University of Mary Washington Year in Review 2024-25

Year in Review 2024-25

Greetings from President Paino

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his year, we’ve seen the University of Mary Washington climb in the rankings, earning top-20 spots for internships and impact, student support, and town-gown relations— all based on the experiences of our students.

These accolades reflect the hard work of our faculty and staff, as well as the many mentors and partners who inspire our success. Together, we’re building the groundwork for what’s to come.

We remain deeply committed to the liberal arts and sciences in their power to provide transformative educational experiences. These disciplines foster the adaptable, durable skills our graduates need to navigate a fast-changing world. The liberal arts form a strong foundation for the workforce of the future, anchoring enduring values in an age of AI and guiding how we learn, create, and lead.

We’re also continuing to enhance and adapt Mary Washington’s mission by investing in experiential learning and empowering our students and alumni through Life After Mary Washington. We’ve upgraded facilities, preserved beloved campus traditions, and revitalized the spaces that make UMW feel like

home for our prospective and current students as well as alumni returning for Homecoming and Reunion.

As the region’s only four-year, degree-granting institution, we’re stepping up to meet workforce needs and strengthen the community we share.

These efforts are shaping our role for the future and reinforcing what makes Mary Washington so special. We believe in what we do—and in what we can achieve together. Thank you for your continued investment in and support of the University of Mary Washington.

Go, Eagles!

Troy D. Paino, J.D., Ph.D. President

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This year, we’ve seen the University of Mary Washington climb in the rankings, earning top-20 spots for internships and impact.”

National Rankings TOP 10

U.S. News & World Report, 2025 “Best Colleges” ranked UMW among the top 10 public liberal arts colleges in the nation. The guide also highlighted UMW’s undergraduate business, computer science, and psychology programs, along with its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Mary Washington also secured a spot on its “Top Performers for Social Mobility” list.

UMW made the Peace Corps’ list of the top 10 volunteer-producing schools for 2025 in the small college category, for institutions with fewer than 5,000 undergraduates. Mary Washington has been included regularly on this prestigious list since 2005.

TOP 20

The Princeton Review’s “Best Value Colleges for 2025” named Mary Washington among the nation’s top colleges for students seeking a great education with excellent career services at an affordable price.

UMW was one of just five public universities in Virginia to earn this distinction.

UMW also ranked 11th in the Top 20 Best Schools for Making an Impact category and 18th in the Top 20 Best Schools for Internships category in The Princeton Review.

TOP 15 B E ST 30 0

BUS I N E SS LEADERS Poets&Quants 2025 added UMW to the list of “Best Undergraduate Business Schools,” which considers admission standards, academic experience, and career outcomes. The University claimed 34th in the “academic experience” category, landing in the survey’s top third, and 84th in the overall list.

UMW’s Master of Business Administration program also made the “Best MBA Programs for your money” list in Money.

Mary Washington continues to rank highly on Money’s “Best Colleges in America” list as an institution that delivers strong academics at an affordable cost and prepares students for success after graduation.

The Princeton Review’s “The Best 391 Colleges” lists Mary Washington as the 15th Best Student Support and Counseling Services, Town-Gown Relations, and Best College Theatre, as well as 11th Best Health Services.

Fiske Guide to Colleges, 2026 featured UMW in the 300 “best and most interesting” public and private colleges and universities in the nation, as well as Canada, Great Britain, and Ireland.

Read more about our national rankings.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Advancing UMW

8% I N CR E A S E in unique donor count

43% I N CR E A S E in first-time donors

76% I N CR E A S E

in young alumni first-time donors Contributions supported

317 A R E A S

UMW Reports Record-Breaking $37.8 Million Raised in 2024-25

across the University Donors gave

$3.57 M I LLI O N to support endowed and non-endowed scholarships

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Giving to the Fund for Mary Washington

he University of Mary Washington wrapped up its most successful fundraising year ever on June 30, with a record $37,867,639 in gifts and pledges made by 5,526 supporters in 2024-25.

Giving participation increased across every constituency, including alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, and students. UMW’s endowment also surpassed $100 million, creating lasting philanthropic resources for merit- and need-based scholarships, academic programs, experiential learning, faculty resources, and more.

EXCEEDED $1 MILLION

“Reaching the $100 million milestone for our endowment demonstrates the power of philanthropy to strengthen UMW today and to help secure its future,” said Katie Turcotte, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement and executive director of the UMW Foundation. “The generosity of our donors combined with strong fiscal management from the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees ensures that the Foundation contributes directly to the University’s success, while providing lasting support for students, faculty, staff, and programs for generations to come.”

Achieving this milestone was possible in part because of the final distribution of the transformational $36 million estate gift that Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 left her alma mater when she passed away in 2022. Yet, even outside of that single large gift, the fundraising team at Mary Washington has increased its work with donors, reaching uncharted heights for new outright and multi-year gifts each year.

Two students take photos at the Mary Wash Day selfie station with a puppy brought to campus by Old Dominion Humane Society.

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Mary Wash Day Surpasses $1 Million Mark

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he UMW community broke all previous Mary Wash Day records, with 2,565 donors giving $1.33 million during the 24-hour day of philanthropy and engagement, held April 2-3 from noon to noon.

Alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., collectively unlocked hundreds of thousands of dollars in challenges and matches sponsored by generous donors, making 3,654 gifts to 124 different areas across the University. The unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington received the most gifts, followed by UMW Theatre, the College of Education, Women’s Basketball, Simpson Library, and the Marshall E. Bowen Scholarship.

“This achievement isn’t just about surpassing a financial goal—it’s a powerful testament to the extraordinary commitment of our supporters to invest in the University’s mission,” said Executive Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14. “It shows that when Eagles unite around a shared purpose, there’s no limit to how high we can soar or what we can accomplish together.”

I N 2024 -25, TH E FO LLOW I N G SC H O L A RS H I P S W E R E AWA R D E D FO R TH E F I RST TI M E : Marshall E. Bowen Scholarship The Chrisman Family Foundation Scholarship in Historic Preservation Curie Darwin Newton Scholarship Dorothy Hanlon Frederick Scholarship Colonel Patricia Hess Jernigan ’64 Veterans Scholarship Joy of Teaching Scholarship Patricia Boise Kemp ’69 Scholarship VII William and Elizabeth Kelling Leasure ’66 Scholarship Anne McGrath ’58 Photography Scholarship Jane G. Oakes ’57 Scholarship Endowment for Chemistry Students Potomac Riverkeeper Network Student Research Fellowship Benjamin Thomas Price and Geneva Bittinger Price Scholarship in Classics, Philosophy, and Religion Ralston Costume Design and Technology Scholarship Irene Piscopo ’59 and James D. Rodgers - Alvey Scholarship IX Anne Hope Scott ’59 Scholarship in Chemistry Margaret Shropshire Small ’51 Scholarship Philip Price Smith ’10 Scholarship in Business

Year in Review 2024-25

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Bright Day

Brilliant Futures

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ommencement 2025 brought more than 900 soon-to-be grads to Ball Circle in May for the biggest day of their college careers.

“As I look out at this sea of graduates,” Melanie Kay-Wyatt ’92, M.Ed. ’07, said on the warm, cloudless morning, “I feel immense pride in the deep commitment this University has toward shaping not just scholars but empathetic leaders in a diverse world.”

Kay-Wyatt, the first Black woman to serve as superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools, delivered the keynote address at the three-hour ceremony, filled with pomp and circumstance, including the traditional Mary Washington sounds of the Eagle Pipe Band and the alma mater.

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“Much of our work centers on preparing you for success in a 21st-century global economy,” President Troy Paino told the crowd, “but UMW’s mission is rooted in a public purpose. Yes, it is important that you succeed in your chosen career, but it is also important that you succeed in life, can engage across difference, and have the wherewithal to contribute to the communities we share.”

Class President Shadwick Yoder ’25, a political science major with a minor in environmental sustainability, spoke from the podium—and from his heart—praising the UMW community for preparing him and his classmates for whatever life holds.

