April 26, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Giving Day Makes Mary Wash History

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UMW felt the love in a big way. Mary Wash Giving Day marked the single largest day of giving in UMW history, bringing in a total of $426,866. All day long generous donors showed their love for Mary Washington, making more than 2,600 gifts in just 24 hours. The second annual online-giving event […]

UMW To Host Its Largest Yoga Class on March 26

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To celebrate reaching our Giving Day goal of 50 donors, UMW will be hosting it’s largest yoga class ever!

Join Vice President Landphair, Dean Melissa Jones and Dean Dave Fleming for Yoga in the UC Ballroom @ 4 p.m. on March 26th.

There will be local yoga studios, raffle prizes, and incentives for the first 50 people!

Check out our challenge video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3qBiXTclFY&feature=youtu.be

Health & Wellness Fair Set for March 29

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Please plan to attend the Health & Wellness Fair on Wednesday, March 29 from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. offered by UMW Dining Services and the Office of Human Resources.  Our health insurance companies, retirement vendors, local banks, Weight Watchers, CommonHealth, Giant Food nutritionist and pharmacist, and many more local  health- and wellness-related companies will be in attendance.  There will be door prizes and food samples.

Plan to visit the Chandler Ballroom in the UC March 29!

This event is free and open to faculty, staff, students and the public. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Cooper (jcooper4@umw.edu).

Religious Freedom Conference, March 22 and 23

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The campus community is invited to attend sessions of a conference, Religious Freedom in a Fractured America, on March 22 and 23. Sessions during the day will be held in the University Center’s Colonnade Room, and Thursday evening’s special panel on Religious Freedom in the Streets: Remembering Charlottesville is set for Monroe 116 at 7 p.m. 

Conference host, UMW’s Department of Classics, Philosophy and Religion, has collaborated with the University of Virginia’s Center for the Study of Religion, UMW’s Women and Gender Studies Program, UMW’s Department of Political Science and International Affairs, the UMW Department of History and American Studies, and the UMW Leidecker Center for Asian Studies.  

A detailed schedule is available here.

 

 

Open Forums Announced About Community Value Statement Drafts

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After meeting with, and hearing from, students, staff, faculty, alumni, and members of the broader community, the Committee to Review the Statement of Community Values and the Statement of Guiding Principles on Diversity and Inclusion offers three new draft statements of community values, and two draft statements on diversity and inclusion.

Feedback on the Drafts. We will hold two open forums to discuss your thoughts about the drafts (see below), and will solicit feedback through our online comment form (http://diversity.umw.edu/statement-of-community-values-feedback/). Members of the committee will also plan to meet with a variety of campus groups, including the Staff Advisory Council, the Student Government Executive Board, the Student Senate, the Multicultural Leadership Council, the University Faculty Council, College of Arts & Sciences Department Chairs in CAS and faculty in the Colleges of Business and Education.

We will hold two open forums over the coming weeks:
• Thursday, March 22, 4-5 p.m. in Lee Hall, Room 412
• Wednesday, March 28, noon-1 p.m. in the Hurley Convergence Center’s Digital Auditorium

Recommendation to the Board of Visitors. After discussing the drafts and options with the campus community through the month of March, the committee will work on developing a final recommendation for the Board of Visitors, to be presented at its April 19-20, 2018, meeting.

Sincerely,
Anand Rao and Cedric Rucker, co-chairs

Committee to Review the Statement of Community Values

  • Cedric Rucker (Dean of Student Life), co-chair
  • Anand Rao (Professor of Communication), co-chair
  • Janet Asper (Associate Professor of Chemistry)
  • Bianca Hightower (Staff Advisory Council Representative)
  • Ekta Kapoor (student representative)
  • Marion Sanford (Director of Multicultural Affairs)
  • Holly Schiffrin (Professor of Psychology)
  • Alda White (community representative)

Literary Award Recipient Jon Pineda to Launch Novel at UMW, March 20

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Virginia Literary Award winner and UMW Assistant Professor of English Jon Pineda will debut his new novel Let’s No One Get Hurt on the Fredericksburg campus Tuesday, March 20. The 6 p.m. event, held at Ridderhof Martin Gallery, is the first leg of a book tour that stretches throughout the commonwealth. Appearances also are scheduled […]

8th Annual Arab Culture Night Set for March 22

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The 8th annual Arab Culture Night will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 22 in the University Center’s Chandler Ballroom.

The event will feature Arab cuisine from Aladin’s Restaurant, a Moroccan wedding, camel ride, cultural showcase, henna and live music.

The cost is $1 for UMW students and $3 for all others. Children 3 and younger are free. Cash or EagleOne card only.

