June 17, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Rao Featured in Article on ATI-UMW AI Chatbot Showcase

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Photo of Professor of Communication and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao

Professor of Communication and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao

Professor of Communication and Director of the Center for AI and the Liberal Arts Anand Rao was featured by the FXBG Advance in an article titled, “In a Chatbot Showdown, Learning Wins.” The piece highlights Rao and the Academy of Innovation & Technology at UMW’s first chatbot competition. The contest was a capstone project for a course – designed by Rao – to introduce students to AI and its uses.

Originally created for UMW students, Rao modified the course for the 9th and 10th graders at the lab school and challenged the high schoolers to create and build an AI chatbot using PlayLab, a tool designed specifically for educators and students that allows them to build chatbots specific to the educational environment. Read the article from the FXBG Advance.

UMW Reunion Weekend, May 29 – 31

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Reunion Weekend 2026 will celebrate Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31, especially class years ending in 1 and 6… but as always, ALL alumni, family, and friends are invited and encouraged to join in this memorable weekend.

Visit old stomping grounds on a campus tour… get back into the classroom for an Alumni College class taught by a UMW professor… join President Troy Paino on the lawn at Brompton… reconnect with classmates at a favorite downtown haunt… and join signature events like the Reunion Picnic on Ball Circle, the Virginia Wine, Beer & Cider Tasting, and the All-Class Party. Learn more about the weekend full of events, activities and memories.

2026 Open Enrollment for Health Benefits & FSA

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The period to enroll in or make changes to your health insurance plan/benefits and enroll in 2026 flexible spending accounts (FSA) and/or Legal Resources is May 15 – May 29. Please see your email from Executive Director for Human Resources Beth Williams on Friday, May 15 for important information and reminders.

The deadline is Friday, May 29, 2026 to enroll or make changes. Cardinal ESS is available until 11:59 pm please hit the submit button! If you have any questions, please contact Denise Frye, Benefits Manager, at dfrye2@umw.edu or Janet Hudgins, Benefits Analyst, at jhudgins@umw.edu. Paper enrollment forms must be received in HR, GW 209, on or before COB May 29 to be effective July 1.

Parker and UMW Students Featured by C-SPAN

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Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Katherine Parker

Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Katherine Parker

Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Katherine Parker was featured by C-SPAN in a piece titled, “Remembering George Washington’s Mother.”

Recently, Parker and UMW students had a day and half with ground-penetrating radar and they went to Meditation Rock, which is a beautiful site within the City of Fredericksburg … to try to figure out where Mary Washington’s grave might have been. Watch the video on C-SPAN.

Majid Shares Expertise With WalletHub

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Associate Professor of Marketing Kashef Majid

Associate Professor of Marketing Kashef Majid

Associate Professor of Business Kashef Majid was featured in WalletHub’s piece about 0% APR business credit cards, examining their pros and cons.

“A 0% credit card is fantastic but mixing consumer credit cards with your business can make your business liable for your personal expenses,” Majid said. “One of the reasons owners form an LLC is to shield themselves from personal liability but using a personal credit card for small business financing can blur that line and could leave liable in legal proceedings.” Read more from WalletHub.

Farnsworth Featured in Newsweek, Virginia Business & More

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Photo of Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Professor Emeritus of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Professor Emeritus of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth was featured by Newsweek in an article titled, “Democrats Dealt Major Blow as Virginia Supreme Court Tosses New Map.” It is a “significant setback” for Democrats, Farnsworth told Newsweek. “The hope for the Democrats had been that Virginia could counter Republican gains in Ohio, Missouri and North Carolina and now that’s not going to happen,” he said. “Democrats are still probably likely to pick up one or two seats with the old map but nowhere near the net gain of four with the new lines.” Read more in Newsweek.

Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Va. Gov. Spanberger still has dozens of bills to consider (The Virginian-Pilot; The Free Lance-Star)
“The governor has sent her message,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, after word leaked that Spanberger plans to veto the collective bargaining and class-action lawsuit bills. “Now, the question is how loud that message is going to be. Maybe it’s a preview of coming attractions, or this message will be sufficient.” Read more in the Free Lance-Star.

Virginia Democrats balk at proposal to retire state Supreme Court (Virginia Business)
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, said, “The idea of mandatory retirement in your 50s for a judge seems ridiculous. “Democrats wisely abandoned this idea almost immediately,” Farnsworth added. “That strikes most people as pretty unreasonable, and Democrats would pay a high price if they tried to employ this approach.” Read more in Virginia Business.

What’s next after Virginia Supreme Court’s redistricting decision? (Virginia Business)
While the emergency appeal for stay remained pending before the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, some experts who spoke with Virginia Lawyers Weekly believed time was running out for the new maps to be implemented by the 2026 midterms. “My guess is the [U.S.] Supreme Court would not have any interest in adjudicating,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “It’s not a particularly favorable time, more generally, for Democratic initiatives before the current Supreme Court, and that’s above and beyond the issue of state constitutional interpretation.” Read more in Virginia Business.

Virginia Supreme Court Decision (WTOP)
“Well, certainly this is very bad news for Democrats and good news for Republicans,” said Stephen Farnsworth.

