A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Antoinette Carter Jenkins
The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce is holding two workshops: Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-Top) Workshop: Developing Our Workforce Through Internships. The workshops will be held on Oct. 4, 2023, at Germanna Community College. They will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dr. Antoinette Carter Jenkins, director of UMW’s Center for Career and Professional Development, will be the facilitator. Read more.
Professor of History and American Studies Krystyn Moon
The large lecture hall at the Holiday Inn down the street from Wegman’s in Carlyle began filling up well before the start time Tuesday evening August 29. Hundreds of Alexandria residents on both sides of this heated debate turned out for a three-hour information session, as they heard from housing experts on the plight of housing in the city of Alexandria.
Many more watched the panel session from home. The room was packed with several more people standing in the back. “We are here to educate, inform, and update you on the most recent data, and to hear from you,” began Nancy Wilson, assistant director, City Planning and Zoning.
Krystyn Moon, professor of History and American Studies at University of Mary Washington discussed race-based discrimination and mortgages in Alexandria and the history of redlining in our city. Read more.
Professor of Psychological Science and Department Chair Miriam Liss
The state of Indiana falls in the bottom 20th percentile on a new ranking for the happiest states to live in by personal financial website WalletHub.
The results released Tuesday cite that more than 75% of Americans who have experienced price increases where they live report feeling “very” or “moderately” stressed.
In addition, only 50% of Americans feel “very satisfied” with the way their personal life is going.
University of Mary Washington Professor of Psychology Dr. Miriam Liss said she considers one’s autonomy to be the leading indicator in being happy where you live. Liss pointed to affordable housing for what policymakers can do to attact and retain new residents. Read more.
Professor and Chair of Biological Sciences Lynn Lewis
The University of Mary Washington recognized professors in late August at the Fall 2023 Faculty Meeting.
Professors of biology, education, environmental science, math and sociology were praised for their commitment to their fields, support of students and contributions to UMW and the surrounding community.
Professor of Biology Lynn Lewis received the third annual Board of Visitors (BOV) Faculty Leadership Award, which is designated for a faculty member who advances UMW’s mission by spearheading a major institutional initiative or program. Read more.
Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently served as the moderator of a Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Debate. The debate was sponsored by the Prince William Committee of 100.
In addition, recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Lots of Money, Lots of Sound and Fury to Come in General Assembly Election (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Democrats, on the other hand, have an advantage in that the 2021 redistricting created more of the suburban districts where they’ve been having success in recent years, in large part because of the abortion issue, said University of Mary Washington political scientist Steve Farnsworth.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/lots-of-money-lots-of-sound-and-fury-to-come-in-general-assembly-election/article_dfbd3206-4752-11ee-9f90-334e5ea0e8fe.html
Trump Pleads Not Guilty (CTV News)
“This is going to be a really tough decision for the judge and it’s likely to really be a very complicated situation for the defendants,” said University of Mary Washington Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2757555
Community Dialogue Addresses Democracy and Civic Engagement (The Crozet Gazette)
Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, will address current Virginia politics, and how state actions are affecting policy in Charlottesville.
https://www.crozetgazette.com/event/we-are-the-league/
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Political Future Hinges on Banning Abortion (The Daily Beast)
“It’s a down to the wire environment in Virginia,” says Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist who heads the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at Mary Washington University. Virginia elections are decided in the suburbs, where Youngkin’s push for a 15-week ban will be tested. “Any Democratic candidate who’s not talking about abortion is committing political malpractice,” says Farnsworth. “Anywhere it’s put before the public, it’s bad news for Republicans.”
