April 17, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Bonds Quoted by WFYI on Data Center Development

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Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds

Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds

Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds was quoted by WFYI and The Indiana Citizen in an article titled “How confidentiality agreements around a proposed data center could impact Indianapolis’ development.” In the article, Bonds provided expert commentary on the lack of transparency in data center deals, noting that “Democracy – some say – dies in the dark. But that is exactly where many data center deals are born and live.” Read the article.

Other recent media mentions for Bonds include:

Company behind proposed Indy data center revealed in new documents (Mirrorindy)
“You would want to know the name of that company, so you could learn about how it’s operated elsewhere, and you could decide, is it going to be a good neighbor or not?” Eric Bonds, a sociology professor at the University of Mary Washington, said in a previous interview with WFYI. https://mirrorindy.org/google-behind-proposed-indianapolis-data-center-franklin-township/
Previously unnamed company behind proposed Indy data center named in new documents (WFYI)
“You would want to know the name of that company, so you could learn about how it’s operated elsewhere, and you could decide, is it going to be a good neighbor or not?” Eric Bonds, a sociology professor at the University of Mary Washington, said in a previous interview with WFYI. “This raises questions about when big companies come in like this that might just change the local dynamics of who’s really calling the shots,” said Bonds, who teaches on the topics of human rights, climate change and environmental justice. https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/previously-unnamed-company-behind-proposed-indy-data-center-named-in-new-documents
Va.’s failure to protect crucial HIV/AIDS services sets ominous precedent (Virginia Mercury)
About 25,000 Virginians are living with HIV and proposed federal cuts to health care funding put their care at risk, writes guest columnist Eric Bonds. https://virginiamercury.com/2025/07/01/va-s-failure-to-protect-crucial-hiv-aids-services-sets-ominous-precedent/

 

Gately Performs with National Symphony Orchestra

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Department of Music Senior Lecturer Doug Gately

Department of Music Senior Lecturer Doug Gately

Department of Music Senior Lecturer Doug Gately performed with the National Symphony Orchestra’s televised Capital Fourth Concert on July 4. This year’s star-studded lineup included The Beach Boys, The Temptations, Lauren Daigle, Josh Turner, Yolanda Adams, Trombone Shorty, LOCASH and Abi Carter. Tenor sax solos by Doug Gately. The Concert on PBS can be viewed at A Capitol Fourth | A Capitol Fourth (2025) | Season 2025 | Episode 1 | PBS

Farnsworth Analyzes Political Dynamics in TRT World

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Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth was quoted in a TRT World article titled “Elon Musk backs Conservative rebels, blasts GOP, teases a new party: What is the billionaire up to?” In the article, Farnsworth provided analysis on the political dynamics between Trump and Musk, noting that “In any competition between Trump and Musk, some form of compromise seems the most likely eventual outcome.” Read the article.

Other media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Virginia’s top prosecutor targets drugs, crime — and Northern Va. schools (The Washington Post)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that part of Youngkin’s success in 2021 came from his status as a political newcomer. With little to no record to answer for, the businessman turned politician was able to shape his stances on topics such as education as he went. “Youngkin was something of a blank slate,” Farnsworth said. “People could imagine Youngkin in a variety of ways, because he was such an unknown. Miyares doesn’t have that option. He’s been attorney general for four years.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/07/07/miyares-targets-northern-virginia-schools/
Virginia Democrats are eyeing 13 potential seats that could flip blue this year (WVTF)
Lucky 13 is the target number of seats this year for Democrats, who are hoping to flip the districts from red to blue. Stephen Farnsworth at the University of Mary Washington says the battleground is suburban. “They’re often in outer ring suburban communities, particularly in the Richmond and Hampton Roads area where elections are won and lost in Virginia. These are contested spaces, these outer ring suburban counties,” Farnsworth says. “They’re not rural. They’re not really urban. But they are places where both parties often can be competitive.”
https://www.wvtf.org/news/2025-07-07/virginia-democrats-are-eyeing-13-potential-seats-that-could-flip-blue-this-year
Special Election set in Virginia’s 11th District (DC News Now; MSN) 
“I think it is very important to remember that there is not much either of the candidates can do or say that has all that much of an impact in a district that is overwhelmingly democratic in its orientation,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/capitol-review/special-election-set-in-virginias-11th-district/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/special-election-set-in-virginia-s-11th-district/vi-AA1I09Vs
Democrats and Republicans were out on the Virginia campaign trail. Here’s what they had to say. (Yahoo.com; The Virginian Pilot; The Charlotte Observer)
“To describe the Republican rally as a unity rally requires a very flexible definition of unity,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “The party candidates barely appeared on stage together, did not have a lot to say about each other, and generally have a kind of problematic history for imagining that they’re going to be able to work together this fall.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/democrats-republicans-were-virginia-campaign-193500919.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGMJGx5RUfPRWRI5rRMGG1bBCadQZnOmucf2sezUAzkbB7piH3GyyieUr6pBMaLW3yhukPMH12FqovX9giuXmchRXFF8BbnAP797S6K5TAZ8882QyaMOK07I_IOStkh4lrHVvamBVQWzhxQ1VoY3PyEodBEPHRYcGZdC8ogacMtF
https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/07/05/va-politicians-campaigns/
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article310071765.html
Virginia Democrats are eyeing 13 potential seats that could flip blue this year (WMRA)
Lucky 13 is the target number of seats this year for Democrats, who are hoping to flip the districts from red to blue. Stephen Farnsworth at the University of Mary Washington says the battleground is suburban. “They’re often in outer ring suburban communities, particularly in the Richmond and Hampton Roads area where elections are won and lost in Virginia. These are contested spaces, these outer ring suburban counties,” Farnsworth says. “They’re not rural. They’re not really urban. But they are places where both parties often can be competitive.”
https://www.wmra.org/2025-07-07/virginia-democrats-are-eyeing-13-potential-seats-that-could-flip-blue-this-year
Youngkin sets veto record as energy, AI fuel gridlock (Virginia Business)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, says that candidates running for seats this year in the House of Delegates are hearing from voters about the issue of data centers, AI and energy generation.
https://virginiabusiness.com/youngkin-vetoes-data-centers-energy-ai-elections/
Virginia Democrats Sprint to Win Primary to Replace Connolly (Bloomburg Industry)
“The main thing that might come out of this primary is a sense of the vision of what the Democratic Party should look like in the minds of the very engaged, very affluent Democratic voters in this district,” Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said in an interview. “Virginia Democrats are much more combative and unified against Republicans than Washington Democrats are.”

