Offering readers fresh perspectives to explore during the winter season, recently published works from University of Mary Washington faculty and alumni span history, international relations, poetry, young-adult fiction and more.

The new titles and their authors are:

• NATO After Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Threat Perceptions and Their Consequences by Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson
• Magick Squared by Jen Furlong ’14
• The Brides of War: A Vietnam War Novel by Steve Gladis
• The Song of North Mountain by Elizabeth Morgan Golladay ’68
• State Builders from the Steppe: A History of the First Bulgarian Empire by Eric D. Halsey ’11
• Football Is …: What the Game Does To Us, For Us, Through Us by Associate Professor of Economics Shawn Humphrey
• The Language Work of Speechwriters by Gwynne Mapes ’08
• The Buried Cause: Unearthing Hidden History in the Lee Monument Cornerstone by Adjunct Instructor of Historic Preservation Katherine Ridgway

Read more about recent books by UMW faculty, alumni and friends.

Students across the University of Mary Washington capped off their fall semester with an unexpected snow day that only added to the excitement of presenting original research and creative work developed over months of effort.

Across a series of end-of-semester symposia—held in multiple academic departments and only slightly reshuffled due to the weather—students shared the outcomes of that work. Posters, video screenings, presentations and discussions offered a window into the range of questions students pursued and the methods they used to explore them. Projects spanned the sciences, humanities, arts and social sciences, illustrating the breadth of research and creativity that defines UMW’s undergraduate experience.

At the Jepson Science Center Fall Research Symposium, more than 70 projects were showcased. Undergraduate researchers in biology, chemistry, physics, earth and environmental sciences filled the lobby and main floor with posters detailing experiments, fieldwork and laboratory analysis. The projects reflected a wide range of scientific inquiry—from immune signaling and neurodegeneration to watershed ecology and climate reconstruction.

“These end-of-semester symposia display what students can do when they take ownership of research and creative inquiry,” said Director of Undergraduate Research Elizabeth Lewis. “The work reflects not only technical skill but curiosity, persistence and a willingness to ask a lot of questions.”

Read more about UMW Fall Symposia.

University of Mary Washington sophomore Lauren Spagnuolo knew the morning would be memorable, but she didn’t anticipate just how special it would be. Moments after arriving at Fredericksburg’s Walker-Grant Center, the psychology major found herself on the floor beside local preschoolers as they opened brightly wrapped gift boxes filled with toys, art supplies, hats and gloves, toothbrushes and more.

One preschooler hugged a new teddy bear. Others held up Play-Doh and Hot Wheels cars, and squealed with delight over favorites like Bluey, Sonic and Barbie. The joyful scene marked the culmination of UMW’s annual Gift Box Drive, a decades-long service tradition coordinated by Community Outreach and Resources (COAR), part of the University’s Center for Community Engagement.

Spagnuolo, who also minors in disability studies, spent the semester staffing information tables, collecting donations and explaining the project to fellow students. “The experience was really gratifying,” she said. “I loved the holiday spirit of it all. The wrapping party was great, tabling was fun and getting to help the kids open their boxes made everything come full circle.”

Mary Washington’s campus community filled 300 boxes this year for children enrolled in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania’s Head Start and Virginia Preschool Initiative programs. COAR student leaders guided every step of the process, from planning the wrapping party – which drew more than 70 student volunteers — to sorting and checking the boxes before delivery.

Read more about the gift box delivery event.

Five teams laid out plans to save a cinema giant, but only one could claim top billing.

University of Mary Washington seniors Karla Bonilla Lizama and Evelyn Centellas won the Fall 2025 College of Business Case Competition – titled “Reel Choices: The Crossroads of a Movie Studio’s Destiny” – for their ideas, presentation and polish.

Now in its ninth year, the biannual contest, held last month in Lee Hall, pits teams from UMW’s 400-level Strategic Management course against one another in a quest to sort out a “case” of a struggling business. Participants tap into the concepts and skillsets they’ve collected in class to analyze issues, plan a path to success and impress a panel of judges. The challenge gives students the type of real-world experience they’ll likely encounter in their careers, plus the top three contenders walk away with cash prizes totaling $3,000.

“All the groups were professional, prepared and had well thought-out presentations,” said Andrew Blate ’04, who owns Beautiful Home Services with business partner Craig Schneibolk. The two led the way in establishing the Case Competition and the endowed fund for its annual awards. “The students were impressive and are excellent examples of the quality of students UMW’s College of Business produces.”

Read more about COB Case Competition.

The University of Mary Washington will add a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, with enrollment beginning in 2026-27.

The new program gained approval from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) at its October 2025 meeting and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in November. It builds from Mary Washington’s established RN-to-BSN completion program, offering healthcare professionals a next step in their education and careers. This new graduate program will prepare nurses for leadership roles in clinical practice, education and healthcare systems.

MSN students can choose the nursing education track to be ready for faculty roles at colleges and universities or in clinical facilities through curriculum development, assessment and education technology or select the family nurse practitioner track to focus on advanced nursing practice and primary care.

Each track includes 18 credit hours of core coursework, with 12-18 additional hours in the track area, as well as 5-9 credit hours for clinical practicums and a one-credit hour capstone course. It requires two years of full-time study or three years for part-time study, with online coursework and in-person practicums.

“This program aims to address vacancies in primary care and healthcare higher education in our region and across the Commonwealth, equipping nurses with advanced competencies and expertise for leadership, specialized practice and improved patient outcomes,” said Director of Nursing Janet Atarthi-Dugan. Read more about the UMW MSN degree program.

