February 10, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Majid Comments on Credit Card Benefits for WalletHub

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Associate Professor of Marketing Kashef Majid

Associate Professor of Business Kashef Majid

Associate Professor of Business Kashef Majid was featured by WalletHub in an “Ask the Experts” piece that asked the question “Do you think the American Express Gold Card’s benefits are worth the price?” In the article Majid said “Yes – but only if you spend in the right categories. The $250 annual fee is steep and high in comparison to other cards such as Discover or Visa, but the card shines for people who: spend heavily on dining (4X points) or buy groceries using their card (4x points). You can accumulate points quite quickly if your spending is in those categories and then transfer those points for travel.” Read more. 

Johnson-Young Presents and Wins Award at Eastern Communication Association Conference

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Associate Professor of Communication Elizabeth Johnson-Young

Associate Professor of Communication Elizabeth Johnson-Young

Associate Professor of Communication Elizabeth Johnson-Young presented two works at the Eastern Communication Association Annual Convention in Buffalo, NY. In the Health Communication division, Johnson-Young presented updated results in her work “Parental Perceptions of Pediatric Counseling on Firearm Safety​ and Intentions to Follow Through with Recommendations.” ​This work focuses on survey results investigating how parents receive and intend to follow through on advice from pediatricians regarding firearm safety and asking about firearm safety in another’s home.

In Great Ideas for Teaching Students, Elizabeth presented on an activity and outcomes from the activity she leads in her communication research methods class in a presentation titled “French Fry Goodness and Relationship Closeness: Teaching the Conceptualization Process in Research Methods Using The Big Bang Theory.” This submission was awarded a Top GIFT award during the conference.

Imirie Appears on ‘PS: I Love U(MW)’ Series

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Facilities & Events Manager

Facilities & Events Manager Ryan Imirie

A proud UMW alum, Ryan Imirie ’12 knows this campus inside and out—literally. As the Facilities and Buildings Manager for some of the most well-loved spaces at Mary Wash, he keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes.

He recently appeared on the University’s PS: I Love U(MW) social media series. See the episode!

“… working for the buildings themselves is good, but I’d much rather work with the people who make the events happen,” he said.

Watch more episodes from PS: I love U(MW) on the @marywash Instagram.

Cooperman is Speaker for Women in Politics Panel

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Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman

Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman

Professor of Political Science Rossalyn Cooperman took part in the second-annual Women in Politics panel hosted by UMW’s Day on Democracy Club, an organization that promotes engagement with the democratic process across the campus community. The Fredericksburg Free Press featured Cooperman in an article about the event titled “Panelists to women with political ambitions: Don’t count yourself out.” Other panelists included Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry Devine and Lorita Daniels, a current member of the Spotsylvania County school board. Read the article. 

 

Farnsworth Delivers Research Paper on Political Humor

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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 recently presented a co-authored research paper titled “Patterns of Political Ridicule in Late-Night Political Humor in the United States” at the Character Assassination and Reputation Politics (CARP) Conference at George Mason University.

In addition, recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Why a GOP primary challenge is upending Virginia’s governor race (Washington Examiner)
“Donald Trump’s name will not appear on the Virginia ballot, but the reality is the gubernatorial race this year will be all about President Trump,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “Democrats will bring up the president at every opportunity, given his unpopularity in the commonwealth as a way of motivating the Democratic base.”

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/state/3370284/virginia-governor-race-winsome-earle-sears-primary-challenger/

Trump looms large as Virginia turns to election season (Daily Progress)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that in the campaigns to come “Democrats will make Trump the first name of every Republican who’s on the ballot.”
https://dailyprogress.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/article_fac18b3d-e19d-5dbf-985b-52eeb1808d7d.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Democrats’ pivot back to class warfare sees early returns in Wisconsin (Washington Examiner)
“Angry voters are more likely to turn out, and that benefited Republicans during the Biden years, and it’s benefiting Democrats during the Trump years,” Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, said. “What’s particularly interesting about 2025 is that Democrats are also able to use Elon Musk as the villain.” Farnsworth said that he sees a pivot, at least in Wisconsin, to an “anti-oligarch” narrative.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/3368733/democrats-class-warfare-campaigns-susan-crawford-trump-musk-wisconsin/

Virginia General Assembly reconvenes to address Gov. Youngkin’s amendments (WUSA)
“The main thing you saw in session and will see in the veto session today is an environment where people are just kicking the can down the road,” said political science expert Dr. Stephen Farnsworth. “Democrats and Republicans are mainly interested in bringing forward issues they want to campaign on in November.”
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/politics/virginia-general-assembly-reconvenes-address-glenn-youngkin-amendments/65-fb4bef27-351c-4710-af92-875f1e3df13a

Special elections signal Blue resurgence in America. Should the GOP worry? (TRT Global)
Dr Stephen J Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies, University of Mary Washington, underscores the significance of this shift. “The Democrats in Congress have yet to agree on a unified strategy for countering Trump. While minority parties cannot do a lot to counter an opposing party’s president, it’s clear that aggressive efforts by some Democrats — like the anti-oligarch rallies — are finding a lot of support among Democratic activists,” Farnsworth tells TRT World.
https://trt.global/world/article/ac74a09df3f3

Political theater takes center stage as legislature returns for veto session (ALX Now)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political analyst from the University of Mary Washington, offered a candid assessment of Virginia’s current legislative dynamics this year, characterizing both the regular and Wednesday’s veto session as exercises in political positioning rather than substantive governance. “This was a kick-the-can-down-the-road legislative session, and it will be a kick-the-can-down-the-road veto session,” he said.
https://www.alxnow.com/2025/04/02/political-theater-takes-center-stage-as-legislature-returns-for-veto-session/

