April 20, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Volunteers Needed for Student Thanksgiving Lunch, Nov. 25

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The Student Thanksgiving Lunch on Monday, November 25th, 11am to 2pm at the Top of the CRUC – Volunteers Needed. The meal for the students is being offered as a lunch this year, too!  We’re hoping that this new time might make it easier for more of UMW’s faculty and staff to join in the festivities and volunteer to help serve this delicious meal.  You can volunteer for as little as 30 minutes or for the whole meal period, if you like. You can bring friends and co-workers along to serve with you, too! It’s a lot of fun, and the students really do enjoy seeing you all in our chef hats serving up what is always the most popular meal of the year.
If you would like to volunteer, please fill out the Google form (link below) by November 20th. If you have any questions, just give me a call or send me an email. https://forms.gle/7hWkXdttJXQ1UvF3A

Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3

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Each year, on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, we join in this global day of philanthropy

Each year, on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, we join in this global day of philanthropy

Giving Tuesday is coming up on December 3 at givingday.umw.edu, and this is another opportunity to support students with a gift. Each year, on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, we join in this global day of philanthropy by asking the UMW community of supporters to #MakeItPossibleUMW for students to succeed. A number of challenges and matches are being offered on Giving Tuesday to increase the impact of your gift to the Fund for Mary Washington, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, Friends of Athletics, or student scholarships and financial assistance including the General Scholarship Fund, Cedric B. Rucker ’81 S.O.S. Fund, Gwen Hale Resource Center, and the Talley Center for Counseling Services.

This Giving Tuesday, you can name one of our beloved campus squirrels with a gift of $19.08 to the Fund for Mary Washington. Make a gift in honor of someone who made your time at Mary Washington memorable. Take a moment to say thank you or acknowledge a cherished colleague or mentor!

Visit givingday.umw.edu, mark December 3 on your calendar, and together, we can #MakeItPossibleUMW this Giving Tuesday. Every gift counts—every gift makes a difference.

UMW Celebrates Veterans With Special Events and Veteran Support Programs

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The Mountain View High School Marine JROTC Color Team performs a flag raising ceremony to commemorate Veterans Day at Jefferson Square on the University of Mary Washington’s Fredericksburg campus. Photo by Sam Cahill.

The Mountain View High School Marine JROTC Color Team performs a flag raising ceremony to commemorate Veterans Day at Jefferson Square on the University of Mary Washington’s Fredericksburg campus. Photo by Sam Cahill.

Throughout the year, University of Mary Washington alum Ryan Hastings assists veterans and active-duty service members and their families by providing resources and guidance to help them achieve their educational and career goals.

Hastings, a 20-year Army veteran who earned BLS degrees from Mary Washington in 2016 (history and communication) and 2018 (leadership and management studies), knows the importance of veteran assistance. All year long, he serves as UMW’s primary point of contact for military-affiliated students through the Veterans Resource Center, providing information on veteran-specific benefits and services.

Each November, though, Hastings assists UMW with a lineup of Veterans Day activities – from an early-morning flag-raising to a celebratory luncheon – all designed to honor veterans’ dedication and sacrifice. UMW will hold further observances later in the week, including the Small Business Development Center’s presentation of a Veteran Small Business of the Year Award and an event held at the Dahlgren Campus by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD). Read more. 

UMW Faculty Share Knowledge and Insight on ‘With Good Reason’ Radio Program

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Mary Washington faculty share expertise on ‘With Good Reason,’ a national radio program that inspires thought, discovery and action through public engagement and dialogue on topics that shape our world.

Mary Washington faculty share expertise on ‘With Good Reason,’ a national radio program that inspires thought, discovery and action through public engagement and dialogue on topics that shape our world.

Imposter syndrome, photoshopping, the complexities of foreign alliances, political humor, the magic of Disney World and shared musical experiences – these are just a few of the topics on which University of Mary Washington professors have contributed their expertise over the radio airwaves this past year.

UMW is proud to announce the continued success of its collaboration with Virginia Humanities’ With Good Reason radio program, which brings the research and insights of Virginia’s top educators to audiences across the nation. Each week, over 100,000 listeners tune in to 128 radio stations throughout Virginia, Washington, D.C., and 38 states to hear thought-provoking discussions with leading academics. Thousands more listen to the episodes through iTunes podcasts.

The partnership between UMW and Virginia Humanities helps showcase valuable work in Virginia’s higher education system. Since last summer, a dozen Mary Washington faculty members were featured on With Good Reason, either as new guests or in re-aired episodes that continue to draw audiences. Read more.

Students Trolley to the Polls to Make an Impact During UMW’s Day on Democracy

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A trolley circled the route between Mary Washington’s Double Drive and the City of Fredericksburg’s Dorothy Hart Community Center, carrying students to submit their ballots. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

A trolley circled the route between Mary Washington’s Double Drive and the City of Fredericksburg’s Dorothy Hart Community Center, carrying students to submit their ballots. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

University of Mary Washington students Kaiden and Noah Rojas hopped off the red trolley wearing smiles, carrying stickers and clinging to a new accolade. The brothers, who grew up in Lubbock, Texas, were now first-time voters.