https://www.thedailybeast.com/virginia-gov-glenn-youngkins-political-future-hinges-on-banning-abortion
Get ready for flood of Virginia candidate ads after Labor Day (Richmond Times-Dispatch; Roanoke Times)
Democrats, on the other hand, have an advantage in that the 2021 redistricting created more of the suburban districts where they have been having success in recent years, in large part because of the abortion issue, said University of Mary Washington political scientist Steve Farnsworth.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/lots-of-money-lots-of-sound-and-fury-to-come-in-general-assembly-election/article_dfbd3206-4752-11ee-9f90-334e5ea0e8fe.html
https://roanoke.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_77a71ba2-817b-5fdf-b43f-3edf5920f167.html
Schapiro: Spinning a lot of tunes, perhaps winning a few votes (Richmond Times-Dispatch; The Free Lance-Star)
“Orrock has that longer tenure and a biography that is less all-politics than a lot of people,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a politics professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, where a closely watched House contest and another for Senate could decide control of both chambers. “It’s who he is. And it’s an asset.”
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/schapiro-spinning-a-lot-of-tunes-perhaps-winning-a-few-votes/article_0c014172-48cf-11ee-9989-53be1de3007b.html
https://fredericksburg.com/opinion/column/schapiro-spinning-a-lot-of-tunes-perhaps-winning-a-few-votes/article_31d11cab-4204-5d00-8863-5129040f114c.html
Ashworth on the defensive as violent crime rate soars in Prince William County (Potomac Local)
Put more police on the streets, and put cameras where crime is going to happen,” said Ashworth when questioned by debate moderator Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, Professor and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at Mary Washington University.
https://www.potomaclocal.com/2023/09/07/ashworth-defensive-as-violent-crime-rate-soars-in-prince-william-county/
Right-wing group warns of ‘surge in human trafficking, despite lack of local cases (The Daily Progress)
“Discussion of sex trafficking and transgender issues have really ramped up in Virginia in the past several months as the elections have drawn closer,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, a professor of political science and international affairs and the director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “It would be useful for people talking about these issues to draw more attention to specific cases to give people a sense of whether this is a greater threat to students than gun violence in schools, for example.”
https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/crime-courts/right-wing-group-warns-of-surge-in-human-trafficking-despite-lack-of-local-cases/article_ade350fc-36fa-11ee-99be-b314e187c892.html
Court will allow cameras in Trump GA trial (Fox 10 Phoenix)
“We are talking about a very, very accelerated timetable. You have a whole series of legal cases that are going on right now that involve the former president and at the same time, he is also running for president in 2024. So, when you add the campaign appearances and the legal preparation, it is going to be an immensely busy time for the former president,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/colorado-group-files-lawsuit-seeking-to-prevent-trumps-return-to-presidential-race
Virginia candidate who livestreamed sex videos draws support from women, Democratic leader (apnews.com; The Seattle Times; News 2 Jax; ABC News; Fox 5 San Diego; chron.com; The Bharat Express News; NBC 29; The Free Lance-Star)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, said that even in a more open-minded era for personal indiscretions, it’s highly unlikely Gibson will win. “Donald Trump has defined downward what is acceptable in public life, but this doesn’t seem like the kind of conduct that Democrats will be able to sell in a suburban Richmond district,” Farnsworth said.
https://apnews.com/article/susanna-gibson-virginia-house-sex-acts-c2a130b84452b524279b0a496fca2c99
https://www.seattletimes.com/news/virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-from-women-democratic-leader/
https://www.news4jax.com/news/politics/2023/09/12/virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-from-women-democratic-leader/
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/virginia-candidate-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-women-103136515
https://fox5sandiego.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-from-women-democratic-leader/
https://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/campa-a-de-candidata-a-asamblea-general-de-18363299.php
https://thebharatexpressnews.com/virginia-candidate-who-livestreams-sex-videos-gets-support-from-women-democratic-leader/
https://www.nbc29.com/2023/09/13/virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-women-leading-democrat/
https://fredericksburg.com/news/state-and-regional/virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-from-women-democratic-leader/article_10c78ee7-7d4e-5fcb-bdc1-9fa889cd6c1b.html
Youngkin defends decision to pardon Loudoun Co. father (NBC News Washington)
University of Mary Washington political professor Stephen Farnsworth says a pardon before trial sets a dangerous precedent. “It serves political purposes, to be sure, for the governor to engage in Loudoun at every opportunity. I don’t know that it particularly wins him votes in Loudoun, but it certainly does energize the Republican base in other parts of the commonwealth or the country,” Farnsworth said.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/youngkin-defends-decision-to-pardon-loudoun-co-father/3421928/
https://nbcwashington.app.link/AyDTW6GZ3Cb
VA Election news wraps (WMAL radio)
“Campaigns really ramp up after Labor Day, but this year especially a lot of campaigns have been having campaign rallies,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
VA Election news wraps (WMAL radio)
“Virginia elections always function as a leading political indicator,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
Cedric Rucker
In the heat of the Central Virginia summer, University of Virginia President Jim Ryan delivered a proposal. The University’s dean of students and vice president for student affairs had departed and Ryan was considering a pair of candidates to step in temporarily.
