Dive Into Summer With a New UMW Bag, through June 16
Back by popular demand and with an added option, you can celebrate someone special or give a gift to yourself!
Now through June 16, make a gift of $35 or more to the Fund for Mary Washington and we’ll send you this one-of-a-kind tote bag or duffel bag-your choice, so you can take Mary Wash with you wherever you go. This is the perfect gift for the mom, dad, or grad in your life!
Donors’ recent gifts to the Fund for Mary Washington have helped us make strides across campus, including technology upgrades, accessibility improvements, new student support, and programs for civic engagement and student health. Gifts to the Fund also translate to scholarships, small class sizes, and reduced student debt.
We can’t wait to see you out and about with your new bag–our way of saying thank you for supporting UMW students. Use #totesUMW and tag @umw_alumni so we can see your posts, or email us your photos at umwgift@umw.edu.
Richmond Ivy Soccer Alumni Event, June 26
Alumni events aren’t just for alumni! Unless otherwise noted for a specific event, parents, friends, and faculty/staff are welcome to attend any events hosted by the Office of Alumni Engagement.
Join us at City Stadium on Thursday, June 26 from 7 – 9 p.m. to cheer on the Ivy — a pre-professional women’s soccer team affiliated with the Richmond Kickers — as they battle the Virginia Beach United in the final home game of the season. We will have the center ledge box reserved in addition to General Admission seating. And your first drink is on us! Come by the ledge box to check in and get your drink ticket. From there, you are welcome to hang out in the box but you also may move to the seating area.
June 26
Richmond Ivy Soccer
City Stadium, 3201 Maplewood Avenue, Richmond, VA
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Register today!
Note: Each registrant may also register up to three guests, for four tickets total. If you need more than that, please email Phillip Duggins to inquire about availability.
We hope you will join us to cheer on the Ivy. Wear your Mary Washington gear!
Announcing New Director of the CCPD Michael Dunn
Center for Career and Professional Development Director Michael Dunn
The University of Mary Washington is pleased to announce that the Center for Career and Professional Development will welcome a new director this month, Michael Dunn. UMW is thrilled to have found the right leader for its initiatives focused on helping students prepare for their lives after Mary Washington.
Dunn brings with him a wealth of experience as a higher education leader dedicated to building inclusive and vibrant campus communities. He most recently served as the Director of Professional Pathways at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he led the College’s professional development curriculum. Dunn has held leadership roles at both St. Mary’s and Columbia University, with experience spanning career development, equity and inclusion, Title IX, and academic advising.
Dunn holds degrees from the University of Virginia; Teachers College, Columbia University; and Fordham University School of Law. He and his wife, Lillian, have three children and a golden retriever puppy named Oscar. Dunn will begin his role Tuesday, May 27. Please extend him a heartfelt welcome!
Mathews Publishes Book on Black Colleges and the Long Civil Rights Movement
Professor of Religious Studies Mary Beth Mathews
Professor of Religious Studies Mary Beth Mathews has published a new book entitled Contentious Unions: Black Baptist Schools and White Money in the Jim Crow South with the University of Tennessee Press (2025).
The book tells the interconnected stories of three institutions (Macon’s Central City College in Georgia, Virginia Union University in Richmond, and American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville) and demonstrates that these three historically black colleges and universities used the white financial support they received to subvert the racist politics of white Baptists and white Southerners in general. In these “oppositional spaces,” Black Baptists constructed and developed ways to combat the systems that marginalized them.
Gorham Elevated to Assistant Vice President, Facilities Operations & Capital Outlay
The office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance announces the elevation of current Executive Director, Facilities Operations Brian Gorham will now oversee Facilities Operations and Capital Outlay. Gorham’s new title is Assistant Vice President, Facilities Operations & Capital Outlay.
