AS WE WENT TO PRESS, SPIDER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WAS CHASING A REPEAT CHAMPIONSHIP.
SUNRISE IN SNOW January’s weather made for beautiful and chilly scenery across campus at the start of the semester, including this morning view of the Modlin Center.
Photography by Jamie Betts
BRAWLER BIBLE
Photography by Aidan Lubin, ’25 Aidan Lubin, ’25, has nearly 100,000 followers on his MMA commentary and photography Instagram account @BrawlerBible.
Lubin first got into MMA, or mixed martial arts, when he was 15 years old because he loved the feelings it evoked in him from inside the ring—being nervous, challenged, vulnerable, and scared all at once. “I was just hooked on it,” he said.
Through his account, Lubin has been able to call some of the top fighters in the world his friends. He became close with one fighter in particular, Kevin Holland. In 2023, Holland ranked eighth in the world in the UFC’s welterweight division. Holland has given Lubin shoutouts at press conferences on three separate occasions, even referring to him as family.
“I’m not the only person that thinks it’s amazing to have him write about us or even come out and take a picture,” Holland said. “You know, it’s a whole gym.”
Lubin’s mother, Jeannie Lubin, attributes her son’s success in part to sports edits that he made as a kid.
“He was constantly video editing ever since he was a little boy,” she said.
Brawler Bible inspired Lubin to major in journalism at Richmond, as it combines his love for the visual arts with writing.
“It’s not about, you know, photographing blood or a fist hitting a nose,” he said. “I care more about a smile, a hug at the end of a round, how a fighter’s eyes look in an exact moment.”
—Bettina Johnston, ’25
Johnston is a journalism and English major from West Palm Beach, Florida. Read a longer version of her profile of Lubin on magazine.richmond.edu.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Let’s celebrate
By my back-of-the envelope count, this is the magazine’s 325th edition. Volume 1, Number 1 is dated May-June 1936. Its lead story, “$500,000 to Go!” was about raising funds for the yet-tobe-named Boatwright Memorial Library and Keller Hall. Today, students study in the former and live in the latter, a testament to the enduring impact that generations of alumni, parents, and other donors have made at the university.
Issue No. 100 arrived in Spring 1963. Coincidentally, its lead story is again about fundraising and Keller Hall—this time celebrating the addition of a 75-foot indoor swimming pool. Again, alumni support made it happen. Approximately 2,100 of Westhampton College’s 3,000 alumnae of the time contributed to the project. The pool, christened Crenshaw Pool when it opened, remained in use for three decades and hosted the heyday of the Aquanettes, Richmond’s legendary varsity synchronized swimming team. (If you recollect swimming competitively or recreationally in Crenshaw Pool, please email magazine@richmond. edu so we can share your memories in a future issue.)
The thread continues in another milestone issue. The 200th issue, dated Spring 1989, includes a profile of Leslie Sessoms Booker, a 1922 Westhampton graduate. After graduation, she served as Westhampton’s first long-term alumnae secretary. During her 25-year tenure, she oversaw many projects, including—you guessed it—fundraising for Crenshaw Pool. Among the other amazing facts in her profile: She’d been
renewing Spider season football tickets for 68 years, ever since she was a senior watching her future husband, Russell, play on the Spiders’ offensive line during the Warren G. Harding presidency.
As I look back on these milestone issues, one consistent theme I see is how much Spiders give to each other. Spider generosity is foundational to a Richmond education. A line I spotted in the 250th issue (Fall 2002) sums it up well: “When you were a student at Richmond, you had thousands of benefactors you never met.”
The recurring example in these milestone issues is facilities, but it could be any number of areas. Financial aid—about which the university’s president, Kevin F. Hallock, writes eloquently on Page 7—is one of the crucial areas where generational support makes life-changing educational experiences possible for students who wouldn’t be able to attend Richmond without it.
In the fall, the university wrapped up its fifth annual Spiders Helping Spiders campaign. What an apt name. Nearly 1,500 people contributed to the campaign, including an alumna from the Class of 1954. The University of Richmond is the great institution it is because of the legacy of Spider support. It remains alive and well today.
—Matthew Dewald, Editor
by
Illustration
Gordon Schmidt
SPRING 2025
President
Kevin F. Hallock
Vice president, university communications
Tom Addonizio
Senior editor
Matthew Dewald, GC’22
Senior writer/editor
Rayne Miller
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
on the cover: Junior Rachel Ullstrom, one of the nation’s leading three-point shooters this season; photograph by Mick Anders
20 I taught rats to drive, but they taught me to enjoy the ride
A UR neuroscientist on lessons learned from teaching rodents to drive a mini-car
24 AI @ UR
The impact of artificial intelligence on higher education is rapidly evolving. UR’s approach encourages experimentation focused on enhancing student learning.
30 Look again: Art for our curriculum
A current exhibit at the Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art focuses on how professors are using UR’s art collection as a teaching tool.
38 The health studies boom
A look inside this rapidly growing area of study at UR
6
8
A governor’s intern, an investment in ethics, and more
Paths
Jessica EspinozaFlores, ’27, finds her way.
Voices
Grace Maclean, ’25, makes others green with Envee.
Expert
Professor Monti Datta on talking across difference
16 SPORTS
Honoring the great Greg Beckwith, R’86 and G’89
Perspective
“At age 21, I’m retired,” writes JoJo McShane, ’25.
Moments
Spider women’s basketball is one of the nation’s most entertaining teams.
44 ALUMNI Spider lives
Moments
A group of 1992 alumnae remain close as ever.
48 NOTES
What’s new with you
Back Then UR’s amusement park days
Postscript Spider alumni by the numbers
Photograph by Kim Schmidt
Vol. 87, No. 2
Delights abounded at the campus celebration of the Lunar New Year on Jan. 28.
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.
7
OVER 70
For me, this is really cool [“7 Over 70,” published online Sept. 27, 2024]. It leads me to reflect on how important UR has been in my life, how special a place the school is, and how interconnected the UR family is.
I did not attend UR as an undergraduate (I am also a Virginia Cavalier), but my dad did, and I am a UR law grad. I went to high school in Richmond’s West End. Ellen Taylor Sisson was a good friend in high school, and her dad was my dad’s UR classmate. Martin Erb was both a high school and a U.Va. classmate. Martin and I were college roommates. His dad, Jim, is remembered in this post as an influential music professor who impacted at least two or three of the “7 Over 70.”
Of the seven wonderful people recognized here, I found it to be proof of the connection that the UR family has as I have crossed paths with five of the seven and am familiar with one of the others.
— Thomas Klein, L’87 via LinkedIn
Spiders in Minneapolis enjoyed gathering at Feed My Starving Children to pack meals for kids in need. With other volunteer groups, they packed enough meals to feed 99 kids for a year! They followed up their service project with a celebratory Homecoming happy hour. The alums gathered were Jeanie Kang, ’97, Kate Leahy Emmel, ’00, Jeremy Jacobs, ’03, Pasquale Mignano, L’02, and Lindsay Gode, ’04.
STAY IN TOUCH AND SHARE YOUR PRIDE
Social media, hashtags, and sites:
• @urichmond
• #spiderpride
• #spiderspotting
• magazine. richmond.edu
• urnow.richmond. edu
[Editor’s note: Sisson, whom Klein mentions, was one of seven alumni over age 70 profiled in the story. James Erb, whom Klein also mentions, is a former music professor who significantly impacted several of the alumni featured. Find this story and all of the latest features at magazine. richmond.edu/features.]
SPIDER COMMUNITY
Spiders have been out and about, getting together for alumni regional group events or just with each other for some holiday shopping.
Here’s a look at some of them, through photos and captions shared by the alumni engagement office on its Instagram account. You can see these and more on the account, @urichmondalumni.
Alums from the Class of 2019, Pjay Togunde, Cherelle Cotton, Destiny Riley, and Victoria Moreno, got together for Cherelle's birthday and an early holiday celebration. #SpiderFriendsgiving
Here’s a peek at some Spider friends reuniting this fall! ... Simeng Li, ’23, Mengle Hu, ’23, and Yixuan Wang, ’23, taking in NYC this October. Nothing like making memories with friends! #SpiderFriendsgiving
Class of 1983 grads in October in Cape May, N.J. “We met in Lora Robins Hall the first year this dorm was opened, in 1979. We were freshmen from all over the country and have remained friends since we met 45 years ago.” — Laura Front row: Kathye Sexton Patterson, Mary Jarvis Long Futrell, Sheila Henry, and Laura Johns. Back row: Carolyn Swayze Basler, Jackie Eastman McClellan, Lisa Weiner Hauschild, Jacqueline Fonseca Goddard, and Theresa Romano Silberzahn. #SpiderFriendsgiving
Dear friends from the Class of 1983 celebrating a visit from West-Coaster Janel at Tracy’s home in Washington, D.C. Back row—Tracy Betts Martinez, Cindy Sood Scruggs, Maureen Keegan Thomann. Middle—Kate Egan Winslow. Seated— Janel McKenna. #SpiderFriendsgiving
Spiders in New Orleans got together for a Friendsgiving Spider Bites Dinner last week. They carved some time out of their busy schedules to connect with their fellow alums.
Economics of financial aid
Investments in financial aid are key to continuing the university’s upward trajectory, writes Kevin F. Hallock, the university’s president.
Spider alumni and parents often ask me about the cost of a University of Richmond education and financial aid availability. Tuition increases get a lot of attention, and for good reason. Since 1991, the year I graduated from college, UR’s tuition has increased by a factor of about six. But over that same period, thanks in large part to the generosity of our community, our investment in financial aid has increased by a factor of about 20 (from about $5 million to about $100 million per year, which is more than a quarter of our annual operating budget).
Last fall, in the course I co-taught called The Economics of the University, I told my students that, similar to purchasing an airline ticket or booking a hotel stay, at universities people pay different prices for the same product. Some pay the full sticker price, some pay zero, and some pay amounts in between. I also explained that every one of our students is subsidized. The university spends well beyond the full
sticker price to maintain our unwavering commitment to small classes, exceptional teaching and research, close mentoring relationships, career readiness, student well-being, and experiential and international learning opportunities. It costs a lot to do what we do, but what we do is transformative. And thanks to extraordinary alumni support for generations, Spider Management’s careful investment of our endowment resources, and principled spending by university leaders over many generations, every single one of our students is relieved of some of the costs.
We’re also fortunate to be among the 2% of American colleges that can admit traditional undergraduate domestic students independent of their financial circumstances and meet the full demonstrated need for all. Overall, two-thirds of our families pay less than UR’s sticker price, thanks to need-based and merit-based financial aid and athletic scholarships. We similarly heavily invest in aid for our graduate and
law students.
To continue our university’s upward trajectory, I strongly believe we must continue investing in financial aid. We will do this by redirecting some resources, carefully stewarding the endowment, and raising even more funds to support our students.
My wife Tina and I are very serious about this. That’s why we gave to endow our own family scholarship, and we continue to give to support Spiders. With your help, our university can increase need-based aid to recruit remarkable students from all points of the family income distribution, invest in scholarships for academic excellence, and bolster athletics aid to continue elevating our student-athletes and celebrating our Spider Nation.
I’m hitting the road again this semester, seeking your support for our unwavering commitment to access and affordability. It is exciting and a delight to share updates about the transformational power of a UR education. I hope you will join us in supporting current and future Spiders and continuing to strengthen our outstanding university.
AN
Increasing Richmond’s capacity to provide financial aid relies on support from alumni and other donors. For more information on how you can make a difference, go to giving.richmond.edu. The QR code will take you there, too.
Photograph by Jamie Betts
HE RUNS— BUT NOT FOR OFFICE
Outside of academics, Ellis is a member of Richmond’s men’s cross-country team. He wrapped up his 2024 season with a personal best time in the 8K at the Pirate Cross Country Invitational in Greenville, North Carolina.
