May 17, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Lee Assists Fredericksburg-Area Health Officials with Charts of Local COVID-19 Cases

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Associate Professor of Mathematics Leo Lee

Associate Professor of Mathematics Leo Lee

An article in The Free Lance-Star, “Fredericksburg-area health officials say ‘worst is probably still ahead of us’,” mentioned the contributions of Associate Professor of Mathematics Leo Lee, who is working with Dr. Donald Stern, acting director of Rappahannock Area Health District, to develop charts that show “the true number of new cases” locally. Health experts in Virginia have said we still have yet to see the peak and are projecting even higher numbers of diagnoses in the coming weeks. Read more.

Richardson Column in The Free Lance-Star

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UMW College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson

UMW College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson

College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson’s weekly column in The Free Lance-Star focuses on the value of treating each person in an organization with respect. Read SHOW RESPECT FOR ALL.

I love this story.

Walt Bettinger, CEO of San Francisco-based Charles Schwab, occasionally takes job candidates out for breakfast as part of the interview process. He arrives early and takes the manager aside, asking him to have the waiter mess up the candidate’s order. He assures the manager that he will leave the waiter a good tip, but he definitely wants the restaurant to get the order wrong!

Why, you might ask, does Mr. Bettinger do this? He wants to see how the candidate reacts to the situation. Is the candidate understanding or does he get angry or frustrated? The CEO believes it helps him determine how the candidate will deal with adversity if hired by Schwab—and we know there will be situations that don’t go the way we want in business.

This reminded me of other stories I’ve heard from people I know. We all know gatekeepers. These are the people, with various titles in an organization, who determine the flow of information among employees. Many times these are front line people with titles like receptionist or administrative assistant.

Let’s say I’m in sales and approach the receptionist at the front desk. I have an appointment with the purchasing agent and am here to check in. But I choose to be rude to the staff member, treating her with disdain and acting as if she’s not important. How long do you think I will have to wait before she lets the purchasing agent know I am waiting? Probably longer than I want. She’s got the power! Read more.

Farnsworth Comments in the Regional and National News

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Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, has been quoted in several regional and national news stories:

A Look at What to Expect from the General Assembly Next Week (WVTF)

Virginia Lawmakers Reject Bid to Delay May Elections (Courthouse News Service)

Can Michelle Obama be Joe Biden’s running mate? Experts say she is popular and a ‘very effective choice’ (meaww)

University of Mary Washington on WHRV 89.5

Longtime Administrator and Coach Dana Hall to Retire at End of Spring Semester

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Dana Hall, UMW's Senior Woman Administrator and Senior Associate Athletic Director

Dana Hall, UMW’s Senior Woman Administrator and Senior Associate Athletic Director

After 34 years of faithful service to the University of Mary Washington, Dana Hall, the Senior Woman Administrator and Senior Associate Athletic Director, has announced her retirement, effective at the end of the Spring 2020 semester.

“During her long and renowned career as both a coach and administrator, Dana has had a positive and lasting impact on countless student-athletes, coaches, staff and the University at large that, will be felt for years to come,” said Director of Athletics Patrick Catullo. “She will be remembered for her contributions to the success of our athletic department and small college athletics.”

“I am incredibly grateful to Dr Edward Hegmann, Jr, for giving me the opportunity to work at Mary Washington for the past 34 years,” said Hall. “My career as an assistant coach, head coach, faculty and administrator game me the opportunity to works with hundreds of young men and women in the classroom and competitive arena. I will always cherish the relationships and friendships formed during my career at Mary Washington.”

Hall was promoted to the full-time administrative role of Senior Associate Director of Athletics in 2013, where among her accomplishments were the introduction of the sport management minor, which now thrives, as well as her success as the director of the men’s and women’s golf programs for the past two years. Prior to the full-time move into administration, Hall coached the field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams simultaneously for 21 years, and women’s lacrosse for 23 seasons.

