A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Pamela Grothe
Professor of Earth and Environmental Science Pamela Grothe was featured in a recent segment of With Good Reason radio titled “Christmas Island Coral Reefs.” Coral reefs are one of the most beautiful ecosystems of the natural world. But they’re more than just a feast for the eyes. Pamela Grothe says coral reefs offer a map to the past, helping researchers track climate history over many hundreds of years. Hear the segment.
Chief of Staff and Vice President of Strategy Jeffrey W. McClurken
University of Mary Washington Chief of Staff and Vice President of Strategy Jeffrey McClurken has been named to the incoming class of the AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education. The institute has proudly supported higher education leaders on their professional journeys. To date, more than twenty of the past participants have become presidents or chancellors of higher education institutions, and many other participants have successfully progressed on the pathway to the presidency with commendations and new positions. Read more.
May Coffee Talk
THE DETAILS:
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. | IN PERSON
LOCATION: *718 Venue
718 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
PARKING: Parking is available at Riverfront Park, George Street Lot, and Sophia Street Parking Deck. Street parking is also available along Caroline Street.
Register for the May Coffee Talk
Stress Management & Mindfulness
Join us at May’s Coffee Talk as we discuss Stress Management & Mindfulness.
In this session, we will have an informal chat about the things that stress us out, along with tips and tools to decrease stress. This session will end in a guided meditation.
May’s Coffee Talk will be led by Ms. Deb Andrus-Lokrantz, Coordinator of Professional Learning – Restorative Practices & Conflict Resolution, Stafford County Public Schools.
Meet the Speaker
Deb Andrus-Lokrantz, MA, has worked and volunteered on community committees and other initiatives in Planning District 16 over the last 25 years. She believes that service to others is one of the strengths of any community. She is currently the Coordinator of Restorative Practices and Conflict Resolution for Stafford County Schools, working to build a strong and equitable culture, strengthen relationships within the school community, and facilitates discussions working toward accountability and healing when harm has been done. 
For the past 11 years, she has facilitated different groups for Empowerhouse, the local domestic violence agency, encouraging growth and change in order to move on with life in a healthier and more positive way. Her last position, as Program Director for Office on Youth, she helped implement Restorative Justice by training and consulting in three local school districts – Stafford, Spotsylvania, and King George, along with supporting court-involved and at-promise youth and their families. Previously, she spent 15 years with the Family Educator Program at Spotsylvania Department of Social Services working to either reunite families when their children had been removed into the foster care system or to strengthen families so that they could stay together.
She holds a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin and a MA degree in Organizational Leadership and a Master Certificate in Restorative Justice in Education from Eastern Mennonite University, and has had further Restorative Justice training with the International Institute for Restorative Practices, the Alliance for Unitive Justice and the Richmond Peace Center. She is certified in jyoti meditation and MBSR (mindful-based stress reduction).
For more information and to register, please visit us online
Dear Colleagues,
Open Enrollment 2024 begins today! The period to enroll in or make changes to your health benefits is May 1 – May 15. Please see below for important information and reminders.
HEALTH & FSA
The VA Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) mailed a Spotlight on Your Benefits publication to eligible employees’ home address of record on or around April 8. The Spotlight newsletter contains Health Insurance and Flexible Spending Open Enrollment information including premiums and plan changes. Please note plan changes on page 2. DHRM also sent an all-employee email (see below) on April 23, it included an electronic Spotlight publication and additional open enrollment information. The open enrollment page is located at https://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/employeebenefits/open-enrollment-2024-25
YOU MAY TAKE ACTION TO:
• Enroll in or change your health plan.
• Elect or remove optional buy-ups for COVA Care, COVA HDHP and COVA HealthAware.
• Waive coverage.
• Add or remove family members
During Open Enrollment (May 1 to May 15) make your request via Cardinal ESS (please ensure you click submit for submission of your request) or complete a paper enrollment form and drop it off (in a sealed envelope) to Office of Human Resources, Fairfax House (2nd Floor of GW is closed).
NO ACTION IS REQUIRED IF YOU:
• Have no health plan-related changes, (current plan will continue)
• Are not enrolling in an FSA (requires annual enrollment each year), or
• Do not plan to participate in Premium Rewards.
PREMIUM REWARDS
Current premium rewards end June 30, 2024. Employees must complete and submit a health assessment during Open Enrollment using their current health plan member website or mobile app to receive a Premium Reward for July 1, 2024. Additional information on Premium Rewards is available in the Spotlight and on the OE page: https://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/employeebenefits/health-benefits/health-benefits-premium-rewards-information
LEGAL RESOURCES
Protect you and your family for $18 a month for covered legal services:
( https://www.legalresources.com/about-us/ ) or see attached for brochure and enrollment form
If you have any questions please contact Denise Frye, Benefits Administrator, at dfrye2@umw.edu or Janet Hudgins, Benefits Analyst, at jhudgins@umw.edu. Paper enrollment forms must be received in HR on or before May 15 to be effective July 1.
From left to right, Town Talk radio host Ted Schubel, UMW seniors Adrian Coello and Elisa Luckabaugh, and UMW College of Arts and Sciences Assistant Dean Betsy Lewis.
Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Betsy Lewis brought UMW seniors Elisa Luckabaugh and Adrian Coello along for a recent episode of the Town Talk radio show to preview UMW’s 18th annual Research and Creativity Day, with its plethora of posters, oral presentations, creative writing, art exhibits and more. Listen to the episode.
Kevin Caffrey
Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey recently appeared on Empathy Unbound with Andrew Phipps to discuss his research on empathetic communication. Empathy Unbound is a podcast that features guests from around the globe to discuss the role of empathy in our society. During the podcast, Caffrey talks about what led him to study empathetic communication, discusses physical and psychological safety in the workplace, and explains why (and how) leaders should prioritize empathetic communication among at their organizations. “Over the past couple of decades, there’s more focus on empathy than ever before. At its heart, empathy is trying to understand where the other person is coming from and be open to listening to someone else’s story and not be judgmental. Great leaders have to lead with empathy and be able to listen to their employees to understand where they’re coming from.” Listen to the episode.
Professor of Psychological Science and Department Chair Miriam Liss
Professor and Chair of Psychological Science Miriam Liss led a team of students to victory, winning the Best Undergraduate Paper category at the 2024 Virginia Association for Psychological Science conference. The paper, titled “Childhood Trauma, Psychological Flexibility, and Outcomes in College Students,” was completed by Ann Marie Camp, Rob Oehler, Sarah Ballif, Skyler Revutin and Cate Kelly, along with Liss as advisor.
UMW Campus Community,
It’s been just over two months since we announced the closure of Monroe Hall for a roof reconstruction project. We appreciate everyone’s quick work to move offices and classes, adjust schedules earlier this semester, and allow the time and space to assess the building and develop the scope of work for the project. More information is available on the Campus Construction website, and we’ll continue to update you on progress with the project.
We are now planning the roof reconstruction project for this summer and anticipate that it will extend into the fall 2024 semester, requiring Monroe Hall to remain closed for part or all of the upcoming semester. We are once again working with the Registrar’s Office and department chairs to schedule alternative class spaces. If you have fall 2024 classes that are listed in Monroe Hall, the location of the class will be updated by the end of the spring 2024 semester. Updates will be available via the student information system when complete.
With the extended closure, opportunities have been scheduled this week for faculty and staff to retrieve any additional items from Monroe Hall. The building is closed for construction and will be locked throughout the project. Access is only available through Facilities Operations.
As the project progresses this spring, we’ve installed a tarp to protect the attic area, beginning in the northeast corner of the building, which has been prioritized as the area most in need of repairs due to recent rain. As the roof reconstruction begins, a fence will be added around the building to include a portion of the parking spaces in the Monroe Hall North Lot for materials. The fence installation is scheduled for Friday, April 26, so please plan and take any senior photos or spring photos now if you would like to feature Monroe Hall as part of it.
Construction will start in the next few weeks and continue through the summer.
We appreciate your continued patience and flexibility during this project. Thank you for supporting our efforts to repair and maintain this iconic academic building that has been part of our campus since the very first classes.
Beginning in May 2024, the UMW IT Security Office will begin sending simulated phishing emails to faculty and staff.
Phishing emails are a leading cause of security incidents, and they are difficult to prevent. Sending simulated phishing emails to employees is a commonly used, best-practice method of raising awareness of phishing emails and improving an organization’s overall security posture.
The purpose of the simulated phishing emails is purely educational.
Simulated phishing is a safe and effective way to become familiar with techniques and tactics used in actual phishing emails.
Thank you for your participation and support in keeping UMW’s systems and data secure.
Mike Townes
Director of Information Technology Security/ISO
(540)-654-2152
mtownes@umw.edu
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a keynote lecture, “Battling Disinformation with Political Humor,” at the Navigating the Digital World of Tomorrow Conference, which was sponsored by the Polish-U.S. Fulbright Commission. The talk was derived from portions of Dr. Farnsworth’s recently published co-authored books, Producing News in a Time of Disinformation: Information Evaluation Strategies for Journalists and News Consumers and Late-Night in Washington: Political Humor and the American Presidency. Dr. Farnsworth is serving in Poland as a Spring 2024 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar.
In addition, recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Day 5 of Trump’s Trial Concludes (CTV News)
“The first days of these trials are always about giving the jury a road map for how to proceed. I think one of the key things that the prosecution has to focus on is the idea that this is not primarily about hush money. This is about trying to distort what the public knew in advance about the election of 2016,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2908973
Biden clings to the economy: The rebound in the polls ahead of his clash with Trump (La Tercera, Chile)
Political scientist Stephen Farnsworth, professor at the University of Mary Washington, points to the abortion situation in the United States as a key factor for Biden’s improved standing in recent polls. “Voters are beginning to see that Trump and the justices he put on the Supreme Court are responsible for the state-by-state chaos over abortion laws.”
https://www.latercera.com/la-tercera-domingo/noticia/biden-se-aferra-a-la-economia-el-repunte-en-los-sondeos-de-cara-a-su-choque-con-trump/XN52EP7FNNHAZOAUDESOM6DQWE/