March 29, 2024

UMW to Observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The University of Mary Washington will observe National Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April to educate the UMW community about the impact of interpersonal violence and sexual abuse. The observance will include several on-campus activities for students and two public events.

UMW’s observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month will include Take Back the Night, an annual event that encourages people to speak out against sexual violence.

The observance will begin on Wednesday, April 3 with a presentation of the “Where’s the Line?” campaign. Sponsored by Fear 2 Freedom, a non-profit organization dedicated to bring hope and healing to those wounded by sexual abuse, the “Where’s the Line?” campaign aims to educate and empower students about sexual assault. The event will begin at 6 p.m. in Goolrick Hall’s gymnasium and will include remarks from President Richard V. Hurley. Those who attend the event can assemble care kits for sexual assault victims at local hospitals.

UMW’s observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month will culminate on Thursday, April 18 with Take Back the Night, an annual event that encourages people to speak out and take a stand against sexual violence. Take Back the Night, co-hosted by UMW and the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault, will begin at UMW’s Ball Circle at 5 p.m. and will end in downtown Fredericksburg’s Market Square. Take Back The Night has been operating for more than 35 years with thousands of events taking place nationwide.

Both “Where’s the Line?” and Take Back the Night, presented by the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services, are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://students.umw.edu/caps/april-is-sexual-assault-awareness-month/.

Drew University Dean Named as UMW Provost

Jonathan Levin has been named to the position of provost of the University of Mary Washington. Levin has spent more than 20 years in higher education, including nearly a decade as an administrator. Currently, he serves as dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Drew University in Madison, N.J.

Jonathan Levin has been named UMW’s provost. Photo courtesy of Drew University.

Levin will serve as the chief academic officer at UMW and will be responsible for oversight of all academic programs, academic planning and budgets and faculty matters. Working with the deans and the faculty, the provost provides leadership of major university initiatives in teaching, research and creative activities and has responsibility for all university educational and academic policies. He also will oversee enrollment management. Levin will begin work on June 25, 2013.

“I am extremely pleased that Dr. Levin has agreed to come to UMW,” said President Richard V. Hurley. “His background and experience will be a tremendous asset as we move the institution forward.”

Levin has served as dean and professor of English at Drew for five years, during which time he has coordinated all aspects of undergraduate curriculum development and assessment at the private liberal arts and sciences university in New Jersey. While at the institution, he oversaw development and implementation of several new programs, including the Baldwin Honors and Civic Scholars programs, as well as a new general education curriculum. During his tenure, Drew experienced substantial growth in underrepresented student populations and improved its academic profile.

Prior to Drew, Levin spent three years as dean of the School of Humanities at State University of New York at Purchase. During his time at Purchase, Levin led a redesign of the general education program and implemented collaborative campus-wide initiatives.

Levin also has served as chair of the Department of English, acting director of American studies and associate professor of English at Fordham University and as associate professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University.

The author of “The Poetics of Transition: Emerson, Pragmatism & American Literary Modernism,” Levin has published numerous articles in scholarly journals on 19th- and 20th-century American literature and culture.

Levin earned a bachelor of arts in English and French from the University of Michigan, a master of arts in English from the University of California at Los Angeles and a Ph.D. in English from Rutgers University.

Educator and Author to Deliver 2013 Commencement Addresses, May 10-11

The University of Mary Washington has announced its graduate and undergraduate speakers for the 2013 commencement ceremonies to be held on Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11. Dr. William “Bill” Cleveland Bosher Jr., public policy expert and former Virginia superintendent of education, will be the guest speaker for the graduate address on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the William M. Anderson Center. Steve Pemberton,

William “Bill” Cleveland Bosher will be the guest speaker during UMW’s graduate commencement ceremony. Photo courtesy of VCU.

business executive, motivational speaker and noted author, will deliver the undergraduate commencement address on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. on Ball Circle.

