November 4, 2024

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

MARY TALKS: President Troy Paino’s “Here’s Another Nice Mess”

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MARY TALKS: President Troy Paino's "Here's Another Nice Mess"

Join us ONLINE for the next Mary Talk of the 2021-22 academic year!

For this season’s finale, we will will hear from Troy D. Paino, Ph.D., president of the University. Dr. Paino will present, “Here’s Another Nice Mess: How Do We Respond to this Moment?”

COVID has disrupted our lives and torn at the fabric of our communities, plunging some into an existential crisis. In addition to this global health crisis, we are facing social unrest, democracy in peril, climate change, growing inequality, a mental health epidemic, drug abuse, lost faith in institutions, internet-fueled misinformation campaigns, increased violence, racial strife, and more.

While these times might feel unprecedented, the University of Mary Washington was founded during a similarly fraught time. Indeed, the University owes its very existence to the Commonwealth’s investment of hope in our democracy’s future in 1908. One hundred and fourteen years later, how do we respond to this moment and foster a spirit of renewal?

Wednesday, April 20
7:00-8:00 p.m. (EDT)
Online (via Zoom)

If you haven’t already, register below to watch the Talk online. You will receive a link to the streaming video, which can be watched live or at a later time. You also will have the opportunity to submit questions to be asked of the speaker at the end of the Talk.

We look forward to seeing you online!

Register now.

MARY TALKS with Sushma Subramanian: “How to Feel: the Science and Meaning of Touch”

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Join us ONLINE for the first Mary Talk of the 2021-22 academic year!

In these times of the internet and digital communication, some say we are out of touch. Many people fear that we are trapped inside our screens, becoming less in tune with our bodies and losing our connection to the physical world. But the sense of touch has been undervalued since long before the days of digital isolation.

Because of deeply rooted beliefs that favor the cerebral over the corporeal, touch is maligned as dirty or sentimental, in contrast with other forms of communication and perception. In this Mary Talk, journalism professor Sushma Subramanian will explore the scientific, physical, emotional, and cultural aspects of touch, reconnecting us to what is arguably our most important sense.

Wednesday, September 8
7:30-9:00 p.m. (EDT)
Online (via Zoom)

To watch the Talk online, register here. You then will receive a link to the streaming video, which can be watched live or at a later time. You also will have the opportunity to submit questions to be asked of the speaker at the end of the Talk.

We look forward to seeing you online!

Register Now.

Mary Talks: “Preservation of an American Theme Park”

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Mary Talks, Christine Henry

Join us ONLINE for the final Mary Talk of the 2020-21 academic year!

Amusement parks have held a special allure for Americans as places to gather, relax, and have fun. During the baby boom, more family-oriented theme parks were developed. But besides Disneyland, few of these fairy-tale playlands survived into the 21st Century.

Dr. Christine Henry, assistant professor of historic preservation, will share the case study of one theme park as she presents “Storybook Ending: Preservation of an American Theme Park.” Using vintage postcards, images, and newspapers, Professor Henry will discuss the evolution of American leisure, focusing on the surprising tale of a baby-boom-era park, The Enchanted Forest in Ellicott City, Maryland. It’s a story worthy of Mother Goose herself.

Wednesday, April 28
7:30-9:00 p.m. (EDT)
Online (via Zoom)

To watch the Talk online, register here. You then will receive a link to the streaming video, which can be watched live or at a later time. You also will have the opportunity to submit questions to be asked of the speaker at the end of the Talk.

We look forward to seeing you online!

Register

Mary Talks: “Farmer Legacy: 2020 & Beyond”

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Join us ONLINE for the next Mary Talk of the 2020-21 academic year!

In January 2020, UMW launched Farmer Legacy 2020: A Centennial Celebration and Commitment to Action to recognize what would have been the 100th birthday of Dr. James Farmer, national civil rights icon and Mary Washington College professor from 1985 to 1998. While the pandemic changed the direction of our yearlong commemoration, it did not shake our commitment to honor Dr. Farmer and to realize his vision for a more equitable America. Our next Mary Talk will explore Dr. Farmer’s life and legacy and his ongoing impact at Mary Washington today.

