August 8, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Reunion Invite and Parking Info for May 30-June 2

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Staff and faculty,

You’re invited to join in the Reunion celebration May 30 – June 2, with class sessions, area tours and exhibits, and a Saturday picnic. The activities start on Thursday, May 30, as we welcome alumni returning for their 50th reunion (or more!). Friday includes several Alumni College classes followed by class gatherings, and Saturday is a family-friendly, food-filled day. Be our guest for the Reunion Picnic on Saturday, June 1, with free tickets (up to four) available for faculty/staff. Pick up your tickets with your OneCard ID at the registration area just inside the entrance of the Cedric Rucker University Center beginning Thursday, May 30.

View the full schedule of events online, and note that some of the events, such as the Alumni College, are also free, but some may require a small fee.

Please note the following parking changes during Reunion weekend from May 30, 2024 through June 2, 2024:

  • The Fairfax lot will be reserved on Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. through June 2 at 2:00 p.m. for Reunion Overnight Guests.
  • The George Washington lot will be reserved starting at 1:30 p.m. on May 30 through June 2 at 2:00 p.m. for Reunion Guests.  Guests will also be welcomed to use the Thornton Street lot.
  • There will also be reserved spaces throughout various lots.

For a calendar view of lot reservations visit the Parking Lot Reservations Calendar webpage. Please contact Parking Management with any parking related questions: parking@umw.edu, 540/654-1129.

For more information about Reunion, visit the website or contact alumni@umw.edu.

Thank you in advance for helping us welcome back our alumni and friends.

The String Queens Return to UMW, May 31

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The String Queens album cover

Don’t miss the opportunity to join Continuing and Professional Studies for The String Queens Master Class for Educators. This session offers a unique opportunity to grow as educators in four essential areas of today’s classroom; social-emotional learning in the music classroom, a trauma-informed centered music classroom, creating a culturally inclusive classroom and finding your balance as an educator and performer. This session will be held on May 31st from 9 am-1 pm at the Stafford Campus in University Hall.

This course is free to all UMW Staff and Faculty. Please register here and use code UMWTSQ at checkout for a 100% discount.

The String Queens, TSQ, visited UMW in December as both guest speakers for students studying music and as performers to a full house in UMW’s Dodd Auditorium! We welcome them back for another awesome learning opportunity geared to all educators! TSQ are a dynamic trio that creates stimulating musical experiences, inspiring diverse audiences to love, hope, feel, and imagine. With a repertoire spanning from the Baroque era to the Jazz Age to today’s Billboard Hot 100 Chart, TSQ performs versatile programs that take listeners on a rousing musical journey through time and various genres.

June Coffee Talk, June 11

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June Coffee Talk

Tuesday, June 11, 2024, 8 to 9 a.m., 718 Venue, 718 Caroline St., Fredericksburg. Parking is available at Riverfront Park, George STreet Lot and Sophia Street Parking Deck, as well as along Caroline Street.

Attendees will receive a 10% discount on coffee from Italian Station when they mention they are there for the Coffee Talk session.

Join us at June’s Coffee Talk as we discuss the topic of Health & Wellness.

In this session, learn how living a healthy lifestyle can build resilience. Discuss important habits that can help you build a strong foundation for navigating the adversities and challenges of life.

June’s Coffee Talk will be led by Season Plato, Certified Health & Wellness Coach.

Season Plato is a Certified Health & Wellness Coach, whose passion is to guide others in creating a healthy life. She provides a comprehensive program that offers one on one coaching, accountability, education and customized nutrition plans. You don’t have to do it alone. Become part of a community of supportive clients and coaches choosing to pursue health and wellness together. You too can create a healthy lifestyle, one habit at a time.

Register for the June Coffe Talk

Exciting UMW Website Enhancements Continue

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Graphic for new website design including laptop, phone and tablet viewsThe UMW website has undergone significant transformation during the Spring Semester. The Digital Communications team in University Communications has relaunched over 900 pages since January 1st, showcasing a refreshed design, improved accessibility, and enhanced user experience. Sites updated this semester include Academics, Information Technology, Student Accounts, the CRUC, Dodd Auditorium and CIE. Commencement was also a major focus, as the website plays a crucial role in the success of that day.

Throughout this semester, the team has conducted extensive work in support of Admissions and Financial Aid, particularly in promoting visits, attracting prospective students to apply, and assisting families with navigating FAFSA-related issues.

The phased rollout of the new website design will continue during the summer. Digital Communications will provide advance notice to each office or department before initiating updates to their respective websites.

If you have questions about your site, please contact webmaster@umw.edu.

