Top Class Council Officers Blaze Trail as First-in-Family
State Superintendent Steven R. Staples Addresses Master’s Candidates
“We need high quality leadership,” said Staples, who pondered the question of whether leaders are made or born. He recounted the impact of three diverse trailblazers–Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa—who shared common traits.
“All three refused to simply accept circumstances ‘as they were’ and worked to make progress to improve life, despite obstacles and challenges,” Staples said. “And all three led from the heart. Their leadership was an extension of their core beliefs and principles.”
Staples addressed nearly 1,000 graduates, family members, friends and faculty, gathered in Dodd Auditorium. A total of 169 graduate degrees were awarded, including 87 Master of Education degrees, 47 Master of Business Administration degrees, 27 Master of Science in Elementary Education degrees and 8 Master of Science in Management Information Systems degrees. Five graduates received both the MBA and the MSMIS in a dual-degree program.
Staples implored graduates to model qualities from such leaders of the past. “Refuse to accept ‘what is’ if ‘what could be’ is better,” he said. “Lead by your core principles.”
As Virginia’s 24th superintendent, Staples is a leader in his own right. He serves as the executive officer of the Virginia Department of Education, the administrative agency for the commonwealth’s public schools. He also serves as secretary of the Board of Education.
Pondering the ‘born’ or ‘made’ leadership dilemma, Staples said the answer may be a combination of the two.
“Perhaps it doesn’t matter, as long as leaders are willing to accept the expectations, responsibilities, and challenges inherent in leadership . . . . as long as we are all ready to become one of those willing to dare greatly.”
Pamela Bridgewater, a Foreign Service officer who served as U.S. Ambassador in three countries, will deliver the undergraduate commencement address on Saturday, May 9, beginning at 9 a.m. on Ball Circle.State Superintendent, Career Ambassador to Speak at UMW Commencement Ceremonies
Previously, Staples served for two years as the executive director of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents. He also was a faculty member at the College of William and Mary from 2008-2012 and worked in various capacities in four Virginia school divisions. In 1997, he was selected as Virginia Superintendent of the Year.
Staples received his doctorate in education administration and supervision from Virginia Tech, a master’s degree in education administration and supervision, as well as a bachelor’s degree in history and English from the College of William and Mary.
Pamela E. Bridgewater
Bridgewater retired from active duty in the U.S. Diplomatic Service in 2013 with the rank of Career Ambassador after 34 years of distinguished service. Bridgewater has served as U.S. ambassador in three countries under three different presidents: President Bill Clinton appointed her U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Benin; President George W. Bush named her U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana, and President Obama appointed her as Ambassador to Jamaica.
Among her extensive overseas tours, she became the first African-American woman to serve as consul general in Durban, South Africa, during the historic transition from Apartheid to a non-racial government. As the political officer assigned to cover Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress, a former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa said, “Bridgewater established a degree of trust and confidence with Mr. Mandela and the ANC leadership that the U.S. had not previously enjoyed.”
Her contributions to international affairs and public policy have resulted in numerous commendations, including two U.S. Presidential Meritorious Service Awards, the Charles Cobb Award for Trade Promotion, Department of State Superior Honor Awards and the Secretary of State’s Career Achievement Award.
The Fredericksburg native earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Virginia State University and a Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati. She completed course work and advanced to candidacy for the PhD degree from the American University School of International Service. She holds honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Virginia State University, and an honorary Doctor of Public Service from Morgan State University.
For more information about the commencement ceremonies, visit www.umw.edu/commencement or call the Office of University Events and Conferencing at (540) 654-1065.State Superintendent, Ambassador to Speak at UMW Commencement Ceremonies
Previously, Staples served for two years as the executive director of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents. He also was a faculty member at the College of William and Mary from 2008-2012 and worked in various capacities in four Virginia school divisions. In 1997, he was selected as Virginia Superintendent of the Year.
Staples received his doctorate in education administration and supervision from Virginia Tech, a master’s degree in education administration and supervision, as well as a bachelor’s degree in history and English from the College of William and Mary.
