activities for which we need support, and approximate times are indicated.
Description of Roles:
1) Parking – assist with parking and directions for guests. Parking duties will start at 7 a.m. and conclude around 9:30 a.m. .
2) Greeters – talk with students and their guests and direct to programming as needed, stationed at various locations.
3) Information Desk – there will be an information desk in Lee Hall throughout orientation, and assistants are needed.
4) Family/Guest Reception – representatives from various offices are needed to interact with families and guests during a dessert social from 6-7 p.m. on Day 1 of First-Year Orientation.
For further information about New Student Orientation, please visit the website: http://orientation.umw.edu.
If you are able to volunteer at any time during Orientation, please complete the online form at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PGV_SAKr0u2Iu1ZsoT7Atkz0iAHSZMhMh2RpFBDsVTE/viewform?sid=2ac1744a9e4d7deb&token=ZSc0QT4BAAA.Bdl3M10HNCqBSyrmubB5tw.Y6aEDW26mMPzEqITh7Z_Qg
Thank you for your support,
The New Student Orientation Planning Committee
Discount for Mother’s Day Brunch at UMW
UMW Catering would like to offer all members of the UMW faculty, staff and administration a 10 percent discount on our upcoming Mother’s Day Brunch. The brunch will be served between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 12 in the Historic Dining Room at Seacobeck. The menu will include roast turkey, mesquite smoked beef brisket, Tuscan cod, made-to-order omelets and eggs, Belgian waffles, a children’s buffet and a host of other fabulous breakfast and lunch items. Plus, every mom gets a rose! To see our complete menu and prices go to www.umwcatering.com. Reservations must be made by Tuesday, April 30 to receive the discount. Call 540-654-1930 to make a reservation.
Alicia Tisdale Named Excellent Eagle Employee
Congratulations to cashier Alicia Tisdale who has been selected as the Excellent Eagle Employee for the month of May. A parking spot of her choosing has been reserved for her through the end of the month.
Here is what one of her co-workers said about her:
“Alicia is on the front line, in a constant spotlight, she is always looking to provide the best and outstanding customer service. She patiently works with all customers (staff, students, parents etc.) in explaining why things are done and how UMW has to abide by regulations etc. She brings forward suggestions for enhancements to our processes. I have received many emails from the campus community and through our Lee Hall Student Services questionnaires that provide feedback to the excellent customer service Alicia provides. When on the front line of an office of two, when the other employee is out for an unexpected long term period, Alicia puts her personal items on hold to ensure UMW operations continue.”
“Alicia consistently goes the extra mile providing EXCELLENT customer service to students, parents, staff, and guests of the University. She is hard working and dedicated to the mission at hand, always wearing a smile and offering words of inspiration and encouragement. ‘Turning obstacles into Opportunities’ is what Alicia does best, representing UMW with pride, and reminding us that ‘It’s a Great Day to be an Eagle!’”
“When I read the EagleEye, I always read about the people that have been selected. Alicia is always very pleasant, has excellent customer service skills, goes above and beyond her job duties and on top of all that she takes pride in her job.”
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).
Leo Lee Presents Research at Regional Conference
Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Jangwoon “Leo” Lee, traveled to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, last weekend to deliver an invited talk at the Spring Central Sectional Meeting of the American Mathematical Society. His talk was titled Discretization of Stochastic Optimal Control Problems by the h x p Version of the Stochastic Galerkin FEM.
Meet our New Employees
Please join us in extending a warm UMW welcome to our newest employees:
Joan Appleby joined the Dahlgren Campus as Housekeeping Lead on April 15.
Sally Gaby joined the Office of Students Activities and Engagement as a Program Support Technician on April 15.
Elizabeth Heitsch joined the Library Services in Stafford as a Stafford Reference and Instruction Librarian on April 25.
HR Upcoming Events and Benefits Information
Visit http://adminfinance.umw.edu/hr/employee-relations/worklife/whats-new/ for the upcoming Events and Benefits information.
Andrea Livi Smith Publishes Op-Ed in Washington Post
Andréa Livi Smith, assistant professor of historic preservation and director of the Center for Historic Preservation, wrote an op-ed, “We Don’t Need a Modern-Looking Metro,” for The Washington Post. The piece, which argues that the D.C. metro system’s distinctive design should be appreciated and maintained, appeared in the print edition of the newspaper on Sunday, April 21.