Multicultural Fair 2025
35th Annual Multicultural Fair, April 5
Flip the Field 2025, April 7-10
Flip the Field
Flip the Field is a unique experiential learning opportunity where Mary Washington’s student-athletes become the educators, and faculty, administrators, and staff step into the role of students. Varsity coaches and their teams host immersive experiences, clinics, and friendly contests to showcase the dedication and effort student-athletes put into the sports they love.
No athletic skills? No problem!
Faculty, administrators, and staff of all abilities are welcome to join in and learn through:
- Immersions: Step into a practice or game day to observe the action up close. Join drills, experience huddles, and even walk the sidelines or locker room for a true behind-the-scenes perspective.
- Clinics and Contests: Learn the basics, participate in drills, or try your hand at friendly competitions like free throw challenges or penalty kick shootouts.
- 1v1 Connections: Meet one-on-one with a student-athlete for lunch, a skill lesson, or a candid conversation about life as a student-athlete.
Flip the Field is more than a fun event—it’s an opportunity to build mutual respect, foster open communication, and create meaningful relationships between student-athletes and the campus community. By flipping the script, faculty and staff gain a deeper appreciation for the hard work and dedication of student-athletes, while athletes take the lead in engaging and educating others.
View the calendar of Events: https://flipthefield.info/calendar-of-events/
Sign Up: https://flipthefield.info/sign-up/
Join us and see the Mary Washington community in a whole new way. #GetDirtyGoWash!
Islamic History and Heritage Celebration 2025, April 7-11
Women’s Leadership Colloquium Coffee Talk, April 8
Mark your calendar for the Women’s Leadership Colloquium April’s Coffee Talk on Tuesday, April 8!
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
718 Venue (718 Caroline Street)
Topic TBD
Register for the April Coffee Talk
Khatib Program Lecture, April 9
The Khatib Program Lecture Series continues on Wednesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in Combs 237 with the topic, Islamophobia: What We All Should Know (and Do) about Anti-Muslim Discrimination
The Khatib Program Lecture Series continues on Wednesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in Combs 237 with the topic, Islamophobia: What We All Should Know (and Do) about Anti-Muslim Discrimination. In this presentation, Duffner, a leading scholar of Muslim-Christian relations with a Ph.D. in theological and religious studies, will speak about the nature of Islamophobia and its impact on Muslim communities and individuals. She’ll also touch on the current geopolitical climate, including the recent surge in violence in the Israeli-Palestinian region, offering practical steps for interfaith solidarity and advocacy.
Mary Washington’s Khatib Program is dedicated to countering religious intolerance by promoting scholarly engagement with religious traditions. Inspired by the personal experiences of Reza Khatib and his late wife, Georgianna, it reinforces their commitment to fostering interreligious dialogue.
“The Khatib Program is pleased to bring to Mary Washington such distinguished speakers for our lecture series,” Mathews said. “It’s important to understand religious hatred and why we should work against it.”
For more information on UMW’s Khatib Program or the spring lecture series, visit the Khatib Program in Religion and Dialogue webpage or contact Professor of Religious Studies Mary Beth Mathews at mmathews@umw.edu.
Belmont to Host 11th Annual Beeping Egg Hunt, April 13
Gari Melchers Home & Studio will host its 11th annual Beeping Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 13, from 2 to 4 p.m.
The free egg hunt provides an opportunity for visually impaired and blind children, along with their families, to participate in an accessible audible egg hunt. Sighted siblings can also participate by wearing a blindfold.
“Every spring I look forward to organizing and planning the Beeping Egg Hunt and related activities,” says Education and Communications Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby. “I enjoy seeing familiar faces and welcoming new families. I am especially thankful for our event volunteers.”
In addition to the beeping egg hunt, the event includes a petting zoo, sensory crafts, and a Touch a Tractor station.
During the 1920s and 30s, Corinne Melchers, with her husband’s encouragement, hosted Easter parties for area children at their Belmont home featuring egg rolls, puppet shows, and plenty of favors.
Thanks to the Fredericksburg Host Lions Club for this year’s sponsorship.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Education Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby, 540-654-1851.
Research & Creativity Symposium, April 25
Safety and Disaster Awareness Training – Extended through April 28
As a reminder, all UMW employees are required to complete Virginia State Employee Safety and Disaster Awareness Training, which is offered online through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. The requirement is found in the Code of Virginia 2.2-1212. The deadline has been extended to April 28 to complete this training.
Follow the instructions (below) to access the Required Training for Safety and Disaster Awareness.
- Go to: https://covlc.virginia.gov.
- Enter your Learning Center Login ID. It may / may not be the same as your UMW credentials. The system does not use single sign-on.
- Enter your Learning Center password, or click to reset your password.
- Once you log in, search for: Required Training for Safety and Disaster Awareness 2025.
- Access the training module.
If you have trouble accessing the training module, please contact Pam Lowery (plowery@umw.edu) for assistance.
This online course takes about half an hour to complete and provides an overview on various disasters, including natural disasters, infectious diseases and workplace threats, and provides basic response plans and reminders. Completing it will keep you informed and ready to respond to any personal experiences, while also ensuring that we are each ready to help keep our campus safe in the event of an emergency.
We appreciate you taking the time to complete the required training. You progress will be tracked through the online system at the Virginia Learning Center. Note that this training is separate from annual security training.
If you have questions about this training, please contact studentaffairs@umw.edu
Stull Appointed Director of the Arts
Professor of Theatre and Chair of Theatre and Dance Gregg Stull
UMW is pleased to announce that Professor of Theatre and Chair of Theatre and Dance Greg Stull has been appointed to the position of Director of the Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences. This appointment is an important step forward in reorganization efforts to help strengthen the support of UMW programs in the arts.
After earning his BA at Mary Washington College, and an MA in Theatre at the University of Maryland, College Park, Stull joined the faculty at MWC in the fall of 1993. He was promoted to the rank of professor in 2005 and has served as the chair of the department of Theatre and Dance for over 30 years.
An accomplished theatre professional, Stull has consulted with arts organizations throughout the country in the areas of capacity building, audience engagement, and advancement. He directed over 60 productions for the Mary Washington theatre program. His work has touched the lives of thousands of students through his directing, practicum supervision, sponsored research projects, and his biennial week-long trip to New York City where he immerses his students in Broadway and off-Broadway theatre while connecting them with UMW alumni working in the industry.
Stull’s dedicated service to the theatre industry, the University, and to faculty and students earned him the Grellet C. Simpson Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2010, and the first ever William B. Anderson Distinguished Professor appointment in 2023.
In his new leadership role as Director of the Arts, Stull will oversee the programs in studio art, music, theatre, and historic preservation. His leadership will be utilized through the final planning stages and construction of the new theater and the renovation of Pollard, Melchers, and duPont Halls. In addition, the director will play a critical role in our campaign efforts over the next several years and will collaborate with Dean Mellinger and many offices on campus to continue to support, strengthen, and grow the presence of the arts at UMW. Stull will officially take his position in summer 2025.
Frankel Quoted on Environmental Impacts by The Bay Net
Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel
Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel was quoted by The Bay Net in an article entitled “Potomac Riverkeeper Gets Up-Close Look At Crash Aftermath.” The article states: That’s when he called Tyler Frankel, a professor of environmental sciences at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. Frankel said he was initially so struck by the loss of life that he could hardly think about long-term consequences. But, he noted, Naujoks’s observations “of items covered in fuel two miles downstream clearly show that the contamination release was not limited exclusively to the immediate crash site.” Read the article.