Pamela E. Bridgewater
Bridgewater retired from active duty in the U.S. Diplomatic Service in 2013 with the rank of Career Ambassador after 34 years of distinguished service.
Bridgewater has served as U.S. ambassador in three countries under three different presidents: President Bill Clinton appointed her U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Benin; President GeorgeW. Bush named her U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana, and President Obama appointed her as Ambassador to Jamaica.
Among her extensive overseas tours, she became the first African-American woman to serve as consul general in Durban, South Africa, during the historic transition from Apartheid to a non-racial government. As the political officer assigned to cover Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress, a former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa said, “Bridgewater established a degree of trust and confidence with Mr. Mandela and the ANC leadership that the U.S. had not previously enjoyed.”
Her contributions to international affairs and public policy have resulted in numerous commendations, including two U.S. Presidential Meritorious Service Awards, the Charles Cobb Award for Trade Promotion, Department of State Superior Honor Awards and the Secretary of State’s Career Achievement Award.
The Fredericksburg native earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Virginia State University and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati. She completed coursework and advanced to candidacy for the PhD degree from the American University School of International Service. She holds honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Virginia State University, and an honorary Doctor of Public Service from Morgan State University.
For more information about the commencement ceremonies, visit www.umw.edu/commencement or call the Office of University Events and Conferencing at (540) 654-1065.UMW Awards Top Honors and Honorary Degree at Commencement Ceremonies
The University of Mary Washington presented its top honors during commencement ceremonies Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10.
Daniel W. Lipscomb of Purcellville, Va., and Leah C. Tams of Midlothian, Va., received the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Awards, which are presented to the students with the highest grade-point averages (GPA) in the four-year undergraduate program. Both graduates finished with a 4.0 GPA.
Mara N. Scanlon, professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, was presented the Grellet C. Simpson Award, the institution’s most prestigious annual award for excellence in undergraduate teaching. The recipient is routinely a senior member of the faculty.
Charles M. Murphy, assistant professor of political science in the College of Arts and Sciences, received the UMW Alumni Association Outstanding Young Faculty Member Award, which is presented annually to an exceptional member of the faculty who has served the institution for at least two years but no more than five years.
Lynn Lewis, professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, received the Mary W. Pinschmidt Award. The winner is selected by the graduating class as the faculty member “whom they will most likely remember as the one who had the greatest impact on their lives.”
Beverly D. Epps, associate professor in the Department of Foundations, Leadership and Special Populations in the College of Education, was recognized with the Graduate Faculty Award. The honor recognizes an exceptional full-time faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in graduate teaching and professional leadership in a graduate program. The person selected must have served in a full-time position at the university for at least two years.
Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. The UMW Board of Visitors may award honorary degrees to recognize and express gratitude to individuals who have provided outstanding service or contributions that are instrumental in helping the University achieve major objectives.
Daniel W. Lipscomb & Leah C. Tams
Lipscomb is a psychology major who received a Bachelor of Science degree. He is a member of Psi Chi, the
Darden winner Daniel Lipscomb
psychology honor society, and Phi Beta Kappa. He recently presented his research, “Crippling Prejudice: A Study of Disability as Part of Diversity,” at the Virginia Psychological Association conference. Lipscomb also founded UMW’s Video Game Club.
“Some of his professors say that he was the one student who really ‘got it’ when learning the concepts behind statistics,” said Provost Jonathan Levin, who presented the award.
Lipscomb plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical or educational psychology and hopes eventually to work in the school system with a goal of making school environments more welcoming and receptive to all.
Tams is a history major with a minor in mathematics who received a Bachelor of Arts degree. She has held multiple internships, including at the Smithsonian Institution Archives, Kenmore Plantation and Virginia Historical Society. She is a member of Alpha Phi Sigma and Phi Beta Kappa. She is the recipient of the Almont Lindsey Award for Academic Achievement and Exemplary Service, which recognizes a graduating senior for outstanding academic achievement and service to the Department of History and American Studies.
Darden winner Leah Tams poses with Provost Levin.
“Her adviser describes her as upbeat, funny and analytical and points out that she will occasionally be seen knitting while she’s thinking,” said Levin.