RICHMOND GUARANTEE ACCOLADES
A Capitol education
“Anything and everything.” This was what Jacob Ellis, ’25, was told he would be doing when he reported to work as a Governor’s Fellow interning in the office of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s chief of staff. It was an accurate job description and an exceptional summer learning opportunity.
“I might start my day getting organized for a cabinet meeting,” he said.
“Then I’d work on a project for one of the secretariats, such as transportation or education. Something would come up, and I’d be asked to help the legislative affairs team with a bill signing. Then it would be, ‘Hey, the governor has a meeting in 45 minutes—could you write him a meeting brief?’ This would all happen before noon.”
Ellis, a Presidential Scholar majoring in leadership studies and philosophy, politics, economics, and law (PPEL), received a Burrus Fellowship, part of the Richmond Guarantee program, to support his summer internship. It was a dream internship for the senior from Virginia Beach, who has a long-standing interest in public policy and governance.
“I worked closely with the chief of staff and the governor every day, often handling confidential material,” he said. “I also had the opportunity to work with every secretariat and many agency heads. The internship gave me an all-encompassing view of the executive branch.”
This was not Ellis’ first exposure to state government. In high school and then college, he interned twice with Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares—once when Miyares was in the House of Delegates and then again in his present role.
He has also done extensive research focused on state and local government. In summer 2023, he analyzed nearly 4,000 pieces of state legislation to examine how having a professional background in health care impacts members’ legislative portfolios. This year, he is researching city of Richmond zoning laws for his Jepson senior honors thesis.
Now he is applying to public policy and law graduate programs with an eye toward working in state public policy and governance.
“I want to promote good policy for Virginia,” he said.
No. 1 for study abroad
The newest Open Doors report ranks the university No. 1 among baccalaureate colleges awarding credit for study abroad participation. Richmond also ranked No. 2 for the number of students studying abroad for a quarter- or semester-long program.
“International Education is proud to continue to receive top rankings in study abroad participation,” said Martha Merritt, dean of International Education. “This year’s ranking is significant because it considers short- and long-term programming. The Open Doors ranking is a reflection of UR’s dedication to ensuring all Spiders have access to a study abroad experience that complements their studies, career goals, and personal interests.”
Red, blue, and green
Princeton Review recognized UR as one of the top 50 schools in the nation for environmental responsibility in the 2025 edition of its annual Guide to Green Colleges
“UR has built a dedicated culture of sustainability on campus thanks to our students, faculty, staff, and community partners,” said Rob Andrejewski, director of sustainability. “Whether they are volunteering to divert waste from landfills at football games, informing our campus energy strategy, or studying for a sustainability minor, our community consistently shows their passion and commitment to making UR a better place to learn, live, and work.”
Jacob Ellis, ’25, interned in the office of the chief of staff to Virginia’s governor.
“Incredibly curious”
Economics professor TIMOTHY HAMILTON , describing senior Maksim Likho. Likho was one of four finalists for the Best Undergraduate Paper Award from the International Atlantic Economic Society.
LEADERSHIP STUDIES
Ethics get a boost
The Jepson School of Leadership Studies received $150,000 from the Richard D. Donchian Foundation to expand the school’s multifaceted ethics education initiatives. The Donchian Foundation’s investment will support faculty scholarship and student learning over the next three years.
“Ethics is at the heart of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies’ approach to leadership education,” said Sandra Peart, dean of the Jepson School. “We are immensely grateful to the Donchian Foundation for its ongoing support of the school.”
Most of the funding will support summer research stipends for faculty working on ethics projects, enabling faculty to pursue innovative research and present or publish ethics-related work.
The funding will also support student participation in ethics-related competitions like the Ethics Bowl and the International Leadership Association Case Competition. These competitions offer students the opportunity to apply their ethical reasoning skills in real-world scenarios, preparing them to be thoughtful and effective leaders.
The grant will additionally support faculty and student travel to ethicsrelated conferences and help sustain the Ethics Working Group, a crossdisciplinary collective of faculty members who are interested in moral philosophy, political theory, and ethics.
The Jepson School of Leadership Studies is the nation’s first undergraduate school of leadership studies. The study of ethics is one of the school’s signature programs.
CHAMPIONS
UR’s Ethic Bowl team won the 2025 Applied Ethics Bowl competition hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. During the event, 16 student teams deliberated over case studies related to ethics and artificial intelligence.
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:
DAN CHEN, associate professor of political science, told a reporter that using personal stories during stand-up routines allows comics in China to talk about subjects that censors might otherwise object to as too political, such as gender equality. “But if others resonate with you, the message is sent,” she said.
“A rat moving more than 50–100 meters is rare,” JONATHAN RICHARDSON, assistant professor of biology, said in a story about New York City’s latest “war on rats.”
SARA HANSON, associate professor of marketing, and a co-author reported on their new study of American tipping culture. “Our results were clear: ... Customers who felt watched while tipping were less likely to make a return visit or recommend a business.”
The Post reported on an amicus brief to the Arizona Supreme Court filed by law professor CORINNA LAIN. Her brief objects to a pending execution on the grounds that the state’s lethal injection procedures lead to “torturous deaths.” The convicted man’s “apparent willingness to be executed does not change these facts,” she wrote.
A new translation of All Quiet on the Western Front by KURT BEALS “captures more vividly than any other translator the sensory onslaught of [author] Remarque’s narration, the unholy cacophony of trench battle,” writes reviewer William Giraldi. Beals is the UR Humanities Fellow in Literary Translation.
For the latest stories, go to news.richmond. edu/placements.
A grant to the Jepson School will strengthen ethics education.
WHEN SPIDERS FLI
Through the Student Center for Equity and Inclusion, the university offers a range of resources and support for first-generation and/or limited-income, or FLI, students. Turn to Page 47 to read about a family providing long-term support for programs and activities that further well-being and belonging for FLI Spiders.
WEST COAST VIBE
Sophomore Jessica Espinoza-Flores is forging her own path as a first-generation college student far from home. Her journey from San Diego to Richmond has broadened her horizons and reinforced her appreciation of her heritage.
MY ROOTS
Growing up in San Diego, I was surrounded by people who look like me or who had similar experiences and were familiar with my culture. My school was really small, like 400 of us. We all knew everyone and were pretty close. It was really nice.
MY MOM
She was born in Mexico and came here. She has been my strongest influence and supporter. She’s caring, empathetic. She wants the best for you. She encouraged me to apply to schools across the country, including the University of Richmond. She’s never held me back from experiencing anything.
MY COLLEGE SEARCH
I was in the Elevate Scholars program for first-generation, low-income students. They have programs with universities, and admissions representatives came to our school. When I heard about Richmond, it was the only one that
interested me. I liked the size, and I wanted to experience the four seasons. When my mom and I came here for a visit, it was October. The leaves were changing. I was like, “I love this.”
MY IDENTITY
Because of the way I grew up, I didn’t really think too much about my identity until I got here. I’ve joined
Intro to Luso-Brazilian studies has been one of my favorite classes. The conversations were so interesting.
MY GOALS
“I liked the size and wanted to experience the four seasons.”
SOLS, a Latin student organization, and taken on leadership roles. Clubs have been really important for me. I see people who have similar experiences, and the food is always so good.
MY STUDIES
I’ve thought about law school, but that’s been changing. I interned with a family lawyer in high school. The domestic violence cases stuck out to me the most. Even though I was just filling out documents and forms, it was interesting because I was helping her fight for her clients. I was fighting for their rights. That was powerful to me.
MY PERSPECTIVE
What if I went to school back home? My community there would be so different. I wouldn’t have had to think about all the things I’ve had to think about here. I’m grateful for this experience. I’ve grown so much.
I major in political science and Latin American, Latino, and Iberian studies with minors in women, gender, and sexuality studies and Luso-Brazilian studies.
by
Photograph
Gordon Schmidt
MARKETING Sara Hanson received the H. Hiter Harris III Excellence in Instructional Technology Award from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. Hanson is an associate professor of marketing and director of the Spider Business Hub in the Robins School of Business. “Dedication to technology is critical to teaching undergraduates,” she said. “I hope to encourage them to learn independently and prepare them for their future careers.”
70 years of chimes
Music professor Joanne Kong is a concert pianist, but there’s an instrument she plays for an audience bigger than any concert hall.
This spring, Kong has returned to her role programming the music that emanates from Boatwright’s tower every day at 12:30 and 5 p.m. She previously programmed its music from 1999 through 2023. There are no ropes or heavy bells to pull.
“It’s an electric carillon,” she says, standing in a small room atop the library where the music lives. “It’s all programmed through this console.”
On top of the console are AutoBelCards, small disks that each hold about a dozen songs and are inserted into the machine. Music for UR’s carillon can also be played manually on a two-tiered keyboard, located in the same room. Kong has played the keyboard on special occasions, such
as the anniversary of 9/11 and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“Sometimes I have played a specific piece, or I can pick a single note and just toll the bell,” says Kong.
“You can pick different sounds of bells if you want something that’s a bright quality or if you want something that’s more of a dark kind of tolling.”
Many of the song selections on the AutoBelCards are what you’d expect: classical, religious, and patriotic tunes. Among them are some offbeat options, too, including the love theme from The Godfather and the main theme to Star Wars. She typically changes the card every few months, “but theoretically, you could change it every day if you wanted to,” she says. “I think it just adds so much to the atmosphere of a college campus.”
AROUND CAMPUS
Newest Gilmans
Four Spiders received Gilman Scholarships from the U.S. State Department to study in New Zealand, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
“Gilman Scholarships support international educational experiences for outstanding students who might not otherwise travel due to financial barriers,” said Ethan Knight, associate director of the Office of Scholars and Fellowships. “Through this program, students gain invaluable global perspectives, as well as skills that benefit their academic studies and future careers.”
Since the program started in 2001, 105 UR students have been offered Gilman scholarships. UR’s newest Gilman Scholars are Noor Abdullah, a junior from Tennessee; Sabrina Gaytan Lopez, a sophomore from Texas; Amber Castaneda, a junior from Texas; and Denis Velazquez-Mondragon from Alabama.
70
YEARS OF SOUNDS
Designed by Schulmerich Carillons, the first carillon was installed in 1955 to celebrate the university’s 125th anniversary. It was replaced in 1993.
Top professor
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia awarded professor Terry Price its 2025 Outstanding Faculty Award, the highest honor for faculty at Virginia’s public and private colleges and universities.
Price, the Coston Family Chair in Leadership and Ethics in the Jepson School, specializes in leadership ethics and moral psychology. Each semester, he asks students to speculate on what they would do if they had the power of invisibility and could do whatever they want.
“The exercise, which draws from Plato’s The Republic, helps them reflect on their own moral motivation,” he said. “Students come to see how easy it is to rationalize the use of power to pursue self-interest and, equally important, how easy it is to justify breaking the rules to achieve what they have convinced themselves would be the morally best outcome.”
Boatwright Tower, beautiful in every season
AROUND CAMPUS
Strong support
A weeklong fundraising campaign in mid-November brought in a record number of donations—nearly 1,500—that will directly impact current students’ lives.
“The Spiders Helping Spiders campaign was a record-breaking success, bringing together our campus and Spiders around the world to provide vital support for students facing financial challenges,” said Martha Callaghan, vice president of advancement. “The gifts will provide critical support for students in need, including emergency expenses, tuition assistance, and career-building opportunities.”
During the 2023–24 academic year, funds raised during Spiders Helping Spiders provided 138 students with aid from the Student Emergency Fund. The gifts also provided 1,022 undergraduates with donor-funded aid and scholarships. Nearly 240 students—the most ever—received aid from the Career Opportunity Fund.
“This annual campaign is just one event that highlights the way Spiders support each other,” said Callaghan. “We belong to an incredible community.”
