Dining End of Semester Closing Times, through May 3
Refer a Student to Apply for VISTA Positions, by May 6
Student volunteers help with food insecurity.
We have two amazing service opportunities at UMW with AmeriCorps Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA)!
One VISTA will be hired to work on food security issues in our community, both at the Gwen Hale Resource Center and the Phoenix School in Stafford. Another VISTA will be hired to promote K-12 academic success in Hazel Hill Apartments.
Both positions come with: living allowance, healthcare coverage, childcare assistance if eligible, generous leave and sick time, end-of-service education award or stipend, professional development and training, access to UMW technologies, labs, parking, gym, pool and other campus amenities.
Please forward to any service-oriented graduating seniors or recent graduates! They can apply directly via the links in this post.
Applications Due May 16!
See more details:
AmeriCorps VISTA, or Volunteers in Service to America, is a national service program. AmeriCorps VISTA is described as a sort of stateside Peace Corps – giving people a chance to give back to their communities and learn valuable skills, while receiving a living allowance, benefits, and an end-of-service education award (a voucher of roughly $8,000 to pay for future education, or to repay student loans) OR a cash stipend (roughly $3,000). The living allowance in 2024 for Fredericksburg City was $1,072.54 biweekly. VISTA members serve full-time for one year. Applications are due by May 16th, dates of service will be July 14th, 2025 – July 13th, 2026.
Two positions available:
UMW Food Security VISTA: https://umw.libwizard.com/f/foodvista – The UMW Food Security VISTA will address food security in Fredericksburg by working with two different groups: 1) Stafford County’s Phoenix Center for Innovative Learning, and 2) UMW’s Gwen Hale Resource Center. (Amy Filiatreau, University Librarian, will be primary supervisor)
The Hazel Hill VISTA: https://umw.libwizard.com/f/hazelvista – The Hazel Hill VISTA will work with Resident Services staff at Hazel Hill Apartments to help support tutoring and other interventions for the K-12 residents in support of K-12 academic success. (Sarah Dewees, Director of the Center for Community Engagement, will be primary supervisor)
For details about AmeriCorps VISTA benefits, please visit https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/vista/benefits.
Become an AmeriCorps VISTA at UMW!
Randall Helmstutler Named Director of Undergraduate Programs at College-Level
New College Director of Undergraduate Programs Randall Helmstutler
Following an internal search, Professor Randall Helmstutler has been selected for the position of Director of Undergraduate Programs in the newly formed college of business, computer science, economics, and mathematics.
Randall joined the University of Mary Washington faculty in 2005 after completing his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia, following an M.S. at the University of Illinois, and a B.S. at Radford University, all in mathematics. An advocate for inquiry-based pedagogies and alternative assessment models, Randall serves on the regional executive leadership board for the COMMIT (Community for Mathematics Inquiry in Teaching) network of the Mathematical Association of America. He has organized and chaired special sessions and workshops on IBL and grading-for-growth models for regional and national conferences of the MAA, and is now completing a three-year term on a national conference organization committee for the association.
Randall served as chair of the Department of Mathematics for over six years, overseeing the department over a period of growth. During this time Randall had a significant role in mathematics curricular reform movements at the state and national level. This work led to appointments by VDOE and VCCS as the four-year institution representative for the Commonwealth in multi-year projects such as the national New Mathways program from the University of Texas Dana Center, SCHEV’s Transfer Virginia, and VDOE’s Mathematics Pathways Initiative. In 2022, Randall was nominated to participate in COPLAC’s Beard Leadership Circle, and was later invited to serve as a program organizer and mentor for future cohorts.
In his new leadership role as Director of Undergraduate Programs, Randall will oversee undergraduate recruitment, retention, and graduation initiatives, and will collaborate with the Dean to develop marketing strategies and partnerships. He will play a key role in fostering undergraduate research, innovation, and entrepreneurship while managing academic partnerships. Additionally, Randall will work with faculty and department chairs to drive program innovation, ensure curriculum alignment with industry trends, and facilitate new program development. His leadership will also extend to faculty success, where he will support faculty mentoring, oversee development grants, and advance research initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous growth and academic excellence.
Thanks to the search committee, Larry Lehman (chair), Shawn Humphrey, Smita Jain Oxford, and Jessica Zeitz, for their commitment to a methodical approach to the search process, their diligent and thoughtful analyses, and the effective, great leadership of Professor Lehman.
Please congratulate Professor Helmstutler!
Chris Garcia Named Director of Accreditation and Graduate Programs at College-Level
New College Director of Accreditation and Graduate Programs Chris Garcia
Following an internal search, Professor Chris Garcia has been selected for the position of Director of Accreditation and Graduate Programs in the newly formed college of business, computer science, economics, and mathematics.
Chris joined the faculty at the University of Mary Washington in the fall of 2011. He was promoted to the rank of professor in 2023 and has served as Associate Dean of the College of Business since 2023. Chris is an accomplished Operations Research and Business Analytics professional with expertise in combinatorial optimization, logistics & transportation, supply chain management, and data analytics.
Chris has served as a consultant for many organizations, including NATO, Capital One, E2Open, Quarles Petroleum, Geico, and various local and regional entities, in areas such as predictive analytics, optimization, and decision support systems. He has published extensively in influential academic journals and presented his work at national conferences. His expertise has significantly impacted the University through his teaching, research, and leadership within the College of Business. Chris earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Management at Old Dominion University. He also holds an M.S. degree in Operations Research as well as B.S. and M.S. degrees in Computer Science. Additionally, Chris is a Certified Ana lytics Professional (CAP®).
