May 26, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Rao Contributes to Article About AI and Academic Integrity

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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 Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao contributed to a story written by UMW alum, Ryan Kailath, published in the Gothamist. Rao was quoted in the article titled “Columbia suspended him after he built a cheating app. Now he’s raised $5.3M for it” which was published in Gothamist and Hoodline. Kailath is a reporter with WNYC in NY. He saw Rao referenced in another article and reached out about this story. Read the article:
https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/columbia-suspended-him-after-he-built-a-cheating-app-now-hes-raised-53m-for-it
https://hoodline.com/2025/05/former-columbia-student-suspended-for-ai-tool-sparks-debate-and-success-with-5-3m-startup/

Farnsworth Co-authors Book Chapter on Political Humor

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Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is co-author of a book chapter, “Ridicule in Late-Night Political Humor in the United States: Contours and Consequences,” published in the Wiley Handbook of Social and Political Conflict.

Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Virginia GOP: John Reid Controversy (DC News Now)
“Well, for Virginia Republicans, this is bad news on top of that,” said Stephe Farnsworth.
https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/capitol-review/virginia-gop-john-reid-controversy/

Youngkin’s record vetoes: a new approach to executive power, analysts say (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
In a way, the difference between Youngkin’s use of vetoes and the approach of earlier governors mirrors what’s been happening over the years in national politics, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. And in Virginia, he said, “Two things explain this trend: first is the growing Washingtonization, as Democrats and Republicans are increasingly distant from each other … the second is a move to outsiders in executive positions.”
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_9930e5b0-7bb1-4c21-8f60-0eb9f1ee8cdb.html

Future of retail marijuana market in Virginia likely depends on gubernatorial election (WHRO Public Media)
Political expert Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the director of its Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is skeptical that cannabis policy alone will drive voter turnout. However, he predicts Democrats will retain their majority in the House.
https://www.whro.org/virginia-government/2025-04-30/future-of-retail-marijuana-market-in-virginia-likely-depends-on-gubernatorial-election

President Donald Trump tests executive power in first 100 days (United Press International; Yahoo)
“The courts have already made it pretty clear that people in the country are entitled to due process, whether they’re in the country legally or not,” Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, told UPI.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/04/29/trump-first-100-days-immigration-education-tariffs/2081745948785/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/president-donald-trump-tests-executive-181348458.html

Trump marks 100 days in office of second term (CTV Canada)
“Well, nothing has been quiet at all in these 100 days. The Trump administration has reached across all kinds of policy areas, transgressed all kinds of lines in terms of the way Congress and the President usually work together and has so created an environment where there are a huge number of law suits and a huge number of questions about what happens to some of these policies going forward,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://review.bellmedia.ca/view/690263675

Youngkin asks John Reid to withdraw from Lt. Gov. race, could this impact the GOP in VA? (WJLA; Loudoun Times-Mirror)
University of Mary Washington political scientist Stephen Farnsworth said Republicans are fighting a national tide, and party infighting may cost them.
https://wjla.com/elections/virginia-lieutenant-governor-race-candidates-gop-republican-john-reid-campaign-social-media-full-interview-glenn-youngkin-winsome-sears-primary-election-day-nominee-scandal-politics-commonwealth
https://www.loudountimes.com/0local-or-not/2state/in-deepening-va-gop-crisis-reid-accuses-youngkin-pac-of-extortion/article_1e05b2c8-312d-4f89-bf17-385b67f4aae3.html

