A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
College of Business Lecturer John Burrow
College of Business Lecturer John Burrow discussed the second annual High School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren with show host Ted Schubel on WFVA Radio, Newstalk 1230. The University of Mary Washington’s Dahlgren Campus awaits 125 students who will compete for a prize purse of $7,500 during the weekend competition. Listen to the segment.
Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Melanie Szulczewski
Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Melanie Szulczewski wrote a comment piece for The Free Lance-Star entitled “Orange officials must heed science, safety before signing off on Wilderness Crossing.” The article was published in advance of an Orange County Planning Commission public hearing on the proposed Wilderness Crossing development on 2,600 acres of land where a number of unreclaimed mining sites remain, leftover from Virginia’s gold mining era, during the 1800s through the 1930s. Read the article.
Recently renovated Seacobeck Hall is home to the College of Education at the University of Mary Washington. A newly announced National Science Foundation grant will help UMW prepare future STEM educators.
Students interested in becoming high-school STEM-subject teachers now qualify for up to two years of funding at the University of Mary Washington, with the establishment of the Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program at UMW. Funded by a $1.4 million five-year National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, the Noyce Program brings a nationally acclaimed teacher preparation program to one of Virginia’s historic teacher colleges, which now excels in undergraduate education across the liberal arts and sciences.
“This NSF-funded project will create powerful learning experiences for students who want to teach in STEM fields. I am deeply grateful to the team that spearheaded this project. This will help address the serious teacher shortage in these high-demand disciplines,” said UMW College of Education Dean Pete Kelly.
UMW, in partnership with Germanna Community College, will use the NSF’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program funds to recruit, train and retain teachers of science, technology, engineering and math in secondary schools considered high-need.
Current and future UMW students and Germanna transfer students – whether majoring in education or not – can be considered for the program, which provides up to $24,000 per student in each of their last two undergraduate years. In return for each year’s scholarship, Noyce Scholars commit to two years of teaching biology, chemistry, computer science, Earth science, math or physics in qualifying schools. Read more.
Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently delivered an online lecture, “The Presidency, U.S. Public Opinion and Foreign Policy,” to the students and faculty at Methodist College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dr. Farnsworth was a Fulbright Specialist in Malaysia during 2019.
Other recent media mentions received by Farnsworth include:
Biden’s Ottawa Trip Focused on Ukraine (CP24)
UMW’s 33rd annual Multicultural Fair is once again set to bring a taste of the world to campus on Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, because of Saturday’s soggy forecast, events and vendors that typically set up outside have been moved indoors.
Rain locations include the Chandler Ballroom and other locations within the Cedric Rucker University Center, Lee Hall Underground and Monroe 116. For more information on alternate entertainment locations, please see the Multicultural Fair FAQ page.
The fair generally attracts 5,000 to 6,000 people each year, and exemplifies the University of Mary Washington’s commitment to enhancing multicultural awareness.
Typically held in early April, the Fair provides an entire day devoted to multicultural entertainment, children’s activities, international and American food, and ethnic craft vendors.
Each year the Multicultural Student Affairs and James Farmer Multicultural Center work closely with UMW student organizations, faculty and staff in planning festivities. The University also partners with the greater Fredericksburg community, which plays an integral role in successfully implementing the fair.
Eric Lorentzen, Professor of English
Eric G. Lorentzen, professor of English, recently gave a talk entitled “Interdisciplinary English as Social Justice: Dickens, Disney and Popular Culture,” at the Virginia Humanities Conference. The talk was based on a new class Lorentzen taught in fall semester of 2022, in which the goal was to mark, as an intellectual community, the tremendous ongoing, and often not readily perceived, influence that Dickens’ work has on a multiplicity of genres in the 21st century. The course included materials as diverse as:
*20th- and 21st-century literary texts, such as Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith, John Irving’s The Cider House Rules and the Harry Potter books.
*films/shows like Ridley Road, It’s a Wonderful Life, About Time, The Game, The Time Traveller’s Wife, The Last Tree and Disney’s Christopher Robin.
*literary societies, reading groups, social clubs and online serial novel projects.
