The next Women’s Leadership Colloquium Coffee Talk event will be held on Tuesday, April 11, from 8 to 9 a.m., in person in the Jepson Alumni and Executive Center’s Kalnen Inn Living Room at 1119 Hanover St. Parking is available on Hanover Street. Please register for the event.

April’s Coffee Talk will be led by Dr. Keyanna Hawkins, discussing the topic of Speaking Power Over Your Life.

Our words are powerful. Are you harming yourself by talking yourself down? Negative self-talk, as well as our words when communicating with others can have a huge impact on our success. This session will focus on avoiding the pitfall of limiting ourselves by the words we speak. Turn negative speech habits into positive ones.

There is success through the power of our words!

Dr. Hawkins is Interim Director of Equity Advancement at Germanna Community College. Hailing from Hampton Roads and now based in Glen Allen, VA, Dr. Hawkins has strong ties to the vibrant cultures of Creole and Cajun Louisiana. As a first-generation student, she has dedicated most of her career to the Federal TRiO Student Support Services Program, making a significant impact at two-year and four-year institutions over the past ten years. Dr. Hawkins holds an undergraduate degree in Human Services from Old Dominion University, as well as a graduate degree in the same field from Liberty University. She went on to complete her Ed.D at Northcentral University, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to pursuing excellence in education and making a meaningful difference in the lives of students, faculty and staff.

Campus Colleagues,

We’ve learned of the passing of Professor Emeritus of History Roger J. Bourdon, a longtime member of our history faculty. Dr. Bourdon, or “Dr. B.” as he was known to many, taught at Mary Washington for more than 30 years and was beloved for mentoring and his sense of humor, inspiring many students in their life journeys.

As Professor of History and Chair of the Department of History and American Studies Claudine Ferrell recalls, “He knew all of his students, he was always accessing new material with the help of his devoted student ‘readers,’ and he was always trying something that challenged students to think…. Roger did not let his impaired vision limit his teaching or the joy that he took from teaching and from studying the American past.”

His dedication to teaching and the format of his classes influenced many others, and Dr. Ferrell notes that he could see patterns and repeated problems, pointing them out with a mix of seriousness and humor. He was honest, kind, and caring and always put people first, and he enjoyed being known as a “curmudgeon.”

Roger’s obituary shares more of his story. At age 12, he lost most of his vision from a mishap in brain tumor surgery and became legally blind. He was educated at UCLA, received a Ph.D. in history, specializing in colonial and revolutionary history. After he retired in 2000, he remained a lifelong learner. He advocated for low-vision groups and organizations for the blind. Roger was active in elder studies, and he traveled extensively with his wife and grandkids. He lived with his wife at the University Retirement Community in Davis, California for his last decade. He died peacefully at age 85 on February 25, 2023, surrounded by family after a year of deteriorating health. A memorial service will be held at the University Retirement Community, 1515 Shasta Dr., Davis, CA 95616 on March 29, 2023, and more information is available in his obituary online.