Tams recently completed research on “Publishing Geographical Information in the Early American Republic” and “The Korean War in the 1960s and 1970s: A Cultural Analysis of the First Six Seasons of M*A*S*H” for her thesis in history for which she received Departmental Honors.
While she contemplates her long-term plans, she will return to work in an internship at the Smithsonian where she will be doing archival work.
Mara N. Scanlon
Mara N. Scanlon, professor of English, has woven together her passion for poetry, women’s literature, Asian American studies, and digital humanities during her decade at UMW.
Mara Scanlon, left, with Provost Levin
Levin described Scanlon as a leading force in encouraging faculty and students to experiment with innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and commended her for fostering a sense of community in her classes. “She has been known to break out noise makers to accompany her poetry classes,” he said. “One colleague observed that her classes sometimes take on the character of a rock concert. But don’t confuse that for a lack of rigor. As one student put it, ‘If you get an A, you frame that next to your diploma!’”
Scanlon is the co-editor of a forthcoming book called “Poetry and Dialogism: Hearing Over,” for which she also wrote the introductory chapter. Her professional work includes a collaborative, multi-university National Endowment for the Humanities Grant awarded for a project in the digital humanities called “Looking for Whitman: the Poetry of Place in Life and Work of Walt Whitman.” She recently spent a semester on sabbatical for her “Digital Modernism: The Artifact, The Poetess, and The Modernist Journals Project.”
She received her Ph.D. and master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Charles M. Murphy
Since Charles Murphy joined the Mary Washington faculty in 2009 as an assistant professor of political science, he has made his name for himself, both at UMW and in the community. He has been widely cited as a news source on U.S. politics, and has published numerous scholarly articles.
Charles Murphy, left, with Provost Levin
The recipient of the Mary W. Pinschmidt Award in 2011, Murphy serves as adviser and assistant coach of the university Mock Trial Team, sponsor of the Redistricting Team and is a manuscript reviewer for “Political Behavior” and “American Politics Research.”
“His most noteworthy achievement is his exuberant commitment to the one-on-one relationship that is the heart and soul of a liberal arts education at Mary Washington,” said Levin. “Consider these numbers: in five years, he has supervised 24 independent studies, 39 internships, and another 20 undergraduate research projects. His students have won national essay contests and have presented papers at regional and state professional meetings. And some of his students have landed positions working in the offices of state senators and delegates, thanks to the classroom and internship experiences they had with him.”
Murphy received a Ph.D. in political science and a master’s degree in mass political behavior from the University of California, Riverside and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Baldwin Wallace College.
Lynn Lewis
In her more than 25 years at UMW, Professor of Biology Lynn O. Lewis has researched and taught microbiology and virology, advised countless student undergraduate research projects, and shared her knowledge with colleagues across the country. A former poultry virologist for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, she serves as the adviser for UMW’s pre-vet program. Her current research involves the analysis of viruses that infect bacteria.
Lynn Lewis, left, with Peyton Kremer ’14
“This professor’s enthusiasm for her material is palpable, and her passion is truly infectious,” said Peyton Kremer ’14, who presented the award. “The knowledge I gained in this course on infectious diseases is both fascinating and entirely applicable to my future career in medicine. But what makes what I have learned in this course truly unique is that I will never forget what she has taught me, and that is entirely due to the tireless efforts of this amazing professor.”
Lewis received a Ph.D. in microbiology and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She is a member of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Honor Society and the American Society for Microbiology. As the treasurer and a member of the Virginia Branch of the ASM, she has led discussions on the teaching of microbiology to undergraduates.
Beverly D. Epps
Beverly Epps, associate professor of foundations, leadership and special populations in the College of Education, specializes in teacher education. Prior to joining the UMW faculty in 2005, she spent more than 25 years as a teacher and administrator in Virginia public schools, including as the director of testing and curriculum for Prince Edward Public Schools.
Beverly Epps
“These experiences have significantly informed her research and the perspectives and approaches she brings to the classroom,” said Levin. “Her research focuses on how to better serve the neediest populations in our schools, including students from low income families, juvenile offenders, students of color, and those with disabilities.”