Hall was an assistant athletic director in addition to her coaching duties from 1998–2013 where she was in charge of student-athlete educational and community engagement programs, SAAC, and other duties as assigned by the Athletic Director.

Hall has designed and implemented numerous new programs for the athletic department in 2014; including a student-athlete leadership academy, assistant coach monthly professional development seminars, and monthly head coach round table discussions on hot topics in coaching.

Since taking over the field hockey and lacrosse programs at UMW in the fall of 1990, Hall’s teams received bids to 18 NCAA Championship Tournaments (10 in lacrosse and 8 in Field Hockey) and advanced to three Final Four Championships (1993 Field Hockey, 2001 Women’s Lacrosse & 2002 Women’s Lacrosse). Hall has collected over the years numerous coaching honors; the most prestigious being named the 2001 NCAA Division III National Women’s Lacrosse Coach of the Year by 360Lacrosse.com, and the National Coach of the Year in field hockey in 1993 by the NFHCA. With a career lacrosse coaching record of 260-149 and a career field hockey coaching record of 276-126-3, Hall won 536 games as a collegiate coach, with a career winning percentage of .663 over a 23-year coaching career at Mary Washington. In addition, Hall coached field hockey and women’s lacrosse at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA.

Professionally, Hall has served on countless NCAA Regional and National selection and All-American selection committees for both field hockey and women’s lacrosse. She has also served the University of Mary Washington over her tenure as a member of the university budget committee, the Presidential Academic Task Force committee, and numerous selection committees for new positions.

A multi-sport athlete at Frostburg State University, Hall earned all-state honors in field hockey and lacrosse, as well as playing basketball and track & field for the Bobcats. An associate professor of health and physical education, Hall is a mother of two daughters and a grandmother of six. She resides in Spotsylvania, Va.

Broome Hosts Guest Author-Lecturer Gloria Ladson-Billings Over Zoom

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College of Education Associate Professor John Broome

College of Education Associate Professor John Broome

College of Education Associate Professor John Broome surprised his students in EDUC 204: Introduction to Teaching and Learning with a visit over Zoom with University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Gloria Ladson-Billings, the author of The Dreamkeepers, a renowned foundational text that introduces her widely-used theory, culturally relevant pedagogy. Broome met Ladson-Billings in 2017 after she served as UMW College of Education’s Educator-in-Residence and the two have kept in touch ever since.

“She’s literally one of the most famous, influential, and impactful education theorists and researchers in the world,” Broome said. “I wanted them to have private time with her and she was happy to do it. I only expected a few minutes. She’s very busy writing and editing books and articles. 90 minutes later…” he said.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Gloria Ladson-Billings

Broome said he didn’t tell many students, and instead, just asked a few to have questions ready. After finishing work in Zoom breakout rooms, they regrouped to find Ladson-Billings, who spoke to them from her home in Wisconsin.

 

 

Stommel Comments on Remote Learning in Educational News

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Jesse Stommel, Senior Lecturer of Digital Learning

Jesse Stommel, Senior Lecturer of Digital Learning

Jesse Stommel, a senior lecturer in Digital Studies, has been interviewed by several educational outlets, including The Chronicle of Higher Education, about teaching remotely and its impact on issues of accessibility and equity. Stommel and Sean Michael Morris, former director of Digital Learning at UMW, are holding remote office hours for instructors. “We don’t promise answers, but we will work with those who show up to find creative, compassionate, generative solutions — and likely more questions,” they told The Chronicle.

‘On a Desert Island With Your Students’: Professors Discuss the Weirdness of Teaching Remotely in a Pandemic (The Chronicle of Higher Education)

Colleges flock to online proctors, but equity concerns remain (Education Dive)

As Times and Students Change, Can Faculty Change, Too? (Inside Higher Ed)

Crow-Dolby Interviewed in Free Lance-Star About Art and History Online Activities

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GMHS Education and Communications Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby

GMHS Education and Communications Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby

Michelle Crow-Dolby, education and communications manager at Gari Melchers Home and Studio, was recently interviewed for The Free Lance-Star Weekender’s Young Life column about how the museum’s popular Preschool Palette program has gone online.

