August 12, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Help Shape UMW’s Future By Sharing Your Voice

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Mindpower (www.mindpowerinc.com) of Atlanta, the branding partner selected by the University of Mary Washington, will be returning to campus Oct. 23 and 24. Please join one of our two open forums for faculty and staff on Wednesday, October 23, at 4-5 p.m. in the University Center’s Magnolia Room, or on Thursday, October 24, at 9-10 a.m. in the Hurley Convergence Center’s Digital Auditorium. Your opinion and willingness to share your input is all that is required. The qualitative research will inform a comprehensive survey that will be sent to the entire campus and every constituent for whom we have current contact information. After the research phase in the fall/winter, Mindpower will work diligently through the spring and summer to develop a creative concept for UMW. Our goal is to launch the new brand in the fall of 2020.

Please join us in shaping the way UMW is presented, framing the stories we tell, and giving our message a fresh and compelling narrative. If you have questions or would like to learn more about the process, please contact Vice President for Advancement and University Relations Lisa Jamison Bowling ’89 (lbowling@umw.edu) or Director of University Marketing Malcolm Holmes (mholmes3@umw.edu).

 

 

Health Benefits Premium Holiday

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Dear State Employees:

I announced in May that all eligible state employees will pay no health benefits premium for the month of October! For most employees, these premium holidays will occur on October 16 and November 1, and there will be no employee premium contribution deducted from your pay on those dates. For some employees, the premium holiday will occur in the October time frame, depending on your agency’s payroll system.

Participants at all membership levels in the COVA Care, COVA HDHP, COVA HealthAware, Kaiser Permanente HMO and Optima Vantage HMO plans are eligible. Because of the requirement in the Code of Virginia that TRICARE supplement participants pay the full cost of their coverage, the premium holiday will not apply to those members.

If you have any questions, please contact your agency Benefits Administrator.

Happy Premium Holiday!

Sincerely,
Governor Ralph S. Northam

Fall Luncheon on Tuesday, October 15th

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Come celebrate with your fellow Eagles at the Annual Staff Fall Luncheon
A Celebration of Excellence!

Tuesday, October 15
11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
University Center Ballroom
Fall 2019 Luncheon Agenda and Fall 2019 Luncheon Menu

Show your Eagle Spirit! Wear UMW apparel and receive 2 additional raffle tickets. Bring a food donation to get an extra ticket for the prize drawings. All donations will benefit the Eagle Resource Closet located on the 5th floor of Lee Hall.

Send us your pictures!!!!  We will be displaying pictures of our EXCELLENT staff during the luncheon.  If you have any photos of your department in action or group photos you would like to share, please send them to Debra Wander at dwander@umw.edu.   

 Please contact Terri Arthur (tlockhar@umw.edu) or Debra Wander (dwander@umw.edu) for questions.

New Director of the Dahlgren Center for Education and Research

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A message from the Office of the Provost. 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Michael P. Hubbard as the new Director of the Dahlgren Center for Education and Research at the University of Mary Washington. Mr. Hubbard is succeeding Scott Jones, who will retire in early November. He will continue Jones’ work in advancing Dahlgren’s vital role in serving the multiple commands aboard the Navy base in Dahlgren and promoting the Dahlgren campus as a center for community life and service throughout King George and the Northern Neck region.

During a distinguished career as a U.S. Marine Corps officer, Hubbard commanded forces both in the U.S. and deployed globally. He was selected as a Marine Corps Fellow detailed to the CEO of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and he received a personal recommendation from the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Hubbard earned an M.A. in strategic security studies as a Distinguished Graduate of National Defense University, with a human security concentration in West Africa; and an M.S. In business management from Marymount University. He has subsequently served in senior executive roles in the finance industry. 

 

Nina Mikhalevsky
Provost
University of Mary Washington

College of Business Honors Alumni

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The College of Business (COB) will honor alumni at two separate events next Thursday and Friday.

The Executive-in-Residence Business Leaders Breakfast on Thursday, Oct. 17, will feature UMW alumnus Pat Filippone ’88, owner of the 7th Inning Stretch, which owns and operates minor league baseball teams. Pat is a veteran of 29 seasons of professional baseball with a passion for exposing what the game has to offer to local communities. RSVPs are due by Oct. 10 at eir@umw.edu or ext. 1223.

Held in conjunction with Homecoming Weekend, the Alumni Awards on Friday, Oct. 18, will honor nine successful COB alumni who are successful, respected leaders in their fields. Registration is due by Oct. 14.

