March 29, 2024

Message from President Paino Regarding Diversity and Inclusion

To the UMW Community,

In the few short months since I became president, I have listened and learned much about Mary Washington.  I have found this to be a welcoming and supportive community that values and celebrates diversity.  At the same time, however, I feel that we have much work to do—to substantially increase diversity in all areas, to promote a campus climate that is fully inclusive, and to ensure that effective systems are in place to help prevent and to address incidents of bias.

My strong personal commitment to diversity and inclusion is shared by all of the members of my senior leadership team and the Board of Visitors.  Accordingly, this is one of the top-level strategic priorities that I will be addressing during my first year as president.  I am writing to inform you of the formation of two important groups that, working in concert, will be developing pathways to achieving the goals of greater diversity and inclusion.

I have appointed a university-wide Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion.  This task force is chaired by Dr. Leah Cox, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Inclusion, and includes a broad representation of UMW faculty, staff, and students.  I have charged this group with addressing the following questions:

  • What is the climate on campus related to diversity and inclusion and how is it experienced by individuals and members of the community?
  • What is needed to recruit and retain a more diverse faculty, staff, senior administration and student body?
  • What measures can be taken to productively provide education as well as prevent insensitivity and discrimination?
  • How can we best address reported and suspected instances of bias for investigation and appropriate action?

The work of the task force will engage the entire UMW community, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni and the Board of Visitors to formulate a diversity action plan.  The plan will include specific recommendations for moving the University forward.

Also, as a reflection of its deep commitment to these issues, the Board of Visitors has established a Diversity Ad Hoc Committee.  The ad hoc committee is chaired by Ms. Rhonda Van Lowe and includes a total of seven members of the Board.  This committee will meet regularly throughout the year to focus on diversity concerns and will interface with the Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion to support the work of that group.

As you are aware, our nation has faced critical challenges in recent years regarding racial injustice, religious intolerance, and gender identity.  In order for Mary Washington to truly fulfill our mission as a public liberal arts university, it is crucial that the UMW community model the values of diversity and inclusion.  This can be achieved only when we respect one another and learn from our different perspectives and experiences.  As members of this community, we need to have the often difficult conversations around the issues of diversity, insensitivity, bias, inclusion and equity.

Please be open to questions posed by your colleagues who are grappling with these issues, and be willing to offer feedback and observations.  Becoming a more diverse and inclusive campus is important to all of us.

Thank you,

Troy D. Paino, J.D., Ph.D.

President

 

UMW President Pushes Up to Veterans Day Challenge

On Veterans Day 2016, the University of Mary Washington joined the rest of America in honoring all of the military members who have defended our country. On Friday, Nov. 11, UMW held a flag-raising ceremony, bake sale and special pumped-up appearance by President Troy Paino. Along with the Association of Student Veterans and the men’s […]

Belmont Hosts ‘Home for the Holidays’

Belmont, the historic home of artist Gari Melchers and his wife, Corinne, will celebrate the season, with decorations on view Nov. 25 through Dec. 30. In the 1920s, the Melchers took great delight in festively decorating their elegant country house during the holidays. Although Gari Melchers divided his time between his commercial headquarters in New York […]

Belmont hosts “Home for the Holiday”

Belmont, the historic home of artist Gari Melchers and his wife, Corinne, will be spruced up for the holidays with seasonal decorations on display November 25 through December 30. [Read more…]

UMW Bookstore Signing to Honor Literary Award Winner

The University of Mary Washington Bookstore and the Department of English, Linguistics and Communication will host a book signing in honor of Jon Pineda, assistant professor of English, who received the 2016 Library of Virginia Literary Award for Poetry. The event will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in […]

UMW Political Science Professor Featured on With Good Reason

Associate Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman will be featured on the radio program With Good Reason Saturday, Oct. 29, to Friday, Nov. 4. Titled “The Great Divide,” the show takes a look at the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Joining faculty from Old Dominion, Christopher Newport and Stanford universities on the program, Cooperman will discuss […]

Sports Marketer Urges Students to Make Passion a Goal

Kyle Ragsdale was on his honeymoon when – as if his life weren’t about to change enough already – he had an “a-ha” moment. Gazing out at the beautiful French Riviera with his new wife, he made another pledge to his future. “I decided I would never do a job again unless I loved it,” […]

Melchers Studio to Host Photo Exhibition

Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont will host a juried exhibition of contemporary photographs depicting the buildings and grounds of Belmont from March 18 to May 21, 2017. The museum will begin accepting submissions Monday, January 23. “Dozens of professional and amateur photographers have used Belmont’s unique architecture and beautiful gardens and woodlands as […]

Assistance Offers Comedic Approach to Office Life

Desks piled high with folders and papers, this Manhattan office looks like it never sleeps – and the constantly ringing phones won’t let it. With each incoming phone call, these 20-something assistants struggle to keep up, feeling increasingly bogged down by the almost unrealistic demands of an intense megalomaniac. With comedic flair, the realities of […]

UMW To Host 1st Congressional District Debate, Oct. 24

The University of Mary Washington will host a 1st Congressional District Debate on Monday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, a Republican, will debate Democratic challenger Matt Rowe. The 1st District includes more than 15 counties and includes parts of Stafford, Spotsylvania and the city of Fredericksburg. The […]