A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science and Biology Michael Bass who passed away Oct. 4, 2024.
Grace Hannah Buck ’26 never had the chance to take a class with University of Mary Washington Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science and Biology Michael Bass. But the scholarship that bears his name has made a monumental impact on the UMW junior who’s majoring in environmental geology and historic preservation, with plans to pursue a career in architectural preservation.
“Receiving this award was like someone telling me they saw my hard work and my potential and wanted to partner with me so I could achieve my educational goals,” said Buck, the recipient of the Class of 1972 Dr. Michael Bass Scholarship. Bass served as class sponsor and kept in close touch with 1972 graduates over the years, leading them to establish the scholarship in celebration of their 50th reunion. “I’m so grateful to him and the donors who have made this scholarship possible for me and future students.”
It often takes generations for tiny saplings to become towering trees, but in just a few years, Bass grew Mary Washington’s fledging environmental science program to one that has cultivated careers for countless alumni over the decades. After he passed away on Oct. 4, 2024, tributes poured in, from graduates who were influenced by their former professor to enter professions relating to his field, and those who appreciated the support that he and wife Heather gave the Mary Washington community.
“I knew that I had made the right choice by coming to a small school with a professor filled with the same wonder and passion for nature that I had,” said May Sligh ’88, who has spent decades protecting water quality along the East Coast. “Dr. Bass’ kindness, ability to listen to his students and desire to share his knowledge was unmatched. I’m forever grateful for the role he played in helping me find a career that I love.”
Bass held several research positions before joining the Mary Washington faculty, where he became the first chair of the Department of Environmental Science and Geology (now Earth and Environmental Sciences), which was introduced in 1993. He earned a Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1976 and spent more than 45 years in the classroom at Mary Washington before retiring in 2018.
UMW’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences will celebrate Bass’ life and career at Mary Washington with an open-house memorial in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 2-4 p.m. The event is free and open to all current and former members of the Mary Washington community and the public.
This semester, UMW officially launched ‘Soft Landings,’ a pre-arrival program to help incoming students with autism spectrum disorder acclimate to the UMW campus.
Nicole Martin couldn’t wait to begin her college experience at the University of Mary Washington. Yet, as an incoming first-year student, she felt overwhelmed by the thought of a packed schedule of activities, unfamiliar faces and new situations.
“Thankfully, I learned about ‘Soft Landings,’ which provided support that I didn’t even know I needed,” Martin said of UMW’s new pre-arrival program that helps students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) acclimate to Mary Washington. “It’s made a huge difference in how I’m adjusting to college life.”
Martin is one of 11 students enrolled this fall in the first cohort of “Soft Landings,” which provides activities and campus tours, as well as personal introductions to key staff members, to help ease the transition to UMW before other students arrive on campus. The program also helps neurodivergent students hone critical skills for college success, such as learning how to solve problems and adapt to new situations, practicing self-care, preparing for academic courses, socializing and learning to self-advocate.
“UMW has a sizeable population of students with ASD, in part because of our emphasis on small class sizes and individualized attention,” said Assistant Dean of Students Chris “CJ” Porter, who oversees the program. More than 100 current students have disclosed an ASD diagnosis, with 85 seeking accommodations, said Director of Disability Resources Alex Ecklund. Read more.
Hayley Madden ’25 was among the student speakers who shared their stories at the 2024 Celebration of Giving.[/caption]
University of Mary Washington senior Hayley Madden had an unforgettable experience while visiting England’s National Gallery on a faculty-led trip. An art history major, she presented her own research to her professor and classmates on French painter Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun’s “Self Portrait with a Straw Hat.”
“I’m so grateful to everyone who believed in my potential,” Madden said. The recipient of the Emil R. Schnellock Scholarship and other awards, she’s now applying to graduate art history programs in London. “You’ve made my Mary Washington education possible while helping to nurture my dream from a simple sketch into a vibrant masterpiece.”
Digital Knowledge Center Director Cartland Berge (left) and UMW senior Steve McClanahan pose for a picture in the Charnoff Production Studio. Photo by Sam Cahill.[/caption]
When University of Mary Washington senior Steve McClanahan pitched a proposal last spring that secured a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant, it wasn’t his first time appearing before a live audience.
McClanahan has spent his college years participating in a weekly comedy show – think Saturday Night Live – where students learn to pitch sketches, write scripts, operate camera equipment, edit video and produce live-streamed shows as part of a Digital Media Studio course.
“I thought you’d need to go to New York or Hollywood to do something like that,” said McClanahan, a psychology major and communication and digital studies minor who has also produced Balancing Acts, an online series through the UMW University Communications department’s Lively video project. “I’ve gained so much professional experience from this.”
His passion for the project persuaded Cartland Berge, Digital Knowledge Center (DKC) director and adjunct instructor, to recruit Steve to share his story during the inaugural Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant presentations in April. Together, they earned a $4,000 Impact Grant for a new broadcast panel in the Hurley Convergence Center’s (HCC) Charnoff Production Studio. A recent gift from Mikhael Charnoff ’95 and wife Katie Valentine Charnoff ’04 helped purchase a new production desk to house the broadcast panel, providing increased accessibility for students and faculty. Read more.
