Overseas Adventures
UMW Alumna Named to Gov. McDonnell’s Policy Office
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has appointed University of Mary Washington alumna Annie K. Morris ’11 to his administration’s policy office. In her role as special assistant for legislative affairs and policy development, Morris administers the legislative tracking system, coordinates all meetings and leads and develops special projects for the Governor’s policy office.
Morris first joined the McDonnell administration in 2011 as an intern and was later appointed as the executive assistant for commerce and trade.
In 2011, Morris was named one of the winners of the national essay competition sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, for her essay “Persuasion and the Bully Pulpit: Expanded Evidence on Strategies of Presidential Leadership.” She was chosen for the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership’s inaugural Emerging Leaders Program in 2012.
While a student at Mary Washington, she was involved in the Student Government Association, the Student Senate and the Pre-Law Society and was named to the Dean’s List. In addition, Morris interned for Rep. Todd Platts of Pennsylvania. She was vice president of the UMW chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha and was a member of several other scholastic honor societies, including Pi Gamma Mu for social sciences, Alpha Kappa Delta for sociology and Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
Morris, a native of York, Penn., received a bachelor’s in political science and sociology from Mary Washington.
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Volunteer for Reunion Weekend, June 1-3
Are you interested in volunteering for Reunion Weekend? We are expecting over 700 alumni and guests to visit UMW the Friday, June 1 through Sunday, June 3, and we need your help to make everything run smoothly. If you have not done so already, please check out the Reunion Weekend website at www.umw.edu/reunionweekend to see the schedule and recent announcements.
In order for Reunion Weekend to be a success, we need dozens of volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks. There are over 150 different shifts available throughout the weekend, and duties range from riding the trolley to Carl’s to taking tickets at the picnic. This year we’re using VolunteerSpot, an online coordination tool, to help us organize the volunteer registration process. Please click the link below to view the various volunteer opportunities and to sign up. Once you enter your email address, select the day you are interested in volunteering and a menu of volunteer opportunities will be available. Choose whichever ones best fit your time schedule and talents.
http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/762345634252728038
You are welcome to sign up for as much or as little as your schedule will allow. Each volunteer will receive a free Reunion Weekend t-shirt. Volunteer shirts will be in red so alumni and guests know who is working the event. Mark Thaden, director of Alumni Relations, will send a follow up note the week before Reunion Weekend confirming your time and duties as well as any other specific information you may need for your shift. Please feel free to forward this to any alumni, friends, or colleagues who may be interested in volunteering.
If you would like additional information or if you have any questions, contact Mark Thaden at (540) 654-1011.
UMW Grad Develops Bike Plan for Fredericksburg Campus
Justin Doyle ’08 aims to make the University of Mary Washington a better place for bicyclists. So the Virginia Commonwealth University master’s degree candidate is developing a bike plan for UMW for his culminating project in urban and regional planning program.
“I wanted to give back to UMW in a way that I feel passionate about,” he said. “Bicycling is a passion of mine. Since UMW has never developed a bicycle plan, it was a great opportunity.”
Some UMW students already use bicycles on a daily basis, but more might use them if a bike plan was in place, said Doyle.
He wants faculty, staff and students’ input on how to deal with the challenges of creating a bike program.
Doyle has developed an online survey and hopes to collect 400 to 500 responses. The survey, available until Feb. 17, is open to current UMW faculty, staff and students. He will hold a focus group session for faculty, staff and students on Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 3 to 5 p.m. in Woodard Campus Center.
He plans to use the results of the survey and focus groups to make recommendations to UMW Facilities Services specifically related to improving campus bicycle facilities.
“The university has no comprehensive look at bike use and what we could do to support that,” said Joni Wilson, director of landscape and grounds. “This is a real opportunity for us. As an alumnus, he has knowledge of the [UMW] campus after being here for four years. Partnering with him is a win-win.”
Although the project is still in the planning phase, Doyle hopes that elements from the plan will be implemented at the university in the future.
“My three main goals are to improve bicycle facilities on campus, improve bicyclists’ safety by reducing bicycle accidents and bicyclist and pedestrian conflicts and to make bicycling more appealing,” he said.
The bike plan survey is available through Feb. 17 at http://umwbikeplan.wordpress.com/.
For more information, contact Justin Doyle at justindoylerva@gmail.com
Fredericksburg Networking Reception Tonight
Network with UMW alumni, parents and friends during a reception Thursday, November 17 at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center. Meet the three new deans at Mary Washington and hear how the university’s academic foundation continues to flourish through innovative programs and enhanced learning opportunities for students.
The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a presentation at 7:15 p.m. Registration is $15 per person and includes hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine. For more information, visit http://www.umw.edu/alumni/2011/10/28/fredericksburg-networking-reception/ or contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (540) 654-1011.