January 17, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

New Vice President Brings Ideas for Advancement

by

Katie Turcotte

UMW welcomes new VP for Advancement Katie Turcotte 

When Katie Turcotte becomes UMW’s vice president of advancement later this month, she’ll fill a much-needed role – helping to bring the university forward from pandemic constraints and bolstering its liberal arts and sciences mission.

Who better to lead the University of Mary Washington’s development team than a “nonprofit and philanthropy nerd”? That’s how Turcotte describes herself 25 years into a career that has taken her through every aspect of fundraising for a variety of nonprofits.

She comes to Mary Washington from the consulting firm GG+A, where she is vice president of philanthropic analytics. Her résumé also includes positions at George Mason University, George Washington University, American University and Catholic University.

At UMW, she’ll bring all that experience to bear at a time when public universities are coping with changing demographics and shifting priorities in state budgets. At the same time, students are seeking a quality education with minimal debt – a need the university helps meet with donor-funded scholarships and other institutional aid. Read more.

Mary Washington Hosts ‘Mother of All Reunions’

by

For the first time in three years, University of Mary Washington will host hundreds of alumni for Reunion Weekend, which will be held Thursday, June 2, through Sunday, June 5.

Eagles who graduated over the span of eight decades will return to the nest once again for learning opportunities, art exhibits, musical performances, class photos, family activities, trolley tours to Carl’s ice cream and more. Most importantly, the highly anticipated event is a chance for grads of all ages to reconnect in person with Mary Washington friends and faculty – including Associate Vice President and Dean of Student Life Cedric Rucker ’81, who retires in June – and with the UMW campus.

“This year, Mary Wash alumni have the unique opportunity to celebrate with friends who graduated in the years before and after them,” said Executive Director of Alumni Relations Mark Thaden ’02, whose team has planned more than 85 events for attendees. Billed as the Mother of All Reunions, it’s the largest in Mary Washington history, he said. An entire day has been added, devoted exclusively to graduates who have celebrated their 50th reunions, including the classes of ’70, ’71 and ’72, Thaden said, “so they’ll get the VIP treatment they deserve.” Read more.

Women’s Ultimate Team Embodies Club Sport Spirit

by

On a warm evening in mid-May, 18 dedicated athletes showed up at the University of Mary Washington’s recreational field to spin, leap and fly.

Their academic year was already over, but several members of the Mary Washington women’s Ultimate Frisbee team came here after working all day. Others returned just to fit in these last few practices before heading to the airport.

Their destination? The D-III College Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was the team’s first trip to nationals since 2019, after two pandemic-constrained seasons filled with masked practices and intermittent competition.

But this season was different. These Mary Washington women seemed almost unstoppable, with a spirited mix of rookies and veterans, and an amazing class of seniors. They taught and encouraged one another, creating a chemistry that made their defense a wall and their offense just plain scary. The team won every game in its conference tournament to seal the nationals bid. Read more.

Cedric Rucker University Center Naming Celebration, June 5

by

Beloved longtime UMW Dean of Students Cedric Rucker, known for fastidiously helping soon-to-be grads with their regular year after year at Commencement, will retire in June.

Join fellow faculty and staff members in celebrating longtime Dean of Students Cedric Rucker, who retires this month, at the “Cedric Rucker University Center Naming Celebration” on Sunday, June 5, at 11 a.m., on the front steps of the University Center at the Ball Circle entrance. Cedric Bernard Rucker has made immeasurable positive impacts on thousands of students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and the local community during his 33-year career working at Mary Washington, serving 23 years as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life and 10 years as Associate Dean of Student Activities, as well as in numerous other roles. Read more.

Welcome First-Year Students at Orientation!

by

The University of Mary Washington’s New Student Orientation welcomes all incoming first-year and transfer students and their families to campus. The Division of Student Affairs and the Orientation Staff are committed to making students and their families feel welcomed, involved and connected to the University. At Orientation, students meet other incoming and current students, register for academic courses and learn more about the UMW campus, policies and traditions.

First-Year Orientation Dates for 2022 are as follows:
Session 1: June 13-14
Session 2: June 16-17
Session 3: June 21-22
Session 4: June 23-24
Session 5: June 27-28

Read more about UMW Orientation.

Student Affairs Pros Recognize UMW’s ‘Rock Star’ President

by

University of Mary Washington colleagues have long known how committed President Troy D. Paino is to the student experience – and to the faculty and staff who work day in and day out to make it the best it can be.

UMW President Troy Paino
UMW President Troy Paino

Now, student affairs professionals throughout the Southeastern United States are spreading the news. NASPA, the organization of student affairs administrators in higher education, will recognize Paino with its Region III President’s Award for 2022 during a summer symposium in Charleston, South Carolina, June 12-15.

“This prestigious award signifies that your fellow student affairs colleagues value the contributions you are making in the field,” awards committee co-chairs Stephen M. Howard and Nicholas Hudson wrote in an email informing Paino of the honor. “It also exemplifies your hard work within the profession, your institution and NASPA Region III.”

