UMW will participate in Virginia250, the Commonwealth’s official commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, with a series of events.

The University of Mary Washington will participate in Virginia250, the Commonwealth’s official commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, with a series of events beginning Tuesday, Jan. 20, with a lecture on Paul Revere’s midnight ride.

Part of the University’s William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series, the Paul Revere presentation featuring Kostya Kennedy, author of The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America, takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. It will examine the complex reality behind one of America’s founding legends, revealing that multiple riders participated in the crucial intelligence mission of 1775.

Two additional Great Lives lectures – one in February and one in March – will also honor the Revolutionary War era and U.S. independence.

On Thursday, Feb. 26, author Matthew Pearl will discuss the 1776 kidnapping of Jemima Boone, daughter of frontier pioneer Daniel Boone, and its impact on westward expansion during the war’s early days. Historian Brooke Barbier will give a lecture on Tuesday, March 17, about John Hancock, examining the merchant-turned-patriot who helped unite ambivalent colonists behind independence.

All Great Lives lectures are held at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. They are free, open to the public and typically include question-and-answer sessions and book-signings.

Offering readers fresh perspectives to explore during the winter season, recently published works from University of Mary Washington faculty and alumni span history, international relations, poetry, young-adult fiction and more.

The new titles and their authors are:

• NATO After Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Threat Perceptions and Their Consequences by Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson
• Magick Squared by Jen Furlong ’14
• The Brides of War: A Vietnam War Novel by Steve Gladis
• The Song of North Mountain by Elizabeth Morgan Golladay ’68
• State Builders from the Steppe: A History of the First Bulgarian Empire by Eric D. Halsey ’11
• Football Is …: What the Game Does To Us, For Us, Through Us by Associate Professor of Economics Shawn Humphrey
• The Language Work of Speechwriters by Gwynne Mapes ’08
• The Buried Cause: Unearthing Hidden History in the Lee Monument Cornerstone by Adjunct Instructor of Historic Preservation Katherine Ridgway

Read more about recent books by UMW faculty, alumni and friends.

University of Mary Washington students present original research during a series of end-of-semester symposia showcasing undergraduate work across academic disciplines.

Students across the University of Mary Washington capped off their fall semester with an unexpected snow day that only added to the excitement of presenting original research and creative work developed over months of effort.

Across a series of end-of-semester symposia—held in multiple academic departments and only slightly reshuffled due to the weather—students shared the outcomes of that work. Posters, video screenings, presentations and discussions offered a window into the range of questions students pursued and the methods they used to explore them. Projects spanned the sciences, humanities, arts and social sciences, illustrating the breadth of research and creativity that defines UMW’s undergraduate experience.

At the Jepson Science Center Fall Research Symposium, more than 70 projects were showcased. Undergraduate researchers in biology, chemistry, physics, earth and environmental sciences filled the lobby and main floor with posters detailing experiments, fieldwork and laboratory analysis. The projects reflected a wide range of scientific inquiry—from immune signaling and neurodegeneration to watershed ecology and climate reconstruction.

“These end-of-semester symposia display what students can do when they take ownership of research and creative inquiry,” said Director of Undergraduate Research Elizabeth Lewis. “The work reflects not only technical skill but curiosity, persistence and a willingness to ask a lot of questions.”

Read more about UMW Fall Symposia.

UMW students and Center for Community Engagement Director Sarah Dewees join Santa and a preschool class at the Walker-Grant Center in Fredericksburg for UMW’s annual gift box delivery. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

University of Mary Washington sophomore Lauren Spagnuolo knew the morning would be memorable, but she didn’t anticipate just how special it would be. Moments after arriving at Fredericksburg’s Walker-Grant Center, the psychology major found herself on the floor beside local preschoolers as they opened brightly wrapped gift boxes filled with toys, art supplies, hats and gloves, toothbrushes and more.

One preschooler hugged a new teddy bear. Others held up Play-Doh and Hot Wheels cars, and squealed with delight over favorites like Bluey, Sonic and Barbie. The joyful scene marked the culmination of UMW’s annual Gift Box Drive, a decades-long service tradition coordinated by Community Outreach and Resources (COAR), part of the University’s Center for Community Engagement.

Spagnuolo, who also minors in disability studies, spent the semester staffing information tables, collecting donations and explaining the project to fellow students. “The experience was really gratifying,” she said. “I loved the holiday spirit of it all. The wrapping party was great, tabling was fun and getting to help the kids open their boxes made everything come full circle.”

Mary Washington’s campus community filled 300 boxes this year for children enrolled in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania’s Head Start and Virginia Preschool Initiative programs. COAR student leaders guided every step of the process, from planning the wrapping party – which drew more than 70 student volunteers — to sorting and checking the boxes before delivery.