Thornton Street Parking Lot Reserved Thursday, May 16

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The following message is from the Office of Administration and Finance:

On Thursday, May 16, 2024, the Thornton Street lot will be reserved from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. for the Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science.  Guests of the event will also be permitted to use the Pizza Hut lot and Alvey Deck.

As a reminder:

  • Accessible parking spaces are available in all open lots to any vehicles with DMV-issued accessible placards or license plates.
  • The UMW Police Department provides escorts when needed and may be reached at ext. 1025. Please visit the Safety Escort webpage for more information.

For a calendar view of lot reservations visit the Parking Lot Reservations Calendar webpage. Please contact Parking Management with any parking related questions: parking@umw.edu, 540/654-1129.

Hybrid Retirement Plan Presentation for Participants ONLY, May 20

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The quarterly Hybrid Plan Features and Benefits virtual presentation will be held on Monday, May 20.

Your Retirement 101: Virtual Meetings for Your Hybrid Retirement Plan

We invite you to attend a virtual meeting to review the Hybrid Retirement Plan including features, benefits and investment options. Defined Contribution Plans Retirement Specialists from MissionSquare Retirement, the record keeper for the VRS Defined Contribution Plans, and Hybrid Retirement Plan Counselors from VRS, will conduct the program. Defined Contribution Plans Retirement Specialists will be available for virtual one-on-one appointments.

Date: May 20th, 2024
Presenter: Ashley Lucas | alucas@missionsq.org

Join Us to Learn More About Your Retirement Options

Hybrid Retirement Plan: Features and Benefits
9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
What is the hybrid plan? What’s the difference between the defined benefit and defined contribution components? Join us as we review all components of the Hybrid Retirement Plan; we’ll discuss the different types of contributions, distributions and managing the plans. Register.

Select How Your Savings Are Invested

VRS Defined Contribution Plans Investment Options
10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
Do you find investing confusing? Learn about asset classes, diversification and the investment paths available to you. This session relates to the Defined Contribution Component of the Hybrid Retirement Plan and all other VRS Defined Contribution Plans. Register.

Individual Appointments
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Need assistance? Sign-up for a 30-minute virtual one-on-one with a Defined Contribution Plans Retirement Specialist. Hybrid Retirement Plan members as well as participants in other VRS Defined Contribution Plans are welcome to reserve an individual appointment. Register.

Defined Contribution Plans Retirement Specialists cannot provide financial, tax or investment advice.

Retirement Celebration for Donna Harter, May 21

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Greetings,

It’s a momentous occasion as we bid farewell to Donna Harter from UMW’s Advancement Office. We invite you to join in celebrating her retirement on May 21, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at the Kalnen Inn. To prepare for the send-off, Catherine Seller is collecting stories, photos, and messages to compile in a memory book. If you have something to contribute, please email cseller@umw.edu or drop them off with Phyllis Jones in the Jepson Alumni Executive Center no later than May 6.

Donna started as the Director of Development Communications part-time in September 2000. Her exceptional leadership led to a promotion to Director of Advancement Campaign Initiatives in 2003. As our office functions evolved, Donna’s analytical and research skills became invaluable, and in 2020, we entrusted her with the role of Director of Prospect Management and Research. Through the years, Donna connected with numerous donors and students to write articles showcasing their successes and contributions to Mary Washington.

Among her many accomplishments:

  • Donna directed the development and wrote the text for UMW’s first Giving website.
  • Coordinated celebrations and publications for the conclusion of the $5.6 million Jepson Alumni Executive Center campaign.
  • Wrote Mary Washington First Campaign communications, developed solicitation plans, and led and stewarded a volunteer Campaign Cabinet.
  • Pioneered the successful Founders Day Challenge in 2015, which raised $107,000 in unrestricted funds to celebrate UMW’s 107th anniversary.
  • Spearheaded the development of new processes for database prospect management and research.

Invitation to Reunion Weekend, May 30 – June 2

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Each year, the Office of Alumni Engagement hosts Reunion Weekend on the Mary Washington campus. Over 600 alumni and guests are expected to visit between May 30 and June 2 to participate in dozens of intellectual, cultural, and social activities. While all alumni are welcome, classes ending in 4 and 9 from 1949 to 2014 are specially invited to campus this year to celebrate their milestone reunions.

We would like to extend an invitation for faculty and staff to participate that weekend in order to connect with former students. The Reunion Weekend schedule and registration link is listed online at http://alumni.umw.edu/reunionweekend. If you are interested in seeing who is currently signed up to attend, visit the registration page and click “Attendee List.” Click the column header labeled “Preferred Class Year” to sort the list by class year.

Advance registration closes on May 27. We hope to see you for Reunion!