Levin said students repeatedly comment on how Epps contributes to their professional growth and readiness for their future and colleagues admire her expertise, energy, and positive outlook.
Epps serves on the advisory board of the Center for Honor, Leadership and Service and is a faculty adviser of the Stafford Campus Honor Council. She received a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.
Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59
Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 established a career as an expert in microscopy in a time when women in the sciences faced entrenched professional inequality.
Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59
Building on a Mary Washington bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Rodgers accepted a fellowship from the University of Michigan and earned a master’s degree in chemistry in 1961. She was an electron microscopist at Phillips Electronic Instruments before beginning a four-decade career as an independent consultant to FEI, a premier provider of electron and ion-beam microscopes and tools for nanoscale applications.
“Mrs. Rodgers has served her alma mater with devotion and is among UMW’s most generous living donors,” said President Richard V. Hurley. “Her philanthropy has been carefully and thoughtfully structured to benefit UMW students directly.”
Among her significant contributions, Rodgers donated a transmission electron microscope, which put the UMW microscopy laboratory on par with labs of much larger research universities. Afterward, she came to campus to train faculty and students to use the microscope and to recognize student achievements.
Rodgers has endowed two student research fellowships for research in the physical and biological sciences and has established two Alvey Scholarships. An active advocate for Mary Washington, she has enthusiastically participated in 11 reunions of the Class of ’59.
UMW to Award Emeritus Status at Commencement
Six longtime professors will be awarded emeritus status at the University of Mary Washington’s undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10.
Six professors will be given emeritus status at the UMW Commencement ceremony on May 10.
David Cain will be named Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion; James F. Gaines will be named Professor Emeritus of French; David Hunt will be named Professor Emeritus of Theatre; Kathryn E. Loesser-Casey will be named Professor Emerita of Biology; Donald Rallis will be named Professor Emeritus of Geography; and Stephen P. Stageberg will be named Professor Emeritus of Economics.
The title of emeritus is bestowed on faculty members who have served the university for at least 15 years and who have attained the rank of professor or associate professor.
The university’s undergraduate commencement ceremony, which will begin at 9 a.m. on Ball Circle, will feature an address by Rebecca Rubin, founder, president and CEO of Marstel-Day. Kenneth Lopez ’92, the founder and CEO of A2L Consulting, will be the guest speaker for the graduate address on Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the William M. Anderson Center.
David Cain
David Cain has taught religion at UMW since 1970, with a special interest in Kierkegaard, contemporary Christian theology and Dostoevsky studies. He is widely published in the areas of Kierkegaard studies, Elie Wiesel, religion and literature, contemporary Christian theology, and dialogue among religions.
A member of Phi Beta Kappa, he was awarded the title of Distinguished Professor, UMW’s highest academic rank, in 1994. In 1992, he received the Grellet C. Simpson Award, the university’s most prestigious award for a senior member of the faculty.
A former full-time minister at Clarendon Congregational Church in Clarendon, Vermont, Cain received a bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. from Princeton University and a bachelor of divinity degree from Yale University.
James F. Gaines
After teaching for 20 years at Southeastern Louisiana University and serving multiple terms as head of its Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Jim Gaines joined the Mary Washington faculty in 1998 and completed two terms as chair of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages before returning to full-time teaching.
During his UMW tenure, Gaines completed his two most recent books, “The Molière Encyclopedia” and “Molière and Paradox,” as well as numerous professional articles and a growing number of translations from different centuries of French poetry and prose. He plans to continue his research activities in several scholarly societies and to publish in the near future his volume of poetry, “Downriver Waltz,” and a novel co-written with his son John (UMW Class of 2005), “Life Sentence.”
Gaines received a bachelor’s degree in French from Michigan State University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in French from the University of Pennsylvania.
David E. Hunt
David E. Hunt Jr. first came to UMW in 1982 and became a titled professor in 2001. An expert on scenery design, scenery lighting, scene painting and theatrical makeup, he has designed scenery or lighting for more than 150 theatre and dance productions.
Hunt received an AMOCO Excellence in Scene Design Award for his production of “Much Ado About Nothing.” He is an accomplished artist whose work hangs in local galleries and is widely commissioned by private collectors.
