UMW celebrates the graduation of 1275 students at its 102nd commencement, May 10-11.
Around the Globe in a Semester
More than 100 students are discovering geography as Professor Donald Rallis experiences it.
Weight Watchers: New Session Begins March 13
Shannon before WW@W
Shannon now
Celebrities aren’t the only ones reaping the benefits of Weight Watchers. Here’s what our own Shannon Finley has to say about her accomplishments with Weight Watchers @ Work on the Fredericksburg campus:
“When I started Weight Watchers in May 2012, I was nervous, excited and anxious all at once,” said Shannon, who works in the purchasing department. “Not only did I have a long road ahead of me, I was not sure if I could even stick with Weight Watchers long enough for the program to make a difference. I had tried Weight Watchers before on my own, with very little success. But this time was different, I had the at-work group to help encourage and support me along the way. Having the support of the group made all the difference. With WW@W, not only have I been able to stick with the program, I have been able to lose over 60 pounds and am well over half way to my healthy weight goal. I am excited to continue the WW@W program and reach my goal, and with the support and encouragement of my peers, I know I will!”
Want to experience your own success? Check out the next meeting at noon Wednesday, March 13 in the Red Room of Woodard Campus Center. Enjoy some snacks and join your coworkers in some fun and the key to a healthier way of life. Want more information? Contact Shannon at sfinley@umw.edu or 654-1382.
Join Weight Watchers at Work
Need help with that New Year’s resolution? No need to wait. Join Weight Watchers at Work now and take advantage of special pricing for state employees. Curious about the program? Visit a meeting for free:
When: Wednesdays, noon to 12:30 p.m.
Where : Red Room, Woodard Campus Center
Contact Pam Taggert (ptaggert@umw.edu) or 654-1018 with any questions.
Chad Murphy Op-ed in Richmond Newspaper
An opinion article “Redistricting Plan Encourages D.C.-type Dysfunction,” written by Chad Murphy, assistant professor of political science, appears in the January 31 edition of The Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Important Message From the Provost
In order to continue to focus on President Hurley’s goal of aspiring to be the best liberal arts and sciences university in the nation, UMW is embarking on an examination of its programs and current expenditures. This will help establish a roadmap for the future. We will be asking such questions as:
- Are we allocating our resources in the best possible manner?
- How might we do things better?
- In what areas can Mary Washington be recognized as truly distinctive?
- How might we further enhance our strengths?
- In an increasingly competitive environment, which new program proposals coming from our faculty might we support?
- Which of our existing programs might we want to expand?
The reality for state-supported institutions like Mary Washington is that state dollars are severely limited and no longer provide funds for meaningful growth in either size or programs. Currently, state appropriations constitute only 20 percent of our operating budget. In addition, all colleges and universities face increasing pressures to keep tuition costs to students and families as low as possible.
It is for this reason that such examinations are becoming commonplace in universities. At Mary Washington, we plan to conduct a broad-based consultative process involving many faculty members. It is imperative that decisions about our future are made with significant faculty involvement, and not imposed from the top down. Again, through this process, we will not only identify future priorities, but also strengthen our unique niche among Virginia’s public universities.
We will be assisted in this endeavor by an external consulting firm that has expertise in developing consultative faculty decision-making processes. The goal of the exercise is to study all academic and non-academic activities, and to conclude where we might want to invest or reallocate resources. With such a blueprint, making those decisions as we progress forward will be buttressed by widespread input from all constituencies.
The process, which will take several months, is funded by President Hurley’s Fund For the Future, which is supported by the UMW Foundation. As the study progresses, you will be hearing more about it.
–Ian Newbould
Interim Provost
UMW Receives $2.5 Million Gift for Professorships
The University of Mary Washington has received a $2.5 million gift to establish a series of endowed professorships and faculty awards in various departments within the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and the College of Education. The bequest is from the estate of Shirley Van Epps Waple, an alumna from the Class of 1952.
