Professional Notes Archives

Magrakvelidze Wins Chi Beta Phi Faculty Award

April 24, 2019 by jlaiacon

Assistant Professor of Physics Maia Magrakvelidze

Assistant Professor of Physics Maia Magrakvelidze was awarded the 7^th annual Chi Beta Phi Faculty Award. Chi Beta Phi is an interdisciplinary math and science honor society for undergraduates, which seeks to promote STEM disciplines and recognize academic achievements. The Faculty Award is a student-nominated award given to a professor in the STEM disciplines who demonstrates outstanding teaching and outreach to students. Students commented that Dr. Magrakvelidze is enthusiastic in the classroom, always willing to help students understand, and makes difference in their lives.

Erchull Quoted in Article on Teen Body Image and the Rise of Cosmetic Surgery

April 24, 2019 by Christie Pugh

Professor of Psychological Science Mindy Erchull

Professor of Psychological Science Mindy Erchull was quoted in an article on MEA WorldWide entitled “‘Unrealistically perfect images’ on social media influencing more and more teens to go under the knife.” Professor Erchull said, “The answer to more and more teens opting for cosmetic surgeries lies in how these young kids perceive their own body image and their thought process built around it.” Read more.

Greenlaw Quoted on Grade Distribution in Inside Higher Ed

April 24, 2019 by Christie Pugh

Professor of Economics Steven Greenlaw

Professor of Economics Steven Greenlaw was quoted in an article on InsideHigherEd.com entitled “Forced to Fail Students?” The article examines an accusation by a former professor at Arizona State University who says he was fired for failing to adhere to grading quotas. “Asking professors to strictly follow a grade distribution is highly unusual,” Greenlaw said. “If a professor is giving out too many A’s, that might necessitate a conversation, but not a mandate to fail a specific proportion of the class.” Read more.

Richardson Column in The Free Lance-Star

April 23, 2019 by Christie Pugh

College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson

Read College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson’s latest column in The Free Lance-Star: “Have to” vs. “Get to.”

I LOVE QUOTES. And one of my favorite quotes of all time is from Charles Swindoll. He says, “We have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for the day … life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you … we are in charge of our attitudes.”

Farnsworth Comments in the National Media

April 23, 2019 by jlaiacon

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science

Political Science Professor Stephen Farnsworth continues to provide daily commentary in regional and national media on breaking news items. View a few of his current interviews: Liberal Democrats in Va. hope small-dollar donations can sway more voters in The Washington Post; Political Fallout of The Mueller Report on Newsradio WRVA; Democrats Slam Giuliani for Russia Comments, Mueller Report Released and Trump vs. Omar on CTV News Channel; and Individuals, Not Big Corporations, Top List of Political Donors on WVTF Radio IQ.

Barrenechea Brings Students to Edgar Allan Poe Museum

April 18, 2019 by jlaiacon

Professor of English Antonio Barrenechea

Antonio Barrenechea, Professor of English, took his students on a trip to the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia. The excursion was funded by a competitive UMW grant, and was part of the spring 2019 course, “The Groovy Gothic.” The course explores the intersection of sensational 19th century gothic fiction (Shelley, Stoker, and Poe) and the shock aesthetics of the 1960s counterculture (cinema, music, fashion, painting, and drug culture).

Dreiss Quoted in Article on Notre Dame Cathedral

April 18, 2019 by Christie Pugh

Professor of Art History Joseph Dreiss

Professor of Art History Joseph Dreiss was quoted in an article about Notre Dame, after the 850-year-old cathedral was engulfed in a massive fire on April 15 that spared only its main structure and two bell towers. “Viollet-le-Duc was a Gothic revivalist and interestingly, he had an impact on early modern architecture because of the emphasis that he placed on the structural beauty of buildings, which is a really significant aspect of the Gothic style,” Dreiss said. Read more.

Morton Publishes Letter to the Editor on Hugo Black House

April 18, 2019 by jlaiacon

Brown Morton, professor emeritus in the Department of Historic Preservation

Brown Morton, professor emeritus of the Department of Historic Preservation, wrote a letter to the editor of the Connection Newspapers in Northern Virginia on the preservation of the Hugo Black House in Old Town Alexandria. “In 1949, I moved with my family to Old Town Alexandria and knew most of its residents from my days delivering the Alexandria Gazette as a youngster,” Morton said. “As I recall, that is how I came to know Justice Hugo Black who lived at a historic home with an unusually large garden at 619 South Lee St.” Read more.

Richardson Column in The Free Lance-Star

April 18, 2019 by jlaiacon

College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson

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

Dear Bad Boss,

Your staff complains about you. You’re a micro-manager. Or maybe you’re a detached manager, showing little interest in your people or the work they do.

Or maybe you put such pressure on your employees that they feel stressed all the time and hate coming to work. Of course, because of this, productivity suffers.

Maybe you have incredibly high expectations that are unachievable, especially because you either don’t know to hire or you don’t train your folks. There is no possible way for the folks in your organization to reach your ridiculous expectations.

Whatever the reason your folks don’t respect you, I want to thank you.

Rettinger Quoted in Article on Plagiarism

April 18, 2019 by Christie Pugh

David Rettinger, associate professor of Psychological Science

Associate Professor of Psychology David Rettinger was quoted in an article on the ethics of plagiarism. “It’s a particular problem in academia because we care so much about the process,” says Rettinger, who is also the president of the International Center for Academic Integrity and director of Academic Integrity Programs at UMW. “I say this to my students all the time: I don’t care that you give me a [clean] paper. I care that you write a paper. The point is … it’s like sending someone to the gym for you. It completely defeats the purpose.” Read more.

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