A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Professor of English Gary Richards
Professor of English Gary Richards recently presented the paper “Mapping the Geographies of The Optimist’s Daughter” at the International Eudora Welty Conference held at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi April 10-13, 2025. He was also part of the 45-minute staged reading of Welty’s “The Wanderers,” the culminating story of The Golden Apples, with Gary reading the parts of the narrator and King MacLain.
Professor of Political Science and Director of the UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth
Professor of Political Science and Director of the UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth recently presented a lecture, “The Policy Consequences of the 2024 Presidential Election (so far),” before the Fredericksburg area chapter of the American Association of University Women.
Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
In Trump’s America, women trade progressive politics for pearls for the ‘tradwife’ idyll (The Straits Times Singapore)
Political science professor Stephen Farnsworth from the University of Mary Washington, and author of Presidential Communication And Character, said: “Politicians who are familiar with or supportive of the tradwife movement can build a devoted following among those adherents because these politicians are demonstrating that they understand and can connect with that element of the voting public. Paying attention to those communities, particularly energised ones, is becoming increasingly the reality of politics in this country. If you don’t reach out to your most energised potential supporters, you are undermining your ability to win a party nomination.”
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/in-trumps-america-women-trade-progressive-politics-for-pearls-for-the-tradwife-idyll
Virginia candidates raise over $20 million as 2025 election season heats up (The Northern Virginia Daily)
“I think it’s important to note that that funding gap will narrow now that the legislative session is over,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “Now that the lieutenant governor is a Republican nominee, I imagine some Republicans were waiting for a resolution of the nomination process before weighing in with donations.”
https://www.nvdaily.com/virginia-candidates-raise-over-20-million-as-2025-election-season-heats-up/article_bba30fc4-486b-5a42-95ad-45949fc4b113.html
Democrats appear to turn on each other as generational divide brews within the party (Fox News)
“Beating the other side is more important to many voters than who exactly is representing their own team,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6371619214112
Virginia Democrats reap fundraising gains as they center campaigns around Elon Musk (CBS 4; The Minnesota Star Tribune; Greenwich Times; The REgister Citizen; MSN; AP News)
“Virginia elections are often about angry voters, and the most angry group of voters is the party who lost the White House the year before,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “Democrats are angry, and they’re putting their money where their irritation is.”
https://cbs4indy.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-virginia-democrats-reap-fundraising-gains-as-they-center-campaigns-around-elon-musk/
https://www.startribune.com/virginia-democrats-reap-fundraising-gains-as-they-center-campaigns-around-elon-musk/601333505
https://www.greenwichtime.com/news/politics/article/virginia-democrats-reap-fundraising-gains-as-they-20281809.php
https://www.registercitizen.com/news/politics/article/virginia-democrats-reap-fundraising-gains-as-they-20281809.php
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/virginia-democrats-reap-fundraising-gains-as-they-center-campaigns-around-elon-musk/ar-AA1D8hZn
https://apnews.com/article/virginia-elections-donors-report-elon-musk-8ee4a569bc5a043cbd21f3d8c2d4f0fe
‘I hope they just maul each other;’ Virginia’s 2025 election season gets underway (WVTF)
There are a small number of primaries for House of Delegates seats, but the total number of down ballot races in November could benefit those at the top, says University of Mary Washington professor Steven Farnsworth. “If you run a party candidate in as many districts as possible, you’ll increase the turnout,” Farnsworth said. “That can help the candidates for governor.”
https://www.wvtf.org/news/2025-04-16/i-hope-they-just-maul-each-other-virginias-2025-election-season-get-underway
Big Bucks, big stakes: Virginia candidates raise over $20 Million as 2025 election season heats up (Yahoo; 12onyourside.com; WTOP)
“I think it’s important to note that that funding gap will narrow now that the legislative session is over,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “Now that the lieutenant governor is a Republican nominee, I imagine some Republicans were waiting for a resolution of the nomination process before weighing in with donations.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/big-bucks-big-stakes-virginia-185105550.html
https://www.12onyourside.com/2025/04/17/big-bucks-big-stakes-virginia-candidates-raise-over-20-million-2025-election-season-heats-up/
https://wtop.com/virginia/2025/04/big-bucks-big-stakes-virginia-candidates-raise-over-20-million-as-2025-election-season-heats-up/
Republicans in swing districts unite in ‘Purple Caucus’ ahead of Va. House races (The Northern Virginia Daily)
Political scientist Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington sees this as part of a larger trend. He said when parties become more ideologically rigid, lawmakers from swing districts can start to feel squeezed. “This is a constant problem,” Farnsworth said. “For years, Congress had what they called the Blue Dog Caucus, where more moderate Democrats tried to chart a different course than the party leadership.”