Hunt received a bachelor’s degree in 1973 in drama from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a master of fine arts degree in scene design from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Kathryn E. Loesser-Casey
In the 20 years Kathryn E. Loesser-Casey has been at Mary Washington, she has taught 11 different courses – many of which she developed – in the Department of Biological Sciences. She has mentored more than 42 undergraduate research students, 16 of whom received departmental honors for their work. She also has been active in her field of expertise, cardiovascular disease mechanisms. Since joining the UMW faculty, she has published 10 peer-reviewed research articles and co-authored a book chapter. In addition, Loesser-Casey has received funding for major grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Science Foundation.
She received a bachelor’s in zoology from Drew University in 1976 and a Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Rutgers in 1988. She did two postdoctoral fellowships, one in the Department of Biology at University of Pennsylvania and the other in the Internal Medicine Department at the Medical College of Virginia.
Donald Rallis
A native of South Africa, Donald Rallis arrived at UMW in 1990. He created field programs in South Africa, Cambodia, Australia and New Zealand, and is known for integrating web technologies into his classes. He is an expert on apartheid and other current political developments in his homeland, as well as the geography and history of South Africa.
He is writing a book called “Online Around the World: A Geographic Encyclopedia of the Internet, Social Media, and Mobile Apps,” about using technology to further geographic education.
He received a bachelor of arts degree and a bachelor of science with honors degree, both in geography, from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, and a master’s degree in geography from University of Miami. His doctorate is from Pennsylvania State University.
Stephen P. Stageberg
Stephen P. Stageberg has been at Mary Washington for 32 years and has led the faculty procession and carried the official mace at Commencement for three quarters of that time.
Stageberg received his undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees from Georgetown University, where he also served for four years as the school’s assistant director of athletics. He also served as an aide to former U.S. Senator William Proxmire.
In addition to his long tenure as faculty marshal at UMW, Stageberg has served as Intervarsity adviser, faculty representative to the NCAA, Class Council adviser and in many other key campus roles.
Entrepreneurs to Deliver Commencement Addresses, May 9-10
Two enterprising entrepreneurs will speak at the 2014 commencement ceremonies for the University of Mary Washington on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10.
Kenneth Lopez, the founder and CEO of A2L Consulting, will give the graduate address on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the William M. Anderson Center. Rebecca R. Rubin, founder, president and CEO of the environmental consulting firm Marstel-Day, LLC, will speak at the undergraduate ceremony on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. on Ball Circle.
Kenneth Lopez
Ken Lopez
Lopez, a 1992 graduate of Mary Washington and a member of the UMW Board of Visitors, is the founder and CEO of the Alexandria-based A2L Consulting, a leading provider of jury consulting, litigation graphics and courtroom support to all of the nation’s largest law firms. He founded the company in 1995 after receiving a law degree from the Widener University School of Law.
A2L Consulting was recently voted Best Demonstrative Evidence Firm in D.C. by the readers of LegalTimes and, on a national level, a Best Demonstrative Evidence Firm by the National Law Journal. He was recently quoted in The Wall Street Journal.
Lopez serves on the advisory board of UMW’s College of Business and on the Dean’s National Advisory Council at Widener. He was UMW’s Junior Executive-in-Residence in 2008 and is a frequent guest speaker for classes and student organizations.
Rebecca Rubin
Rebecca Rubin
Rubin founded Marstel-Day in 2002 as an expression of her commitment to the conservation of natural resources, especially habitat and open space, energy and water. Her company serves various public and private clients, including the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency. Marstel-Day is one of several Fredericksburg-area organizations collaborating with UMW to develop a Climate, Environment Action Readiness (CLEAR) Plan.
In 2013, the White House named Rubin a Champion of Change for Community Resilience, and Virginia Business Magazine listed her in 2011 among the “Top 25 People to Watch.” Marstel-Day has been named to Inc. Magazine’s 500/5000 and Zweigwhite’s HOTFirm list for the past five consecutive years.
A former director of the U.S. Army’s Environmental Policy Institute, Rubin received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and a master’s degree in international security from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
