February 21, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Larus Discusses Brunei’s New Anti-LGBT Laws

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Political Science Professor Elizabeth Larus

Political Science Professor Elizabeth Larus

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, was quoted in an article entitled “Is Brunei instating harsh anti-LGBT laws to appease Saudi Arabia for economic favors?” Brunei is the first East and Southeast Asian country to introduce sharia penal code, drawing widespread condemnation from the international community. “Early measures included the 2015 ban on the celebration of Christmas and jail terms for homosexuality. The most recent measures announced Wednesday put some teeth into Brunei’s penal code,” Larus said. Read more.

Richardson Column in The Free Lance-Star

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College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson

College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson

Read College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson’s latest column in The Free Lance-Star: Taking Your Foot Off the Gas Pedal.

 

Most of us have been there. The organization we work for is losing customers, patients, or students. When those who pay disappear, revenue is impacted and employee morale suffers. Perhaps a lack of customers is not the issue. Maybe expenses are out of control. Maybe it’s a combination of both. Whatever the culprit, the organization’s leadership ultimately is replaced, typically with an outsider.

Then what happens? Depending on the situation, of course, many organizations bring in what I would describe as turnaround specialists. These folks are highly motivated to address the issues, and quickly. Those who hired them have given them their marching orders. They are to right the ship. They were hired with that express purpose. Their timetable is limited to address whatever is causing the problems.

Read more.

Stommel Discusses Grading and Assessment on Inside Higher Ed

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Jesse Stommel, executive director of the Division of Teaching and Learning Technologies

Jesse Stommel, executive director of the Division of Teaching and Learning Technologies

Jesse Stommel, executive director of the Division of Teaching and Learning Technologies, was quoted in an article entitled “When Grading Less is More” on Inside Higher Ed. “There are a surprising number of faculty questioning grades in productive ways, and experimenting with alternative modes of assessment,” said Stommel, an early proponent of ungrading. “If, as teachers, we just ask students why, when and how they learn, what we can get back is way more valuable than any standardized assessment mechanism can reveal.” Ungrading “creates space for that kind of honest reflection and dialogue,” he said. Read more.

 

Hartman Publishes Article on Interdisciplinary Work and the Arts

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Danielle Hartman, Adjunct Instructor of Communication

Danielle Hartman, Adjunct Instructor of Communication

Danielle Hartman, Adjunct Instructor of Communication, recently co-authored a piece on the arts as a great hub for interdisciplinary work and studies, entitled “Promoting Interdisciplinarity: Its Purpose and Practice in Arts Programming,” that was published in Journal of Performing Arts Leadership in Higher Education. Read more.

Romero and Colleagues Present on Panels in D.C., Pittsburgh

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Classics, Philosophy and Religion Professor Joe Romero and colleagues from other colleges presented on a panel for the Anchor Institutions Task Force in Washington, D.C.

Classics, Philosophy and Religion Professor Joe Romero joined colleagues from other colleges to present on a panel for the Anchor Institutions Task Force in Washington, D.C.

Classics, Philosophy, and Religion Professor Joe Romero joined colleagues Monica Cowart (Merrimack College), Claudia Nelson (Coppin State), and Michelle Stewart (Lane College) to consult with the presidential subcommittee of the Anchor Institutions Task Force on anchor leadership development at their quarterly meeting in Washington, D.C.

Romero also joined colleagues Monica Cowart (Merrimack College), Kyle Farmbry (Rutgers University-Newark), and Sundeep Muppidi (University of Hartford) to present “The Diverse University:  ACE Fellows on the Challenges of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success,” at the AAC&U conference in Pittsburgh.

 

McMillan Publishes Book Chapter

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Lauren McMillan

Assistant Professor Lauren McMillan

Lauren McMillan, assistant professor in the department of Historic Preservation, published a co-authored book chapter, “Reanalyzing, Reinterpreting, and Rediscovering the Appamattucks Community” in the edited volume New Life for Archaeological Collections.

About the book:

“New Life for Archaeological Collections explores solutions to what archaeologists are calling the “curation crisis,” that is, too much stuff with too little research, analysis, and public interpretation. This volume demonstrates how archaeologists are taking both large and small steps toward not only solving the dilemma of storage but recognizing the value of these collections through inventorying and cataloging, curation, rehousing, artifact conservation, volunteer and student efforts, and public exhibits.”

Read more.

 

Rettinger interviewed on Good Morning America

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David Rettinger, associate professor of Psychological Science

David Rettinger, associate professor of Psychological Science and director of Academic Integrity Programs

David Rettinger, associate professor of psychology and director of Academic Integrity Programs was interviewed for a segment that aired on April 3 on Good Morning America entitled “We tried buying a college admissions essay online, here’s what happened.” “Contract cheating has grown a great deal over the past ten years,” said Rettinger, who is also the president of the International Center for Academic Integrity. “Students are willing to use internet sites, family members, friends and other technology to get contractors to do their work.”

Read more.

 

Farnsworth Presents Presidency Research at Conference

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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

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a research paper, “The Politics of Personality: Framing Presidential Character in the Age of Trump,” at the Conference on Character Assassination in Theory and Practice at George Mason University.

Richardson Column in The Free Lance-Star

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Lynne Richardson, Dean of the College of Business

Lynne Richardson, Dean of the College of Business

Read College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson’s latest column in The Free Lance-Star: Time in Rank.

 

Some organizations have unwritten rules about how long a person must stay in a position before they are promoted. I don’t get that.

Years ago, I heard this story: An accounting professor at a university received a call from a former student. The former student, a partner in what was then a “big 8” accounting firm, planned to recruit at the university and asked the professor to identify his best accounting student. The professor said he wouldn’t do it.

“Why not?” the alumnus asked. Read more.