Bill Bosher

Bosher has been a teacher, principal, state director, local superintendent of two districts with more than 35,000 students and the superintendent of public instruction for the commonwealth of Virginia. He currently serves as distinguished professor of public policy and education at Virginia Commonwealth University and executive director of the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute, a legislative entity focused on research, training and policy analysis.

Named the arts administrator of the year by the Kennedy Center, Bosher is the only superintendent in Virginia to be named twice as the Superintendent of the Year. He has served as a consultant in more than 35 states and a dozen foreign countries on topics related to educational law and finance, policy analysis, standards development, school evaluations and human relations.

The co-author of “Law and Education: Contemporary Issues and Court Decisions” and “The School Law Handbook, What Every Leader Needs to Know,” Bosher is the board chairman of Edvantia, a research and evaluation nonprofit, and is a fellow of SchoolNet and the Urban Health Initiative.

Steve Pemberton

Pemberton has served as divisional vice president and chief diversity officer at Walgreens since 2011, after more than five years in diversity and inclusion at Monster.com and a decade in admissions at Boston College.

Steve Pemberton, divisional vice president and chief diversity officer at Walgreens, will be the guest speaker during UMW’s undergraduate commencement ceremony.

His speeches are inspirational testament to the power of faith, fortitude, and forgiveness. A ward of the state for much of his childhood, Pemberton has made opportunity, access and equality pillars of his personal and professional life. He has served on the boards of Big Brothers, Big Sisters, the Citi Performing Arts Center, the Home for Little Wanderers and the National TRIO Alumni Association. His memoir, “A Chance in the World: an Orphan Boy, a Mysterious Past and How He Found a Place Called Home,” chronicles his difficult path through foster care and determined search for his family.

In 2006, Fortune named him one of “the top 20 chief diversity officers in corporate America.” In 2007, Pemberton was called to Capitol Hill to provide testimony on best practices in diversity recruiting, and in 2008 he was named by Savoy as one of “the top 100 most influential African Americans in corporate America.” Pemberton, who lives in the Chicago area, presented UMW’s Martin Luther King Jr., keynote lecture in 2013.

Students Gain International Experience During Spring Break

For 10 University of Mary Washington students, Spring Break felt more like winter. The group traveled to Quebec, Canada – where the average high in March is zero degrees Celsius – as part of a weeklong faculty-led study abroad trip.

Students from various levels of French embarked on their journey on Friday, March 1, and reached Canadian French culture after a two-hour plane ride.

Professor Scott Powers and a group of students explore Montreal’s biodome as part of their study abroad trip.

“It’s pretty incredible that French has been preserved in one province in Canada for hundreds of years,” said Sarah Lynch, a sophomore psychology major. Quebec, located in east-central Canada, is the only Canadian province with French as the single official language.

The trip to Quebec, led by Associate Professor of French Scott Powers, was one of five faculty-led study abroad opportunities during Spring Break, including Belize, Guatemala, Germany, Scotland and Ireland. The trips offer students experiences beyond the foreign language classroom – a complete linguistic, cultural and culinary immersion.

“Getting an opportunity to speak French in the real world let me see how much I really had learned,” said sophomore international affairs major Lauren Malecki. “If I mispronounced something many of the locals would correct me.”

Students made maple sugar candy during one of their excursions in Quebec.

Students practiced French while ordering food, interacting with locals and on tours of cultural and historic sites. They saw a theatre performance in RÉSO, one of the largest underground cities in the world, ate a four-course meal at the Parliament of Quebec, attended a class at the University of Montreal and spent an evening at winter festival.

“It’s surprising that right around the corner we can have a completely different cultural experience,” said Meredith Stone, a sophomore geography major.

The trip also allowed students to gain experiential learning credit, a graduation requirement at UMW designed to challenge students to go outside of the bounds of the typical classroom.

Powers hopes that he will be able to take another group of students to Quebec next spring.

“I think the trip made students feel more comfortable with speaking to people in French,” he said. “In a couple of days of being here your inhibitions melt away.”