An international affair
Costa Rica took center stage at the university’s annual weeklong celebration of international education in November.
Through the theme “Pura Vida,” the university explored Costa Rican culture, politics, food, environment, and more with academic programming and social events for the campus community. Celebrations in past years have focused on Denmark, South Africa, India, Chile, and Aotearoa/ New Zealand. Last year’s events focused on sustainability and included a range of Indigenous speakers from the Amazon rainforest and Virginia’s Indian nations.
SCENIC VIEW
COMMITMENT
In addition to its partnership with QuestBridge, UR’s commitment to access and affordability includes an increase in the qualifying income level for Richmond’s Promise to Virginia. Beginning in fall 2025, the program will provide grant aid equal to 100% of tuition, housing, and food for qualified Virginians whose total parental income is $75,000 or less.
A new partnership
In January, the university announced that it has strengthened its commitment to talented students of all financial backgrounds by partnering with QuestBridge. The national nonprofit is dedicated to providing accessible and affordable life-changing opportunities to the best and brightest students, regardless of their financial backgrounds.
“At the University of Richmond, we are committed to ensuring that talented and remarkable students from all points of the family income distribution can envision themselves as Spiders,” said Kevin F. Hallock, president. “This new partnership with QuestBridge will help make a Richmond education even more accessible, enhancing our university community and the lives of our students.”
QuestBridge’s 55 partners are top
liberal arts colleges and research universities dedicated to increasing the presence of high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds on their campuses and to making their institutions accessible and affordable to talented students.
Richmond is one of three new QuestBridge partners this year. The others are Bates College and Harvard College.
“These exceptional institutions provide opportunities, connections, and resources for our students to unlock their potential and excel not only on campus, but also throughout their lives,” said Ana Rowena Mallari, co-founder and CEO of QuestBridge. “We look forward to collaborating with these outstanding colleges and celebrating the impact these scholars will make in the years to come.”
UR is strengthening its commitment to accessibility for high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds.
HOW LOVELY President Kevin F. Hallock snapped this on a walk in January.
Green with Envee
Grace Maclean, ’25, second from right, was one-fourth of Envee, the team that won Bench Top Innovations’ fourth annual Great Bake Off in November. Each year, students in the UR course compete to develop a food-related product to bring to market and then join back together to launch it.
What was your reaction when you learned about the focus on salad dressing this year?
I was super excited. I love salads, so I thought it was great.
Can you describe Envee’s product development process?
We started with ideas like an Old Bay ranch dressing and then tried green goddess, but none of them tasted good. Then one day I was experimenting in my kitchen and combined pesto and Caesar dressing. It tasted great.
What role did consumer research play in your product development?
We spent time in grocery stores asking shoppers why they chose certain salad dressings. It was a bit awkward to approach random people, but it gave us valuable insights. Many mentioned factors like allergies, low sugar, or low calorie options. We also tasted
lots of dressings to understand where there might be gaps we could fill.
How did you approach the branding and marketing aspects?
I took on a lot of the branding responsibilities, working closely with the VCU Brand Center. I knew I wanted a green and white color scheme and had a specific target customer in mind. The brand center came up with our product name and the slogan “We like how you dress,” which we love. We play up the “green with envy” angle.
What about your product stood out from the competition at the Great Bake Off?
Branding and taste. The green packaging and catchy slogan looked different from other teams’ brown vinaigrettes. We also combined two flavors people already love rather than creating something totally new.
What was the most valuable learning experience from this project?
Getting hands-on experience with the entire product development process. We learned about everything from market research to branding to pitching to potential buyers. The compressed timeline also taught us to work efficiently under pressure.
What are you looking forward to next semester as you move into production and sales?
I’m really excited to start selling the product locally. We’ll pitch to Richmond grocery stores and set up at farmers markets. I’m also looking forward to potentially selling online and seeing where our product gets shipped. And of course, the possibility of pitching to major retailers is thrilling.
What do you want others to know about this opportunity?
That this isn’t just for business majors. As a communications major, I was able to contribute a lot, especially on the branding and marketing side. The hands-on experience is valuable for any student interested in product development or entrepreneurship.
is the fourth product launched by Bench Top Innovations. Here’s a look back at earlier efforts: 2021
Absurd Snacks, a line of allergen-free, high-protein snack mixes. UR alumni Grace Mittl and Eli Bank continue to grow the business.
LAUNCH HISTORY
Envee
TwinTail Brews, a tea-based, no-sugar energy drink
Noosh, a baba ganoush-inspired dip
Photograph by Jamie Betts
PRACTICING WHAT HE TEACHES
Datta’s research focus is human trafficking. A recent article he published on The Conversation underscores the importance he places on understanding radically different points of view to solve problems. Its headline is “I Study Modern-day Slavery— and Here’s What I’ve Learned About How Enslavers Try to Justify Their Actions.”
BETTER UNDERSTANDING
Political science professor Monti Datta is an expert in the gentle art of encouraging people with strong differences to engage in meaningful conversation. He does it during class discussions and in his research on human trafficking. Here are his tips for succeeding in these conversations yourself.
1. LEAD WITH CURIOSITY
Enter conversations with genuine curiosity about the other person’s perspective. Engage from a space of love and compassion—not from a space of condescension or arrogance or fear, but of curiosity. This open mindset is far more likely to lead to meaningful exchange.
2. APPROACH WITH EMPATHY
Recognize the inherent dignity in every person, regardless of their views. Everyone has a story and deserves to be treated with basic human respect. You can be angry with somebody; you can even not respect somebody; but what you shouldn’t do is think of them as beneath you.
3. LISTEN MINDFULLY AND WITH KINDNESS
Give the other person your full, nonjudgmental attention. Absorb not just their words, but their emotions and experiences. Pay attention with intentional kindness. This deep, empathetic listening allows you to witness their full perspective beyond just intellectual ideas.
4. LOOK FOR SHARED HUMANITY
While differences may seem stark on the surface, recognize the common human experiences that unite us all. Finding those universal threads can create bonds across divides.
5. EMBRACE DISCOMFORT AND VULNERABILITY
Seeking out different perspectives expands our understanding. It may feel uncomfortable, but that discomfort often signals growth. Additionally, don’t be afraid to show vulnerability. Acknowledging your own uncertainties or mistakes can create openings for others to do the same.
“Recognize the common human experiences that unite us all.”
6. PAUSE FOR SELF-REFLECTION
Before responding in heated moments, take time to pause and reflect. You need that space of reflection between stimulus and response, whether it is a breath or letting go or counting to 10. This pause allows you to respond thoughtfully, reducing the chance of escalating tensions.
7. EXAMINE YOUR OWN ASSUMPTIONS
Be willing to critically examine your own beliefs and biases. Ask yourself why you hold certain views and where they come from. This self-examination can help dismantle assumptions that may cloud your ability to understand others. It also models the kind of reflection you hope to see from those with whom you’re engaging.
Photography by Jamie Betts
“I honestly didn’t expect this many people.”
CADY CUMMINS, ’25 , a member of the Sirens all-female a cappella group in a Dec. 11 story in The Collegian. Cummins was commenting on the packed crowd in Tyler Haynes Commons for the group’s annual holiday concert.
CLASSICAL STUDIES
Artifacts return home
History alum Frederic H. Morgan III, R’76, recalled a story his parents told him about a trip to Teotihuacán, Mexico, in 1951, and the figurines and other items they found there.
“Mama told me these things were all over the ground,” he said.
His father also collected artifacts in Mexico as a teenager in 1939. Morgan later donated six of them to UR’s Ancient World Gallery, enabling students to study them.
In February, with Morgan in attendance, the university held a ceremony to return the items to their homeland. Felipe García Landa, deputy consul at Mexico’s embassy in Washington, D.C., personally accepted the items after their authentication.
Junior Lucille Hancock, a journalism major and archaeology minor,
helped make it happen. She studied the artifacts for an archaeology class on cultural property, ethics, and law.
“I think the biggest thing for me was having the opportunity to physically work with the items, not look at a collection on a computer,” she said. After learning about Mexico’s repatriation laws, she, her professor Elizabeth Baughan, and classmates agreed that the items should be returned to their place of origin. Baughan said that in the class, the question of who owns the past is considered from various perspectives through specific case studies like this.
Morgan hopes the artifacts will be publicly displayed in their new home or made accessible for historical research. “I am glad the objects are going back to Mexico,” he said.
AROUND CAMPUS
Let’s dance
The university’s two oldest dance companies celebrate anniversaries this spring.
University Dancers marked its 40th anniversary with the debut of a film at its annual spring concert performances. Called Bolero, it features dancers performing in locations across campus.
“I expected [each] location to be a background setting, but I found myself wanting to use the location as a part of the dance and to interact with it,” said Lucy Lew, ’28.
On March 22, Ngoma African Dance Company celebrates its 30th anniversary at its annual concert.
INVENTORY
The returned items include a gaming piece, two anthropomorphic figures, an axe made of stone, the head of a supernatural figurine, and an anthropomorphic portrait-style figurine. The pieces date from between 100 A.D. and 1521 A.D.
“I view [African dance] as like water— you’ll never see the same wave again,” said Aida Lette, ’26, one of the company’s co-presidents. “Dancing is more than just your body. It’s everything.”
On the road
Career Services hosted its annual winter break Spider Road Trips to New York City. Students who attended Spiders on Wall Street visited well-known institutions including BlackRock, J.P. Morgan, Citi, Goldman Sachs, Stifel, Truist, RBC Capital Markets, Morgan Stanley, Jeffries, BNP Paribas, Barclay’s, and Bank of America. Spiders interested in creative and communications fields visited Ralph Lauren, Hearst, LinkedIn, A+E Networks, 360PR Plus agency, and 3Z Sleep Brands.
The trips take students to visit employers in major metropolitan areas to learn firsthand what it’s like to work in an industry. The trips include networking receptions with alumni in the area.
Lucille Hancock, ’26, and Frederic Morgan III, R’76 (second and fourth from left, respectively), were on hand for the return of cultural artifacts collected decades ago in Mexico.
A STELLAR PLAYER
Beckwith finished his playing career at Richmond as the Spiders’ all-time leader in assists and steals. He led the Spiders to the team’s first two appearances in the NCAA tournament, in 1984 and 1986.
QUOTATION
“A
shared culture of athletic, academic, and personal excellence”
Athletics director JOHN HARDT in an email to supporters describing the focus of Spider athletics
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Remembering a great
Richmond Spider men’s basketball honored the life and legacy of Greg Beckwith, R’86 and G’89, with the inaugural Greg Beckwith Alumni Weekend in January.
Beckwith, who died unexpectedly in May 2024, was a Hall of Fame Spider point guard, a sales executive at Adidas, and Richmond’s primary TV and radio analyst for 21 years.
“It’s my first [season] at Richmond without Greg Beckwith at our broadcast table,” 20-year head coach Chris Mooney wrote to supporters before the weekend. “I miss seeing him standing on the midcourt line with a microphone in his hand and a grin spread across his face during our on-air interviews immediately following a Spiders win. I know many of you miss him as well.”
RUNDOWN
How far?!
Junior Molly Wise, in action above, broke UR’s record in the long jump in Jan. 24 at the Brant Tolsma Invite. She leapt 6.15 meters—that’s more than 20 feet. It was the best performance in the A-10 this season and fourth-best nationally to that point.
“I was definitely happy to crush that out at the beginning of the season,” Wise told The Collegian.
Big men’s lacrosse win
Men’s lacrosse notched a signature victory in its third game of the season, defeating No. 7 Virginia 13-10 in Charlottesville Feb. 15. It was the Spiders’ second win over the Cavaliers in the program’s 12-year history and its first away from home. The result moved the Spiders to No. 11 in the USA Lacrosse Magazine media poll, tying the program’s best-ever ranking.
