May 14, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

June Trip to the National Gallery with Gari Melchers Home and Studio

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George Bellows Both Members of This Club, 1909 Chester Dale Collection

Mark your calendars now for June 13th. This day trip to the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. will highlight an exhibition of George Bellows. A contemporary of Gari Melchers, this American artist was a part of a radical group of artist self titled “The Eight” and named by critics “The Ashcan School.”  You can read the National Galleries short biography of George Bellows here. This show will feature over 150 works by the artist and is the most complete account of his career and achievements. This trip will allow time for our group to visit the exhibition, as well as free time to take in the rest of the National Gallery and the city. Make your reservations today!  George Bellows Flyer

UMW Faculty Salary Rankings in Virginia

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The data from the Annual AAUP Salary Survey is in and available through the Chronicle of Education. See http://chronicle.com/article/faculty-salaries-table-2012/131433

UMW faculty salary ranks in Virginia 10/14 (Avg Professor salaries), 12/14 (Associate Professor salaries), 13/14( Assistant Professor salaries), 6/13 (Average Instructor salaries)
For specifics about  UMW see http://chronicle.com/article/faculty-salaries-data-2012/131431#id=232681

Considering only the data from Virginia public 4-year schools:

  • For the Average Professor Salary, UMW ($82,100) has a higher value than only Virginia State University, Radford University, and Longwood University,  and University of Virginia’s College at Wyse.
  • For the Average Associate Professor Salary, UMW ($62,600) has a higher value than  only Longwood University,  and University of Virginia’s College at Wyse.
  • For the Average Assistant Professor Salary, UMW ($55,400) has a higher value  than only Longwood University.
  • For the Average Instructor Salary, UMW ($50,900) Has a higher value than only University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, VCU, College of Willaim and Mary, Christopher Newport University, Virginia State University, University of Virginia’s College at Wise

— Ernest Ackermann, President UMW Chapter of the American Association of University Professors

Upcoming Lecture in the Department of Classics, Philosophy and Religion

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Guest lecturer Milena Van Sant will give the lecture  “Whirligig and the Two Stars,”  her memories of a childhood under two dictatorships, on Friday, April 13 at 2 p.m.  in Trinkle Hall, Room 106A.  Seating is limited.

The events are sponsored by the Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion. Both events are free and open to the public.

Spring Festival Draws Hundreds to Brompton

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Hundreds of children gathered on the Brompton lawn on Sunday, April 1 for COAR’s annual Spring Forward Festival. More than 100 families came to the event for crafts, games, food and a lively egg hunt. Sixty-one UMW volunteers from Psi Chi, the psychology honor society, Kappa Delta Pi, an education honor society, Chi Beta Phi, the science honor society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Circle K helped with the afternoon’s activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gari Melchers Home and Studio to Host Spring Open House

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Gari Melchers Home and Studio will host a spring open house on Sunday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public who will have the opportunity to experience the formal gardens exploding with color as well as the verdant woodland paths and trails. Both the house museum and studio will be open for tours throughout the day.

Amateur and professional artists are invited to use the grounds of Belmont as their own plein-air workshop.  Artists in all media are welcome, as well as photographers and those who want to enjoy the day as observers.  Picnicking on the grounds is also encouraged.

Seven Professors Named to “Best 300” List

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Seven University of Mary Washington professors have been named to the Princeton Review’s inaugural publication of “Best 300 Professors.” The list of best professors, announced Tuesday, April 3, features 300 teaching faculty members from 122 public and private colleges and universities.

Profiled in the publication are Beverly Almond, adjunct professor of English; Dan Hubbard, associate professor and chair of accounting and management information systems; Miriam Liss, associate professor of psychology; Jeffrey McClurken, associate professor and chair of history; Warren Rochelle, professor of English; Gregg Stull, professor and chair of theatre; and Steve Watkins, professor of English.