Democrats clash over approaches as party still searches for an identity (The National Desk; Komo News; WPDE; CBS Austin; KATV; ABC 45)
Strategies Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, says, point toward the 2028 presidential election officially being underway. When you’re looking at the Democratic Governor’s in particular, they’re trying to make more of a name for themselves. They’re trying to reshape the vision of the party,” said Farnsworth.
https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/democrats-clash-over-approaches-party-still-searching-for-an-identity
https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/democrats-clash-over-approaches-party-still-searching-for-an-identity
https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/democrats-clash-over-approaches-party-still-searching-for-an-identity#
https://cbsaustin.com/news/nation-world/democrats-clash-over-approaches-party-still-searching-for-an-identity
https://katv.com/news/nation-world/democrats-clash-over-approaches-party-still-searching-for-an-identity
https://abc45.com/news/nation-world/democrats-clash-over-approaches-party-still-searching-for-an-identity

Swing state GOP in explosive disarray as Republican’s PAC is accused of extortion (MSN; Virginia Mercury; Yahoo; Royal Examiner)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said the turmoil surrounding Reid’s candidacy highlights deeper challenges for Virginia Republicans heading into a critical election cycle. “The biggest challenge that you have as a first-time statewide candidate is getting your name out there in the public,” Farnsworth said. “That’s not going to be a problem for John Reid.” But, he cautioned, the downside is significant: “This controversy won’t help Reid or the Republican ticket.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/swing-state-gop-in-explosive-disarray-as-republican-s-pac-is-accused-of-extortion/ar-AA1DNtBr
https://virginiamercury.com/2025/04/28/in-deepening-va-gop-crisis-reid-accuses-youngkin-pac-of-extortion-is-a-legal-battle-ahead/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/deepening-va-gop-crisis-reid-220037292.html
https://royalexaminer.com/in-deepening-virginia-gop-crisis-reid-accuses-youngkin-pac-of-extortion-is-a-legal-battle-ahead/

Could Lt. Gov. furor give Republicans a do-over on N.Va. candidate? (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“Republicans need somebody to speak to Northern Virginia and this ticket doesn’t really have that,” said Steve Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. Youngkin’s effort to push Reid off the ticket could give Republicans a do-over with a candidate from Northern Virginia, but only if it works, Farnsworth said.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/article_22e38b52-9a34-4b01-9d23-603afd1ce8ba.html

Schapiro: Virginia GOP betting on a DEI ticket? (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“Filling in the diversity box is not particularly more important for Republicans than the state of the Virginia economy this fall,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political analyst at the University of Mary Washington and director of its Center for Media and Leadership Studies.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_6de8b963-64a4-4a06-918c-27b787663219.html

Virginia’s future retail marijuana market likely depends on gubernatorial election (Virginia Business)
Political expert Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the director of its Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is skeptical that cannabis policy alone will drive voter turnout. However, he predicts Democrats will retain their majority in the House.
https://virginiabusiness.com/virginia-marijuana-retail-veto-youngkin-2025/

Senator Durbin’s exit seen as chance for generational shift in Democratic leadership (The National Desk; Fox 4 Beaumont; Baltimore Sun; News 4 San Antonio)
What Durbin is doing is helping create that generational shift in the party,” said Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. Farnsworth believes a big challenge the Democrats face right now is an identity crisis.
https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/se-dick-durbin-d-il-not-seeking-reelection-could-accelerate-shift-in-democratic-party-david-hogg-joe-biden-younger-democrats-activist-dnc-leaders-we-deserve#
https://fox4beaumont.com/news/nation-world/se-dick-durbin-d-il-not-seeking-reelection-could-accelerate-shift-in-democratic-party-david-hogg-joe-biden-younger-democrats-activist-dnc-leaders-we-deserve
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/04/24/durbins-exit-seen-as-chance-for-generational-shift-in-democratic-leadership/
https://news4sanantonio.com/news/nation-world/se-dick-durbin-d-il-not-seeking-reelection-could-accelerate-shift-in-democratic-party-david-hogg-joe-biden-younger-democrats-activist-dnc-leaders-we-deserve#