“The world should watch out,” he said. “The Class of 2025 is coming, and we have big plans ahead.”

“I feel immense pride in the deep commitment this University has toward shaping not just scholars but empathetic leaders in a diverse world.

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Melanie Kay-Wyatt ’92, M.Ed. ’07

Above from top: UMW graduates (from left to right) Kelsey Payne, Maria Werner, Bonnie Butler, Jessica Oberlies, Thomas Held, Kathleen Conner, and Austin Moore received the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award for Academic Achievement for earning the highest grade-point average in the undergraduate program. UMW alumna and Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt delivers the keynote address. Photos by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Fulbright Winners

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ince singing the alma mater at her UMW graduation, Sofia Taylor ’24—a recipient of the fullride Justin and Helen Piscopo Alvey Scholarship who majored in psychology and minored in music and neuroscience—has immersed herself in oncology research at the University of Michigan. She had just settled into a new role as a research assistant when she learned she had won a U.S. government-sponsored Fulbright Award to continue her studies at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Germany, where she’ll explore how live and recorded music can impact emotions and dopamine levels in young adults. She joins decades of UMW grads who’ve earned grants from the prestigious Fulbright Program, one of the world’s most competitive international exchange initiatives.

“I’m most excited about being at an institute that’s completely devoted to the research areas I devoted four years to at UMW,” Taylor said. She credits Mary Washington’s Fulbright information sessions, friends she made while studying abroad in Vienna, Austria—the birthplace of psychology and a center for classical music—and her passion for her undergraduate research topics with influencing her decision to pursue the grant.

Taylor’s success reflects UMW’s growing reputation for Fulbright achievement, with roughly 30 winners and nearly 40 semifinalists. Alumna Jessica McCaughey ’01, an associate professor in the University Writing Program at The George Washington University, also recently earned a Fulbright Award to teach and lecture at Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, starting in 2026.

Read more about Sofia and her Fulbright Program grant.

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Sofia Taylor poses for a photo on the balcony of the Albertina Museum, overlooking the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera).

Photo courtesy of Sofia Taylor.

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ylie Vann ’25 and Daphne Bobb ’28 swept top honors at the 2025 Virginias Collegiate Honors Council Conference, marking the first time both awards went to students from the same institution. The accolades, each including a $500 cash prize, were reserved for the best and brightest honors students in Virginia and West Virginia, who exemplify outstanding scholarship, integrity, and leadership.

Rylie Vann

Vann, who double majored in communication and digital studies and theatre, was named 2025 Scholar of the Year for her academic excellence and creative work, including three capstone projects. She tackled lighting design for UMW Theatre’s production of Nunsense, researched reality-television stereotypes, and created a guidebook for future production electricians. A peer mentor and WMWC Radio DJ, Vann said the award was a powerful reflection of her time in the UMW Honors Program.

Bobb received the Emerging Scholar of the Year title for her outstanding academic start at Mary Washington. A mathematics major with a focus in data science, she earned a perfect 4.0 GPA while assisting her professors in the classroom and presenting research on women’s rights in developing countries. She also found time to volunteer locally and perform classical and jazz music.

Daphne Bobb

“These students embody the very spirit of our program— enthusiasm, determination, and a drive to make a difference,” said UMW Honors Program Director Kelli Slunt ’91, who is also a professor of chemistry at Mary Washington. “It was a privilege to see two of our own recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to enhancing their education.”

Scholarly

UMW’s reputation for Fulbright achievement is growing.

30 FU LB R I G HT W I N N E RS

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Sweep

“These students embody the very spirit of our program—enthusiasm, determination, and a drive to make a difference.

Kelli Slunt ’91, UMW Honors Program director

N E A R LY 4 0 FU LB R I G HT S E M I F I N A LI STS Year in Review 2024-25

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Back to

School

UMW Move-In: Students and Staff Bring Sunshine to a Rainy Day

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light mist of rain set the stage for hundreds of first-year students who moved onto the UMW campus in August, but 140 upperclassmen— more than double the size of last year’s crew—brightened the scene as Move-In Day volunteers. Clad in yellow “I like to move it, move it” T-shirts, they delivered suitcases and tubs, mini fridges and full-length mirrors, desk lamps and laundry detergent, and bedsheets and shower shoes straight to students’ new rooms.

Even UMW President Troy Paino got in on the act, popping from room to room with wife Kelly to greet the 600 or so new arrivals—and the

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parents and friends who came to help settle them in.

In all, UMW welcomed more than 1,000 new students—700-plus first-years and 300-plus transfers—to campus for the 2025-26 academic year. They came from 15 states, plus Washington, D.C., and 18 countries. Seventy-three graduate students pursuing master’s degrees in education and business administration also became new Eagles.

“It feels like a family here,” first-year student Ryan Gipner ’29, a tennis player from Raleigh, North Carolina, said of UMW, “and I haven’t even started going to classes.”

Read more about UMW’s first-year students.

‘Soft Landings’ Smooths College Transition for Neurodivergent Students

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icole Martin ’28 couldn’t wait to come to UMW but felt overwhelmed by the thought of a packed schedule, unfamiliar faces, and new situations. She then learned about Soft Landings, UMW’s new program that helps students with autism spectrum disorder acclimate to Mary Washington before their peers arrive on campus. “It’s made a huge difference in how I’m adjusting to college life,” Martin said.

Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

WE LCO M E TO CA M PUS 1,000+

new students

700+

First-Years

300+

Conceived by Assistant Dean of Students Chris “CJ” Porter, Soft Landings introduced its first cohort in fall 2024, providing activities and campus tours, as well as personal introductions to key staff members, to help ease the transition to UMW for neurodivergent students. The program also helps them hone critical skills for college success such as solving problems and adapting to new situations, practicing self-care, preparing for academic courses, socializing, and learning to self-advocate.

“This is the first time many of these students are navigating life on their own,” said Porter, who secured a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant to support the program.

“It’s very expensive to raise a child with special needs, so we needed to find a way to make it affordable for parents.”

transfers

15 STATES

+ Washington, D.C.

18 COUNTRIES

Including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, Mexico, and the Netherlands.

“This is the first time many of these students are navigating life on their own.

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Chris “CJ” Porter, assistant dean of students

Read more about UMW’s Soft Landings program.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Future Focused

From Microcredentials to Major Opportunities: UMW Expands Learning and Career Pathways

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he University of Mary Washington is empowering students, faculty, staff, and alumni with new, flexible pathways to career success—from short-term certifications to advanced degrees and real-world experience.

In spring 2025, UMW launched Coursera Career Academy, a cutting-edge platform offering more than 45 microcredentials in fields like data analytics, project management, and digital marketing. These stackable certificates—from top companies including Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Salesforce—are designed to complement academic coursework and deliver tangible proof of career-ready skills to employers. Best of all, the platform is available across the UMW community, accessible to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff, and alumni through complimentary benefits of the Mary Washington Alumni Association.

Academic offerings continue to evolve with three new minors—Disability Studies, Global History, and Professional Writing—and three innovative majors—Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Data Science, and Management and Entrepreneurship—ensuring students are ready to thrive in modern enterprises or launch their own businesses.

Graduate study pathways have also expanded.

The College of Business recently partnered with

UMW Provost Timothy O’Donnell (left) and George Mason University Provost James Antony complete the official signing at a ceremony that reconfirmed a partnership between the two schools for an accelerated degree pathway program.

Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce to streamline the path for accounting majors pursuing a master’s degree, offering fasttrack admissions, waived application fees, and guaranteed scholarships of at least $10,000 for timely applicants.

Meanwhile, renewed collaboration with George Mason University opens dual enrollment opportunities that combine undergraduate and graduate coursework. The accelerated degree pathways in computer science, engineering, and law help students save time and money while earning advanced degrees, offer greater financial aid flexibility, and enhance success at both institutions.

