For some situations, the only way out is through. These new Spiders got a lesson in rising to a challenge courtesy of the James River as part of Outdoor Adventure Richmond. OAR, a pre-orientation program, invites first-year and new transfer students to move to campus a few days early and explore the city’s river culture through a wide range of outdoor recreational activities.
Photography by Jamie Betts
PRODUCTIVE SUMMERS
With the Richmond Guarantee, summers at Richmond are for research and learning. Through the program, every undergraduate student is eligible to receive a fellowship of up to $5,000 for an unpaid or underpaid summer internship or faculty-mentored research project. Many travel far; others stay near Richmond, like these students. This page, above: Ben Mayes, ’26, at Shalom Farms. Right, from front: Leanna Morris, ’27, Sanskriti Basnyat, ’26, and Luis Montano, ’25, in biology professor Colleen Carpenter-Swanson’s lab. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Makayla Hamlin, ’27, interning at the Hopewell Riverwalk on the Appomattox River; Ava Scott, ’26, researching in UR’s Ancient Worlds gallery; Chase Hartley, ’26, at a dragon boat race during an internship with Sports Backers; and Maya Basnyat, ’27, interning with Southside ReLeaf.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Is your Spider sense tingling?
Like parents everywhere, I can spot my sons from a mile away. I’ve seen their strides all of their lives, and to me they’re one of life’s most precious sights. One of them is a sophomore here, and I’ve always got my head on a swivel wondering if I’ll spot him from afar when I’m heading to a meeting on campus.
Deep familiarity does that. We hear the crowd at a Spider basketball game or taste Jersey Dirt in D-Hall during reunion, and they mean more to us than just the physical sensation of hearing or tasting. Our five senses channel perceptions that our brains transform into both memory and meaning. It’s not just that I remember how my sons move through the world. It’s that an unexpected glimpse of their familiar gaits conjures the love I have for them.
It was in this spirit that some of my communications colleagues recently interviewed people on campus about the University of Richmond and the five senses. What does UR look like? Sound like? Feel like? Taste like? Smell like? What, in other words, are the sensations imprinted on you?
The responses were consistently striking and sometimes funny. For one professor involved in theater productions, Richmond tastes like late-night coffee and gingersnaps during tech rehearsal for a play about to open. For a member of the landscaping staff, it tastes like pollen in the spring. To others, Richmond sounds variously like multilingual chatter, like footsteps, like geese on the lake, and like the sound of football practice in the distance when the wind’s blowing just right. For one law professor, Richmond feels like nuance and looks like serenity.
I hope this issue adds to the inventory. In one story, Richmond sounds like the slapshots of the club hockey team. In another, it looks like a wax sculpture of Abraham Lincoln melting in the summer sun. On other pages, it feels like connection, achievement, justice, and opportunity.
All of which suggests another question: If you were asked the five senses questions about Richmond, how would you answer?
— Matthew Dewald, Editor
Illustration by Gordon Schmidt
AUTUMN 2024
President
Kevin F. Hallock
Vice president, university communications
Tom Addonizio
Senior editor
Matthew Dewald, GC’22
Senior writer/editor
M.R. Badillo
Associate vice president for creative and design services
Samantha Tannich
Director of design services
Katie McBride
Graphic designer/publications
Gordon Schmidt
Graphic designer
Ashley Gladner
Photographer
Jamie Betts
Associate vice president for marketing and digital engagement
Phillip Gravely, ’96
Staff contributors Lauren Anesta, Sunni Brown, GC’18, Sandi Cauley, Megan Condict, Catherine Amos Cribbs, ’07, Rachel Dawson, Terrance Henderson, Kevin Heraldo, Alicia Hubbard, Lee Anna Jackson, Pamela Lee, Rachel Long, Amy Ogle, ’26, Cynthia Price, Sandra Shelley, Cindy Smith, Cheryl Spain, Greg Thompson, and David Vinson
on the cover: Dramatic skies atop the Robins School of Business; photograph by Jamie Betts
Students playing club-level sports — like these field hockey players — build community on campus. Read about the club ice hockey team starting on on Page 18.
18 Healthy scratches
Inside the 20-plus-year legacy of Spider ice hockey
26 The Goldwater whisperers
Research experiences and faculty mentorship are a powerful combination for Spiders competing for prestigious national awards.
6 INBOX
Letters from you Forum President Hallock on teaching the economics of the university
8 NEWS
A new AI center launches, a scholarship program expands, and more
Voices
Art professor Sandy Williams IV on their incredible melting Lincoln statue
Portrait
Mariam Lomtadze, ’25, keeps Georgia on her mind.
Expert
Get AI-savvy with Benjamin Leigh, R’91 and L’96.
16 SPORTS
Meet the 2024 Hall of Fame class.
Perspective
T.J. Cline, ’17, talks about Chris Mooney’s impact.
44 ALUMNI Spider lives
Portrait
32
The unstoppable Molly Rossi
Molly Rossi, ’16, always trusted that there was a bigger story about the world around her — and she’s never stopped searching for it.
38 Robins at 75
As the Robins School of Business celebrates its 75th anniversary, it is looking to the future.
1997 alumni Kim Bach and Josh Roenitz on upgrading your self-talk
48 NOTES What’s new with you
Back Then Michael Simpson, R’74, plays the chapel organ again.
Postscript
A professor at the intersection of science and art
Photograph by Jamie Betts
Vol. 87, No. 1
YOUR MAGAZINE, YOUR VOICE
Let us know what you think about what you read in this issue. Email your thoughts to magazine @richmond.edu or send us a letter (our postal address is on Page 5).
Please include your class year, city, state, and name you were known by as a student, if applicable. All letters to the editor may be edited for clarity or brevity and should not exceed 200 words. We also welcome your story tips at magazine @richmond.edu.
GREAT ISSUE
I enjoyed your article on distance swimming and the challenges facing these athletes [“Brain Waves,” Summer 2024]. When I opened the page, I did a double-take, as it looked very much like my husband, Mike McGee, R’78, and a photo taken of him swimming the English Channel in 1987 [above].
[Mike continues:] We loved the experience, although the training was rigorous. I gained 35 pounds and averaged over 20 miles of swimming a week paired with some longer swims in the ocean and overnight in the pool. I had a lot of support from friends and family in order to make it possible, and I’m grateful for that. It turned out I was actually the fastest American who crossed that year.
— Abbie and Mike McGee, R’87 Virginia Beach, Virginia
our minor in entrepreneurship for A&S and Jepson majors, UR offers a concentration in entrepreneurship for business administration majors who want to go broader and deeper into leading innovation, developing an entrepreneurial mindset, and launching new ventures. Students are taught to view problems they encounter in the world as opportunities to create value for stakeholders. They develop problem-solving skills from idea generation to validation and execution, and they learn about applied creativity through innovation for organizations of all types and sizes.
Alumni who are interested in exploring potential partnerships between their organization and the program are welcome to contact Dale Fickett, entrepreneurship instructor, at dfickett@richmond.edu.
— Doug Bosse Richmond
[Editor’s note: Bosse is associate dean of international business programs in UR’s Robins School of Business.]
roommate and I went to the library to “study.” And now my book is in there. Go figure.
— Joy Davis Smith, W’66 Fort Mill, South Carolina
[Editor’s note: Smith's book is one of more than 180 volumes on the physical alumni bookshelf in Boatwright Memorial Library. The Westhampton story she tells is about how she and her roommate Nancy Saunders, W’66, rebelled against the dormitory rules of their day. “The old saying, ‘You'll always be my best friend because you know too much,’ is an understatement in our case,” Smith writes. Her story accompanies the recipe “Nancy’s Flank Steak Marinade.” Check out this issue’s alumni authors on Page 47. If you have a new book we can include in a future issue, send us an email at magazine@richmond.edu.]
THE REST OF THE STORY
STAY IN TOUCH AND SHARE YOUR PRIDE
Social media, hashtags, and sites:
• @urichmond
• #spiderpride
• #spiderspotting
• magazine. richmond.edu
• urnow.richmond. edu
Congratulations for the exceptionally vibrant and informative issue; the best I’ve received in years. The cover alone is exquisite, and the features make me envious that I did not have such opportunities when I was at Westhampton.
—
Louis Oliver Wilson, W ’64 Norfolk, Virginia
I enjoyed the article about our creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship initiative in the summer UR Magazine [“‘So, I’ve Got an Idea...,’” Summer 2024]. We should also share with readers that in addition to
SEEING IS BELIEVING
I thought you’d like to know that on a trip to Richmond, I decided to go to Boatwright Library to see if my book was actually in there. [I was told that] Tell Me a Story, I’ll Bake You a Cake was put in the Alumni Publications [section] years ago after an article about it was in University of Richmond Magazine. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a joke.
Well, it wasn’t a joke. My cookbook — which has a funny story in it about Westhampton — was front and center on the top shelf. As you can see, I was very happy and surprised to find it! The ironic part about this is that in my four years as a student, the only time I ever set foot in the library was to meet boys. If my hair looked too good to stay in the dorm at night, my
I enjoyed the article about our Guinness World Record submarine sandwich back in 1975, featuring my dear friend Ty Braswell [“Bananas for Spider Spirit,” Summer 2024]. I write to report the reason our submarine sandwich never made it into the Guinness Book. Decades later, Max Vest, our director of activities, told me that there was an official observer from Guinness at our event who documented it. However, as he was traveling home to a remote island in Ireland, his plane crashed. He was tragically killed, and the documents were with him.
I have fond memories of Dutch Chaos weekends and was part of the Student Union that produced them. I believe the name referred to “going Dutch,” encouraging students to attend on their own, paying their way, rather than feeling they needed a date. And yes, there was plenty of chaos too! It was the ’70s, after all. Go Spiders!
— Allison Jones Vogler, W’78 Richmond
Economic thinking
Teaching about the complexities of mission-based decision-making
This academic year marks my 30th as a professor. I feel so excited and lucky to be at the University of Richmond and co-teaching a course with Professor Jim Monks called The Economics of the University. Our students are at the heart of everything we do at UR, and it’s a joy to be with them in the classroom.
In our course, we’re exploring questions university administrations must constantly ask when planning for the future — questions like what to charge for tuition, food, and housing, and why. How do we think about capital projects and maintaining the campus? How much do we spend from the endowment each year? How much do we spend on financial aid? How do we support the student experience? How do we think about philanthropy and working with our loyal and generous donors? And many more.
Another common question is, “How many students do (and should) we have?” This year, UR received more than 16,000 applications for our first-year class of about 830 undergraduate students. Law and other UR graduate programs are also in high demand. At an event in North Carolina, a Spider alum asked me why the university doesn’t take ad-
vantage of this growing interest by increasing the number of undergraduate students we enroll. If we can dramatically increase scale, why wouldn’t we? After all, no business would let such an opportunity pass.
The core of economic thinking is maximizing something (or how to best allocate scarce resources) subject to constraints. For-profit companies, of course, focus on maximizing profits and shareholder value, subject to their limited resources and other constraints, including those from customers, employees, and regulators.
At UR, we aren’t about maximizing profit — we are about maximizing opportunities for learning and growth. Our objective is to advance our mission by creating remarkable scholarly and creative work and preparing students to lead fulfilling, flourishing lives. Maintaining small classes, fostering close mentoring relationships, and cultivating a tight-knit, intellectually vibrant, and relentlessly welcoming Spider community advances our mission and adds great value for our students. Since we intend to maximize those things, our current size is a fundamental strength.
But we also face constraints. And we have many categories of constituents, including students, staff, faculty, alumni, parents, and regulators who have valuable perspectives and relevant interests. They all make good suggestions for improving the University. Our maximization problem is, therefore, very complicated, but it is fascinating! So we can — and must — use economic thinking. While we are not profit-driven, we are obviously responsible for stewarding the university's resources wisely. After all, every time we decide to spend a dollar on any single thing, we are plainly deciding not to spend it on every other thing. We owe it to all our constituents to strategically spend and invest so UR continues its marvelous upward trajectory and can advance its mission now and in the longer term.
I’m incredibly grateful to be working with Professor Monks and a small group of terrific Spider students this semester to explore the university’s financial responsibilities and the many economic questions that I and other campus leaders think about constantly. I know I will learn a lot from each of our students this year, and I hope they learn a bit from me, too.
CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS
Learn more about the university’s strategic priorities and Hallock’s career as a labor market economist at president.richmond. edu.
By
Kevin F. Hallock, president
Photograph by Jamie Betts
BIG IMPACT
With 100 Bonner Scholars, the University of Richmond has one of the largest Bonner Scholars programs in the country.
20 years of connection
A magnetic map of Richmond stretches across a large wall of the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Center for Civic Engagement in Tyler Haynes Commons. It reveals the river, roads, buildings, and topography of the region UR calls home and invites students to review strategically placed pins. The goal: Prompt them to consider opportunities to connect with the surrounding community.
This year, the CCE celebrates its 20th anniversary. If there were a pin for every community engagement experience from the past 20 years, the map would be covered — from Highland Park to Jackson Ward to Church Hill to Fulton to Southside.
The CCE currently maintains 91 community relationships across Richmond.
“There are so many pathways to civic engagement,” said CCE executive director Sylvia Gale. “Our hope is that every student finds their own way to a meaningful connection with the Richmond region.” Bonner Scholars intern up to 10
ACCOLADES
High marks
The Princeton Review ranked the University of Richmond high for academics, campus offerings, and student experience in the 2025 edition of its The Best 390 Colleges UR ranked No. 1 nationally for Best Student Support and Counseling Services.
“Student well-being is a top priority at the University of Richmond, and our counseling and psychological services are an important component of supporting student mental health needs,” said Kristen Day, director of Counseling and Psychological Services. UR also snagged Top 3 rankings for Most Beautiful Campus, Best-Run Colleges, and Best Campus Food.
hours a week, tackling projects and establishing meaningful relationships with their supervisors that last beyond their four years of college. They also participate in on-campus reflective exercises and educational programming.
“The central work of the CCE over the past two decades has been to catalyze relationships, partnerships, and lifelong learning,” said Amy Howard, its first program manager and now associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement. “What started as an idea on paper has grown into a vibrant, nationally recognized center.”
Students carry the lessons they learn interacting with the community with them.
“Place-based learning is central to becoming civically minded scholars, teachers, learners, and members of the Richmond community and any other communities in which we live,”
Gale said. “Knitting those experiences together with multiple perspectives is at the very heart of civic engagement.”
U.S. News & World Report ranked Richmond No. 22 among national liberal arts colleges in its 2024–25 Best Colleges guide. The publication has ranked Richmond a Top 25 liberal arts school for eight consecutive years.
Grants to do good
Two students received Projects for Peace grants for projects in Armenia and Taiwan during summer 2024.
Anush Margaryan, a senior from Avshar, Armenia, ran a STEM camp for refugees. She is a Richmond Scholar who majors in biochemistry and molecular biology and minors in data science.
Jeff Tsai, a junior from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, completed a coral rehabilitation project in Taiwan. He is a Davis United World College Scholar and a biology major minoring in film studies and visual arts.
A map in the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement tracks community connections. The center is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
“I’d tell them, ‘I’m here to take care of your heart.’”
SUSANNAH CARTER, ’25 , describing how she explained her role as a chaplain intern to pediatric patients during her Richmond Guarantee-supported summer internship. She interned at UVA Health Children’s Hospital.
Promise expanded
The university’s programs for expanding access and affordability for all students continue to grow. In August, the university announced that it would increase the number of students who qualify for Richmond’s Promise to Virginia by increasing the qualifying income level.
Beginning in fall 2025, qualified Virginians whose total parental income is $75,000 or less will receive grant aid equal to 100% of tuition, housing, and food at the University of Richmond. Because it is grant funding, it does not need to be paid back.
“We want to reduce financial barriers so that exceptional students at all points of the income distribution can envision themselves as Spiders,” said Kevin F. Hallock, the university’s president. “We enthusiastically
welcome talented students without consideration of their financial circumstances, and we are committed to ensuring all families can see a Richmond education as not only excellent but affordable.”
More than 1,400 students have benefited from the program since its launch in 2006. Shaylin Bonefont, ’24, said that without the financial aid she received, she “would’ve missed out on all of the amazing things and resources that UR had to offer to students,” including small classes, personal relationships with faculty, and the Spider alumni network.
She added, “Nothing should stop students who are interested and passionate about attending UR.”
To learn more, visit richmond.edu/ promise.
When media cover news and events, they come to Richmond for perspective and expertise. Here’s a sample of recent stories that put the university in the news:
The expertise of psychology professor JANELLE PEIFER helped a columnist unpack her reaction to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck splitting up again. She wrote that Peifer described celebrities as “a template for the expression of our hopes, wishes, desires, dreams, fantasies.”
An article by history lecturer DAVID ROUTT explored how HBO’s House of Dragons reflects real medieval conflicts, values, and norms. “Its themes of internecine strife, justice and the power of everyday people have broad — indeed, universal — resonance,” he wrote.
In a piece for the “Curious Kids” series, geology professor DAVID KITCHEN wrote about whether volcanoes could be used to generate electricity. “Many countries, including the U.S., have found ways to tap volcanic heat to make electricity,” he wrote. He then provided a kid-friendly explainer on geothermal energy.
SUPPORT
Nearly two-thirds of undergraduates receive UR-funded grants or aid. Generations of donors giving at all levels have provided the funding that makes this support possible.
Leadership studies professor DAVID WILKINS, a citizen of the Lumbee Nation of North Carolina, discussed Native American tribal leadership. Traditionally, “individuals were very careful and very circumspect [about seeking leadership roles] because they knew that if they were chosen to become leaders, they became servants of the people.”
WENDY PERDUE, dean of Richmond Law, described the goals of a recently completed $27.5 million multiyear renovation of the school’s building. “We wanted the space to reflect how our students work these days,” she said. “Students like to study together.”
