Antonio Barrenechea, Associate Professor of English, recently delivered the lecture “Hemispheric Studies Beyond Suspicion” at the University of Rome (Sapienza). He was also interviewed about his new book, America Unbound: Encyclopedic Literature and Hemispheric Studies. The interview will be published in the inaugural issue of the Italian journal America Critica.
Barrenechea Lectures on Cinema in Aix-en-Provence, France
Antonio Barrenechea, Associate Professor of English, recently delivered the lecture “‘69 Année Érotique’: Swinging Mademoiselles, Cinema, Sexploitation” as part of the spring lecture series at the Institut Américain Universitaire in Aix-en-Provence, France.
Rafferty Publishes Latest in Essay Series Exploring U.S. Presidency
Colin Rafferty, Associate Professor of English, had his essay on President James Buchanan, “Frogs (#15),” featured on the Aforementioned Productions webpage on Monday, April 24. The piece can be read here: http://apt.aforementionedproductions.com/2017/04/frogs-15-by-colin-rafferty/#.WP-GGFPyvzI. This is one in a series of essays that Rafferty has written reflecting on the presidency of the United States and the men who have held that position.
Liss and Students’ Research Paper Accepted for Publication
Professor of Psychology Miriam Liss and four students from her research seminar had a paper accepted for publication by the journal Personality and Individual Differences. The paper is titled “How Extraversion, Neuroticism, Attachment Style and Fear of Missing Out Predicted Social Media Use and Addiction.”
Liss and her students found that fear of missing out was a powerful predictor of social media addiction.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886917302891
Farnsworth Presents Research on Presidential Politics
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a research paper titled “President Obama’s Use of New Media:
Enacting the Affordable Care Act and Defining Presidential Character” at the Annual Meeting of the Western Political Science Association in Vancouver, Canada.
Rochelle Presents at Popular Culture Association
Warren Rochelle recently gave a reading from, and a presentation on, his novel, The Werewolf and His Boy, at the Popular Culture Association conference in San Diego.
Alumna Named VP of Advancement, University Relations
I am pleased to announce the newest addition to UMW’s leadership team. On August 1, Lisa Jamison Bowling will become the University’s Vice President for Advancement and University Relations. A 1989 graduate of Mary Washington, Lisa has served for the past seven years as Roanoke College’s Assistant Vice President for Resource Development. In that capacity, she was part of the senior advancement team, which ran a $200 million comprehensive campaign and led a strategic assessment of Roanoke College’s positioning and branding.
I believe you will find Lisa to be an exceptional leader, who has proven strengths in all facets of external relations and fundraising. She was identified in a highly competitive national search, and I am delighted that she has chosen to return to her alma mater. She will bring a unique combination of experience, vision, and commitment to help move UMW forward in achieving its public liberal arts mission.
Previously, Lisa spent 10 years at Ferrum College, starting as public relations director and advancing to Associate Vice President of Development. Immediately after graduating from Mary Washington with a double major in English and political science, she worked in marketing and public relations for various companies and non-profits. She earned her MBA from Wake Forest University in 2009. In addition, she has received certificates in fundraising management and planned giving.
“Few people have the opportunity to help shape the place that was most formative to them.” Lisa said. “Mary Washington placed me on a path of success, and I hope to parlay my experiences into a powerful impact for the University and its students.”
She added, “UMW already has an incredible leadership team, faculty, and staff in place, and I look forward to serving with them and the accomplished members of the University Relations and Advancement division.”
Lisa and her husband, Kevin Bowling, have a son, Satchel, and a daughter, Claire.
UMW Presents on Anonymous Social Media at NASPA
How do today’s students use social media? What happens when tweets and yaks take a bad turn? And most important, how can today’s administrators use social media to build a positive online community?
These trending questions posed by higher education professionals across the country were front and center during the University of Mary Washington’s presentation on anonymous social media at the national NASPA conference this past March. In a session co-presented with colleagues from Lewis & Clark College in Oregon and titled “Yik Yak, Attacks and Focusing Back on Inclusion: The Many Facets of Social Media on College Campuses,” UMW staff members shared real-world experiences interlaced with social media research on how to strategically build community on social media during crisis situations.
The four-person presentation panel included Mary Washington representatives Dr. Juliette Landphair, Vice President for Student Affairs; Erika Spivey, Assistant Director of Marketing; and Colin Coleman, Assistant Director of Residence Life. Joining the group from Lewis & Clark College was Dr. Anna Gonzalez, Dean of Students.
Young is Exec. Dir., Continuing & Professional Studies
President Troy Paino and Acting Provost Nina Mikhalevsky are very pleased to announce the appointment of Kimberly C. Young as Executive Director of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Mary Washington. In this position, she will be responsible for expanding the University’s credit and non-credit programs for adults, including new certificate and other professional development opportunities. She will start work at UMW on July 25.
Kimberly is currently the Executive Director of Executive Education and Executive MBA programs at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is responsible for oversight of all executive education programs, the executive MBA, international customized programs, and customized corporate education programs, and she leads a team in marketing, sales, development, and delivery of programs that serve adult learners.
Kimberly has nearly 20 years of experience in education, consulting, and hospitality. Her expertise is in building and leading high performance teams, strategic innovation, and project management. She received her B.A. in Public Policy Studies from Duke University, and she earned both a Master’s of Management in Hospitality and an MBA from Cornell University.
UMW’s Office of Continuing and Professional Studies will be based at the Stafford campus, where most of its courses and programs will be offered, with additional offerings at the University’s Dahlgren and Fredericksburg campuses.
Rucker, Dean of Student Life, Honored by Colleagues
Dean Cedric Rucker has been chosen as the recipient of the NASPA Region III Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award. This award, given by a national student affairs professional organization, “honors a senior student affairs professional or faculty member who has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion throughout their administrative or academic tenure.”
In recognizing Dean Rucker, the organizers noted that “this prestigious award…signifies that your fellow student affairs colleagues value the contributions you are making in the field. It also exemplifies your hard work within the profession and your institution. This year’s awards selection process received a record number of nominations, and the review committee commented on how strong and diverse the pool of nominations was this year.”
Several UMW faculty members, staff, and alumni wrote letters in support of Dean Rucker’s nomination, including Dr. Allyson Poska, Professor of History, who praised Dean Rucker as “a critical force on campus for equality, diversity, and inclusion, transforming student life through his remarkable ability to build strong organizations for underrepresented students, helping those students and their organizations become vocal, vibrant participants in campus life, and engaging with faculty to ensure a diverse, inclusive curriculum.” Dean Rucker will be presented with the award at the NASPA summer symposium in June 2017.