A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Teresa Segelken, UMW’s new director of Continuing and Professional Studies
Teresa Segelken has been named Director of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Mary Washington. In this position, Segelken will be responsible for aiding in the expansion of credit and non-credit programs and course opportunities, developing associated content, and evaluating the effectiveness and impact of new programs in the greater Fredericksburg region.
“As the region’s only four-year institution, this role is a critical component of our outreach. Teresa’s work will support our industry partners who need to equip their existing workforce with the skills necessary to maintain their competitive edge,” said Kimberly Young, Associate Provost for Career and Workforce.
Segelken comes to UMW most recently from Headquarters Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, where she served as a Training and Curriculum Senior Specialist responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating training and programs for Marines and families. She worked to develop content in a variety of areas including personal financial management, mental wellness and self-care, recruiting, and new employee onboarding.
Segelken enters this role with a decade of experience as a community college instructor. She taught Psychology and Education courses to diverse student populations in New York, Nebraska, and North Carolina before coming to Virginia. She earned two degrees from the State University of New York at Albany (UAlbany) including a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with concentrations in marketing and management, and a master’s degree in Educational Psychology and Methodology, concentrating in learning and cognition across the lifespan and effective teaching and evaluation strategies.
Segelken is looking forward to settling down in Fredericksburg and at UMW. “I look forward to the opportunity to work within this institution to meet the needs of the Fredericksburg community. My heart is in education; I’m excited for the opportunity to effect change on behalf of UMW.”
Segelken’s office will be located on UMW’s Stafford Campus.
Kimberly Young, executive director for Continuing and Professional Studies
Kimberly Young, executive director of Continuing and Professional Studies at UMW, was recently elected as chair of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Board of Trustees. According to an article in The Free Lance-Star, “Library Board of Trustees members are appointed by and represent their jurisdictions, donating their time as advocates for the public. Trustees work closely with the library director and deputy director to determine library policy, adopt budgets and support library legislation on a state and national level. Trustees also promote the library’s services, classes and events in their interactions with the community.” Read more.
Kimberly Young, executive director for Continuing and Professional Studies
Kimberly Young, executive director of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Mary Washington, was recently elected chair of the Board of Trustees of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. According to an article in The Free Lance-Star, “Library board of trustee members are appointed by and represent their jurisdictions, donating their time as advocates for the public. Trustees work closely with the library director and deputy director to determine library policy, adopt budgets and support library legislation on a state and national level. Trustees also promote the library’s services, classes and events in their interactions in the community.” Read more.
After doing their best to teach remotely for three months due to the global pandemic, Virginia’s K-12 teachers got word in June that they likely would return to teaching this fall – and at least some of it would be online. The sudden switch in spring had been hard enough; few of the state’s teachers had been trained in remote education or in keeping off-site students engaged.
They needed help. That’s when the University of Mary Washington’s College of Education (COE) stepped up. In collaboration with Continuing and Professional Studies (CPS) at UMW, a Summer Virtual Teaching Series quickly emerged.
“It has been an exciting opportunity to share the experience and knowledge of the College of Education faculty with local schoolteachers,” said Kristina Peck, UMW’s Director of Clinical Experiences.
In just four weeks, based on local educators’ input, UMW prepared six one-credit professional-development courses providing best practices in online instruction. Despite the tight schedule, UMW didn’t sacrifice quality, said Kimberly Young, CPS executive director. The classes had to meet the same standards as other COE courses. Read more.
UMW faculty and staff tuned in yesterday to a Zoom presentation and Q&A session centered on fall enrollment and retention in the time of COVID-19. Facilitated by Chief of Staff Jeff McClurken, the hour-long event included Vice President for Enrollment Management Kimberley Buster-Williams, Director of Undergraduate Admissions Melissa Yakabouski, Executive Director of Continuing and Professional Studies Kimberly Young and Director of Graduate Admissions Christy Pack.
Vice President for Enrollment Management Kimberley Buster-Williams
Buster-Williams and Yakabouski, who together have worked half a century in college admissions, said that the recruitment-related woes they’ve faced throughout their careers have been trumped by unemployment rates, health concerns and other disruptions caused by the current pandemic.