Richmond’s Promise to Virginia will increase the number of students covered beginning next year.
Murrow winner
Journalism professor Andrew Beck Grace recently received the Edward R. Murrow award, one of the highest awards in journalism, for his NPR podcast White Lies. The investigative podcast was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
“It doesn’t get much bigger than the Murrow award in broadcast journalism, and we’re thrilled that Andrew’s work has been honored in this way,” said Shahan Mufti, chair of the journalism department. “We are proud that our students are taught by faculty like Andrew who continue to practice the craft at the elite levels of the journalism profession.”
Extraordinary fellows
Three faculty members recently received high recognition when professional organizations in their fields named them fellows.
The American Society for Cell Biology named biology professor Omar QuinteroCarmona a fellow for his contributions to cell biology, his service to the organization, and his work to increase diversity in the scientific workforce. He has mentored more than 80 undergraduates, including offering research opportunities to students with no prior laboratory experience.
Chris von Rueden, a member of the faculty in the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, received the Human Behavior and Evolution Society Fellow Award. An anthropologist with expertise in traditional human societies, von Rueden researches how humans form status hierarchies.
Anthropology professor Miguel Díaz-Barriga received a lifetime honor when he was named an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow. The AAAS noted “his distinguished contributions in the anthropological study of border fencing and militarization and its consequences for the people who live, work, and pass through these border regions.”
PRO BONO
The Institute for Actual Innocence is one of the law school’s four in-house clinics. At these clinics, law students work on real legal matters for real clients under faculty supervision.
Learn more at law. richmond.edu.
INCLUSION & BELONGING
ADMINISTRATION In July, the university welcomed Monica M. Smith as its first vice president for inclusion and belonging. “I look forward to working with Monica and so many others on our campus who are deeply committed to cultivating a relentlessly welcoming community,” said Kevin F. Hallock, president.
Overdue justice
Richmond Law faculty and students helped exonerate a man who spent 45 years incarcerated for a crime he did not commit.
Professor Mary Kelly Tate, director of UR’s Institute for Actual Innocence, spent 13 years reinvestigating the case of Marvin Grimm, who was convicted in 1976 for assaulting and killing a child. She sought new DNA testing and advocated for his 2020 parole on the basis of his innocence. In June, the Virginia Court of Appeals issued a writ of actual innocence to him.
this case in 2007 because I thought it was riddled with structural red flags,” Tate said. The red flags included coercive interrogation tactics, a poorly executed investigation, a rush to judgment, and unreliable physical evidence. New evidence developed from advancements in forensic and biological testing definitively eliminated him as the perpetrator and revealed that his confession to police was tainted and false.
Tate worked in partnership with students at the clinic and with lawyers at the Innocence Project and the law firm Arnold & Porter.
“I accepted the Innocence Project’s invitation to be local co-counsel on
“Though he can never get back those years, thanks to the tireless work of Professor Tate and that of her clinic students, Mr. Grimm can live out his days as an innocent man,” said Wendy Perdue, dean of the law school.
Mary Kelly Tate, above, accepted the exoneration case of Marvin Grimm in 2007.
Hot seat
Art professor Sandy Williams IV drew international headlines when their outdoor wax sculpture of Abraham Lincoln, titled “40 Acres: Camp Barker,” melted in the blistering summer heat of Washington, D.C. It spawned hilarious memes and, they hope, deeper conversations.
How did you first learn that your Lincoln statue was melting?
I was abroad when I first got an email from someone concerned it had been vandalized. The next day, as I was going through customs, I started getting messages about memes people were making as images of the melting statue went viral on social media. At first I was like, “Man, it’s really melting,” but then all the comments were really funny. It melted in a cool way. There’s no disappointment for me about any of this.
Were you surprised by how much attention the melting statue received?
Definitely. Melting in the way it did and the coverage that it got — I was like, “OK, the project is finished. It had its moment; it did the thing it was supposed to do.” It’s definitely not what I thought was going to happen, but it’s what happened.
How did you feel about all the attention? It was a great platform for the work and the
conversations I was hoping to spark. I’m not sure everybody dug deep to think about it, but the hope is some people had conversations about history or discussions about racial and social issues or climate change.
Your work often explores themes of permanence versus ephemerality. Can you elaborate on it?
I was looking at monuments [during protests in the summer of 2020, some focused on Confederate statues] and thinking how a monument is monumental in size, permanent in its material, and typically singular in its form so that it holds a sort of reverence. I thought to flip that and made them miniature, made them wax, and made them in multiples.
I sell the miniatures online so they can live in personal and private spaces in a way that I think is interesting. Some people buy these because they like Robert E. Lee. I’m interested in starting conversations and sharing agency. While I have my own
politics, all my projects are invested in the continued project of reconstruction and emancipation. I think that requires everyone.
How did this theme play out with your melting Lincoln statue?
The melting of the Lincoln statue wasn’t planned, but it fit perfectly with the concept of impermanence.
While the physical statue was temporary, its impact became more permanent through the viral images and discussions it sparked. This incident exemplified how even temporary artworks can have lasting effects.
How do you feel about the unpredictability of public art?
I’ve learned to expect the unexpected. No matter how much I try to anticipate reactions or build in guardrails, something surprising always happens. You can’t control how the public will interact with or interpret the work.
Once I put a work outside, I remove my authorship over what direction it goes in. I think of it like you write a song and put it out there, and then it’s everybody’s song.
Williams, who has taught at UR since 2019, recently became one of 15 recipients nationally named a 2024 Joan Mitchell Fellow. The award recognizes Williams’ work in socially engaged sculpture and performance art.
Photograph by Jamie Betts
Interview
By
Mariam Lomtadze’s internship with UNDP received funding through the Burhans Civic Fellowship Program, which is part of the Richmond Guarantee. Every undergraduate Richmond student is eligible to receive a fellowship of up to $5,000 for an unpaid or underpaid summer internship or faculty-mentored research project through the Richmond Guarantee.
DIPLOMACY
A summer internship with the United Nations was the latest opportunity for Mariam Lomtadze, ’25, as she lays the groundwork for a career in public service.
Mariam Lomtadze, ’25, has lived, worked, and studied in six countries over the past six years. This past summer, she conducted research for the United Nations Development Programme office in Tbilisi, the mountainous capital of Georgia.
“Last summer, I had the chance to intern at the UN headquarters in New York City, working for the Permanent Mission of Georgia. That cemented my interest further, so I decided to work for UNDP this year in my home country,” Lomtadze said via Zoom from a relative’s home in Tbilisi. “That way, I could support my local community and get involved in the work that international organizations are doing in Georgia.”
Working for the UN has long been a dream for the UR senior, a double major in global studies and political science. At 16, she moved to China to attend an international high school. Her wanderlust also brought her long-term stays in Armenia, the U.S., Switzerland, and Australia. She participated in UR’s multilateral diplomacy and international relations study abroad program in Switzerland and the global politics program at the University of Sydney. Growing up in western Georgia, she learned English from Peace Corps volunteers. She is also fluent in Georgian.
Her work with UNDP focused on international development related to eradicating poverty and reducing inequality.
“We are working very closely on sustainability, gender equality, inclusivity, and empowerment of disadvantaged groups,” Lomtadze said. “Through these we believe that democratic governance can be achieved— that’s what UNDP’s goal is. That’s where I come in — to help them research these topics and develop solutions moving forward.”
She’s conducted research for the global governance program, mapping and analyzing donor organizations and funded projects. Recently, Georgia passed a law requiring media and nongovernmental organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as acting in the interest of a foreign power.
She noted that elections were coming
“Regardless of where I am in the world, I strive to represent and advocate for Georgia.”
up in Georgia, undergoing fundamental political changes.
“The environment is very hectic,” Lomtadze said, “and just being part of that environment is teaching me a lot as someone who aspires to have a career in politics.”
In August, she flew to New York to continue her internship at the UN headquarters. She helped UNDP prepare for a
high-level week in September before returning to campus for her senior year.
But Georgia is always top of mind.
“Regardless of where I am in the world, I strive to represent and advocate for Georgia,” she said. “That keeps my homeland in my heart and mind.”
RICHMOND GUARANTEE
“ This place, this community, and what we can do together are special.”
Fresh new option
Over the last three years, the Princeton Review has ranked UR’s campus food No. 9, No. 11, and most recently No. 3 — placing it consistently among the nation’s very best.
Richmond’s dining services could be forgiven for relaxing and rewarding itself with an extra serving of Jersey Dirt from D-Hall. Instead, it’s turning up the flavor.
Or rather, the FlavUR. This fall, dining services opened the newest campus dining spot. Located in the Well-Being Center, it’s called FlavUR and offers a Latin- and Mediterranean-inspired menu of bowls, wraps, smoothies, and all-day breakfast.
“We looked at restaurant trends and what was popular on campus,”
said Tyler Betzhold, executive chef. “The flavors found in both cuisines offer endless customization, which our students love, while also being the basis of well-balanced meals.”
Like all other retail dining locations on campus, the university owns and operates the café. A team of culinarians and dining staff researched menu options and developed test dishes. All menu items are made from scratch.
“FlavUR is the right concept at the right time for our campus,” said Upen Malani, executive director of dining services. “The team successfully paired popular items and flavors while focusing on nutrition and satisfaction. It’s already become a popular dining spot on campus.”
A NEW CFO (I.E., CHIEF FOOD OFFICER)
Upen Malani, the university’s new executive director of dining services, joined the Spider community in August. “UR has established itself as a leader in dining by focusing on student health and well-being, sustainability, and healthy, fresh, and internationally diverse foods,” he said.
AROUND CAMPUS
Love and laughs
Proclamation 2024, one of the university’s oldest traditions, returned in September as Westhampton’s seniors and newest students gathered in Cannon Memorial Chapel to read letters from their old selves and write new ones to their future selves. Kudos to those — like Cheryl Oppan, ’25, above — brave enough to read theirs cold in front of everyone else.
“Beautiful tradition,” Bianca Marks Bynum, ’13, commented on a @urichmond Instagram post that included the image. “I still have my letter from freshman year.”
New opportunities
The university launched several new academic offerings at the start of the fall semester. Here’s a look at them:
Cognitive science interdisciplinary program: The field draws on perspectives from anthropology, computer science, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology to understand the nature of the mind. Students have been able to major in cognitive science through the psychology department since 2006. It was formalized into a program due to growing interest.
Spider Business Hub: The hub brings students in the Robins School of Business together with organizations in the Richmond area to build client relationship skills through project-based learning. The hub has expanded its reach with both clients and industries this year and now works with students and faculty in more than a dozen marketing and management courses.
Access to Justice Clinic: This law school clinic advances the rights of Virginians experiencing poverty, providing civil litigation services in housing, public benefits, family, and education law matters. Its inaugural director is Cassie Powell, L’16.
Richmond ranked No. 3 nationally for Best Campus Food in the latest Princeton Review rankings.
President KEVIN F. HALLOCK , in a message to students, staff, and faculty at the start of the fall semester
AROUND CAMPUS
Paparazzi by the lake
Senior Brad Corn sent us this image he took during the first couple of days of the fall semester.
“I was walking along Westhampton Lake two nights ago and spotted Triceragoose,” he wrote. “I stopped to take a few pictures, but one stuck out. He is standing upright on the grass next to the lake. The image captures the beauty of the campus, our most well-known goose, and the new gazebo and bridge.”
Corn, who is from Sharon, Massachusetts, majors in PPEL (philosophy, politics, economics, and law). He spent the summer interning with the Massachusetts State Police doing administrative work related to the state’s public records law.
End of an era
The university recently donated the last of the modular units that provided on-campus quarantine space for students during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The remaining units were donated to Central International College, an accredited, nonprofit institution. CIC is developing in-person courses and will use the modular units as dorm rooms.
In July 2021, the university donated five modular units to Family Crisis Support Services in Norton, Virginia. FCSS provides emergency shelter and transitional housing to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and offers emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
ACCOUNTING
RESEARCH
AI AUDITS? Accounting professor Ashley Austin has received a grant from Pricewaterhouse Coopers to support new research on the use of AI in audits. She and her partners at the universities of Virginia and Georgia will develop strategies to help auditors examine AI-generated financial reports with sufficient skepticism.
hub for 15 institutions exploring AI and the liberal arts.
AI center launching
GOOD COMPANY
The grant establishes centers at five colleges and universities.
In addition to the University of Richmond, they are at the University of Oklahoma, North Carolina State University, Bard College, and the University of California, Davis.
A new grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities will elevate the university’s role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence, particularly in the context of higher education.
The highly competitive grant of more than $700,000 supports the establishment of the Center for Liberal Arts and AI — or CLAAI (pronounced clay). The center will bring together researchers, students, and educators from 15 colleges across the Associated Colleges of the South to explore pressing social, cultural, and legal dimensions of artificial intelligence, with a focus on visual AI.
“This center will build on our institutional strengths in digital and public humanities and visual AI,” said Joan Saab, executive vice president and provost.
Richmond is one of five colleges and universities across the country to receive funding through the Humanities Research Centers on Artificial Intelligence program. (See sidebar.) The centers “will serve as hubs for interdisciplinary collaborative research on the human and social impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies,” according to the NEH. Lauren Tilton, professor of digital humanities, will direct CLAAI, which will open in the fall of 2025.
“Along with building on UR’s international reputation in digital humanities, CLAAI will connect a network of innovative liberal arts colleges to address pressing AI challenges by building on the power of the humanities and our commitment to cutting-edge interdisciplinary teaching and research,” Tilton said.
Through a new grant, the university will become a
by Katie McBride
It’s time to get AI-savvy
Attorney Benjamin Leigh, R’91 and L’96, is one of the shareholders of Troxell Leigh, a small law firm in Virginia; hence, he’s also a small-business owner. He co-chairs the Virginia Bar’s artificial intelligence task force. Here, he shares advice about AI with Spiders in businesses and professions of all kinds.
1. JUMP INTO THE POOL.
AI is here. We’re in a frontier of a disruptive technology — you have to jump into the pool to start to learn how large language models work. Smaller businesses can be very experimental.
You can sign up for a free version of a large language model like ChatGPT, Claude, or some of the other basic ones. Be careful about what you put in — nothing privileged or confidential. Then ask it to draft a letter. Ask it to come up with an idea if you’re brainstorming. You have to learn a new interaction for prompting it — how to load it with information and then ask it to refine or summarize or even critique that information.
2. THINK BEYOND DRUDGE WORK.
Can AI help you with daily tasks? Sure, but the more advanced examples are whether you can have it think of an argument or an
idea that you haven’t thought of. Maybe you load your five great ideas into the database, and you say, “Can you think of another one?” It may think of three more. Two might be off-the-wall, but one might have merit. It is still very early, but people continue to produce surprising examples.
3. GET CREATIVE WITH PROBLEM-SOLVING.
Another task force member shared a surprising example from a contentious divorce case. One spouse was very technologically gifted but also very angry. The opposing lawyers and their clients got creative. They started using AI as a filter for the former spouses to communicate with each other. They would write out what they wanted to say, and AI tempered it. The judge presiding over the case said to the lawyers, “I’ve noticed a lowering of the temperature.”
That hit me from left field. I did not see that coming. Of all areas, I thought domestic relations was safe from AI, but what a neat way of using the technology.
4. KNOW THE LIMITATIONS, BUT KEEP THEM IN PERSPECTIVE.
It is going to amaze you with things it can do, and then it will amaze you with things that the algorithms don’t get quite right. We have to exercise judgment and critical thinking. Human agency has to remain.
It’s imperfect. From an error perspective, it’s almost the same as if I have a young lawyer, and I give them something that a more senior attorney should work on. I will need to check the work and exercise oversight. Those concepts — checking truth, accuracy, and judgment — are still important. We have seen before that technologies change how we practice. The Gutenberg Press changed how people communicated. So did the iPhone. That’s what I think is fascinating about this age. We’re in the very early stages of an interesting period.
BONUS TIP
“This is a wonderful opportunity for generations who may not see eye-to-eye on everything to interact,” Leigh says.
Younger attorneys at his firm have taken a lead role in experimenting with how AI can improve their practice and sharing that knowledge with peers within the practice and throughout Virginia.
Interview by Matthew
Dewald
Illustration
“
We are feeding off each other’s energy.”
Soccer forward ABBY DILLON, GB’25 , after scoring the game-winner on Senior Day
All-around excellence
2024 Hall of Famers
HISTORY OF DISTINCTION
The 2024 Hall of Fame class is the 47th to be enshrined. The first class, inducted in 1977, included 5′9″ basketball star Warren Mills, B’57, the first Richmond athlete ever to have his jersey retired.
The university inducted four outstanding student-athletes and two teams of distinction into its Hall of Fame during Spider Day Homecoming celebrations Nov. 1. The Class of 2024 inductees include:
T.J. Cline, ’17, men’s basketball: He recorded the only triple-doubles in school history, including one on senior night. He finished his career among the program’s top 10 in career points, scoring average, rebounds, and assists despite playing only three years after transferring in.
Rodney Elam, R’76, football: His name doesn’t appear among Richmond’s football statistical records for top scorers, rushers, passers, or receivers, but without this offensive linesman, many of the names that do appear wouldn’t be there either.
Meghan Ogilvie, ’05, women’s soccer: Ogilvie was an integral leader during a golden era of Richmond
women’s soccer. During her career, the Spiders compiled 46 wins, finished no lower than third in the Atlantic 10, captured the 2002 A-10 championship, and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
Abby Oliver, ’12, women’s basketball: If the lights were on in the Robins Center, chances were good Oliver was on court practicing and perfecting her craft and passion. On game days, she shone brightest. She is currently eighth on Richmond’s all-time scoring list and played in the third-most games in program history.