Democrats defend Maine Senate candidate’s controversial history (Fox News)
“What we are seeing here is the question of a democratic redefinition,” said Stephen Farnsworth. View more from Fox News.

ICE-opposing Maine US Senate candidate supported by AOC, Bernie Sanders (Fox News)
“What we are seeing here is the question of a democratic redefinition,” said Stephen Farnsworth. View more from Fox News.

Trump rejecting Iran’s latest deal poses a ‘serious threat’: political analyst (CTV News)
“Well, it does seem that both the Iranians and the Americans are convinced that time is on their side, said Stephen Farnsworth. View more from CTV News.

Virginia Democrats appeal to US Supreme Court and consider wiping out their own (The Washington Examiner)
“The decision is going to be made by the Supreme Court about whether or not they are going to be new lines in Virginia,” said Stephen Farnsworth. View more from The Washington Examiner.

Larus Shares Expertise With The Media Line

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

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus was quoted by The Media Line in an article titled, “Trump-Xi Beijing Summit Tests Leverage on Trade, Taiwan, Iran.”

Larus, also a Taiwan Fellow with the Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an adjunct senior fellow at the Pacific Forum, said she did not expect a “big climactic summit” or breakthrough. Presidential visits, she told The Media Line, usually formalize work done earlier by lower-level officials. Read more in The Media Line.

UMW Tennis Teams Featured in ITA National Rankings

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student-athlete playing tennis

UMW student-athlete Addison Felts

The University of Mary Washington men’s and women’s tennis teams held firm in their national rankings in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s May 13 rankings, while Eagles were featured in national singles and doubles rankings as well.

The men held firm at 15th in the nation, while the women stayed at #27. In singles on the men’s side, Asher Willenborg ranks 22nd in singles, and joined Trevor Rein ranked 14th nationally in doubles. Addison Felts and Natalie Kim rank 11th in doubles for the women. In addition, Felts was named the 2026 ITA Division III Women’s Atlantic South Player to Watch by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

Willenborg, Rein, Felts, and Kim will compete in the NCAA Championships for singles and doubles in Chattanooga, Tennessee this weekend, May 23 – 26.

GW Hall HVAC Project & Annual Steam Outage

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Under construction signThe HVAC in GW Hall was turned off to facilitate the chiller replacement in the building. There is no building-wide AC in GW Hall during the two-week project, which is set to conclude by Friday, May 29.

Office spaces will become warm or hot as the outdoor temperatures rise, and we recommend that building occupants make other arrangements for meetings or time in the office. Employees in GW Hall should work with their supervisors to determine the best options, which include working remotely or scheduling time in other spaces on campus.

Offices remain accessible if you need to get items or materials. Please note any building signage or areas marked off temporarily. Please call or email in advance to schedule any appointments with offices in GW Hall through May 29. If you have student employees, programs or visitors to GW Hall during this time, please share the information.

In addition, please mark your calendars for the next GW Hall project now scheduled to begin immediately after Orientation on June 27. As we replace the roof on the building, offices will once again need to relocate temporarily as building access will be restricted June 28 through July 6. This roof project at GW Hall will result in temporary building closures through mid-August, and we’ll communicate more details as the schedule is finalized.

The annual steam shutoff for maintenance will continue through May 26. During this time period, hot water will not be available in buildings serviced by steam on the Fredericksburg Campus.

These buildings include:

  • Arrington Hall
  • Bushnell Hall
  • Combs Hall
  • Goolrick Hall
  • Jefferson Hall
  • Madison/Ball/Custis Halls
  • Melchers/Pollard/duPont Halls
  • Randolph/Mason Halls
  • Seacobeck Hall
  • Virginia Hall
  • Westmoreland Hall
  • Willard Hall

In addition, space conditions may vary, as temperature could fluctuate in work spaces. Please be aware of this work and plan accordingly. If you have student employees, programs or visitors in the office or on campus during this time, please share the information. The buildings remain open during the annual steam outage.

During this same time, the University Tennis Center will have HVAC replacements that will impact AC in the building. Please plan for temperature fluctuations in that space as the units are updated.

If you experience any major issues related to the steam outage beyond the hot water outage, please submit a work order online. Facilities will ensure that necessary equipment continues to operate properly in the absence of steam during this time.

For questions on Facilities Operations projects, contact Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Capital Outlay Brian Gorham at bgorham@umw.edu.

Paino Awarded Prince B. Woodard Leadership Award From Fredericksburg Chamber

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UMW President Troy Paino penned an oped column in celebration of the UMW Men's Basketball team's vie for the national championship in Indianapolis.

UMW President Troy Paino

President Troy Paino was highlighted in articles by The Free Lance-Star, Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Fredericksburg Free Press for being awarded the Prince B. Woodard Leadership Award from Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce. Paino received the honor for leading UMW since 2016 with a vision for innovation, academic excellence and community partnership. His leadership and forward-thinking initiatives continue to shape the future of both the university and the Fredericksburg region. Learn more from The Free Lance-Star, Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Fredericksburg Free Press.