In healthcare education, UMW’s Office of Continuing and Professional Studies has secured a $78,000 GO Virginia Region 6 grant—the first awarded in the healthcare cluster—to develop a Practice Management Certificate Program. This innovative initiative, launching in spring 2026, will train medical office managers to improve operational efficiency and access to care, in partnership with the nationally recognized Practice Management Institute.

With these initiatives, UMW continues to bridge education and career readiness, empowering its community, from microcredentials to major achievements.

Read more about UMW’s new academic offerings.

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rmed with a recently revamped résumé and knowledge collected from coursework, Abigail Fuller ’26 made the rounds at UMW’s Career and Internship Fair last spring. The four-hour biannual event, which also took place in September, brought Fuller, a history major with a minor in museum studies, a step closer to landing her dream job of working in a museum.

Hosted by the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), the events welcomed hundreds of students hoping to match their knowledge and skills with the needs of employers in industries as varied as education, healthcare, and finance. Along with the Business Career Pathways event, hosted in October by UMW’s College of Business—and grants from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP)—they’re aimed largely at building internships.

Class of 2024 survey (six months after Commencement) shows that UMW grads are:

5 4% E M PLOY E D A F TE R F LY I N G TH E N E ST

Career Fairs and Grants Make Internships Work

full time

20% E N RO LLE D

in a grad program or continuing education

12% E M PLOY E D part time

1 0% S E E KI N G employment

2% PL A N N I N G to continue their education

2% I N S E RV I CE ,

military, or volunteer positions *Data from First Destination Survey, 94% knowledge rate

Recent grants of $24,994 from SCHEV and $150,000 from SCHEV and V-TOP will allow UMW to expand paid internship and work-based learning opportunities for students, enhancing their career readiness and academic growth.

“These grants fund an important part of our strategic effort to prepare our students for Life After Mary Washington,” said Associate Provost for Career and Workforce Kimberly Young. “We know that students who participate in internships have the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge and reflect on their experiences, which in turn builds their competence as they approach their careers in our regional economy and beyond.”

The Business Career Pathways event, held in Woodard Hall’s Red Room, drew a mix of students from technical and business disciplines.

Photo by Killian Petty ’26.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Power Players

Employee Accolades Honor Excellence

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hroughout the year, faculty and staff across UMW received awards honoring their dedication, service, and commitment to students, the University, and the liberal arts and

UMW President Troy Paino made Virginia Business’s Virginia 500 Power List of the most visionary leaders in business, government, politics, and education, and was honored as one of the most influential in Northern Virginia Magazine.

At the October 2024 Employee Appreciation Luncheon, the University Staff Council bestowed the Larry Atkins Award on UMW Galleries Collections Manager and Gallery Administrator Shannon Petska, Accounts Payable Specialist Laura Temple, and Simpson Library Research and Instruction Librarian Peter Catlin for their commitment to going above and beyond.

Also at the luncheon, Theatre Production Specialist Kenny Horning received the Charles Coleman Memorial Service Award, recognizing a classified or hourly employee’s dedication and service to UMW. And James Farmer Multicultural Center Director and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Marion Sanford received the Richard V. and Rosemary A. Hurley Presidential Commendation for exceptionally meritorious service.

At its May 2025 meeting, the UMW Board of Visitors granted Administrator Emeritus status to Assistant Vice President of Gift Planning Jan Clarke, who retired in June, and presented Professor of Geology and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Grant Woodwell with the Faculty Leadership Award.

At UMW’s Commencement ceremony, also in May, Associate Professor of Computer Science Ian Finlayson was chosen by students to receive the Mary W. Pinschmidt Award for having had the greatest impact on the lives of the members of the Class of 2025.

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Clockwise from the top: James Farmer Multicultural Center Director and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Marion Sanford (with President Troy Paino) accepts the Hurley Award for exceptionally meritorious service. UMW Galleries Collections Manager and Gallery Administrator Shannon Petska accepts a USC award for her dedication and service. Simpson Library Research and Instruction Librarian Peter Catlin accepts a USC award for his commitment to UMW. Photos by K Pearlman Photography.

UMW President Troy Paino made Virginia Business’s Virginia 500 Power List of the most visionary leaders in business, government, politics, and education, and was honored as one of the most influential in Northern Virginia Magazine.

Lifelong Champion for UMW Former President William M. Anderson Jr., who served as UMW’s sixth president from 1983 to 2006, passed away on June 30, 2025, with a career dedicated to higher education and a 23year tenure—the longest of any public university president in Virginia at the time.

When President Anderson took office, he was the youngest president of any four-year public college in the Commonwealth. By the time he retired, he had overseen more than $120 million in capital improvements, including the construction of a new library, science center, student and alumni centers, art gallery, and multiple residence halls, including the purchase of the UMW Apartments.

He championed the creation of the Stafford Campus, a milestone that factored into Mary Washington’s elevation to university status in 2004, and he oversaw the start of the revitalization of the north end of campus. Upon his retirement,

the UMW Board of Visitors unanimously approved a resolution to name the Anderson Convocation Center in his honor. He also was presented with a Washington Medallion, which recognizes extraordinary service to the University that has made a lasting and indelible impact.

William M. Anderson Jr., UMW’s sixth president

The Anderson Center is home to UMW’s basketball and volleyball games and numerous community events, making Anderson still one of the most memorable champions for UMW. Read President Anderson's In Memoriam.

Chemistry on the Court

When UMW Athletics Hall of Famer Christy Copper ’91 reflects on her four years at Mary Washington, she thinks of Ed Hegmann, who served as the longtime athletic director and women’s tennis coach. Former President William Anderson and wife Jane, who rooted on the team through two national championship wins. And Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Ray Scott, who helped her secure a research internship that led to her earning a Ph.D.

Photo courtesy of UMW Libraries’ Special Collections and University Archives.

Copper was named the NCAA Division III National Senior Player of the Year and Female ScholarAthlete of the Year in 1991 and was inducted into the UMW Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.

Now an analytical chemistry professor and faculty athletics representative at the U.S. Naval Academy, Copper believes it’s critical that UMW faculty have access to resources, equipment, and professional development so they can teach today’s students. “If you can make faculty feel valued and supported, it ensures a better experience for students,” said Copper, who established the Christine L. Copper ’91 Endowment for Chemistry Research and the Athletic Endowment for Women’s Tennis through her estate plan.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Driven to Discovery

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s she stood beside her research poster at the Virginia State Capitol, Mallory Thompson ’26 felt both excitement and responsibility. The UMW biomedical sciences major wasn’t just presenting months of lab work—she was advocating for new approaches to cancer treatment.

“It’s exciting to think my work might help people understand that conventional therapies aren’t always enough,” Thompson said. “Exploring other treatments could be key to reducing recurrence rates.”

UMW students pushed the boundaries of discovery this year through hands-on research and creative exploration. Across disciplines, they gained mentorship, sharpened skills, and explored meaningful questions—all hallmarks of the Mary Washington experience.

At the inaugural Undergraduate Research Showcase in Richmond, UMW students presented work on test anxiety and nutrition-based cancer therapies, joining peers from 16 Virginia colleges to connect with legislators and fellow researchers.

Meanwhile, UMW biology majors captured nearly half of the research grants awarded at the Virginia Academy of Science meeting, standing out among larger institutions with projects ranging from antibiotic resistance to crop resilience, all guided by dedicated faculty mentors.

Back on campus, the 19th annual Research and Creativity Symposium spotlighted hundreds of student projects—from memory

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and emotional well-being to gaming audio design, artificial intelligence, and arts integration in education.

Summer brought even deeper focus, with the Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute pairing students with faculty across seven STEM fields. Research included insect behavior, chemical degradation, water contamination, road safety, and computational modeling.

“I know that research is a path I want to continue to pursue because of this program,” said senior Lillie Burbulis, who spent her summer immersed in an entomology project.

The Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Summer Institute offered a parallel path for students exploring eye-tracking, AI-generated literature, phonology, and the creative limits of machine learning. One student shared at the final symposium, “We’re doing graduate-level work as undergrads.”