Men’s and women’s 2010 cross country teams: Each named a 2024 Team of Distinction, they swept the Atlantic 10 championships, marking the first time in program history that the Spiders were victorious on both the men’s and women’s sides in the same year.
Every one of Richmond’s 17 varsity teams posted GPAs of 3.0 or higher in the spring semester, a strong end to a stellar year for Spider student-athletes. Swimming and diving recorded the highest GPA of any Spider team. Its combined 3.795 GPA for the year ranked it second among all swimming and diving teams in NCAA Division I. In competition, Spider teams compiled five conference championships, the most since the 2006–07 season. Ten of 17 Spider sports programs finished either first or second in their conference during the 2023–24 school year.
New leadership
The Spider field hockey sideline had new faces during the fall season, led by firstyear head coach Martu Loncarica. Loncarica came to Richmond from LaSalle, where she led the team to its most successful Division I season and was named 2023 A-10 Coach of the Year.
In memoriam
The university community held a celebration of life for Greg Beckwith, R’86 and G’89, in Cannon Memorial Chapel. Beckwith died unexpectedly in May at age 60.
Beckwith was a star point guard in the 1980s, helping lead the men’s basketball program to its first two NCAA tournament appearances. He was inducted into UR’s Hall of Fame in 2003. For the past 21 seasons, he sat courtside in the Robins Center calling Spider games alongside Bob Black.
“His positive, smiling personality, which touched so many people, was an inspiration to me, and we became so close that I think of him not just as a colleague and friend, but as a brother,” Black said.
The inductees include the athletes above, plus the 2010 men’s and women’s cross country teams.
Mooney’s moment
This season marks Chris Mooney’s 20th as head coach of the Spider men’s basketball program. He is currently the 10th-longest-tenured active coach with the same team in Division I basketball. T.J. Cline, ’17, who transferred to the team as a sophomore, reflects on what Mooney has meant to players, the program, and the university.
Coach Mooney probably wouldn’t like this story, but the first time I ever saw a Richmond Spiders game, I was at Niagara. We’d just gotten knocked out of our conference tournament. We were watching the A-10 tournament, Charlotte vs. Richmond, and the whole thing went down with the technical fouls and foul shots. [Editor’s note: Richmond received three technical fouls in the final 4.7 seconds of the game.] My first impression of Mooney was, “Wow, this guy really wants to win.”
Being able to play under Coach Mooney and be a sponge around him has been one of the greatest things I’ve gotten to do in my career. He has so much passion because he takes his job and this school so seriously.
“Coach Mooney has been one of the three most influential people I’ve ever met.”
He takes tremendous pride in how we do things, how we conduct ourselves, and how we play the game — not only on the court,
but in life off the court, too. One thing he always said — “Never get too high, never get too low” — has always stuck with me. Through the good times, stay humble. Through the bad times, stay confident.
The No. 1 thing he always talked about was just be a good teammate. Be a good teammate by telling your teammates what they need to hear. Be a good teammate by holding them accountable. Be a good teammate by making sure that they’re making the right choices the night before games. If they’re down, can you pick them up? As I’ve gotten to play around the world, that’s been a real life lesson that I’ve taken with me.
I’ve told him the impact that he’s had on my career and my life. I have always said that Coach Mooney has been one of the three most influential people I’ve ever met. He changed my life. People can feel when you’re being fake and when you’re being real. And I don’t think anybody’s more real than Coach Mooney.
348: Coaching wins
29: Wins in a single season (2010–11)
16: Wins against ranked opponents
15: Conference wins in a single season (2023–24)
7: Highest NCAA tournament seed (2010)
THE MOONEY ERA Mooney has achieved remarkable stats during his tenure as head coach, including a number of program bests. Here are a handful:
BY ALYSSA DANIGELIS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMIE BETTS
NInside the scrappy 20-plus-year legacy of Spider Ice Hockey
ew Jersey native Chris Bernard, ’04, didn’t realize how much he would miss playing ice hockey when he first arrived at the University of Richmond. He chose the liberal arts college for its size, location, and academic strengths. Bernard — “Bernie” to his teammates — tried playing club lacrosse, but that didn’t fill the hockey void.
Spiders from cold climates know that the intense winter sport promises three periods of nonstop action, thrilling maneuvers, and hard-fought scoring. Players live for the fierce competition, whooshing speeds, unreal saves, nearly telepathic passes, roaring crowds, and lifelong bonds forged in sweat-soaked protective gear.
“Toward the end of freshman year, I was settled in and had gotten wind of how the sports clubs work,” Bernard says. “And I thought, ‘So many kids here are from the Northeast; there’s no reason I can’t get a team together.’”
a PowerPoint presentation making the case to form an ice hockey club in front of a board comprising UR faculty and staff. He talked about high student interest, spotlighted similar programs at other colleges, noted that the club wouldn’t need to use any school facilities, and laid out a plan for the team’s operation.
“In the beginning there was a lot of exaggerating on how much interest there was, how smoothly it was all going to go, how much money we needed,” he admits. “I was probably taking on a little more than I could chew.” But the board approved his plan, and he set out to assemble a team. In hockey, each team can have a maximum of six players on the ice at a time, a number that temporarily decreases whenever a player is sent to the penalty box. UR’s initial roster was only nine position players and, critically, a goalie.
“It wasn’t just undergrads,” Bernard says. “We had MBA students, law students. We had to pull from everywhere just to try and get a solid squad together.” He adds that Bryan Evans, ’04, who arrived as a goalie, played forward because the team was so desperate for players.
The next year, the Ice Spiders picked up four more players. Rookies told Bernard that the club factored into their decisions to attend UR. By the time he graduated in 2004 to pursue a career in finance, the team had grown to 17 players, won its regional conference championship, and placed 16th nationally.
Fast-forward: After more than two decades, the Richmond Spiders ice hockey club is going strong. Now playing in a tougher regional club division with a roster totaling 37, the Ice Spiders have their sights on the gleaming league championship trophy.
AHH ... HOCKEY
Bernard discovered that renting ice in Virginia was far more challenging and expensive than it would have been back in New Jersey. Undaunted, he convinced the Richmond Ice Zone, about 20 minutes south of campus, to become the Spiders’ home. He secured practice time at 11:30 p.m. Friday nights and negotiated prime Saturday slots for several games. He managed these and other club responsibilities alongside academic work for his major in business with concentrations in finance and marketing and his minor in leadership studies.
Previous spread, Ethan Gail, ’25, the 2024–25 team captain
Club sports occupy a sweet spot between intramural and varsity sports for commitment, organization, and competitiveness. Bernard envisioned a club that could compete at the regional and even national level. He’d played hockey since around age 5, learning at an outdoor rink near home in Atlantic Highlands, about 45 minutes from New York City. By senior year in high school, he was a seasoned defenseman practicing seven nights a week and doing his homework at the rink.
“For me, it was always an escape — a fun, fast-paced, physical game. When you’re in it, that’s all you’re thinking about,” he says. “I am very competitive, too.”
Early sophomore year in autumn 2001, Bernard created
Coincidentally, in autumn 2001, a new league for area teams called the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference (BRHC) formed. League organizers heard that Bernard was assembling a team and reached out. BRHC rules specified that the club couldn’t join without an official coach, so he enlisted Dan Souza, ’04. His chief — and practically only — credential was that he was Bernard’s close friend.
“He looked at me and asked if I wanted to be the ice hockey coach,” Souza remembers. “I told him I’d never played ice hockey. He said that wasn’t a dealbreaker and added my name.”
The first two games were in Richmond against Appalachian State University. With Souza cheering from a
UR ICE HOCKEY 2001–02
Chris Bernard, ’04, #11 — Defense
Bryan Evans, ’04, #31 — Goalie/forward
Jared Minatelli, ’05, #18 — Forward
Kevin D. Silver, C’04, #3 — Forward
Mark Morrison, ’05, #5 — Forward
Zac Bardou, ’03, #16 — Forward
Jason L. Scarberry, L’03, #22 — Forward
Brandon B. Morrocco, ’05 (attd.), #42 — Forward
Chris Dour, ’05, #10 — Forward
Kent W. Foster, ’04, #35 — Goalie
Chris W. Schwarz, ’05, #6 — Defense
Mike Sutton, ’02, #9 — Defense
Mike Ramos, ’04, #7 — Forward
Tom Occhino, GB’06 — Head coach
Dan Souza, ’04 — Team manager
“ He looked at me and asked if I wanted to be the ice hockey coach. I told him I’d never played ice hockey. He said that wasn’t a dealbreaker and added my name.”
—Dan Souza, ’04
From top left, counterclockwise:
Team photo from the 2001–02 season after the program’s first playoff win; early club hockey recruitment poster with one real and two fake mullets; Bernard scoring a goal; Occhino lifts a trophy; Bernard celebrating
nearly empty bench, Richmond won that Saturday and Sunday. Shortly afterward, UR defenseman Kevin Silver, C’04, introduced Bernard to Tom Occhino, GB’06. Occhino, an avid player and USA Hockeycertified coach from Buffalo, New York, worked as an engineer in Richmond and would later come to UR for his MBA.
Occhino agreed to a test run as coach in a game against Virginia Commonwealth University that the Spiders won. “I went to that first game, and it was awesome,” he says. “I’d been coaching kids. This was obviously a different level, and I love hockey, so I said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
He became head coach, bringing structure and seriousness to the volunteer role. During practices, he skated with the team, running drills. On game days, he dressed up in a button-down shirt, tie, and long black leather jacket. The players appreciated his balanced approach, and the team grew stronger.
“ The guy next to you is giving up his Friday night, too. That’s where you form those bonds and friendships.”
To establish a web presence, Bernard enlisted Johanna Beyenbach, ’04, to design a dedicated site. He recruited new players through SpiderBytes. But the young team captain needed Occhino’s help, especially with logistics and budgeting. Ice rentals, referee charges, league dues, uniforms, insurance, and travel expenses for away games added up quickly. Player dues — among the lowest in the league — and university funding didn’t stretch far enough.
Bernard had to get creative. While working for the Phonathon, he discovered that his supervisor’s husband was a self-described hockey guy at a local ad agency and on the lookout
for pro bono opportunities. The team became a client. Together, the ad agency and the Ice Spiders finalized designs for posters the club used for advertising and sold to raise funds.
One showed hockey tape with “Ahh ... hockey” written on it in black marker. Three students with mullets raise their hands in class, a nod to the Hanson brothers from the 1977 comedy Slap Shot. Bernard and forward Greg Kraft, ’06, wore wigs for the photo. Occhino’s mullet was real.
Early involvement, including the ad campaign, proved to be a formative experience for Souza, who went on to be the longtime editor-inCook’s Illustrated. Earlier this year, America’s Test Kitchen promoted him to chief content officer.
“I really enjoyed being a part of something new and exciting,” he says. “It was satisfying to watch Chris build something from scratch that he really cared about.”
LIFELONG BONDS
UR’s scrappy team reached the BRHC Championship semifinals in March 2002. Its game against Hampton Roads went to a shootout, and Bernard scored the winning goal. College of Charleston had a stronger team that year, though, and defeated the Spiders in the final.
Driving long distances for away games and practicing when other classmates were relaxing required dedication. “The guy next to you is giving up his Friday night, too,” Bernard says. “That’s where you form those bonds and friendships.”
His senior year kicked off presciently with a five-game winning streak and culminated in a decisive 5-1 win against crosstown rivals the VCU Rams to take the championship. Regional success over the club’s first three years prompted the American Collegiate Hockey Association to invite them to nationals twice.
Occhino continued to coach while getting his MBA at UR. During his tenure, the Ice Spiders won four league championships. Before moving back to Buffalo in 2008, he handed the coaching reins to Silver. By then, students were filling out the recruiting form online, and the club had a full roster with additional players on the practice squad trying to earn a roster spot, known in hockey as a healthy scratch.
Occhino kept those connections alive. Recognizing the enduring Spider pride, he started an informal weekend where hockey alums could return to Richmond, play for fun against the current team, and cheer them on at a game. Eventually enough alums attended to play each other. Scott Celander, ’06, worked with the university to turn the weekend into an official event.
In September 2010, Silver surprised Bernard at a game in the Ice Zone by retiring his No. 11 jersey. Bernard’s
Left, Neel Chopra, ’27, at practice
CURRENT SPORT CLUBS AT RICHMOND
Badminton Baseball Basketball* Climbing Crew Dance team
Equestrian Field hockey Golf Ice hockey Lacrosse* Martial arts Rugby* Soccer* Spikeball Squash Swim
Synchronized swimming Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee* Volleyball* Water polo
*Both men’s and women’s teams
name and number are still up in the rafters. Today he lives in New Jersey with his family and is a partner at the business he co-founded, BCS Private Wealth Management.
UR hockey alumni first gathered to play annual tournaments against other men’s league teams in 2011 and went on to rack up wins. Occhino coaches, plays, and receives a hand doing the planning from alums including Celander, Justin Collins, ’08, and Matt Improta, ’10.
A supplier quality engineer with the global aerospace company Moog, Occhino lives in Buffalo with his wife and two kids. Last season, he was coaching his daughter’s 12-and-under ice hockey team when he noticed a game coming up near Bernard.
“I told Bernie, ‘Hey, guess what? I’m coming to New Jersey!’” Occhino says. “It was a terrible, snowy night. He drove with his kids to watch me coach and my daughter play.” Mike Ramos, ’04, another Spider hockey alum, brought his wife and kids, too.
UNBELIEVABLE DEPTH
On a warm Wednesday night in early September, players skated around the Richmond Ice Zone to loosen up. They sped over the brightly lit ice in a pack before separating for power play drills, stick thwacks echoing throughout their home rink, where the UR shield is displayed prominently. Nimble defenseman and assistant captain Rafi Santomenna, ’26, volunteered for a penalty kill drill and deftly deflected a shot.
“We often say that we’re the closest sports team, relationship-wise,” the business administration major from
South Hamilton, Massachusetts, says later, “and I don’t think there’s an argument against that.”
Club ice hockey was a deciding factor for team captain Ethan Gail, ’25, during his college search. He’d played for the Seattle Junior Hockey Association since age 6. “There’s something unique about skating really fast down the ice,” he says. “You’re never bored.”
Gail, a 6-foot winger who can play either side, compiled a list of prospective colleges with strong academic programs that also had club hockey. One contender had a relaxed team that included professors, but Gail sought the more competitive experience that UR offers.
Head coach Jason Block made his decision easier. Block hails from Suffern, New York, and works full time for a major health insurer. He’s coached the Spiders on a volunteer basis for nine years.
“Coach Block is amazing,” Gail says. “The first day meeting him and talking with him, I knew that club hockey was going to be part of my college experience the next four years and haven’t looked back.”
Since the club’s earliest days, many players gravitated toward the Robins School of Business. “There is a connection in the resilience that it takes, the mental fortitude you have to have,” Block says. “I have seen nine years of students come through Robins, and I understand. It can knock you around a little bit if you’re not prepared and willing to put into it what you want to take out.”
Gail, who plans to become an investment banking analyst, agrees. “Hockey is one of the most demanding sports both physically and mentally,” he says. “Being able to forget things quickly that go wrong and focus on learning from mistakes is applicable to a business and a professional setting.”
Another aspect Gail appreciates is the opportunity for networking. “Spiders want to help Spiders, but Ice Spiders want to help Ice Spiders even more,” he observes. “That was huge for me.”
Reece Dorfman, ’26, a business administration major, grew up playing hockey in Rye, New York. “I love the team atmosphere,” the right wing forward and assistant captain says. “Every team dynamic creates a special group.” Dorfman led scoring his first two seasons.
His friend, a classmate from Bangalore, India, had never seen a hockey game until going to watch the Ice Spiders play last season. “He said it was one of the most exciting things he’s ever seen,” Dorfman recounts. “He loved how quick the pace was and how things could flow and change on a dime.”
Although Block sets high expectations on the ice, the coaching and training staff recognize the players’ academic commitments. The club allows enough flexibility that players can study abroad. Gail spent a semester in Budapest, Hungary, and Dorfman is in Madrid for the fall semester. “We understand that this is a difficult university to get into,” the head coach says. “So we build the program accordingly.”
Under Block’s leadership, the Ice Spiders won the 201718 championship in their league, which had rebranded to the East Coast Collegiate Hockey Association. The 201819 season culminated in an invitation for the club to move up from American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 3 to Division 2 and join the Atlantic Coast Conference, competing against the likes of Georgetown University, the University of Virginia, and Duke University.
“ Hockey is one of the most demanding sports both physically and mentally. ”
Block noticed the team struggling at first with the division’s faster pace and harder play, but they worked to adapt. Last season, those efforts paid off, and they made it to the ACC Championship playoffs. Despite outshooting and outplaying Georgetown, the Spiders came up against a formidable goalie and lost 4-1.
The team led by Gail, Dorfman, and Santomenna seeks to go all the way this season. “The goal is very clear: It’s a championship year for us,” Santomenna says. “It’s got to happen. We’re due. The depth we have is unbelievable.”
On Sept. 13, the Spiders beat the University of Virginia 5-2, the team’s first win on the ice over the Cavaliers since Santomenna arrived at UR.
Reflecting on the team’s trajectory, Bernard recalls a proud moment that happened off the ice: “One of my friends was tour guide, and she said, ‘I always use you as an example. If you want to get a club started, you can.’”
Alyssa Danigelis is a freelance writer. Her previous story for this magazine, “We Weren’t Invisible Anymore,” told the story of the Student Organization for Black Awareness on the 50th anniversary of its creation. This story and others — some published only digitally — are available on magazine. richmond.edu.
GOLDWATER whisperers THE
Research experiences and faculty mentorship are a powerful combination for preparing Richmond students to compete for prestigious national fellowships and scholarships.