Va. future retail marijuana market likely depends on gubernatorial election (Virginia Scope; The Patriot; The Virginian-Pilot)
Political expert Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the director of its Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is skeptical that cannabis policy alone will drive voter turnout. However, he predicts Democrats will retain their majority in the House.
https://www.virginiascope.com/va-future-retail-marijuana-market-likely-depends-on-gubernatorial-election/
https://pcpatriot.com/earle-sears-spanberger-split-on-cannabis-as-youngkin-vetoes-retail-sales/
https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/04/23/future-of-virginia-marijuana/

Announcing SGA 2024-2025 Elected Student Leaders

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The Office of Student Activities & Engagement is excited to announce the 2024-2025 elected student leaders for Student Government Association, Class Council, Honor Council, Student Conduct Review Board, and Finance Committee:

SGA:
President: Amira Said
Vice President (Senate President): Allie Davis
Senate Vice President: Katherine Armstrong
Class of 2026 Senator(s): Bethanie Hackett, Hank Leighty, Josiah Schlechty
Class of 2027 Senator(s): Brenna Pope, Lucy Whealton, Remington Newhart, William Goodman
Class of 2028 Senator(s): Maso Moses, Nhi Nguyen, Syndey Hawes

Class Council:
Class of 2026 President: Torres
Class of 2026 Vice President: Ashley Lam
Class of 2026 Treasurer: Amira Said
Class of 2026 Promotions Director: Josiah Schlechty

Class of 2027 President: Brenna Pope
Class of 2027 Vice President: Allie Davis
Class of 2027 Treasurer: Sophia Heinbach
Class of 2027 Promotions Directors: William Goodman

Class of 2028 President: Sydney Hawes
Class of 2028 Vice President: Maso Moses
Class of 2028 Treasurer: Lia Slyvester
Class of 2028 Promotions Director: Alexi Wirpel

Honor Council:
President: Adam McAninely
Class of 2026 Representative(s): Adelaide Gill, Dave Patton
Class of 2027 Representative(s): Frankie Wulf, Abigail Powers, Alle Garcia Aguirre, Madeline Marshall, Maggie Winters
Class of 2028 Representative(s): Ellie Sedor, Shane Maguire, Sydney Hawes

Finance Committee:
Nhi Nguyen, Haley Miller, Alle Garcia Aguirre, Everette Vegso, Frankie Wulf, Genevive Benton, Josiah Schlechty, Max Redman, Lia Slyvester

SCRB:
Representatives: Allie Davis, Genevive Benton, Lucy Whealton, Shane Maguire

ICA:
ICA President: Olivia-Lena De Veaux
ICA Vice President: Sydney Hawes

RHA:
Matt Snow

Foss Joins Editorial Board; Publishes Book with UVA Press

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Professor of English Chris Foss

Professor of English Chris Foss

Professor of English Chris Foss has accepted an invitation to serve on the editorial board of Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture, which publishes interdisciplinary work, both scholarly and creative, authored by autistic people and allistic allies.

In addition, Foss published a new book with UVA Press titled The Importance of Being Different: Disability in Oscar Wilde’s Fairy Tales. See book.

Over the course of his remarkable career, Oscar Wilde published two volumes of fairy tales: The Happy Prince and Other Tales and A House of Pomegranates. Both collections feature numerous stories with protagonists who may be said to be disability-aligned, owing to their pronounced physical differences.

In Foss’s book he explores the way that Wilde’s stories problematically replicate many of the Victorian era’s typical responses to disability but also the ways they diverge, offering a more progressive orientation—both through more sympathetic identifications with disability-aligned characters and through a self-conscious foregrounding of the mechanisms of pity and the consumption of pain. The first ever monograph to examine Wilde’s work through a disability studies lens, this groundbreaking book encompasses all of his fairy tales as well as his writings during and after imprisonment. Even though Wilde unflinchingly represented the extent to which these peculiar bodies suffered rejection by society, he encouraged his readers to embrace them and to advocate for emotional responses that engage love and kindness toward both individual transformation and social change.