In his new leadership role as Director of Accreditation and Graduate Programs, Chris will oversee the accreditation processes and the development and management of graduate programs across the new college. His expertise will help ensure the highest standards of academic quality and drive the strategic growth of our graduate offerings. His extensive experience in data analytics, optimization, and strategic planning will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our graduate-level academic programs and meet the evolving needs of our students and the broader community. In addition, the director will collaborate closely with the dean, the director of undergraduate programs, chairs, and other offices on campus to continue to support, strengthen, and grow the graduate program presence and all assurance of learning initiatives in the new college at UMW.
Thanks to the search committee, Larry Lehman (chair), Shawn Humphrey, Smita Jain Oxford, and Jessica Zeitz, for their commitment to a methodical approach to the search process, their diligent and thoughtful analyses, and the effective, great leadership of Professor Lehman.
Please congratulate Professor Garcia!
University Staff Council Elections – Don’t Miss Your Chance to Vote!
Calling all UMW Staff and A/P Faculty! Don’t miss your chance! It’s time to elect the next group of University Staff Council members as well as the staff representatives to the James Farmer Multicultural Center Advisory Committee and the University Budget Advisory Committee. Be sure to take part in selecting the representatives to advocate for you in the University community.
This year there are elections for an A/P Faculty position on the University Staff Council, a position on the University Budget Advisory Committee, and a position on the James Farmer Multicultural Center Advisory Committee. You can review the nominees, including their statements about what they would like to accomplish during their terms, on the USC website. This information is also available in the ballot. After reviewing, please take a moment to vote.*
The University Staff council represents and advocates for the staff and A/P faculty on numerous committees across campus. The USC serves as a way to connect us across departments and helps us to stay informed about what is going on in all areas of the university. The USC is your voice, so be sure to have your voice heard by electing your representatives!
The 2025 election will close at 5pm on Monday, April 28, 2025. If you have any questions about the election, please contact us at usc@umw.edu
Thank you for your time, support, and thoughtful consideration of nominees for the USC, UBAC and JFMCAC.
*Voting is limited to UMW Staff and A/P Faculty members.
UMW Theatre’s Peter and the Starcatcher, April 3-19
UMW Theatre will end its 24-25 season with Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice and music by Wayne Barker. Performances kick off April 3-5 at 7:30 p.m. & April 6 at 2:00 p.m. in Klein Theatre. Tickets are $5 with a UMW ID at the Box Office! Peter and the Starcatcher tells the origin story of Peter Pan. Pay-What-You-Can Performance is April 2nd, The box office opens at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Belmont Hosts 11th Annual Beeping Egg Hunt, April 13
Gari Melchers Home & Studio will host its 11th annual Beeping Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 13, from 2 to 4 p.m.
The free egg hunt provides an opportunity for visually impaired and blind children, along with their families, to participate in an accessible audible egg hunt. Sighted siblings can also participate by wearing a blindfold.
“Every spring I look forward to organizing and planning the Beeping Egg Hunt and related activities,” says Education and Communications Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby. “I enjoy seeing familiar faces and welcoming new families. I am especially thankful for our event volunteers.”
In addition to the beeping egg hunt, the event includes a petting zoo, sensory crafts, and a Touch a Tractor station.
During the 1920s and 30s, Corinne Melchers, with her husband’s encouragement, hosted Easter parties for area children at their Belmont home featuring egg rolls, puppet shows, and plenty of favors.
Thanks to the Fredericksburg Host Lions Club for this year’s sponsorship.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Education Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby, 540-654-1851.
Alumni Events, April 13-30
April Alumni Events:
Sunday, April 13, 6-9 p.m., 1908 Society Reception and Philharmonic Concert, Jepson Alumni Executive Center
Tuesday, April 15, Noon-9 p.m., ASPIRE Week Activities, On Campus starting with the Majors Fair
Wednesday, April 16, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Mary Talk featuring Dr. Tracy Stonestreet “Curating Art and Art Programming at Mary Wash”
Wednesday, April 30, 11 AM-2 p.m., Virginia Beach, Historic Garden Week Luncheon at the home of Tara Corrigall ‘82
Also, Reunion Weekend is Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1!
Open Meetings with Vice President of Student Affairs Candidates, Through April 14
From April 7 – 14 several candidates will interview for the Vice President for Student Affairs position. As announced earlier this semester, Dr. Juliette Landphair will conclude her decade-long tenure in the position, as she takes on a new role at UMW as Associate Vice President for Health & Wellness beginning this summer. We’ve initiated a national search for our next Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) and are excited to welcome the finalists to campus for in-person interviews.
Interview dates and times:
- Monday, April 7 at 3 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 8 at 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 9 at 3 p.m.
- Monday, April 14, at 3 p.m.
The open meetings will be held in Dodd Auditorium in George Washington Hall.
The candidates will also have time to meet with many members and offices in our campus community during their on-campus interview, and we’ll provide an opportunity for feedback via an online form. Feedback needs to be received by Tuesday morning April 15.
Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President for Student Affairs is a key member of the President’s leadership team and the chief student affairs officer at the University. Offices and units currently in the Division of Student Affairs include Campus Recreation, the Dean of Students, Emergency Management, the Center for Prevention and Education, the James Farmer Multicultural Center, New Student Programs, Public Safety, Residence Life and Housing, the Student Health Center, Student Activities and Engagement, and the Talley Counseling Center.
We appreciate you joining in the search process for this leadership position.