Before the Davidson game Jan. 25, Beckwith’s family received his 2024 Atlantic 10 regular-season championship ring. At halftime, Spider basketball recognized alumni and debuted a video featuring Beckwith’s reflections on some of the point guards he mentored during his time as Richmond’s color commentator.
During the game, the team wore throwback uniforms inspired by those worn by the Spiders during the 1985–86 season, Beckwith’s senior season. The commemorative jerseys were a collaboration between Richmond, Adidas, and the Greg Beckwith Foundation. They were auctioned off following the game to raise funds for the foundation, which will provide scholarships for students interested in the athletics apparel industry.
Spider smarts
The university achieved one of the highest Graduation Success Rates in Division I athletics, with 98% of student-athletes graduating within six years, the best mark in school history and an increase from 96% in each of the previous three years.
The new mark “reflects the drive and dedication of our student-athletes in the classroom, along with the support of their families, faculty, and coaches,” said Bruce Matthews, Richmond’s associate athletics director for academic support and student services.
Stay up to date
When the magazine went to press in mid-February, spring sport seasons were in their early stages. Get the latest updates at richmondspiders.com.
Men’s basketball hosted the Greg Beckwith Alumni Weekend in January.
Photography by Richmond Athletics; opposite by Gordon Schmidt
IN TRANSITION
Last semester, Spider midfielder JoJo McShane, ’25, concluded her career in competitive soccer. McShane, a journalism major from Philadelphia, writes about moving on to the next stage of her life.
As the clock wound down during our game against La Salle in October, the past 16 years of my life ended. My life to that point: Carrying two bags every day to school, feeling the rush of winning games with my best friends, and always working toward the next shot, the next win, or the next season. At age 21, I’m retired.
At the end of my senior season, a huge piece of my identity came to a close. I wondered what I would do with my free time, so much so that when I went for a run a few days later, I found myself at a team practice watching my younger teammates fight for a loose ball and run to the next passing line. I already miss the laughter but am coming to terms with knowing that I will find that laughter elsewhere.
Every part of a college athlete’s mind is occupied by their sport in some way. You have to be mindful of how much you sleep because you have practice or a game the next day. You have to eat well, or you won’t perform at your best. You plan your class schedule around your sport.
I played on my first team at age 5—the green and white Fairmount Falcons! Some of my fondest memories came from countless hours driving to tournaments and making a ruckus in the hotel rooms with my teammates. Our Philly-based team had a talented bunch of city kids all coming together through our love of soccer.
Every young girl’s goal was to play for the U.S. Women’s
National Team. My little girl goggles were set on emulating everything Mallory Swanson did. I watched her religiously. One of my greatest moments was getting a picture with her after a SheBelieves Cup game. As a young mixed girl, having someone like Mal to look up to was ideal, and I still do to this day.
Once I and my small class—Emma, Elle, Sofia, and me—became seniors, our conversations were always live-in-the-moment. Everything started to sound like, “This is the last time we’ll do this, guys”—the preseason team dinner, fitness tests, media day, and every game we played until the very last one. One of us would always stop the conversation because we didn’t want to be reminded.
When your world revolves around something, removing that something from your brain becomes extraordinarily difficult. Every fall, I had practice at 4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and rushed after class to make it there. Now, I find myself sauntering up the steps of Jepson Hall. I try to sit down and do homework or work out, but it doesn’t feel the same yet. I don’t get an adrenaline rush. Only time will heal what’s missing.
“I think athletes must explore their identities outside of sport and the other things that make them who they are,” our sports psychologist, Dr. Rachel Turk, told me. The ones who do will find themselves moving on quicker than they anticipated.
I am the president of the Student-Athletes of Color Association, the secretary of the Student Athletes Advisory Committee, and a Sirens a cappella group member. These interests have aided me during this transition period.
I am working for SpiderTV to get more reporting experience and build my journalism portfolio this spring. This opportunity will be the most healing, as I’m surrounded by peers who, like me, are experiencing their final run as athletes. Covering these games allows me to give a voice to athletes—specifically senior athletes, who are playing their hearts out for the last time—and to channel my unresolved feelings into something special.
BUILDING CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE
Throughout their athletic experience, student-athletes like McShane receive support from Spider Performance and Development. The program ensures that Spider student-athletes have the resources, connections, and support they need to gain a leading edge in competition, in the classroom, and in their careers.
By
JoJo McShane,
She shoots, she scores
As this issue went to press in February, women’s basketball was rolling. The team’s shooting efficiency made it one of the most entertaining teams in the country. Here’s part of a mid-season story we published online, with updates.
This season, the Spiders have been the team everyone else in the conference is chasing, and the chase has not been going well for the others. As of mid-January, the Spiders had a 15-5 record overall and 6-1 in conference. Her Hoops Stats rated them the No. 1 mid-major team in the country. They buried conference opponents early, averaging a 19-point lead at halftime through seven games. Four of the seven opponents were held to 20 or fewer first-half points. One had only 10 points at the break.
The Spiders were doing it with one of the best offenses in the country. As of Jan. 24, they ranked first in Division I nationally in three-point percentage and second in field goal percentage. The Spiders’ free-flowing system emphasized ball movement (15th nationally in assists per game), setting up its lights-out shooting. Their scoring defense ranked in the top 15%, and they defended cleanly, ranking sixth for fewest fouls per game, as of Jan. 24. It has been entertaining basketball, and
deliberately so. When head coach Aaron Roussell took the helm six seasons ago, he promised that his teams would be fun to watch. Winning, of course, is always fun. He wants Richmond women’s basketball to be appointment viewing—a program that captivates fans with its high pace and exciting style of play.
“I’d be lying if I said entertainment isn’t part of what we’re striving for,” Roussell said. “I say that we have to be fun to watch. And so that is something that we do talk about—how we want to play and how we want to recruit.”
Fans responded. A program that in past years counted game attendance in the hundreds has been drawing thousands. Approximately 3,500 fans came out for the VCU game Jan. 19.
BRING IT
The by-now cliché quote from Friedrich Nietzsche that whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger should be plastered
across the Spiders’ practice court. At the end of November, the team began running a gauntlet, playing a stretch of games unlike any nonconference schedule in the country. Athletics staff members called it the toughest month of games in program history.
Over six games from Nov. 30 to Dec. 21, they played four teams from Power 5 conferences: Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Oklahoma State. Two of them ranked in the AP Top 25 when Richmond played them; all four ranked there in mid-January. For good measure, the Spiders also took on Georgetown and Columbia, nobody’s cupcakes.
The players bought into the challenge, come what may.
“There’s a lot of mid-major teams out there that have had our success that would still back down from the challenges of our schedule,” said Anna Camden, a graduate student transfer from Penn State in her second year with the program. “I think that speaks volumes about our coaches and our players—and the courage we have to both fail greatly and succeed greatly.”
Some of the December games and practices came as players were studying for finals. Their majors range from biology to the
Photography by Jamie Betts and Mick Anders
liberal arts to the MBA and other graduate programs. At Richmond, academics aren’t brushed off. Still, Roussell took a moment to remind the players of their basketball goals as the team eyed a repeat appearance in the NCAA tournament. “March doesn’t care if your losses came in finals,” he told them. “Let’s practice how we play.”
The Spiders went 2-4 over the six gauntlet games, including notching a win over the Big 12’s Oklahoma State and drawing the program’s most-ever votes in the AP Top 25 poll. That win and the win against Columbia had been gritty, showcasing the team’s shooting efficiency, versatility, and suffocating defense.
Even the losses had encouraging takeaways. Against Georgetown, the Spiders fell on a near-midcourt buzzer-beater but otherwise played more than well enough to win.
The Spiders faced No. 6 Texas, a blue blood of women’s basketball, in the Robins Center Dec. 15. The Spiders went toe-to-
“March doesn’t care if your losses came in finals. Let’s practice how we play.”
toe with the Longhorns, pushing them over and over in front of 2,700 fans. No. 18 Tennessee, whom they played a mere five days after Texas, handed the team a tough 67-92 loss. Against Alabama the very next day, the Spiders were up by a point with two minutes to go until the game slipped through their fingers.
“I think we came out of that stretch a
much better team, whether that’s just the confidence or whether that’s teaching some lessons of how to play and how to go against some of their styles,” Roussell said. “Hopefully you reap some rewards down the road.” Nietzsche couldn’t have said it better himself.
LET THE CONFERENCE GAMES BEGIN
The rewards began to materialize quickly as conference play arrived in late December. After a dominating win over Dayton and a disappointing road loss to Fordham to open A-10 play, Richmond reeled off a 13-games-and-counting win streak. Addie Budnik became the third-highest scorer in program history along the way.
Editor’s note: As we went to press, the team’s record was 23-5 with three games to go before the A-10 tournament. We don’t know how the season turned out. We do know that they’ve been very fun to watch.
WINNING MINDSET
“Hungry” is how junior Maggie Doogan, one of the team’s leading scorers, defined this year’s squad after they won the A-10 championship and went to NCAA tournament in 2023–24.
“If anything [last year’s conference championship] motivated us even more,” junior Rachel Ullstrom, another top scorer, said. “We know what it feels like to win, and we want to experience that again.”
By Kelly Lambert 1
I TAUGHT RATS TO DRIVE, BUT THEY TAUGHT ME TO ENJOY THE RIDE
A neuroscientist on lessons learned from teaching rodents to drive a mini-car
WE CRAFTED OUR FIRST RODENT CAR from a plastic cereal container and quickly found that rats could learn to drive forward by grasping a small wire that acted like a gas pedal. Before long, they were steering with surprising precision to reach a Froot Loop treat.
After we published our research,2 the story of driving rats went viral.3 The project continues in my lab with new, improved rat-operated vehicles, or ROVs, designed by Randolph-Macon College robotics professor John McManus and his students.
Although cars made for rats are far from anything they would encounter in the wild, we believed that driving represented an interesting way to study how rodents acquire new skills. Unexpectedly, we found that the rats had an intense motivation for their driving training—something we wanted to learn more about.
1 Lambert is a professor of behavioral neuroscience at the University of Richmond. Her books include Well-Grounded: The Neurobiology of Rational Decisions and The Lab Rat Chronicles: A Neuroscientist Reveals Life Lessons from the Planet’s Most Successful Mammals. Her forthcoming book, Wild Brains: Translating Adaptive Mental Health Strategies from the Bush to Bedside, will publish this year. She has also written two textbooks.
2 The article, “Enriched Environment Exposure Accelerates Rodent Driving Skills,” was first published in 2019.
3 The driving rats research has been featured in thousands of media stories and highlighted in two documentaries, including one on Netflix. Top media placements include CNN, BBC, Discovery, New York Post, and NPR.
4 For example, research shows that human brains are less developed at birth but grow to a larger size than chimpanzee brains. These differences allow for greater learning and adaptation by human brains in response to the external environment, a quality neuroscientists refer to as “neuroplasticity.”
5 I.e., the sweet treat of Froot Loops
6 In addition to her research, Hartvigsen teaches undergraduate courses on clinical neuroscience and the neurobiology of movement and exercise.
7 To measure “rodent optimism,” Lambert and her team look at optimistic cognitive strategies and dopamine activation patterns in the brain.
8 Each year, Lambert’s lab team includes eight to 10 UR undergraduates.
9 Named for German pharmacologist Walther Straub, who described the response in 1911
DESTINATION: JOY
As a neuroscientist who advocates for housing and testing laboratory animals in natural habitats, I’ve found it amusing to see how far we’ve strayed from my lab practices with this project. Rats typically prefer dirt, sticks, and rocks over plastic objects. Now, we had them driving cars.
But humans didn’t evolve to drive either. However, they had flexible brains4 that enabled them to acquire new skills.