Nearly 300 UMW students joined them in catching a trolley ride and casting their votes during Day on Democracy, an Election Day tradition that allows for the cancelation of most UMW classes to provide opportunities to get to the polls. A trolley circled the route between Mary Washington’s Double Drive and the City of Fredericksburg’s Dorothy Hart Community Center, carrying students to submit their ballots, many for the first time in a presidential election.

Students and staff set up near the Bell Tower to greet them with patriotic balloons, free T-shirts, buttons, stickers – and, of course, coffee and doughnuts – and to hand out sample ballots and provide voter information. The trolley rental was made possible by a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant awarded earlier this year to UMW Votes, a nonpartisan program dedicated to educating the community about all aspects of the voting process. Read more.

Steps to the Nest: A UMW Admissions Roadmap for 2025 Applicants

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A UMW admissions roadmap provides helpful list of dates and deadlines for 2025 applicants.

A UMW admissions roadmap provides helpful list of dates and deadlines for 2025 applicants.

The University of Mary Washington’s admission process for fall 2025 is underway, with several important dates upcoming. For prospective students and their families, staying on top of deadlines can simplify the application journey and maximize scholarship and program opportunities. Important information for applicants includes:

Early Decision: Nov. 1. The first critical date in the UMW admission cycle is Nov. 1, the Early Decision filing deadline. This option is ideal for students who have decided that UMW is their first choice. By choosing Early Decision, students make a binding commitment to enroll if admitted. Applicants meeting this deadline can expect an admission decision by Dec. 15, just before the holiday season.

Early Action and Honors: Nov. 15. The filing deadline is Nov. 15 for Early Action, a non-binding choice that allows applicants to receive an admissions decision early in the new year. This option is recommended for students considering the University’s Honors Program or any special cohort program, as these opportunities often prioritize early applicants.

FAFSA and Financial Aid: Dec. 1. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens on Dec. 1 and completing it early can be beneficial for all applicants, especially Pell-eligible families in Virginia. UMW offers a Tuition Promise program to support Virginia students from eligible families, making FAFSA completion a crucial step for those who qualify. Read more.

Cooperman Quoted by BBC News Brasil on Harris Candidacy

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Professor of Political Science, Rosalyn Cooperman

Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman

Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman was highlighted in a Spanish-language article by BBC News Brasil about the Kamala Harris candidacy. The article, titled “Why Kamala Harris doesn’t highlight that she may be the first woman elected president of the USA,” quotes Cooperman as saying, “If you look at it, Kamala Harris is highlighting (the fact that) she is a woman in her own way.” Read the article.

Cooperman also recently penned an article titled “What will 2025 bring for women’s representation in the Commonwealth of Virginia?” for the Center for American Women and Politics. “Even as the 2024 U.S. congressional and presidential elections are not yet in the books, I am turning my attention to Virginia and women’s representation in it at the federal and state level,” Cooperman writes in the article. “In 2024, Virginia had four of its eleven congressional seats occupied by women – three Democrats in Virginia’s 4th (Jennifer McClellan), 7th (Abigail Spanberger), and 10th Congressional Districts (Jennifer Wexton), and one Republican in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District (Jen Kiggans).” Read the article.

New Video Encapsulates Essence of UMW’s STARS Center

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The mission of UMW’s new STARS Center (Student Transition, Access and Retention Services) is “to provide engaging and inclusive services, resources and opportunities that welcome and support historically underrepresented students during their collegiate journey at the University of Mary Washington.” Check out the new video featuring Justin Wilkes, director of UMW’s Student Transition Program and Rapphanannock Scholars Program, along with Shanita Mitchell, Rapphanannock Scholars Program counselor.

Bonds Pens Op-Ed on Data Centers for the Fredericksburg Free Press

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Associate Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds

Associate Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds

Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Eric Bonds discussed the possibility of energy-intensive data centers in Fredericksburg and their climate and environmental impact in an op-ed piece for the Fredericksburg Free Press entitled “My Education in Data-Center Secrecy and Green Illusions.” Read the op-ed.

In addition, recent media mentions for Bonds include:

Local Jurisdictions Have Signed Non-Disclosure Agreements with Data Center Companies (FXBG Advance)
A student research team at the University of Mary Washington wanted to find out whether these agreements exist and if so, how prevalent they are. “We had become aware of how data center developers have been using NDAs in Prince William County and so we wanted to learn how broadly or whether or not they are being used here in our region as well,” said Eric Bonds, professor of sociology and anthropology at UMW, who advised the research team.
FOIA Friday: Professor, students find NDAs between localities and data center companies (Yahoo News; Virginia Mercury)
Eric Bonds, a sociology professor at the University of Mary Washington, and his students Viktor Newby and Victoria Gallaway noticed localities in the state approving data centers, which are the warehouses storing the internet’s processors proliferating with skyrocketing energy and water needs.