COVID-19 has taken an increasingly competitive college-enrollment landscape to new heights, the administrators said, forcing them to re-imagine strategies for recruiting and retaining students, and pose innovative solutions. At the time of the talk, first-year deposits stood at slightly more than 100 less than anticipated, according to Buster-Williams. This mirrors a downward trend across the country, she said. Mary Washington, like other schools, has extended the enrollment deposit deadline to June 1.
“We find ourselves in the midst of a recruitment crisis, and the outpouring of support has been truly appreciated,” she said of faculty, staff, alumni and other members of the Mary Washington community who are pitching in to help yield a strong incoming class.
Director of Undergraduate Admissions Melissa Yakabouski
After working for years to build a 2020-21 UMW undergraduate cohort – visiting schools, attending college fairs, reading applications and more – “our entire operation went online,” Yakabouski said. Without the overwhelming support, she said, “we could not have pivoted as quickly or as well.”
Among incoming students’ top concerns, she said, are a need to connect and a desire to know if Mary Washington will be able to meet its goal of providing in-person learning this fall or if the coronavirus crisis will force courses back online.
Pack and Young said they also have been “sorting through uncertainties” to meet the changing demands of adult learners by enhancing testing and pathway options, and financial support opportunities.
Director of Graduate Admissions Christy Pack
Together, Pack said, the two have hosted virtual sessions throughout the past six weeks for 150 students interested in enrolling in UMW’s MBA, M.Ed., MSGA, BSN, BLS, GIS-certification and other professional development programs.
“Uncertainty means we have hope,” said Young, who is keeping a close eye on the ways in which UMW can help meet the changing needs of area industries, such as offering COVID-19-influenced courses required of educators.
Participants posed a host of questions about such topics as how other schools’ decisions impact UMW’s admissions operations and what unique enrollment strategies are being considered.
“We are making sure we’re being really brilliant at the basics,” Buster-Williams said.
Executive Director of Continuing and Professional Studies Kimberly Young
In answer to Professor of Chemistry Nicole Crowder’s question on how the entire UMW community can continue to support this crucial effort, Yakabouski suggested being responsive to inquiries from prospective students and their parents, and sharing innovative ideas.
“Recruitment isn’t just about the four of us on this panel,” Young said. “It’s about all of us.”
Watch the May 20 Q&A session on YouTube.
And a handshake makes it official. President Troy Paino and Capt. Casey Plew finalize the partnership after signing documents of agreement. To the left is UMW Provost Nina Mikhalevsky, and NSWCDD Acting Technical Director Darren Barnes is on the right. Photo by Robert A. Martin.
Individuals who work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) contribute toward a lofty goal: develop technology that improves the U.S. military’s ability to fight, win and bring troops home safely.
The institution of higher education located in closest proximity to Dahlgren – University of Mary Washington (UMW) – wants to contribute toward NSWCDD’s goal.
The first step has been taken.
NSWCDD employees – 40 percent of whom have advanced degrees – now have a chance to improve their skills and, possibly, achieve yet another degree. All they have to do is leave the office and drive across Highway 301 to Mary Washington’s Dahlgren Campus.
UMW’s College of Business, in collaboration with Continuing and Professional Studies, has enrolled its first cohort of Dahlgren leaders in a project management certificate program. Those admitted for the program are qualified, if interested, to pursue a master’s in business administration after December 2021 when they earn their certificates. Read more.
Hosted by the Women’s Leadership Colloquium @ UMW.
Share, learn and grow from other professionals in the Fredericksburg area at a monthly coffee, held the second Tuesday of each month.
Please join us! Walk-ins are always welcome.
February 11, Susan Coleman, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, Talent is Never Enough, Real Growth Requires Passion
8:00am-9:00am
Kalnen Inn, Jepson Alumni and Executive Center
1119 Hanover St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Street parking is available on Hanover Street.
UMW is leading a consortium of local governments and educational entities to offer a non-credit preparatory program for the Certified Information Systems Security Professionals, or CISSP, exam. The program is the only one of its kind in the region. Photo by Norm Shafer.
Information technology professionals in the Fredericksburg region will have access to locally based training to help them earn one of the industry’s most sought-after cybersecurity certifications, with registration open now.
UMW is leading a consortium of local governments and educational entities to offer a non-credit preparatory program for the Certified Information Systems Security Professionals, or CISSP, exam. The program – the only one of its kind in the region – is made possible by a grant from GO Virginia, a statewide economic development initiative, and King George County, as well as the Fredericksburg and Stafford County economic development authorities. Read more.