A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson will host a discussion of his new book on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 4 p.m. in Monroe Hall, Room 346. Joining him will be Arthur Speyer, senior analyst with the Marine Corps Intelligence Agency and adjunct instructor at UMW, who will offer commentary. The event will conclude with time for audience questions.
Please join us for an upcoming public debate on a timely and thought-provoking topic:
Training AI models on copyrighted works without permission violates copyright law
Date & Time: Nov. 18th at 3:30 p.m.
Location: Weatherly Wing, Seacobeck Hall
Program:
Following the debate, we’ll open the floor for audience questions and comments. This event provides an excellent opportunity to engage in an important discussion about the intersection of technology, creativity, and the law.
Please encourage your students to attend. Attendance sheets will be available for students receiving class credit. After the event, I will send information to faculty who wish to confirm attendance for their students.
2025 Jewish Cultural Celebration Major Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey Grossman
Wednesday, Nov. 19
7 p.m. in Monroe Hall Room 116
Grossman is associate professor of German at the University of Virginia, a founder of its Jewish Studies program and a scholar of German and German-Jewish literature, Yiddish literature and literary translation.
YOU’RE INVITED: Faculty & staff Thanksgiving Lunch will be held Thursday, Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Cedric Rucker University Center Chandler Ballroom.
Tickets are available for purchase from the Dining Concierge (located outside Panera in the Cedric Rucker University Center) weekdays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. You may also purchase tickets from the cashiers at the Top of the Cedric Rucker University Center.
TICKET PRICES:
SEATING TIMES: Tickets will be sold for one of three seating times: 11 a.m., 12 p.m., and 1 p.m.
If you will be coming in between those hours, select the earlier hour. For example: If you’ll be arriving at 11:30 a.m., please purchase a ticket for the 11 a.m. seating time, and let us know that you’ll be arriving at 11:30 a.m.
TABLE RESERVATIONS: Please note that the purchase of tickets and making table reservations are separate processes. If you want to make sure you can sit with your friends, family members or co-workers, please be sure to make a reservation. If you have questions, contact Rose Benedict at rbenedic@umw.edu.We look forward to seeing you during the holiday season!
Contact dining@umw.edu for more info or click here to make table reservations.
Experience the joy, charm and community spirit of Fredericksburg. The season kicks off with a Holiday Open House Weekend on Saturday, Nov. 15 and Sunday, Nov. 16 with additional events throughout the winter. Downtown is especially bustling this time of year with boutiques, shops and art galleries open for shopping and visits.
Many participating shops will feature:
Santa Claus will be at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center spreading joy, hearing holiday wishes and posing for festive photo ops. Enjoy the atmosphere along streets adorned with glowing lights and shops with seasonal windows that truly set the scene for the season. One of Fredericksburg’s favorite holiday traditions, the Tree Lighting, will take place at Riverfront Park. Gather with friends and family to watch the holiday season officially sparkle to life.
More seasonal celebrations downtown include:
See more holiday events on the Holidays in Fredericksburg webpage.
The University of Mary Washington is proud to participate once again in the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC)—now through December 31, 2025.
The CVC provides all state employees with the opportunity to make charitable contributions, either as one-time gifts or via payroll deduction, to hundreds of approved organizations—including UMW! Whether you choose to support UMW or another cause close to your heart, your generosity makes a difference across our communities.
And don’t forget—Giving Tuesday is December 2! Gifts made to UMW on Giving Tuesday will also count toward this year’s CVC totals, so it’s a perfect time to show your Mary Wash spirit while supporting students and programs across campus.
To explore the full list of participating charities and make your gift, please visit the CVC website.
If you have any questions, contact Cadi Treviño Pinto at ctrevino@umw.edu.
Thank you for helping to make a positive impact through this year’s CVC!
UMW continues to advance digital accessibility across courses and materials. Thanks go to Cartland Berge, Ruth Davison, Shannon Hauser, Victoria Russell and Jerry Slezk for their efforts in the endeavor.
The Class Materials Makeover Series continues Thursday, Oct. 30, at 4 p.m. with a Zoom session on Audio and Video Accessibility, covering updated standards for captions, transcripts and descriptions. Two more workshops follow this fall:
Slide Decks – Thursday, Nov. 6, 4 to 5 p.m.
Syllabus – Tuesday, Nov. 11, 4 to 5 p.m.
All sessions are recorded, and past topics—like Headings, Alt Text, and Color and Contrast — are available on the Class Materials Makeover Series webpage.
A new Essential Accessibility Concepts quick-reference guide highlights six key practices for creating inclusive materials. Faculty can also visit the Digital Accessibility webpage for ongoing updates, tools and training.
Questions? Email t2access@umw.edu or schedule a 30-minute Accessibility Consultation — available in person or via Zoom — for one-on-one support.
Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and Sports Information Clint Often
As we look to the future of UMW Athletics, we have an opportunity to strengthen our home turf and honor a true Eagle champion by rejuvenating the Turf Stadium (D Field) Press Box at the Battleground Athletic Complex.
For nearly 30 years, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and Sports Information Clint Often has been the voice and advocate for Mary Washington student-athletes. The support from this project will provide a new press box to be named in Often’s honor (pending approval by UMW’s Board of Visitors per the Named Gift Policy).
Linda Lemanski Blakemore ’84, who played field hockey and lacrosse on the D field, and Associate Professor Emeritus Porter Blakemore are offering a $150,000 challenge match for this project, so your gift will be matched dollar for dollar.
When we reach our goal of raising the matching $150,000, renovations to the press box will include:
Together, we can honor our past and invest in the future of UMW Athletics. Visit the Clint Often Press Box Donation webpage to contribute!
What drives curiosity? What fuels purpose? What matters most? Introducing What Matters Most — UMW’s official podcast hosted by President Troy Paino! ️
In each episode, the podcast explores ideas, experiences and connections that shape the campus community. In Episode 1, President Paino sits down with student leaders Amira Said ’26 and Adam McAninley ’27 to talk internships, role models, sustainability, honor and what truly matters most to them as UMW students. Listen to the episode.
Click here to follow the new channel for the podcast — available on more platforms soon!
