Eagles in Recovery Archives

Impact Grant Supports Eagles in Recovery’s Substance-Free Mission

May 21, 2025 by Jill Laiacona

From left: Ray Tuttle, UMW’s health promotions and student success specialist, and Devin Walsh, UMW’s peer recovery specialist, run Eagles in Recovery, a program that supports Mary Washington students working to overcome substance and alcohol addiction. Photo by Parker Michel Boyce.

This month, Devin Walsh, the University of Mary Washington’s peer recovery specialist, marks off some significant milestones.

Two years ago in May, he committed to a life of sobriety, and the following spring, he began training to help others overcome their own struggles with substances and alcohol, which can often make it challenging for college students to stay in school.

“The University wants to give its students the best opportunity to be successful in college and beyond,” Walsh said. “Being visible and outspoken about my own journey can give them the hope they need to heal and continue to study, learn and grow so they can achieve their goals.”

Founded in 2017, UMW’s Eagles in Recovery program has provided the campus with critical resources and tools to support students, from the sober-curious to those who have experienced active addiction. Bolstered by a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant and other sources of funding, Eagles in Recovery also educates and engages the campus community through initiatives such as the coffee bike – providing hot beverages, snacks and outreach – and recovery ally training to teach friends and family how to support loved ones while reducing stigmas surrounding addiction.

“Popular culture has perpetuated the idea that college is the best four-year party one can experience,” said Ray Tuttle, UMW’s health promotions and student success specialist. “But if you’re a person in recovery, and you don’t want to be in that kind of environment, it can be very difficult.” Read more.

UMW One of Eight Schools Receiving State Opioid Response Grant

October 31, 2019 by jlaiacon

Associate Director for Residence Life and Housing Hunter Rauscher with Gov. Ralph Northam.

Governor Ralph Northam announced today that the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) has awarded $675,000 of federal State Opioid Response grant funding to Virginia Commonwealth University to expand substance use recovery programs at eight universities across the state, including the University of Mary Washington. UMW received a $50,000 grant earlier this year for its Eagles in Recovery program, putting UMW among only a handful in Virginia – and relatively few across the country – to offer support services for students recovering from substance use and addiction.

With weekly meetings, support groups and a dedicated safe space called the “clubhouse,” where those in recovery can escape the pressures of college life, Eagles in Recovery has served at least 10 students since its launch in 2017. These grant funds allow administrators to maintain and expand meetings and resources, bring on other facilitators and more, said Associate Director for Residence Life and Housing Hunter Rauscher, who started the program.

“I am thrilled that UMW is getting this opportunity to work with other Virginia institutions and the DBHDS to have access to these funds in order to offer additional services to our students in recovery from substance use disorder,” said Rauscher, who met with Gov. Northam earlier this week. “These funds have the potential of having a huge impact in helping students get to graduation without having to choose between their education and their recovery.”

UMW Grant to Help Students Recover From Substance Addiction

August 13, 2019 by jlaiacon

The University of Mary Washington has received a $50,000 grant for a unique program that helps students in various stages of recovery from alcohol and substance abuse and addiction.

The “Expanding Collegiate Recovery in Virginia” grant, awarded this summer by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), will fund growth for UMW’s Eagles in Recovery program. Though a number of colleges claim substance-free housing, the program puts UMW among only a handful in Virginia – and relatively few across the country – to offer support services for students recovering from substance addiction.