November 26, 2024

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Johnson-Young Talks Birth Trauma on ‘With Good Reason’

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Associate Professor of Communication Elizabeth Johnson-Young

Associate Professor of Communication Elizabeth Johnson-Young

Associate Professor of Communication Elizabeth Johnson-Young spoke with the With Good Reason public radio show about her research on birth trauma. As part of an episode regarding care for mothers, Dr. Johnson-Young talked about her qualitative interviews with mothers who experienced what they defined as traumatic or difficult, the results of which were published earlier this year. Listen to the episode.

Hybrid Retirement Plan Presentation for Participants ONLY, May 20

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The quarterly Hybrid Plan Features and Benefits virtual presentation will be held on Monday, May 20.

Your Retirement 101: Virtual Meetings for Your Hybrid Retirement Plan

We invite you to attend a virtual meeting to review the Hybrid Retirement Plan including features, benefits and investment options. Defined Contribution Plans Retirement Specialists from MissionSquare Retirement, the record keeper for the VRS Defined Contribution Plans, and Hybrid Retirement Plan Counselors from VRS, will conduct the program. Defined Contribution Plans Retirement Specialists will be available for virtual one-on-one appointments.

Date: May 20th, 2024
Presenter: Ashley Lucas | alucas@missionsq.org

Join Us to Learn More About Your Retirement Options

Hybrid Retirement Plan: Features and Benefits
9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
What is the hybrid plan? What’s the difference between the defined benefit and defined contribution components? Join us as we review all components of the Hybrid Retirement Plan; we’ll discuss the different types of contributions, distributions and managing the plans. Register.

Select How Your Savings Are Invested

VRS Defined Contribution Plans Investment Options
10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
Do you find investing confusing? Learn about asset classes, diversification and the investment paths available to you. This session relates to the Defined Contribution Component of the Hybrid Retirement Plan and all other VRS Defined Contribution Plans. Register.

Individual Appointments
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Need assistance? Sign-up for a 30-minute virtual one-on-one with a Defined Contribution Plans Retirement Specialist. Hybrid Retirement Plan members as well as participants in other VRS Defined Contribution Plans are welcome to reserve an individual appointment. Register.

Defined Contribution Plans Retirement Specialists cannot provide financial, tax or investment advice.

University of Mary Washington Class of 2024 Senior Spotlights

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Top row, from left: Jenna Diehl, Logan Kurtz, Sasha Poletes. Bottom row, from left: Luisa Restrepo, Conrad Tan, Norah Walsh. Read about these stellar seniors and so many more!

Top row, from left: Jenna Diehl, Logan Kurtz, Sasha Poletes. Bottom row, from left: Luisa Restrepo, Conrad Tan, Norah Walsh. Read about these stellar seniors and so many more!

The University of Mary Washington is proud of every student graduating this year. UMW is committed to providing a college experience that focuses on what matters most to each individual. As this year’s seniors spread their wings to explore life after Mary Washington, read about some of UMW’s 2024 Superstars, their accomplishments and the people who make this place. Read more.

Moon Shares Expertise on Racially Restrictive Covenants

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Professor of History and American Studies Krystyn Moon

Professor of History and American Studies Krystyn Moon spoke with ARL Now for an article titled “New study documents location of discriminatory deed covenants in Arlington and N. Va.” In the article, Moon, a lead researcher on the study, said, “The demographic makeup of our region is very different today in comparison to the period that we are analyzing, in part because of major inroads made by civil rights and immigration policies after World War II. “That being said, the residue of the practice of using racially restrictive covenants remains with us today, and inequities persist.” Read more.

Farnsworth Lectures on Entertainment Media and Politics

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Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Stephen Farnsworth

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a lecture, “Entertainment Media and Politics: Late-Night Political Humor and the American Presidency,” at the American Studies Center of the University of Warsaw in Poland. The talk was derived from portions of Dr. Farnsworth’s recently published co-authored book, Late-Night in Washington: Political Humor and the American Presidency. Dr. Farnsworth is serving in Poland as a Spring 2024 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar.

In addition, recent media mentions for Dr. Farnsworth include:

After Spanberger: 7th District Dems run local race in national spotlight (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“It’s very clear the Republicans don’t want to run against Vindman,” said Stephen Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg.
In 7th District primary, Republicans debate party’s future (Richmond Times Dispatch; The Daily Progress)
“Six months ago, I might have expected Anderson to be nominated in a walk,” said Stephen Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “Increasingly, the Republican primary is showing up as a referendum on what the future of the Republican Party should be. Should it be Speaker Mike Johnson or Bob Good or Rand Paul?”
Campaign contributions reveal Fauquier’s north-south divide (Fauquier Times)
“Increasingly, it may make sense to think of Fauquier as a county with a much redder south and a more purple north,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington.

New poll shows tight presidential race in Virginia (Potomac Local)

“The main thing to gather from this survey is that Virginia remains a far more purple state than many national political observers seem to think. The fact that this poll is well within the margin of error demonstrates that both political parties would be wise to focus on Virginia in 2024, as they did in several previous election cycles – but not in 2020,” said Professor of Political Science and International Affairs & Director, Center for Leadership and Media Studies Dr. Stephen J. Farnsworth.
Late Night Goes Soft on Biden (Politico)
According to Stephen Farnsworth, the director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington and co-author of Late Night with Trump: Political Humor and the American Presidency, there was another reason for the shift in attitude: ratings.
Trump Back In New York Court (CTV News)
“Judging from the judge’s comments this morning, it does seem as if there is going to be another rounds of sanctions,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
State Sen. Hashmi of Chesterfield enters 2025 lieutenant governor’s race (Virginia Dogwood)
“Sen. Hashmi enters the race as a serious candidate for LG,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “She has an effective track record as a legislator in Richmond. Her focus on health concerns provides a specific appeal to the many Democratic primary voters concerned about the affordability and availability of health care.”

Invitation to Reunion Weekend, May 30 – June 2

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Each year, the Office of Alumni Engagement hosts Reunion Weekend on the Mary Washington campus. Over 600 alumni and guests are expected to visit between May 30 and June 2 to participate in dozens of intellectual, cultural, and social activities. While all alumni are welcome, classes ending in 4 and 9 from 1949 to 2014 are specially invited to campus this year to celebrate their milestone reunions.

We would like to extend an invitation for faculty and staff to participate that weekend in order to connect with former students. The Reunion Weekend schedule and registration link is listed online at http://alumni.umw.edu/reunionweekend. If you are interested in seeing who is currently signed up to attend, visit the registration page and click “Attendee List.” Click the column header labeled “Preferred Class Year” to sort the list by class year.

Advance registration closes on May 27. We hope to see you for Reunion!

Tuttle to Perform Poetry in NYC

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Ray Tuttle, Director of UMW's Office of Student Conduct and Responsibility

Ray Tuttle

Director of UMW’s Office of Student Conduct and ResponsibilityHealth Promotions and Student Success Specialist Ray Tuttle will perform poetry at the Composers Concordance 40th anniversary event at the Nublu Club at 151 Ave. C in New York City’s East Village on Sunday, June 2, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $22.66. Learn more.

Larus Comments on Conflict in the South China Sea

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Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs 

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs, commented in The Cipher Brief with war correspondent Holly McKay on recent attacks by China’s Coast Guard against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Larus indicated that Article IV of the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty compels the U.S. to respond to an “armed attack” against the Philippines or its ships. Recent use of water cannon against Philippines vessels, injuring crew members, raises the question of defining the term “armed attack.” Larus cautioned the U.S. against drawing red lines, which Beijing will certainly cross to test U.S. resolve. Read more.