A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Craig Erwin will succeed Paul Messplay as vice president for administration and finance.
It wasn’t just the University of Mary Washington campus in its autumn colors or its status as a premier public liberal arts and sciences institution that persuaded Craig Erwin to accept the position of vice president for administration and finance.
When Erwin came to interview from his home near Austin, Texas, he met campus constituents from President Troy D. Paino to faculty, staff and students – a welcoming and engaging process, he said, that impressed him with UMW’s quality of leadership and commitment to the future.
Even more compelling is the chance to join an institution where his skills and experience can truly make a difference. UMW’s next few years include plans for a $117 million theatre complex and other campus improvements. At the same time, the university is committed to keeping tuition and costs affordable, expanding student opportunities, and strengthening its financial reserves.
Erwin was identified through a national search to succeed Paul Messplay, who retires from the top financial role Jan. 20, 2023, after 15 years of distinguished service to UMW. “Paul has served this University exceedingly well and is leaving a great team for Craig,” noted President Paino.
Erwin will join Mary Washington on Jan. 10, 2023. He brings a strong background in higher education financial administration. Most recently he was vice president for finance and administration/chief financial officer of Southwestern University, a private liberal arts college in Georgetown, Texas. Read more.
Senior midfielder Gadsoni Abel brings optimism and perseverance to the Eagles men’s soccer team.
When the UMW men’s soccer team takes the field for the NCAA Division III Final Four game today – Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 – senior midfielder Gadsoni Abel knows fans will see something special.
The Mary Washington players understand exactly what Coach Jason Kilby wants from them, Abel said, and what they want from one another.
“There’s no better feeling than having the coach’s vision carried out and the team’s vision carried out,” he said. “We get it. Now let’s have fun with it.”
That optimistic spirit has seen Gadsoni through a lifetime of perseverance – beginning with boyhood days playing soccer in a Tanzanian refugee camp where his family lived after fleeing ethnic strife in their native Burundi. Read more.
Student Carl Horkan proudly sported a first-time voter sticker during UMW’s Day on Democracy. Paige Shiplett photo.
Students at the University of Mary Washington know participation in our democracy is a process, not just something that happens on one Tuesday in November.
All fall, they’ve encouraged one another in thoughtful consideration of social and political issues, voter registration, early voting and other meaningful participation in how Americans govern ourselves. So by Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, they were ready to celebrate.
They did it in a big way, as UMW held its third annual Day on Democracy to support student engagement in society and politics. The event combined volunteer opportunities, a bookmobile visit, information-sharing and games on Campus Walk, plus an election night watch party. A student roundtable featured representatives of several clubs and groups. And Melissa Martinez, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and International Affairs, spoke about “Civic Engagement and Human Rights.” Read more.
Smokey made an appearance at the recent Tree Festival, with (from left) Director of Landscape and Grounds Holly Chichester, Chief of Staff Jeffrey McClurken, and Scott Adams of the Virginia Department of Forestry.
If you’ve enjoyed the pollinator gardens and no-mow zones on campus or taken part in events like the Tree Festival or Eco-Carnival on Earth Day, you’ve already experienced some of the University of Mary Washington’s commitment to the environment.
The Princeton Review has recognized that commitment as well, including UMW in the 2023 Guide to Green Colleges.
The Green Colleges rating considers whether students have a campus quality of life that is both healthy and sustainable; how well a school prepares students for employment in the clean-energy economy and for overall green citizenship; and how environmentally responsible an institution’s policies are. UMW has also made the list in previous years.
“We’re happy to be a part of The Princeton Review’s list again,” UMW Sustainability Coordinator Sean Morrow said this week. “Since our last recognition in the Green Colleges list, we’ve really taken the time to review and expand our current sustainability initiatives on campus.” Read more.
Jennifer Clift ’00
Several business leaders shaped by their University of Mary Washington educational experiences returned to campus last week as College of Business (COB) honorees.
At an evening ceremony Friday, Oct. 14, in the Cedric Rucker University Center, the COB inducted one alumna into its hall of fame, named three distinguished alumni and recognized three up-and-coming young alumni.
Jennifer Clift ’00 enters the COB Hall of Fame as senior scientific technical manager and chief technology officer for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) in King George County. An innovator and technology expert, she drives advancement of NSWCDD technical capabilities through investments, partnerships and education including academic partnering.
One of Clift’s favorite Mary Washington memories is her senior capstone project in a class taught by the late Gano Evans, in which she interviewed Southwest Airlines executives as part of an analysis of a successful business model. “It was a fun and rewarding experience, and provided many leadership lessons that I have carried with me throughout my career,” she recalled. Read more.