BY MATTHEW DEWALD | ILLUSTRATION BY RACHEL MAVES
In the chemistry wing of the Gottwald Center for the Sciences, a DIY sign declares research lab C-216 “The Leo Lab.” The tagline reads, “Running electricity through water and calling it research since 2002.”
Stuffed versions of the Muppets’ dynamic science duo — Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his hapless assistant Beaker — hang on the door’s windowpane. One obvious takeaway is that Mike Leopold looks like a reasonably fun chemistry professor.
Just to the right of the door, the happy-go-lucky tone shifts to show why a future scientist or physician would want to be in his lab. There, a corkboard displays an array of published research papers, 54 as of the start of the current semester. Each paper is held by a plastic sleeve and hangs diagonally, overlapping one another in four long rows. The corners of the lowest row dip below the corkboard’s metal border. The effect is something like erudite laundry hanging on a line.
At universities across the country, such collections outside professors’ labs signal the productivity of professors and graduate students making discoveries that create new medicines, innovate advanced materials, and otherwise improve our lives. Leopold’s display, here at Richmond, is similar but with one key difference. This collection of peer-reviewed, published research is a showcase of undergraduate excellence. One or more co-authors of each of the 54 papers is a student
from his lab. This is what committed mentorship of undergraduates looks like.
Leopold has personally mentored more than 60 undergraduates in research since he joined Richmond’s faculty in 2002. His papers have included more than 100 undergraduates as co-authors. Another big accomplishment has been the mentorship of students applying for the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, a highly competitive award for undergraduates pursuing careers in STEM fields.
Over his two decades at the University of Richmond, the chemistry professor has mentored nine students recognized by the Goldwater Scholars program — seven scholarship recipients and two honorable mentions, itself an honor. The tenth and eleventh may very well be in his lab this year. Each has a paper in the works for publication.
Leopold’s colleague Miles Johnson, a UR alum who joined the faculty in 2016, received a Goldwater award when he was an undergraduate and has mentored three Goldwater Scholars. Their colleagues in chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics have mentored others. Even though the awards typically go to students at large universities with research budgets many times greater than Richmond’s, UR has had 41 Goldwater Scholars since the program’s inception in 1986. You could call Leopold and his colleagues the Goldwater whisperers.
“It’s one of the highest national recognitions that students can get,” Leopold says. “These Goldwater students, they can go on and tell the story at their next level, whether that be a graduate program, a medical school, an M.D./ Ph.D. program, things like that.”
NURTURING EXCELLENCE
Hands-on research experience coupled with faculty mentorship has proven to be a powerful combination in preparing Richmond students to compete for prestigious national fellowships and scholarships. In recent years, Richmond undergraduates have received an impressive array of awards, including Goldwater, Fulbright, Boren, Beckman, and Udall scholarships.
For anyone outside the day-to-day of higher education, the names of such awards might not ring a bell. Like position players on an NFL team, they focus on different priorities and have different measures of success — and are a baffling tableau of specialization to the casual observer. Some of the scholarships and fellowships fund students going straight into graduate school. Others provide support for research and professional experiences that bridge to graduate school later. The funding might come from
the federal government or a private foundation. A fair number focus on giving students opportunities abroad for everything from research to language study. All of them aim to position promising students for the futures they are choosing.
And they are highly competitive. In a sense, these awards are a sort of academic counterpart to NCAA tournaments. Spiders compete for these awards against students from other top programs around the nation. “If you’re using that analogy,” says French professor Olivier Delers, who has mentored several Fulbright recipients, “our students get to the Final Four fairly often.”
The impact extends beyond individual recipients. When Richmond students succeed on the national stage, it enhances the university’s reputation and inspires students to aim even higher. “I think it makes them realize just how special their undergraduate education has been here,” observes David Salisbury, a professor of geography, environment, and sustainability.
Close mentoring relationships between faculty and students are central to Richmond’s success in preparing competitive applicants for these awards. This starts in the classroom but often extends far beyond it. Professors describe getting to know students through summer research projects, study abroad programs, and informal conversations.
“I don’t treat the students like children. I treat them like adults,” Leopold says of his mentoring approach. “I make them take responsibility for what they pledge to do or want to do, and they have to meet me in the middle. I work as hard as they do, but we are a team.”
ship committees, graduate schools, employers, everybody’s going to be asking is, ‘What’s your comparative advantage? What’s the thing that’s special about you?’”
The university has invested in supporting students through the application process for these competitive awards. In 2017, the Office of Scholars and Fellowships was established, led by Dana Kuchem. This office works to identify opportunities, coach students through the application process, and coordinate with faculty mentors.
“I ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE STUDENTS PICK SOMETHING TO WORK ON THAT THEY ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT, AND NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY THINK SOUNDS GOOD.”
— Professor Jessica Flanigan
This partnership model allows students to develop independence and confidence in their abilities. By the time they’re applying for national awards, many have already presented at conferences alongside graduate students and co-authored research papers published in leading journals.
Professor Jessica Flanigan in the Jepson School of Leadership Studies takes an approach that helps students discover their intellectual passions. One of her students received the Luce Scholarship, which provides immersive professional experiences in Asia. Another was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship.
“I always try to have students pick something to work on that they actually care about, and not something that they think sounds good,” she says. “I think a place where a lot of students go wrong is that the college admissions process has socialized them to focus so much on their CV and what looks good and to say things that are agreeable, and that’s not going to serve you well after college.”
Instead, Flanigan encourages students to dig deep and find topics they’re genuinely excited about. “What are you saying that nobody else could say?” she asks them. “We all know what platitudes or hot topics or things everybody else is going to be saying. But the thing that fellow-
“Our office emphasizes the value of what one can gain from the process of applying: clarifying goals, communicating interests to a lay audience, strengthening writing skills, and building an argument for why a granting agency should invest in them,” she says. “Regardless of whether an applicant ultimately is awarded the fellowship or not, we hope the applicants will have gained skills and insight from the application process.”
While Kuchem’s office plays a crucial role, the groundwork for successful applications is laid much earlier through the close working relationships students develop with professors over their years at Richmond.
“Sometimes it could be one faculty mentor, but usually there is more than one person who’s having an impact on the students and really guiding
them, helping them make sense of the opportunity,” Delers explains.
These mentoring relationships often continue long after students graduate. Professors describe staying in touch with former students, hearing updates about their graduate studies or careers, and sometimes even collaborating on new research projects.
CATALYSTS FOR GROWTH
Salisbury sees these fellowships as invaluable opportunities for students to challenge themselves intellectually while gaining independence. “I think we have a lot of risk-taking students who are really excited to take another risk,” he says. “They’ve taken a risk, and they’ve learned outside of the classroom, and now they’re ready to learn outside of the context of the institution.”
Salisbury, who received Fulbright awards as both a graduate student and faculty member, emphasizes the broader impact of these experiences: “I think the Fulbright is just a really neat program because the focus is on cultural interchange: learning from other places, learning from other peoples, and also this idea of a bidirectional flow, so you’re learning from them and they’re learning from you.”
That space is also key for Flanigan, who says that awards such as the Fulbright provide valuable experiences for promising students who aren’t ready to be locked into a particular direction in graduate school.
“Usually, students who are applying for these awards are also applying to master’s programs, post-baccalaureates, or things like that,” she says. “A lot of the students that are interested in these types of awards know that they want to keep on doing some kind of school, but they’re not sure what they want to commit to quite yet. The award’s a great option because it gives them that kind of freedom to figure that out.”
The process of applying for these competitive awards, even for those who don’t ultimately receive them, can be tremendously beneficial. It pushes students to articulate their
goals, reflect on their experiences, and envision their potential impact. As Delers, the French professor, notes, “It’s about imagining. It’s for the students to be able to imagine that this could be them, and this is a great route to follow post-graduation.”
Another key point is that the intensive mentoring that leads to success with these awards is available to all students, whether or not they ever apply for them. It is a fundamental part of the culture at Richmond, and it leads to all kinds of achievements.
“It’s one of the reasons I love being at Richmond,” says Rick Mayes, chair of the health studies department. His students have received Fulbright Fellowships and Boren Scholarships, which fund study abroad for undergraduates in world regions critical to U.S. interests.
size to students immersed in academe that there are many paths for finding professional and personal meaning and value.
“I want all of my students to get the thing that they want out of life,” she says. “I try to encourage my students to think that just because you’ve been in academics your whole life and you’re surrounded by a bunch of people who use academic markers for status and value right now, that doesn’t mean that that’s how your life is going to be.”
She advises a similar broad view among students who receive highly competitive scholarships and fellowships. “I think a lot of what the awards are trying to do is give students a chance to take their undergraduate research experience to the next level without necessarily committing to becoming an academic.”
“ I VERY MUCH VIEW
THE GOLDWATER AS A STOP ALONG THE WAY OF A BIGGER PROCESS.
“We’re set up for faculty and staff to have lots of empathy, patience, time, and enthusiasm to help our students. Some of my colleagues at larger institutions and the R-1s [universities that most strongly prioritize research activity], they’re not able to focus on the undergrads because they have five other things that they have got to get to before spending time mentoring and advising undergrads. A lot of them want to do it, but at the end of the day, that’s not how their career advances. Here, the administration asks us to focus on the students and do research with them, mentor them, travel with them on living-learning programs and other university-sponsored arrangements, and they give us the resources.”
THE GOLDWATER IS NOT THE END.”
— Professor Mike Leopold
Leopold takes a similar approach with students in his chemistry lab, expanding their conceptions of where they might go. “We have so many capable students — they’re great students, but they come in with tunnel vision on medical school,” he says. “A lot of them don’t realize that there’s a bigger world out there.
“The research opens up an entire new world to them. A good example is the pandemic. Yes, we needed people to treat sick people and sit by the bedside and things like that, but the real breakthrough came from the vaccine developers in the lab — self-driven, self-motivated because they want to help a wide swath of people. We help students recognize that bigger picture.”
That may be the most valuable aspect of these awards — their ability to serve as a launchpad for students deciding on and pursuing their next moves. The same thinking lies behind all of the close faculty support and mentorship that make Spiders so competitive for them.
“I very much view the Goldwater as a stop along the way of a bigger process,” Leopold says. “The Goldwater is not the end.”
Flanigan points out that the key is helping students identify their goals for themselves. If going for one of these awards is part of that, that’s great. But she is careful to empha -
THE UNSTOPPABLE MOLLY ROSSI
Molly Rossi, ’16, always trusted that there was a bigger story about the world around her — and she’s never stopped searching for it.
BY KIM CATLEY
PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEPHEN VOSS
MOLLY ROSSI, ’16, WAS 10 YEARS OLD THE FIRST TIME SHE LEFT THE UNITED STATES.
Rossi and her mother flew to Northern Ireland as part of a church mission trip. For 30 years, the region had been marred by street fighting, bombings, and sniper attacks as Protestant unionists and Roman Catholic nationalists fought over whether to remain with the United Kingdom or become part of the Republic of Ireland. While the Good Friday Agreement brought an end to the hostilities in 1998, Rossi said she could still feel the effects in the region when she arrived six years later.
“There was this intense poverty,” Rossi said, “and it was the first time I came face-to-face with people suffering around the world. It was a transformative experience.”
Rossi came home with a burgeoning curiosity about the wider world — an interest she believed made her stand out in her hometown of Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville. While many of her friends and family members sought the familiarity of home, she had a growing desire to see and experience as many countries and cultures as possible.
Rossi’s great-aunt Alice Kinnare was the only person she knew who showed interests and drive similar to hers. Kinnare was one of the first women to serve in the U.S. Foreign Service in the 1940s and ’50s. As a child, Rossi loved to listen to the stories of her tours in Rome, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
AN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION AT RICHMOND
Nearly a decade after traveling to Ireland, Rossi went abroad for the second time. It was March 2013, and she was in her second semester at Richmond. She and 10 students and staff members spent spring break in Poland as part of the Chaplaincy’s Pilgrimage program. Together, they explored the history of Judaism and Catholicism in the country, the conditions that led to the Holocaust, and the lasting trauma among the Polish community.
Standing on the freezing streets of Warsaw and the snowy fields of the Majdanek concentration camp, she could see the lingering remnants of World War II and the Holocaust — as well as the citizens who were continuing to reconcile and rebuild 70 years later.
“For anyone who cares about making the world better, I think there’s a moment when you see human suffering for the first time, and you have this impulse to help,” she said. “Seeing it firsthand in Poland, it opened up this well for me. I could see that [genocide] is still happening today. I had this earnest enthusiasm to fix the world, to change it.”
“She was a single woman living [abroad] in places like Rome and Hong Kong,” Rossi said. “It was unheard of at the time.”
Otherwise, Rossi had few examples to follow. Her parents were surprised when she signed up for Model United Nations, but role-playing a UN delegate opened her eyes to the possibility of a career in international relations. When she decided to attend the University of Richmond — after searching for the best international studies programs and earning the Boatwright Scholarship — her friends wondered why she wasn’t joining most of her graduating class at the University of Tennessee. She was, she believes, the first student from her high school ever to apply to the University of Richmond.
Rossi always trusted that there was a bigger story about the world around her — and she’s never stopped searching for it. The journey has taken her to study international law at The Hague, to greet Afghan refugees arriving in D.C., and to spend a year living in Kazakhstan.
That same semester, Rossi was enrolled in a history and storytelling seminar with Edward L. Ayers, then UR’s president. In it, she learned how to tell the story of the Civil War and slavery with a human connection, as well as the importance of representation and remembering.
Learning about the stories underpinning these two moments in history — the Holocaust and the Civil War — was pivotal, she said, to beginning to understand where her own story might lead.
Her exploration continued the following year when Rossi signed up for the Sophomore Scholars in Residence course Stories of Work, Life and Fulfillment. Taught by Scott Johnson, associate professor of communication studies, the yearlong living-learning course encourages students to interrogate questions like, “What should I do?” and, “What do success, happiness, and failure mean?” and, “What can I do — inside and out of class — with the six semesters I have left?”
The class also traveled to London over spring break to meet with alumni whose careers had taken them overseas.
“It seemed like a really great opportunity to expand students’ minds and get them to say, ‘I could live somewhere else,’” Johnson said. “One of the things I get students thinking about is, ‘How are we shaping our own stories?’ Adolescence and early adulthood is when students start to see themselves as crafting a story.”
As Rossi considered the questions posed by Johnson, she knew an international studies major was too narrow for her. Instead, the threads of humanity and storytelling
Right, UR’s Pilgrimage Poland group in the Old Town Marketplace in Warsaw, Poland, in 2013. Rossi is at the center in the purple hat.
and repairing the world that had long piqued her interest began to intertwine, and she started to see a future in humanitarian work. No major offered precisely the path she envisioned, so Rossi created her own: an interdisciplinary major in cross-cultural communications.
She designed a course of study, drawing from English, literature, anthropology, history, and politics. The bespoke program culminated in a senior honors thesis in which Rossi explored the emerging mental health services crisis on college campuses and made the case for using theater to help students address trauma.
“She was able to see patterns that other students and folks at UR weren’t necessarily seeing,” said English professor Elizabeth Outka, who oversaw Rossi’s project. “And she had the mental dexterity to zoom out to see the big picture and zoom in to see the details.”
the storefront we passed was a grocery store, a pharmacy, or a shoe store.
“And the culture is as opposite of Franklin, Tennessee, as you could ever imagine.”
In Kazakhstan, she said, people don’t make eye contact with, smile at, or greet unknown passersby. But Rossi said it helped that she understood some of the roots of what she perceived as coldness. While in Poland, she had learned how the end of World War II bled into the start the Cold
“ She had the mental dexterity to zoom out to see the big picture and zoom in to see the details.”
—
Professor Elizabeth Outka
Rossi also took every opportunity to experience the wider world and find her way to make it better, incorporating travel to multiple countries into her academics. She honed her Spanish language skills in Seville, Spain, and worked as an editorial intern with Italian Academy Foundation in Rome. Thanks to a connection she made with an alumnus in London, she landed an internship with the ONE Campaign in Washington, D.C. Her junior year, she spent a semester studying international criminal law at The Hague.
It all came together a year after graduation, when Rossi landed a position with U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a government agency that provides humanitarian assistance and invests in sustainable development around the world. The role marked a first step toward her eventual dream job: telling stories about and across cultures.
“Everyone kept asking why I created this major and why I didn’t just study international relations,” she said. “But cross-cultural communications has been my entire career. Nothing could have served me better.”
CROSS-CULTURAL ADJUSTMENTS
At 3 a.m. on a December morning in 2022, Rossi landed in Almaty, Kazakhstan. After nearly six years with USAID, she was assigned to the agency’s Regional Mission for Central Asia. She spent most of the next year telling the story of the international development agency’s efforts to promote human rights and freedom across Central Asia. Her job with USAID had previously taken her into the field in Kenya, Rwanda, and Djibouti, but this was her first time in Central Asia. Rossi says those first early morning hours in Kazakhstan were “jarring.”
“All of the signs were in Cyrillic,” she said. “We were driving to my apartment for the first time, and I didn’t know if
War, which continued throughout the Soviet Union until 1989. The extended occupation and conflict left Kazakh citizens reserved and hardened.
She also had experience navigating those differences. She had been with USAID for six years in a variety of communications roles — many of which focused on explaining to congressional leaders the impact of U.S. foreign aid around the world.
Her work coincided with several critical moments in international aid. Rossi helped communicate USAID’s involvement in the Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar and spent two years helping lead the communications pillar of the agency’s COVID-19 task force, including the monumental U.S. effort to provide more than half a billion vaccine doses in more than 120 countries. She wrote talking points for the White House press secretary when the pandemic reached a crisis point in India and helped write the remarks delivered by Vice President Kamala Harris at the 2021 Gavi global vaccine summit. When the U.S. military left Afghanistan and hundreds of refugees crammed into planes bound for Washington Dulles International Airport, Rossi was waiting at its exposition center to register them and direct them to cots and food.
