June 28, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Jenkins Touts Internships, RWLC on ‘Town Talk’

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Rappahannock Work and Learn Cooperative Director Antoinette Jenkins

Rappahannock Work and Learn Collaborative Director Antoinette Jenkins

Rappahannock Work and Learn Collaborative (RWLC) Director Antoinette Jenkins was a guest on a recent episode of the Town Talk radio show on B101.5, WFVA. Jenkins spoke to show host Ted Schubel about the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership, recent UMW grants to support on-the-job experiences for students, the RWLC and the importance of internships, especially paid internships, for students and employers in the Fredericksburg region. The segment aired ahead of National Intern Day on July 25, 2024. Listen to the episode.

Farnsworth Pens Piece on Nation’s Sentiments Toward Kamala Harris for ‘The Conversation’

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Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth penned a recent piece for The Conversation titled “GOP attacks against Kamala Harris were already bad – they are about to get worse.” Public opinion polls suggest that U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is doing slightly better than Joe Biden was against Donald Trump, Farnsworth wrote in the piece – which was picked up by multiple outlets – but Republican attacks against her are only now ramping up. Read more.

Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Virginia convention delegation backs Harris, turnout to be key, analysts say (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“Harris may generate some increased support among those people sometimes called the ‘double haters,’ people not happy with either Biden or Trump as nominees,” said Stephen Farnsworth,  a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/virginia-kamala-harris-democratic-national-convention/article_84b8c018-48f6-11ef-8e71-dbe9c21554c0.html

Tippett’s Work With Students Featured in ‘Chesapeake Bay Magazine’

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Adjunct Professor of Earth and Environmental Science John Tippett

Adjunct Professor of Earth and Environmental Science John Tippett

Adjunct Professor of Earth and Environmental Science John Tippett was featured in a recent article in Chesapeake Bay Magazine titled “How To Explore The Disappearing Shark Tooth Island.” A research team from the University of Mary Washington is seeking to use the sandbar as an example of the effects of rising sea levels and groundwater withdrawal, educating the public on the reasons for and effects of climate change. “Our goal is to use the island to make the concept of climate change real and personal by showing the effects on a place people really care about,” says Professor John Tippett, who has been advising a team of researchers since October. Read more.

Gately Performs With the National Symphony Orchestra

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Department of Music Senior Lecturer Doug Gately

Department of Music Senior Lecturer Doug Gately

Doug Gately performed with the National Symphony Orchestra on the PBS July 4th Concert, “A Capital Fourth.” The concert was televised live from the U.S. Capitol. Guest artists with the orchestra included Alfonso Ribeiro, Fantasia, Smokey Robinson, Loren Allred, Fitz & Noelle, Sheila E, Chloe Flower, Darren Criss and Sister Sledge.

Williams Earns Headlines for Unveiling of On-Campus Civil Rights Trail Markers

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James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams

James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams

James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams earned a series of recent headlines for the July 16, 2024, unveiling of five on-campus markers that are part of the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail, “Freedom, A Work in Progress.” Williams, along with the City of Fredericksburg’s Victoria Matthews, spearheaded the project, working to create the trail, which was included as part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail earlier this year. Local and regional headlines include:

Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail completed with UMW stops (The Free Lance-Star)
A crowd gathered Tuesday morning outside Combs Hall on the campus of University of Mary Washington to witness the unveiling of two new informational signs.
City, UMW unveil on-campus stops for U.S. Civil Rights Trail (Fredericksburg Free Press)
Five new stops on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail were unveiled Tuesday morning in front of Combs Hall on the campus of the University of Mary Washington.
 
Campus Stops On The Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail Unveiled (FXBG Advance)
Almost four years to the day after an email exchange that initiated work on the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail, city and University of Mary Washington leaders unveiled five wayside panels that complete the trail.
UMW Installs Five New Fredericksburg Civil Rights Wayside Panels on Campus (FXBG Fredericksburg, Virginia Economic Development; WHRO; Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce)
The University of Mary Washington and the City of Fredericksburg unveiled five new Fredericksburg Civil Rights Wayside Panels installed on campus, on Tuesday, July 16.

U.S. Civil Rights Trail unveils new historical markers in Fredericksburg (VPM)
Five panels along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail were unveiled Tuesday at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2024-07-17/us-civil-rights-trail-mary-washington-fredericksburg

‘Struggle for freedom was real’: Five historic markers document civil rights movement at UMW (Augusta Free Press)
Five markers unveiled this week at the University of Mary Washington tell the story of a college campus and the perseverance of its community members following the civil rights movement of the 1950s and ’60s.

Larus Comments on U.S.-China Arms Dialogue for ‘Sputnik News’

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Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus spoke to Sputnik News for a recent segment titled “Analysis-No Chance for Substantive U.S.-China Arms Dialogue Until After U.S. Presidential Election.” On the episode, Larus says, “I expect a fair amount of shuttle diplomacy with U.S. diplomats, like Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan meeting their Chinese counterparts, likely in a third country. This is bad timing to bring conversations back on track. The Biden Administration is focused on the 2024 Presidential election, with ex-President Donald Trump leading in most polls.”

Williams Receives Commendation From General Assembly

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James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams

James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams

James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams received a commendation from the General Assembly. House Resolution No. 420, agreed to by the Virginia House of Delegates on March 8, 2024, highlights Williams and the City of Fredericksburg’s Victoria Matthews for spearheading the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail project. Read more.

Lindberg Kickstarts the Next Class with CampusESP Webinar

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UMW Director of First Year Admissions Sarah Lindberg

UMW Director of First Year Admissions Sarah Lindberg

UMW Director of First Year Admissions Sarah Lindberg shared her expertise and the essential actions schools should take to reach more families and make a positive impact in a July 11th webinar with CampusESP. Learn more at https://www.campusesp.com/webinars, or sign up for UMW’s very own Eagle Family Connection newsletter.

Jessee Joins College Communicators Association Board

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Amy Jessee ’06

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.