What's New @ UMW Archives

UMW Welcomes NAACP President for MLK Keynote Address Jan. 22

January 16, 2025 by smahoney Leave a Comment

President and CEO of the NAACP Derrick Johnson will give the MLK Keynote Address at UMW on Jan. 22, 2025.

When Derrick Johnson takes the stage at the University of Mary Washington next week, his words are expected to resonate far beyond the event’s walls – inspiring those who hear him to reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s enduring legacy.

President and CEO of the NAACP since 2017, Johnson has spent decades advocating for fairness, equality and the underserved. When he delivers his address Wednesday, Jan. 22, and connects with the UMW community, Johnson said, he’ll delve into the importance of serving one’s neighbor, contributing to the community, and building and protecting America’s democracy.

The event, co-sponsored by Mary Washington’s NAACP College Chapter and Germanna Community College, takes place at 7 p.m. in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom. It’s free and open to the public and serves as the centerpiece of a weeklong celebration honoring King’s life and work.

“We all have a mutual obligation to support our neighbor and recognize that our collective uniqueness is our strength,” said Johnson. “Our uniqueness is our genius, and we should celebrate that genius.” Read more.

Mary Washington Biology Majors Capture Research Grants at Statewide Conference

January 16, 2025 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

UMW senior Max de la Cruz Morrobel displays their research project during the Virginia Academy of Science conference in November, earning one of 10 grants awarded.

When the Virginia Academy of Science (VAS) awarded 10 competitive grants at its Fall Meeting in November, students from the University of Mary Washington claimed four of them – highlighting the University’s dedication to undergraduate research.

Held at Ferrum College, the annual conference brought together aspiring scientists from across Virginia to present their research and compete for funding. This year, UMW biology majors stood out among their peers from larger institutions, securing nearly half of the available grants.

“Having the opportunity to share what I’ve been working on for nearly a year was rewarding,” said senior Bonnie Butler, a grant recipient recognized for her project The Effects of PDGFRb Activation on Vasculature in HUVEC Cells Transfected with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 Repeats. Working with Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Ginny Morriss, Butler examined the role of growth factors in blood vessel formation.

“To be one of a handful of UMW students to win a grant is truly an honor,” Butler said. “The success UMW had at VAS speaks volumes about the University and the opportunities and support it provides its undergraduate students.”

Senior Max de la Cruz Morrobel focused on plant hormones that regulate growth. Their project, Expression of Plasmodesmal Regulatory Genes in Response to Brassinosteroids, conducted under the mentorship of Associate Professor of Biological Sciences April Wynn, has meaningful implications for crop production. Wynn is an elected officer in VAS.

“I will work hard to pay the grant I generously received from the VAS conference forward to society through my agricultural research,” de la Cruz Morrobel said. Read more.

UMW Scholarship Honors Late Environmental Science Professor

January 16, 2025 by Jill Laiacona Leave a Comment

Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science and Biology Michael Bass who passed away Oct. 4, 2024.

Grace Hannah Buck ’26 never had the chance to take a class with University of Mary Washington Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science and Biology Michael Bass. But the scholarship that bears his name has made a monumental impact on the UMW junior who’s majoring in environmental geology and historic preservation, with plans to pursue a career in architectural preservation.

“Receiving this award was like someone telling me they saw my hard work and my potential and wanted to partner with me so I could achieve my educational goals,” said Buck, the recipient of the Class of 1972 Dr. Michael Bass Scholarship. Bass served as class sponsor and kept in close touch with 1972 graduates over the years, leading them to establish the scholarship in celebration of their 50th reunion. “I’m so grateful to him and the donors who have made this scholarship possible for me and future students.”

It often takes generations for tiny saplings to become towering trees, but in just a few years, Bass grew Mary Washington’s fledging environmental science program to one that has cultivated careers for countless alumni over the decades. After he passed away on Oct. 4, 2024, tributes poured in, from graduates who were influenced by their former professor to enter professions relating to his field, and those who appreciated the support that he and wife Heather gave the Mary Washington community.

