August 1, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Cross-Cultural BBQ, Aug. 31

by

cross-cultural barbecue posterCross-Cultural BBQ, Thursday, Aug. 31, 4 to 7 p.m., Ball Circle

Part of UMW’s Cultural Awareness Series, the Cross-Cultural BBQ provides an opportunity for the entire campus community to learn about and become affiliated with the multicultural and social justice student groups at UMW, all while enjoying free entertainment, various foods, appetizers and drinks related to particular cultures and sub-cultures. This event is sponsored by Students Educating and Empowering for Diversity (SEED) and the James Farmer Multicultural Center.Meet all the multicultural clubs on campus, watch performances, and get some yummy food!

President Paino Makes Virginia Power 500 List

by

UMW President Troy Paino

UMW President Troy Paino

University of Mary Washington President Troy Paino has made the “Virginia 500: The 2023-24 Power List,” the fourth annual edition of the most powerful and influential leaders in business, government, politics and education by Virginia Business magazine. The publication ranks top executives across 19 major sectors ranging from law and real estate to finance and federal contracting.

“It’s been a big year for Paino and the public liberal arts university he oversees,” the publication states. “In March, UMW received the largest financial gift in its 115-year history — a $30 million bequest from a 1959 alumna to support undergraduate research and scholarships. The month before, Paino received the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ 2023 President’s Award for his compassionate approach to strategic planning and decision making, his personal attention to student ideas and feedback, and his commitment to understanding diverse perspectives.” Read the full story.

Angie Kelly Claims SBDC 40 Under 40

by

Angela Kelley

Angela Kelley

Angela Kelly, a business counselor in UMW’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), has claimed a 40 Under 40 SBDC award. These awards aim to spotlight the extraordinary contributions of individuals under 40 in the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network who have significantly impacted their local networks and the broader business landscape.

Among a pool of accomplished young entrepreneurs, the distinguished panel of judges in America’s SBDC Millennial Interest Group selected 40 remarkable winners who stood out for their exceptional business acumen, innovative thinking, and commitment to driving growth and success. The winners will be celebrated at a reception during the 44th annual America’s SBDC Conference on Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. Read more.

Jefferson Square Parking Lot Closed Friday, Sept. 1 at 2 p.m.

by

On Friday, September 1, the Jefferson Square parking lot will be closed from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for the Campus Programming Board (CPB) First Friday Event.  Barricades to the Jefferson Square entrance will be in place by 2:00 p.m. on Friday, by which time all vehicles must be moved from the lot.

Parking for faculty and staff will remain available in all other designated faculty and staff lots.

As a reminder:

  • Accessible parking spaces are available in all open lots to any vehicles with DMV-issued accessible placards or license plates.
  • The UMW Police Department provides escorts when needed and may be reached at ext. 1025. Please visit the Safety Escort webpage for more information.

For a calendar view of lot reservations visit the Parking Lot Reservations Calendar webpage.

Please contact Maie Makin in Parking Management with any parking related questions: mmakin2@umw.edu, 540/654-1129.

Farnsworth, Hanna, Burkley Publish Chapter on Virginia Politics

by

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies; Stephen P. Hanna, professor of geography, and Sally Burkley, a 2022 UMW graduate who is now a student at William and Mary Law School, are coauthors of a book chapter, “Chuck Robb’s 1981 Gubernatorial Campaign and the Democratic Realignment.” The chapter was published by the University of Virginia Press in an edited volume, The New Dominion: The Twentieth-Century Elections that Shaped Modern Virginia.

Other recent media mentions for Stephen Farnsworth include:

Schapiro: Had Youngkin been on that stage… (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“If he were on that stage, he would be almost as visible as Governor Hutchinson,” said Stephen Farnsworth, the University of Mary Washington politics analyst, referring to Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, a back-of-the-pack candidate who — with Chris Christie, a former Trump loyalist — was front and center in refusing to back Trump as the 2024 nominee.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/schapiro-had-youngkin-been-on-that-stage/article_ce8a76d8-4739-11ee-9104-27a862f25d00.html
We Are the League! (Crozet Gazette)
Dr. Steven Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, will address current Virginia politics, and how state actions are affecting policy in Charlottesville.
https://www.crozetgazette.com/event/we-are-the-league/

Commonwealth’s attorney candidates spar over rising crime, partnering with police, criminal justice reform (Prince William Times)