Gorham has over 32 years in infrastructure maintenance and construction, including 8 years in the United States Navy. He is a Certified Energy Manager with the Association of Energy Engineers, a LEED accredited professional, and holds a Masters license in Heating Air Conditioning and Ventilation from the Virginia Department of Occupational Regulation. Gorham’s experience in capital construction includes primary owners’ representation and project management roles in the design, development, and opening of more than five million square feet of projects ranging from Class A office buildings, private commercial retail construction, K-12 education, and a multitude of Virginia higher ed projects. He holds several professional project management credentials.
Gorham has an AAS in Business Administration and is currently enrolled at UMW in the BLS program. He is active in the Scouts BSA program throughout the Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg community, and he and his wife Faith are foster parents in Spotsylvania county.
Vaughn Appears on Leader2Leader Podcast Series
Advancement Development Officer Jeremy Vaughn
Advancement Development Officer Jeremy Vaughn appeared on the Leader2Leader podcast series with Chamber President and CEO, Susan Spears who interviews some of the top community leaders in this series. Spears and guests, like Vaughn, share their insight and wisdom on making teams more effective, leveling up communications skills, and building the courage to lead during difficult times. Listen to the podcast.
Leu Authors Article on Tariff Implications for Taiwan
Assistant Professor of Political Science Guan-Yi Leu
Assistant Professor of Political Science Guan-Yi Leu authored an article titled “Trump’s Tariffs 2.0: New Effects and Implications to Taiwan” for Taiwan Insight, the online magazine of the Taiwan Research Hub of University of Nottingham.
On April 2, 2025, United States President Donald Trump announced a policy order under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) ‘s authority and introduced a sweeping 10% universal baseline tariff on its imports from all trading partners. The Trump administration also sought “reciprocal tariffs”, with an additional rate from 1 % to 40 % on nearly 60 trading partners. This move toward a blanket reciprocal tariff has significantly raised concerns about a potential global trade war, leading to a downturn in stock markets worldwide. Read the article.
Al-Tikriti Discusses Iraq Experiences with AUIB Student Group
Professor of Middle Eastern History Nabil Al-Tikriti
Professor of Middle East History Nabil Al-Tikriti spoke about his prior experiences in Iraq with a student group at the American University in Iraq – Baghdad (AUI-B). This talk was remote on May 12 and took place as part of the AUI-B regular speakers’ series. Al-Tikriti wishes to thank AUI-B for the invitation, and the opportunity to meet with today’s Iraqi students.
In the course of his presentation, Al-Tikriti spoke about all of his direct interactions with Iraq, between 1976 and 2017, especially concentrating on his May 2004 visit to Iraq, which proved instrumental in publicizing the effects of the Anglo-American invasion on Iraqi manuscript collections and archives. That visit was later featured in his 2007 article in Library Trends, entitled “‘Stuff Happens’: A Brief Overview of the 2003 Destruction of Iraqi Manuscript Collections, Archives, and Libraries.”
Flexible Summer Work Arrangements
Reminder: Flexible work arrangement options, particularly for departments where work demands change after students leave for the summer, are available. Flexible work arrangements are available year-round, and departments determine how and when those options are utilized based on departmental needs. Whenever possible, supervisors are strongly encouraged to permit flexible work arrangements in their departments. Such arrangements may include:
- Alternative work schedules, such as four 10-hour days with one day off per week; or four nine-hour days and one four-hour day per week with the remaining half-day off each week;
- Supervisors may complete the MyTime Supervisor Request Form online to request assistance with changing employee schedules or the lunch breaks in MyTime.
- Increased telework opportunities for eligible positions. See the Telework Policy and Procedure page. A telework agreement must be completed for all employees who telework.
Alternative work schedules must adhere to Federal and state regulations as they relate to employee class and schedule period (see the UMW Hours of Work webpage). Full-time, FLSA non-exempt, employees are expected to work their full 40 hours per week, and FLSA exempt employees are expected to work 80 hours per the two-week schedule period (unless taking approved leave).
Because we will still have some students on campus during the summer as well as a variety of events and activities taking place during those months (e.g. orientation and STP), a department’s summer flexible work arrangements may need to vary from week to week, depending on its employees’ roles in planned campus activities. Any changes to in-person service hours must be clearly and widely communicated to avoid negatively impacting student services.