Foss will read from his newly published book on April 24 at 5:00 p.m. in Combs 139. He’ll talk about and read from the book for about 30 minutes and take questions from the audience. Refreshments provided.

Pi Mu Epsilon Welcomes New Members

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Image of the seal for Pi Mu Epsilon

UMW announces new members of Pi Mu Epsilon, the national mathematics honorary society.

Pi Mu Epsilon New Member List 2025:

 

Kannon J. Baker
Abigail R. Beckelhimer
Brandon D. Beiler
Sean P. Cadugan
Madison A. Chin
Stephen Fenaoui
Katelyn G. Gueci
Emily A. Hart
Miranda Herd
Lily S. King
Roheel Nawaz
Benjamin R. Plonka
Nyah N. Speicher
Ethan J. York

Barry’s NEH Research Grant Leads to Book Contract

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Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry

Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry

Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry received the 2024 Summer National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) Research Grant. Due to this highly competitive funding, she was able to develop materials to secure an advanced book contract for her third monograph, Scandalous Christian Histories, which will be published with the University of Edinburgh Press.

Barry was also recently quoted in the latest issue of Past Imperfect where she noted how much faculty, especially from teaching-focused institutions like Mary Washington, benefit from granting institutions like the NEH, which has been under increasing attack and many of its funding cut. There she noted that even smaller funds for the humanities allow faculty to use their summers to build research projects and how much the NEH has directly contributed to her productivity. Most importantly, this grant and other humanities focused funds help enrich the UMW classroom experience. To fund the humanities is to contribute to the core aims of a public liberal arts education.

Gary Hobson Retirement Celebration, April 24

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Facilities Operations construction project at Willard Hall.

UMW Facilities Operations will be hosting:

Retirement Celebration for Capital Outlay Program Director Gary Hobson

at The Kalnen Inn on Thursday, April 24, from 1-3 p.m

Located on the Sunken Road side of the Jepson Alumni Executive Center is the Kalnen Inn.

Please join us to celebrate Gary and all his years of service to Mary Washington!

Book Reading: ‘The Importance of Being Different’ by Chris Foss, April 24

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The Importance of Being Different

Chris Foss’s The Importance of Being Different Book Reading
April 24, 5 PM | Combs 139
Professor of English Chris Foss will read from his newly published book, The Importance of Being Different: Disability in Oscar Wilde’s Fairy Tales. He’ll talk about and read from the book for about 30 minutes and take questions from the audience. Refreshments will be provided.

Frankel Featured in Article by Bay Journal

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Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel

Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel

Assistant Professor of Environmental Science Tyler Frankel was featured by Bay Journal in an article titled: Elevated Metals Found in James River Sediment Near Coal Ash Pits. The article states, Frankel began testing waters near coal ash storage sites a few years ago to help fill gaps in the data, he said. An aquatic toxicologist, Frankel wanted to understand whether elevated levels of trace metals associated with coal ash might be found in the sediment or fish of nearby rivers, even if they are no longer present in the surface water. Read the article.

Other recent media mentions for Frankel include:

Heavy Metals Found in James River, Near Power Plant, Raises New Questions (Chesapeake Bay Magazine)
Tyler Frankel, an associate professor of environmental science at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, began testing waters near coal ash storage sites a few years ago to help fill gaps in the data, he said.
https://www.chesapeakebaymagazine.com/heavy-metals-found-in-james-river-near-power-plant-raises-new-questions/

Research & Creativity Symposium, April 25

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UMW’s 19th annual Research and Creativity Day is Friday, April 25.  There will be events held all day across campus. In the morning, there are oral presentation panels in the HCC 3rd floor. Then at noon is a new and improved poster session, located in the HCC Digital Auditorium as well as on the 3rd floor gallery this year. Food will be served during the poster session. There will also be various departmental symposia, exhibitions and concerts throughout the day all across campus. Check out the full schedule of events!

Research & Creativity Symposium