Gari Melchers Home and Studio Hosts Beeping Egg Hunt

Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont will host its second annual Beeping Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 23. The free event, held from 1-3 p.m. regardless of weather, will provide visually impaired and blind individuals and their families an opportunity to participate in a non-traditional Easter egg hunt.

The second annual Beeping Easter Egg Hunt will allow visually impaired and blind children to participate in an egg hunt

The specially designed plastic Easter eggs, donated by Stafford County-based International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators, emit a beeping sound that allows visually impaired children to retrieve the eggs using their ears. The event also will include “touch tours” of Gari Melcher’s studio and home, which will allow visitors to explore various features of Belmont with their hands. Games, Wegman’s-sponsored healthy snacks, a visit with the Easter bunny and a “Touch a Tractor” station will round out the day’s activities.

Eligible families should RSVP by Monday, March 18 to Education and Communication Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby at mdolby@umw.edu or (540) 654-1851.

Gari Melchers Home and Studio is a 28-acre estate and former residence of the artist Gari Melchers and his wife Corinne. The property, which is operated by the University of Mary Washington, is both a Virginia Historic Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. Located at 224 Washington St. in Falmouth, Va., a quarter mile west of the intersection of U.S. 1 and U.S. 17, it is open daily with an admission charge. The museum also serves as the official Stafford County Visitor Center.  For directions and other information, call (540) 654-1015 or visit the museum website at www.GariMelchers.org.

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News release prepared by: Michelle Crow-Dolby

Gari Melchers Home and Studio Held Beeping Egg Hunt

Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont hosted its second annual Beeping Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 23. The free event, held from 1-3 p.m., provided visually impaired and blind individuals and their families an opportunity to participate in a non-traditional Easter egg hunt.

The second annual Beeping Easter Egg Hunt will allow visually impaired and blind children to participate in an egg hunt

The specially designed plastic Easter eggs, donated by Stafford County-based International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators, emit a beeping sound that allows visually impaired children to retrieve the eggs using their ears. The event also included “touch tours” of Gari Melcher’s studio and home, which allowed visitors to explore various features of Belmont with their hands. Games, Wegman’s-sponsored healthy snacks, a visit with the Easter bunny and a “Touch a Tractor” station rounded out the day’s activities.

Gari Melchers Home and Studio is a 28-acre estate and former residence of the artist Gari Melchers and his wife Corinne. The property, which is operated by the University of Mary Washington, is both a Virginia Historic Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. Located at 224 Washington St. in Falmouth, Va., a quarter mile west of the intersection of U.S. 1 and U.S. 17, it is open daily with an admission charge. The museum also serves as the official Stafford County Visitor Center.  For directions and other information, call (540) 654-1015 or visit the museum website at www.GariMelchers.org.

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News release prepared by: Michelle Crow-Dolby

Political Science Student Awarded Summer Scholarship

University of Mary Washington junior Shirley Martey is the recipient of the 2013 Ambassador Summer Scholarship from the Taiwan-U.S. Sister Relations Alliance (TUSA). Martey, chosen to represent the Commonwealth of Virginia, is the first UMW student to be awarded the scholarship. A political science major, Martey is a member of UMW’s Finance Committee and is the treasurer of the Student Government Association. She also serves on the College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee and has been active in Student Senate. Martey is a member of the Mortar Board national honor society and Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society. She has been named to the Dean’s List. “Shirley personifies the spirit and values of UMW,” said Elizabeth Larus, professor of political science and international affairs. “A high achiever, Shirley has an infectious enthusiasm for learning and will bring a high level of energy and gusto to the TUSA program. Shirley will make an excellent ambassador because she is open to other cultures and her exuberant friendliness quickly puts others at ease.” The Ambassador Scholarship provides funds for an eight-week study of Chinese language at the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. Recipients of the scholarship learn Mandarin Chinese and experience Taiwanese culture while representing the U.S. TUSA promotes peace in the world by creating closer friendships and understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of Taiwan. “Shirley’s achievement speaks for itself: it is an outstanding accomplishment, consistent with her record of academic excellence that she has compiled at UMW,” said Jack Kramer, distinguished professor and chair of political science and international affairs. “It is also very welcome news because the United States desperately needs far more individuals fluent in Chinese as it seeks to understand and respond to a rapidly growing China that is emerging as a global challenger to the U.S. economically and militarily.” For more information about the TUSA, visit http://taiwanusalliance.com/ambassador-summer-scholarship-program/.