Both events will take place in the Jepson Alumni Executive Center’s Rappahannock Grand Ballroom. For more information about either event, contact Kelsey Whitacre at kwhitacr@umw.edu or ext. 1223.

Flu Shots Available on Campus

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Be armed against flu! The Student Health Center is collaborating with Giant pharmacy to administer flu shots to everyone on campus. Shots will be administered free of charge to recipients of most health insurance plans in the University Center Lobby, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Oct. 23 and Nov. 14. Be sure to bring your insurance card with you.

Contact the Student Health Center at 540-654-1040 or healthcenter@umw.edu with questions.

Physical Wellness: Put it Into Practice

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How do you define Physical Wellness for yourself personally? Do you incorporate nutrition into your daily diet, go to the gym weekly, or maybe just take a walk/run daily? There are number of great ideas on being physical well and active, but what can we do to make it a goal or a daily habit in our lives? We will be showcasing several ideas this month on helping all of us become more physically well and the first suggestion is to just walk. Make an appointment with yourself and grab your walking shoes and some friends. Go explore Fredericksburg either by walking downtown or enjoying nature on the hiking trails or surrounding battlefields.

Another suggestion is to join the President Council on Wellness (PCOW) sponsored Mary Wash Moves Event or the PCOW Walking Wednesdays. Mary Wash Moves is a team of faculty and staff split up into 6 teams. Keep track of your steps during the month of October and the team with the highest average wins some great prizes. Join a team by writing your name on the team color tab you choose in the official tracking document. For more information, email wellness@umw.edu.

Walking Wednesdays is available for anyone who has free time between 1:00 and 2:00pm on any Wednesday. We start in front of Lee Hall and explore different routes across campus or downtown for about 30-45 minutes. PCOW will be putting more information out in the coming weeks about this easy, once a week walking event. Let’s start some healthy practices to become more physically well!

Help Shape UMW’s Future By Sharing Your Voice

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A Message from the President

Dear Mary Washington Community,

Last spring, the University began sharing plans to engage in rebranding to ensure that UMW is authentic, distinctive, and compelling on the higher education landscape. After a national search for firms that understand education, but can consistently present universities in fresh ways, ten firms were invited to campus for preliminary pitches to a group of faculty and staff. The field was narrowed to four firms, ranging from small boutique shops to international, full service agencies, and then further narrowed to two groups that demonstrated the most alignment with and affinity for UMW’s mission, culture, and community.

During the fall All-University Assembly for employees, I announced that the University had selected from that final two a branding partner: Mindpower (www.mindpowerinc.com) of Atlanta. Mindpower has worked with more than 100 higher education institutions and was heartily recommended by schools ranging from Harvey Mudd to Indiana State to Mount St. Mary’s. Each school commended Mindpower’s ability to listen intently to the community, to interact respectfully and collegially, and to develop authentic and distinctive creative concepts. When asked “Why UMW?” Mindpower’s CEO, Lisa Jordan, responded that UMW was “ready to zag,” signifying our willingness to chart our own path and to stand independently against short-lived trends and short-sighted goals. In other words, they saw that Mary Washington wants to make its mark in a way that stands the test of time.

When a brand stands for something, not everyone will agree with it. In fact, if a brand is universally embraced, it probably doesn’t stand for much. We understand this, and yet, we believe a strong brand is rooted in truth, which should come from the people who live the UMW experience.

This is why I am asking for your help. UMW needs your voice in this work.

There are two ways I ask you to be involved: 1) Participate in a group or open forum in October to share what you think makes UMW exceptional, and 2) Complete a comprehensive survey later this fall that will help validate and refine the initial qualitative research.

Our timeline is ambitious for the process. Mindpower began its conversations on campus this past week, hosting multiple focus groups of students, faculty and staff who represented the broadest cross section of campus possible. The team will return twice in October: once to meet with external groups like alumni, parents, and donors, and a second time to converse in more depth with the campus community.

From October 22 to 24, the team will be on campus and they want to hear from you. Please join one of our two open forums for faculty and staff on Wednesday, October 23, at 4 p.m., or on Thursday, October 24, at 9 a.m. The locations will be announced later this month. Your opinion and willingness to share your input is all that is required. The qualitative research will inform a comprehensive survey that will be sent to the entire campus and every constituent for whom we have current contact information. After the research phase in the fall/winter, Mindpower will work diligently through the spring and summer to develop a creative concept for UMW. Our goal is to launch the new brand in the fall of 2020.