Concepts from introductory psychology textbooks took on a new, hands-on dimension in our rodent driving laboratory. Building on foundational learning approaches such as operant conditioning, which reinforces targeted behavior through strategic incentives,5 we trained the rats step-by-step.
Initially, they learned basic movements, like climbing into the car and pressing a lever. But with practice, these simple actions evolved into more complex behaviors, such as steering the car toward a specific destination.
One morning during the pandemic, the rats also taught me something profound.
It was summer 2020, a period marked by isolation for almost everyone on the planet. When I walked into the lab one day, I noticed something unusual: The three driving-trained rats ran to the side of the cage, jumping up and down.
At that point, my lab started looking into how positive events—and anticipation for these events—shape neural functions.
BUILDING ANTICIPATION
Working with postdoctoral fellow Kitty Hartvigsen,6 I designed a new protocol that used waiting periods to ramp up anticipation before a positive event.
Bringing Pavlovian conditioning into the mix, rats had to wait 15 minutes after a Lego block was placed in their cage before they received a Froot Loop. They also had to wait in their transport cage for a few minutes before entering Rat Park, their play area.
This became our Wait For It research program. We dubbed this new line of study UPERs—Unpredictable Positive Experience Responses—in which rats were trained to wait for events signaling rewards presented at unpredictable times. In contrast, control rats received their rewards immediately at a predictable time each day.
Preliminary results suggest that rats required to wait for their rewards show signs of shifting from a pessimistic cognitive style to an optimistic one in a test designed to measure rodent optimism.7 They also performed better on
cognitive tasks and were bolder in problem-solving strategies. We linked this program to our lab’s broader interest in “behaviorceuticals,” a term I coined to suggest that experiences can alter brain chemistry similarly to pharmaceuticals.
THE TALE OF THE RAT TAIL
It wasn’t just the effects of anticipation on rat behavior that caught our attention. One day, a student8 noticed something strange: One of the rats in the group trained to expect positive experiences had its tail straight up with a crook at the end, resembling the handle of an old-fashioned umbrella.
I had never seen this in my decades of working with rats. Reviewing the video footage, we found that the rats trained to anticipate positive experiences were more likely to hold their tails high than untrained rats. But what, exactly, did this mean?
Curious, I posted a picture of the behavior on social media. Fellow neuroscientists identified this as a gentler form of what’s called Straub tail,9 typically seen in rats given the opioid morphine. This S-shaped curl is also linked to dopamine. When dopamine is blocked, the Straub tail behavior subsides.
Natural forms of opiates and dopamine—key players in brain pathways that diminish pain and enhance reward—may be telltale ingredients of the elevated tails in our anticipation training program. Observing tail posture in rats adds a new layer to our understanding of rat emotional expression,
“ [These rats] remind us that planning, anticipating, and savoring the journey may be essential for a healthy brain.”
reminding us that emotions are expressed through the entire body.
Although we can’t directly ask rats if they enjoy driving, we created a behavioral test to gauge their motivation to get behind the wheel. This time, instead of giving rats only the option of driving to the Froot Loop tree, they could also make a shorter journey on foot.
Surprisingly, two of the three rats chose to take the less efficient path of turning away from the reward and running to the car to drive to their Froot Loop destination. This response suggests that the rats enjoy both the journey and the rewarding destination.
LESSONS ON ENJOYING THE JOURNEY
We’re not the only team investigating positive emotions in animals.
Neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp famously tickled rats,10 demonstrating animals’ capacity for joy.11
Research has also shown that desirable low-stress rat environments retune their brains’ reward circuits. In the 1950s, neuroscientist Curt Richter demonstrated how the act of rescuing wild rats from a swim challenge could instill hope,12 prompting them to keep swimming far longer in anticipation of another rescue.
Although they have driven into a few walls, Lambert’s rats have never been cited for a moving violation.
The driving rat project has opened new and unexpected doors in my behavioral neuroscience research lab.13 While it’s vital to study fear and stress, positive experiences also shape the brain in significant ways.
These rats offer insights into the neural principles guiding everyday behavior. Instead of pushing buttons for instant rewards, they remind us that planning, anticipating, and savoring the journey may be essential for a healthy brain. I taught rats to drive, but they taught me to enjoy the ride.
This article previously appeared in The Washington Post and was created in collaboration with The Conversation. The annotations are added by University of Richmond Magazine.
10 In a research paper, the authors report that when word of their rat tickling began to be publicized, the senior researcher “received abundant mail from rat-fanciers who sought to replicate the phenomenon.”
11 A 2023 study observed that positive emotions are less well-studied than negative emotions.
12 “The thing with feathers-/That perches in the soul,” according to poet Emily Dickinson. Also, apparently, with fur.
13 And new openings for rat drivers. The lab team has named the two newest ones Thelma and Louise.
LOOK ART FOR OUR
CURRICULUM AGAIN
Take a stroll through the university’s museums, and you’ll see works that are beautiful, compelling, delightful, and provocative. Increasingly, they are also something else: an ongoing record of campus intellectual life.
When Issa Lampe took the helm as executive director of the University of Richmond Museums in 2022, she brought with her an approach that emphasizes the university art collections as an essential teaching resource. “Works of art are interdisciplinary by nature and can support classroom discussions on a wide variety of topics, from economics to literature to chemistry,” Lampe says. “You should be able to look at the collection in 20 years and see reflections of what the academic community was wrestling with.”
She actively engages faculty and students in discussions about how the collection can support teaching needs. She also solicits their active participation in acquisition decisions.
A new exhibition, Look Again: Art for Our Curriculum, showcases this intersection between the collection and the curriculum. Alongside the featured works, students and faculty reflect on the pieces’ relevance to their studies.
The exhibition runs through May 17. More information about it is available at museums.richmond.edu. Here’s a sneak peek of some of the works and excerpts from faculty reflections about them.
“STUDIO LIFE: HOPE? ON SPECIAL OFFER,” 2022
William Kentridge
The image of this print oscillates between a surface and a space: We are looking into a tight frame of the photogravure that shows an artist’s hands holding an open sketchbook just above a well-used drafting table that opens up another dimension, a white stage sloping toward the bottom. A photomontage of animated tools and Kentridge himself inhabit this stage. And then, there are drypoint marks, engaging with the objects and figure or calligraphically lounging at the bottom of the image. The print is a beautiful example of Kentridge’s endless playful, creative innovation in the space between drawing and theater.
—TANJA SOFTIĆ, TUCKER-BOATWRIGHT PROFESSOR OF ART AND ART HISTORY
“UNTITLED, SHADY GROVE, ALABAMA,” 1956
Gordon Parks
In my Journalism Across Media class, I always teach work by Gordon Parks not only because his images are technically precise and beautifully rendered but also because his work is a model for purposeful storytelling. Of his decision to become a photographer, Parks once told an interviewer, “I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs.” This idea that journalism has power that can be directed toward fairness, equity, and justice really resonates with my students.
—ANDREW GRACE, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF JOURNALISM
Wendy Red Star’s Our Side, Set E series invites us to join the artist herself in reexamining how Indigenous material culture has been exhibited in settler museums. … By repositioning them in new configurations and incorporating handwritten captions, along with the images of the artist/ curator’s hand into the artwork, Red Star reclaims Indigenous agency in curating Indigenous material culture and art. … [In this work], her handwritten notes supply the names of the Apsáalooke people who owned such objects, along with the names of their relatives, thus extending their histories into the past, beyond acquisition by private collectors and public institutions.
—MONIKA SIEBERT, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF
ENGLISH
“BALEISHÍSSHUUXE (BUCKSKIN PANTS),” FROM THE SERIES OUR SIDE, SET E, 2023
Wendy Red Star
choose not to attend school because of the lack of proper facilities.”
This work addresses urgent issues of water security and the lack of access to clean water, which has a particularly devastating impact on the lives of women and girls. Muluneh has said, “I realized a lack of access to water affects women, not only with regard to health but also education. During menstruation, for example, girls often
In Steps (Water Life), the structure represents a toilet with a raised red door which makes access impossible. Muluneh asks, “How is it that across the world and even across Africa access to water is still a challenging issue that we have to navigate through?”
—KYMBERLY S. NEWBERRY, VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ART HISTORY
“STEPS (WATER LIFE),” 2018
Aïda Muluneh
“UNTITLED (EAST END CEMETERY),” 2019
Brian Palmer
Brian Palmer is a Peabody Award-winning journalist and photographer who relocated to Richmond, Virginia, in 2013 after visiting to uncover lost information about his family history. In this photograph from a series made over several years and dedicated to a cemetery in Henrico County, he presents a verdant woodland with shoulder-high weeds and towering vines lit up by summer sunlight. The photographer’s choices—time of day,
framing, angle, distance, and depth of field—produce a visual experience in which we may not see the headstone in the overgrowth at first. We discover it only after a bit of looking, much as the photographer would have done. The gravestone is carved with the words “James A. Malone / Virginia / U.S. Army / World War / [dates obscured].” Under Jim Crow segregation laws, Mr. Malone’s family would have been barred from interring their loved one in any of the well-maintained, publicly funded cemeteries where his white peers lie, just a short distance from East End Cemetery.
—ISSA LAMPE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND MUSEUMS
“THE DIXIE OF OUR UNION,” 2022
Bethany
Collins
As I teach my students, sheet music is not music; rather, it is a set of graphic instructions for how to replicate and perform a piece of music and which we can study “outside” of musical time. Historically, music theory as a discipline largely elided questions of historical context and framing and focused solely on “the music itself.” In the theory classes I teach, I instead explicitly highlight these historical contexts and how they can inform our theoretical analyses. Collins’ “The Dixie of Our Union” similarly draws attention to sheet music as replicant (here, hand-drawn) and as historically situated.
—STEFAN GREENFIELD-CASAS, VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN MUSIC THEORY
“NANNIES, EL TOVAR PLACE, WEST HOLLYWOOD,” 2012
Jay Lynn Gomez
“ONE BRONZE TOOL,” 2016
Gala Porras-Kim
When I first encountered the work of Gala Porras-Kim, I found myself immersed, literally physically surrounded, by her research in a reconstructed office from which an archaeological dig and exchange were documented for further investigation, like a crime scene. … What I love about Porras-Kim’s work, aside from its beautiful and meticulous attention to materiality, is the way in which art history’s and archaeology’s historical methods and intentions are called into question. Thinking about these works and Porras-Kim’s conceptual project is the perfect way to begin and end my course on the history and theory of collecting.
—ELENA CALVILLO, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ART HISTORY
Jay Lynn Gomez’s depiction of domestic and service workers during their workday brings before the audience issues such as the meaning of work and its emotional dimension. As we stand in front of these images, we can re-examine the role played by the narratives of “emotion” in the discourses that embody generalized or internalized social perceptions of domesticity and cleaning. … These images help audiences explore a central subjectivity dilemma: How do we relate to the daily tasks, such as cleaning and dealing with “dirt,” in our daily material reproduction?
—KARINA ELIZABETH VÁZQUEZ, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING FOR LATIN AMERICAN, LATINO, AND IBERIAN STUDIES
“PUNCHED 100,” 2011
Aspen Mays
A star is a luminous, glowing ball of hot gas, mostly hydrogen. They are unique celestial bodies whose twinkle comes from their individual, internal energy sources. According to NASA, astronomers estimate that the universe contains up to one septillion stars (that’s a one followed by 24 zeros). Aspen May’s “Punched 100” provides an archive of discarded, anonymous stars. Salvaged from the garbage in an abandoned observatory in Chile and uniformly captured by his holepunch, their energy here is different but still magnificent.