“I knew that I had made the right choice by coming to a small school with a professor filled with the same wonder and passion for nature that I had,” said May Sligh ’88, who has spent decades protecting water quality along the East Coast. “Dr. Bass’ kindness, ability to listen to his students and desire to share his knowledge was unmatched. I’m forever grateful for the role he played in helping me find a career that I love.”

Bass held several research positions before joining the Mary Washington faculty, where he became the first chair of the Department of Environmental Science and Geology (now Earth and Environmental Sciences), which was introduced in 1993. He earned a Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1976 and spent more than 45 years in the classroom at Mary Washington before retiring in 2018.

UMW’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences will celebrate Bass’ life and career at Mary Washington with an open-house memorial in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 2-4 p.m. The event is free and open to all current and former members of the Mary Washington community and the public.

Renovated UMW Pool Opens With a Splash to Kick Off the Spring Semester

January 16, 2025 by Amy Jessee Leave a Comment

UMW colors pop on the facility’s walls, with new lane lines, an accessible lift, and University-branded backstroke flags and starting blocks all making a debut at this Saturday’s competition.

Goolrick Pool at the University of Mary Washington has reopened for the spring 2025 semester, following a six-month renovation that upgraded all areas of the facility, both in function and appearance. UMW will host the first home varsity swim meet of the season on Saturday, Jan. 18, as the Eagles celebrate senior day.

“The primary focus has been on improving and extending the life of our historic facility,” said UMW Aquatics Coordinator and Pool Operator Kyle Diederich, a senior on the men’s swim and dive team. “It has long been a place of opportunity, potential and excitement for those who use it. With this renovation, Goolrick Pool has been transformed into a modernized and improved aquatic facility, continuing to serve its purpose for current and future generations of UMW students and the local community.”

The renovation to the historic facility was extensive and included the following improvements:
(1) Full replacement of the pool deck and pool perimeter lip tile, covering over 5,000 square feet.
(2) Removal of all existing in-pool tiling and underwater lighting, followed by waterproofing the pool shell and resurfacing it with quartz aggregate pool plaster.
(3) Upgraded replacement of various pool-related plumbing systems, including the main drain system, return inlets (“jets”) and overflow gutter drains.
(4) Numerous upgrades and maintenance to the pool pump room and its internal systems.
(5) Re-painting the entire facility in a new color scheme and design.
(6) Installation of new lane lines, school-branded backstroke flags, an accessible lift, and University-branded starting blocks – which will debut at the competition Saturday.

“We are excited to reopen Goolrick Pool, a facility rich in history and tradition, now revitalized for the future,” said Director of Athletics Patrick Catullo. “This renovation ensures that our swimmers and the UMW community will practice and compete in a first-class facility as we celebrate the continued success of our championship teams.” Read more.

UMW Theatre Returning for 2025 Season

January 16, 2025 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

UMW Theatre will resume its 2024-25 season with John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower. Performances will be February 6-8 and February 13-15 at 7:30 p.m., and February 9 and February 16 at 2:00 p.m. in Klein Theatre, duPont Hall at the University of Mary Washington. Tickets are $30 for standard admission and $25 for students, senior citizens, and military. Groups of ten or more can receive a discount as well.

Guests may also attend the Pay-What-You-Can Preview performance on February 5 at 7:30 p.m. The box office opens at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. AfterWords, a post-show talkback with the cast, will take place after the matinee performance on February 9.

Set in 2018 rural Georgia, John Proctor is the Villain explores the experiences of a group of high school students studying Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. As scandal erupts in their town, the students begin to draw parallels between their lives and the plot of The Crucible, questioning if John Proctor is the hero he is made out to be. John Proctor is the Villain explores themes of friendship, power dynamics, and patriarchy through a contemporary feminist lens.