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UMW Students Lead the Way in Research Across Disciplines

“I know that research is a path I want to continue to pursue because of this program.

Lillie Burbulis ’26

Above: Sophomores Caitlyn Faris, Morgan Hamm, and Kaleb Fallen check out a studio art exhibition on display in the Cedric Rucker University Center during UMW’s annual Research and Creativity Symposium. Below, from left to right: Alanah Cleare ’25, Owen Wheeler ’27, and Chloe Adler ’26 review captured footage for a project aimed at assessing the usefulness of AI in filmmaking during the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Summer Institute. Applied statistics major Kaylie Curran ’26 presents her Graph Theory for AI project in the Hurley Convergence Center at the Research and Creativity Symposium. Conservation biology major Autumn Pembelton ’26 studied insect communication as part of the Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute. Photos by K Pearlman Photography.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Granting Good / Nine projects and initiatives pitched by UMW students, faculty, and staff earned Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grants in April.

Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Impact Grants Program Transforms Ideas Into Innovation

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nvironmental science major and 2025-26 Student Government Association President Amira Said ’26 hatched a plan to engage her fellow students in a hands-on learning experience to promote sustainability and composting on campus. After receiving a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant for the program this spring, they’ll be able to prevent hundreds of pounds of food waste from ending up in landfills, all while producing nutrient-rich recycled matter to use in UMW’s gardens and grounds.

Launched by UMW’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, the Impact Grant program awarded over $25,000 in donor-funded grants to nine projects led by students, faculty, and staff. The Alumni Association Board of Directors joined the Young Alumni Council in selecting the recipients, which also include The Weekly Ringer student newspaper, the Center for International Education, and a physics program for high schoolers taught by UMW students.

Dean of Students Melissa Jones and Associate Professor of Biological Sciences April Wynn received an Impact Grant for LaunchPad. The new program teaches college students critical skills such as time management, effective communication, and socializing with peers. Wynn, who serves as faculty director of UMW’s First-Year Experience, said that the Impact Grant program “really speaks to the pay-it-forward spirit at Mary Washington, and the way alumni are paving the way for current and future Eagles.”

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G R A NT SU PP O RTS E AG LE S I N R E COV E RY ’ S SU B STA N C E - F R E E M I SS I O N College is often portrayed in movies and on television as one big fouryear party. “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,” said Ray Tuttle, UMW’s health promotions and student success specialist.

Enter UMW’s Eagles in Recovery program, which Tuttle helped establish in 2017 to provide critical resources and tools for students struggling with substances and alcohol. Receiving a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant last spring supported a peer recovery specialist position to help students navigate sobriety and oversee campus initiatives and educational outreach such as the coffee bike and recovery ally training.

“The University wants to give its students the best opportunity to be successful in college and beyond,” said Peer Recovery Specialist Devin Walsh, who provides group and one-on-one support in the Eagles in Recovery clubhouse, administers Narcan training, and plans substance-free activities for students. “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.”

Service Stars

Eagles Serve With Heart at Home and Abroad

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atrina Zaki ’25 spent some of the first days of her final semester at Mary Washington in Central America, thousands of miles from home, helping people she’d never met. She and many of her fellow UMW students made a lasting impact through hands-on service over the past year, spreading cheer while gaining invaluable skills in leadership, teamwork, and community engagement.

Community Outreach and Resources (COAR), the student-run service program, organized its annual holiday gift box drive, wrapping and delivering over 300 boxes to local preschoolers in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania. The boxes were packed with toiletry essentials and joyful surprises—all donated by the campus community—exemplifying UMW’s spirit of collaboration and compassion.

Over winter break, Zaki and fellow classmates in UMW’s Global Medical Brigades traveled to

From Action to Award: Young Alumna Leads the Way

Martina Nicholson ’25 built an impressive résumé at UMW. A philosophy and communication and digital studies major, she served as a Student Government Association senator, Inter-Club Association president, University Communications intern, Washington Guide, Student Alumni Ambassador, Orientation leader, and peer mentor.

She also earned a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant to ensure access to menstrual products in campus restrooms.

“From the moment she arrived at UMW, she’s been a quiet force of transformation,” said Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Melissa Jones, who presented Nicholson with the Grace Mann Launch Award at the annual

Panama, working alongside local medical staff to deliver healthcare and education to underserved communities. The trip marked the eighth international brigade led by Mary Washington students, giving the aspiring clinicians experience in triage, diagnostics, and pharmacy and patient education.

Just months later, a spring Alternative Service Break team traded their textbooks for tool belts, heading to Goose Creek, South Carolina, to support Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge. Students spent the week building and repairing homes—culminating in the dedication of a new house for a family in need.

“These students have heart, and we need more of that in the world,” said Lindsey Coates-Crawford ’18, public programs coordinator for UMW’s James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, who served as the trip advisor. “Their level of commitment and love for the cause was inspiring.”

Cut 40 words Martina Nicholson. Photo by Sam Cahill.

Eagle Awards ceremony, held by Student Activities and Engagement, the Center for Community Engagement, and Campus Recreation. “The kind of person who sees a gap—and doesn’t just ask why but asks how we can fix it. How we can do better.

How we can serve everyone.”

Year in Review 2024-25

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Global Gifts “

When I first started out, I never thought I would be in a place financially where I could contribute in this way.”

Renee Allen Kuntz ’85

Alumna Propels Beyond the Classroom Endowment Past $1 Million

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he sounds of a Greek celebration— laughter, clinking glasses, and folk music—mingle with the salty Mediterranean air. A vibrant Danish landscape opens up under clear blue skies. For Ariana Adamek ’25, who recently earned a degree in anthropology and theatre from UMW, these picturesque moments are snapshots from a month-long summer program that deepened her understanding of food, culture, and community.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to observe and participate in other cultures firsthand,” said Adamek, who immersed herself in the culinary flavors and customs of Greece and Denmark through a course titled “Tasting Culture: Nordic and Mediterranean Food, Tradition, and Nutrition.”

Her study abroad experience was made possible through the Beyond the Classroom Endowment, which reached its goal of raising $1 million through a pledge from longtime donor Renee Allen Kuntz ’85. The initiative has helped dozens of UMW students pursue study abroad, internships, independent research, and travel to academic conferences.

“Accomplishing this milestone in just four years is simply amazing,” said College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Keith Mellinger. “It means we will be able to support our students in perpetuity and can make an annual commitment to these learning experiences that can really change lives.””

An anthropology and theatre double major, Ariana Adamek studied in Denmark and Greece as part of a course called ‘Tasting Culture: Nordic and Mediterranean Food, Tradition, and Nutrition.’

Her study abroad experience was funded by the Beyond the Classroom Endowment.

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Mellinger also acknowledged alumni and friends who have contributed to the endowment, including CAS Advisory Board members Cathie O’Connor Woteki ’69, Karen Laino Giannuzzi ’71, Mary Bradley MacPherson ’71, Julie McClelland Seder ’71, Beth Craig ’77, and Phyllis Quinn ’77, who all sponsored challenges over the past four years.

Hayley Madden ’25 had an unforgettable experience on a UMW faculty-led trip, presenting her research on French painter Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun’s “Self Portrait with a Straw Hat” at England’s National Gallery.

“I’m so grateful to everyone who believed in my potential,” said Madden, who received the Emil R. Schnellock Scholarship and other awards. She aspires to pursue a graduate degree in art history in London. “You’ve made my Mary Washington education possible while helping to nurture my dream from a simple sketch into a vibrant masterpiece.”

Hayley Madden with Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun’s “Self Portrait with a Straw Hat.”

“We’re grateful not only for your investment, but also your example to our students,” said President Troy Paino, noting UMW’s distinction as a top producer of Peace Corps volunteers and Fulbright scholars.

Curiosity, open-mindedness, humility, and a desire to learn about other cultures are critically important in today’s world, he added. “These are traits that we hope to develop in young people so they can be successful and make a difference.”