—A. JOAN SAAB, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND PROVOST
“SNIPER II,” FROM SMALL WARS, 1999–2002
An-My Lê
Utilizing strategies and visual cues from documentary photography, AnMy Lê’s “Sniper II” plays with our notion of fact and fiction in image creation. Although the scene is from a contemporary Vietnam War reenactment staged in Virginia, Lê utilizes the standard film and formatting of photojournalism of the 1950’s–70’s to lead the viewer to accept the photograph as a truthful document of war. In addition to providing a stunning portal into how the coastal landscape of Virginia can be conflated and entangled with the foliage and fraught histories of Vietnam, this image also serves as an excellent example of how choices in film size, stock, and presentation can contribute to the concept of a body of work.
—BRITTANY NELSON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND EXTENDED MEDIA
Duesberry’s landscapes strike me for their personalized observations of place that often extend beyond the seen, particularly invoking touch. While viewing her paintings, I’ve recalled the sensation of walking up loose and rocky eroded banks of streambeds or sitting still under the sun’s heat on brisk clear days. Like candid speech, her paintings reflect affinity for flat, neutral midday light, whether crisp and dry in New Mexico or soft and humid in Virginia. … As a monoprint, I think of pressure and how ink and color is pressed into, less onto, the silk as an inseparable whole—much as I imagine Duesberry’s desired immersion into the outdoor spaces she inhabits and paints.
—ERLING SJOVOLD, PROFESSOR OF ART
“ARBORETUM TRIPTYCH,” 1998
Joellyn Duesberry
the class diversity in the community of Harlem in those decades that extends beyond the stereotype of the struggling writer/artist/musician.
James Van Der Zee was the leading portrait photographer of the Harlem Renaissance, the epicenter of African American culture in the 1920s and 1930s. As a professor of American literature and culture, I have long found this image quite useful to share with students so they can recognize
In this photo, Van Der Zee has captured a couple deeply comfortable in their material success, signaled not so subtly through their raccoon coats and shiny Cadillac. That this couple chose to have their portrait taken out in the open and not in Van Der Zee’s studio suggests that they wanted to emphasize these symbols of conspicuous consumption. And why not? They look fabulous!
—STEPHEN BRAUER, VISITING ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH
“COUPLE IN RACCOON COATS,” 1932
James Van Der Zee
BY RAYNE MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMIE BETTS
The impact of artificial intelligence on higher education is rapidly evolving. UR’s approach encourages experimentation focused on enhancing student learning .
s 2022 came to a close, English faculty member Joe Essid—now retired—encountered an artificial intelligence bot’s writing output for the first time. Essid’s standards for writing proficiency were high given his position at the time as director of writing at the Weinstein Learning Center. He considered the prose carefully and soon recognized the precipice he stood upon.
“I had an aha moment when I saw how good the output from AI was,” Essid said. “I was reminded of when I was at Michigan Tech doing a summer workshop back in the early 1990s—when I saw my first web browser. It was Mosaic, the predecessor to Netscape, and I saw a moving weather pattern on a computer. I said then, ‘The world had changed.’”
AI—or more specifically, generative AI—has since dominated public attention. Generative AI is a machine-learning model designed to create something new that looks like the data it has been trained on. For example, if the developer fed it millions of lines of computer code, it would be able to generate new code. The same goes for any data: Bots can also learn to create from images, literature, and other art forms, though this has commonly occurred without art ists’ awareness or permission. This has triggered ongoing discourse on whether this training process con stitutes theft. In the case of Essid’s interaction with the chatbot’s writing output, the data would have been sam ples of prose from any-
where the developers could access. The chatbot then crafted something similar from that knowledge bank.
Generative AI’s potential applications are vast and can be helpful or harmful to the student experience.
The University of Richmond is adopting a nuanced approach to AI, one that emphasizes human judgment, critical thinking, and ethical deployment of these powerful new tools.
“It’s wonderful to know that, unlike many schools, we are pushing a lot in this space,” said Saif Mehkari, economics professor and co-developer of Spider AI, the university’s custom AI platform—more on that shortly. “We are competing with some of the top schools out there.”
WHAT IS RICHMOND’S AI POLICY?
The answer to this question depends on its application, and academic excellence is always the first consideration. Rather than sweeping top-down policies around AI use, Richmond gives individual professors the autonomy to develop appropriate guidelines for their specific courses and disciplines.
“The university’s policy is the one I like most because, above all, the reason I’m an academic is for autonomy and academic freedom,” Essid said. “I think the university’s light-handed approach is the best one.”
This flexible framework allows faculty to experiment with AI in ways that enhance rather than detract from learning objectives. For Andrew Bell, technology consultant and faculty hub operations manager, the goal isn’t to push AI adoption, but rather to “take a really considered position, a very well-researched and nuanced position on the technologies, and be able to communicate that to faculty and help them see its role in their teaching.”
The university made advanced AI tools accessible through Spider AI, an internally developed platform
that provides faculty and students with access to leading AI models from companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. Spider AI emerged from a faculty learning community exploring AI applications in teaching and has evolved into a robust system used campuswide.
HOW IS AI BEING IMPLEMENTED IN CLASSROOMS?
While much public attention has focused on AI writing tools like ChatGPT, University of Richmond faculty are continually uncovering creative applications across many academic fields. In Mehkari’s firstyear seminar, students use AI to create complete marketing campaigns—generating scripts, synthesizing voiceovers, and producing AI-generated images and videos. In computer programming courses, AI serves as a coding assistant to help students learn syntax while developing their core problem-solving skills.
Shital Thekdi, who teaches in the Robins School of Business’ analytics concentration, has students experiment with prompt engineering—learning to effectively query AI systems to support statistical modeling and data analysis. But she emphasizes that the technology doesn’t replace the need for human judgment.
“The class becomes less about coding and more about the analyst, their role, and their judgment,” Thekdi said. “We still rely on the human to design how to use the model. You could think of a model as a black box. You have inputs, you have outputs, and the human decides what the inputs are and how to interpret the outputs.”
This emphasis on human judgment and critical thinking extends to how faculty approach assessment and academic integrity. Rather than relying on AI detection tools, which can produce false positives, professors are redesigning assignments to highlight higher-order thinking skills that can’t simply be automated.
“
[THE GOAL IS TO] TAKE A ... VERY WELL-RESEARCHED AND NUANCED POSITION ON THE TECHNOLOGIES AND BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO FACULTY AND HELP THEM SEE ITS ROLE IN THEIR TEACHING.”
—ANDREW BELL, technology consultant and faculty hub operations manager
Saif Mehkari teaching in the Robins School of Business
Lauren
“
IF WE’RE TEACHING THINGS THAT CAN EASILY BE AUTOMATED OR REPLACED BY ALGORITHM, THEN WE NEED TO FOCUS ON DELIVERING HIGHER LEVELS OF LEARNING.”
—SHITAL THEKDI, associate professor of analytics and operations, Robins School of Business
“If I can feed a test question to AI and it gives me the answer, then what was I really testing in the first place?”
Thekdi asked. “If we’re teaching things that can easily be automated or replaced by algorithm, then we need to focus on delivering higher levels of learning that cannot be automated or entrusted to an algorithm.”
HOW DOES AI INTEGRATION HELP GRADUATES BECOME WORKPLACE-READY?
Today’s students will graduate into a world where AI is ubiquitous in the workplace, a fact that shapes Richmond’s approach to AI integration. Faculty are focused on helping students develop AI literacy—the ability to understand AI’s capabilities and limitations while maintaining their own critical thinking skills.
“Our students in particular are perfectly poised to handle this next generation of technology because they have access to resources that let them understand and use the technology, but they also have this broad understanding of science, art, math, and economics, and the many other disciplines within business, liberal arts, and leadership,” Thekdi said. “That helps them put perspective on what they’re doing.”
Richmond views this combination of technical literacy and liberal arts education as a boon to graduates looking
Tilton, center, teaching outside Weinstein Hall
to add value in an AI-enhanced workplace. “If you’re just crunching numbers or proofreading, doing some other rote tasks,” Essid said, “I can hire a machine that never asks for a day off, that never gets sick, that needs an occasional upgrade, and costs me $20 to $100 a month, which is cheaper than I can pay for any human employee.”
The key, faculty argue, is helping students understand how to leverage AI while maintaining their own judgment and creativity. “We need to prepare students for a world where this technology is going to be as common as a web browser,” Essid said.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR AI AT RICHMOND?
To keep in lockstep with AI’s rapid evolution, the university is launching the Center for Liberal Arts and AI (CLAAI) in fall 2025. This initiative, supported by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, will “bring together researchers, students, and experts to think about the social, political, and cultural possibilities and challenges of AI,” said Lauren Tilton, who will lead the center. “The humanities are cen tral to this, thinking about how we can use AI creatively while also thinking about its impacts.”
CLAAI will operate as part of a broader collaboration with the Associated Colleges of the South, connecting Richmond with 15 other small liberal arts colleges across the region. “The idea here was that small liberal arts colleges could be even stron ger by being connected together and harnessing all the research and teaching and pedagogical opportunities across them,” Tilton said.
Tilton sees CLAAI as a natural extension of the university’s strengths as a liberal arts institution. “We think interdisciplinarily and transdisciplinarily and integrate many ways of thinking together. That’s the value of a liberal arts education. CLAAI is taking those values and ways of thinking and integrating them into a different way to do AI.”
Faculty also acknowledge the need to stay current with AI’s development. Training and consultation are available to teaching staff through Bell and the faculty hub. “I also think there’s going to be learning on both ends,” Mehkari said, describing how faculty can also learn from their students about effective AI implementation.
The center will focus on four key areas: faculty fellowships will support research projects with the opportunity for student collaboration; course development grants will help professors create new classes or redesign existing ones to thoughtfully integrate AI; a workshop and lecture series will bring expertise to campus while fostering broader community engagement; and the university will develop expertise in visual AI and the analysis of images, photography, and film.
“I don’t think of research and teaching as disconnected,” Tilton said. “When you have exciting research, it also creates exciting classes. And when students get really excited, it infuses the research. So while they’re divided into four areas, I see them as deeply connected.”
“I think the University of Richmond is in a great place—definitely a better place in the higher education landscape than other institutions— and that’s because we have such small class sizes,” says Bell. “The interventions that are shown to be beneficial are where we maintain our humanity, where we maintain the human in the loop.”
This perspective shapes how faculty ultimately view AI: not as a replacement for human intelligence, but as a tool that—when properly understood and thoughtfully deployed—enhances learning and prepares students for the future while maintaining the essential human elements of education.
“The value of the education at the University of Richmond is to understand the tools and how to use those tools, but not entrust those tools to replace one’s own critical thinking,” Thekdi said. “Students learn how to use those tools, but they also get their liberal arts education and learn how to use those tools effectively, ethically, and wisely and use those tools to do great things that the tools could not have done.”
The health studies boom
AN INSIDE LOOK AT THIS RAPIDLY GROWING AREA OF STUDY AT UR
By Matthew Dewald
WHEN ABBY CELENTANO, ’25, ARRIVED at the University of Richmond, she thought she wanted to pursue a pre-med track and become a doctor. Or maybe a physician assistant. Or maybe a nurse. But after taking an introductory course with health studies professor Rick Mayes, she discovered a passion for the “behind the scenes of health care.”
“I found it intertwined what I was good at with what I was interested in,” says Celentano, a double major in health studies and business administration from Malvern, Pennsylvania. “The major can be so broad but also so tailored at the same time. The professors are very open—if I say I want to learn about the financing of insurance, they find someone for me to talk to.”
The combination has worked out very well for her. Before the start of her senior year, she had already accepted an employment offer from Johnson & Johnson, where she interned working in research and development for oncology therapies. Post-graduation, she will join a rotational program, beginning with an 18-month position working on the medical technology financial planning and analysis team.
Celentano is one of a growing number of Richmond students gravitating to health studies, which has seen enrollment increase substantially in recent years. The program’s disciplinary seeds lie in the 2007 launch of a minor in med-
ical humanities, which was designed to provide pre-med students with a stronger social sciences and humanities background. Health studies, as the discipline eventually came to be called, grew steadily, becoming a full-fledged department in 2021 with a major built around a core public health curriculum of health policy, global health, and epidemiology. The faculty has grown from two professors in 2021 to five today, with a search underway for two more.
