Women’s Leadership Colloquium Coffee Talk, April 8
Mark your calendar for the Women’s Leadership Colloquium April’s Coffee Talk on Tuesday, April 8!
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
718 Venue (718 Caroline Street)
Topic TBD
Register for the April Coffee Talk
Khatib Program Lecture, April 9
The Khatib Program Lecture Series continues on Wednesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in Combs 237 with the topic, Islamophobia: What We All Should Know (and Do) about Anti-Muslim Discrimination
The Khatib Program Lecture Series continues on Wednesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in Combs 237 with the topic, Islamophobia: What We All Should Know (and Do) about Anti-Muslim Discrimination. In this presentation, Duffner, a leading scholar of Muslim-Christian relations with a Ph.D. in theological and religious studies, will speak about the nature of Islamophobia and its impact on Muslim communities and individuals. She’ll also touch on the current geopolitical climate, including the recent surge in violence in the Israeli-Palestinian region, offering practical steps for interfaith solidarity and advocacy.
Mary Washington’s Khatib Program is dedicated to countering religious intolerance by promoting scholarly engagement with religious traditions. Inspired by the personal experiences of Reza Khatib and his late wife, Georgianna, it reinforces their commitment to fostering interreligious dialogue.
“The Khatib Program is pleased to bring to Mary Washington such distinguished speakers for our lecture series,” Mathews said. “It’s important to understand religious hatred and why we should work against it.”
For more information on UMW’s Khatib Program or the spring lecture series, visit the Khatib Program in Religion and Dialogue webpage or contact Professor of Religious Studies Mary Beth Mathews at mmathews@umw.edu.
Research & Creativity Symposium, April 25
Stull Appointed Director of the Arts
Professor of Theatre and Chair of Theatre and Dance Gregg Stull
UMW is pleased to announce that Professor of Theatre and Chair of Theatre and Dance Greg Stull has been appointed to the position of Director of the Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences. This appointment is an important step forward in reorganization efforts to help strengthen the support of UMW programs in the arts.
After earning his BA at Mary Washington College, and an MA in Theatre at the University of Maryland, College Park, Stull joined the faculty at MWC in the fall of 1993. He was promoted to the rank of professor in 2005 and has served as the chair of the department of Theatre and Dance for over 30 years.
An accomplished theatre professional, Stull has consulted with arts organizations throughout the country in the areas of capacity building, audience engagement, and advancement. He directed over 60 productions for the Mary Washington theatre program. His work has touched the lives of thousands of students through his directing, practicum supervision, sponsored research projects, and his biennial week-long trip to New York City where he immerses his students in Broadway and off-Broadway theatre while connecting them with UMW alumni working in the industry.
Stull’s dedicated service to the theatre industry, the University, and to faculty and students earned him the Grellet C. Simpson Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2010, and the first ever William B. Anderson Distinguished Professor appointment in 2023.
In his new leadership role as Director of the Arts, Stull will oversee the programs in studio art, music, theatre, and historic preservation. His leadership will be utilized through the final planning stages and construction of the new theater and the renovation of Pollard, Melchers, and duPont Halls. In addition, the director will play a critical role in our campaign efforts over the next several years and will collaborate with Dean Mellinger and many offices on campus to continue to support, strengthen, and grow the presence of the arts at UMW. Stull will officially take his position in summer 2025.
Frankel Quoted on Environmental Impacts by The Bay Net
Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel
Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Tyler Frankel was quoted by The Bay Net in an article entitled “Potomac Riverkeeper Gets Up-Close Look At Crash Aftermath.” The article states: That’s when he called Tyler Frankel, a professor of environmental sciences at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. Frankel said he was initially so struck by the loss of life that he could hardly think about long-term consequences. But, he noted, Naujoks’s observations “of items covered in fuel two miles downstream clearly show that the contamination release was not limited exclusively to the immediate crash site.” Read the article.
Erchull Awarded at Association for Women in Psychology Conference
Professor of Psychological Science Mindy Erchull
Professor of Psychological Science Mindy Erchull received the 2025 Christine Ladd-Franklin (CLF) award at the Association for Women in Psychology (AWP) conference. The award is named in honor of Christine Ladd-Franklin (1847-1930), an early scientist whose career provided a painful example of the way institutional sexism operated to exclude women from careers in psychology and the sciences. The CLF Award is presented annually by the AWP Implementation Collective to a member who has made significant and extensive contributions to the AWP.
Taggert Announced as Executive Director of Budget & Financial Analysis
Pamela Taggert has been named the Executive Director of Budget & Financial Analysis
UMW is pleased to announce that Pamela Taggert has been named the Executive Director of Budget & Financial Analysis at the University of Mary Washington.
Taggert has dedicated the past 20 years of her career to supporting the mission of Mary Washington, most recently as Assistant Director of Budget & Financial Analysis. Her deep institutional knowledge, dedication to problem solving and desire to learn and adapt made her the best choice to serve Mary Washington in this key role. Taggert will be responsible for the University budget office which develops, implements and monitors the University’s operating budget as well as provides key financial analysis to University leadership to inform decisions.
Taggert holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies from UMW and is completing a graduate certificate in Public Administration from Old Dominion University.
Please join the search committee in congratulating Pam Taggert on this role, as they look forward to working with her and her team to continue to evolve how the University operates. Taggert along with the staff in the Budget Office will effectively serve our campus as trusted partners and support UMW’s mission to provide a superior education to our students.
Farnsworth Lectures on Disinformation in US Politics
Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a guest online lecture, “Disinformation Discourse in U.S. Politics,” to students at Montclair State University in New Jersey. The talk was derived from portions of Dr. Farnsworth’s recently published co-authored book, Producing News in a Time of Disinformation: Information Evaluation Strategies for Journalists.