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UMW’s Celebration of Giving Generates Global Connections

Madden, who also spent a semester in France, shared her overseas experiences at UMW’s Celebration of Giving in fall 2024. More than 200 donors were honored for supporting the University’s renowned study abroad program and the international students who live and learn at Mary Washington.

“Your gifts help strengthen UMW’s reputation as a hub for international education and student success.

Peace Corps Ranks UMW Among Top 10 Volunteer-Producing Small Colleges

2005. More than 270 alumni have served since the agency was established in 1961. UMW’s Peace Corps Prep Program, a part of the Center for International Education, helps undergraduates prepare for future international service roles while building cultural competencies necessary for living and volunteering overseas.

With five UMW alumni, who served last year in the Peace Corps across Albania/Montenegro, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Senegal, and Timor-Leste, UMW’s commitment to public service and global engagement continues to thrive. The University earned a spot among the Peace Corps’ top 10 volunteer-producing schools for 2025 in the small college category—a distinction shared by a select group of institutions with fewer than 5,000 undergraduates.

Mary Washington has a longstanding record of service, appearing on the list regularly since

Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement and UMW Foundation Executive Director Katie Turcotte

“I was drawn to serve in the Peace Corps because I want to be part of a strong community and work towards something that is greater than myself,” said Jessica Oberlies ’25, who is serving as a coastal resource volunteer in the Philippines.

An environmental science and Spanish double major, she was also one of seven Darden Award recipients, earning the top grade-point average in the Class of 2025, and a cross-country and track-and-field star who was named Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. “My experiences at UMW have prepared me well for this opportunity, and I am looking forward to this next chapter.”

Year in Review 2024-25

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Tech Tools for Tomorrow Back to the Future: UMW’s Hurley Convergence Center Turns 10

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campus building created to embrace the future flashed back to its past, as the Hurley Convergence Center celebrated a milestone anniversary last fall with “A Decade of Digital Convergence.” Featuring architectural renderings, video collections, before-and-after photos, and more, the exhibit shared the story of the HCC’s quest to make state-of-the-art technologies and media tools—such as cameras, tripods, microphones, and audio recorders—accessible to the campus community while fueling a sense of connection, collaboration, and creativity.

“The institution is one of the leaders in digital liberal arts, and this building was a way to try and move that forward by having facilities and people and support all in one place,” said Director of Digital Learning Support Jerry Slezak.

Named in honor of UMW’s ninth president, Richard V. Hurley, the four-story structure opened in August 2014 and houses the versatile two-story Digital

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Auditorium, along with Digital Learning Support, the Speaking and Writing Center, and various IT offices, including the Help Desk. Other specialized spaces include video production studios, a vocal recording booth, a podcasting studio, and a multimedia lab, plus conference rooms, team rooms, classrooms, and plenty of collaborative spaces for students to turn their innovative ideas into reality.

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Our hope is that this Center [for AI and the Liberal Arts] will inspire curiosity, spark innovation, and ensure UMW graduates are ready to thrive, compete, and lead in whatever future they choose.”

Donna Sheehan Gladis ’68 and Steve Gladis

Center for AI and the Liberal Arts

The University of Mary Washington has always been a leader in adapting education to our changing world. Now, with artificial intelligence (AI) advancing rapidly, UMW is bringing together faculty and students across communication, computer science, humanities, social sciences, arts, and more to explore AI’s impact through a liberal arts lens.

Launched in fall 2025, the new Center for AI and the Liberal Arts is meant to be a vibrant hub for research, teaching, and community engagement.

“It’s crucial to understand how AI will shape our work, education, and daily lives,” said Professor of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao, who leads the Center. “Our students won’t just study AI—they’ll be part of shaping its future.”

The Center supports UMW’s mission to nurture critical thinking, ethical leadership, and civic engagement in a digital world. Students are already diving into courses like a free one-credit Introduction to AI online summer course and AI and Society, a seminar exploring AI’s effects on careers and everyday life.

Recent Grad’s Passion for Video Production Takes Focus

Steve McClanahan ’25 spent college crafting a weekly comedy show—think Saturday Night Live —learning to pitch sketches, write scripts, operate camera equipment, edit video, and produce livestreamed shows as part of a UMW Digital Media Studio Course.

“I thought you’d need to go to New York or Hollywood to do something like that,” said McClanahan, who majored in psychology and minored in digital studies. Along with Digital Knowledge Center Director Cartland Berge, he received a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant to purchase a streamlined broadcast panel for the Charnoff Production Studio, named for Mikhael Charnoff ’95, a member of the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees, and Katherine Valentine Charnoff ’04, whose donations helped open the space in 2019. The updated technology replaced the older version that had been in place since the Hurley Convergence Center opened a decade ago—making it even easier for UMW students to engage in creative endeavors that will prepare them for their future careers.

UMW students will graduate ready to connect technical know-how with real-world social and business needs.

The Center’s launch was made possible in part by a generous $100,000 gift from Donna Sheehan Gladis ’68, a member of the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees, and her husband, Steve, who share the vision that liberal arts graduates should combine creativity and critical thinking with AI skills to thrive in today’s tech-driven workplace.

“Our hope is that this Center will inspire curiosity, spark innovation, and ensure UMW graduates are ready to thrive, compete, and lead in whatever future they choose,” the Gladises said.

Digital Knowledge Center Director Cartland Berge (left) and Steve McClanahan ’25 in the Charnoff Production Studio. Photo by Sam Cahill.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Education Elevated

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he Academy of Technology and Innovation at the University of Mary Washington (ATI-UMW) opened its doors to its first cohort of high-schoolers in August 2024, but a star-studded dedication ceremony the following month made it official.

Ribbon-Cutting Welcomes Visionary Lab School

“I can’t wait to see where you all will lead Virginia,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin told students and their families who gathered alongside legislators, community officials, and school board members at the new regional lab school on UMW’s Stafford Campus. Eighty ninth-graders from the City of Fredericksburg, as well as Caroline, King George, Orange, and Stafford counties, joined the inaugural class.

Centered on personalized, project-based learning tied to the increasing importance of technology within the workforce, ATI-UMW offers options for dual-enrollment, industry certifications, advanced-placement, and realworld coursework. It supports a full spectrum of learners, including those in special-education and gifted-andtalented programs.

Faculty members in Mary Washington’s College of Education contribute to the curriculum, while the lab school provides clinical experiences and practicums for teachers in training.

Speakers praised partnerships, perseverance, and the courage to say “yes” for bringing the vision to reality.

“I cannot thank our families and our students enough,” said ATI-UMW Executive Director Rebecca Towery, M.Ed. ’06, “for being willing to take this leap with us and seeing the potential for benefit to our community for years to come.”

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ATI-UMW Executive Director Rebecca Towery

UMW RECE IVE S H IG H MARKS FOR E XCE LLE NCE IN TE ACH ING At its spring conference, the Virginia Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators honored three members of the Mary Washington community for their outstanding contributions to the teaching profession. Grace Sylvia ’24, pursuing a Master of Education degree, received Outstanding Student in a Virginia Advance Preparation Program, and Sarah Batchelor ’24 accepted Outstanding Student in a Virginia Licensure Program. Associate Professor of Education Christy Irish won the studentnominated Faculty Impact Award.

Pitch Perfect: Business Contests Bring Student Buy-in

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rom cleaning services to coffee carts, there’s no shortage of business ideas brewing in the minds of UMW entrepreneurs. But the winners of the Eagle Innovation StartUp Pitch Competition gave judges something they could sink their teeth into … and sink into their teeth.

Taylor Munger, Katie Reif, and Helen Worku, all 2025 grads, took first place for their FlossyPik dental flosser in the annual Shark Tank-like contest, winning $2,500 in prize money to take the tooth-cleaning tool to the next level.

Judges (from left to right) Andrew Blate ’04, Travis Bjorklund ’02, and Craig Schneibolk listen to presentations by business administration students during the College of Business Case Competition.