Throughout their time on campus, University of Mary Washington students Tonia Attie ’26 and Merna Mousa ’25 were engaged citizens that gave back to their community and worked to advance an equitable and just democracy. For their efforts to help classmates access voting, get involved and have a say in the democratic process, they were named Newman Civic Fellows by Campus Contact.

Attie received the current honor for 2025-26, while Mousa held it previously for 2024-25, representing UMW among national cohorts of student leaders selected by Campus Compact, a coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to civic and community engagement. Both students made it their mission while at Mary Washington to empower their peers, strengthen democratic participation and serve their communities in meaningful ways.

“These students represent the very best of what it means to be civically engaged,” said Sarah Dewees, director of UMW’s Center for Community Engagement. “They bring thoughtfulness and determination to public problem-solving and are committed to learning more about the democratic process.” Read more about the Newman Civic Fellows.

The University of Mary Washington has partnered with The Good Steward Farm to enlist a herd of goats to clear overgrown areas in the woods along the Sunken Road boundary of the Fredericksburg Campus. About a dozen goats are working to assist with the removal of invasive plant species and ready the grounds for winter, so that native plants can grow in the spring.

The goats are skilled at reaching hard-to-landscape areas such as hillsides, offering an environmentally friendly landscape management practice that reduces the need for herbicide and gas-powered equipment.

“Goats eat invasive plants like English ivy, poison ivy and brush, leaving behind healthier soil for native plants and our urban forest. It’s a fun, eco-friendly alternative to land management,” said UMW Director of Landscape and Grounds Holly Chichester-Morby. “‘Goatscaping’ – a real term – is a sustainable approach that allows us to clear overgrowth and invasive species in a large, difficult area without chemicals or crew labor. This allows our UMW landscape crew to focus on other autumn grounds tasks while providing a nice, healthy buffet for the goats. Plus, they are really cute.” Read more about UMW welcoming goats to its Fredericksburg campus.

The University of Mary Washington’s commitment to sustainability earned national recognition once again as it was named to The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges. The annual guide highlights institutions that demonstrate exceptional dedication to environmental responsibility through academic offerings, campus policies and community engagement.

Included among 388 schools featured in the 2026 edition released last month, UMW earned a Green Rating of 86 out of 99, based on survey data assessing sustainability practices, institutional priorities and student support for environmental awareness and conservation efforts on campus.

“Among the hundreds of schools we surveyed for this project, the University of Mary Washington, which offers excellent academics, is also a stand-out for its record of environmentally responsible practices,” said Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review. “We are delighted to recommend UMW to college applicants who want their ‘best-fit’ college to also be a ‘green’ one.” Read more about UMW’s green thumbs-up from The Princeton Review.

Olivia-Lena De Veaux, a senior international affairs and Spanish major at the University of Mary Washington, has embraced study abroad in college, spending a semester in Mexico and going on a faculty-led trip to Guatemala over spring break.

“It’s been exhilarating to expand my horizons in ways I couldn’t have imagined four years ago,” said De Veaux, who earned the Gail Madden Shedlick ’78 Scholarship, which helped fund her summer internship working at a hotel in Prague. “It was my first experience navigating professional life in a foreign culture. I learned to translate my academic studies into real-world action – skills I’ll carry forward into my career.”

De Veaux was one of several students who spoke at the Celebration of Giving, sharing how donor-funded scholarships and awards that support internships, study abroad and undergraduate research have prepared them for Life After Mary Washington. With a theme of UMW pride and school spirit, the Nov. 13 event welcomed more than 200 guests to thank donors who contributed to the University’s success and celebrate its historic fundraising year and impressive college rankings.

The evening opened with the UMW Pep Band filling the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom with rousing renditions of fan favorites like the Mary Washington fight song, “Soar, Eagle Nation, Soar.” Guests then heard from a lineup of speakers, beginning with Katie Turcotte, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement and executive director of the UMW Foundation.

Turcotte thanked supporters for contributing $37.8 million in gifts and pledges and helping UMW’s endowment surpass $100 million. She also highlighted several milestones, including Mary Wash Day exceeding $1 million in donations for the first time, and the Fund for Mary Washington receiving more than $1 million in unrestricted support. Donors funded 824 scholarships totaling $2.3 million for 553 students this year.

“Transformational impact isn’t about the size of the gift – it’s about purpose,” Turcotte said. “Every contribution, every volunteer hour, every act of support helps move this University forward.” Read more about the Celebration of Giving.

 

University of Mary Washington sophomore Maggie Alt’s strong response to a question about her greatest weakness impressed judges during last month’s Mock Interview Competition.

“I told them I need time and a few conversations with people before I can fully open up and make connections with them,” said Alt, a historic preservation major, who added that UMW’s Student Alumni Ambassador (SAA) program has helped her acclimate to others more quickly.

The confidence-boosting moment – the judges applauded her thoughtfulness – helped Alt clinch the competition, held every other year to equip SAAs with career-launching strategies and techniques. Organized by UMW’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, it’s one of numerous initiatives that help connect students with alumni whose advice and expertise can prepare them for Life After Mary Washington.

Alt was one of 20 students who vied for a fictional position planning programming for Mary Washington graduates. Yet, she received a real reward – an overnight stay at a regional alumni event and a recommendation from Katie Turcotte, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement and executive director of the UMW Foundation.

“I was thrilled, knowing I went up against such strong competition,” said Alt, who hopes to work in urban planning and geographic information systems (GIS). “I now know the mindset I need to bring to an interview and how to prepare for success.” Read more about the mock interview competition.