Jewish Cultural Celebration 2023 | November 13 – 17, 2023
This year’s theme is “Enduring and Evolving!” Join us for a week full of educating and celebrating Jewish culture.

CC Week Kickoff – Mitzvah Day Activities
Monday, November 13 | 5:30 pm Chandler Ballroom, Cedric Rucker University Center
This kickoff event for the Jewish Cultural Celebration will provide opportunities for individuals to engage in community service projects while learning about the importance of mitzvot (which means “command” or “good deed”) of giving back to our community, then celebrating with some snacks and Jewish Karaoke! This is a special event dedicated to performing acts of kindness and community while educating about the Jewish community and celebrating the Jewish identity! This event is open to everyone.

Jewish Cultural Celebration Major Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Shanks Alexander | Wednesday, November 15  |  7:00 p.m. 
Chandler Ballroom A/B, Cedric Rucker University Center

Dr. Alexander teaches in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia, where she’s been since 2000. Formerly, she taught at Smith College and Haverford College. Her research centers on Judaism’s sacred canon of ancient texts (Mishnah, Talmud and midrash) and explores how the classical texts of antiquity are galvanized in the making of Jewish identities in the contemporary world. She is the author of Gender and Timebound Commandments in Judaism and Transmitting Mishnah: The Shaping Influence of Oral Tradition, and the co-editor of Religious Studies and Rabbinics: A Conversation. She has also written numerous articles and essays for publication in academic and lay contexts.

Jewish Cultural Celebration Major Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Shanks Alexander | Wednesday, November 15  |  7:00 p.m. 
Chandler Ballroom A/B, Cedric Rucker University Center

Dr. Alexander teaches in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia, where she’s been since 2000. Formerly, she taught at Smith College and Haverford College. Her research centers on Judaism’s sacred canon of ancient texts (Mishnah, Talmud and midrash) and explores how the classical texts of antiquity are galvanized in the making of Jewish identities in the contemporary world. She is the author of Gender and Timebound Commandments in Judaism and Transmitting Mishnah: The Shaping Influence of Oral Tradition, and the co-editor of Religious Studies and Rabbinics: A Conversation. She has also written numerous articles and essays for publication in academic and lay contexts.

Shabbat Dinner | Friday, November 17  |  5 pm  | Chandler Ballroom C, Cedric Rucker University Center

The Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and continues until three stars appear in the sky on Saturday night. During Shabbat, families, friends, and community come together to reflect on the week and enjoy a nice meal. Join the Jewish Student Association as we conclude our week of celebration and enjoy a Sabbat dinner together.

For more information, contact the James Farmer Multicultural Center at (540) 654-1044 or umwjfmc@gmail.com. You may also visit students.umw.edu/multicultural. Please email us at umwjfmc@gmail.com if you have any questions regarding disability-related accommodations.

Do you have questions about your benefits as a UMW staff member? Has it been a while since orientation and you don’t quite remember what’s available to you? University Staff Council is hosting Benefits Administrator Denise Frye for three Zoom sessions to provide a refresher on available staff benefits and to answer your questions.

These sessions will occur:

• Tuesday, November 14 at 2 pm – Classified staff – https://umw-sso.zoom.us/j/81548019125?pwd=M2FuckRNWVJFNjlLQ1o2c3ZKa293QT09
• Tuesday, November 14 at 3 pm – Wage staff – https://umw-sso.zoom.us/j/89364589190?pwd=WGViU2tJUkVNRVluR0VZZVZ4MWY3Zz09

Each individual session is intended to address the benefits and invite targeted questions pertaining to one of the three staff employment classifications. All staff members are welcome to attend any session, but you may wish to attend only the session most relevant to your employment.

Please contact Sarah Appleby at sappleby@umw.edu with any questions. Hope to see you in November!

Join us at November’s Coffee Talk as we delve into the intriguing topic of Change Management on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 8 to 9 a.m., at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center’s Kalnen Inn Living Room, 1119 Hanover St.

Business and organizations must constantly evolve and change to meet a variety of challenges that come from changes in technology, competitors, laws, or regulations and economic trends. Many people within our organizations are reluctant to change, so it’s important to help our teams understand and embrace change. During this session, we will discuss the 4 P’s of Change Management that will help guide team members through change. November’s Coffee Talk will be led by Tina Lance, Dean of Professional & Technical Studies and Workforce Development at Germanna Community College.

Prior to joining the Germanna team, Dean Tina Lance served 29 years with the United States Postal Service, holding executive positions at Headquarters such as Manager, Segment Advertising, Manager Retail Marketing, Manager of Sales Performance and Assessment, Postmaster, and several other leadership positions. Dean Lance has also held a variety of other key positions over her professional career, including executive coaching and leadership training. She serves on the Historic Preservation Board for Spotsylvania County and has been a featured speaker for various national marketing associations and educational conferences around the country.

Prior to becoming Dean of Professional & Technical Studies and Workforce Development, she served as Department Chair for the new online one year accelerated program called College Everywhere that Germanna created to provide students the opportunity to achieve a totally online educational experience anytime from anywhere.

Dean Lance holds an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from Jacksonville University and a Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning from the University of Florida.

The Student Health Center is collaborating with Giant Pharmacy to offer on-campus vaccine clinics this fall. The clinics are open to students, faculty, and staff with no appointment needed. Vaccines for flu, COVID, shingles, meningitis, pneumonia and tetanus will be available, typically at no cost with most insurance. For more information call the Student Health Center at 540-654-1040 or contact Associate Director Rene Sanders at rsanders@umw.edu. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Nov. 15. The vaccine clinic is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Cedric Rucker University Center.

Join us online for our next Mary Talk!

We will hear from Kimberly Young, associate provost for career and workforce at UMW. Young will discuss Life After Mary Washington, our focused initiative to embed the principles of career readiness and workforce development into the fabric and culture of the UMW experience.

Young will share the 10 competencies that the University has adopted as a framework for preparing students to translate their campus experiences into career-relevant, resume-building skills. In addition, she will share how these competencies are an effective framework for alumni, too–whether firmly planted in careers or contemplating career transitions as they evolve as leaders and professionals.

Wednesday, November 15
7:30-8:30 p.m. (Eastern)

Online (via Zoom)

To watch the Talk, click the button below to register. You then will receive a link to the streaming video, which can be watched live or at a later time. You also will have the opportunity to submit questions.

We look forward to seeing you online!

Register.

An open house and community workshop will take place on Thursday, Nov. 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom, to discuss a Small Area Plan for the City of Fredericksburg’s Area 5, which includes the University of Mary Washington campus. The meeting will start with a brief presentation to introduce the planning process, project team and meeting purpose. Attendees will have the opportunity to express concerns and ideas for improvement. The Nov. 16 event will be the second of three public meetings to develop a plan for the area.

The String Queens

Join us for the String Queens in concert at UMW on 12/1/23, at 7:30 p.m., in Dodd Auditorium! Hosted by Continuing and Professional Studies and the Music Department. Praised for its authentic, soulful, and orchestral sound, The String Queens (TSQ) is a dynamic trio that creates stimulating musical experiences that inspire diverse audiences to love, hope, feel, and imagine! With an array of 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 a multitude of musical genres. Admission is free! Register here.