The pitch contest, along with the College of Business (COB) Case Competition showcases the concepts and skillsets business administration students collect throughout their time at Mary Washington. Also, the University introduced a major in management and entrepreneurship at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year.

Held in the spring, the pitch competition pits presenters against one another in a quest to impress a team of experienced judges with their ideas for new ventures and the lessons they’ll use to bring them to life. During the case competition, held biannually, teams analyze a failing-business scenario and propose a plan to turn things around. Andrew Blate ’04, who serves on UMW’s College of Business Executive Advisory Board, and Craig Schneibolk, co-owners of remodeling company Beautiful Home Services, helped establish an endowed fund for the annual award money, handing out a total of $4,000 to the three top-placing teams.

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UMW students (from left to right) Helen Worku ’25, Taylor Munger ’25, and Katie Reif ’25 took first place in the Eagle Innovation StartUp Pitch Competition.

Research shows that students with entrepreneurial training earn more, advance faster, and achieve greater career satisfaction.”

Chris Willis, assistant professor in UMW’s College of Business and co-director of the Center for Economic Development

The Case Competition first-place team shares their winning presentation with the judges and audience members. Photos by K Pearlman Photography.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Leaving Their Mark Alumni Honor Beloved Environmental Science Professor

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t often takes generations for tiny saplings to become towering trees, but in just a few years, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science and Biology Michael Bass grew his department into one that has cultivated careers for countless alumni. When he passed away in fall 2024, tributes poured in from grateful graduates who spoke about how he influenced their decision to pursue careers in preserving the environment.

Professor Emeritus Michael Bass. Photo courtesy of UMW Special Collections and University Archives.

May Sligh ’88, who has spent decades protecting water quality along the East Coast, recalled wandering across campus with her class as Bass identified trees like white oaks, red maples, and American sweetgums. She said, “I knew I had made the right choice coming to a small school with a professor filled with the same wonder and passion for nature that I had.” Jessie Thomas-Blate ’03, who leads river restoration efforts for a national nonprofit, said, “Dr. Bass helped plant some seeds for me to work in environmental conservation.”

The Class of 1972 Dr. Michael Bass Scholarship, awarded for the first time last year, will continue to help students like Grace Hannah Buck ’26 grow and flourish.

An environmental geology and historic preservation major, she said receiving the scholarship “was like someone telling me they saw my hard work and my potential and wanted to partner with me so I could achieve my educational goals here at UMW.”

Professor Emeritus Michael Bass and wife Heather (center) with Mary Saunders Williams (left) and Nancy Mahone Miller (right) from the Class of 1972, which established a scholarship in his honor, since he served as their freshman class sponsor. Photo courtesy of Nancy Mahone Miller.

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Recent Graduate Maps Out Career With Bowen Geography Scholarship Anders Barretta ’25 grew up hearing his father’s stories about his favorite faculty member at Mary Washington.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography Marshall Bowen inspired John Barretta ’90 to pursue a career as a geospatial intelligence officer and led his son to follow in his footsteps.

That made it even more special when Anders learned he’d be the first-ever recipient of the Marshall E. Bowen Scholarship, established by Susan Liebenow ’71 in honor of her late professor, who passed away in 2020.

“I’m so thankful to Susan for investing in the department and students like me,” said Anders, who recently earned a bachelor’s degree in geography and political science and a geographic information systems (GIS) certificate. At UMW, he traveled to professional conferences, engaged in timely research on electoral geography, and competed twice in Virginia’s World Geography Bowl.

“Dr. Bowen made his classes come alive through his stories, his pictures, and his knowledge,” Liebenow said.

“I can’t imagine a more qualified and deserving recipient than Anders, whose experiences, quest for knowledge, and love of geography exemplify everything Marshall held dear.”

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Anders Barretta

“Dr. Bowen made his classes come alive through his stories, his pictures, and his knowledge.

Susan Liebenow ’71

The late Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography Marshall Bowen. Photo courtesy of Professor of Geography Dawn Bowen.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Deep Dives

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ou’ve heard of careerdefining moments, but what if it happens before you start that career—in a class, in an on-campus job, through an internship? That’s the story of many Mary Washington alumni, whether they took a class out of curiosity, competed in a sport they loved, or added employment adjacent to coursework. Their results propelled them ahead.

Alicia Austin works with UMW junior Kate Rutherford, a Department of Theatre and Dance shop assistant who is majoring in history and classics. Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce.

Ready, Set, Sew!

Brooklyn-based costume designer Alicia Austin ’16, whose talent has contributed to shows like the smash Hulu hit Only Murders in the Building, came back to campus to dress cast members of UMW’s John Proctor is the Villain. The play reinterprets the Arthur Miller classic The Crucible and features the kind of gritty, true-to-life wardrobes Austin has come to adore.

She enrolled at Mary Washington to study psychology. It came into play, she recalled, in a costume design course taught by Associate Professor of Theatre Kevin McCluskey. “I loved figuring out what kind of people the characters were and how we could use clothing as a language,” Austin said of the class that changed her college trajectory. “I was hooked.”

She switched her major to theatre and, after graduation, left behind Forage, the Fredericksburg consignment shop she’d co-founded, to study costume design at Yale. There, she worked on a series of lavish Shakespearean plays and earned a Master of Fine Arts just as the pandemic started. She pivoted into TV and film. By now, her résumé brims with big things, like the Peacock series Bupkis starring Pete Davidson; the comedic feature film Babes, released in 2024; and theatrical productions in the Big Apple and beyond. Plus, she teaches costume design at New York’s Skidmore College, and in fall 2024, she worked with her alma mater as a guest costume designer, inspiring students and reconnecting with faculty mentors.

“I like that theatre affords the time to really get to know the characters in the story,” said Austin, who still clings to her first Mary Washington major. “It’s the psychology that keeps me coming back for every single production.”

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Take Your Marks

While pursuing a business administration degree with a minor in sports management, Kyle Diederich ’25 competed on the varsity swim team. He also dove headfirst into another challenge Kyle Diederich displays the commemorative plaque he received at UMW—helping for his contributions to the Goolrick complete a full-scale Pool renovation project. renovation of the school’s 60-year-old Goolrick Pool. He built on prior experience at aquatic centers in Northern Virginia, where he worked as a pool manager and earned certifications as a lifeguard, lifeguard instructor, and pool operator.

The six-month renovation upgraded all areas of the facility, both in function and appearance.

Diederich was on-site daily with contractors, earning a summer stipend for his hands-on role.

Goolrick Pool reopened in January, just in time for a home swim meet and senior day. As a captain, Diederich led both in competition and behind the scenes. His leadership helped power a banner year for the team, including record-breaking scores at the championship meet and the revival of a diving program. He also earned sports management internship credit for overseeing varsity pool operations. His dedication earned him a commemorative plaque, funded by the Pohanka Family Endowment for Swimming.

“Being part of a team, managing people, working toward a goal—it was all great experience,” said Diederich, whose next mission involves military service. “It’s a foundation I’ll carry into every challenge ahead.”

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It’s a foundation I’ll carry into every challenge ahead.”

Kyle Diederich ’25

Kyle Diederich worked closely with Director of Campus Recreation Michael Middleton ’16 on the Goolrick Pool renovation.

Photos by Parker Michels-Boyce.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Athletic Excellence

Coach Roy Gordon poses in front of the scoreboard that bears his name, along with his family, friends, former colleagues, UMW Athletics staff, and soccer alumni who contributed funding toward field renovations and upgrades on the championship soccer field. Photo by Kaitlynn Kimball.

UMW Names Roy Gordon Field After Founding Men’s Soccer Coach

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s founding coach of the UMW men’s soccer team, Roy Gordon led the Eagles to nine NCAA tournament appearances and eight Capital Athletic Conference titles and amassed a record 432 wins—earning him a spot among NCAA Division III coaching elite. He also oversaw the relocation in the 1980s of Mary Washington’s home field to the Battlefield Athletic Complex, which hosted the NCAA Division III national championship in 1997.

