Professional Notes Archives

Hansen-Glucklich Awarded Fellowship at Mandel Center

March 25, 2026 by Guest Author

Photo of a woman sitting in a chair with blaze who is Associate Professor Jennifer Hansen-Glucklich in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Associate Professor Jennifer Hansen-Glucklich in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Associate Professor Jennifer Hansen-Glucklich in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures has been awarded a research fellowship at the Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. for the spring semester of 2027.

While in residence at the Center, she will be conducting research for her current book project, titled “Inscribed for Life: Memory, Personal Names, and Naming Rituals in Jewish Memorial Culture.”

Spencer Receives Preservation Education Award From Historic Fredericksburg Foundation

March 25, 2026 by Guest Author

Professor of Historic Preservation Michael Spencer

Professor of Historic Preservation Michael Spencer was recognized by the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. with the 2026 Dr. Edward D. Alvey, Jr., Education Award, as reported by Potomac Local News. The award honors excellence in preservation education and leadership in the Fredericksburg region.

Spencer was recognized for his professional expertise and ongoing support of regional organizations, including Washington Heritage Museums, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, the George Washington Foundation, and HFFI, contributing to the preservation of some of the area’s most significant historic structures. Read more in Potomac Local News.

Other media mentions for Spencer include:

Biz Beat Roundup (Fredericksburg Free Press)
University of Mary Washington (UMW) Professor Michael Spencer for his dedication to professional excellence in the field of Historic Preservation. Read more in the Fredericksburg Free Press.

Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc., Announces 2026 Preservation Awards (FXBG Advance)
The Edward D. Alvey Jr. Education Award went to Michael Spencer, professor of historic preservation at the University of Mary Washington, for excellence in the field. Read more in the FXBG Advance.

Barry Publishes New Article in the Journal of Church History

March 25, 2026 by Guest Author

Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry

has published a new open-access article in Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture (Cambridge University Press), now available online in FirstView and scheduled to appear in print later this month. The article, “Scandal and the Late Ancient Christian Historian,” develops research from her current book project, Scandalous Christian Histories.

The book, supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities summer fellowship and under advanced contract with the University of Edinburgh Press, examines how late ancient Christian historians used scandal, bodily disruption, and narrative spectacle to shape claims about authority, orthodoxy, and divine action. This publication marks an important milestone in the completion of the project.

Hinkle Featured in Fredericksburg Free Press on Creative Work and Teaching

March 25, 2026 by Guest Author

photo of a man named Larry Kinkle holding an instrument made of wood

Artisan Larry Hinkle’s workshop Wednesday March 4, 2026. Photo by Jeff Kearney. From the Fredericksburg Free Press.

Adjunct Instructor of Studio Art Larry Hinkle was featured by Fredericksburg Free Press in an article titled “From wood to rock(steady), Larry Hinkle is building a creative life.” In the piece, Hinkle discusses his work as an artist and educator, including his role at UMW as an adjunct instructor and studio technician.

He highlights his involvement in teaching studio art courses and collaborating with faculty on special topics, as well as his recent work creating sculptural stands for a bronze exhibition in the UMW Galleries. Read more in Fredericksburg Free Press.

Farnsworth Quoted on Virginia Redistricting in MSN

March 25, 2026 by Guest Author

Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth was quoted by MSN in an article, titled “Democrats zero in on Virginia redistricting as early voting begins.”

In the piece, Farnsworth describes the ballot measure as “an opportunity for Virginia voters to offer yet another referendum on how they feel about President Trump,” noting its broader political implications in a state the former president has lost in all three of his elections. Read more on MSN.

Other media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Israel Launches New Attacks on Tehran (Bell Media)
“Well, I think it is important to recognize the longer this goes on the worse it is politically for the president and the United States,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Read more from Bell Media

Important Spring Elections are Flying Under the Radar. Let’s Change That NOW (Daily KOS)
The ballot measure is “an opportunity for Virginia voters to offer yet another referendum on how they feel about President Trump” in a state he lost in all three of his elections, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. Learn more in Daily KOS.