Health studies is not new at the university. In fact, it was present at Westhampton College’s founding in 1914.
Three of Westhampton’s first five faculty members taught health-related topics such as nutrition, sanitation, and public hygiene, in the day’s terminology. Two of these women were physicians. One, Margaret Nolting, was the second woman in Virginia to earn a medical degree.
“Health studies has long been an area of study at UR,” says Kathryn F. Jacobsen, professor of health studies and William E. Cooper Distinguished University Chair. “Amazing women were teaching health studies here 100 years ago, and we’re building on their legacy.”
The program’s recent resurgence reflects the diversity of careers in public health and the health care industry. Some students enroll in the major to augment a pre-medical, pre-dental, or another clinical track. Others are preparing for roles in hospital administration, health policy, global
Opposite page, clockwise from top left, Shermin Uzair, Hung Pham, Abby Celentano, and Usra Karar, all members of the Class of 2025.
Opposite page, left column: Students in La Romana, Dominican Republic, with Esperanza, an NGO focused on microcredit finance, public health, and community development. Right column, top: in Luray, Virginia, with Remote Area Medical. Right column, bottom: in Pampas Grande, Peru, volunteering with the Richmond Global Health Alliance
health research, medical technology, and more. The COVID-19 pandemic then further heightened interest in public health.
“We get a big chunk of students who come to U of R who are pre-med,” says Rick Mayes. He is the department’s first chair and played an integral role in its establishment alongside Jacobsen, the other original faculty member of the department. Newer faculty include Margaret Tait, an expert in health policy and politics, and Courtney Blondino, who specializes in epidemiology and mental health and substance use comorbidity.
“Some students have been pre-med since they were 5 and haven’t really thought 100% about it,” Mayes says. “By virtue of taking classes and other things, they realize, ‘Oh, if I want to be in the health care field and helping people, there are many options in addition to being a physician.’ We’re the department that explains those options to them and offers courses that outline different paths.”
For Hung Pham, ’25, the health studies major opened his eyes to the social determinants of health. He is pursuing majors in biology and health studies.
Pham, who grew up in Chesterfield, Virginia, just south of Richmond, arrived at college interested in a health-related career. In his early coursework, he fell in love with the natural sciences and their connection to medicine. Then a first-year course on health policy gave him more to think about. “I’d never really thought about treating people from a more holistic perspective. The science is cool, but there’s so much more to health than just science. I wanted to add a public health foundation to my biological understanding.”
“If I want to be in the health care field and helping people, there are many options in addition to being a physician.”
—RICK MAYES, PROFESSOR OF HEALTH STUDIES
Pham, who is planning on physician assistant school after graduation, says the health studies curriculum has changed the way he thinks about the profession. “Not only will I know the scientific reasons of why I’m doing this or that, but I also need to think about the person as a person and understand root causes outside of their symptoms,” he says. “Hopefully I can recognize these issues and provide better care, not only through medical interventions, but through prevention and a more humanitarian perspective.”
Experiential learning
The health studies program places a strong emphasis on connecting classroom concepts to real-world issues through study abroad, research, internships, and community engagement. For many students, these curricular and cocurricular experiences are pivotal in shaping their academic interests and career goals.
An interdisciplinary approach
Central to the health studies curriculum is its interdisciplinary nature. Majors take core courses on health systems and policy, global health, epidemiology, and research methods. They also take health care-related electives in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Nearly 60% of students earn a second major, most commonly in biology, psychology, leadership studies, or, like Celentano, in the business school.
This approach equips students with a well-rounded perspective on the myriad factors that influence health. “It’s not just the science, but also the economics, politics, psychology, and humanities,” Mayes explains. “Health care is embedded in these larger systems, and students need to be aware of that.”
MaryGrace Apostoli, ’11, crafted her own interdisciplinary health care major as a student with Mayes as mentor before the health studies program formally existed. She credits study abroad for giving her a global comparative lens. As a student, she spent a semester in Denmark and also spent time in Peru. “What just blew my mind was that there are so many things that contribute to health, longevity, and quality of life that are not directly related to science or curative medicine,” she says. “The systems that support health care and equitable access to health are so much more significant in determining whether somebody lives or dies and how well they live.”
The revelation sparked her interest in “the nonscientific aspects of the health care system—how our systems are constructed, what determines who gets care, and how good that care is,” she says. “It was a very transformative experience for me.”
After graduation, Apostoli worked in the international division of the Advisory Board, focusing on helping hospitals learn from one another about how to improve the efficiency of the administrative aspects of running a hospital. She now leads a solution engineering team for the health care and life sciences division of a technology company.
“I don’t think I ever would have had the confidence to
take advantage of those international work experiences if I hadn’t gotten that foundation from UR,” she says. “It turned me into the person I am today.”
Senior Usra Karar has also been shaped by international experiences. She studied in India, South Africa, and Argentina, which gave her a global perspective on health care systems and community-based approaches. She also worked with the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, where she worked on retaining health care talent in Virginia. She entered Richmond intending to follow a pre-dental track, but she is now exploring multiple options as she nears graduation.
“Public health has always interested me because we were in the pandemic when I was in high school, so I saw public health efforts be put at the forefront,” she says. Going abroad gave her comparative examples. “I learned that there are different ways to approach health and sometimes more efficient ways compared to the U.S.”
Professor Nigel James, who joined the health studies faculty in 2024, bridges theory and practice in his teaching. Trained as a public health specialist, he has led maternal and child health initiatives and researched health financing innovations in lowand middle-income countries. He has worked and studied across the world, including in Thailand, Switzerland, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and his native Zimbabwe. He did his doctoral work, a dual degree in health policy and demography, at Penn State.
“I pride myself on teaching not only what I’ve read, but what I’ve experienced,” he says. “I draw examples from responding to Ebola in West Africa or cholera outbreaks where I’ve worked. I show data visualizations to contrast health indicators in the U.S. versus other countries. Bringing my active research into the classroom makes things tangible for students.”
He cites the health studies department’s interdisciplinary nature and attentive mentorship as two of its core strengths. Trust, he says, is key
“ There are so many things that contribute to health, longevity, and quality of life that are not directly related to science or curative medicine.”
—MARYGRACE APOSTOLI, ’11
“Dr. Mayes runs through my mind all the time—I often think about how he would handle things that come up.”
—SHERZEL SMITH, ’13
their next steps, from gap years to graduate school to launching a career. Alumni also play a crucial role by returning to campus and talking with students about their professional journeys.
“We spend a lot of time in advising [meetings] discussing things students can do after they graduate that build on what they learned in their courses,” Mayes says. “If you like this material, good news: There are tons of jobs, fellowships, and grad schools you can pursue. Connecting them with alumni working in the field is incredibly valuable.”
Mayes, center, teaching this semester
for students exploring pathways they hadn’t previously considered.
“This is a department where professors really care about students,” he says. “I was told when I came here that students really don’t care much about what you know until they realize how much you care about them.”
Preparing future health leaders
As health studies majors approach graduation, professors provide intensive mentoring to help them discern
That network proved helpful for Sherzel Smith, ’13, a trailblazer like Apostoli who designed her own health studies major with Mayes as mentor before the program formally existed. She came to Richmond intent on pursuing a pre-med track but began to rethink that goal as she took classes and met alumni working in various fields. She appreciated how Mayes created a home for students who were interested in health care but uncertain about becoming doctors.
“Even though it wasn’t formally a major yet, there were alumni who felt part of that family,” Smith says. She designed her course of study in the early days of the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare. It was a time of wide-ranging public discussions about systems for health care delivery and its costs.
“I realized that a stronger health care system is a better way to help a larger number of people than being a physician working with patients one-on-one,” she says. “I did the interning and the volunteering with patients. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it. Those were tremendous experiences. I’m glad I did them because it was good to find out that I wasn’t crazy about clinical care, but I still
A GROWING MAJOR
The popularity of interdisciplinary majors related to health studies led the School of Arts & Sciences to introduce a health care studies major and minor for the 2012–13 academic year. Its elevation to an independent health studies department and the hiring of global health expert and epidemiologist Kathryn Jacobsen in fall 2021— in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic—significantly increased student interest in the developing program.
For the last two academic years, 2022–23 and 2023–24, the program has had roughly 150 majors and 100 minors at any given time, resulting in approximately 50 health studies majors and 30 health studies minors graduating each year.
ANNUAL GRADUATES (MAJOR)
had an interest in health care. I started asking what else I can do in areas that I’m really interested in and strong in, like research, data, operations, and processes.”
After earning a degree in Amsterdam in global health and working internationally, Smith eventually returned home to the Bahamas for family reasons. Today she directs outpatient clinics and patient intake for the only private hospital system in the country.
“Dr. Mayes runs through my mind all the time—I often think about how he would handle things that come up,” she says. “I feel really lucky I was able to get the kind of training I got at Richmond. You could have never told me back in 2010 when I didn’t want to be a doctor anymore that in 12 or 13 years I’d be in charge of seven facilities. I would never have accepted that and would never have had that kind of vision if it wasn’t for Dr. Mayes.”
Shermin Uzair, a senior from Leesburg, Virginia, also came to Richmond intending to pursue pre-med. Her personal experience affirmed that track as she got deeper into the curriculum. She spent winter break wrapping up her MCAT preparation and will soon apply to medical schools. She says that adding a major in health studies on top of her biology major has been an important component of her education. She’d never been introduced to terms like “social determinants” or “social drivers” of health until she started taking courses in the health studies major, though she was generally familiar with the underlying concepts.
“Learning about the social drivers of health really broadened my understanding of health outcomes that aren’t just biological,” she says. “I think every pre-med or pre-health student should have that understanding so you can provide more patient-centered care.”
One particularly meaningful class she took was taught by one of the many Richmond alumni who contribute their expertise as mentors and, in this case, as faculty. The professor, Kerrissa MacPherson, graduated from Richmond in 2011 with degrees in biology and leadership studies. She then returned to complete her master’s in nonprofit studies in 2018 through the School of Professional and Continuing Studies. Today, she is pursuing a doctorate and is a program manager of community health for Bon Secours in Richmond.
During spring semester of Uzair’s junior year, MacPherson taught a course on nonprofit community health care. The course, Uzair says, “was eye-opening.” The concepts related to the social drivers of health care were similar to what she’d studied in earlier classes, but this one focused on the city of Richmond as a case study.
The course included tours of local medical and historical sites, including areas underserved by medical services, grocery stores, and other health-impacting services. At one stop, in the parking lot of a church, Uzair stood in the southern part of Jackson Ward and looked across the gulley of I-95 at the northern part of the district. When the highway was built, it bisected the historically Black neighborhood, decimating its character and displacing nearly 2,000 families. The experience underscored for Uzair the
potential of policies and practices to disproportionately harm already disadvantaged neighborhoods.
“Actually standing there and seeing the separation of Jackson Ward with that highway running through was—I mean, I took a moment of reflection there,” she says. “And then we drove through food deserts on the east side. We were driving for miles, and the only thing we saw were dollar stores and gas stations. No major grocery stores and no healthy food options for the communities that live there. I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”
Such experiences are important for students’ education as they prepare for health-related careers, whether in clinical care, administration, or some other aspect of the health care industry. James says they also help explain why students are increasingly attracted to the major. It’s similar to the effect that COVID-19 had on further spurring enrollment growth: Students are seeing examples of public health impacts with their own eyes and in their own lives.
“When students’ lives are so deeply impacted by something, you don’t have to convince them why these issues are important because they’re living it,” he says. “We have courses on health care policy, epidemiology, and global health that speak directly to what they’re seeing in the news every day.”
