A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Department of Political Science and International Affairs Associate Professor Ranjit Singh
University of Mary Washington professor Ranjit Singh said he is looking forward to hosting Livia, a student from Fréjus for twelve days this summer. Read more in The FXBG Advance.
Amy Jessee ’06 is executive director of university communications.
UMW’s Executive Director of University Communications has joined the Board of Directors for the College Communicators Association of Virginia and D.C.
She has been a member of CCA since graduating from UMW in 2006 and working as assistant director of news and public relations and has also been a member of the College News Association of the Carolinas.
CCA was founded at the University of Mary Washington as The College News Association of Virginia and the District of Columbia (CNA) in 1990 and has continued to be hosted around the Commonwealth, with summer and winter conferences each year. Membership in the College Communicators Association is open to everyone who works in higher education communications at colleges and universities, including two-year institutions, throughout Virginia and the District of Columbia.
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 lecture, “The State of the U.S. Presidential Election,” at the British-American Studies Center of Maria Curie Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland. The talk was derived from portions of Dr. Farnsworth’s recently published book, Presidential Communication and Character: White House News Management from Clinton and Cable to Twitter and Trump. Dr. Farnsworth served at the University of Warsaw in Poland as a 2024 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar.
Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
2 Army veterans set for major House battle in Virginia (The Hill; Yahoo News; AOL.com)
“It’s going to be one of the marquee national races this fall,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political analyst at the University of Mary Washington.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/2-army-veterans-set-major-130751669.html
Kamala Harris, From Grey Vice President to Possible Biden Alternative (Sunday Vision)
“If she steps down, Harris would be the best alternative for Democrats to avoid starting a major internal battle just weeks before the convention,” Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, told EFE.
https://www.sundayvision.co.ug/kamala-harris-from-grey-vice-president-to-possible-biden-alternative/
Virginia House, Senate reach agreement on military education program (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“It’s never a good idea to anger voters, particularly military families,” said Steve Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, in the heart of the 7th Congressional District. “The failure to pass something hurts the two Democrats facing the toughest campaign terrain in November.”
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/virginia-military-education-benefit-youngkin-lucas-vindman-anderson-kiggans-smasal/article_b70fa6f2-388f-11ef-a061-aba27012d6aa.html#tracking-source=home-top-story
Virginia analysts weigh in on Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling (The Daily Progress)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said the Supreme Court “further reduced the slim chances” of a federal trial before the election stemming from Trump’s actions relating to Jan. 6, 2021.
https://dailyprogress.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/virginia-trump-presidential-immunity/article_475a2a63-e0b0-5132-8384-d091d3455cce.html
Not with a bang, but a whimper (Virginia Business)
“The only thing that the legislature really did is the one thing they have to do: Pass a budget,” says Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington who has tracked the state legislature for decades. “This is a session that would qualify as one of the more forgettable ones.”
https://www.virginiabusiness.com/article/not-with-a-bang-but-a-whimper/
Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus
Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus indicated that the debate was “revealing.” Watch the interview.
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson penned an article titled “Four steps that NATO’s southern flank strategy needs to succeed” for the Atlantic Council. At next month’s Washington summit, NATO’s response to the third year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine will undoubtedly garner allies’ attention and headline news coverage. Read more.
UMW President Troy Paino
The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), the trade association representing the region’s technology community, announced the appointment of 20 industry leaders to its Board of Directors for fiscal year 2025, including UMW President Troy Paino. The incoming Class of 2027 will join NVTC’s current Board and guide the council’s strategic efforts to fuel its mission. NVTC is committed to accelerating tech innovation and promoting a world-class workforce to create a thriving tech community in Northern Virginia. Read more.
UMW Director of First Year Admissions Sarah Lindberg (left) and Dean of Admissions and Associate Vice President Melissa Yakabouski
UMW Director of First Year Admissions Sarah Lindberg and Dean of Admissions and Associate Vice President Melissa Yakabouski spoke recently on the WFVA radio show “Town Talk” about how the summer break is a great time for high-schoolers to visit potential colleges, especially UMW. Hear the episode.
Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jared McDonald
Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jared McDonald contributed to an article titled Gen Z app creator hopes to empower a young generation of voters, which appeared on Bridge Detroit. As people age, they become more integrated into the political process, said McDonald, who teaches courses related to American government, political behavior and public policy. Read more.
Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a lecture, “Political Humor and U.S. Presidential Elections,” at the Institute of International and Security Studies of the University of Wrocław, Poland. The talk was derived from portions of Dr. Farnsworth’s recently published co-authored book, Late-Night in Washington: Political Humor and the American Presidency. Dr. Farnsworth is serving at the University of Warsaw in Poland as a Spring 2024 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar.
Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Meet Virginia’s 7th District candidates (WVTF)
Stephen Farnsworth, a politics professor at the University of Mary Washington, says whoever wins Virginia’s 7th district may decide the fate of the majority in congress. “This district is really a district that Democrats can win on good days [or] Republicans can win on good days and you can expect both to put an immense amount of money into this race,” Farnsworth told Radio IQ.
With so many choices in primary races, will Virginia consider ranked choice voting? (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Professor of Psychological Science and Department Chair Miriam Liss
Professor of Psychological Science and Department Chair Miriam Liss contributed to an article titled “Wife Unloads Baby And Chores Onto Man During His Emergency Time Off, He Falls Apart” by Bored Panda. “Research suggests that couples tend to become more traditional after the birth of children,” Liss said. “Even couples that were egalitarian before having children are likely to revert to more traditional roles – where women do more of the household work and men do more work outside the home. Research also suggests that even when women continue to work, they still do more of the household labor and childcare, as well as the often invisible and unappreciated mental work of planning and organizing what needs to be done.” Read the article.
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