The first was Dr. Christopher Holstege, a father of six and longtime medical faculty member who was once a guest on Ryan’s podcast because he holds four job titles at the University. One of them is executive director of Student Health and Wellness, and he is a longtime member of the Student Affairs leadership team.
The second was Cedric Bernard Rucker, who earned an advanced degree from UVA before moving to the University of Mary Washington. He had already delayed retirement – and a deployment with the Peace Corps – to return to Charlottesville to fill a gap in the Office of African-American Affairs. Read more.
UMW President Troy Paino
University of Mary Washington President Troy Paino has made the “Virginia 500: The 2023-24 Power List,” the fourth annual edition of the most powerful and influential leaders in business, government, politics and education by Virginia Business magazine. The publication ranks top executives across 19 major sectors ranging from law and real estate to finance and federal contracting.
“It’s been a big year for Paino and the public liberal arts university he oversees,” the publication states. “In March, UMW received the largest financial gift in its 115-year history — a $30 million bequest from a 1959 alumna to support undergraduate research and scholarships. The month before, Paino received the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ 2023 President’s Award for his compassionate approach to strategic planning and decision making, his personal attention to student ideas and feedback, and his commitment to understanding diverse perspectives.” Read the full story.
Angela Kelley
Angela Kelly, a business counselor in UMW’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), has claimed a 40 Under 40 SBDC award. These awards aim to spotlight the extraordinary contributions of individuals under 40 in the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network who have significantly impacted their local networks and the broader business landscape.
Among a pool of accomplished young entrepreneurs, the distinguished panel of judges in America’s SBDC Millennial Interest Group selected 40 remarkable winners who stood out for their exceptional business acumen, innovative thinking, and commitment to driving growth and success. The winners will be celebrated at a reception during the 44th annual America’s SBDC Conference on Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. Read more.
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies; Stephen P. Hanna, professor of geography, and Sally Burkley, a 2022 UMW graduate who is now a student at William and Mary Law School, are coauthors of a book chapter, “Chuck Robb’s 1981 Gubernatorial Campaign and the Democratic Realignment.” The chapter was published by the University of Virginia Press in an edited volume, The New Dominion: The Twentieth-Century Elections that Shaped Modern Virginia.
Other recent media mentions for Stephen Farnsworth include:
Commonwealth’s attorney candidates spar over rising crime, partnering with police, criminal justice reform (Prince William Times)
What is the reason for the absence of President Biden in the primary debates? (Voice of America)
Professor of History and American Studies Krystyn Moon
Professor of History and American Studies Krystyn Moon spoke to Alexandria Now for an article titled “Despite flurry of new apartments, experts say Alexandria has a housing shortage.” Moon said racial covenants in neighborhoods started later in Alexandria than in other places and that housing started shifting dramatically in the 60s with the passage of the Fair Housing Act and the Housing and Urban Development Act. “This opens up mortgages to low and moderate-income families,” Moon said. “In Alexandria, it particularly opens them to African American residents. Not only is there an increase in home ownership for African Americans as a result, but an opening up of neighborhoods closed off to them in the past, particularly north of Rosemont.” Read more.
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