UMW alumna Kristen Ramey ’17 (front row, second from left) poses for a photo with Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other Virginia Management Fellows. As a member of VMF’s sixth cohort, Ramey is putting the business and public policy background she gained from Mary Washington to work as she explores careers in state public service. Photo courtesy of Kristen Ramey.
At the University of Mary Washington, Kristen Ramey ’17 found a home in UMW’s Community Outreach and Resources (COAR). Participating in the student-led service organization helped shape her college experience and deepened her connections within the Fredericksburg community.
“I discovered that I wanted to help people,” said Ramey, who spent four years giving her time to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank and the Brisben Center for unhoused individuals. She also worked weekly with two elementary-school students through Big Brothers Big Sisters Greater Fredericksburg. “I loved volunteering and making a difference.”
Now, Ramey is putting her passion for public service to work at the state level, participating in the prestigious Virginia Management Fellows (VMF) program. This initiative, developed by the Commonwealth of Virginia in collaboration with Virginia Tech, offers college graduates the chance to learn about the inner workings of state government and prepare for future management and leadership roles in the public sector, all while earning a paycheck.
“I was drawn to the uniqueness of the VMF program and the firsthand experience this kind of opportunity provides,” said Ramey, who will spend two years rotating through three government agencies in Richmond. “I’m learning how different policies, processes and services impact Virginians on a day-to-day basis.” Read more.
Nathaniel Huff ’24 (center, green shirt and glasses) and his classmates visit Westminster Abbey during the UMW Theatre in London trip in summer 2023. Nathaniel was able to take the trip because he received the Beyond the Classroom Education Abroad Scholarship, which was awarded for the first time last year. Photo courtesy of UMW Theatre.
Renee Kuntz ’85 can still remember the advice that Distinguished Professor Emeritus Jack Kramer gave her before she graduated from Mary Washington with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and a focus in Russian studies.
“He encouraged me not to stay in one position,” said Kuntz, who spent nearly four decades rotating through various roles in the National Security Agency, putting her foreign policy background and language skills to work to protect American intelligence. “Mary Washington was truly foundational for my life and career.”
A dedicated donor to UMW’s Beyond the Classroom Endowment (BtC), Kuntz wants current and future students at the University of Mary Washington to have access to experiential learning opportunities that will ensure success in their own careers. She recently made a pledge that pushed the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) initiative over the top in its quest to raise $1 million in gifts and pledges to help students pursue study abroad, internships, independent research and travel to academic conferences.
“Accomplishing this milestone in just four years is simply amazing,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Keith Mellinger, who established BtC after student research proposals climbed to twice the CAS budget to pay for them. “It means we will be able to support our students in perpetuity and can make an annual commitment to these learning experiences that can really change lives.” Read more.
Anders Barretta ’25, a double major in geography and political science, is the first-ever recipient of the Marshall E. Bowen Scholarship, established by Susan Liebenow ’71 for the distinguished professor emeritus, who passed away in 2020. Photo courtesy of Anders Barretta.
When University of Mary Washington senior Anders Barretta was a child, he was fascinated by the maps his father kept around the house.
“He told me that his favorite geography professor, Marshall Bowen, taught some of the most influential classes he took in college,” Barretta said. His father, John Barretta ’90, said students would sit on the floor of Monroe Hall just to hear the late professor speak. “Dr. Bowen inspired my dad’s 30-year career as a geospatial intelligence officer.”
That made it even more special when the younger Barretta, who is double majoring in geography and political science and earning a geographic information systems (GIS) certificate, learned he would be the first-ever recipient of the Marshall E. Bowen Scholarship at UMW. Barretta has traveled to professional conferences, engaged in timely research and competed twice in Virginia’s World Geography Bowl, helping UMW’s team beat the buzzer to become the 2022 champions – all of which helped him earn the prestigious geography award.
“Anders truly embodies my husband’s interest in geography, and his curiosity about the places around him is incredibly refreshing,” said Professor of Geography Dawn Bowen, who serves as Barretta’s advisor. She invited him last year to participate in a small group discussion for other students. “He embraced the idea of learning something new and engaging with others.” Read more.
The University of Mary Washington announces $14.5 million was raised from gifts and pledges from generous donors during the 2023-24 fiscal year to support UMW students, programs, faculty and staff.
The University of Mary Washington ended the 2023-24 fiscal year on June 30, announcing an impressive $14.5 million in gifts and pledges that will help strengthen and enhance the UMW student experience.
Private support from 5,146 generous donors helped Mary Washington continue its commitment to providing students with an outstanding liberal arts and sciences education filled with impactful learning opportunities. Gifts this year benefited 315 areas across the University, including academics, arts, athletics, service and leadership initiatives, career services and cultural programs.
“We are deeply appreciative of the investments the UMW community has made in our institution this year,” said Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte. “The generosity of our alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff and students is vital to advancing our mission and to helping to attract, retain and graduate exceptional students from Mary Washington.”