Irene Piscopo Rodgers poses in 2017 with Mary Washington students Kelly McDaniel, Mary Hopkin and Emily Ferguson. The young women represent just a few of the many students who have benefitted through the years from Rodgers’ generosity to her alma mater. Her final gift of $30 million – the largest ever received by the University – will be ‘transformational’ to UMW’s undergraduate research program, providing students with invaluable hands-on learning opportunities for decades to come.

The University of Mary Washington has received a $30 million gift – the largest in the institution’s 115-year history – from the estate of Irene Piscopo Rodgers. A 1959 alumna and lifetime supporter of her alma mater, Rodgers passed away on July 18, 2022, in Huntington, New York.

Rodgers made a name for herself in the field of electron microscopy and helped pave the way for UMW graduates, especially women, to excel in STEM subjects of their own choosing. Mary Washington, as she often said, had “opened worlds” for her. Now, this generous gift – along with others that Rodgers made through the years – will carry on her legacy by helping the University prepare young scholars for successful careers in science, technology, engineering and math for decades to come.

“Students who benefitted from Irene’s generosity welcomed her into their lives, so she was able to observe firsthand the transformative power of her gifts,” said UMW President Troy Paino. “This unprecedented donation guarantees that exceptional students will continue to have access to a UMW education that delivers the kind of high-impact learning experiences that Irene valued so much.”

Rodgers’ gift will grow UMW’s undergraduate research program, Paino said. Students in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, Earth and environmental sciences, computer science and math will have even more opportunities to explore their research interests throughout the academic year and at the University’s Summer Science Institute, working alongside faculty mentors. Mary Washington also offers undergraduate, graduate and accelerated pathways for students aspiring to study law, medicine, engineering, conservation biology, pharmacy, accounting and business analytics through agreements with partner institutions. Read more.

Winners of employee awards announced Monday, Feb. 27, are (from left) Ryan Hastings, Sharon Williams, Clint Often, Betsy Southern and Justin Wilkes. Photo by Sam Cahill.

Five University of Mary Washington employees were honored during an employee recognition luncheon Monday, Feb. 27, for their extraordinary contributions to students and the University community as a whole.

President Troy Paino praised award winners and other employees for fostering the kind of community that helps students thrive academically and socially.

Today’s students have shown their resilience during the public health crisis and other contemporary pressures, Paino said. Caring, support and mentorship from employees reinforces that resilience and gives students a model for how to function as contributing adults.

“Thank you so much for all you do for our students and all you do for Mary Washington,” Paino told more than 240 luncheon attendees at the Chandler Ballroom of the Cedric Rucker University Center.

Winners of the University Staff Council’s Larry Atkins Award, recognizing UMW’s “unsung heroes,” were: Read more.

Associate Professor of Geography Caitie Finlayson uses ChatGPT to help generate and refine questions for her students.

When you ask how UMW is using ChatGPT in the classroom, you’ll hear a variety of responses. Some students and faculty have yet to hear of the emerging AI technology. Some know it well and make use of it for their assignments whether instructors know it or not. Some say they’re being encouraged by their professors to use it wisely as part of the writing process.

Several UMW faculty gathered on Feb. 8, 2023, to share their professional and personal experience with ChatGPT in an open discussion jointly led by the Center for Teaching and Digital Learning Support.

Professor of Communication and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao kicked off the conversation, after spending a semester exploring and embracing ChatGPT in his debate and speech class.

“What are some of the possibilities? What’s the potential?” he asked. Read more.