https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/republicans-in-swing-districts-unite-in-purple-caucus-ahead-of-va-house-races/article_423cc2b7-42a4-51db-a2b6-242af87e298b.html
Big Bucks, big stakes: Virginia candidates raise over $20 Million as 2025 election season heats up (Virginia Mercury)
“I think it’s important to note that that funding gap will narrow now that the legislative session is over,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “Now that the lieutenant governor is a Republican nominee, I imagine some Republicans were waiting for a resolution of the nomination process before weighing in with donations.”
https://virginiamercury.com/2025/04/16/big-bucks-big-stakes-virginia-candidates-raise-over-20-million-as-2025-election-season-heats-up/
Republicans in swing districts unite in ‘Purple Caucus’ ahead of Va. House races (Daily News-Record)
Political scientist Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington sees this as part of a larger trend. He said when parties become more ideologically rigid, lawmakers from swing districts can start to feel squeezed. “This is a constant problem,” Farnsworth said. “For years, Congress had what they called the Blue Dog Caucus, where more moderate Democrats tried to chart a different course than the party leadership.”
https://www.dnronline.com/news/politics_and_government/republicans-in-swing-districts-unite-in-purple-caucus-ahead-of-va-house-races/article_030f8ad2-107c-56c4-b398-61cccc53b5a2.html
Republicans in swing districts unite in ‘Purple Caucus’ ahead of Va. House races (Virginia Mercury)
Political scientist Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington sees this as part of a larger trend. He said when parties become more ideologically rigid, lawmakers from swing districts can start to feel squeezed. “This is a constant problem,” Farnsworth said. “For years, Congress had what they called the Blue Dog Caucus, where more moderate Democrats tried to chart a different course than the party leadership.”
https://virginiamercury.com/2025/04/14/republicans-in-swing-districts-unite-in-purple-caucus-ahead-of-va-house-races/
Virginia governor’s race cause for optimism and concern in both parties (Washington Examiner)
“Virginia voters usually rally behind the party that lost the White House in greater numbers when they vote for governor a year later,” Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, the director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, told the Washington Examiner.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/premium/3370661/virginia-governor-race-cause-optimism-concern-both-parties/
Virginia Governor’s Race Set (DC News Now)
“No, this is the best-case scenario for both of these candidates. When you are thinking about running for a statewide office in Virginia, it is best not to have a primary,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/capitol-review/virginia-governors-race-set/
From the Top Down, Virginia’s 2025 Elections are Packed With Contenders (Virginia Mercury, Fauquier Now, Inside NoVa)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, said the absence of a gubernatorial primary gives both major candidates a strategic edge heading into November. “This is the best case scenario for both of the candidates,” Farnsworth said.
https://virginiamercury.com/2025/04/08/from-the-top-down-virginias-2025-elections-are-packed-with-contenders/
https://www.fauquiernow.com/news/government_politics/from-the-top-down-virginia-s-2025-elections-are-packed-with-contenders/article_ba5562d6-b512-4c6d-b615-40cb38a391a0.html
https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/from-the-top-down-virginia-s-2025-elections-are-packed-with-contenders/article_2f07813d-d118-5206-8257-80525b8ec129.html
Virginia Governor’s Race Cause for Optimism and Concern in Both Parties (MSN.com)
“Virginia voters usually rally behind the party that lost the White House in greater numbers when they vote for governor a year later,” Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, the director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, told the Washington Examiner.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/virginia-governor-s-race-cause-for-optimism-and-concern-in-both-parties/ar-AA1CJoyB
Editorial: Virginia Gubernatorial Preview (FXBG Advance)
The contest for governor is set. Unlike four years ago, it’s Republicans facing headwinds as we race toward November. Stephen J. Farnsworth is professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, where he directs the Center for Leadership and Media Studies. Anders Barretta is a senior political science and geography double major at UMW.
https://www.fxbgadvance.com/p/virginia-gubernatorialpreview?utm_source=substack&utm _medium=email
Student volunteers help with food insecurity.
We have two amazing service opportunities at UMW with AmeriCorps Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA)!
One VISTA will be hired to work on food security issues in our community, both at the Gwen Hale Resource Center and the Phoenix School in Stafford. Another VISTA will be hired to promote K-12 academic success in Hazel Hill Apartments.
Both positions come with: living allowance, healthcare coverage, childcare assistance if eligible, generous leave and sick time, end-of-service education award or stipend, professional development and training, access to UMW technologies, labs, parking, gym, pool and other campus amenities.
Please forward to any service-oriented graduating seniors or recent graduates! They can apply directly via the links in this post.
Applications Due May 16!