“We are thrilled to have seven professors recognized among the top in the nation,” said President Richard V. Hurley. “Our more than 350 talented and dedicated master teachers inspire our students daily, and their work in and out of the classroom underscores the university’s commitment to be the best public liberal arts and sciences university in the country.”

For biographies of all seven professors, read the full news release from Tuesday, April 3.

Could You Live on $2 a Day?

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UMW students led by Professor Shawn Humphrey (second from left) build a shelter as part of the $2 a Day Challenge

One student pooled his $2 with a friend to buy a jar of generic peanut butter. Another planned to buy rice and beans. Associate Professor of Economics Shawn Humphrey used his $10 for the week up-front to buy basic groceries to last him until Friday.

Humphrey and 35 UMW students are participating in the annual $2 a Day Challenge, an experiential learning exercise aimed at raising awareness and funds for poverty-related causes.

For the week, they will live in a self-made structure on Ball Circle and spend only $2 each day on food and other expenses. In the process, they hope to raise more than $2,000 for La Ceiba, a microfinance institution, while shedding light on poverty issues.

“The $2 a Day Challenge was born out of the classroom,” Humphrey said. “Education is the primary focus.”

The $2 a Day Challenge, founded by Humphrey, is in its sixth year at UMW. The program is part of the larger TDC organization, which also includes the Month of Microfinance movement and the Poverty Action Conference. This year, several other universities, including Wake Forest and Elon, are holding $2 a Day Challenges.

To hear from students and learn more about the challenge, visit http://www.umw.edu/news/2012/04/02/umw-students-raise-awareness-of-poverty-through-2-challenge/.

Debate Team Represented UMW at National Tournament

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Students Peter Susko (left) and Colin McElhinny

The University of Mary Washington Debate Team qualified two groups of students to compete at the National Debate Tournament that began Thursday, March 29 at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. The tournament, which ran through Monday, April 2, hosted 78 teams this year, all chosen based on a competitive qualification process.  UMW has qualified for the National Debate Tournament 16 times in the tournament’s 66-year history, finishing as high as third in 2010.

Sophomores Patrick McCleary of Shrewsbury, Pa., and Colin McElhinny of Erie, Pa., qualified for the second consecutive year, placing second in the District 7 qualifying tournament, which was hosted by UMW in February.

Senior Peter Susko of Erie, Pa., and sophomore Thomas Pacheco of Baltimore, Md., comprise the second team.  Susko has previously qualified for the tournament and in 2010 reached the semi-finals. The duo finished eighth in the qualifying tournament, securing the district’s final spot for the national tournament.

Results of the tournament are available at  http://bit.ly/NDT2012.

Operafest Auditions Next Weekend

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University of Mary Washington’s Department of Music will hold auditions for its annual summer Operafest on Saturday, April 14 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Pollard Hall, Room 304. Students who wish to audition should prepare an operatic aria or a classical song. An accompanist will be provided.

The Operafest program, now in its 13th year, is a performance-based class for serious singers of all voice types who want to expand their repertoire in opera or gain on-stage performance experience. In the fast-paced, five-week course students will learn scenes from various operas with staging and costumes. The course will culminate with opera performances on Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall, Dodd Auditorium.

Rehearsals will be held over the summer on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. beginning on Monday, May 21. Operafest can be taken as a three-credit course or audited for $300. Members of the community as well as UMW students are encouraged to audition. For more information about Operafest or auditions, call (540) 654-1012.

New Staff Members at UMW Foundation

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Melinda Albrycht

The Foundation would like to introduce our new staff members: Gregory A. Branner, CPA, 1985 graduate of UMW, joined us in October as the Director of Finance and Administration.   Shannon C. Williams, CPA, joined us in March as Controller.  Melinda D. Albrycht joined us in January as an accountant.  Greg came to us from the UVa Health Services Foundation while Shannon and Melinda both moved over from other positions at UMW.  Please join us in welcoming them.

 

Greg Branner

Shannon Williams