A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Executive Director of Continuing and Professional Studies Kimberly Young will serve on the faculty for Leadership Fredericksburg’s latest cohort, which will include Director of Graduate Admissions Christy Pack as a fellow. 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.
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.
Hosted by the Women’s Leadership Colloquium @ UMW.
Networking is the best thing you can do for your business! Share, learn and grow from other professional females in the Fredericksburg area at a monthly coffee, held the second Tuesday of each month. We want to learn about your needs and explore how our organization can support your efforts!
This event is geared towards women business owners, however, we welcome everyone. Please join us! Walk-ins are always welcome.
August 13, Kimberly Young, Executive Director of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Mary Washington, The Art Of Strategic Connection: Creatively Leveraging Your Network To Build Business
8:00am-9:00am
Kalnen Inn, Jepson Alumni and Executive Center
1119 Hanover St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Street parking is available on Hanover Street.
Kimberly Young, executive director for Continuing and Professional Studies
Kimberly Young, executive director of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Mary Washington, recently graduated as part of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 12th Leadership Fredericksburg class. The ceremony was held on May 17 at UMW’s Stafford campus. Young was among the 31 fellows who began the program in September 2018.
Since 2017, Young has been responsible for expanding Mary Washington’s credit and non-credit programs for adult learners. She earned her B.A. in public policy studies from Duke University, and earned both an MBA and a Master of Management in hospitality from Cornell University. She has nearly 20 years of experience in education, consulting and hospitality, and previously served as the executive director of Executive Education and Executive MBA programs at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, University of Missouri-Kansas City.
According to a Chamber press release, the class started with a personality profile assessment and continued each month as community, business, nonprofit, political and educational leaders in the Fredericksburg area offered the fellows insights about their own personal leadership journeys. Fellows were also paired with mentors who supported their progress in the program, which culminated with presentations of their Community Action Projects at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, and later, at Lifepoint Church’s Spotsylvania campus for a team prize.
The Chamber is now accepting applications for Leadership Fredericksburg’s 2020 Class. The class of 2020 will be Leadership Fredericksburg’s 13th class. Since 2008, the program has graduated over 300 fellows.
An application can be obtained online at www.fredericksburgchamber.org or by calling the Chamber office at (540) 373-9400. There is a $25 application fee. Applications must be received at the Chamber office by 5 p.m. on July 1.