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Jessee Presents Communications Strategy at CCA Conference

July 1, 2026 by Guest Author

Executive Director of University Communications Amy Jessee

Executive Director of University Communications Amy Jessee presented a session titled “The Next Play Mindset: A Communications Gameplan During a National Championship” at the College Communicators Association Summer Conference in June.

Jessee shared how cross-campus collaboration and strategic communications supported the Eagles men’s basketball team’s historic run to the 2026 NCAA Division III National Championship.

The session highlighted the UMW communication team’s coordinated efforts in marketing, advertising, public relations, social media, web communications, branded merchandise and event planning — from campus and alumni watch parties to a championship parade and fan engagement initiatives that brought the UMW community together. Jessee discussed the planning, coordination and rapid execution required to support the University’s championship run in real time.

Bauschard and Rao Present Keynote on AI Literacy and Classroom Debate

July 1, 2026 by Guest Author

Adjunct Professor and AI Education Policy Consultant Stefan Bauschard

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

Adjunct Professor Stefan Bauschard and Director of the Center for AI and the Liberal Arts Anand Rao co-presented an expert keynote titled “Teaching AI Literacy Through (Classroom) Debate” as part of the Insight Jam speaker series this month.

The address explored how structured classroom debate can serve as a powerful framework for building AI literacy among students, equipping learners with critical thinking tools to evaluate AI opportunities, manage risk and navigate an increasingly AI-driven world.

Bauschard authored an article, titled “Cognitive Offloading to Cognitive Reclamation: Using Debate to Teach AI Literacy,” that appeared in both InsightJam and in Solutions Review.

InsightJam is a leading platform featuring expert keynotes and industry voices focused on the practical application of AI in organizational and educational settings.

For more information about the Insight Jam series, visit the InsightJam website.

Bauschard and Rao pictured alongside the text: Teaching AI Literacy through (Classroom) Debate

Bauschard and Rao Present Keynote on AI Literacy and Classroom Debate

Catullo Mentioned in Article on New Fredericksburg Soccer Club

July 1, 2026 by Guest Author

Athletics Director Patrick Catullo

Director of Athletics Patrick Catullo was mentioned in the Fredericksburg Free Press article, “Kicking into High Gear: Fred City Founders Aim to Begin USL Season in 2027.”

The article highlights plans for the new Fredericksburg City Soccer Club (Fred City) to launch men’s and women’s United Soccer League teams in 2027, with discussions underway to host matches at the University of Mary Washington.

Fred City President Victor Fuster praised the partnership, saying, “Patrick Catullo has been fantastic with us,” adding that the organization expects to finalize an agreement with UMW soon. Read more in the Fredericksburg Free Press.

Harris Featured in Program Exploring the Monroe Doctrine

July 1, 2026 by Guest Author

University of Mary Washington Museums Executive Director Scott Harris

Retired Museums Executive Director Scott Harris

Recently retired Museums Executive Director Scott Harris was featured by Loudoun Now in an article titled “Aldie Mill Historic Park Hosts ‘President Monroe.’”

The article highlights Harris’s participation in the Monroe at the Mill series at Aldie Mill Historic Park, where he portrayed Joseph Gales Jr., co-publisher of the National Intelligencer, in a historical conversation with President James Monroe. The program explored Monroe’s views on the foreign policy declaration now known as the Monroe Doctrine, nearly three years after he presented it to Congress. Read more in Loudoun Now.

Farnsworth Delivers Online Lecture on the Trump Presidency

July 1, 2026 by Guest Author

Professor Emeritus of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Professor Emeritus of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth recently delivered an online lecture, “Domestic and International Policy Challenges During the Second Trump Presidency,” to students at the Universidad Anáhuac in Puebla, Mexico.

Media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Maryland’s 5th Congressional District race features one of the country’s most crowded fields (WUSA9)
“In many ways it comes down to two or three candidates who have generated some level of recognition from endorsement, from support from financial backers or from something that they did like being a hero of January 6,” said Stephen Farnsworth.

Voters should expect party politics in this nonpartisan school board race (The Baltimore Banner)
“School board elections in Montgomery County and nationally are increasingly taking on partisan coloration, even if party labels are not used,” University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth said.

Legislators, advocates on Virginia’s new data center tax and regulation scheme: ‘A good first step’ (WVTF)

While it seems no one left Richmond Monday happy, University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth said any deal is better than no deal for the Democratic trifecta currently leading the Commonwealth.

Spanberger defends wave of vetoes as frustrated Democrats push back (Mountain Media, LLC)

Farnsworth said Spanberger appears to be caught between different audiences. “The governor’s current battle is really to persuade Virginians to support her over the Democratic majority of the Senate,” he said.

Maryland’s 5th District race sees candidates clashing over outside spending claims (WUSA; Yahoo News)

Dr. Stephen Farnsworth is a Political Science Professor at the University of Mary Washington. He says voters decide how they feel about it. “What is happening in this race happens in a lot of congressional races around the country. People who are connected will bring a lot of money to the table. Voters may find that acceptable. It’s legal. Voters may not find it acceptable. It’s up to them to decide,” said Dr. Farnsworth.

UMW Hosts Regional Celebration of Top Employers and Interns

June 18, 2026 by Guest Author

Overhead aerial shot of UMW campus with building and trees

In collaboration with the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP), the University of Mary Washington hosted a recent celebration recognizing the region’s 2026 top interns and the employers who hire them.

Hosted by UMW Career and Workforce on the Fredericksburg campus, the evening event brought together employers, students, faculty and regional partners to celebrate the organizations and students who are shaping the future of regional talent.

