A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
College of Business Professor Xiaofeng Zhao
Xiaofeng Zhao, professor of the College of Business, recently presented a paper entitled “Application of priority queuing system in service operations” at the Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) 54th annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The paper has been published in the conference proceedings. Zhao chaired a Service Systems and Operations session.
University of Mary Washington Museums Executive Director Scott Harris
On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the James Monroe Museum and James Monroe’s Highland collaborated with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to present a panel discussion, Spheres of Influence: Two Hundred Years of the Monroe Doctrine. The event took place at NARA’s McGowan Theatre and was streamed on YouTube. Executive Director of Mary Washington Museums Scott Harris co-moderated the program with Dr. Sara Bon-Harper, Highland’s executive director. Of all the exhibits and public programs pertaining to the bicentennial of Monroe’s presidency offered by the James Monroe Museum since 2016, this discussion of the Monroe Doctrine addressed what is arguably the most significant and enduring legacy of his administration.
Among the four panelists were Dr. Daniel Preston, founding editor (retired) of the Papers of James Monroe and Dr. Melissa Martinez, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations. Dan and Melissa contributed admirably to what all agree was a thoughtful and wide-ranging examination of the Monroe Doctrine’s place not only in history, but also in contemporary international relations.
James Monroe Museum’s public programs coordinator, Lindsey Crawford worked with participants and the NARA staff to facilitate the event. The JMM assistant director and curator, Jarod Kearney, led a group of the museum’s guides who attended in person. Approximately 150 people were present in the McGowan Theater, with another 750 viewing online. The archived recording has had nearly 500 views in just the last three days—a number sure to grow over time.
Campus Community,
As the recovery process continues in Lee Hall, the impacted offices have extended remote work and virtual services through the end of the fall semester Thursday, Dec. 21, with winter holiday break beginning Friday, Dec. 22. Please call or email offices in Lee Hall during this time to connect or ensure someone is able to meet with you if you seek in-person services.
We anticipate these offices in Lee Hall will re-open and resume regularly scheduled in-person services when the University re-opens on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.
Thank you for your understanding and for minimizing visits to these areas in Lee Hall while the spaces dry out from the water damage over the weekend.
Vice President for Student Affairs Juliette LandphairVice President for Administration and Finance and CFO Craig ErwinProvost Tim O’Donnell
PLEASE ALSO SEE PREVIOUS MESSAGE:
Campus Community,
This weekend, several floors of Lee Hall sustained water damage following a sprinkler pipe rupture in the southeast side of the building. The offices impacted have made arrangements to work remotely, offer virtual services, or open in a limited capacity to continue services, particularly during exam week. Please call or email offices in Lee Hall during this time to connect or ensure someone is able to meet with you if you seek in-person services.
Lee Hall remains open but with limited access to some areas, as the drying process will take several days, and the building may have more noise than normal as fans and dehumidifiers are in place. The impacted spaces are only available to staff to retrieve files and materials. Thank you for minimizing visits and traffic to Lee Hall as the recovery process takes place in part of the building.
Please note the following changes in offices during this time:
The following offices continue to be open to in-person services, with some modifications:
The main welcome area for Admissions remains open for visitors, and the Copy Center, EagleOne Card Center, and Parking Management will also operate on a regular schedule with in-office services.
Thank you for your understanding and making note of these preferred contact methods and adjustments for Lee Hall offices during this time.
Vice President for Student Affairs Juliette LandphairVice President for Administration and Finance and CFO Craig ErwinProvost Tim O’Donnell
Winter Break Dining Closings
Thursday, Dec. 14
Eagle’s Nest Market
Closes at 4 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 15
Vocelli Pizza
Hissho Sushi
Mein Bowl
Katora Cafe
Panera Bread
Close at 4 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 15
Top of the CRUC serves continental breakfast, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Closing at 10 a.m. for Winter Break
The following message is from the Office of the Provost and Department of Athletics:
Campus Colleagues,
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of longtime women’s basketball and volleyball coach Connie Gallahan, who passed away on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
Gallahan was one of the first full-time coaching hires in the Department of Athletics under longtime Director of Athletics Dr. Edward Hegmann, in 1977. She coached both volleyball and basketball for 10 years, compiling 215 victories in ten seasons in volleyball, with two state championships, and two ECAC South titles, before focusing solely on basketball in 1986.