Mary Washington Alumna Issues 1908 Challenge

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An alumna from the Class of 1949 is sponsoring the Virginia Colwell Read 1908 Challenge to inspire donors to make 1,908 gifts on Mary Wash Giving Day. Mary Washington was founded in 1908, and the 1908 Society recognizes alumni whose classes already have celebrated 50th reunions. It is in that spirit that Virginia Colwell Read ’49 is challenging alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, students, and businesses to make a total of 1,908 gifts on March 20, 2018, to unlock her $5,000 gift to the Fund for Mary Washington.

“I was brought up with the obligation to return what has been given to me so others will be blessed,” says Virginia. “My education was given to me, and it is my hope that by supporting UMW and this challenge, others will be able to share the advantages of an education.”

Virginia credits Mary Washington professors and specific advice from Dean of Women Nina Bushnell for many of her career and life successes. Mrs. B’s advice during freshmen orientation in the fall of 1945 was, “You can if you will – but you won’t, or will you?” At a point in history when there were few, if any, women architects, engineers, bankers, doctors, lawyers, business entrepreneurs, or economists, this advice came to mean a lot to Virginia as she discovered something very important and life-changing across campus.

“Professors at Mary Washington actually encouraged us to use our expanding intellect,” she says. “They didn’t treat us as subservient entities, but as unique individuals with skills and meaningful ideas. I learned that what I thought truly mattered.” Virginia says that feeling of “you can if you will” gave her confidence to express herself without fear of being laughed at or put down.

The confidence gained at Mary Washington has had tremendous staying power as Virginia’s class nears its 70th reunion. “In a lifetime of careers and homemaking, raising children and engaging in community affairs, traveling or setting roots, the fact that my professors accepted me as a valued individual – regardless of my gender – has helped me navigate numerous and varied roads,” she says.

We can, if YOU WILL help UMW meet the Virginia Colwell Read 1908 Challenge by making a gift on Mary Wash Giving Day. Mark your calendar for March 20. For more information, visit https://givingday.umw.edu.

4th Annual Willy-Nilly Chili Cook-Off Recap

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The 2018 Willy-Nilly Chili Cook-Off was a huge success. Thirteen participants, including several repeat cooks, served up chili both spicy and mild. There was chicken chili and beef chili and chili with beans and without.

Thirteen people participated in the 4th annual chili cook-off at UMW March 6.

Thirteen people participated in the 4th annual chili cook-off at UMW March 6.

Thank you to everyone who had a hand in putting this event together.  To those who planned the event, helped set up, helped break down, recruited cooks, spent time socializing with colleagues, or helped in any other way, you are greatly appreciated.

From left to right, chili winners are Jean Elliott, 1st place; Lynn Richardson, third place; and Arin Doerfler, 2nd place.

Chili cook-off winners are (left to right): Jean Elliott, 1st place; Lynn Richardson, 3rd place; and Arin Doerfler, 2nd place.

Thank you to all those who entered: Angie Brau, Vickie Chapman, Arin Doerfler, Rita Dunston, Jean Elliot, Ian Finlayson, Pam Lowery, Alica Osbourne, Christy Pack, April Peterson, Lynne Richardson, Jay Sullivan, and Kimberly Young.

The big winners were:

Chili

  • 1st Place – Jean Elliott
  • 2nd Place – Arin Doerfler
  • 3rd Place – Lynne Richardson

Cornbread

  • 1st Place – Christy Pack
  • 2nd Place – Alica Osbourne
  • 3rd Place – Jay Sullivan

Cornbread winners are (left to right): Christy Pack, 1st place; Alica Osbourne, 2nd place; Jay Sullivan, 3rd place.

We also want to congratulate the following individuals for winning door prizes: Lee Bessette, Connie Huylebroek, Cat Parrotte, Evie Sherlock, & Angie White.  Special Thanks also extended to Campbell’s Vending, Pepsi, and AV Staff!  We couldn’t have done it without you.  You’re all awesome – and are such a pleasure to work with.

 

#MaryWashDay is Back

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Last year, nearly 80 faculty and staff members gave back over $10,000 on Mary Wash Giving Day. They supported programs all across the University, and helped make Giving Day the largest day in our fundraising history. This year, on March 20, we’re asking for your support again. We hope you’ll join us in giving back to the areas and programs that mean the most to you. Visit givingday.umw.edu to see all of the campaigns you can support.

As a thank you to our faculty and staff donors, we will randomly select one person to win a reserved parking spot of their choice for two weeks. Thanks for all that you do! #MaryWashDay