*Dickens festivals, holiday fairs, walking tours and other elements of literary tourism that continue to celebrate Dickens’ works, life and association with Christmas.
*museum exhibits/journalism that attempt to demonstrate the ongoing importance of Dickens’ texts for the problems of poverty, homelessness, food insecurity and lack of social justice today.
Hello UMW Family,
From the first day you became an Eagle, you began to learn about, embody and reflect our ASPIRE Community Values. ASPIRE is an acronym that stands for Accountability in our behaviors, the pursuit of Scholarship, holding ourselves to the highest levels of Personal and Institutional Integrity, cultivating Inclusive Excellence for everyone, demonstrating Respect and Civility in all we do, and maintaining Engagement in the communities to which we belong. Our values guide us and make us who we are and for that reason a celebration is in order.
SGA Vice President Jaylyn Long came up with the idea to host our first -ver ASPIRE Week, which will take place April 10-15, 2023. Please save these dates and plan to join in the fun. More information about each day can be found below.
Monday, April 10: Accountability Day will be marked through tabling and brief updates from selected offices and student and professional organizations. The event will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in front of Lee Hall (Rain location: Cedric Rucker University Center, Living Room). Refreshments will be provided.
Tuesday, April 11: Scholarship Day will feature ASPIRE tabling at the Majors Fair and a chance to create a name tag displaying your current or intended major. The fair runs from noon to 2 p.m. at Palmieri Plaza (Rain date: Thursday, April 13, Palmieri Plaza, noon to 2 p.m.). Ice cream will be provided.
Wednesday, April 12: Personal and Institutional Integrity Day is a time when the Honor Council and Student Conduct Review Board will be tabling. There will also be an opportunity for all UMW community members to sign a banner to recommit to personal and institutional integrity. This will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the patio of the Cedric Rucker University Center (Rain location: CRUC Living Room). Popcorn will be provided.
Thursday, April 13: Inclusive Excellence Day. Student organizations and offices on campus that display inclusive excellence will be tabling throughout the Cedric Rucker University Center. University Dining will serve lunch in the Restaurants at the Top of the CRUC between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the menu will feature dishes that highlight the cultural heritages of many of their team members. For those who have meal plans, the cost of lunch is one meal swipe or $9 Flex. The cost for members of UMW’s faculty and staff is $6.50. The cost for all other guests is $13 plus tax, and payment may be made with EagleOne or credit cards (cash is not accepted).
Friday, April 14: Respect and Civility Day. There will be a social media-based celebration of this day that you can join using #MaryWash.
Saturday, April 15: Engagement Day. Students are invited to engage in community service projects taking place across campus. Prior sign-up is kindly requested and a link will be provided next week. There will be a pizza party for participants after the event has concluded. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
ASPIRE Week would not be possible without the hard work of our fabulous committee members and sponsorship from the Office of the President. We are grateful for all you are doing!
Please be on the lookout for additional details next week. We hope to see you at the events!
Shavonne R. Shorter, Ph.D. (she/her)
Associate Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer
Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Digital Studies
Flip the Field is an experiential learning opportunity for student-athletes. However, the script is flipped. Our student-athletes are the educators. Coaches and their teams of student-athletes are engaging faculty, administrators, students and staff on their field of play by hosting immersions, clinics and friendly contests.
This event is being held in conjunction with UMW’s ASPIRE Week, a celebration of Mary Washington’s shared community values, and Division III Week, an opportunity to observe the positive impact DIII athletics and student-athletes have on the campus and surrounding community.
You do not have to be athletic to participate in Flip the Field events. Come and gain first-hand knowledge of the amount of time and effort student-athletes dedicate to the sports they love. The event will take place Monday, April 10, through Thursday, April 13, at UMW Athletic Facilities all across campus. Just show up (see the calendar of events with locations below) or RSVP via Google forms.
Monday, April 10, 3:15 to 4 p.m.: Join the Women’s Lacrosse team on their game field at the Battleground Complex (which is next to the baseball stadium) to learn basic stick work like how to pass, catch and shoot.
Monday, April 10, 6 to 7 p.m.: Join the Field Hockey team on “A” field (practice turf behind the Tennis Center) to learn basic field hockey drills and small game play.