In 24 years as the women’s basketball coach, Gallahan won 306 games, leading the Eagles to three state championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances, in 1994 and 1998.
Moreover, Gallahan was valued as a tremendous colleague and mentor to generations of student-athletes, known for her knowledge, determination, desire to win, and wonderful sense of humor.
Following her coaching career, Gallahan remained with the University for another 15 years, as the assistant dean of advising services at the graduate Stafford Campus, where she positively influenced generations of learners.
A native of Fredericksburg and a graduate of Longwood University, Gallahan played a myriad of sports as an undergraduate. She served for two years as the tennis professional at Fredericksburg Country Club prior to joining the coaching ranks at Mary Washington in 1977. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee.
A viewing will be held at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Home on Sunday, Dec. 10, from 2-4 p.m. and a Graveside Service at Oak Hill on Monday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. Read more in the online obituary.
Dear Colleagues,
I’m pleased to announce a statewide 2% pay increase has been authorized; this is in addition to the 5% increase which was effective earlier in the year. UMW Classified, A/P faculty, full-time teaching faculty, adjunct faculty and wage employees are all eligible to receive this pay increase per the criteria described below:
Classified Staff
A/P Faculty
Pay increases for both classified staff and A/P faculty will appear in paychecks beginning December 29, 2023. Please refer to 2023 UMW Salary Increase FAQs for information about employees working fewer than 12 months annually and are not actively working on December 10.
Full-Time and Adjunct Teaching Faculty
Wage Staff
Deferred Compensation
Part or all of the salary increase may be deferred, subject to relevant plan guidelines and limitations. Please see 2023 UMW Salary Increase FAQs for detailed guidance to enroll in or change contribution amounts for the 403b Pre-tax Annuity.
Please contact Deborah Burton (dburton@umw.edu) in Human Resources with questions about salary increase eligibility.
Thank you for all you do to make UMW such an outstanding university!
Beth Williams
Executive Director for Human Resources
Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jared McDonald new book, Feeling Their Pain: Why Voters Want Leaders Who Care, was recently published by Oxford University Press. Learn more.
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is coauthor of a new book, Producing News in a Time of Disinformation: Information Evaluation Strategies for Journalists and News Consumers, which has been published by the U.S. International Research and Exchanges Board. The book is Professor Farnsworth’s ninth, and it is designed to help citizens, journalists, and journalism students identify and respond to disinformation. The book will be available online for free in English and in Russian in the coming weeks.
In addition, recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
State Representation Tilts Toward Diversity With Historic Numbers (Royal Examiner)
“The legislature that takes office in January will look a lot more like Virginia than previous legislatures,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington.
https://royalexaminer.com/state-representation-tilts-toward-diversity-with-historic-numbers/
The Kennedys: a commitment to public service with great sacrifices (El Espectador of Columbia)
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science at the University of Mary Washington, spoke with El Espectador about the legacy of the Kennedy family in politics, two lives cut short in some of the greatest “what could have been” futures for the United States.
https://www.elespectador.com/mundo/america/los-kennedy-un-compromiso-con-el-servicio-publico-con-grandes-sacrificios/
The first Black speaker of the House of Delegates takes pride in his rural roots (Cardinal News)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that Scott’s background and willingness to connect with Republican legislators from Southwest is unusual for a Democrat, but it could benefit both sides. “Given the fact that the Southwest Virginia delegation is almost entirely Republican, the political influence of the region is greatest when there is a Republican majority. And because Democrats tend to do poorly in the region, a number of Democrats might not be interested in focusing on the region’s concerns,” Farnsworth said.
https://cardinalnews.org/2023/11/17/virginia-next-speaker-of-the-house-forges-an-unlikely-friendship-with-a-southwest-legislator/
What Tuesday’s Democratic Win Means for Virginia Politics (The Center Square)
But if Republicans look to achieve gains in the commonwealth in the near future, they will have to change their tactics some, according to University of Mary Washington Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/virginia/article_71f48bfa-7fdf-11ee-bee1-bf3e981f6ba1.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20bottom%20line%20of%20Tuesday’s,reversal%20of%20Roe%20v.%20Wade.
Virginia Democrats lost in several key swing districts. So how did they win the General Assembly? (NBC 4 Washington)
“You’re not likely to see a lot of candidates in the national arena trying to imitate Glenn Youngkin,” said University of Mary Washington Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth. “This is not a strategy that demonstrated an effectiveness in this election cycle.”