This Talk will be presented by Farmer Legacy co-chairs Dr. Sabrina Johnson (Vice President for Equity and Access) and Dr. Juliette Landphair (Vice President for Student Affairs) along with Jason Ford ’20 (leader of the Black Alumni Affinity Group). They will discuss Dr. Farmer’s impact and UMW’s ongoing commitment to inclusive excellence. We will hear from alumni who recall Dr. Farmer as a remarkable historian and teacher. We will recount our trip with President Troy Paino and others to Capitol Hill to visit the legendary Representative John Lewis, who participated in the Freedom Rides with Dr. Farmer and served as the Farmer Legacy’s honorary Chairperson. We will examine the context of Dr. Farmer’s life and legacy as well as our progress in equity and inclusion efforts at UMW.

Wednesday, December 9
7:30-9:00 p.m.
Online

To watch the Talk online, register here. You then will receive a link to the streaming video, which can be watched live or at a later time. You also will have the opportunity to submit questions to be asked of the speaker at the end of the Talk.

Note: Online viewing is the only option for this Mary Talk, as we are not conducting any in-person events at this time.

We look forward to seeing you online!

Mary Talks: ‘COVID-19 and Climate’ with Dr. Pamela Grothe

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Join us ONLINE for the next Mary Talk of the year.

This year’s series continues with Dr. Pamela Grothe, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences, presenting “COVID-19 and Climate: What Impact is the Pandemic Having on the Environment?”

In her research, Dr. Grothe uses natural archives to reconstruct the climate hundreds to thousands of years ago. This creates a baseline of natural climate variability so we can better understand humans’ contribution to present-day climate. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of addressing the climate crisis. With global economies shut down, we have seen reports in the news about better air quality and lower carbon emissions. This Talk will discuss the immediate and long-term environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and lessons learned as we tackle the looming climate crisis.

Wednesday, June 10

7:30 p.m.

Online

To watch the Talk online, register here. You then will receive a link to the streaming video, which can be watched live or at a later time. You also will have the opportunity to submit questions to be asked of the speaker at the end of the Talk.

Note: Online viewing is the only option for this Mary Talk, as we are not conducting any in-person events at this time.

We look forward to seeing you online!

Mary Talks: Eric Gable on ‘An Anthropology of Art’

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Join us ONLINE for the next Mary Talk of the 2019-20 academic year.

Next in this year’s series is Eric Gable, professor of anthropology and recipient of the 2018 Waple Faculty Professional Achievement Award at UMW, presenting “An Anthropology of Art: Images and Objects from a Cross-Cultural Perspective.”

Professor Gable’s lecture distills his current book project, which delves into anthropology’s long-standing fascination with art and what it reveals about human equality and difference. The lecture is based on an ongoing study of Western art museums and how primitive art–particularly African–has been interpreted therein, and will include material on artistic practices among the people of West Africa and Indonesia, where Gable conducted field research.

Wednesday, April 22
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Online

To watch the Talk online, register here. You then will receive a link to the streaming video, which can be watched live or at a later time. You also will have the opportunity to submit questions to be asked of the speaker at the end of the Talk.

Note: Online viewing is the only option for this Mary Talk, as we are not conducting any in-person events at this time.

We look forward to seeing you online!

Mary Talks: The Chinese Dream and the New Silk Road

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Join us (on campus or online!) for the first Mary Talk of the 2019-20 academic year.

Dr. Elizabeth Larus, professor of political science and international affairs and a 2019 Fulbright recipient, will present “The Chinese Dream and the New Silk Road.”

The Chinese Dream is Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s goal of national rejuvenation with the aim of restoring China to its historical place as a great power. To help meet this goal, China is building a New Silk Road to expand its commercial and political influence and to have a more prominent status and role in global affairs. Some analysts see the project as an effort to remake the global balance of power, and as the costs of the proposed project have skyrocketed, opposition has grown in some participant countries.

 

Wednesday, September 11
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Digital Auditorium,
Hurley Convergence Center
On Campus

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The lecture will end at approximately 8 p.m., allowing time for a Q&A session with Professor Larus. Please join us for light refreshments at the conclusion of the program. This event is free, but registration is requested so we will know to expect you. If you haven’t already, register today!

You can attend this Talk either in person or online! To attend on campus, click “Register to Attend in Person” below. If you instead would like to view the Talk online (either live or at a later time), click “Register to View Online,” and you will receive a link to view the online video.

Register to attend in person. 

Register to view online. 

We look forward to seeing you either on campus or online!