Virginia Senators split on vote for Trump’s NSA and cyber security head (WVTF)
Support for Trump nominees may dog some candidates this fall, but University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth said Warner’s vote aligns with the incumbent’s long-running centrist-bonafides. The decision to vote for a Trump nominee may help persuade some centrist supporters to back Warner in November,” Farnsworth told Radio IQ. Learn more from WVTF.

Trump Compares Surprise Attack on Iran to Pearl Harbor (Bell Media)
“Well, I think it means that President Trump is going to be making decisions. I think one of the things that distinguishes the Trump presidency from other precedencies is that Trump really relies primarily on his own judgement,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Learn more from Bell Media.

True Blue (Richmond Magazine)
“I think so far the governor has been able to lean into her background in law enforcement to have a layer of credibility for her actions that isn’t always present with a governor,” says Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “The traditional Republican argument that Democrats are weak in this area simply doesn’t apply to someone with her career experience.” Read more in Richmond Magazine.

The 10 most important things that happened in Virginia’s 2026 legislative session – Mountain Media, LLC (The Enterprise)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that when all the leaders in the executive and legislative branches belong to the same party, “that’s when the fights get interesting.” Although Democrats now control the legislature and governor’s office, Farnsworth said, “there are still big decisions to be hammered out regarding the budget and the regulation of data centers, to name two things.” Read more in The Enterprise.

The 10 most important things that happened in Virginia’s 2026 legislative session (Virginia Mercury; Yahoo News)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that when all the leaders in the executive and legislative branches belong to the same party, “that’s when the fights get interesting.” Read more in Yahoo News.

General Assembly gavels out 2026 session without budget agreement (VPM News)
The legislation going to Spanberger has already gone through a number of filters, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “When you have a big Democratic majority, you do not need to keep every member happy all the time,” he said, referring to the House’s 64-seat majority. “That Democratic majority in the House gives the speaker, and the governor, the means of keeping things away from the governor that the governor doesn’t want to see.” Read more in VPM News.

The 10 most important things that happened in Virginia’s 2026 legislative session (Henrico Citizen; Maryland Matters)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that when all the leaders in the executive and legislative branches belong to the same party, “that’s when the fights get interesting.” Although Democrats now control the legislature and governor’s office, Farnsworth said, “there are still big decisions to be hammered out regarding the budget and the regulation of data centers, to name two things.” Read more in Henrico Citizen.

Larus Provides Analysis on China-Taiwan Military Activity for BBC News

March 25, 2026 by Guest Author

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus was featured by BBC News in an article titled “A rare ‘gap’ has appeared in the flights of Chinese military aircraft ‘harassing’ Taiwan; five interpretations of the underlying motives.” In the piece, Larus offers analysis on recent changes in Chinese military activity near Taiwan.

She notes that while some factors, such as China’s “Two Sessions,” may provide partial context, other explanations remain unclear. She also indicates that the activity is unlikely to be connected to U.S.-China relations or an anticipated visit by former President Trump, emphasizing that such military operations have become routine. Read more in BBC News.

Other media mentions for Larus include:

There is a rare “window period” in the flight of the CCP’s military aircraft “disturbing Taiwan”, and there are five interpretations of the motives behind it (BBC News)
In this regard, Elizabeth Larus, a professor emeritus at the University of Mary Washington and now a senior researcher at the Pacific Forum in the United States, also agrees that other information is not clear except for the “two sessions” factor. She told the BBC that she did not think it was related to Trump’s upcoming visit to China, “China’s daily disturbances to Taiwan’s air defense identification zone have become so routine that I don’t think they are a factor affecting US-China relations. I have seen some claims that the aircraft have been withdrawn to China due to military training, but I cannot confirm this.” Read more in BBC News.

Poska and Delgado-Poust Contribute to Ms. Magazine

March 11, 2026 by Guest Author

Associate Professor of Spanish Antonia Delgado-Poust

Professor Emerita of History Allyson Poska

Professor Emerita of History Allyson M. Poska recently published an essay in Ms. Magazine titled “This Is Our Country Too! The Enduring Legacy of Spanish-Speaking Women in Early America.”

The piece is part of the magazine’s FEMINIST 250 series, which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States by highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of women to the nation’s founding.

In the essay, Poska examines the roles that Spanish-speaking women — Indigenous, African, and European — played in building early communities across territories that would later become part of the United States. Her work challenges traditional narratives of early American history by foregrounding the diverse cultural and linguistic foundations of the nation.