In Almaty, as the senior development outreach and communications coordinator for Central Asia, she shared USAID’s story with the people of Kazakhstan and neighboring Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. This meant navigating rivalries among the countries, communicating on state-run media, and understanding Russia’s influence in the region. Sometimes, she had to decide whether it was more important to communicate in Russian, which is used across all five countries, or take on the time-consuming effort of translating messages into local languages.
“I learned that a story that resonates in Kazakhstan is not going to do the same in Kyrgyzstan,” she says. “The
“I had this earnest enthusiasm to fix the world, to change it.”
countries have different cultures, histories, and religions — but they also have a lot of shared history and culture. We wanted to tap into that identity because the more Central Asia is divided, the more vulnerable it is to outside influences.”
A CAREER PATH OF PURPOSE
When Rossi completed her assignment in Kazakhstan in October 2023, she moved back to her Tennessee hometown to await her next USAID assignment. She considered returning to Washington, D.C., transitioning to a partner organization that works in the field, or following in the footsteps of her great-aunt.
“I got a firsthand look at Foreign Service life,” she said, “and I was still uncertain about it.”
A former colleague from USAID’s Asia Bureau reached out about the congressional relations lead position at the International Monetary Fund.
Unlike USAID — which largely employs American citizens and deploys them around the world — Rossi and her former USAID colleague are the only two Americans in their division at IMF. Rossi explains the value of the IMF to congressional leaders to secure funding for the international financial institution.
“The U.S. holds a 17% share of the IMF, so we’re the largest financial contributor,” she said. “It gives the U.S. veto power over everything. They need me to bring a domestic U.S. perspective.
“I have to tell the story of our work to different audiences in a way that taps into empathy and shows the value of foreign aid.”
To make the story of IMF relatable, she often looks to her experience growing up in Franklin, Tennessee. She thinks about how to explain the role of foreign aid to a neighbor who’s known her since childhood but isn’t familiar with the intricacies and nuances of the State Department. She considers how she would tell her grandmother what the IMF does and why it’s important.
anywhere in the world affects all of us,” she said. “In countries experiencing poverty and conflict, we’re trying to get in there early.”
Those wins also give her hope in a time when the world’s problems feel intractable, the solutions stymied.
It’s not always an easy sell, especially in a polarized political climate with a divided Congress, but she has found ways to break through. She said the IMF’s origin story — as an organization founded in the wake of the Great Depression, World War II, and massive inflation in Europe — makes a compelling case that upheaval in one country can ripple out to the rest of the world.
“When I’m trying to tell our story to a senator, I start with how the IMF was a bipartisan effort that has lasted to this day and that it’s important that we use taxpayer dollars on this because we know that financial instability
“There are moments when it feels too big, [when I wonder] if any of this is making a difference,” she says. “But at the end of the day, it’s truly my passion. If I can use my perspective or my way of storytelling or relate to people to help do this work, that feels amazing.”
Kim Catley is a former University of Richmond staff member. She was part of the group, including Rossi, that traveled to Poland in 2013 through the chaplaincy’s Pilgrimage program.
Above and left, Rossi on assignment for USAID. Her stint with USAID took her to Kenya, Rwanda, Djibouti, and Kazakhstan.
Robins at 75
As the Robins School of Business celebrates its 75th anniversary, it is looking to its future as it continues to push the boundaries of business education, inspire innovation, and strengthen its commitment to making a positive difference in the world.
BY MATTHEW DEWALD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMIE BETTS
Asthe Robins School of Business celebrates its 75th anniversary, Dean Miguel “Mickey” Quiñones is focused on honoring its legacy of excellence and inspiring pride in the achievements of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have shaped industries, influenced policies, and impacted their communities to create better futures for everyone.
“We have a responsibility for ensuring that the next 75 years are as impactful as the last,” he said. “We rest on the shoulders of those who came before us. They adapted to societal changes and the needs of the business community over time. We’re a point in time in an unbroken continuum.”
The anniversary celebration is an opportunity to revisit the history and roots of the business school, which date back to an evening school program created by the university in 1924. Twenty-five years later, the university merged the evening school with Richmond College’s economics and applied economics departments to form the school we know today, now called the Robins School of Business. Its first classes began on Monday, Sept. 12, 1949. At a time when the university divided men and women into Richmond College and
Westhampton College academically, the new business school was open to everyone.
Documents from the school’s creation highlight how it has long been connected to and serving the needs of the business community. A 1949 prospectus sent to leaders of the local business community notes that 40% of nationwide college graduates were entering business, “but only 6% have had education in business.” This was a particular problem for the Richmond region because, the prospectus notes, “all of us are aware that Richmond is the largest business center between Baltimore and Atlanta.” The document went on to outline the many advantages of establishing the School of Business at Richmond, with the hope of securing local business leaders’ support.
As Quiñones reflects on the school’s history and looks to its future, he feels a profound sense of responsibility.
Walking through the dean’s conference room, lined with portraits of his predecessors, he’s reminded of the challenges each faced in their time.
“Each of them had a different situation to deal with,” he said. “I’m guessing that wherever my portrait hangs, somebody will look at it one day and say, ‘Oh, that person was dean during the pandemic,’ and they’ll think about what we had to go through during that time.”
Quiñones, who is also a professor of management, notes that many of the priorities outlined in the first dean’s report from 1950 — such as coeducation, a liberal arts foundation, and the use of technology in the classroom — remain relevant today. He uses the metaphor of “widening the aperture” to describe the school’s evolution over its first 75 years.
“I would argue that we have always had the same vision, except that we’re now more expansive about how we do it,” he said. “Back then, our students tended to be more regional, even local. Now our students come from everywhere, and they go on to work all over the world. Our positive impact is broader now.”
Ultimately, Quiñones hopes the 75th anniversary will inspire a sense of stewardship among the university community and the school’s alumni. “We have immense resources here, but also an immense responsibility,” he said. “We always want to adapt and do better for our students and for society. Change is inevitable, and change is a good thing. It’s our responsibility to prepare for the next 75 years.”
“
We rest on the shoulders of those who came before us. They adapted to societal changes and the needs of the business community over time. We’re a point in time in an unbroken continuum.”
HOW IS BUSINESS EDUCATION EVOLVING AS THE SCHOOL BEGINS ITS NEXT 75 YEARS?
Faculty in the Robins School of Business offer their insights into how business education is changing — and how it’s not. Here are some key areas:
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND DATA
Faculty expect AI and large-scale data analysis to become even more deeply embedded throughout the curriculum. “I think technology is going to continue to be a big factor changing what we need to teach our students and how we teach them because it’s changing how companies are conducting business,” says Ashley Austin, associate professor of accounting. “Generative AI tools are changing a lot of work. Figuring out the value that professionals can add on top of those tools — the human piece — is even more important than it has been.”
The focus will be on teaching students to think critically about technology, not just how to use specific tools. “AI and other technologies will enable things we can’t even imagine,” Quiñones says. “Our job is to prepare students to think analytically about novel situations.”
The ability to work with and interpret large datasets will be crucial. “Business education will have to adapt to understand how we teach our students to be in this new realm,” says Saif Mehkari, associate professor of economics. “AI is clearly the fashionable piece of this, but just think about the importance of being able to work with large amounts of data. Getting insights from humongous datasets to improve business processes is a big, big area.”
EXPERIENTIAL AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
“Business education will be even more experiential,” says Randy Raggio, professor of marketing. “Students work on projects with live clients and do projects in so many of our classes across the curriculum.”
He cites the example of the Spider Business Hub, which brings business students together with organizations in the Richmond area and beyond to build client relationship skills through project-based learning. The hub is expanding its reach this year with clients and industries and will now work with students and faculty in more than a dozen marketing and management courses.
Sara Hanson, associate professor of marketing, is the hub’s director. She notes that such experiences help students develop critical professional skills. “The Spider Busi-
JOYCE van der LAAN SMITH, professor of accounting and senior associate dean for undergraduate business programs
ASHLEY AUSTIN, associate professor of accounting
SAIF MEHKARI, associate professor of economics
SARA HANSON, associate professor of marketing
CASSANDRA MARSHALL, associate professor of finance
RANDY RAGGIO, professor of marketing
Then & now
Some of the core topics taught to the first class of School of Business students are still taught today. Examples include courses in accounting, business administration, economics, management, and marketing.
Other areas of focus that are an important part of preparing students for the careers that lay ahead of them wouldn’t be recognizable to the school’s first students. Here’s a few:
• Data management and analysis
• Digital marketing
• Sustainability and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) model
• Management information systems
• Behavioral economics and decision sciences
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• International finance and management
ness Hub is a way for students to put themselves out there and jump right in,” she says. “It’s two-pronged: showing actionable ways to use the things that they’re learning in class and developing their professional skills through interactions with clients.”
Cassandra Marshall, associate professor of finance, adds that experiential learning helps students see the real-world relevance of their studies. “Application is important,” she says. “Going through the exercise of working with a real client helps them learn more than just copying something down or filling in numbers in a formula.”
SUSTAINABILITY AND ESG
Sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues will likely become more prominent in business education. “I think sustainability is huge,” says Joyce van der Laan Smith, professor of accounting and senior associate dean for undergraduate business programs.
Faculty note that students are increasingly interested in these topics. “Students have a real desire to work for companies that have a purpose,” says Hanson, “whether that’s sustainability from an environmental standpoint or from the standpoint of connections to their community.” Mehkari agrees: “I think more and more of this generation that’s coming up cares a lot about sustainability. It’s not just about the environment. There’s also the business aspect of it. How do you make businesses sustainable and products that will last?”
INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING
Austin sees business education becoming more interdisciplinary. “Currently, we have these disciplines — accounting, finance, marketing, and such — hardwired as different departments, majors, and concentrations. But I think as we go forward, there’ll be more cross-department, cross-curriculum approaches to solve bigger problems in the world and make sure our students are ready for that,” she predicts.
Sustainability is one major area where this cross-disciplinary approach is already taking shape, she says, pointing to the role of accountants in creating and providing assurance for sustainability reports. Cybersecurity is another growing focus area that spans multiple disciplines. “Accountants are good at assessing the risk and putting in controls to prevent the cyberattacks,” Austin says, but fully covering the topic requires input from business analytics, computer science, and other fields.
“
I think as we go forward, there’ll be more crossdepartment, cross-curriculum approaches to solve bigger problems in the world and make sure our students are ready for that.
ADAPTABILITY AND LIFELONG LEARNING
Given the rapid pace of change, business education will need to prepare students to be adaptable and committed to lifelong learning more than ever. “The ability to pivot quickly is becoming more important,” says Hanson.
Resilience is important, too. “The ability to not associate too much negativity with failure is an important part of that,” Randy Raggio says. “The pace of change is always accelerating, so it’s important that we’re always learning, exploring, and trying to figure new things out.”
Smith adds that faculty themselves need to model this adaptability: “We have a responsibility to make sure that we ourselves are not getting complacent and that we’re constantly learning about what’s coming down the pipeline.”
CRITICAL THINKING, COMMUNICATION, AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Some things won’t change. Faculty stress that critical thinking, communication, and interpersonal skills will remain essential elements of business education. “The foundation of what we do will stay the same,” Marshall says. “What we do really well in this university and in the business school in particular is teach students how to think about problems and how to make informed, calculated decisions.”
These skills are especially important as technology and tools change. “Part of my teaching is helping students understand where AI can go wrong and that their value is going to be in the nuance,” Hanson says.
Interpersonal skills will also remain critical. “How you talk across racial, economic, social, and other lines of difference, especially in a business setting, is a very crucial skill,” Mehkari says. “As the economy becomes more diverse, there will be more need to interact with people who are different than us.”
CELEBRATE WITH US
The Robins School of Business will celebrate its 75th anniversary March 28, 2025. For more information, visit robins. richmond.edu. To support students in the Robins School of Business during its anniversary year, go to giving. richmond.edu.
INSIDE LOOK
The Spider team meeting room — located in the Robins Center — serves as a hub for more than 400 Richmond student-athletes, coaches, and administrative staff. Here, coaches hold most team meetings, and student-athletes study, have group meetings, and relax.
A team effort
Alex Perdikis, ’97, a former Richmond football student-athlete, remembers well the time he spent in the Spider team meeting room.
From hosting team huddles the night before a home game to presentations from guest speakers, the room became a shared space to support team camaraderie and belonging.
“It’s always been a special place — a sacred place,” he said.
After years of heavy use, the meeting room needed a fresh, modern look. When Perdikis heard about the need last year, he rallied former teammates Connor Marsden, ’99, Samuel Kaufman, ’99, Cary Goodwin, ’98, and other alumni to make a gift to the cause. The group generously funded space enhancements including new furniture, a custom podium, state-of-the-art technology, and updated design and graphics.
“It’s one of the first places that new recruits see when they tour campus, so we wanted to make this a space that you’re excited to walk into,”
STAY CONNECTED
Winter warm-up
Perdikis said. “All of the athletics facilities are so amazing; we felt that updating the room would be the perfect touch. No matter the amount people gave, it all made a difference.”
The alumni dedicated their gift to Jim Reid (left, with Perdikis), who served as head coach of the Spider football program from 1993 to 2004. The renovated room was unveiled at a special gathering that also marked the 25th anniversary of the Class of 1998 football team. That year, the team achieved a 9-3 record, an Atlantic 10 championship, and a trip to the NCAA playoffs.
“Coach Reid was and continues to be an instrumental part of my life and in the lives of every player he’s worked with,” Perdikis said. “He’s an unbelievable mentor, coach, and leader on and off the field. It was important for us to recognize him with this gift and recognize the importance of great coaching.”
—Kyra Molinaro
Cozy up while supporting today’s Spider students — a gift of $25 by Dec. 31 gets you a pair of UR socks featuring a snowy campus scene as a token of our gratitude. Your gift empowers future leaders and strengthens our community. Visit givenow. richmond.edu to snag your socks and show your Spider pride this season.
(The perfect time to make that gift? During Spiders Helping Spiders Nov. 13–19.)
Alumni hangout?
Let us know what you’re up to! Share a photo of your Spider get-together — including names, class years, and location — and alumni engagement will feature it on their social media channels.
Everyone in your group will also receive some Spider swag — while supplies last. Send your photo and details to alumnievents@richmond.edu.
Save the date
Pencil us in! The 2025 dates for Reunion Weekend are May 30–June 1.
Alumni with undergraduate class years ending in 0 and 5 will have extra perks to look forward to. Get involved with your reunion committee to make this reunion one to remember.
Visit reunion.richmond.edu or email reunion@richmond.edu.
The newly renovated Spider team meeting room is dedicated to former football coach Jim Reid.
VIRAL TAILS The corgis behind @hammyandolivia are out to put a smile on your face.
Chris Equale, ’10, and his wife, Sarah, have amassed a global social media following of over 15 million people who tune in to watch videos featuring the couple’s dogs. Equale, who majored in business administration, takes inspiration from everyday activities to create storylines that follow the dogs through silly and heartwarming scenarios.
“We are dog people through and through. And we’re really just trying to make people laugh.”
On bravery
Kelly Corrigan, W’89, took the stage in April to give a TED talk on bravery. Other speakers discussed business, science, and government, but Corrigan reminded the audience of the bravery found in family life.
“Bravery is the great guts to move closer to the wound,” Corrigan said.
Witnessing acts of love in life’s difficult moments inspired Corrigan. That’s when, as Corrigan describes, there’s no preparation, and anything you say or do can profoundly impact the other person. Yet she believes these are the greatest of opportunities, a notion she built her career on.
Corrigan hosts Tell Me More with Kelly Corrigan, a PBS show on which she interviews guests about their life experiences and advice. She also
hosts the podcast Kelly Corrigan Wonders, discussing topics like how to repair a ruptured relationship.
“The point was to surface world-positive people doing world-positive work in the hopes that exposure to these wonderful people might make the rest of us get off the couch and get involved,” she said.
Nearing the end of her TED talk, Corrigan shared a takeaway that runs throughout her body of work — a reminder of the gift that comes from being brave enough to love:
“The reward is to end up soft and humble, empty and in awe, knowing that of all the magnificence we have beheld from cradle to grave, the most eye-popping was interpersonal.”
—Amy Ogle, ’26
OF NOTE
New sculpture
In August, a new sculpture created by Amy Reader, ’15, was installed in the meditation garden behind the Westhampton deanery.
“It was an honor to create this work and I am absolutely delighted to see it installed and share it with you all!” Reader wrote in an Instagram post. “It has been a joy to branch back out beyond fibers this summer and work on a site specific piece again.”
Spider-made products
Put a Spider twist on your gift-giving this season. You can support fellow alumni, score discounts, and enter to win giveaways from Spider-owned businesses and makers — just keep an eye on alumni engagement’s Instagram (@urichmondalumni), Facebook (@URAlumni), and monthly newsletter for the latest.
BOOKS & MORE
Corrigan is the author of four books about family life and one children’s book she wrote with her daughter. She also has two upcoming books, one for adults and one for children, and plans for a second podcast with Christy Turlington Burns about motherhood.
Tenth championship
This year’s Boom Boom Cup victory was alumni hockey’s 10th championship.
The team pictured above includes Tom Occhino, ’06; Scott Celander, ’06; Matt Callahan, ’07; Justin Collins, ’08; Chris Nelson, ’09; Matt Improta, ’10; Will Harrison, ’11; Tucker Blanton, ’13.
Read more about Richmond club ice hockey on Page 18.
LIVES OF PURPOSE
Kelly Corrigan, W’89, speaks about bravery in family life during her TED Talk.