Read more about the gift box delivery event.

UMW students Tonia Attie ’26 and Merna Mousa ’25 were named Newman Civic Fellows by Campus Contact for 2025-26 (Attie, pictured left) and 2024-25 (Mousa, pictured right) for their civic and community engagement.

Throughout their time on campus, University of Mary Washington students Tonia Attie ’26 and Merna Mousa ’25 were engaged citizens that gave back to their community and worked to advance an equitable and just democracy. For their efforts to help classmates access voting, get involved and have a say in the democratic process, they were named Newman Civic Fellows by Campus Contact.

Attie received the current honor for 2025-26, while Mousa held it previously for 2024-25, representing UMW among national cohorts of student leaders selected by Campus Compact, a coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to civic and community engagement. Both students made it their mission while at Mary Washington to empower their peers, strengthen democratic participation and serve their communities in meaningful ways.

“These students represent the very best of what it means to be civically engaged,” said Sarah Dewees, director of UMW’s Center for Community Engagement. “They bring thoughtfulness and determination to public problem-solving and are committed to learning more about the democratic process.” Read more about the Newman Civic Fellows.

Mary Washington earned a spot on The Princeton Review’s 2026 Guide to Green Colleges for dedication to environmental responsibility in academic offerings, campus policies and community engagement.

The University of Mary Washington’s commitment to sustainability earned national recognition once again as it was named to The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges. The annual guide highlights institutions that demonstrate exceptional dedication to environmental responsibility through academic offerings, campus policies and community engagement.

Included among 388 schools featured in the 2026 edition released last month, UMW earned a Green Rating of 86 out of 99, based on survey data assessing sustainability practices, institutional priorities and student support for environmental awareness and conservation efforts on campus.

“Among the hundreds of schools we surveyed for this project, the University of Mary Washington, which offers excellent academics, is also a stand-out for its record of environmentally responsible practices,” said Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review. “We are delighted to recommend UMW to college applicants who want their ‘best-fit’ college to also be a ‘green’ one.” Read more about UMW’s green thumbs-up from The Princeton Review.

Mary Washington students cast their ballots on Election Day and hosted a full slate of activities to help classmates become informed, empowered participants in the democratic system. Photo by Sam Cahill.

With “I voted” stickers proudly displayed, University of Mary Washington students spent Election Day making their voices heard. Throughout the crisp fall day, the red Fredericksburg trolley shuttled between UMW’s campus and the city’s Dorothy Hart Community Center filled with students ready to cast their ballots and take part in a campus tradition of civic engagement.

The trolley rides were part of a full slate of Election Day activities coordinated through Mary Washington’s Center for Community Engagement (CCE) by UMW Votes. The nonpartisan program, which earned Mary Washington a “Voter Friendly Campus” designation for 2025-26, helps students become informed, empowered participants in the democratic system.

“Our goal is to make voting accessible, exciting and educational,” said CCE Director Sarah Dewees. “We want every student to know their vote, and their voice, matters.”

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., volunteers staffed tables outside George Washington Hall, offering nonpartisan sample ballots and voting information, plus free stickers, buttons, doughnuts and coffee to anyone stopping by. The transportation was provided by Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg and funded this year by Every Vote Counts, a national nonpartisan, student-led organization dedicated to increasing voter access.

First-year psychology major Zenith Nolan was among the many who caught a ride. “It’s fun to be involved in the community,” she said. “And voting really does make a difference.” Read more.

UMW Associate Provost for Career and Workforce Kimberly Young received this year’s Patricia Lacey Metzger Award for distinguished achievement from the Women’s Leadership Colloquium at the University of Mary Washington.

The University of Mary Washington will be a hub of empowerment, connection and professional growth when it hosts the 31st annual Women’s Leadership Colloquium on Thursday, Nov. 6, in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom.

This year’s event will also honor the recent winner of the Patricia Lacey Metzger Distinguished Achievement Award, Kimberly Young, associate provost for Career and Workforce at UMW, who received the accolade at a reception last week.

“Kimberly exemplifies the very essence of the Metzger Award,” said Beth Williams, UMW executive director of human resources and co-chair of the Colloquium. “Her leadership, mentorship and deep commitment to empowering others reflect the values at the heart of both this award and the Colloquium.”

The daylong Colloquium will be open to all – across industries, career stages and life experiences – and invites participants to explore this year’s theme of affirmation in professional spaces. Attendees will gain practical tools for advancing their careers, connect with a wide network of peers and mentors, and leave inspired to lead with confidence and clarity. Read more.