After reading The Witches by Stacy Schiff, a nonfiction book about the Salem Witch Trials, Kimberly Belflower began to draw parallels between the trials and the #MeToo movement. With this idea, she was commissioned by The Farm Theater in New York to write a play which grew into John Proctor is the Villain. The play was commissioned by The Farm Theater in 2017 and workshopped there in 2018, as well as the Ojai Playwrights Conference in 2019. The play was staged at Centre College in 2018, at Furman University and Rollins College in 2019, and professionally at DC’s Studio Theatre in 2022. The Broadway premiere is scheduled for spring 2025.

John Proctor is the Villain is directed by Gregg Stull, professor of theatre and chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance. Scenic design is by Associate Professor Michael Benson and sound design by the Director of Marketing and Audience Services Jon Reynolds. Lighting design and costume design are by guest designers Max Doolittle and Alicia Austin ’16 respectively. For further information, call the Klein Theatre Box Office at (540) 654-1111 or visit www.FredTix.com.

Great Lives Lecture Series 2025 Begins With “Women of the CIA”

January 16, 2025 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

The Great Lives Lecture Series: Biographical Approaches to History and Culture will begin its 22nd season on Tuesday, Jan. 21 featuring 15 programs running through Thursday, Mar. 20. This compelling lecture series offers insight into a wide and diverse range of figures of historical and cultural significance. Lectures take place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. Each session typically includes a Q&A and book-signing.

Get set for the first lecture of the year:

Jan. 21 — Women of the CIA — Liza Mundy

The Sisterhood: The Secret Story of Women at the CIA recounts the true story of the women espionage officers — tough, brilliant, resilient — who helped build the world’s foremost spy agency. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus, which named it one of the most anticipated non-fiction titles of fall 2023, calling it “a story that deserves to be told about women who deserve to be remembered.” Pulitzer-Prize winning author Steve Coll called it a “rip-roaring read about spycraft” that rewrites our understanding of the events before and after the 9-11 attacks.

Speaker Liza Mundy

Speaker Liza Mundy is an award-winning journalist and the New York Times-bestselling author of five books — including her latest work The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA (2023) which she’ll discus at the lecture. Her narrative nonfiction aims to engage, delight, and inform readers by providing a compelling take on important parts of American history that have long been overlooked, expanding our collective understanding of our past by telling true stories of the people, often unsung, who shaped our world. Kate Moore, author of Radium Girls, called her “one of our foremost historians.”

Mundy has appeared on television and radio shows, including The Colbert Report, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, MSNBC, CNN, C-Span, Weekend Edition, All Things Considered, and Fresh Air with Terry Gross. She has given talks at many events related to national security, leadership, STEM, politics, intelligence, and World War II history. A former staff writer for The Washington Post, she writes for the Atlantic, Politico, and Smithsonian, among others. She has an AB degree from Princeton University and an MA in English literature from the University of Virginia. She lives in Washington, DC–not far from the sites of both the Army and Navy WWII code-breaking operations–and in Los Angeles, CA. At various points in her life as a working parent she has worked full-time, part-time, all-night, at home, in the office, remotely, in person, on trains, in the car, alone, in crowds, under duress, and while simultaneously making dinner!

For more details, see the Great Lives FAQ or use the Contact Us for more information.

‘Poets&Quants’ Recognizes UMW Business Professor Kashef Majid as one of 50 ‘Best’

December 16, 2024 by Amy Jessee

Associate Professor of Marketing Kashef Majid

UMW Associate Professor of Business Kashef Majid is one of the 50 best undergraduate professors of 2024, honored by Poets&Quants. The annual list features accomplished, innovative and compassionate professors who “represent the best of what an undergraduate business degree can offer,” according to the online publication.

A standout professor with exceptional contributions in research and teaching, Majid has multiple awards in both areas, leaving a sustained and meaningful impact on his discipline, students and community.