 

For years, a widely popular offering at Gari Melchers Home and Studio has been its monthly Preschool Palette classes. Designed for ages 2 through 5, the program features age-appropriate studio tours and activities, a walk through the site’s colorful gardens and a process art project in a classroom setting.

“My original goal was to fill a need I saw in the community. At the time, there weren’t a lot of art opportunities for preschool-aged children,” said education and communications manager Michelle Crow–Dolby, who created and launched the program more than 10 years ago.

Families can now duplicate this experience at home using Crow–Dolby’s lesson plans, including links to books, project descriptions and pictures, on the museum’s website and Facebook page. Most recent additions include themes of “Green,” “Mixing Colors” and “All About Rainbows.”

“Green” begins with a visual exploration of Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s book “Green,” with enchanting illustrations highlighting the many shades of green that can be found in nature. Next, become acquainted with several of Melchers’ paintings that use green in various ways. An outdoor scavenger hunt for different shapes of green leaves is followed by creating a sticky collage on contact paper.

“Our museum staff is working hard to embrace the worldwide #MuseumfromHome initiative by providing as many virtual experiences as possible during these unprecedented times,” explains Crow–Dolby. “I’ve been busy creating online activities based on paintings in our collection and hope to add even more in the coming weeks.”

Coloring pages, videos and even a soon-to-be-finished virtual gallery tour are also available. Go to GariMelchers.org and navigate to the newly launched Learn page under the Education tab. Read more.

Richardson Column in The Free Lance-Star

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UMW College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson

UMW College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson

College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson’s latest column deals with being flexible with working, teaching and learning remotely. Read PIVOT QUICKLY.

 

I love change.

But I know the world does not embrace change the way I do, so it’s been amazing to see how, when under the gun, people pivot within days to change how they deliver their work.

Unless you work in grocery or a hospital, or drive trucks, you are probably teleworking or have dramatically changed how you deliver your product.

Has it been fun? No. But it’s been necessary, and we’ve seen people step up and—dare I say—surprise themselves at how they’ve been able to pivot quickly. While the delivery of their product or service may not be the same quality or meet the same set of expectations as before COVID-19, it’s been pretty darn good. And that’s been fun to watch, even if it hasn’t been fun to execute.

Look at K–12 and higher education. Both are educating students online now. Yes, parents have picked up much of the K–12 responsibilities, but the teachers are helping them by creating expectations and sharing lesson plans. Read more.

Chichester Discusses UMW Landscaping with Total Landscape Care

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Holly Chichester, UMW’s landscape and grounds manager, recently spoke with Total Landscape Care about how she and her team are keeping the Mary Washington campus looking beautiful in the midst of the coronavirus threat and social distancing guidelines.

Chichester says the team is now working in groups of no more than three people in shifts throughout the week to help cut down on close-quarters interaction with each other. During this time, each worker will be assigned a mower for the day that only he/she will use, and once the work is completed, he/she will hose off and sanitize the mower.

“It’s very fluid and we take it as we can,” Chichester says. “We’re doing the best that we can. The rules still apply; we’re just being as flexible as possible.” Read more.

Farnsworth Comments on Upcoming Elections in Henrico Citizen

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Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth, who is also the director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently commented in the Henrico Citizen on the possibility of using mail-in or absentee ballots for upcoming elections.

The groups are asking for provisions such as free or prepaid postage, allowing ballots postmarked by election day to count, in addition to extending early voting periods for in-person voting. Two possible alternatives to replace voting in person are mail-in and absentee ballots, according to Stephen Farnsworth, a professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg that specializes in media and elections.

Farnsworth believes it’s unlikely that the November U.S. presidential election will be delayed, but said voters may see changes at the polls.

“Even for states that don’t make the switch away from largely in-person voting, you can expect much greater opportunities for no-excuse-required early and absentee voting,” Farnsworth said. Read more.