The candidates, both 52, answered a series of questions from moderator Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor and director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies.
https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/commonwealths-attorney-candidates-spar-over-rising-crime-partnering-with-police-criminal-justice-reform/article_4dd40d7a-441d-11ee-be8d-7b661295ea0c.html
Trump to Surrender in Georgia Tonight (CTV News)
“This is absolutely the biggest legal threat that the former President faces,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2752535
Donald Trump expected to surrender in Georgia (CP24)
“Well, of course, this is the greatest threat of all of the legal cases that the former President faces,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.cp24.com/video?clipId=2752477
Republican Presidential Candidates, Minus Trump, Spar Sharply (Voice of America; Globe World News Echo)
“This is his moment,” Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, said of DeSantis.
https://www.voanews.com/a/republican-presidential-candidates-minus-trump-spar-sharply/7239075.html
https://globeecho.com/news/north-america/united-states/republican-presidential-candidates-minus-trump-spar-sharply/
Trump to Skip First Republican Debate (CTV News)
“It’s without Trump on the stage but it won’t be without Trump in the conversation. The focus will be largely on the former president,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2751678
Trump Likely to Upstage Opponents Even as He Skips Debate (Big News Network)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, said the debate “creates a very, very difficult environment for the other Republicans, because they have their own ideas for what they want to do with respect to key issues like the economy or Ukraine or immigration. But that doesn’t mean they’ll have much of a chance to talk about it. They’ll be asked about Donald Trump.’
https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/273941697/trump-likely-to-upstage-opponents-even-as-he-skips-debate
Trump Likely to Upstage Opponents Even if Absent from Debate (Voice of America; West Observer)
“It creates a very, very difficult environment for the other Republicans, because they have their own ideas for what they want to do with respect to key issues like the economy or Ukraine or immigration. But that doesn’t mean they’ll have much of a chance to talk about it. They’ll be asked about Donald Trump,” predicts Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington.
https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-likely-to-upstage-opponents-even-if-absent-from-debate-/7234944.html
https://westobserver.com/news/united-states/trump-likely-to-upstage-opponents-even-if-absent-from-debate/
Why Democrats are struggling in rural Virginia (Cardinal News)
But Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that it remains essential to a party’s fortune statewide that both parties are on the ballot everywhere, including in those districts where they are unlikely to win. “There are parts of Virginia where Democrats will always win, and places where they will always lose. The question is how big are the margins,” Farnsworth said.
https://cardinalnews.org/2023/08/23/why-democrats-are-struggling-in-rural-virginia/
Youngkin retools message for new elections with ‘Parents Matter’ talks (The Washington Post; Washington Dailies)
Youngkin “is wise to continue to talk about the parental agenda,” University of Mary Washington political scientist Stephen Farnsworth said. “It allows him to present himself as a conservative …[while demonstrating that] the current version of the ‘parents matter’ agenda is more inclusive than the previous version.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/08/21/virginia-youngkin-parents-matter-elections/
https://washingtondailies.com/us-news/youngkin-retools-message-for-new-elections-with-parents-matter-talks/

What is the reason for the absence of President Biden in the primary debates? (Voice of America)

“A sitting president is usually way ahead of his main rivals, and he doesn’t want to give them a chance to catch up with a sitting president,” Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington.
https://www.vozdeamerica.com/a/por-que-presidente-eeuu-participa-debates-elecciones-primarias/7221286.html

Enter Your Voting Era: The Importance of Civic Engagement, Sept. 7

by

The James Farmer Multicultural Center is co-sponsoring an event with the Center for Community Engagement and Students Educating and Empowering for Diversity, for UMW students, faculty and staff, as well as area high school students and the greater Fredericksburg community.

The event, titled “Enter Your Voting Era: The Importance of Civic Engagement,” will take place on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 6 p.m., in Chandler Ballroom C inside the Cedric Rucker University Center.

Jessica Atkinson, Director of Elections, City of Fredericksburg; Derrick Lewis, National Field Organizer, NAACP; UMW Political Science Professor Jared McDonald; and Kate McDaid ’23, Field Organizer, NextGen, will speak to the audience about why it’s important for people to become politically and civically engaged, the structure of the General Assembly and how it functions for citizens of Virginia, how local and statewide elections can impact their everyday lives through public policy, the power of being an informed citizen by casting their vote each election cycle, and staying involved with the civic engagement process.

For more information, or with questions regarding disability-related accommodations, contact the James Farmer Multicultural Center at 540/654-1044 or jfmc@mail.umw.edu.

Moon Quoted in ‘Alexandria Now’ on Housing Inequity

by

Professor of History and American Studies Krystyn Moon

Professor of History and American Studies Krystyn Moon

Professor of History and American Studies Krystyn Moon spoke to Alexandria Now for an article titled “Despite flurry of new apartments, experts say Alexandria has a housing shortage.” Moon said racial covenants in neighborhoods started later in Alexandria than in other places and that housing started shifting dramatically in the 60s with the passage of the Fair Housing Act and the Housing and Urban Development Act. “This opens up mortgages to low and moderate-income families,” Moon said. “In Alexandria, it particularly opens them to African American residents. Not only is there an increase in home ownership for African Americans as a result, but an opening up of neighborhoods closed off to them in the past, particularly north of Rosemont.” Read more.

Labor Day Activities in Fredericksburg, Sept. 1 to 4

by

Labor Day celebrates the workforce in the United States, and rewards the workers’ diligence and determination. In other words, you deserve a Monday off! Here are some activities planned for this Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1 to 4.