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/virginia-democrats-lost-in-several-key-swing-districts-so-how-did-they-win-the-general-assembly/3466873/
As national political omens go, Republicans sought middle ground on abortion in Virginia − and still lost the state legislature (The Conversation; Times Union; Caledonian Record)
Polls, including a September 2023 statewide survey by the University of Mary Washington and Research America Inc., demonstrated that Democrats were far more likely to vote based on the abortion question than Republicans were.
https://theconversation.com/as-national-political-omens-go-republicans-sought-middle-ground-on-abortion-in-virginia-and-still-lost-the-state-legislature-216884
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/as-national-political-omens-go-republicans-18480016.php
https://www.caledonianrecord.com/opinion/conversation/as-national-political-omens-go-republicans-sought-middle-ground-on-abortion-in-virginia-and-still/article_9247035e-9364-5e4c-818e-e7d2c031a92d.html
Virginia Democrats take over House, maintain control of Senate following election (WJLA)
“The Democrats were able to get a majority, but you’ll note that many of the seats that they won, they didn’t win them by much,” said Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of Political Science at the University of Mary Washington. “Democrats didn’t win by much, and Republicans didn’t lose by much, so this sets the stage once again for Virginia to be a purple state into 2024 and 2025.”
https://wjla.com/news/local/virginia-democrats-take-over-house-of-delegates-maintain-control-of-state-senate-majority-2023-november-election-results-republicans-voting-community-va-governor-glenn-youngkin-local-state-government#
What to make of the Virginia election results so far? (WTOP)
Stephen Farnsworth, joined WTOP’s Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller and anchors Dimitri Sotis and Nick Iannelli on Tuesday to share what he makes of the results of the Virginia election results so far.
https://wtop.com/local-politics-elections-news/2023/11/qa-what-to-make-of-the-virginia-election-results-so-far/
Blue prevailed in Virginia’s elections. Now its red governor seeks compromise. (The Washington Post)
The issue cut against the polarization that otherwise grips Virginia voters, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “Beyond abortion, there wasn’t a lot that Democrats or Republicans could do to convince somebody on the other side to switch teams for the election,” Farnsworth said.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/11/09/virginia-elections-youngkin-democrats-compromise/
Virginia’s big political lessons for Youngkin – and for the nation (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“When you have people say they’re 100% pro-life and then support a 15-week ban, that makes people wonder what you really want … with Youngkin and the Republicans, people were skeptical about what they really wanted,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/virginias-big-political-lessons-for-youngkin—and-for-the-nation/article_41d2b42e-7e77-11ee-99b3-8b29554cee04.html
After Glenn Youngkin ‘bet big’ in Va. and lost, he faces uncertain future: Experts (ABC News; News Explorer)
“Republicans had hoped that the 15-week ban that Gov. Youngkin proposed would be a way to sort of blunt the damage that the Roe v. Wade reversal is causing for Republicans around the country,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/after-glenn-youngkin-bet-big-virginia-elections-lost/story?id=104720160
https://newsexplorer.net/after-glenn-youngkin-bet-big-in-va-and-lost-he-faces-uncertain-future-experts-s6797944.html
In Virginia, Redistricting Matters (WVTF)
“The public objections were particularly vehement,” said University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth, who lives near the Spotsylvania school district and saw some of the politicking firsthand. In his eyes, Youngkin’s early success with the “parents matter” movement hit a ceiling and what remained was disgruntled parents who supported their teachers over political claims of indoctrination.
https://www.wvtf.org/news/2023-11-09/in-virginia-redistricting-matters
Ivanka Trump Testifies in Civil Fraud Trial (CTV News)
“Well, this is one of the last witnesses expected to be called,” said Stephen Farnsworth. “This is the third child of Donald Trump who will be testifying. Ivanka Trump is not facing charges in this case but she is in a position to be offering information about what happened as the individual documents were being put together.”
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2803345
A study titled “Assessing the presence, concentration, and impacts of trace element contamination in a Chesapeake Bay tributary adjacent to a coal ash landfill (Possum Point, VA)” by Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel, Associate Professor of Chemistry Leanna Giancarlo and Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Ben Kisilia, along with UMW students, was published in the journal Environmental Pollution. Read the article.
The study also was publicized by Potomac Riverkeeper Network. Read more.