Larus Provides Geopolitical Analysis for BBC News

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Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus was quoted by BBC News in an article titled “Will the spillover effect of the US surprise attack on Iran cover North Korea and the Taiwan Strait? Asia-Pacific region hotly discusses Trump’s muscle flexing.” In the article, Larus, who serves as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at Pacific Forum, provided expert analysis on regional geopolitical implications, noting that if the U.S. mission against Iran’s nuclear weapons is ultimately successful, Beijing will grudgingly realize again that the United States is not a “wounded hegemon.” Read the article.

Gupta Quoted in TRT Global on U.S. Economic Policy

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Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Surupta Gupta

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Surupta Gupta

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Surupta Gupta was quoted in a article titled “Will a proposed US law become a ‘bunker-buster’ for the global economy?” for TRT Global. In the article, Gupta provided analysis on the international implications of proposed US legislations. An excerpt from the article reads, “These countries will face pressure to negotiate deals with the US or find alternative partners,” Professor Surupa Gupta of the University of Mary Washington, Virginia, tells TRT World. Read the article.

Fallon Presents at African Linguistics Conference

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Associate Professor of Linguistics Paul Fallon at the 54th Annual Conference on African Linguistics

Associate Professor of Linguistics Paul Fallon

Associate Professor of Linguistics Paul D. Fallon gave a virtual presentation at the 56th Annual Conference on African Linguistics (ACAL), held online and at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, Minneapolis, on May 6, 2025. His talk was entitled “‘Fire’, ‘nose’, ‘water’, mouth’: Comparing the Leipzig-Jakarta and Swadesh lists in Central Cushitic.” He shared the results of his investigations comparing lexical borrowing using two vocabulary lists in two different time depths for Central Cushitic languages (spoken in the Horn of Africa).

In addition, Fallon has been appointed as one of two Reviews Editors for Dictionaries: Journal of the Dictionary Society of North America. The first issue under his editorship appeared in mid-June 2025.

Barry Elected Associate Editor for the Journal of Early Christian Studies

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Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry

Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry

Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry was recently elected Associate Editor for the Journal of Early Christian Studies (JECS). This prestigious appointment reflects Barry’s national reputation in the field of Late Antiquity and early Christian historiography. The JECS is a leading peer-reviewed publication dedicated to the study of Christianity in the ancient world. In her new role, Barry will help shape the direction of cutting-edge scholarship in the field, bringing her expertise in gender, rhetoric and historical memory to one of the discipline’s most influential journals.

Al-Tikriti Lectures DLA Unit on Middle East Affairs

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Professor of Middle East History Nabil Al-Tikriti

Professor of Middle East History Nabil Al-Tikriti discussed the current situation in the Middle East this month, covering economic, military, political and diplomatic affairs. He made this presentation to Ft. Belvoir’s Supply Corps Reserve Unit supporting the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), with reserve unit attendees present from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marines. The presentation included broad ranging discussions of conflicts, tensions, historical backgrounds and theatre realities for the Indo-Pakistan conflict, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, the Caucasus, Turkey, the Gulf States, Syria and Israel-Palestine. In the course of this discussion, Al-Tikriti shared his analysis of the long-term effects of the Gaza Genocide, Ukraine war and China’s construction of a parallel global economy. 

Mathews Shares Religious Expertise Across National Media Platforms

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Professor of Religious Studies Mary Beth Mathews

Professor of Religious Studies Mary Beth Mathews

Professor of Religious Studies Mary Beth Mathews has been featured across multiple media outlets recently, sharing her expertise on religious topics. In May, she was part of a panel discussion on Black religious life hosted by Fairfax County NAACP (the panel starts around minute 54 of the linked video). Earlier this month, she was interviewed for an article in an Italian magazine “PrisMag” about the prospect of the first American pope.

Most recently, Mathews was featured on NBC Washingtons “4 Your Reading” series, which highlights local authors, where she discusses her new book titled Contentious Unions, which explores the intertwined histories of three historically Black institutions: Richmond Theological Seminary in Virginia, Central City College in Georgia and American Baptist Theological Seminary in Tennessee.

Davidson Analyzes NATO Tensions for Atlantic Council

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Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson shared expert insight in a recent article for the Atlantic Council titled “What explains the transatlantic rift? It’s all about threat perception.” As NATO allies prepare for his month’s summit in The Hague, Davidson explores differing views on global threats and defense spending, particularly in the light of U.S calls for increase military investment. Davidson’s analysis helps contextualize the evolving dynamics within the alliance. Read the article.