  1. Around the Town Trolley – If you have ever spent time in downtown Fredericksburg, you have almost certainly seen (or hopefully ridden!) our vintage trolley. Throughout the Summer, our trolley has been operating not only during the day, but on Friday and Saturday nights. In addition to taking a day tour of Fredericksburg on Labor Day weekend, enjoy the last evening trolley on Saturday, September 2nd, from 5:00pm-8:30pm.
  2. Art in the Park – On Saturday, September 3rd, the Fredericksburg Farmers Market will be hosting Art in the Park, welcoming local artists to showcase their gorgeous work with the community. Art in the Park is held every 1st and 3rd Saturday from May to October at the Farmers Market, and we are fortunate to have Art in the Park on Labor Day weekend.
  3. Otterly Amazing First Friday – One of our favorite monthly events, First Friday, is the perfect way to begin your Labor Day weekend. On September 1st, grab a Sip & Stroll beverage from participating businesses, and tour the creative, gorgeous art galleries of downtown Fredericksburg. But this September, there is so much more to enjoy on First Friday, from the final Sounds of Summer concert to the FredVends Artisan Market at Hurkamp Park.
  4. Fredericksburg Area Beer Trail – The breweries in Fredericksburg are consistently experimenting with new brews, as well as keeping their flagships on tap. Grab your FAB  Trail passport and enjoy our wonderful breweries, including the recently opened Beer Garden at The Port Oysteria & Brewery (NOTE- the Beer Garden is the only area of The Port that is open to the public). Drink responsibly!
  5. Fredericksburg Nationals – From Friday to Sunday on Labor Day weekend, the FredNats will be facing off against the Lynchburg Hillcats at home. This series will be the last home games of the season, so book your tickets soon.
  6. History at Sunset – On Saturday September 2nd, meet at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) for walking tour that covers the trials at trepidations of Reconstruction in Fredericksburg. The tour begins at 6:30pm.
  7. Learn Something New – Fredericksburg is full of history and knowledge, much of which is unknown to the general public. Our museums and Traipse Tours are the perfect way to learn more about this richly historical city.
  8. Rappahannock Adventures – The gorgeous Rappahannock River flows through Fredericksburg, and provides you with a number of fun outdoor adventures. Hike on the trails at the bank of the river, kayak or paddle board along the water, or keep a lookout for river otters; we cannot guarantee that you will see any otters, but it is definitely worth a look!
  9. Riverside Center for the Performing Arts – 42nd Street, the classic musical that celebrates Broadway, will hold some of its last shows this Labor Day weekend. Purchase tickets to enjoy dinner and a show at Riverside.
  10. Scavenger Hunts – The FXBG Otters scavenger hunts is a great way for you and your children to explore downtown Fredericksburg. Spot the adorable otter sculptures throughout the heart of downtown.
  11. UMW Downtown Welcome (and Roller Rink) – As UMW students return to Fredericksburg, there are a number of wonderful activities in store for them at the Downtown Welcome, including a Vintage Market, Scavenger Hunt, and, in the parking lot of the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, a Roller Skating Rink!

Have a fantastic Labor Day, and enjoy your day off! Follow VisitFXBG on Facebook.

Special University Dining Events, Sept. 5 and 6

by

Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap Bowl

Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap Bowl

Half Price Lunch

University Dining is offering a Faculty and Staff Appreciation Half-Price Lunch on Tuesday, Sept. 5, in the Restaurants at the Top of the CRUC.  All members of the University’s faculty and staff may enjoy lunch between 11 am and 2 pm for only $3.25, – 50% off the current faculty and staff rate! Please remember to bring your faculty and staff ID in order to get the discount.

If you would like to know what we’ll be serving, you can view the menu in the Everyday by Sodexo App. Download the app and search for Mary Washington, or you can check the University Dining website, UMW.SodexoMyWay.com, click the menu button, then select Top of the Cedric Rucker University Center.

Free Kodiak Flapjack Sampling

University dining invites everyone to come on over to the CRUC patio on Wednesday morning, Sept. 6, to get some awesome Kodiak flapjacks, samples of their snack bars, and lots of swag!  This is a great way to start you day, and everything is free!  We’ll be serving between 9:30 am and 11:30 am on Wednesday, September 7th on the patio.  In the event of rain, the event wll move to the lobby of the CRUC (2nd floor).

Bulgogi Beef Bibimbap Globowl Dinner

We’re kicking off our new series of gourmet Globowl Dinners on Wednesday, Sept. 6, with the ever-popular Bibimbap Bowls! For those who have not heard about Globowl Dinners, they are gourmet meals served in bowls and prepared to order for each guest by our Executive Chef in the Restaurants at the Top of the CRUC.  Globowl Dinners are offered twice a month, and each one features different international cuisines. Globowl Dinners are served between 5 and 7 p.m., or until we are sold out. The price is $7.99, in addition to the regular price of admission for dinner.

For more information any of these Dining events, contact Rose Benedict, rbenedic@umw.edu or 540-654-2169.