In supporting Paino’s nomination for the recognition, UMW Vice President for Student Affairs Juliette Landphair emphasized the president’s compassionate approach to strategic planning and decision-making and pointed out, “He is, above all, a student-centered leader.” Read more.

UMW Chooses Alum to Fill Key Communications Role

by

Amy Jessee ’06 will step into UMW’s Executive Director of University Communications role in June.

Amy Jessee ’06 will step into UMW’s Executive Director of University Communications role in June.

Incoming Executive Director of University Communications Amy Jessee has already mapped out her first days on the job.

As chief communicator for the University of Mary Washington, Jessee will begin by listening – to students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, community supporters and others with a stake in telling the university’s stories in the ways that matter most.

When she arrives on campus in late June, she won’t have to start from scratch. Jessee is a 2006 graduate of UMW, where she majored in business administration and English and earned the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award, bestowed on the undergraduate with the highest grade-point average. She holds a master of arts degree in professional communication from Clemson University. Read more.

Fifth Annual Mary Wash Giving Day Breaks Records

by

Giving Day recap graphicThe numbers are officially in! Last month, the University of Mary Washington community came together on Tuesday, April 5, in celebration of the fifth annual Mary Wash Giving Day, a 24-hour fundraising extravaganza to support UMW students, faculty and programs.

Now that all online, mailed and phoned-in contributions have been counted, the day’s official results show that this year’s total broke previous Giving Day records: $670,811, from 2,882 gifts made by 2,093 supporters, including 479 first-time donors.

Generous donations were made by alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and friends to 122 different areas across the University, including academic, arts, athletic, service, career and cultural programs. “It really highlights how broad interests are at Mary Washington,” Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14 said. “Our supporters can give anywhere their passion lies.” Read more.

Business Class: Alums Name Classroom for Beloved Professor

by

Professor Emeritus of Business Galen deGraff stands with Rob Strassheim ’96 in the doorway of the newly named Galen deGraff Classroom in Woodward Hall. Photo courtesy of Rob and Sarah Strassheim.

Professor Emeritus of Business Galen deGraff stands with Rob Strassheim ’96 in the doorway of the newly named Galen deGraff Classroom in Woodward Hall. Photo courtesy of Rob and Sarah Strassheim.

For Rob Strassheim ’96 and his wife, Sarah Gildersleeve Strassheim ’01, the idea to honor one of their favorite faculty members began with a passed note. Not in class, Rob says, but during a meeting nearly a decade ago about naming classrooms in Woodard Hall, now home of University of Mary Washington’s College of Business, or COB.

“I remember it vividly,” says Rob, who serves on UMW’s Board of Visitors. He recalls slipping a piece of paper to his wife with the name of someone who made a tremendous impact on both of their lives and professional careers: Professor Emeritus of Business Galen deGraff.

But the contents of that note didn’t stay secret for long. The couple soon embarked on a fundraising effort to name a classroom after their former professor, who taught business courses, primarily finance, for over two decades at the University until he retired in 2015. COB recently dedicated the Galen deGraff Classroom, thanks to generous gifts made by Mary Washington alumni, friends and former colleagues. The Strassheims also led a fundraising campaign to create an endowed scholarship in Dr. deGraff’s name to help recruit out-of-state students who plan to major in business.

“Dr. deGraff and the University of Mary Washington changed my trajectory,” says Sarah, now global chief financial officer for Merkle, a worldwide customer experience management company. “As a professor, he saw something in me that I didn’t have the confidence to recognize in myself.” Read more.

Mission Complete: Innovation Challenge @Dahlgren a Strong Win for STEM

by

From left, U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Virginia, and University of Mary Washington’s John Burrow watch as King George high-schoolers Samantha Jones, Susan Randall and Ashton Jones compete in the Innovation Challenge @Dahlgren. Back right are UMW Assistant Professor of Special Education Kevin Good and Dahlgren Campus Director Michael Hubbard. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

From left, U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Virginia, and University of Mary Washington’s John Burrow watch as King George high-schoolers Samantha Jones, Susan Randall and Ashton Jones compete in the Innovation Challenge @Dahlgren. Back right are UMW Assistant Professor of Special Education Kevin Good and Dahlgren Campus Director Michael Hubbard. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

Keegan Kearl tapped out calculations on his cellphone while Christopher Ashley and Rodrigo Alexander Veliz hunched over a laptop. All three, along with their Spotsylvania High School teammates, were intent on making a robot do their bidding.

The teens were among more than 70 students representing 12 districts – from Richmond to North Stafford, and throughout the Northern Neck – at last weekend’s début Innovation Challenge @Dahlgren, conceived as an annual event. Fredericksburg Christian School took home the top prize – $3,000, a ginormous trophy and a year’s worth of bragging rights – in the two-day robotics-style competition aimed at boosting STEM learning.

“This is an opportunity to show how important these skills and capabilities are,” University of Mary Washington College of Business Lecturer John Burrow told the competitors at the start of the contest, held at UMW’s Dahlgren Campus. “Your goals are important to the nation, the region and the community.” Read more.