Political theater takes center stage as legislature returns for veto session (Virginia Mercury; Yahoo.com)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political analyst from the University of Mary Washington, offered a candid assessment of Virginia’s current legislative dynamics this year, characterizing both the regular and Wednesday’s veto session as exercises in political positioning rather than substantive governance. “This was a kick-the-can-down-the-road legislative session, and it will be a kick-the-can-down-the-road veto session,” he said.
https://virginiamercury.com/2025/04/02/political-theater-takes-center-stage-as-legislature-returns-for-veto-session/

https://www.yahoo.com/news/political-theater-takes-center-stage-092904960.html

Trump Says He’s Considering Ways to Serve a Third Term as President (CP 24 TV Toronto)
“The Constitution is very clear about this. You serve two terms and you are done,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://review.bellmedia.ca/view/1576588634

Scorecard: How your legislators fared in the General Assembly session (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“Republicans did it to Democrats, Democrats do it to Republicans,” said Steve Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “But when you’re in the minority party, you’re never going to have a Ted Williams year, especially in these partisan times,” he said, referring to the last major leaguer to hit .400.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_6861075f-f205-4e30-92a3-9a0454e7c3d4.html

School Board Chair Babur Lateef stresses anti-Trump moves in crowded primary race (Prince William Times)
Stephen J. Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, says that, in a crowded race like this, candidates must find a way to stand out, and it doesn’t hurt to come from an area with a lot of Democratic voters, such as Prince William County.
https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/school-board-chair-babur-lateef-stresses-anti-trump-moves-in-crowded-primary-race/article_e46f7ebf-f795-4cb3-af23-8a0ac6e2882b.html

The clock is ticking for Virginia’s gubernatorial hopefuls to make the ballot (National Journal)
Two Republicans are angling to take on Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in the gubernatorial primary, potentially denying her what was once was expected to be a stress-free path to the nomination. (see PDF)

Walker Presents at the Council for Exceptional Children Convention

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Assistant Professor of Education Jennifer Walker

Assistant Professor of Education Jennifer Walker

Associate Professor of Education Jennifer Walker presented at the Council for Exceptional Children Convention in Baltimore, MD in mid-March.

Her presentations focused on supporting pre- and in-service teachers with High Leverage Practices and Classroom Management. Her presentations were titled, “Classroom Management: What Teachers are Saying” and “Translating High Leverage Practices to Classroom Management Realities.”

Dr. Walker and Dr. Melissa Jenkins were also accompanied by six College of Education undergraduate students, who also attended the four day convention.

Dr. Walker, Dr. Jenkins, and College of Education students at the CEC Convention.

Dr. Walker, Dr. Jenkins, and College of Education students at the CEC Convention.

Foss Discusses “Psychic Messages from Oscar Wilde” at Conference in New Orleans

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Professor of English Chris Foss

Professor of English Chris Foss

Professor of English Chris Foss presented a conference paper entitled “Temporal Fusion(s) in Psychic Messages from Oscar Wilde” at last month’s Nineteenth Century Studies Association Annual Conference in New Orleans.

Foss explored how Hester Travers Smith’s 1923 book detailing her conversations with the dead man represents a fascinating instance of such fusion, a unique dramatic rendering of Wilde’s afterlife that does not simply preserve a pre-existing particular portrait of the artist but rather seeks to animate a new creation entirely—a discarnate Oscar stitched together from Travers Smith’s own desires to experience direct access to the thoughts and opinions of the (in)famous author.  Her otherworldly communicator offered denizens of the Roaring Twenties a “speaking tour” from the beyond no less carefully curated than all the popular adaptations on stage and screen since.

In the end, Psychic Messages reveals more about its author and her own day than it provides new insights into Wilde’s life and work, but far from representing an offensive cannibalization of the great wit and writer, it serves as an engaging example of how Oscar will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of his many admirers.

 

Ellard and Porter Participate in Emergency Exercise by VDH and VDEM

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Assistant Dean of Students CJ Porter

Director of Emergency Management/Safety Brandy Ellard

Director of Emergency Management/Safety Brandy Ellard and Assistant Dean of Students CJ Porter participated in a Hybrid Tabletop Exercise facilitated by Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) recently. The topic was a local drinking water emergency.

The exercise provided a platform to openly discuss actions the City of Fredericksburg would need to take should they encounter such a situation,. There was an emphasis on communication and messaging, collaboration across many agencies and private stakeholders, identifying and addressing gaps, and broadening their network to ensure they can best serve the City of Fredericksburg.  The City was one of over 20 localities across the Commonwealth taking part in the exercise, providing participants an opportunity to gain perspectives from the various regions.

Ellard and Porter participate in emergency exercise with the City of Fredericksburg on a local drinking water emergency.

Also participating were members from City Public Works, Deputy City Manager, UMW Emergency Management, UMW Housing and Dining, MWH, City Communications Office, the Rappahannock Area Health District and City Emergency Management.

Catullo is Speaker at Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce Business of Sports Event

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Athletics Director Patrick Catullo

Athletics Director Patrick Catullo

Director of Athletics Patrick Catullo was a panel speaker at the Business of Sports event put on this month by the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce. Sports, business and community all intersected at the event as local sports leaders discussed how athletics drives economic impact, builds community pride and creates opportunities for regional growth. Other speakers at the event included Robbie Perry of the Fred Nats and Paige Honaker of the Washington Commanders.