“This is a highly selective distinction made by one of the most influential voices in business education today: Poets&Quants,” said UMW College of Business Dean Filiz Tabak. “Kashef’s research has uncovered important implications for businesses and policymakers, particularly in areas such as digital marketing, consumer liability and the sharing economy. His innovative teaching is also known for imparting cutting-edge, highly marketable skills to his students as well as bringing a strong sense of social responsibility and community engagement.”

As one example, he has developed an innovative Digital Marketing course through which students gain skills in digital marketing and AI tools in addition to obtaining the Google Analytics certification. And he developed a course called Alleviating Food Waste, which partners with local businesses to help them redeploy excess food resources in a way that benefits the community. Read more.

Making Spirits Bright: College Students Deliver Holiday Joy to Local Preschoolers

December 16, 2024 by Sarah Mahoney

[caption id="attachment_259345" align="alignright" width="300"]

UMW students and Center for Community Engagement Director Sarah Dewees hand deliver gift boxes to local preschoolers. L-R: Dewees, Sarah Hybl ’25, Emily Thomas ’27 (in front), Emily Helpinstill ’27, Matthew Cabrera ’27, Knox McKinley ’26. Photo by Karen Pearlman.[/caption]

Laughter and shrieks of joy filled Fredericksburg’s Walker-Grant Center this week as preschoolers tore into vividly wrapped gift boxes, revealing colorful hats, gloves and toys featuring their favorite characters – Bluey, Spiderman, Barbie and Hello Kitty among them. “I’ve always wanted this!” exclaimed one child, clutching a toy, while another giggled over their bubblegum-flavored toothpaste.

This scene of holiday cheer was made possible by the University of Mary Washington’s annual gift box drive, organized by Community Outreach and Resources (COAR). The event not only delivered joy to local children, but also provided UMW students with invaluable skills in leadership, teamwork and community engagement. Months of preparation led up to this moment, with UMW students coordinating every detail, from recruiting and organizing donations to wrapping boxes in festive paper. Over 300 gift boxes were filled by the campus community this year and delivered to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania public schools, benefiting children in Head Start and Virginia Preschool Initiative programs. Each box contained essentials like hats, gloves, toothbrushes and toothpaste, as well as toys and art supplies to brighten the holidays. “The kids just light up when they see Santa and open the gift boxes,” said Megan Dougherty, health and family engagement coordinator for Fredericksburg City Schools. “That’s what makes this one of my favorite programs of the school year.” Read more.

UMW’s ‘Soft Landings’ Smooths College Transition for Neurodivergent Students

December 16, 2024 by Jill Laiacona

This semester, UMW officially launched ‘Soft Landings,’ a pre-arrival program to help incoming students with autism spectrum disorder acclimate to the UMW campus.

Nicole Martin couldn’t wait to begin her college experience at the University of Mary Washington. Yet, as an incoming first-year student, she felt overwhelmed by the thought of a packed schedule of activities, unfamiliar faces and new situations.

“Thankfully, I learned about ‘Soft Landings,’ which provided support that I didn’t even know I needed,” Martin said of UMW’s new pre-arrival program that helps students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) acclimate to Mary Washington. “It’s made a huge difference in how I’m adjusting to college life.”

Martin is one of 11 students enrolled this fall in the first cohort of “Soft Landings,” which provides activities and campus tours, as well as personal introductions to key staff members, to help ease the transition to UMW before other students arrive on campus. The program also helps neurodivergent students hone critical skills for college success, such as learning how to solve problems and adapt to new situations, practicing self-care, preparing for academic courses, socializing and learning to self-advocate.

“UMW has a sizeable population of students with ASD, in part because of our emphasis on small class sizes and individualized attention,” said Assistant Dean of Students Chris “CJ” Porter, who oversees the program. More than 100 current students have disclosed an ASD diagnosis, with 85 seeking accommodations, said Director of Disability Resources Alex Ecklund. Read more.