See more details:
AmeriCorps VISTA, or Volunteers in Service to America, is a national service program. AmeriCorps VISTA is described as a sort of stateside Peace Corps – giving people a chance to give back to their communities and learn valuable skills, while receiving a living allowance, benefits, and an end-of-service education award (a voucher of roughly $8,000 to pay for future education, or to repay student loans) OR a cash stipend (roughly $3,000). The living allowance in 2024 for Fredericksburg City was $1,072.54 biweekly. VISTA members serve full-time for one year. Applications are due by May 16th, dates of service will be July 14th, 2025 – July 13th, 2026.
Two positions available:
UMW Food Security VISTA: https://umw.libwizard.com/f/foodvista – The UMW Food Security VISTA will address food security in Fredericksburg by working with two different groups: 1) Stafford County’s Phoenix Center for Innovative Learning, and 2) UMW’s Gwen Hale Resource Center. (Amy Filiatreau, University Librarian, will be primary supervisor)
The Hazel Hill VISTA: https://umw.libwizard.com/f/hazelvista – The Hazel Hill VISTA will work with Resident Services staff at Hazel Hill Apartments to help support tutoring and other interventions for the K-12 residents in support of K-12 academic success. (Sarah Dewees, Director of the Center for Community Engagement, will be primary supervisor)
For details about AmeriCorps VISTA benefits, please visit https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/vista/benefits.
Become an AmeriCorps VISTA at UMW!
Professor Emerita of Political Science Elizabeth Larus
Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Nonresident Fellow at the Atlantic Council Indo-Pacific Strategic Initiative Elizabeth Freund Larus commented on Times Now India’s “News Hour” talk show on China’s new deep sea cable cutter technology. Professor Larus indicated that China’s new deep sea cable cutter is likely responsible for severing one of Taiwan’s undersea cables. China is proud of the technological advances that have made that country a peer maritime competitor with the United States but employs plausible deniability to shield itself from culpability. She also indicated that a series of cable cuttings near Taiwan is part of China’s gray zone tactics that are aggressive but short of war. See more.
Other recent media mentions for Larus include:
Trump’s midnight tariffs spark global reaction and warning (WION News)
Larus commented that President Trump’s early April 2025 tariffs are not only intended to bring manufacturing back to the United States but are also intended to prevent China from merely moving operations to neighboring countries, such as Vietnam, to circumvent the tariffs. https://www.nwitimes.com/partners/video-elephant/news/video_5dd2714b-c308-5e26-9a78-7252986829ce.html
US-China tariff war: China says it will ‘ignore’ further hikes, moves WTO on violations (WION News)
Larus commented on the U.S.-China tariff war, indicating that U.S.-China trade is heading for rough seas not just for trade in goods but also in services, commenting that China and the United States have worked each other into respective corners. President Trump had campaigned in 2016 and 2024 against China in a policy of “ChinaPrima.” Although he imposed a moratorium on tariff hikes with other countries, he has held fast with China. Trump is trying to bring Beijing to the table after years of promise fatigue in which China fails to follow through on market-oriented economic reform. At the same time, China’s leader Xi Jinping, who projects China as a peer superpower, cannot appear as backing down. Larus also indicated that despite outreach from Spain and Germany to China, most European countries will not dramatically strengthen economic relations with China because they are suffering from the same promise fatigue. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/us-china-tariff-war-china-says-it-will-ignore-further-hikes-moves-wto-on-violations/vi-AA1CKE5p
New College Director of Undergraduate Programs Randall Helmstutler
Following an internal search, Professor Randall Helmstutler has been selected for the position of Director of Undergraduate Programs in the newly formed college of business, computer science, economics, and mathematics.
Randall joined the University of Mary Washington faculty in 2005 after completing his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia, following an M.S. at the University of Illinois, and a B.S. at Radford University, all in mathematics. An advocate for inquiry-based pedagogies and alternative assessment models, Randall serves on the regional executive leadership board for the COMMIT (Community for Mathematics Inquiry in Teaching) network of the Mathematical Association of America. He has organized and chaired special sessions and workshops on IBL and grading-for-growth models for regional and national conferences of the MAA, and is now completing a three-year term on a national conference organization committee for the association.
Randall served as chair of the Department of Mathematics for over six years, overseeing the department over a period of growth. During this time Randall had a significant role in mathematics curricular reform movements at the state and national level. This work led to appointments by VDOE and VCCS as the four-year institution representative for the Commonwealth in multi-year projects such as the national New Mathways program from the University of Texas Dana Center, SCHEV’s Transfer Virginia, and VDOE’s Mathematics Pathways Initiative. In 2022, Randall was nominated to participate in COPLAC’s Beard Leadership Circle, and was later invited to serve as a program organizer and mentor for future cohorts.