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News release prepared by:       Julia Davis

UMW Receives National Recognition for Service

Two dozen University of Mary Washington students spent their Spring Break serving others. The students, who spent a week in Albany, Ga., and Melbourne, Fla., built houses with Habitat for Humanity through a program known as Alternative Spring Break. The annual program is one of many service opportunities that have given UMW a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the fourth consecutive year. UMW is one of 690 U.S. colleges and universities recognized for engaging students, faculty and staff in substantial, relevant and meaningful service to communities. The honor roll, announced March 4 at the American Council on Education’s 95th Annual Meeting, is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact and the American Council on Education. During this year’s Alternative Spring Break trips, the 24 students, along with Director of Service Christina Eggenberger and Accounts Receivable Manager Paul Griggs, built houses in the local communities. “It’s so rewarding each year to experience something new and gain a new perspective on life,” said one of the students on the group’s Tumbler page. “I’m proud of everyone who has dedicated their breaks to a great cause. I feel blessed to be a part of it every year.” To follow along with UMW’s Alternative Spring Break trips, visit http://wearehardcoar.tumblr.com/.

Gari Melchers Home and Studio Creates “Little Free Library”

Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont is the site of a new public book exchange, part of the Little Free Library movement. The international movement encourages literacy and community-building through free book exchanges, known as Little Free Libraries. Visitors may pick up and drop off books at any location, completely free of charge.

When Susan Taylor-Schran, Museum Shop and Marketing Manager at Belmont, heard about the movement, she knew it would be a fit for the historic landmark, given the Melchers’ lifelong love of books.

Local woodworker Ken Smith built the wooden structure, located near the entrance of Belmont, and incorporated design elements from Belmont’s studio.

“The idea of placing a Little Free Library at Belmont is in keeping with the charitable works of Gari and Corinne Melchers, whose concern for the citizens of Falmouth and surrounding areas is still remembered by many of our elderly citizens,” said Taylor-Schran.

For more information about the Little Free Library movement, visit http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/.

Gari Melchers Home and Studio is a 28-acre estate and former residence of the artist Gari Melchers and his wife Corinne. The property, which is operated by the University of Mary Washington, is both a Virginia Historic Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. Located at 224 Washington St. in Falmouth, Va., a quarter mile west of the intersection of U.S. 1 and U.S. 17, it is open daily with an admission charge. The museum also serves as the official Stafford County Visitor Center. For directions and other information, call (540) 654-1015 or visit the museum website at http://garimelchers.umw.edu.

C-SPAN Show Features James Monroe Museum

An episode of C-SPAN’s new series “First Ladies: Influence and Image” features the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library. The episode, which aired on C-SPAN on Monday, March 18 at 9 p.m., focuses on First Lady Elizabeth Monroe. The episode includes interviews with Scott Harris, director of the James Monroe Museum, and Daniel Preston, editor of the Papers of James Monroe, as well as footage of the museum. The two-year series examines the private lives of the First Ladies as well as the public roles they played in the White House. The series is produced in cooperation with the White House Historical Association and is the first comprehensive biography series on all of the First Ladies produced for television. The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library is a National Historic Landmark owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia and administered by the University of Mary Washington.  Founded in 1927, it is the nation’s largest repository of artifacts and documents related to the fifth President of the United States. For hours of operation, directions, and other information, call (540) 654-1043, or visit www.jamesmonroemuseum.org.

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News release prepared by: Brynn Boyer