Category: Professional Notes

Laurie Abeel, Associate Professor of Education, is the Virginia Affiliate Director for Destination Imagination. On April 13, she ran a state tournament with 162 teams of students from around the state. Teams of up to 7 students, from elementary through university level, presented their solutions to technical, science-based, fine arts, improvisational, structure, or service learning challenges. She will lead the 43 advancing teams to the Global Finals tournament at the University of Tennessee at the end of May.

Daniel Preston, editor of the Papers of James Monroe, was interviewed by Voice of America for a segment on Elizabeth Monroe, wife of President James Monroe.  The interview will be part of program broadcast in South Korea and North Korea on May 8.

Claudia Emerson, Arrington Distinguished Chair of Poetry and professor of English, is the recipient of the university’s inaugural Waple Award for Professional Achievement. The award was announced during the General Faculty Meeting on April 24.

The award, based on faculty nominations, recognizes Emerson’s scholarly, creative and professional achievements.

Three faculty members have received Waple Professorships to support two years of research and scholarship. In the inaugural year of the professorships, awards went to one faculty member from each of the three colleges: Allyson Poska, professor of history; George Meadows, professor of education; and Dave Henderson, assistant professor of accounting and management information systems.

The professorships are supported by an endowment from the estate of Shirley Van Epps Waple’52. For more information about the professorships, visit http://cas.umw.edu/dean/waple-professorship/.

Athletic Director Ken Tyler was the featured guest on the WFVA 1230 program “Town Talk” on Tuesday, April 23. The interview is available in four segments: Segment #1; Segment #2; Segment #3; Segment #4.