Tuesday, April 11, 2 to 3 p.m.: Join the Men’s and Women’s Swimming teams at Goolrick Natatorium (in Goolrick Hall) to learn the basics of each of the four strokes, along with drills for each stroke to learn correct technique, underwater kicks, dives, breath control and side breathing and finish with a 25 or 50 race.
Tuesday, April 11, 2:15 to 3 p.m.: Join the Men’s Lacrosse team on “A” field (practice turf behind the Tennis Center) to learn how to pass, catch and shoot, instructions on how to dodge and play “3x” (a non-contact 3-on-3 version of lacrosse with soft balls and mini nets).
Tuesday, April 11, 3 to 4 p.m.: Join the Baseball team at V. Earl Dickinson Stadium at the Battleground Complex for a tutorial on throwing, fielding and hitting.
Tuesday, April 11, 3 to 4 p.m.: Join the Esports team in the Esports Arena (University Center 306) to learn how our Esports competitive teams warm up for their matches, learn what goes into an effective practice week and practice a hands-on skill of warming up using the computer application software Aim Labs.
Tuesday, April 11, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Join the Women’s basketball team on Goolrick court (in Goolrick Hall) to participate in a free throw competition, 3 man weave with layups, up and under, reverse layups and 10’ jumpers.
Tuesday, April 11, 4 to 5 p.m.: Join the Volleyball team in the Anderson Center for a skills demonstration and play an intermixed game with some of the players.
Wednesday, April 12, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Join the Men’s Soccer team on C Field (next to the tennis center) for a dribbling, passing and kicking tutorial.
Wednesday, April 12, 4 to 5 p.m.: Join the Rugby team on the Rugby field to learn passing skills and participate in a version of flag rugby.
Thursday, April 13, 3 to 4 p.m.: Join the Esports team in the Esports Arena (University Center 306) to learn how our Esports competitive teams warm up for their matches, learn what goes into an effective practice week and practice a hands-on skill of warming up using the computer application software Aim Labs.
Thursday, April 13, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Join the Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams in the Indoor Tennis Center for a tennis clinic and pickleball tutorial (if you have your own rackets and/or paddles please bring them. There are a limited number of loaner rackets available.)
Thursday, April 13, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Join the Softball team at their game field for a tutorial on throwing, fielding and hitting.
Assistant Professor of Education Melissa Wells
Assistant Professor of Education Melissa Wells has been appointed to the National Council of Teachers of English committee. NCTE seeks to amplify the voice of educators through personal connection, collaboration, and a shared mission to improve the teaching and learning of English and language arts at all levels.
Dear Colleagues,
As we gear up for implementation of the Quality Enhancement Plan, Life After Mary Washington, many of you are wondering what role the competencies play in our conversation with students about life after they graduate from UMW. Think of the competencies as a new part of our university vocabulary that can be used to describe the connection between their academic and co-curricular activities and their life’s next chapter.
What we’ve learned from our recent research is that our students can benefit from more clarity in how they communicate their academic and co-curricular experience as they seek entry to graduate school, service, or the world of work. Making these connections between classroom assignments, a student leadership position, or an athletic team can be difficult, and we can be here to help.
Faculty, please consider any existing assignments you have and how they may align with the competencies. For instance, an assignment that requires students to work in a team to solve a problem may align with the teamwork competency. This assignment could be marked in canvas or your syllabus with the “teamwork” graphic icon.
To make this process easy and give you the most flexibility, the icons are available in the Canvas Commons. Special thanks to Miriam Liss in the Department of Psychology for suggesting that we make the icons available in Canvas for easier access. Jerry Slezak and the team from Digital Learning Support were able to place the icons in Canvas Commons for anyone in the UMW Community to access and use in course and co-curricular communications. The directions to access Canvas Commons after logging into Canvas are:
We hope this will make things easier for all of us to incorporate the competencies into our work with students. For more information on the QEP and the definitions of the competencies, please visit the QEP website.
Regards,
Kimberly Young, Associate Provost for Career & Workforce Jennifer Walker, Associate Professor of Special Education | Program Director of Special Education