Associate Professor of Spanish Antonia Delgado-Poust translated the essay into Spanish, helping to broaden its accessibility to Spanish-speaking audiences. Read the essay in Ms. Magazine.

Rao to Join CLE Panel on AI and the Legal Profession

March 11, 2026 by Guest Author

Professor of Communication and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao

Professor of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao, who directs UMW’s Center for AI and the Liberal Arts, will participate in an upcoming continuing legal education (CLE) panel hosted by the Richmond law firm Sands Anderson.

The virtual discussion will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal profession and the businesses and clients lawyers serve. Rao will be joined by Sands Anderson attorneys Ashley Davoli and Cullen Seltzer, a UMW alum.

The event will take place online on Thursday, March 26, at 4 p.m., with one hour of MCLE credit pending. Registration for the program is free. Learn more about the event or sign up to attend.

Barry Delivers Invited Book Talks on Gender Violence in Late Antiquity

March 11, 2026 by Guest Author

Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry

Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry presented two invited talks this week on her recent book, Gender Violence in Late Antiquity: Male Fantasies and the Christian Imagination (2025).

The first lecture was hosted by the Department of Religious Studies at Towson University, where Barry spoke about how late ancient Christian authors used narratives of gendered violence to construct authority, shape theological arguments and influence communal memory.

Barry also delivered a book talk for the Philadelphia Seminar on Christian Origins (PSCO) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Religious Studies. In this talk, she explored how stories of suffering bodies function within early Christian literature and demonstrated how close readings of these texts reveal patterns of power, interpretation, and narrative control.

These invited presentations highlight the growing scholarly and public interest in Barry’s work and its contribution to ongoing conversations about gender, violence and the historical imagination in early Christianity.

Farnsworth Shares Political Expertise With Yahoo News, MSN & More

March 11, 2026 by Guest Author

Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth was quoted by Yahoo News in an article titled “Reaction: Virginia Gov. delivers Dem response to Trump’s State of the Union.” In the piece, he said “Well, it is important to note that any time you do rebuttal to the State of the Union, you’re really talking about a very difficult challenging environment.” Read more in Yahoo News.

Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Virginia Democrats Focus on Affordability With New Governor, Control of General Assembly (Community Sentinel)

Stephen Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, said Democrats still face an uphill battle to impact Virginians’ wallets because macro-economic conditions come out of the federal government. “Affordability is really tough to manage at the state level,” he said. “There’s a limit to how much the state government can do to impact the price of groceries”. Read the article from Community Sentinel.

Virginia Senate leadership sends a message after killing Spanberger agenda bill (WVTF)
University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth told Radio IQ, “When everybody is on the same team that’s when things get interesting.” Read the article from WVTF.

As conflict with Iran widens, Virginia lawmakers navigate political fallout (Newsbreak)
Steven Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said history suggests foreign conflicts can quickly become domestic liabilities. “The history of an American military engagement in the region has been a pattern of voter backlash when things turn out not to be as simple as presidents say they are,” Farnsworth said. Read the article from Newsbreak.

Plans for Fairfax County casino move forward in Richmond (WJLA; MSN)
“This has been an issue that has been defeated but never killed legislatively and it comes back to live another life,” Steve Farnsworth, PhD, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, told 7News. “The true piece of zombie legislation in Northern Virginia does seem to be the casino project.” Read the article from WJLA.

As conflict with Iran widens, Virginia lawmakers navigate political fallout (Virginia Mercury)
Steven Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said history suggests foreign conflicts can quickly become domestic liabilities. Read the article in Virginia Mercury.

Trump Gives Longest-Ever State of the Union Speech (CTV News)
“Well, it’s important to remember that these are political pep rallies. They’re getting people excited for the next election to come,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Learn more from CTV News.

Can Trump Turn the Tide with the State of the Union (BFM 89.9 radio Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
“Well, I really do think that this is an important opportunity for the president to set the agenda for the year,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Learn more from BFM 89.9 radio Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

‘Fighting fire with fire’: Virginia’s role in the national redistricting race (The Virginia Independent)
“Perhaps President Trump hadn’t counted on the Democrats fighting fire with fire,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. Read the article in The Virginia Independent.

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