In addition, other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
From Tariffs to DEI, Trump is shaping Virginia’s campaign for governor (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“The main thing you want to avoid doing in March is saying things you’ve got to defend in the fall,” said Steve Farnsworth, a political scientist and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg.
Might Trump change the law to run for a third term? (The Independent UK)
“There is zero chance the Constitution will be amended in time for Donald Trump to see a revised version,” Dr. Stephen J. Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, told The Independent. “It is very hard to change the constitution. It requires two thirds of both houses of Congress, and two thirds of the states to go along,” he added. Read the article.
Virginia’s legislative session is over. Here’s what’s headed to Youngkin (Daily Press; MSN)
“Virginia politics today is very different than a generation ago,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/virginia-s-legislative-session-is-over-here-s-what-s-headed-to-youngkin/ar-AA1zZJoG
Tensions escalate as Trump and Zelenskyy clash at White House (CHCH TV Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)
“Well, this is really pretty unprecedented. If you look at the way that publicly leaders intereat with each other, even enemies or potential adversaries do not level this kind of verbal combat against each other,” said Stephen Farnsworth. https://www.chch.com/chch-news/tensions-escalate-as-trump-and-zelenskyy-clash-at-white-house/
Commentary: In fight against Trump, D.C. Dems should look to Richmond (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
In the legislative session that concluded Feb. 22, Virginia’s Democratic lawmakers demonstrated that they have something to teach Democratic members of the U.S. Congress about shaping public discourse, promoting their party and fighting back against executive branch power. https://richmond.com/opinion/column/article_f08507e6-f523-11ef-9ad9-87efdc8df0ba.html
Does the number of bills a Virginia delegate passed matter in this fall’s election? (WVTF; WMRA)
University of Mary Washington political science Professor Stephen Farnsworth said getting bills passed, or not passed, can be a campaign message either way. “You can claim credit for introducing an idea even if it goes nowhere,” he said. “And you can blame the other side for standing in the way.” https://www.wvtf.org/news/2025-03-03/does-the-number-of-bills-a-virginia-delegate-passed-matter-in-this-falls-election
https://www.wmra.org/2025-03-03/does-the-number-of-bills-a-virginia-delegate-passed-matter-in-this-falls-election
How federal layoffs could impact Virginia’s governor’s race (NBC Washington 4)
“Well, the good news for Republicans is that the election is still a long way away. A lot can happen between February and November,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/president-trump-politics/how-federal-layoffs-could-impact-virginias-governors-race/3854952/?_branch_match_id=1378046433189259489&utm_medium=share&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz0tKLk8szsjMSy%2FJz9NLLCjQy8nMy9ZPL3NJriryzM4JSrKvK0pNSy0qAiqJTyrKLy9OLbJ1zijKz00FALsjenJEAAAA
Democratic Lawmakers Send Youngkin Same Minimum Wage Bill He Vetoed Last Year (Williamsburg Yorktown Daily)
“The minimum wage debate has been one of the more controversial issues in Virginia in the last several years,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “You see significant public support for increasing the minimum wage, but you also see some resistance in the business community to higher minimum wages.” https://wydaily.com/latest/2025/02/28/democratic-lawmakers-send-youngkin-same-minimum-wage-bill-he-vetoed-last-year/
Democratic lawmakers send Youngkin minimum wage bill — again (Rappahannock News)
“The minimum wage debate has been one of the more controversial issues in Virginia in the last several years,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “You see significant public support for increasing the minimum wage, but you also see some resistance in the business community to higher minimum wages.”
https://www.rappnews.com/news/government/democratic-lawmakers-send-youngkin-minimum-wage-bill-again/article_1a219dfe-f4a6-11ef-9e85-9ffc0c1d8321.html
Nominations Now Open for University Staff Council
University Staff Council Nominations Open for 2025-2026!
The University Staff Council (USC) is now accepting nominations for three University committees: the University Staff Council, the University Budget Advisory Committee, and the James Farmer Multicultural Center Advisory Committee. We are on a mission to ensure our representation reflects every corner of the UMW community. Nominate a deserving colleague or yourself today!
University Staff Council
This year, we have the following openings:
- One (1) AP/Faculty position
- Six (6) Classified positions
- One (1) Wage position
The USC is your voice! We advocate for staff concerns, collaborate with faculty and administration to tackle issues, and build a vibrant community. Nominations are welcome from all UMW faculty and staff across campus and affiliated organizations.
University Budget Advisory Committee
Represent UMW Staff on this UMW Faculty Council committee:
- One (1) opening for a one-year term for a non-Finance staff member.
The UBAC works closely with campus leadership on both short and long-term University budget priorities. These priorities are reviewed, summarized, and presented annually to the UMW President.
James Farmer Multicultural Center Advisory Committee
Be a part of this Faculty Council committee:
- One (1) opening for a one-year term.
The committee collaborates with the director and staff of the JFMC to plan and set priorities, enhance opportunities for multicultural learning through student programming, and develop leadership opportunities for all students.
For more information, visit the USC’s website. If you have any questions about the process, email us at usc@umw.edu. Nominations will be accepted through March 17, 2025. To nominate yourself or someone else for the USC, UBAC, or JFMCAC, complete the Nominee Form, visit the USC Nominations Page, or paste the URL listed below into your internet browser: https://umw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5hH97CQUFalyFn0
All nominees will be contacted to accept their nomination prior to the election.
Thank you for your enthusiastic participation!
USC Elections Committee