Gordon scored yet another accolade, as the University named the championship soccer field in his honor. Spearheaded by decades of alumni student-athletes dedicated to the game, the initiative culminated in a ceremony held between women’s and men’s soccer matches on Aug. 30, 2025. UMW unveiled a scoreboard overlooking the Roy Gordon Field, as he and his family, friends, former colleagues, current coaching staff, university administrators, and players from the past and present looked on.

“Mary Washington was an incredible place for me to have worked,” said Gordon, who was inducted into the UMW Athletics Hall of Fame after his retirement in 2011. “Having success on the field and getting wins was always a motivating factor, but for 34 years, my goal was to provide a quality experience for my student-athletes.”

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Esports Levels Up With In-Person Tournament

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MW’s Esports program hosted its first large-scale collegiate tournament this spring, turning the Cedric Rucker University Center into a high-energy arena buzzing with competition. Coed teams from across the mid-Atlantic, such as Virginia Wesleyan, Penn State, and Radford, joined Mary Washington to battle it out in popular video game titles like Valorant, Overwatch 2, and Rocket League.

The Eagles earned two top-three finishes, building on momentum from their regular season in the Mid-Atlantic Esports Conference. The event marked a milestone for the program, which launched in 2022 and continues to grow in size, talent, and national presence.

Teams from across the mid-Atlantic gathered face-to-face to compete in popular video games like Valorant, Rocket League, and Overwatch 2.

Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

UMW’s Esports program offers student-athletes access to coaching, training support, and structured practice. With a dedicated high-tech facility and more than 50 players on its roster, the program provides both competitive and recreational opportunities, offering students new ways to compete, connect, and develop skills for the digital age.

Athletic News • First team All-America soccer players Carter Berg ’25 and Nelsar Castillo ’25 were both named Male Athlete of the Year • First-year track All-American Yasmine Deane ’29 was named Female Athlete of the Year • Men’s soccer first team All-America goalie Freddy Rogers ’26 was named Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year • Cross-country and track-and-field star Jessica Oberlies, one of seven UMW graduates to earn a perfect 4.0 GPA in 2025, was named Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year • Men’s soccer was ranked #1 in the nation for most of the year and won the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference championship for the third straight year

Photo by Carly Rehberg.

• UMW Athletics inducted its 28th Hall of Fame Class: Evan Stiles ’91 (water polo, swimming, baseball, and tennis), Evan Fowler ’04 (basketball), Amy Carlson ’07 (swimming), Becky Morse-Karzen ’09 (tennis), Catherine Kennedy ’12 (lacrosse), and the Elite Eight 2013-14 men’s basketball team.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Voices in Action Kaiden and Noah Rojas commemorate their first-ever votes on Election Day. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Day on Democracy Drives Students to the Polls

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MW students Kaiden and Noah Rojas hopped off the red trolley, wearing smiles and “I Voted” stickers and clinging to a new accolade. The brothers, a junior and sophomore who grew up in Lubbock, Texas, were now firsttime voters.

Nearly 300 UMW students joined them in catching a trolley ride and casting their ballots during Day on Democracy, an Election Day tradition that allows for the cancelation of most UMW classes to provide opportunities to get to the polls. The trolley—made possible through a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant awarded to UMW Votes—circled the route between Double Drive and the City of Fredericksburg’s Dorothy Hart Community Center.

Students and staff set up near the Bell Tower, handing out sample ballots and voter information.

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Young Democrats and College Republicans joined together, tabling side by side in front of Farmer Hall.

“It’s really important to get young voters out to the polls,” said Sarah Tyree-Herrmann ’27, who’s double-majoring in political science and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. “It’s not just about voting but feeling connected and proud.”

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A trolley circled the route between Mary Washington’s Double Drive and the City of Fredericksburg’s Dorothy Hart Community Center, carrying students to cast their ballots. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Before Sam Ulmschneider ’06 earned degrees in history and philosophy at UMW, he put his political prowess to the test in We the People, the nation’s premier civics competition for high schoolers.

Today, he teaches those subjects and more at his alma mater, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in Richmond, where he’s coached the team to three of its five national wins.

While preparing for last year’s event, his class was spotlighted in the PBS documentary series Citizen Nation. “It paints a strikingly patriotic portrait of America,” he said, “watching the genuine level of civic engagement and mutual sympathy these students have for each other while working through these challenging questions we’re all struggling with as a society.”

His students have gone on to Harvard and Columbia for law school and embarked on careers in public policy and politics. A few have ended up at UMW, including Ben Dickinson ’26, who is grateful for Ulmschneider’s mentorship.

“We the People prepared me academically to major in political science and bolstered my love of constitutional studies,” said Dickinson, who took U.S. Constitutional Reform with Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth last spring.

UMW Alumna Channels Passion for Public Service Into State Fellowship

Kristen Ramey ’17 volunteered with UMW’s Community Outreach and Resources (COAR) during college, giving her time to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, the Brisben Center, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Kristen Ramey ’17

Those experiences prepared Ramey to participate in the prestigious Virginia Management Fellows program, becoming the fourth UMW alum to do so. This initiative, developed by the Commonwealth of Virginia in collaboration with Virginia Tech, offers college graduates the chance to learn about the inner workings of state government and explore leadership and public policy careers, all while earning a paycheck.

“UMW gave me a strong business and management education that translates well to the public sector,” said Ramey, who gained experience across several state agencies, including Virginia’s Departments of Taxation, Education, and Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. She began working for the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development in the spring. “This fellowship is such a wonderful way for recent graduates to gain professional experience, make connections, and learn about the opportunities to work in public service.”

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PBS Series Shows Alum Taking Team to National Civics Competition

“UMW gave me a strong business and management education that translates well to the public sector.

Kristen Ramey ’17

Year in Review 2024-25

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Reunion and Recognition

From left to right: Karmel James ’13, Sean Lynch ’95, Alumni Association Immediate Past President Vicki Sprague Ravenel ’77, and Alumni Association President James Llewellyn ’87 join Kelly Paino, wife of UMW President Troy Paino, and Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement and UMW Foundation Executive Director Katie Turcotte during Reunion Weekend. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Alumni Come Home for Reunion Weekend 2025

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iving across the Atlantic couldn’t stop Rachel Selle ’05 from celebrating 20 years since she graduated from Mary Washington. Now a teacher and author in Germany, she looked forward to staying once again in Randolph Hall, where she served as a resident assistant in college.

“I’m really excited to reconnect with classmates and see what life—and Mary Washington—has brought us,” said Selle, joining hundreds of alumni who returned for Reunion Weekend, held May 30 through June 1. Classes ending in 0 and 5 celebrated their milestone year, enjoying parties and picnics, Alumni College lectures, campus tours, beverage tastings, family festivities, cool treats at Carl’s, and seeing the friends and faculty members who made their UMW experience so special.

“At what other point in your life do you get to spend all your time with your best friends?” said Shelby Hill Brooks ’95 during a golf cart tour of campus. Melissa Schmidt Estevez ’00 praised UMW professors for the way they support students. “They have a vested interest in your outcome,” she said. “You don’t always realize it when you’re here, but the University truly cares for your whole being.”

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Left: 2005 and 1980 alumni pose for a photo on Campus Walk during Reunion Weekend. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Below, top photo: From left to right: Artist Nicole Horn poses with Professor Emerita of Art Carole Garmon, Dean of Student Life Emeritus Cedric Rucker ’81, and UMW President Troy Paino after the unveiling of Rucker’s portrait inside the Cedric Rucker University Center. The building was named for the longtime and beloved Mary Washington administrator. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Below, middle photo: Shirley Martey Hargis ’14 received the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award during Reunion Weekend 2025. Photo courtesy of Shirley Martey Hargis.

Alumni Association Presents Annual Awards

Jenifer “JB” Blair ’82 has volunteered at UMW’s Reunion Weekend every year since she graduated, so it was fitting that she received the Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service Award during 2025’s event. She was among three graduates honored by the Alumni Association Board of Directors (AABOD) at a ceremony held in Seacobeck Hall’s Weatherly Wing.