University of Mary Washington Associate Provost for Career and Workforce Kimberly Young, along with Director of Regional Partnerships Devin Fedor, welcomed guests, emphasizing the importance of strong regional partnerships in expanding meaningful work-based learning opportunities. And several UMW leaders and external organizations were recognized.

Four Mary Washington students were honored as top interns, including Matthew Clinton, Miranda Herd, MacKenzie Martin and Sarah Moon.

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) named UMW to its 2026 Top Virginia Employers for Interns list in April, and four Mary Washington students were honored as top interns: Matthew Clinton, Miranda Herd, MacKenzie Martin and Sarah Moon. Their recognition highlights UMW’s ongoing commitment to experiential learning and student career readiness. Nicole Burgess of Germanna Community College was also recognized as a top intern.

This year’s top employers for interns in GO Virginia Region 6 also includes Cyber Bytes Foundation, F45 Training Stafford, VA Fredericksburg Technology, Matern Staffing, Natural Scentiments, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Rappahannock Goodwill Industries, REIGN the Venue, SimVentions Inc. and the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce.

Dedicated to strengthening connections between higher education and the regional workforce, UMW’s Career and Workforce Division fosters meaningful conversations between faculty, students, employers and industry stakeholders. That vision was evident throughout the evening as top employers and top interns connected, shared experiences and built relationships.

This celebration aligns with broader statewide priorities emphasized by SCHEV to expand high-quality internship and work-based learning opportunities for students. UMW’s role as host reflects its aim to serve as a convener and partner in advancing regional talent development.

As the University looks ahead to Virginia Intern Day on July 30, UMW is proud to celebrate the students, employers and partners who are making a lasting impact through experiential learning and collaboration.

UMW Students Showcase Research at National Conference

June 18, 2026 by Guest Author

Students gathered in the lobby of a hotel

UMW students presented their original research and creative scholarship at the 2026 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Richmond.

Fourteen UMW students presented their original research and creative scholarship last month at the 2026 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Richmond, one of the nation’s premier gatherings for undergraduate researchers.

Sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research, the annual conference brought together more than 4,000 students from across the United States and several other countries to share work in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences. UMW students represented a wide range of disciplines, including biology, computer science, English, physics, sociology and kinesiology.

Working closely with faculty mentors — including Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Laura Sipe, Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel, Visiting Instructor Jeffrey Goldthorp and Associate Professor of English Shumona Dasgupta — students presented research and creative projects exploring topics ranging from cancer biology, artificial intelligence and microplastics to immigration, environmental conservation, literature and film studies.

Presentations included both poster sessions and oral presentations, giving students the opportunity to engage with peers and faculty from institutions around the world. Several participants noted that the experience strengthened their research skills and broadened their perspectives.

“Seeing a variety of undergraduate students working in their own respective fields was an eye-opening moment and taught me how diverse research can be,” said biomedical sciences major Mohammad Ali Hassan.

Congratulations to the students and faculty mentors who represented Mary Washington at NCUR 2026 and shared their work on a national stage.

Rao Joins National Panel on the Human Side of AI in the Workplace

June 18, 2026 by Guest Author

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

Professor of Communication Anand Rao, who is also Director of the Center for AI and the Liberal Arts (CAILA), was alongside a national lineup of artificial intelligence (AI) and leadership experts on June 4 for “The Human Edge: Flourishing in an AI-Driven Workplace,” a panel hosted by George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being.

Rao brought a liberal-arts perspective to a conversation otherwise weighted toward industry and defense. The midday webinar was based on the premise that while AI is reshaping how people work, leadership and human judgment determine whether that experience strengthens connection, trust and purpose.

The panel spanned the private sector, national defense and the academy and included co-panelists Steve Gladis, CEO of Steve Gladis Leadership Partners; Loretta Li-Sevilla, vice president and global head of Future of Work and AI ISV Ecosystem at Hewlett Packard; Julia Ochinero, founder of Ochinero GTM; and Jane Pinelis, chief scientist for special operations at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Nance Lucas, executive director and chief well-being officer at George Mason, moderated.

Rao’s contribution reflected the mission of CAILA, which he founded to bring humanistic inquiry to bear on how AI is taught, governed and used. His scholarship advances what he calls “AI pluralism,” the argument that diverse models, perspectives, and human voices yield more trustworthy outcomes than any single system acting alone. Drawing on a background in competitive academic debate, he has developed pedagogical frameworks that treat argumentation and human judgment as essential complements to automated analysis rather than casualties of it.

“The question is not whether AI will change our work, but whether we will stay in the habit of judgment,” Rao said. “The tools can do the analysis. People still have to decide what is worth doing, and why.”

Schiffrin Quoted in Article on Parental Burnout

June 18, 2026 by Guest Author

Professor of Psychological Science Holly Schiffrin

Professor of Psychological Science Holly Schiffrin was quoted by the Italian online newspaper Open for an article titled “School closures are parents’ nightmares: what is “parental burnout”, how it manifests itself and how to fight it.”

For the piece, Schiffrin said, “The growing pressure to be constantly present and involved parents not only translates into greater stress and less psychological well-being for them, but also does not seem to necessarily produce proportionate benefits for children.” Read the article from Open.

Frankel Featured by the Fredericksburg Free Press

June 18, 2026 by Guest Author

Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel

Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel and his students were featured in an article by the Fredericksburg Free Press titled “UMW team tests the waters — literally — with weekly coliform monitoring along Rappahannock.”

The piece describes how UMW students collect river water to measure dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH and salinity. The sample they collected on a recent Wednesday in May, will be taken to campus and analyzed in a lab. Frankel and his students are looking for harmful bacteria, similar to what was discharged into the Potomac River just a few months ago. Read the article in the Fredericksburg Free Press.

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