A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
UMW has been named a Tree Campus by the Arbor Day Foundation for the tenth consecutive year.
UMW has been approved again this year as a Tree Campus demonstrating the institution’s commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability and community engagement. By meeting the rigorous standards set forth by the Arbor Day Foundation, UMW aims to contributes to a greener and healthier campus environment. It marks the tenth consecutive year the University has made the cut to receive recognition.
Ethan Sweeny, Sue Henderson and Steve Hanna (L-R) appear on News Talk 1230 WFVA’s Town Talk.
UMW Geography Professor Steve Hanna, UMW Intern Ethan Sweeny, and Sue Henderson with Discover Stafford appeared on News Talk 1230 WFVA’s Town Talk to preview the opening of the Stafford African American Trail: 31 stories at 23 sites. You can explore history at home or by driving at discoverstafford.org. Listen to the episode.
TO: All faculty, staff and students
RE: Range of Potential Tuition and Fee Increases for 2025-26
At the time of this public notice, a state budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year has not yet been adopted. State budget actions are a key factor in the setting of tuition and fee rates.
For planning purposes, the University of Mary Washington (UMW) is considering for 2025-26 a potential increase in tuition between 0% and 4% and in comprehensive auxiliary fees between 0 and 5%.
Revenue from a tuition and fee increase in 2025-26 would support additional funding required from UMW for state-mandated compensation actions for faculty and staff; increases in the minimum wage and state fringe benefit rate changes; inflationary cost increases impacting the cost of goods, materials and services; and state administrative system charge increases that are passed on to UMW.
As currently scheduled, UMW’s Board of Visitors will vote on the 2025-26 tuition and fee rates at its meeting on April 11, 2025.
The Board of Visitors will hold a public comment period at 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center Rappahannock Ballroom. This will be a time for members of the public, as well as members of the University community, to share their thoughts with Board members. To sign up for a three-minute slot, go to Public Comments – Board of Visitors (umw.edu).
Assistant Professor of Education Melissa Wells
Assistant Professor of Education Melissa Wells presented at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Conference in Boston. Her presentations were titled “Panels Full of Heart, Hope, andHumanity: The Power of Graphic Novels to Foster Critical Literacy and CriticalReading, Teaching with the 2024 Charlotte Huck and Orbis Pictus Award Books” and”Teaching with Heart, Hope, and Humanity: The Intersection of Students, Families,Children’s Literature, and Community Cultural Wealth”.
In addition, Wells presented at the Literacy Research Association’s Annual Conference. Her presentations included Creative Empowerment: Early-Career Teachers’ Use of Arts Integration, Community Cultural Wealth: Agency through Asset-Based Approaches in Early Childhood Settings, and Graphic Novels: “Non-Entities” with Potential for StudentEmpowerment and Agency.
Professor of Middle East History Nabil Al-Tikriti
Professor of Middle East History Nabil Al-Tikriti’s article entitled “Prince with Daddy Issues Seeks Sisterly Support: Two Ego Documents Penned by Şehzade Korkud (d. 1513),” was recently published by The Journal of Ottoman Studies / Osmanlı Araştırmaları [Issue LXIV (Winter 2024), pp. 71-98]. This journal issue was a double-blind, peer-reviewed scholarly publication which originated with the 2022 “Ottoman Ego Documents/Ben-Anlatıları” Symposium that Al-Tikriti attended (with UMW faculty travel support) in Istanbul, Turkey.
The article’s abstract: “Following a brief analysis of self-narrative writing among Ottoman royals towards the turn of the sixteenth century, this article argues for consideration of “collective biography” as a methodological approach before presenting two “ego-documents” by one of those royals. Şehzade Korkud (d. 1513), who left behind several small samples of self-narrative, also wrote two clear examples of ego-documents, a treatise to his father Bayezid II (d. 1512) defending his decision to go on the ḥajj, and a fearful letter to his sister Sofu Fatma (fl. 1512) seeking political guidance in the midst of a politically tense succession struggle. The treatise, Wasīlat al-aḥbāb, is summarized and analyzed here, while the letter is transliterated and translated in full.” Read the article.
Faculty and staff play a vital role in students’ personal growth and success, fostering a campus environment where they can thrive. We appreciate all you do and want to remind you that Eagles in Recovery is here for you too.
Our services are confidential and open to faculty and staff, providing peer recovery specialist coaching, group meetings, and community.