By
Upgrade your self-talk
MLB IMPACT
“Dailyhuman took my training program
Breakthrough Pro to the next level. The purposeful reflection between sessions reinforces key concepts and helps shift default thinking. It supercharges my impact.”
— Sean Casey, ’96, former Spider baseball player and Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer
Self-talk is the secret sauce when it comes to personal development, and the world of sports is reaping the rewards of players’ mental fitness. Dailyhuman, founded by Kim Bach, ’97, and Josh Roenitz, ’97, has leveraged AI to provide personalized mindset training at scale.
The company’s flagship product, dubbed a “mindset lab,” uses text message-based reflections and AI analysis to help users gain insights into their thought patterns and mental capacities. “We’re trying to be that mirror on the road to self-improvement,” says Bach, who brings decades of corporate experience in learning and development to her role as co-founder.
Roenitz, a repeat tech founder who helped develop an early predecessor to FitBit, saw the potential to apply the “measurement is motivation” principle to mindset work. “Before Dailyhuman,” he
says, “athletes didn’t have a tool to actually measure their self-talk or understand how others see them. We can become our own worst critics. We, Dailyhuman, upgrade self-talk. That’s what we’ve built.”
While Dailyhuman’s technology can be applied broadly, the company has found particular traction with athletes. Over 50% of its revenue comes from women’s sports partnerships, including work with the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun. Dailyhuman also ran mindset labs for NFL draft prospects, 12 of whom were drafted in the first three rounds in 2024.
“It is widely accepted and embraced that to win in sports, mindset matters,” Bach says. “We are going where people gather who understand that mindset matters. Right now, that’s in athletics.”
Beyond player development, Dailyhuman is pioneering new models of fan engagement.
The Connecticut Sun, for instance, offers fans the opportunity to participate in mindset labs alongside players and coaches. This approach taps into fans’ desires for deeper connection with the athletes they admire.
As they look to the future, Bach and Roenitz are partnering with the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine to measure the efficacy of their interventions. They’re also exploring applications beyond sports, including programs for teachers and health care professionals.
Dailyhuman is a business venture maintained by Spiders — its chief of staff is Amy Pierson Shuler, ’98. “This is more than a company we’ve started,” Bach says. “It all comes back to the trust and connections we built at Richmond.”
As they continue to expand their impact, these Spider partners are proving that with the right mindset — and the right tools — personal growth is limitless.
Kim Bach, ’97, and Josh Roenitz, ’97, are on a mission to elevate mindsets, together co-founding a software company called Dailyhuman.
“So many working professionals want to go back to school. … SPCS helped me achieve [it].”
LISA B. RESCH, C’17 AND GC’22 , shared her comeback story in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies’ 2024–25 issue of Back to School
Field’s guide
Patrick R. Field, R’86, didn’t plan to become a novelist. But after 26 years teaching neuroscience, he traded the professor’s podium for a pen.
Field brings a scientist’s eye to his creative process, conducting thorough research much in the vein of when he wrote case studies as an academic. “My human characters follow real-world rules,” he says. “No exceptions, no alternative facts.”
Field’s first step is a walking meditation followed by a stream-of-consciousness-style writing session.
Step 2: Bring out the academic. “The scientist in me makes sure that everything makes logical sense.”
After that comes dialogue, sometimes accompanied by a change of scenery for Field. “I’m absolutely
that writer who sits at Starbucks with a coffee and writes,” he says with a laugh. “Then it’s like rain, and I’ll have, like, three pages of dialogue,” which he weaves into the story.
Above all, he encourages persistence. “The business is full of rejection and struggle,” Field says, “but if your heart is in it, you should go for it. I only wish I would have started earlier in life.”
With each new book, Field is fine-tuning his system and discovering a growing audience. “I hope I don’t tear up as I tell you this, but every day is something new and miraculous and rewarding. I want to leave the reader with a message: ‘Enjoy the journey.’”
BOOKS
THE GIFT OF BURNOUT
SUZANNE SALTER, W’90
A challenge to the notion of powering through, this book views burnout as an invitation to change — to slow down and listen to our needs — in order to lead a more purposeful and joyful life.
SUPERNATURAL THRILLERS
Field’s debut novel, Servant, hit shelves in 2023. His follow-up, The Bedfordshire Warlock, came out this year, and a third book is under contract.
CHALLENGES FOR TODAY'S LIVING: STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS WILLIAM POWELL TUCK, R’57
This book explores 10 themes — including social and ethical issues, sin, and theological beliefs — found in the Bible and how they can be applied in a modern context.
BE THE BRIDGE: CLOSING THE GAPS IN A DIVIDED WORLD BILL GREENWOOD, R’66
Offered as an antidote to divisiveness, this book provides methods for bringing people together through flexibility, innovation, strength, and humility.
OUR CHURCH SPEAKS: AN ILLUSTRATED DEVOTIONAL OF SAINTS FROM EVERY ERA AND PLACE BEN LANSING, ’05 With co-author D.J. Marotta, Lansing blends the lives and words of Christian faith leaders throughout history with artwork and prayers intended to spark the reader's imagination.
Patrick R. Field, R’86 — neuroscientist turned novelist
We welcome your news. Send information to your class secretary or directly to the magazine at classnotes @richmond.edu. Or you may mail it to the magazine at Fountain Hall • 118 UR Drive • University of Richmond, VA 23173. Please include your class year and the name you were known by as a student, if different than today. For your children, please include birth dates rather than ages. Photographs of alumni are welcome and encouraged. Please note that the magazine does not publish news of engagements or pregnancies. Information may take up to two issues to publish. Class notes do not appear on the magazine’s website.
The magazine uses undergraduate degree designations for graduates through 1992, and law, graduate, and honorary degree designations for all years.
B Robins School of Business
C School of Professional and Continuing Studies
G Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
GB Richard S. Reynolds Graduate School of Business
GC Graduate School of Professional and Continuing Studies
H Honorary Degree
L School of Law
R Richmond College
W Westhampton College
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’58Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi.
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dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
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Class notes are available only in the print edition. To submit your news and photos, contact your class secretary or email us at classnotes@richmond.edu.
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For information about photos, see:
1. Marian Mann Fletcher, W’69
2. Charles Upshaw, R’74
3. C. Randy Wheeless, R’82
4. Colleen Murphy Taylor, W’83
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ing id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
“Our 60th reunion was a great success — we got reacquainted, had lots of laughs, and shared stories.”
— Archie Yeatts, R’64
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in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
’65Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
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diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
TRAVIS CROCKER, ’90
No (more) trouble
Travis Crocker, R’90, remembers being petrified when he was summoned to his neighbor’s house.
The then-12-year-old had been throwing rocks through the windows of abandoned homes with a few neighborhood friends in Wakefield, Virginia. Crocker was certain he was in trouble with Mr. Smith, the neighborhood Boy Scout leader.
“He does a complete 180 and ends up taking me to the arena near Parker Field to watch wrestling,” Crocker said. “Knowing that someone cared about me that much to reach out and make a difference made a huge impact on me. I never got into any trouble after that.”
Smith’s influence stuck fast and lasted. Crocker founded Edgewood Group Family Services — a nonprofit mental health agency — more than two decades ago. The Edgewood Group strives to reduce the likelihood of children or adults being removed from their home due to substance abuse, neglect, or emotional or behavioral disorders.
“I am never satisfied,” he said. “I’m always striving for perfection, even though I know I can never attain it.”
Success, however, looks different when it comes to counseling services for an ever-growing population of underserved individuals.
“We’ll get a letter or an email from someone in their 30s — who we saw when they were 15 or 16 — and they now have a family of their own and are finding ways to help and give back to the community,” Crocker said.
The 56-year-old has three grown children and a grandson, yet shows no signs of slowing down. Crocker, also an accomplished public speaker and real estate investor, still has a significant item on his professional bucket list.
“I have always wanted to build a community center in my hometown,” he said. “I will do that before I retire.”
— Debbie Juniewicz
MAIA HALLWARD, ’98
Peace and conflict
Maia Hallward, ’98, has a career ambition most only dream about: international cooperation and understanding. International travel as a child — including to the Middle East — fed her dedication to fostering cross-cultural connections. She is now director of the doctoral program in international conflict management at Kennesaw State University.
“I was raised Quaker, so I’ve always had an interest in peace and conflict studies,” Hallward said. “My parents have a letter I wrote to the [United States] president as a 5-year-old — I don’t know, probably about nuclear weapons — and so it’s been something that I’ve always had on my radar.”
After graduating with interdisciplinary majors in international studies and leadership studies, Hallward taught at a Quaker school in Ramallah in the West Bank. This experience, she said, deepened her understanding of the diversity of Middle Eastern societies and how different the situation on the ground can be from its portrayal abroad.
“Someone asked me what side I was on,” Hallward said. “My answer was: I’m on the side of the people who try to see the humanity in the other.”
Now, as a professor and researcher, Hallward specializes in civil society groups working for social and political change in the Middle East. She emphasizes the importance of understanding historical context: “We have to remember that the United States is a baby compared to most Middle Eastern societies and cultures,” she said, highlighting the need for cultural humility in international relations.
“I try very hard to meet people where they are and recognize the struggles different people have while also keeping an eye towards the humanity, justice, and dignity of their story,” Hallward said.
Hallward draws inspiration from her former University of Richmond professors. “I regularly think about them in my own teaching and research,” she said. “I remember what was meaningful and what I aspire to be as a professor and academic.”
— M.R. Badillo
’69
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit
esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
’70
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincid-
unt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
’71Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel
illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincid-
“Occasionally, I return to Richmond and would love to get together with any of you living in the area.”
— Pete Peterson, R’65
unt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue
duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
’73Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea com-
modo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros
“Did we party? Yes!”
— Marian Mann Fletcher, W’69
et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta
nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
’75Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
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An encore performance
Michael Simpson, R’74, a retired professional pianist and organist, played the organ in Cannon Memorial Chapel at his commencement — and then again at the 2024 commencement, 50 years later to the day.
Performing for your graduating class is a pretty special moment. Doing it again as an alum 50 years later — to the day — is on a whole other level. Michael Simpson, R’74, hit this literal high note when he played the organ inside the Cannon Memorial Chapel at this year’s Baccalaureate.
Simpson had planned to attend his 50th reunion in June. When he got the call from music professor Jeffrey Riehl saying he needed an organist, Simpson knew he’d be on campus even sooner. “I thought, ‘This is too weird an opportunity to pass up.’” Nor did he want to pass up playing the
Beckerath organ inside the Chapel. The neo-Baroque-style organ was built by Rudolph von Beckerath of Hamburg, Germany. It’s also one of the main reasons Simpson attended Richmond. “I still love its sound.”
He enrolled in 1970 as a “town student” — back then, if you lived within 25 miles, you couldn’t live on campus due to the lack of housing — and parked in a lot that is now the Gottwald Science Center.
In 1973, Simpson played an electric organ in the Jepson Greek Theater for Baccalaureate. The organizers ran a long extension cord from the organ to North Court. Through laughter, he recalled how a pair of campus dogs started fighting near the cord and unplugged the organ mid-ceremony.
For Simpson’s graduation in 1974, the stu-
dents decided to move Baccalaureate into Cannon Memorial Chapel — to avoid the dogs and ensure sound quality — despite the chapel’s lack of air conditioning.
Following graduation, Simpson cemented a successful 50-year career as a professional organist, piano accompanist, and choral director. He also was an accompanist and assistant choral director for the Richmond Symphony before retiring in 2021. And yes, he even got to play the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ at Richmond’s Byrd Theater in Carytown, though just for fun, not for audiences. Richmond music faculty were often participants or catalysts in those jobs — a testament to the mentorship, friendships, and bonds created in the close-knit Spider community.
“I got to do all these really fascinating things,” said Simpson. “And I didn’t have to [leave Richmond] to do it.”
When Simpson was introduced and the audience learned it had been 50 years since he last played commencement, Simpson said members of Schola Cantorum, the undergraduate choir, were beyond surprised. “The looks on their faces were great. I had a great time. I loved it.”
By
2024 BACCALAUREATE PERFORMANCE
Sandi Cauley
Photograph by Jamie Betts
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’79Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
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trud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
“I remember we math majors would go to Mary Lee Watson Brazell when stuck on math homework because she was a math whiz!”
— Carole Waite Kinder, W’71
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esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
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’84Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
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’87
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’88Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu
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HEATHER SHIELDS ’07
Flip the script
As a Tony-nominated Broadway producer and general manager, Heather Shields, ’07, is used to seeing theater as both art and business. But balancing both perspectives is an uncommon talent, one that has spurred her to rethink how the industry operates. Shields aims to pave the way for deeper collaboration between artists and producers.
“Many universities focus on the art form only and none of the business,” said Shields, a music major. “Until we have the theater makers aligned about how the industry has historically operated, we’ll never make meaningful change for the future longevity of our industry.”
Her solution is The Business of Broadway, an educational initiative she co-founded with three other Broadway producers. Shields and her co-founders offer a three-hour virtual course on producing and special topic courses such as social media strategies and unions. While she loves being a resource, her favorite part is the 30-minute Q&A at the end when attendees receive transparent answers about the industry.
“[The Q&A] changed my brain from going, ‘Well, this is the way it’s always been done,’ to a world of possibilities in a way many of us weren’t trained to think,” she said.
Shields’ goal is twofold. On the one hand, she seeks to educate those in the industry who lack knowledge on the business side. On the other hand, she wants to open the door to voices who are traditionally uninvolved in the creative process — such as investors. In an industry reliant on collaboration, she believes effective change will come from redefining the boundaries of community.
“This is an industry that is always open to new voices, not just artistically, but financially and structurally,” she said. “We can all ideate and explore ways the industry can emerge better and stronger and more equitable.”
— Amy Ogle, ’26
by
Photograph
Michael Kushner
DUSTY DEAN, ’09
Exhilaration, bliss, euphoria
Dusty Dean, ’09, entered his first organized go-kart race at 10 years old, and reaching rocket speeds an inch off the ground has been an exhilarating experience ever since. Drivers lie down to reduce aerodynamic drag, steering from the waist as they careen down the track.
“Imagine holding that position for 45 minutes with an engine on both sides of your shoulders … propelling the kart into a turn at 140 to 150 mph,”
Dean said. “Your attention is undivided.”
Dean found the gem in racing to be something more than just “sheer speed.”
“I’ve grown to treasure the discipline that it takes to control your adrenaline … and maintain absolute focus. Closing that helmet visor gives me respite from the rest of the world in a way that no other experience has ever compared.”
Dean dreamed of the checkered flag at Daytona, a dream come true in Dec. 2022 accompanied by total “exhilaration, bliss, euphoria.”
Dean didn’t expect to win at the World Karting Association race, the largest-attended racing event of the year. “I focused on improving [and] trying to build the fastest kart I could. With patience, it ended up being fast enough to win.”
A degree in rhetoric and communications studies with a minor in business administration gave Dean the mindset to mesh the world of racing with a philosophy of financial planning.
“My experiences in karting and wealth management have shown me that long-term success depends on adaptability. You need to be able to pivot quickly … to problem-solve your way to success. At times, the path to victory isn’t going to be clear … however, if we focus on the factors that we can control … then we can ensure that we’ll run the best possible race that we’re capable of. I would encourage my fellow Spiders to find a project or hobby that they are passionate about. The quirkier, more niche, or weird, the better!”
— Ryan Kent
Photograph by Jennifer Henry
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’90Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
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esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
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“Hard to believe we have grandchildren now entering college! When [my classmates and I] meet for lunches, we warn the restaurant that we talk usually for three hours or more.”
— Sallie Stone Cook Stokes, W’72
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For information about photos, see:
5. Tim Whiting, R’85
6. Mariella Marquez Purvis, ’94
7. Laura Caldwell Brumit, ’06
8.
Rebecca Taylor McNicol, ’07
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unt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
“Sandra Sperry, eager to celebrate the 50th class reunion with classmates, broke her hip in the dorm with five people watching as she attempted to do a comedy routine about how ridiculously heavy and difficult the dorm room and bathroom doors were!”
— Laura Lee Chandler, W’74
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dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
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’98
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Editor’s note:
In the previous issue, we mistakenly printed an early draft of Austin’s profile. We are running the correct version of the profile in this issue. We apologize for the error.
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AUSTIN GUND ’15
A team player
During a quiet moment after the Buffalo Bills’ 2024 playoff run, Austin Gund, ’15, received a call from a former football player at Belhaven University whom he had coached. They chatted about the player’s recent graduation, his dreams of playing in the NFL, and, most importantly, life in general. This call caused Gund to reflect on how the people he’s encountered on his coaching journey are the foundation and motivation behind why he coaches.
As a former three-time captain of Richmond’s football team, Gund made a natural transition to coaching. The key difference was shifting to a big-picture mindset so he could see how each player contributes to a win. But leading from the sideline wasn’t dissimilar to being team captain.
“There’s an expression in coaching that the best teams are player-led, and I was fortunate enough to have good coaches who allowed me to lead,” Gund said. “That experience gave me a model for what it looks like to enable my players to thrive from a leadership perspective, and then it’s my challenge to help them develop their abilities on the field.”
His leadership and coaching skills took him to the Buffalo Bills, where he is assistant offensive line coach. During the season, he helps the offensive coaches develop the weekly game plan and serves as a resource to the offensive linemen. His philosophy always comes down to knowing his players and positioning them to excel.
At the end of the day, he cherishes his coaches, his past teammates, his former players, and the team he’s part of now. Relationships like the one with the former Belhaven player have carried Gund through his career. When the Bills beat the Miami Dolphins at the end of the regular season, Gund remembers the celebration most fondly.
“There’s nothing like the feeling of winning and knowing that it took all of us,” he said. “The joy that exists in that locker room and seeing the looks on the guys’ faces, it’s priceless.”
