The University is proud of our own Charles Reed who was interviewed on the nationally televised PBS NewsHour on May 16 as a lead-in to the American Experience documentary about the 1961 Freedom Rides. The 15-minute news segment focuses on the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Rides and the 2011 student Freedom Ride that retraced the historic route of the original Rides challenging segregated bus travel in the South. About five minutes into the segment, journalist Judy Woodruff talks extensively with Charles Reed ’11 and one of the original Freedom Riders Congressman John Lewis. Reed was one of 40 students and the only Virginia college student selected for the 2011 Freedom Ride. To view the newscast, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june11/freedomriders_05-16.html.
Jason Davidson
Jason Davidson, associate professor of political science and international affairs, will discuss his new
book, “America’s Allies and War: Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq,” during a book forum at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, May 10 at 4 p.m.
The book forum is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required for all Cato events. Seating is limited. The forum also will be streamed live over the Internet. For more information, visit http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=7943.
The website says, “The United States pledges to defend our NATO allies under Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty. Why, and in what ways, do the allies reciprocate? Jason Davidson will present evidence from his unique analysis of transatlantic burden-sharing to explain why Britain, France, and Italy provide or refuse military support for U.S.-led uses of force. Sixty original interviews with top policymakers and analysts provide insight into allies’ decisions regarding the Kosovo War (1999), Afghanistan (2001), and the Iraq War (2003). Davidson shows that such decisions reflect a combination of factors such as alliance value, threat, prestige, and electoral politics. Join us for a discussion that will include recommendations for how U.S. policymakers can increase the allies’ contributions to global security, and shift some of the burdens of defense off the shoulders of American taxpayers.”
Marcel Rotter
Marcel Rotter, ass
ociate professor of German, presented his paper “Are you 100 percent American? German-Americans as target of U.S. propaganda in World War I” at the annual Symposium of the Society for German-American Studies at the University of Delaware in Newark, Del.
Cate Brewer
Cate Brewer, visiting assistant professor in Theatre and Dance, will perform in the Edward Albee Festival at Arena Stage on the 15th and 16th of April.
Spring Fling at Brompton
More than 300 kids of all ages ushered in the spring season at a Spring Fling sponsored by COAR at Brompton over the weekend. Children of the UMW family enjoyed an egg roll on the Brompton lawn, hugs from the Easter Bunny, face painting, crafts and gorgeous weather.
Chris Kilmartin
Chad Murphy
Chad Murphy, assistant professor of political science and faculty sponsor for the UMW district mapping team, will speak to the Fredericksburg PC Users Group on April 14 about the Virginia Redistricting Competition that helps educate students about the process of redistricting. He will speak about the importance of institutions and redistricting on the quality of competition, the history of computers and redistricting, and student participation in the Virginia redistricting competition. Read more at http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/042011/04112011/618339.
Weight Watchers at Work
Since March of 2010, Laura T. Allison has lost 30 pounds. She’s shed her “fat girl jea
ns” and proudly shares her secret.
Weight Watchers at Work.
“It was a life changing moment,” Laura, assistant controller for compliance in the Office of Business and Finance, said of the date she joined. “I began to change my lifestyle through activity and smarter food choices. Weight Watchers is not a diet by any means. It’s about making smarter choices while still enjoying the foods you love.”
Laura is a among a growing number of the UMW family who have joined Weight Watchers at Work (WW@W), which meets each Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. at Woodard Campus Center’s Red Room.
Since the program came to the Fredericksburg campus in October 2009, UMW employees have shed 1,350 pounds. Two colleagues have lost more than 100 pounds; 16 have dropped 10 percent of their starting weight and six have reached their lifetime weight goals.
Join these “losers” and sport a slimmer figure for the warm weather. And save money in the process. As a state employee, you may be eligible for 50 percent reimbursement on a WW@W membership.
A new session begins April 27, but you are welcome to check out a meeting for free on Wednesday, April 13 or 20.
Can’t make the meeting, but would like more information?
Contact: Pam Taggert (ptaggert@umw.edu <mailto:ptaggert@umw.edu> ) 654-1018 or Joan Greco-WW leader (joangreco65@yahoo.com <mailto:joangreco65@yahoo.com> )
“I genuinely look forward to our WW@W meetings every week,” Laura said. “It’s extremely convenient, and you can use your lunch hour to attend…but it’s the group members that make it worthwhile. The group doesn’t consist of co-workers, it consists of friends.”
Nominations for Faculty Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for candidates for UMW’s annual faculty awards —(1) the Grellet C. Simpson Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching, (2) the Graduate Faculty Award, (3) the Alumni Association Outstanding Young Faculty Award, and (4) the J. Christopher “Topher” Bill Service Award.
Recommendations are welcome from any member of the University community. Send a letter to Provost Jay Harper, indicating the specific reasons for the nomination. The deadline for the receipt of nomination letters is Monday, April 4, 2011. You may deliver the letter to his office, George Washington Hall, Room 301, or you may email the nomination letter to Amy O’Reilly (aoreilly@umw.edu).
All full-time continuing faculty are eligible to be nominated for the Simpson Award or for the Graduate Faculty Award. Keep in mind, please, that the Simpson Award is for outstanding undergraduate teaching. Also, please note that nominees for the Graduate Faculty Award must be persons who teach graduate students and have distinguished themselves as members of a graduate program at the University.
The Outstanding Young Faculty Award is presented to a full-time faculty member who has between two and five years of full-time teaching service at UMW. A list of eligible faculty is also attached.
The Topher Bill Award recognizes outstanding faculty service. Nominees must have served a minimum of seven years as a member of the Mary Washington teaching faculty and must have been heavily and consistently involved in a variety of service roles through department, college, university, and/or community service activities.
The Graduate Faculty Award will be presented at the Graduate Commencement ceremony, on Friday evening, May 6. The Simpson Award and the Young Faculty Award will be presented at the Undergraduate Commencement ceremony, on Saturday May 7. The Topher Bill Award will be presented at the opening faculty meeting in August 2011.
For more information, contact Amy O’Reilly or Provost Harper at jharper@umw.edu.
Online Credit Card Payments Now Accepted
The Finance Office is pleased to announce that University departments, through Commerce Manager, can now accept online credit card and e-payments for UMW-sponsored events, conferences, workshops and other one-time programs.
Policies and Procedures for handling incoming payments have been updated and posted on the Finance website.
All events must first be approved by the Associate Vice President for Finance and Controller before departments collect any funds. Departments that currently collect funds are requested to submit updated procedures to Marta Smith to maintain current authorization. Please contact Marta Smith with any questions. Training will be held in March 2011 for all authorized collection sites.