“Named, endowed professorships enable the University to attract, retain and recognize outstanding faculty who are truly experts in their fields,” said President Richard V. Hurley. “This generous gift from Mrs. Waple’s estate is greatly appreciated, and we will honor her legacy by ensuring that UMW professors continue to inspire students to think critically, engage meaningfully and communicate effectively.”
Vice President for Advancement and University Relations Torre Meringolo said each new professorship will be named for Shirley Van Epps Waple.
This is one of the largest single gifts to support academics at the University. Its timing is ideal in advancing President Hurley’s vision for UMW to be among the premier public liberal arts and sciences universities in the nation.”
Originally from Troy, N.Y., Waple majored in psychology at Mary Washington. After graduation in 1952, she returned to New York. Working with her husband Harry, who predeceased her, she co-founded, operated and served as president of the Professional Adjustment Bureau, Inc. of Troy. She was active in numerous professional associations and served in various capacities within several arts and historical organizations. Waple relocated to Richmond in 1999, and she died in September 2010.
A longtime supporter of the University, Waple previously endowed a scholarship for students with financial need, and she made a gift to name an office in the Jepson Alumni Executive Center.
Ben & Jerry’s Co-founders Share Business Philosophy, Ice Cream
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc., shared their business philosophy with attendees of the Fredericksburg Forum on Saturday in Dodd Auditorium.
Their multi-million dollar enterprise uses products created by socially responsible businesses and has begun utilizing only fair-trade ingredients in their ice cream.
Patron ticket holders enjoyed a special treat—a sampling of Ben & Jerry’s signature ice cream flavors, including Cherry Garcia and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
Since Cohen and Greenfield served the first Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in Burlington, Vt., in 1978, the company has grown into a multi-million dollar entity with an international presence.
Cohen and Greenfield received the Corporate Giving Award from the Council on Economic Priorities in 1988 and were named U.S. Small Businesspersons of the Year by President Ronald Reagan the same year. Their bestselling 1997 book “Ben & Jerry’s Double-Dip: How to Run a Values-Led Business and Make Money, Too” uses their experiences at the helm of Ben & Jerry’s to illustrate their views on socially conscious entrepreneurship. Greenfield currently serves as president of the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation.
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield pose with students and administrators of the Center for Honor, Leadership and Service.
UMW Alumna, National Security Agency Historian to Lecture on Tuesday
Department of History and American Studies & Department of Mathematics
An Accidental Cryptologist: Genevieve Young Hitt
the U.S. Government’s First Female Cryptologist
presented by
Betsy Rohaly Smoot
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
5:00 PM
116 Monroe Hall
Genevieve Young Hitt, wife of U.S. Army Colonel Parker Hitt, was the first woman to break codes and ciphers for the U.S. government. She first worked on an unpaid basis during Pershing’s Punitive Expedition, and then as a paid government employee at Fort Sam Houston during World War I. Recently discovered letters and government records shed light on this remarkable woman, her brief career and her interesting life.
Betsy Rohaly Smoot is a historian at the National Security Agency’s Center for Cryptologic History. She is a member of the Class of 1982 and majored in Geography and Economics while at Mary Washington.
UMW Weight Watchers Open House is Wednesday
The holidays are approaching and so are those added pounds. Surveys show that the average 
person gains 7 pounds during the holiday season. Don’t become a statistic. Join UMW’s Weight Watchers @ Work and shed pounds instead of adding them. Since 2009, the UMW family has dropped thousands of pounds, and as an added benefit; they’ve gotten to know coworkers they don’t often see on a daily basis.
Stop by the WW@W Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Woodard Campus Center, Red Room. Try scrumptious recipes prepared by the WW@W family and sample delicious Weight Watchers snacks. Talk with Weight Watchers leaders and hear from members about their successes. Learn how you can join the next session, which begins Wednesday, Oct. 17. Find out about the special pricing and benefits for UMW employees.
Bring a friend and your name can be entered in a drawing for a Weight Watchers prize.