Kanchan Deosthali, assistant professor of management, was a co-presenter at the International Conference of the Association of the Global Management Studies at Columbia University in New York City on June 10. The title of the presentation was “Factors Influencing Adoption of e-Books by Students.”
UMW Partners with Local Elementary Schools to Tackle Oil Spills
The timer winds down outside Anne E. Moncure Elementary School in Stafford County. Precious seconds tick away while fifth-graders watch with anticipation to see if their creation will clean up oil dumped in a makeshift waterway.
“You guys made this. It’s driving around. Be proud,” said Principal Greg Machi, applauding the group crowded around a blue and white inflatable pool, exhorting their motorized sponge-like devices, built from PVC pipe, pool noodles and oil absorbency pads, to soak up the blackish oil dumped in the clear water.
“No wonder they call it trial and error,” said 10-year-old Zoe Lenzmeier, as her group’s machine struggles to move through the water.
Her group’s machine successfully cleaned up oil, but will need some modifications to move better in the water.
University of Mary Washington Professor of Education George Meadows, who oversaw the student testing, deemed all the inventions a success. “They built a remote-control machine with a purpose,” said Meadows, who spearheaded this project through a $2,390 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
Meadows partnered with principals and teachers at Anne E. Moncure, Hartwood and Ferry Farm elementary schools and Friends of the Rappahannock to educate more than 300 students about water pollution caused by oil spills before starting the building process.
Through the grant, the schools were able to purchase all of the materials and participate in workshops led by educators from Friends of the Rappahannock on watershed, human impact on rivers and oil spills.
“I hope they realize that they can make a difference,” said Lowery Pemberton, education coordinator for Friends of the Rappahannock, as she watched the next group test their machine. “And that this motivates them to figure out solutions for themselves.”
Students in groups of four to five were given a real-world scenario where they had a $1,000 budget to purchase materials. Then they had about five total hours to build over the course of a few weeks.
During the last week of school they tested and observed the machines by simulating an oil spill.
“This is what 21st century learning must increasingly be for all students—multifaceted meaningful engagement that builds complex knowledge and skills, that emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking and creativity, and that embraces the importance of iterations to deep, nuanced, and useful understandings,” said Mary Gendernalik-Cooper, dean of the UMW College of Education, who also came to observe the students as they tested their machines.
After testing, students returned to their classrooms to discuss, but some students already were planning improvements.
“I would probably attach the funnel that turns – that filters the oil into water – to the machine so it doesn’t create drag,” said 10-year-old Seamus Gutierrez, after his machine finishes its test run. “It was hard to control and maybe it was too long because it jammed against the corners.”
Meadows partnered with principals and teachers at Anne E. Moncure, Hartwood and Ferry Farm elementary schools and Friends of the Rappahannock to educate more than 300 students about water pollution caused by oil spills before starting the building process.
Through the grant, the schools were able to purchase all of the materials and participate in workshops led by educators from Friends of the Rappahannock on watershed, human impact on rivers and oil spills.
“I hope they realize that they can make a difference,” said Lowery Pemberton, education coordinator for Friends of the Rappahannock, as she watched the next group test their machine. “And that this motivates them to figure out solutions for themselves.”
Students in groups of four to five were given a real-world scenario where they had a $1,000 budget to purchase materials. Then they had about five total hours to build over the course of a few weeks.
During the last week of school they tested and observed the machines by simulating an oil spill.
“This is what 21st century learning must increasingly be for all students—multifaceted meaningful engagement that builds complex knowledge and skills, that emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking and creativity, and that embraces the importance of iterations to deep, nuanced, and useful understandings,” said Mary Gendernalik-Cooper, dean of the UMW College of Education, who also came to observe the students as they tested their machines.
After testing, students returned to their classrooms to discuss, but some students already were planning improvements.
“I would probably attach the funnel that turns – that filters the oil into water – to the machine so it doesn’t create drag,” said 10-year-old Seamus Gutierrez, after his machine finishes its test run. “It was hard to control and maybe it was too long because it jammed against the corners.”Romero and Matzke Talk about Philosopher Stanley Cavell in Poland
Author and semiotician Umberto Eco was the keynote speaker at Semiotica 2015
On May 25, Professors Joseph Romero and Jason Matzke in the Department of Classics, Philosophy and Religion delivered a paper on semiotics and autobiography in the memoir of Harvard philosopher, Stanley Cavell, at Semiotica 2015, an international semiotics conference held in Łódź, Poland.
Farnsworth Serves as Panelist
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, was a panelist for a recent Senate of Virginia 29th District Democratic Primary Debate in Woodbridge. The debate was sponsored by Potomac Local News and involved three local candidates seeking to replace Sen. Chuck Colgan (D) in the pivotal Prince William County district, which stretches from Woodbridge to Manassas Park.
Students Raise Money for Memorial Endowment
The University of Mary Washington community recently came together to raise more than $30,000 to create an endowment in honor of Robert Ericson, a student who passed away in 2014.
“This [endowment] serves the purpose of helping a student who loves to study what Bob studied, but it also acts as an eternal memorial in his name at UMW,” states the donation website. “With the advent of this [endowment], Bob’s name, and everything that he stood for as an upstanding role model in the community, [will] be remembered forever.”
The endowment, which was started by The One Note Stand, a student a cappella group at UMW, and Bob’s parents, will be distributed beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year. Details are still being developed.
“We felt that he deserved this type of memorial at UMW. We knew that people cared enough to make it happen, too,” said student and The One Note Stand member Ian Spangler. “It seemed logical and right that his legacy as a compassionate, genuine man would continue for years to come, especially since it would come in the form of money for future students.”