Please join us in shaping the way UMW is presented, framing the stories we tell, and giving our message a fresh and compelling narrative. If you have questions or would like to learn more about the process, please contact Vice President for Advancement and University Relations Lisa Jamison Bowling ’89 (lbowling@umw.edu) or Director of University Marketing Malcolm Holmes (mholmes3@umw.edu). We have a shared goal of creating and establishing a brand that is as exceptional as UMW.

Sincerely,

Troy D. Paino, J.D., Ph.D.
President

 

 

 

 

Family Weekend 2019

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Family Weekend 2019 will be taking place this weekend, October 4-6th. This annual fall weekend at the University of Mary Washington brings family members and friends to campus to experience a slice of student life. A wide variety of events are happening and a complimentary trolley extends your visit to downtown Fredericksburg. Enjoy events throughout the weekend including Rocktoberfest, multiple athletic games, UMW Study Abroad Fair, and tours of Brompton, the historic home of the UMW President and Mrs. Paino.

More information can be found on the Family Weekend website, available here. A detailed schedule is below. We hope that you’ll help to welcome all of our UMW families to campus!

Schedule of Events

Friday, October 4

Open Class Sessions

8:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. | Various Academic Buildings
Join your student for a class and get a taste of academic life at UMW.  Students need to please make arrangements with the professor in advance.

Rocktoberfest 

6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Ball Circle
This free outdoor concert will include live music, food, a beer garden, and fun games!

Capitol Steps

7:30 p.m. | Dodd Auditorium
Always a big draw, The Capitol Steps began as a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize the very people and places that employed them.  Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-stafford-rotary-capitol-steps-tickets-68830579115.

Saturday, October 5

Tour of Brompton, Home of the UMW President

9:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. | 704 Sunken Road
Described as one of America’s most historic houses, Brompton is famous for being at the center of the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862. The home now serves as the official residence of the University president. Please access the house via the walkway on Hanover Street, across from the Jepson Alumni Executive Center (1119 Hanover Street).

Virginia Politics 2019

10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. | Monroe 346
A rundown of the latest in Virginia politics, presented by Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, UMW professor of political science and international affairs, and author of six books on the presidency, mass media, and public opinion.

Chocolate Chomp Challenge

10:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m. | Hurley Convergence Center, Digital Auditorium & Training Lab 130
Learn about Chomp and other fun math games!  Chomp was developed by mathematician and economist, David Gale, and is played by calculating moves that involve eating a chocolate bar!

College of Business Alumni Panel

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Woodard Hall, Room 202
This event invites back College of Business alumni from varying classes and majors to discuss their career paths, as well as give advice to students for while they’re in college, after they graduate, and how they can break into their industries.

Campus Civil War Walking Tours

11:00 a.m. | Ball Circle
The UMW Historic Preservation Club will host half-hour student-led tours of the Civil War sites on campus.  Tours will start at the Civil War Tours table on Ball Circle and run every 30 minutes, with the last tour at 2:00 p.m.  Please visit the table for sign-up before the tour.  Space is limited and there is a $5 charge.  Table rain location will be in Lee Hall, 3rd Floor Lobby.

Family Fun

11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Ball Circle
Join in the family fun – giant games will be available or just relax in one of our Adirondack chairs!   In case of inclement weather, outdoor games will not be available.

Legacy Lunch

12:00 p.m. -1:30 p.m. | Jepson Alumni Executive Center, Rappahannock Grand Ballroom
1119 Hanover Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
The Office of Alumni Relations invites UMW alumni, students, and families with historic UMW legacy connections (grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, etc.) to celebrate their shared experiences while enjoying a complimentary lunch. Update: The Legacy Lunch is currently full.  If you would like to be put on the waiting list, please call (540) 654-1011. 

Chemistry *Magic* Show

First Show: 1:00 p.m.;  Second Show: 2:00 p.m. | Jepson Science Center, Room 100
Student members of the American Chemical Society and the Department of Chemistry invite you to come and see awe-inspiring and wonder-filled chemistry demonstrations in UMW’s newly expanded and renovated Jepson Science Center.

UMW Education Study Abroad Fair

Education Abroad Fair

10 a.m.-1 p.m.| University Center, Chandler Ballroom
A launch pad for your adventures abroad, the Education Abroad Fair is the perfect venue for students and families to meet with UMW Faculty-Led Program directors, representatives from UMW Approved Education Abroad Programs, Peer Advisors, Study Abroad Alumni, and Center for International Education staff to explore study abroad, volunteer, research, and internship opportunities all over the world. Come dream, explore options, and define goals for your abroad experience.