“I know the transformative nature of the education here, and I believe in it so much,” Blair said. She spent more than 20 years working in UMW’s Office of Admissions and over a decade on the AABOD, including serving as its president, and is vice president of enrollment management at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics.

Shirley Martey Hargis ’14, who earned the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, is a soughtafter expert with over a decade of experience in security-related foreign affairs and domestic politics of the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Rob Eastman-Mullins ’00, who took home the Distinguished Alumnus Award, is artistic director for the U.S. submission to the 2027 Prague Quadrennial. He has created award-winning scenic, lighting, and costume design for theatrical productions, founded the aWAKEn International Scenic Design Competition, and taught at Wake Forest University and other institutions.

From left: Alumni Awards Vice President Lisa Maloney Keyser ’05, Rob Eastman-Mullins ’00, Jenifer ‘JB’ Blair ’82, and UMW President Troy Paino. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Securing Bright Futures

UMW Students Thank Supporters at Springtime Scholarship Luncheon

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s a cybersecurity major, Christopher Walker ’26 knows the importance of being cautious in his career. Yet, earning the SWIFT Scholarship has meant he’s been able to let down his guard and embrace experiences in college, such as showing off his skills in the Cyber Resiliency and Measurement Challenge at UMW’s Dahlgren Campus, serving as Class Council vice president, and participating in the Light Saber Duels club.

“Your support means so much and has truly changed my life,” Walker told donors at the 2025 Student Showcase and Scholarship Luncheon. His award has also meant he can engage in studies while interning at a local cybersecurity firm, where he’ll work full time after he graduates. “Without your generosity, many of us would not have the opportunity to pursue our dreams and make a meaningful impact in our chosen fields.”

Christopher Walker ’26 with his parents, Angela and Charles Walker, at the 2025 Student Showcase and Scholarship Luncheon, where Christopher served as a speaker.

A cybersecurity major, he earned the Society for Worldwide Financial Telecommunications Inc. (SWIFT) Scholarship and funding through a Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership grant, which has enabled him to serve as an intern at a local cybersecurity company while earning his degree and engaging in activities across campus. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

The annual advancement event, as well as fall’s Celebration of Giving, gives UMW students the chance to express their gratitude toward the committed supporters who’ve helped fund their education and provided them with high-impact learning opportunities. Donors contributed $3.57 million for endowed and non-endowed scholarships in 2024-25. UMW gave 824 scholarships and awards, totaling more than $2.3 million, to 553 students during this fiscal year.

At the spring luncheon, donors also heard from Bonnie Butler ’25, a biomedical sciences major who received the Rebecca Culbertson Stuart Memorial Scholarship and the full-ride Helen G. and Justin J. Piscopo Alvey Scholarship. These awards, she said, helped her present her research on mytonic dystrophy at professional conferences and treat patients in rural Panama through UMW’s Global Medical Brigades chapter. One of the 2025 graduates to earn the Darden Award for having a perfect 4.0 GPA at UMW’s Commencement, she now attends The George Washington University School of Medicine, after being accepted through the UMW Honors program’s early selection agreement.

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I work hard every day to do my part in ensuring that the generosity of those who truly care about UMW never goes unnoticed.”

Amelia Bailey Earl ’26

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Amelia Bailey Earl ’26, a history and art history major, said earning the Alumni Legacy, Oscar H. Darter, Barbara Diane Hall, and Polly Updegraff Champ scholarships helped her pursue her academic passions while playing on the UMW women’s rugby team. “I work hard every day to do my part in ensuring that the generosity of those who truly care about UMW never goes unnoticed.”

Right: Students from top academic institutions participated in the Cyber Resiliency and Measurement Challenge, hosted by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division on UMW’s Dahlgren Campus. Photo by Dave Ellis, NSWCDD. Below: Bonnie Butler ’25, recipient of the Helen G. and Justin J. Piscopo Alvey and Rebecca Culbertson Stuart Memorial scholarships, expresses gratitude at the Student Showcase and Scholarship Luncheon in March.

Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

STEM Innovation Takes Center Stage at UMW Dahlgren Campus Make a gift that is meaningful to you and help outstanding students achieve their dreams at UMW:

• Fund a named scholarship to award aid to those with exceptional merit and/or financial need.

• Create a named endowment to enhance academic offerings or support museums or specialized centers.

• Establish a named award to provide research opportunities, recognize innovative teaching, and acknowledge scholarly achievement.

The Office of University Advancement can explain naming and customized giving options to guide you through the process. Contact us at 540-654-1024 or email advance@umw.edu for more information.

UMW’s Dahlgren Campus served as a hub for innovation this year, hosting a variety of events in partnership with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD).

In October, a UMW team earned a fourth-place national finish in the Cyber Resiliency and Measurement Challenge at UMW Dahlgren, competing against 10 other top institutions from across the country. The challenge tasked teams with devising advanced solutions to hypothetical cyber threats, emphasizing creativity, resilience, and national defense readiness.

In February, the Dahlgren Campus welcomed more than 120 high school students for NSWCDD’s High School Innovation Challenge, a STEM competition focused on robotics, programming, and practical problem solving.

With support from NSWCDD experts, students were challenged to program robots to complete complex missions, illustrating the importance of STEM education in real-world scenarios.

Together, these events highlight UMW’s expanding role as a regional leader in STEM learning, community outreach, and workforce development. The hands-on opportunities power students of all ages to tackle complex technological challenges.

Year in Review 2024-25

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Creative Connections

Featured artists gathered on the exhibit’s opening night in February to speak at a roundtable, sharing experiences under Professor Emerita of Art Carole Garmon’s tutelage. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

UMW Art Professor Sculpts Student Bonds, Quarter-Century Career

A

n oversized aquamarine sculpture.

Black and white ink drawings. An elaborate gown made of pantyhose.

This was a sampling of the art inspired by Professor Emerita of Art Carole Garmon at a spring exhibition, called “The Class: If You’re Asking the Question, You Already Know the Answer.”

Curated by Garmon and her former student, Shanna Aberle ’24, the project’s opening night brought alumni back to campus for a roundtable discussion about creative breakthroughs, late nights in the studio, and the lasting influence of Garmon’s guidance. The show celebrated not only the studio art program but enduring connections forged between faculty and students.

Housed in UMW’s duPont Gallery, the exhibit featured the work of 24 artists, most of whom are alumni who shaped their art beside Garmon in Melchers Hall. A variety of sculpture was displayed as well as small, hand-drawn pieces Garmon created for each artist.

“This exhibition represents all the students who have spent time in Melchers searching for their voices.

University of Mary Washington

Professor Emerita of Art Carole Garmon

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“This exhibition represents all the students who have spent time in Melchers searching for their voices,” said Garmon, remarking on her 25-year career of teaching and mentorship. “I was always waiting for amazing students to change the way I think about art—and thank goodness they did! I am a very lucky person.”

Campus Traditions Events Calendar

William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series Begins Jan. 20, 2026

UMW Theatre Robert Askins’ Hand To God Feb. 5-15, 2026 Student Showcase and Scholarship Luncheon March 21, 2026 Mary Wash Day March 25-26, 2026 UMW Theatre William Shakespeare’s Henry V April 9-19, 2026

Photo by Geoff Greene

Multicultural Fair April 11, 2026 UMW Philharmonic Spring Concert April 17, 2026 ASPIRE Week April 12-18, 2026 Devil-Goat Day April 23, 2026 Research and Creativity Symposium April 24, 2026

Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce

Senior Toast May 7, 2026 Commencement May 9, 2026 Reunion Weekend May 29-31, 2026 From top to bottom: UMW Theatre’s production of Nunsense. Students participate in Devil-Goat Day. The annual Senior Toast with President Paino. At right: A dancer performs at UMW’s Multicultural Fair.

Photo by K Pearlman Photography

Year in Review 2024-25

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