Ericson was a member of The One Note Stand, captain of the Crew Team and an active member of the Student Government Association.
“Each person within One Note contributed a great amount of time and care, and it never would have happened without their constant dedication,” said Spangler. “It was also largely a community effort. Organizations and individuals across campus were eager to support the cause, and once the memorial fund picked up some momentum, the donations simply soared in; Crew, UMW Performing Arts Club, Association of Residence Halls, Class Council, Student Senate, and many more contributed.”
The memorial fund is still accepting donations on a rolling basis. To donate or find out more about Bob’s story, visit the Robert Ericson Memorial Fund website.
UMW Geography Professor Featured on With Good Reason
University of Mary Washington Professor of Geography Stephen Hanna will be featured on the With Good Reason public radio program that airs beginning Saturday, June 13.
In the show, “Marking Stories of Slavery,” Hanna discusses his research team’s efforts to determine if Southern plantation museums continue to gloss over the wealth accrued through slave labor in favor of more romanticized depictions of plantation life.
With Good Reason is a program of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. The show airs weekly in Fredericksburg on Sundays from 1-2 p.m. on Radio IQ 88.3 Digital. To listen from outside of the Fredericksburg area, a complete list of air times and links to corresponding radio stations can be found at http://withgoodreasonradio.org/when-to-listen. Audio files of the full program and its companion news feature will be available online at http://withgoodreasonradio.org/2015/06/marking-stories-of-slavery/.
Hanna is a human geographer by training with primary interests in the economic and cultural characteristics of places within the global economy. He has extensive training and work experience in cartography and geographic information systems. In addition to teaching these topics at the University, he regularly prepares maps for publication in academic books and journals.
His research on narratives of slavery and emancipation in Fredericksburg’s heritage tourism landscape has been published in cultural geographies, The Southeastern Geographer, Social and Cultural Geography and as a chapter in Social Memory and Heritage Tourism Methodologies, a book he co-edited.
He also co-edited the book Mapping Tourism and has written multiple articles, including publications in Progress in Human Geography, ACME: An International E-Journal for Critical Geographies, Historical Geography and Urban Geography.
Hanna is a member of the Association of American Geographers and the Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers. He holds a doctorate in geography from the University of Kentucky, a master’s degree in geography from the University of Vermont and a bachelor’s degree in geography from Clark University.
In the show, “Marking Stories of Slavery,” Hanna discusses his research team’s efforts to determine if Southern plantation museums continue to gloss over the wealth accrued through slave labor in favor of more romanticized depictions of plantation life.
With Good Reason is a program of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. The show airs weekly in Fredericksburg on Sundays from 1-2 p.m. on Radio IQ 88.3 Digital. To listen from outside of the Fredericksburg area, a complete list of air times and links to corresponding radio stations can be found at http://withgoodreasonradio.org/when-to-listen. Audio files of the full program and its companion news feature will be available online at http://withgoodreasonradio.org/2015/06/marking-stories-of-slavery/.
Hanna is a human geographer by training with primary interests in the economic and cultural characteristics of places within the global economy. He has extensive training and work experience in cartography and geographic information systems. In addition to teaching these topics at the University, he regularly prepares maps for publication in academic books and journals.
His research on narratives of slavery and emancipation in Fredericksburg’s heritage tourism landscape has been published in cultural geographies, The Southeastern Geographer, Social and Cultural Geography and as a chapter in Social Memory and Heritage Tourism Methodologies, a book he co-edited.
He also co-edited the book Mapping Tourism and has written multiple articles, including publications in Progress in Human Geography, ACME: An International E-Journal for Critical Geographies, Historical Geography and Urban Geography.
Hanna is a member of the Association of American Geographers and the Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers. He holds a doctorate in geography from the University of Kentucky, a master’s degree in geography from the University of Vermont and a bachelor’s degree in geography from Clark University.Scholarships for Children of UMW Employees
UMW employees’ children who plan to attend UMW in fall 2015 could be eligible for a UMW scholarship! If your dependent child is planning to attend UMW, please email the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@umw.edu and include your child’s name and student ID number. Please contact the Financial Aid office by June 30, 2015. Scholarships will be awarded in early July.
Students that received these scholarships for the 2014-2015 year are automatically considered for renewal if they continue to meet all eligibility requirements.
Information regarding the specific criteria for these scholarships can be found at http://adminfinance.umw.edu/financialaid/scholarship-information.
Farewell Reception for Doug and Beth Searcy, June 8
Invitation
Farewell to Doug and Beth Searcy
Monday, June 8
3:00-4:30 p.m.
The Link (Randolph/Mason Hall Complex)
Please join members of the UMW community as we bid fond farewell to Dr. Doug Searcy, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Beth Searcy, Director of Admissions Events and Strategic Initiatives. The Searcys are leaving UMW for new horizons, as Doug becomes President of Barton College in Wilson, NC and Beth assumes the role of Barton’s First Lady. Come wish the Searcy family success and happiness in their new home!
Review by Barrenechea Appears in Journal of American Studies
Journal of American Studies, the preeminent journal of the field, recently published Associate Professor of English Antonio Barrenechea’s review of Colleen C. O’Brien’s Race, Romance, and Rebellion: Literatures of the Americas in the Nineteenth Century (University of Virginia Press, 2013). Professor Barrenechea’s review appears in Volume 49, Number 2.
VRS Retirement Planning Seminar, June 3
Financial counseling is available on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 from our Fidelity representative even if you do not have Fidelity.
Additional information about the session and the consultant is available for your review.