In his new leadership role as Director of Undergraduate Programs, Randall will oversee undergraduate recruitment, retention, and graduation initiatives, and will collaborate with the Dean to develop marketing strategies and partnerships. He will play a key role in fostering undergraduate research, innovation, and entrepreneurship while managing academic partnerships. Additionally, Randall will work with faculty and department chairs to drive program innovation, ensure curriculum alignment with industry trends, and facilitate new program development. His leadership will also extend to faculty success, where he will support faculty mentoring, oversee development grants, and advance research initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous growth and academic excellence.
Thanks to the search committee, Larry Lehman (chair), Shawn Humphrey, Smita Jain Oxford, and Jessica Zeitz, for their commitment to a methodical approach to the search process, their diligent and thoughtful analyses, and the effective, great leadership of Professor Lehman.
Please congratulate Professor Helmstutler!
New College Director of Accreditation and Graduate Programs Chris Garcia
Following an internal search, Professor Chris Garcia has been selected for the position of Director of Accreditation and Graduate Programs in the newly formed college of business, computer science, economics, and mathematics.
Chris joined the faculty at the University of Mary Washington in the fall of 2011. He was promoted to the rank of professor in 2023 and has served as Associate Dean of the College of Business since 2023. Chris is an accomplished Operations Research and Business Analytics professional with expertise in combinatorial optimization, logistics & transportation, supply chain management, and data analytics.
Chris has served as a consultant for many organizations, including NATO, Capital One, E2Open, Quarles Petroleum, Geico, and various local and regional entities, in areas such as predictive analytics, optimization, and decision support systems. He has published extensively in influential academic journals and presented his work at national conferences. His expertise has significantly impacted the University through his teaching, research, and leadership within the College of Business. Chris earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Management at Old Dominion University. He also holds an M.S. degree in Operations Research as well as B.S. and M.S. degrees in Computer Science. Additionally, Chris is a Certified Ana lytics Professional (CAP®).
In his new leadership role as Director of Accreditation and Graduate Programs, Chris will oversee the accreditation processes and the development and management of graduate programs across the new college. His expertise will help ensure the highest standards of academic quality and drive the strategic growth of our graduate offerings. His extensive experience in data analytics, optimization, and strategic planning will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our graduate-level academic programs and meet the evolving needs of our students and the broader community. In addition, the director will collaborate closely with the dean, the director of undergraduate programs, chairs, and other offices on campus to continue to support, strengthen, and grow the graduate program presence and all assurance of learning initiatives in the new college at UMW.
Thanks to the search committee, Larry Lehman (chair), Shawn Humphrey, Smita Jain Oxford, and Jessica Zeitz, for their commitment to a methodical approach to the search process, their diligent and thoughtful analyses, and the effective, great leadership of Professor Lehman.
Please congratulate Professor Garcia!
Calling all UMW Staff and A/P Faculty! Don’t miss your chance! It’s time to elect the next group of University Staff Council members as well as the staff representatives to the James Farmer Multicultural Center Advisory Committee and the University Budget Advisory Committee. Be sure to take part in selecting the representatives to advocate for you in the University community.
This year there are elections for an A/P Faculty position on the University Staff Council, a position on the University Budget Advisory Committee, and a position on the James Farmer Multicultural Center Advisory Committee. You can review the nominees, including their statements about what they would like to accomplish during their terms, on the USC website. This information is also available in the ballot. After reviewing, please take a moment to vote.*
The University Staff council represents and advocates for the staff and A/P faculty on numerous committees across campus. The USC serves as a way to connect us across departments and helps us to stay informed about what is going on in all areas of the university. The USC is your voice, so be sure to have your voice heard by electing your representatives!
The 2025 election will close at 5pm on Monday, April 28, 2025. If you have any questions about the election, please contact us at usc@umw.edu
Thank you for your time, support, and thoughtful consideration of nominees for the USC, UBAC and JFMCAC.
*Voting is limited to UMW Staff and A/P Faculty members.
UMW Theatre will end its 24-25 season with Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice and music by Wayne Barker. Performances kick off April 3-5 at 7:30 p.m. & April 6 at 2:00 p.m. in Klein Theatre. Tickets are $5 with a UMW ID at the Box Office! Peter and the Starcatcher tells the origin story of Peter Pan. Pay-What-You-Can Performance is April 2nd, The box office opens at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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.
April Alumni Events:
Sunday, April 13, 6-9 p.m., 1908 Society Reception and Philharmonic Concert, Jepson Alumni Executive Center
Tuesday, April 15, Noon-9 p.m., ASPIRE Week Activities, On Campus starting with the Majors Fair
Wednesday, April 16, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Mary Talk featuring Dr. Tracy Stonestreet “Curating Art and Art Programming at Mary Wash”
Wednesday, April 30, 11 AM-2 p.m., Virginia Beach, Historic Garden Week Luncheon at the home of Tara Corrigall ‘82
Also, Reunion Weekend is Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1!