— Amy Ogle, ’26
ALEC GREVEN, ’21
The right(s) stuff
Freedom of expression? Alec Greven, ’21, has a few thoughts on the subject. The University of Chicago Law School student has already worked extensively on that and other First Amendment issues as he pursues a career protecting individuals’ constitutional rights.
Greven credits Richmond professors Javier Hidalgo and Jessica Flanigan in the Jepson School of Leadership Studies for sparking his interest in the First Amendment and constitutional law. After taking Hidalgo’s first-year seminar Philosophy of Freedom, Greven wrote a Richmond College Student Government Association resolution that helped spark a review process. It resulted in the adoption of a university policy on free expression in his senior year.
“Flanigan created amazing practical opportunities for me to explore First Amendment issues more deeply,” Greven says. He and Flanigan co-authored a 2021 paper titled “Speech and Campus Inclusivity” that was published in Public Affairs Quarterly.
The Jepson Scholar attended University of Oxford for graduate school, earning a degree in public policy. “It was great to look at freedom of expression in an international context,” he says.
Upon returning to the U.S., he worked for a year as a research fellow at the Institute of Free Speech, writing 26 articles on freedom of expression issues. Greven is now relishing his studies at University of Chicago Law School, his “dream school” because of its faculty expertise on First Amendment issues. He’s had an article on First Amendment rights accepted by the Oklahoma Law Review. And this past summer, he interned at the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit public interest law firm that won both a First Amendment case and a Fifth Amendment case before the Supreme Court this year.
“It was amazing to work on such major cases,” he says, “and to realize the importance of public interest litigation — in taking on cases not because they’re lucrative, but because of principle.”
— Kristin Baird Rattini
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’05Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
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diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
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“I am awed by how close our class has remained over these 50 years.”
— Anita Garland, W’74
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diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
’09Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
ELSPETH COLLARD, ’23
Global lessons
The streets of Baltimore have a very different feel than the rough roads of Kenya. But for Elspeth Collard, ’23, the landscape holds the same potential for community action.
After two sessions aiding local bomas — Kenyan homesteads — with the installation of predator-deterrent lights funded by a Davis Project for Peace grant, Collard is turning her attention to domestic communities as a fellow of the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps.
In August, Collard began a yearlong stint with the Sixth Branch, a nonprofit developing three high-yield urban farms to address food insecurity in Baltimore. “They’re incredibly community-centric,” Collard says. “It’s amazing how much of my day is being outside, plants, and people.”
Collard’s appreciation for this level of direct action emerged from the weeks she spent in the university’s Students Engaging and Enacting Dialogue — or SEEDS — program. Surrounded by people who shared her passion, Collard explored what it meant to pursue the conservation of specific areas while supporting the people who live there.
“That’s the interdisciplinary [focus] I learned at Richmond and love to see in the real world,” she says, thinking of her time in Kenya as well as the year she spent in Laos with Village Focus International, which works to end human trafficking and increase food security in the rural country.
Now, Collard is excited to bring all she’s learned back to the U.S. “I feel like I’ve experienced a lot of places like [the Sixth Branch] urban farm but have been the foreigner and the outsider,” she says. In her new role, she’ll cultivate environmental accessibility for marginalized communities, propelling her toward a future that she says could include graduate school or a return to international programming.
“Because of COVID, so many of our [university] experiences were in the classroom,” she says. “But I still want to treat the world as my classroom.”
— Hannah Rainey
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna
aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
’13Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem
vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
’14Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat
For information about photos, see:
9. Barrett Neale Scott, ’10
10. Hallie Lampert Amboyan, ’14
11. Matthew Davison, ’17, and Sophia DeDominicis, ’18
12. Hunter Rooney ’17, and Kevin Wholihan, ’17
volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
’16
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed
diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
’21Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie con Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te
feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta
Wish there were more class notes? Only you and other Spiders can write them.
Send your note for the next issue to classnotes@ richmond.edu. All updates are welcome — big stuff, little stuff, and everything in between. And share from your camera roll. Readers tell us they love seeing recent photos of Spiders near and far.
We remember Spiders’ lives. The notes that appear here are drawn from the university’s most recently available records updates at the time of compilation, which is generally about two months before each issue prints. To report a graduate’s passing, email classnotes@richmond.edu.
’40s
Elaine Weil Weinberg, W’46, of Palo Alto, California, June 3, 2024.
Elizabeth “Betty” Hickerson Butterworth, W’48, of Richmond, Virginia, April 11, 2024. She taught at Lakeside Elementary School in Henrico, Virginia. She was an active member of the Tuckahoe Woman’s Club and served as president of the F.W. Boatwright Society. She had a strong Christian faith, was active in the First Presbyterian Church, and had served as an elder at River Road Presbyterian Church.
’50s
William T. “Billy” Stubbs Sr., R’50, of North Chesterfield, Virginia, April 30, 2024, at the age of 100. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II as a gunner aboard the USS San Jacinto in the South Pacific and attended UR on the GI Bill. He
worked for Sinclair Oil, later BP, moving his family to Virginia Beach, New York, and Maryland before returning to Richmond. He later worked as a real estate agent and property inspector and was active in civic organizations and his church.
Gilbert F. “Gil” DeBiasi, R’51, of Richmond, Virginia, July 21, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army dental corps, later returning to Richmond, where he established a dental practice. It is said that “many smiles in the area were created from his dental work and volunteer efforts.” He also was a clinical instructor at the MCV School of Dentistry. He was a world traveler and volunteered dental skills in Brazil many times through Health Volunteers Overseas.
Lawrence C. “Larry” Zacharias, R’52, of Richmond, Virginia, May 3, 2024. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and practiced internal medicine until his retirement in 1997. At St. Mary’s Hospital, he was chief of medicine, president for four years, and a member of the executive committee. He was a member of the Richmond, Virginia, and American medical societies and served on the board of Catholic Families and Children’s Services (now Commonwealth Catholic Charities) and the board of visitors of Benedictine High School. An avid golfer, he enjoyed golfing trips to South Carolina, Scotland, Ireland, Hawaii, and the Bahamas.
Velda Mae Harrell Agee, W’53, of Keysville, Virginia, April 20, 2024. In addition to ministering alongside her husband in the churches they served, she taught several grade levels and subjects in Powhatan and Chesterfield counties in Virginia. She began a kindergarten program at Ash Camp Baptist Church and later taught for Charlotte County Public Schools. An avid gardener, she served on the board of the Charlotte County Library and volunteered for Hospice.
Henry M. Harris, B’53, of Midlothian, Virginia, May 16, 2024. A U.S. Army veteran, he built homes as a contractor and “built a strong, close family who will always love him dearly.” He was a founding member of Huguenot United Methodist Church and volunteered for numerous community organizations, from Rotary to Meals on Wheels.
Edgar W. “Bill” Jordan, R’53, of Brightwood, Virginia, June 29, 2024. He was a paratrooper in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. He was a member of the UR cross country team that went undefeated in 1949. While attending graduate school at the University of North Carolina, he coached the freshman cross country and track teams, leading to an undefeated season. He coached at North Carolina State and became head coach at Wake Forest University. In 1966, he returned to UR as associate professor, director of intramurals, and volunteer track and
field coach with former coach and mentor Fred Hardy. Bill established the UR women’s track and field program as a varsity sport in 1976. In 2008, the university inducted him into the Athletics Hall of Fame in recognition of his nearly 40-year career as a decorated athlete and beloved coach and his pivotal role in the success of the track and field program.
William N. “Bill” Gregory Jr., L’55, of Henrico, Virginia, May 24, 2024. He spent 45 years in the insurance claims business, retiring from Zurich-American Insurance Co. as executive vice president, secretary, director, and general counsel. He was a member of the American, Virginia, and Richmond bar associations and co-founded the Virginia State Claims Association and the Professional Claims Association of Richmond.
Lester L. “Skip” Lamb, R’55, of Lynchburg, Virginia, July 22, 2024. He earned a master’s degree in health administration at Virginia Commonwealth University and spent his career leading hospitals in several states, including leading the integration of Radford Community Hospital into the Carilion Clinic system and overseeing the building of New River Valley Community Hospital. He held leadership positions in the Virginia Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association and was active in his church.
Margaret Gore Swanson, W’55, of Greensboro, North Carolina, May 15, 2024. A former teacher, she was active in her church, singing in the choir and teaching a fourth-grade Sunday school class. She also was active in the Greensboro Council of Garden Clubs.
Leigh C. Whaley, B’55, of Rockingham, Virginia, June 11, 2024. He served in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Merchant Marine. He was a commercial banker, working first as a bank examiner for the Federal Reserve and then serving in executive roles for banks in several Virginia cities. He also was chairman of the board for the Montgomery County, Virginia, water authority and an elder at two Presbyterian churches in Blacksburg, Virginia.
K.D. “Dale” Guy Sr., attd. ’56, of Horntown, Virginia, May 4, 2024. He was always curious about mechanical things and went into business selling and servicing agricultural equipment. At Perdue Farms, he rose to manager of the company’s fleet maintenance operations. He later transitioned into a corporate pilot for the company, flying executives on business trips across the country. In the 1990s, he went to work for Midland-Grau (Haldex), specializing in air brake systems. Outside of work, he enjoyed many interests and hobbies and was a Master Mason and a member of Optimist International.
Lois M. Reamy, W’56, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, March 31, 2024. After graduation, she traveled the globe as a freelance journalist for Conde Nast.
James W. “Jimmy” Whitten Sr., B’57, of Midlothian, Virginia, July 27, 2024. He worked at his fam-
ily’s car dealership, Whitten Brothers Inc., for more than 50 years, eventually co-owning the company with his brother until it was divided in 1993. He then became owner of Whitten Lincoln-Mercury. He was president of the Richmond Auto Dealers Association and served on the national dealers council. He enjoyed boating and fishing from his home on the Chesapeake Bay in Mathews, Virginia.
Robert B. “Bob” Edwards, R’58, of Smithfield, Virginia, May 13, 2024. A lawyer and then judge of the 5th District Court in Virginia for 40 years, he was respected for his quiet courtesy in the courtroom. He and his wife loved to travel and visited more than 60 countries and all 50 U.S. states. He was a member of the Isle of Wight and Virginia bar associations and a member of the board of Historic St. Luke’s, serving as treasurer for 20 years. He was active at Smithfield Baptist Church and was a member for 56 years of the Ruritan Club.
Claudius W. “Bill” Griffin, B’58, of Richmond, Virginia, April 25, 2023. He taught courses in writing and Shakespeare in the English department at Virginia Commonwealth University for 35 years. He published and edited books and articles on both topics and offered courses on Shakespeare for adults at the Shepherd’s Center.
Charles T. Polis Jr., R’58, of Bradenton, Florida, July 1, 2024. After earning a medical degree, he joined the U.S. Air Force, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. Upon his discharge, he and his family moved to Bradenton, where he established a private practice in urology. Blake Memorial Hospital presented him with its first “Doctor of the Year” award in 1983.
Maurice B. “Moe” Duling, B’59, of Richmond, Virginia, May 13, 2024. He worked for 35 years at Reynolds Metals Co., was a longtime member of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, and was a 50-year Master Mason.
Barbara Worrell Jessup, W’59, of Henrico County, Virginia, April 12, 2024. She taught fourth, fifth, and sixth grades for 30 years in Virginia and one year in Kentucky. The Maude Trevvett Elementary School PTA made her a life member for her years of service to the students and for playing the piano for the school chorus. She was an active member of Ginter Park Methodist Church, the Bryan Parkway Civic Association, and the Ginter Park Woman’s Club.
Thomas C. “Tom” Stavredes, R’59 and G’63, of Maidens, Virginia, May 5, 2024. He was a teacher and principal in Chesterfield County, Richmond, and Henrico County. He also worked with future educators through various colleges, including the University of Richmond. He served on the Parish Council of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church.
’60s
Hugh S. Campbell, L’61, of Beaverdam, Virginia, April 20, 2024. He established a law practice in Ashland, Virginia, with his brother and eventually his son. While the law was his occupation, he loved spending time on the family farm. Evenings and weekends, he could be found on the tractor or in the fields, managing cattle, horses, pigs, and chickens; repairing or building fences; clearing land; and doing other needed chores. A lover of history, he was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati and the first president of the Hanover County Historical Society.
John H. Loving, R’61, of Austin, Texas, May 16, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army between college graduation and seminary. Throughout his career as an Episcopal priest, he served churches in Norfolk and Farmville, Virginia; Ponca City, Oklahoma; and San Angelo, Texas. After retiring in Austin, he served several churches as an interim rector or interim assistant priest. He took on many responsibilities for the Diocese of Northwest Texas and was a provincial representative on the alumni board of General Theological Seminary in New York. He traveled to Russia several times after his church in San Angelo formed a companion relationship with a church in St. Petersburg.
Gilbert C. “Gibo” Luck Jr., B’61, of Bedford, Virginia, June 5, 2024. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he worked in banking for 30 years, including as a senior vice president. He served on many boards and was a member of many civic and local organizations. Farming was one of his favorite hobbies, and he loved his daily trips to his farm.
Von L. Piersall Jr., R’61 and L’64, of Suffolk, Virginia, July 29, 2024. Elected as commonwealth’s attorney for the city of Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1966, he was the youngest commonwealth’s attorney in the history of the state. In 1970, he was appointed judge of the Portsmouth Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, where he served for 25 years. He was appointed to the Portsmouth Circuit Court in 1995, retiring in 2003. He was a 32nd-degree Mason and a member of the Elks Lodge and the Lions Club. He was a member of Green Acres Presbyterian Church for 59 years.
Charles E. “Charlie” Fagan II, B’62, of Richmond, Virginia, July 18, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army and retired with the rank of captain. He spent most of his career with Fidelity Bankers Life Insurance Co. and finished his career at APM Management. He was a longtime high school football official and took pride in mentoring new officials. He was honored to be asked to officiate three high school state championships. He retired as the game clock operator at UR football games in 2022.
Charles L. Pendleton, R’63, of Ashland, Virginia, Feb. 28, 2023. He was a teacher and football coach at
Culpeper High School before working in economic development in Virginia, Texas, and Kentucky.
Alvin B. Johnson, B’64, of Suffolk, Virginia, July 1, 2024. He worked at the Newport News Shipyard and the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where he retired from the management engineering department. A devoted Christian, he taught Sunday school and Bible studies for many years.
Lee Hill Packard, W’64, of Orange, Virginia, Dec. 8, 2023. As a teacher, she worked for the Department of Defense dependents schools, moving to the Philippines, Japan, Scotland, England, and Germany. She was a pianist for almost every church she belonged to and some she didn’t. She led the development of faith-based early-childhood programs and curricula at multiple churches in the Southeast.
James C. “J.C.” Phillips, B’64 and GB’66, of Gloucester Point Virginia, May 22, 2024. After receiving a doctoral degree, he returned to Richmond and worked for the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. He later worked for the Department of Information Technology, where he helped universities and colleges in Virginia develop distance learning courses. In Norfolk, Virginia, he was head of telecommunications at Old Dominion University. After retirement, he became a member of the board at Rappahannock Community College.
Walker Glenn Weigel, W’64, of Greensboro, North Carolina, April 19, 2024. She taught math and statistics as a senior lecturer at University of North Carolina Greensboro for 33 years. She was active with Greensboro Urban Ministries and the Euterpe Music Club. She sang in the choir at St. Francis Episcopal Church, where she was a longtime member.
Laurence “Larry” Kessler, L’65, of Powhatan, Virginia, May 25, 2024. He practiced law for more than 50 years and was a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a judge advocate.
Holmes C. Harrison, L’66, of Gwynn’s Island, Virginia, July 12, 2024. He served as a U.S. Army captain in the judge advocate general’s corps. He started civilian practice in Harrisonburg, Virginia, eventually forming Harrison & Thumma. He continued in the general practice of law until he retired in 2000. He was president of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Bar Association and served several jurisdictions as a substitute judge.
Marshall F. Mallory, R’66, of North Chesterfield, Virginia, June 4, 2024. During the Vietnam War, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve and continued to serve his country, with a short break, for 21 years. He worked for the Virginia Employment Commission for 35 years.
Francis I. “Rip” duPont III, R’67, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, June 9, 2024. A U.S. Army veteran, he started his career as a stockbroker before moving to Florida and beginning a career
in banking. He ran a branch for Southeast Bank and was later in charge of all the Southeast Bank branches across the northern part of Florida. He also was president and CEO of SouthTrust Bank and regional president for First Florida Bank; senior vice president for Southeast Bank; and chairman and CEO of First National Bank of Manatee. He enjoyed serving his community through many civic organizations.
J. Durwood Felton III, R’67 and L’71, of Richmond, Virginia, April 25, 2024. He began his career as an on-air news personality for WRVA and then decided on a legal career after covering the Virginia General Assembly. He was a founding partner of Felton & Cave and served as an assistant attorney general. He worked with the Virginia Education Loan Authority and served as counsel for the Virginia Baptist Foundation. Embracing his musical talents, he played cello in the Richmond Philharmonic, for which he served as board president for 10 years.
John N. Hester III, G’67, of Midlothian, Virginia, May 26, 2024. He was an Eagle Scout and inductee into the Reidsville, North Carolina, High School Football Hall of Fame, having been a member of the school’s 1954 undefeated state championship football team. Following graduation from Virginia Military Institute, he accepted a commission as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
Thomas C. “Tommy” Gilman, R’68, of Henrico, Virginia, June 1, 2024. He played baseball for the Spiders and was team captain his senior year, then an assistant coach. He was head baseball coach at UR from 1977 to 1984. He was inducted into the Douglas Freeman High School Athletic Hall of Fame. For 20 years, he worked with the Virginia Senate, serving as chief committee clerk and sergeant-at-arms until retiring in 2005. The following year, the Virginia Senate passed a resolution stating Tommy “used his love and knowledge of the sport to help young men sharpen their baseball skills” and, “through his enthusiasm and encouragement, inspired his players to strive to become better young men and contributors to the world.”