30th Annual Fredericksburg Welsh Festival

11 a.m.-5 p.m. | 900 block of Charles Street, downtown Fredericksburg
Featuring traditional music, dancing, arts, crafts, and foods of Wales. The trolley will provide transportation between Double Drive and the festival.  Although admission is free to students and families, donations are welcomed.  Learn more at jamesmonroemuseum.umw.edu.

Balfour – Class Ring sale

11 a.m.-3 p.m. | 2nd Floor, University Center
On both Friday and Saturday, Balfour will be on campus showcasing class rings for purchase.  For a preview, visit https://www.balfour.com/umw.

Sunday, October 6

Time on Your Own

Visit downtown Fredericksburg, have breakfast, go shopping, or just hang out with family members. Enjoy the day as you wrap up Family Weekend!

UMW Art Galleries

Visit the exhibitions at the University of Mary Washington Galleries, open Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 1-4 p.m. Learn more at: www.umwgalleries.org. Free admission.

UMW Athletics

Field Hockey, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Women’s Rugby, and more UMW games are taking place this weekend!  Visit https://www.umweagles.com/landing/index for the latest game times and opponents!

Simpson Library

Feel free to stop by UMW’s library for a demonstration of our 3D printers, library tours, free books for all, and kid-friendly activities.  Library Hours – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Sunday: 1:00 p.m. – midnight.

UMW Museums

Museum admission is free to students and families during Family Weekend.

  • Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont

Gari Melchers Home and Studio is open 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday
224 Washington St., Falmouth, Va. 22405
Learn more at garimelchers.umw.edu.

  • James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library

908 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
The James Monroe Museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday.  Learn more at jamesmonroemuseum.umw.edu.

UMW Bookstore – Barnes & Noble

Download the My College Bookstore App for a 20% OFF UMW APPAREL ITEM COUPON along with additional exclusive offers.  To download, visit www.appbnc.com
*Exclusions may apply. Must download app to claim offer. See offer in app for details.

Downtown Fredericksburg

Live music, antique shops, ghost tours, fantastic dining – check out everything that’s happening this weekend at https://www.visitfred.com/events/

October is Disability Awareness Month

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A message from the Office of Disability Resources. 

The Office of Disability Resources (ODR) invites you to celebrate Disability Awareness month throughout the month of October to raise awareness and understanding of disability-related issues and how WE can support! Disability Awareness Events Flyer

There is a variety of programming and events offered throughout the month and all students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend! Some events are geared more towards students, but we welcome all who would like to take advantage of these opportunities to raise awareness and understanding of disability-related issues and supports.

Events will kick off with a Disability Awareness Month Dinner with President Paino on October 7th. Students have been selected by random drawing to attend, and we look forward to this memorable evening of conversation and elegant dining, as well as an opportunity for students with disabilities to share their experiences with President Paino.

Breakfast Bars on Ball is an casual opportunity for all to stop by our table on Campus Walk (in front of Lee Hall), grab a breakfast treat, and connect with the ODR staff to learn more about disability-related issues. Please come by and see us! We will be at the table giving out bars to all from 9:00am to 10:30am.

A Disability Awareness Table Fair will be held on Campus Walk (in front of Lee Hall) on October 16th from 11:00am to 2:00pm. A number of on- and off-campus providers will be available to share resources and information on supports in our community for individuals with disabilities. Come by to hang out with us, and get some free swag!

The Let’s Talk Event will be held on October 16th from 7:00pm – 8:00pm in Lee Hall, Room 414. This event is an opportunity for survivors with disabilities and allies to discuss a problem flying under the radar – that individuals with disabilities are disproportionately affected when it comes to experiences of sexual or intimate partner violence, when compared to those without disabilities. Please join ODR, the Talley Center for Counseling Services, and the Center for Prevention and Education, for a student-led discussion about risk factors and prevention followed by a confidential discussion group for survivors and allies.

The international honor society for students with disabilities, Delta Alpha Pi, will hold its first Induction Ceremony at UMW on October 22nd. This will be an opportunity to recognize high academic achievements of students with disabilities. Students who meet eligibility criteria have been notified and are encouraged to RSVP to be a part of the Zeta Mu chapter here at UMW!

Disability Awareness month programming wraps up with the Fall Social, held on October 30th from 6:00pm – 7:30pm in the University Center, Colonnade Room (room 314). This is an opportunity for all, and especially students with disabilities, to have some fun and celebrate this time of year with others in the community.

Accessible electronic flyers are also attached that provide information on these events.

We hope to have your support in celebrating disability as diversity and in bringing disability awareness to our campus!

Please contact ODR with questions: (540) 654-1266 odr@umw.edu, or in person in Lee Hall, suite 401.

We look forward to seeing you there!

ODR Staff