If interest or have questions please contact me at dwalsh@umw.edu or 540 654 5640.
Help us spread awareness of our growing recovery community on campus!
Support is here for everyone,
Devin Walsh
Your expertise can be more easily discovered by researchers, journalists, government agencies and other important communities through ExpertFile – a powerful platform used by UMW to ensure our faculty and staff are prominently featured across search engines like Google and platforms such as the Associated Press.
ExpertFile extends the reach of your content to key communities, enhances visibility in search engines, makes it easier for people to find your expertise, and supports media opportunities by connecting journalists and researchers with top subject matter experts.
To ensure your profile reflects your latest expertise, we’re conducting a scheduled refresh for all ExpertFile profiles!
Review your profile: visit the Expert Directory: https://www.umw.edu/directory/experts/ to locate your profile.
Take 10-min. survey: share updated information, including links to multimedia like videos, books and images. Start survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UMW_2024_SURVEY
Deadline: Survey will remain open until Feb. 28, so don’t wait!
Create a profile: If YOU or someone in your department wants an ExpertFile profile, let us know by contacting Lisa Marvashti, Director of Media and Public Relations at lchinn@umw.edu.
Once you complete the survey to update your information, the Media and Public Relations team will work with ExpertFile to promptly update your profile. Take advantage of this opportunity to showcase your expertise and gain more visibility!
Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus
Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus, who is nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Center and Indo-Pacific Security Initiative discussed citizenship for WION. In an piece entitled “US Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Executive Order Ending Birthright Citizenship” she said “I indicated to WION News that Trump’s Executive Order limiting birthright citizenship is an attempt to push the issue of citizenship for the children of illegal migrants up to the Supreme Court for reinterpretation to its original intent.” View the piece.
Other media mentions for Larus include:
The following message is from University Communications:
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared yesterday, Feb. 11, the use of DeepSeek AI is not permitted on state-issued devices or networks, including university-issued devices and networks.
As Commonwealth employees, UMW employees cannot download or use the DeepSeek AI application on any state-issued device. This directive extends to contractors with the Commonwealth. In addition, the DeepSeek AI application will be restricted on UMW networks, both wired and wireless.
Beginning Feb. 12, you may receive a “cannot connect” to DeepSeek AI message while on campus or on state-issued devices, similar to when there is no internet available. If you have previously downloaded DeepSeek AI to a state-issued device, the application must be removed, deleted and uninstalled from the device as of today, Feb. 12, 2025.
If you would like more information about AI tools accessible from campus, including Microsoft Copilot, which is included in UMW’s Microsoft environment, start with the online guide from the Digital Knowledge Center. The AI Working Group continues to focus on developments in AI and will follow up with more information on implementation and impact.
Vice President of Strategy, Chief of Staff to the President Jeffrey W. McClurken
The AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education last week held the closing symposium of its sixth Cohort, celebrating the graduation of nineteen fellows from colleges and universities around the country, including Dr. Jeffrey W. McClurken, Vice President of Strategy, Chief of Staff to the President at the University of Mary Washington.
The AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance was founded in 2019 to prepare aspiring presidents to successfully attain and serve in the top leadership position. To date, 138 leaders have completed the program, and 24 have become presidents or chancellors.
“More and more, we recognize that choosing to pursue the office of the president is a calling,” said AGB Search Managing Principal & CEO and institute co-founder Dr. Rod McDavis. “The AGB Institute offers the opportunity to create a different style of presidential leadership to pursue that calling, and we congratulate the Class of 2024-2025 for all of their hard work and dedication during the program.”
The AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance is a rigorous six-month program composed of two symposia, four online workshops and a shadowing experience with a sitting president. The institute features more than 30 higher education expert presenters including current and former presidents, trustees, search consultants and other sector professionals.
The American Council on Education’s 2023 American College President Study shows that the average tenure of college presidents is decreasing. Colleges and universities are faced with a dearth of qualified leaders to meet the demands of the higher education sector. The institute aims to provide support to higher education leaders by fortifying participants with mentorship and peer networks as participants undergo their leadership journey together.
“The office of the president is very different than it was a decade ago, and a fundamental recognition is that the leadership tools of the past are not the same that will work in the future,” said Jason Lane, co-director of the institute. “Now more than ever, our higher education leaders need support and training to be able to make difficult decisions and strategically guide their institutions through times of transformation.”
To learn more about the institute, visit www.leadandgovern.com.