James M. “Mike” Wines, B’68, of Dublin, Ohio, May 17, 2024. He worked for McNeil Laboratories, General Foods, and Piknik. He launched his own successful business, Regency Travel Agency. Mike and wife Charlotte loved to travel and visited more than 30 countries, often bringing back recipes that they enjoyed cooking together and sharing with family and friends The two were respected barbecue judges and for more than 20 years participated in the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue H.L. “Lindsey” Clem, B’69, of Richmond, Virginia, April 21, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves for 11 years, joined a small CPA firm in
Richmond, and taught as an adjunct professor at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. In 1990, he went to work for the Foreign Mission Board, staying there until his retirement in 2009. He was a member of Monument Heights Baptist Church for more than 50 years, serving as deacon, treasurer, and Sunday school teacher.
Kenneth W. Fisher, B’69, of Boston, Virginia, May 17, 2024. He cofounded and owned a painting and wallpapering company that served residential and commercial customers. “Seizing an opportunity,” he went to work for TASC (Northrop Grumman), where he became director of space planning and construction. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and traveled and lived in Australia for two years. He also raised, trained, and campaigned Brittany field-trial dogs and in retirement became a lifeguard at his local recreation center, becoming the oldest lifeguard in the county’s history.
James R. “Bob” Saul, L’69, of Woodbridge, Virginia, June 4, 2024. He served in the U.S. Air Force and the Air Force Reserve. He worked as a district claims manager for Allstate Insurance Co. He later became an assistant city attorney in Richmond and then city attorney in Danville, Virginia.
’70s
Editor’s note: In the previous issue, we incorrectly reported the date of the death of Michael D. “Mike” McOsker, R’75. The correct date was Nov. 26, 2023. We regret the error.
George H. Morris, B’70, of Winchester, Virginia, June 15, 2024. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he worked in accounting and accounting management for more than 40 years. He was a CPA and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Virginia Society of CPAs. Having previously worked for National Fruit, Hottel & Willis, and Project Hope, he joined Winchester Equipment Co. as controller and retired in 2016 as chief financial officer and corporate secretary and treasurer. He was active in his church and was a youth baseball official and coach.
Joseph D. Parker, R’71, of Roanoke, Virginia, May 29, 2024. He enjoyed a career in sales and was part owner of Office Suppliers Inc. He was an avid golfer, college sports fan, and dog walker.
Ronnie H. Crymes, R’72, of Richmond, Virginia, July 3, 2024. He served as a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, earning numerous awards, including the Purple Heart, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star, and the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon, among others. He was a licensed pharmacist in the greater Richmond area.
John E. Major, R’72, of Saluda, Virginia, April 30, 2024. He worked for the Virginia Department of Transportation and a construction company
before forming his own company, Middle Peninsula Construction. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing, and avidly following the Washington professional football and baseball teams.
Judson W. “Jud” White, R’72 and G’74, of Richmond, Virginia, April 20, 2024. He “played his way through college” as an integral member of the rock band the Mainmen, which opened for major musical acts. On the first Earth Day in 1970, he decided to become a field fisheries biologist and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology. After graduation, he became a field fisheries biologist with Dominion Energy, leading the aquatics lab at Lake Anna, Virginia, during development of the nuclear power plant there. He supervised the North Anna environmental lab for more than 10 years before earning a doctorate in environmental public policy from Virginia Commonwealth University. He then began teaching a graduate course there called “Business and the Environment.” A man of faith and principles, he lived each day according to his self-created list, “12 Important Things to Consider Each Day.” The list continues to encourage and inspire his loved ones.
Lawrence W. “Larry” Lenz, G’73, of Tappahannock, Virginia, May 7, 2024. He was a teacher and school administrator in Petersburg, Culpeper, Buckingham County, and Essex County public schools. He was an active member of the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, serving two terms as president. He was a member of the board for the National Association of Secondary School Principals. After retiring, he served as a consultant to VASSP and was an at-large member of the Essex County School Board for a year. He was an active church member, serving on the vestry, singing in the choir, and volunteering as an usher, lay reader, licensed Eucharistic minister, acolyte, and church gardener.
William L. “Bill” Loy, R’73, of Loudoun County, Virginia, June 22, 2024. He worked in the Loudoun County Circuit Court clerk’s office and became head of the probate department, retiring after more than 49 years of public service.
Guy A. Ross, R’73, of Portsmouth, Virginia, July 15, 2024. He wrote speeches for the AFL-CIO and then worked in public affairs for the National Association of Home Builders. In 1982, he formed his own marketing agency in Washington, D.C., serving clients throughout the mid-Atlantic region. In Key West, Florida, he was executive director of the Key West Business Guild and later sales manager with the Florida Keys Tourist Development Council. He served on the UR board of trustees from 2003 to 2011, when he became trustee emeritus. He established the Guy A. Ross Scholarship to support the visual and performing arts at the university. He served on the vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church in Portsmouth and was ordained at Riverside Church
in New York City in interfaith chaplaincy and counseling.
Frank M. Connell, GB’74, of Fairhope, Alabama, June 12, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1979, including two tours in Vietnam, where he earned numerous medals. After retiring as a lieutenant colonel, he worked as a logistics engineer with Jaycor. He was committed to community service and volunteered with the Army Historical Foundation, the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, the American Legion, the Knights of Columbus, and others. He was the 2018 Fairhope Veteran of the Year and the 1987 Herndon, Virginia, Citizen of the Year.
Kenneth W. “Wayne” Glass, L’74, of Staunton, Virginia, May 1, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army and, after receiving a law degree, enjoyed a 50-year career in law. He actively served the Augusta County region through many professional and community roles. He was a faithful member of Loch Willow Presbyterian Church.
Frederick L. “Fred” Guest, R’74, of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, June 6, 2024. He had a passion for long-distance running and held records at the University of Richmond. He was manager at Eastern Virginia Environmental for more than 30 years. He enjoyed taking his boat out on the Pasquotank River with family and friends.
Lynne Stanley Kessler, W’75, of Craig County, Virginia, July 9, 2024. She began her career as an elementary music teacher in Poquoson, Virginia. Later, as a full-time mom to her children, she began her true passion of introducing young people to the love of music through private lessons. She continued this when the family moved to Roanoke, Virginia, earning certification as a permanent professional teacher of music in piano from the Music Teachers National Association. She held leadership roles in the Roanoke Valley Music Teachers Association and attended state and national music teachers’ conventions, which were a great source of new ideas for her.
Thomas C. Evelyn, B’76, of Providence Forge, Virginia, July 29, 2024. He used his business knowledge when he joined the family business, C.H. Evelyn Piling Co., and later when he founded Charles City Forest Products. Under his guidance, the business became an integral part of the local economy and, along with his children who joined the company, expanded into multiple ventures. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting.
Elaine Ferebee Osburn, W’76, of Bowler’s Wharf, Virginia, June 11, 2024. She and her husband established Tennis Courts Inc., which they successfully operated for more than 48 years. She loved to travel with family and friends, especially to St. Croix and Europe.
Ann Parks Fredd, B’77, of Edenton, North Carolina, April 8, 2024. She had a successful career in
the banking industry, retiring as a vice president at Wachovia Bank. She was a member of Edenton United Methodist Church, an avid bridge player, and an ardent fan of the UR Spiders.
Mary “Missy” Keller Hatt, G’77, of Cincinnati, Nov. 25, 2023. She was a proud educator and retired from Fort Thomas Middle School after 43 years of teaching. Her sewing talents led her to operate the Flag Collection, where she created decorative flags. She and her husband traveled to Bali, Indonesia, Panama, and various destinations in Mexico.
Pamela Vogt Medford, W’77, of Louisa, Virginia, April 3, 2024. She was an elementary teacher in Richmond and later earned a master’s degree in religious education at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. She then taught Bible studies and church music in various settings with preschoolers and children until 2009, when she became a consultant for the North Carolina Partnership for Children in Sampson County and later, for Brunswick County.
Charles A. “Charlie” Blanton III, L’78, of Richmond, Virginia, May 18, 2024. He served in the U.S. Navy and, following graduation from law school, briefly practiced family law. He then began a career with Virginia Electric and Power Co., now Dominion Energy, where he spent most of his 37 years in the nuclear fuel procurement department. In that role, he traveled the globe, visiting countries in Europe as well as Australia and Canada.
James F. Hodges, C’79, of Goochland, Virginia, March 29, 2024. He served as a military police in the U.S. Army and enjoyed playing the guitar and working in his vegetable garden.
’80s
David S. “Scott” Sagester, R’80, of Holly Springs, North Carolina, May 23, 2024. He taught and coached at Benedictine High School in Richmond before beginning a four-decade career in pharmaceutical sales. He reveled in his role as manager, investing deeply in his sales staff and making many lifelong connections. In Holly Springs, he was active in the community, including teaching Sunday school at his Presbyterian church. He enjoyed shag dancing and playing golf in North Myrtle Beach, and with his wife, Amber, he traveled throughout the world.
Sharon A. Fitzgerald, L’85, of Henrico, Virginia, April 8, 2024. She was a skilled criminal defense attorney who took time to mentor other new attorneys. She began her career in product liability law at Wright Robinson. Over the years, she had offices in Chesterfield, Virginia, and Richmond. She was an active member of the Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program and gave freely of her heart and time to those suffering from the diseases of alcoholism and addiction.
Gregory M. “Greg” Beckwith Sr., R’86 and G’89,
of Midlothian, Virginia, May 24, 2024. Coming to UR to play point guard for the Spiders, Greg appeared in two NCAA and two NIT tournaments and was the Spiders’ career leader in assists and steals. He was the third recipient of the Kevin Eastman Award, which honors a player who demonstrates extraordinary leadership and dedication in addition to outstanding play. After graduation, he served as a graduate assistant coach at Virginia Tech, then returned to UR as a graduate assistant coach. He remained a beloved member of the university community, serving 21 years as a television and radio analyst for the Spiders’ basketball broadcasts. The university inducted him into the UR Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003 for his individual accomplishments and again in 2006 as part of the 1983 Men’s Basketball Team of Distinction, which was the first UR team to be nationally ranked in the top 20. After graduation, he entered the sporting goods and apparel industry, working at AJD Cap Co. and Sports Specialties and for 23 years, at Adidas. Upon retiring from Adidas, he joined S&S Activewear in 2022.
’90s
Editor’s note: In the previous issue, we incorrectly reported the first name of Eileen Nause Wagner, L’91, who died Dec. 3, 2023. We regret the error.
Thomas “Tom” Lacheney, L’93, of Powhatan, Virginia, April 12, 2024. For 27 years, he pastored a church in Chesterfield County, Virginia, in addition to serving as county attorney for multiple localities. He was known for his generosity to his friends and family, giving of his resources and time to many people.
Kristen Bierman Cook, G’94, of Lynchburg, Virginia, May 3, 2024. She was a teacher in Ashland, Virginia, then in Lynchburg. While in Ashland, she received the R.E.B Award for Teaching Excellence. She was an avid reader and member of two book clubs. She also liked to travel and engage in adventurous activities, such marathon running, snow skiing, and scuba diving.
Kathleen “Kat” Russell Costello, ’95, of Henrico, Virginia, April 20, 2024. She began her career in marketing with the Martin Agency, followed by employment at Capital One and Atlantic Union Bank, where she was vice president of brand marketing.
’00s
Jaime Buckley MacDonell, ’04, of Durham, North Carolina, April 30, 2024. She earned an MBA from George Washington University and then went to work for software firm Avalara in Seattle. That led to a leadership position with West Coast software firm Zendesk. She loved people, new destinations, puzzles, and her family.
FACULTY, STAFF, AND FRIENDS
Frances F. “Fran” Berry of Richmond, Virginia, March 18, 2023. She was a former member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the university.
Christopher J. “CJ” Collins of Richmond, Virginia, March 29, 2024. After receiving a law degree, he started his own criminal defense practice in Central Virginia, quickly establishing himself as a well-respected attorney, defending 105 capital murder cases. He later became a substitute judge in the Richmond courts. From 2008 to 2018, he was an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, teaching capital murder litigation. Outside of the courtroom and classroom, he coached his sons’ baseball teams, played golf, and traveled.
Elizabeth S. “Betsy” Curtler of Bloomfield, Connecticut, April 25, 2024. She worked at UR twice, first as director of government grants and foundations, then returning as assistant vice president for foundation, corporate, and government relations. After retiring in 2008, she taught part time in the School of Arts and Sciences. She was genuinely interested in the projects and faculty she worked with, immersing herself in their subject matter and becoming deeply curious and excited about the projects she helped develop.
Russellyn K. “Rusty” Edwards of Henrico, Virginia, July 21, 2024. During a 30-year career at University of Richmond, she served as a catering chef, stores and requisition manager, and relief manager for Heilman Dining Center. She retired from dining services in 2015.
O’Nell Haseltine of Richmond, Virginia, April 17, 2024. She was a generous supporter of the University Players at UR and a member of the Charter Associates. She enjoyed trips, lectures at the historical society, and special art exhibitions.
Richard W. Leatherman II of Richmond, Virginia, May 17, 2024. An expert on training and leadership, he was an associate professor of human resources and chair in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies. After retiring from fulltime employment, he served as an adjunct professor of human resources management. Prior to his service to UR, he was founder and chair of International Training Consultants, a vendor of training programs and needs assessment instruments. He conducted pioneering work in the areas of trainer training, productivity, employee empowerment, needs assessment, and psychometrics. The test battery, The Leatherman Leadership Questionnaire, was a nationally accepted standard for measuring leadership knowledge. He was the author of five professional books and a contributing author for William Tracey’s Human Resources Management and Development Handbook. He also wrote a highly
successful consumer book, Is Coffee Break the Best Part of Your Day? and a novel, A Man’s Love Story: Flora, Mariana, Dena and Xinia
Paul M. Thompson Sr. of Richmond, Virginia, April 25, 2024. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he worked as an appellate lawyer with the National Labor Relations Board. After he argued a case against Hunton & Williams of Richmond, the firm recruited him as an associate. In 1971, he became a partner at the firm, serving as head of the labor and employment department. After retiring, he became an adjunct faculty member at the UR School of Law, teaching employment and labor law and civil procedure. He created an innovative course that explored labor laws in a dynamic global economy.
Eugene S. “Stan” Thorne Sr. of Mechanicsville, Virginia, May 17, 2024. He joined the University of Richmond staff in 1978 and served as general manager of operations in University Dining until his retirement in 1991. An Army World War II veteran, he was affectionately called “Dr. Food” by UR students.
L. James “Jim” Tromater of Midlothian, Virginia, June 12, 2024. He joined the University of Richmond in 1966 and served as professor of psychology until his retirement in 1996. His tenure included several years as department chair. He and wife Florence traveled extensively to Europe, Scandinavia, Iceland, and Greece as well as every state in the United States. A music lover, he played the hammered dulcimer and enjoyed attending music festivals, including the Richmond Folk Festival, where he worked as a volunteer.
Mark E. Wesselink of Richmond, Virginia, July 20, 2024. During his more than 30-year career at the University of Richmond, he established women’s tennis as a nationally competitive program. He led the Spiders to 379 wins and guided the program to nine conference championship titles and 11 NCAA tournament appearances. He was named conference coach of the year eight times and had more than 20 winning seasons. The Spider team finished first or second in its conference 17 times during his tenure. In the offseason, he directed UR’s summer tennis camps. Beyond the stats, he was known for winning both in life and on the court.
By Eugene Maurakis,
Paintings, pollutants, and the planet
Science or art — which is the more powerful way to learn and communicate about our relationship to the natural world? Studies in neuroscience tell us that emotional inputs from the visual and performing arts make learning experiences more memorable and exciting. Presenting science in traditional scientific ways alone is less likely to result in long-term changes in our feelings and behaviors. This painting is part of Seascapes of the 21st Century , an exhibition of some of my work at the Science Museum of Virginia on display through May 2025. Human activities introduce megatons of plastics and nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, into aquatic ecosystems each year. The exhibition focuses attention on this tidal wave of pollutants entering oceans and seas and negatively impacting the environment and human health.
Eugene Maurakis Chinook
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Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. Researchers report that plastic fiber particles are in the guts of 25% of Chinook salmon sampled on the West Coast of the U.S. The amount of plastic in oceans, currently 170 trillion pieces, has doubled every six years since 2005.
Message in a message? Can you find “SOS” written in Morse code in the multicolored dabs of paint over the Chinook salmon?
CHINOOK SALMON BLUES
The small, multicolored dabs of paint represent plastic particles. They are painted in swirls to depict oceanic currents and gyres.
Leading instinct.
IZZY BLAYLOCK IS GOING THE DISTANCE. As a double major in history and PPEL (philosophy, politics, economics, and law), plus a Division 1 track and field athlete, the University of Richmond senior is breaking from the pack and setting her own course.
She’s working firsthand with lawmakers from Virginia to Washington, D.C., and making a name for herself as an advocate for women’s rights. The native Texan left the Lone Star state specifically for Richmond and its proximity to both capitals, along with the opportunity to run track.
“This is unlike anything else in the country,” says Blaylock. “I’m going to take advantage of all the opportunities the University of Richmond has to offer.”
Learn more about Izzy and other remarkable Spiders at RICHMOND.EDU/SPIDERS.
NO KIDDING
A herd of goats returned to clear overgrown vegetation along UR’s Eco-Corridor in October. They’ve been coming to campus since 2018. “Goats are basically living lawn mowers,” said Rob Andrejewski, director of sustainability.
