A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Great Lives Director Scott Harris
Great Lives Director Scott Harris previewed the 2025 William B. Crawley Lecture Series on News Talk 1230 WFVA’s Town Talk. The Great Lives Lecture Series are presented most Tuesdays and Thursdays Jan. 21 thru March 20 at Dodd Auditorium. It’s free! Listen to the episode.
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson was quoted by ZDFheute in Germany in a feature story entitled “What do Trump’s military decrees mean?” The article states, “There are currently around 100,000 US soldiers stationed in Europe. Trump plans to withdraw 20,000 of them, which will bring troop levels back to the level before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, political scientist Jason Davidson tells ZDFheute.” Read the article.
Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus Bill Crawley
Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus Bill Crawley’s “History on the Hill” column appeared in The Free Lance-Star this week, entitled “James Farmer: From Civil Rights Icon to Revered Professor.” In the column he discusses how one of the acknowledged leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, “Big Jim” Farmer quickly became, both literally and figuratively, a towering figure on campus. Read the article.
Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey
Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey recently published “What’s Their Story? To Help Save the Humanities, Let’s Listen to English Majors” in the Journal of Educational Research and Practice.
Amidst declining enrollment in humanities programs nationwide, the article seeks to give voice to current English majors about their decision to enroll in a major that has been under greater scrutiny over the last several years for its perceived lack of value after graduation. The article presents recommendations for future research and how higher education leaders can work together with English majors to help share their stories and present a more accurate view of the program, its students, and its benefits for the public good.
Read the article at https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/jerap/vol15/iss1/3/.
UMW Director of First Year Admissions Sarah Lindberg (left), and Dean of Admissions and Associate Vice President Melissa Yakabouski
Dean of Admissions and Associate Vice President Melissa Yakabouski and Director of First Year Admissions Sarah Lindberg appeared on News Talk 1230 WFVA’s Town Talk to talk about decisions facing students and parents. What should seniors be doing right now to prepare for their upcoming college careers, the UMW Summer Enrichment Program, FAFSA, and what type of classes high school students should be taking. Listen to the episode.
Associate Professor of History and American Studies Will Mackintosh
Professor of History and American Studies Will Mackintosh offers an insightful look at how the concept of “the tourist” developed in 19th century America in Chats on the Past, a free virtual event sponsored by Westport Museum via Patch. Mackintosh to discuss his book Selling the Sights: The Invention of the Tourist in American Culture (New York University Press, 2019). Learn how trends and cultural movements shaped the tourism industry as we know it through the years. More event info.
Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus
Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus, who is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Center and Indo-Pacific Security Initiative discussed U.S. politics with the Times of India. In the interview entitled Trump 2.2, Larus said “I would hope the world is not worried. Certainly, they might be concerned about some uncertainty going forward. However, it appears that President Trump has been pretty clear in his agenda both domestic and foreign policy.” View the piece.
Professor of Spanish and Center for International Education Director Jose Sainz
Professor of Spanish and Center for International Education Director Jose Sainz answers questions in an ‘Ask the Expert’ feature by Vision Latina about the steps international students, particularly from Latin America, should consider when applying to U.S. universities. View the feature (in Spanish).
Associate Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds
Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds served as a panelist in a forum held by The Free Lance-Star to discuss Fredericksburg data centers. The forum panelists include Daren Shumate of Shumate Engineering; Tracy Vargo, a principal partner at Stonebridge; Brent Hunsinger of Friends of the Rappahannock; and Eric Bonds, a University of Mary Washington professor and co-founder of Fossil Free Fredericksburg. Read more.
Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus Bill Crawley
Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus Bill Crawley posted a new “History on the Hill” column for The Free Lance-Star entitled “Mary Washington’s controversial ‘Wo-Man Contest’.” In the column he goes back in time to highlight an eyebrow-raising event, conceived by students in the fall of 1977. Read the article.