“Learning about the social drivers of health really broadened my understanding of health outcomes that aren’t just biological.”
—SHERMIN UZAIR, ’25
Mayes emphasizes that the health studies program’s expansion stems not just from one factor, but many tributaries flowing together—the draw of an interdisciplinary curriculum, increasing interest in health careers, and opportunities for experiential learning and alumni mentorship.
“We give students who are passionate about health a place to thrive,” Mayes says. “We convey that there are so many ways they can make a difference, whether that’s delivering care directly or shaping the systems that keep people healthy. Wherever their specific path leads, we prepare them to be changemakers.”
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“As a son, it was great to be able to walk across the stage with my mother. She has worked extremely hard to make me and my sister ready to tackle the world. In a sense, I feel that this degree is for her to show what her children can do in this world.”
Mother and son
Marisol Marrero, 51, had quit college when she started her family. She always wanted to return and complete her degree, but it was difficult when her children were young.
One of them, Gabriel Delgado, now 28, took a more traditional route. He attended Reynolds Community College after high school and earned his associate degree. He then transferred to Old Dominion University but dropped out after a year because he wasn’t happy with his major.
After taking off about a year and a half, Delgado decided to go back to college, which happened to coincide with Marrero’s decision to finish her degree. She had already been accepted to UR’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies and shared her experience with Delgado, knowing he was looking to finish his degree, too.
“I told Gabe about my positive experience applying, registering, and meeting my adviser,” Marrero said. “I asked him to join me at the University of Richmond.”
After a little research, Delgado decided SPCS was a great option
for him. First, the degree programs allowed him to continue working full time. Second, he would be able to transfer much of his previous coursework, which was extremely important. Third, studying IT would allow him to make a career change. Finally, his mom recommended SPCS highly.
“I was never confident in school, a C-average student most of my life,” Delgado shared. “SPCS taught me to be confident in myself.”
Returning to school was a confidence builder for Marrero as well. “I realized I could accomplish anything,” she said.
For Marrero, earning her degree from SPCS was just the beginning. She plans to continue her education. Delgado is focusing on completing his career change and finding a job in IT or information security. Regardless of what comes next, they both treasured their time at UR, especially graduating together.
“I’m proud to say I walked [at commencement] with my mother,” Delgado said. “I know in that moment the feeling we both had was truly an out-of-body experience.”
UR Here
UR Here Giving Day is coming up April 9–10. Thanks to your generosity last year, this 36-hour fundraising event generated over $2.2 million to support the Spider community.
“We set high expectations for [last] year’s campaign, and the Spider community blew them away,” said Kim Lebar, director of annual giving.
No matter where you are while reading this, your gift to Richmond this year puts you beside our students and their professors and coaches as they pursue knowledge, growth, and lives of purpose.
Learn more at urhere.richmond.edu.
To the cheese bar
The Greater Richmond Spiders invite you to a guided cheese, wine, and beer tasting at Truckle Cheese Bar this April. Dedicated mongers will talk about each cheese, a paired wine or beer, and basic pairing principles.
To attend—or discover alumni gatherings in your area—see the calendar of events on alumni.richmond.edu.
Reunion Weekend
If your class year ends in a five or a zero, then expect special perks at this year’s Reunion Weekend. All are invited back to campus to reconnect with peers through class events, receptions, tours, and more.
Dates: May 30–June 1
Register: reunion.richmond.edu
CAMPUS
Delgado and Marrero at graduation celebration and regalia pickup event
BOOKS
VIRTUAL ALUMNI EVENTS Nothing beats a trip back to campus or reconnecting with Spiders in your area—but did you know you don’t even need to leave the house to attend alumni events?
From pizza making to career services to mid-month meditations, we’ve tapped our vast Spider network to keep us connected—no matter where you are. Look for upcoming programming at alumni.richmond.edu and click Virtual Events.
Members of the Westhampton Class of 1970
Together still
When the Class of 1970’s 50th reunion was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reunion committee co-chairs Jerry Williams, R’70, and Rin Barkdull, W’70, wondered whether the milestone would pass largely unmarked. But in 2022, with their encouragement, the university hosted a special combined reunion for three classes, treating the delayed celebration with all the honor of a traditional 50th.
While Westhampton College and Richmond College classes had historically held separate reunions, Williams and Barkdull united to bring everyone together throughout the reunion weekend. Events included the Boatwright Society dinner—
where 50-year graduates are formally inducted—and a social hour in the Gottwald Science Center atrium.
For Barkdull, who has served on every reunion committee since her two-year reunion, the bond with Westhampton runs deep. “It was the happiest time in my life,” she says, recalling traditions like singing the Westhampton blessing before meals, a tradition the alumni revived at their reunion dinner.
Now the co-chairs are looking ahead to their 55th reunion this summer. “We’re scattered far and wide,” Williams says, “but [we all enjoy] our time there and having the opportunity to see how the campus has changed.”
REFLECTING ON 2020
“It was heartbreaking,” Barkdull says, recalling the cancellation notice. “But then I thought about the students who weren’t even getting to graduate [in person] that year. At least we have our graduation memories.”
I’M SORRY FOR MY LOSS: AN URGENT EXAMINATION OF REPRODUCTIVE CARE IN AMERICA
COLLEEN LONG, ’00
Journalist Colleen Long and co-author Rebecca Little investigate reproductive health in post-Roe America, covering the history of pregnancy loss along with recent political and cultural impacts.
CHRISTMAS AT COOPER HILL
AMANDA MACKENZIE
HOWLAND, ’99
In this romance novel, Josie Grainger is 41, newly single, and spending her winter holidays at an elegant inn in small-town Vermont. Her hosts pique her curiosity as their secrets start to unravel during her stay.
THE BRONZE DOOR KARIN CIHOLAS, W’62
This historical novel is the second installment of the Cyrenian Trilogy. The story follows Simon as he fights for justice for his fellow Jews but faces a new challenge when his wife, Aurelia, and their sons convert to Christianity.
SPACE CHASERS
LELAND MELVIN, R’86
This first book in a middle-grade graphic novel series created by astronaut Leland Melvin features a team of brilliant kids-turned-astronauts who find themselves in serious trouble in outer space. They will need to work together to make it back home.
REUNION CHEER
By
EXERPTS FROM EARLY LETTERS
AUG. 8, 1994: Wow! 13 months! I think the first round only took 6 months— we’re slowing down.
SEPT. 30, 1994: I hope to see every single one of you at Homecoming—including you this time, Tish! Thank you all for continuing this letter— it’s such a morale boost to read it! I miss all of you and think of you often!
The circle letter
Before this group of 1992 alumni used email and texting to keep in touch, they used snail mail—a single letter added to by each recipient for two decades. The result: everything you see below and much, much more.
Consider the humble, handwritten letter. Before this era of social media and smartphones, pen and paper kept loved ones connected. One such letter—dubbed “the circle letter” as it cycled among recipients—became a two-decade tradition that documented the post-graduation days of these 1992 alumni.
Jennifer White Alsobrook, W’92, sent the first letter. For the next 20 years, it passed from alum to alum, each one reading the accumulated letters and adding their own updates before sending the growing collection onward. Letters in manila envelopes soon expanded into hefty parcels filled with photos, newspaper clippings, and mementos.
Sue Kaufman Milano, W’92, saw the letter’s evolution from the start: “The packets kept getting bigger. I’m shocked a box wasn’t delivered to my doorstep. I vividly remember setting aside a whole day to sit and read each letter, picturing my friends’ lives through their words. Then it would take another whole day to write [my letter]!”
The circle letter captured first jobs and apartments, graduate school, adventures abroad, weddings, births, and eventually more somber moments of loss and grief. When Ellen Blumeyer Peters Otto, W’92, lost her husband, the group coordinated to ensure someone wrote to her each week for nearly three months before gathering for a reunion weekend.
Digital media fully replaced the letter around 2010, but the bonds it forged have only strengthened. These alumni meet up annually, sometimes more. “We’ve been to cool places,” says Alsobrook. “Montana, Mexico, Phoenix (twice), Florida—not to
mention attending and being in each other’s weddings.”
While digging through old letters and memorabilia, Christine Menand, W’92, considered how different communication is for the next generations: “My kids aren’t going to have [those mementos]
unless they keep their electronics.” To her, a screen doesn’t hold the same thrill as ink on a page. “We kept the letter going because we like the physical aspect of it. These days, though, with email, we still keep in touch whether it’s with an exciting announcement or even just, ‘What book are you reading?’ or ‘Share what you’re doing right at this moment!’ This always gets fun responses.”
QUOTATION
“ When I tell people where I work, it often triggers smiles.”
CONOR
FLANAGAN, ’12 , leadership studies and business administration major— and senior brand manager at the Hershey Co.
SPIDERS FLI
Limitless opportunity
It didn’t take long for Charles and Nel Ellwein, P’24, to fall in love with the University of Richmond through the experience of their daughter, Alexa, ’24.
“She had a great first year,” Nel said. “We became really excited ... and began to learn how we could best offer support.”
In 2022, the couple established the Ellwein Family Fund, which provides long-term support for programs and activities that further student well-being and belonging, specifically for first-generation and/or limited-income (FLI) students.
“We want these students to feel comfortable and supported so they have just as great of an experience as Alexa had,” Nel said.
The Ellwein Family Fund provides
support to the Spiders FLI program, which offers networking opportunities, mentorship, leadership experiences, and community-building events.
Sam Ghali, ’24, said Spiders FLI gave him the confidence to pursue a prestigious internship in mental health research at the University of Oxford.
“My most significant accomplishment [at UR] was finding a family like no other in the Spiders FLI program,” he said. “At its core, FLI is about mutual affirmation. The FLI community is [one of] the hardest working on campus. Many of us have accomplished remarkable things and continue to do so. We often stumble, and anxiety floods in, but there’s always a family to lift us up again.”
BOOKS
THE COCKTAIL ATLAS: AROUND THE WORLD IN 200+ DRINKS CHRIS VOLA, ’07
Each country covered in this cocktail recipe book has a description of its customs, Indigenous food and drink, topography, distilling traditions, and cocktail scene.
SPIDERS FLI
Formerly called Spider Firsts, the program changed its name to represent both groups of students it supports: F (first-generation) and LI (limitedincome).
In 2019, the National Center for First-generation Student Success recognized UR as a First-gen Forward institution.
PATH R. BLAND WEAVER JR., R’81
This novel follows the middle-class Pike family as it navigates challenging decisions that test their family loyalty. Billy and his son Trey consider choices that could change their lives irrevocably.
WHAT THE EYES CAN’T SEE: RALPH NORTHAM, BLACK RESOLVE, AND A RACIAL RECKONING IN VIRGINIA MARGARET EDDS, ’03
This book considers why Gov. Ralph Northam’s career did not end with the blackface scandal and how racism might be addressed and reckoned with.
A HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA SANDWICHES MIKE MADAIO, ’97
A journey through the history and eateries behind Philadelphia’s most iconic sandwiches, from the classic cheesesteak to the delectable roast pork.
PIKE’S
The Ellwein family at the graduation of daughter Alexa, ’24
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
’57Lorem 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.
’60Lorem 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 con-
iscing 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.
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.
sequat. 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 adip -
’62
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
For information about photos, see:
1. Mary Bell Kirby, W’57
2. Bobbie Cahoon Somerville Riedel, W’70
3. Jo Burnette Cooper, W’70
4. JoAnne Russell Nicholson, W’70
5. Donna Boone, W’70
6. Terry Heilman Sylvester, W’76
7. Sallie Lucas Veenstra, W’74
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.
’63Lorem 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.
“The best news [I] can offer is that western North Carolina is making a comeback from Hurricane Helene.”
—Betty Brown Creech, W’60
’64Lorem 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. 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.
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 feu-
giat 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.
’66Lorem 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 tincid-
BETH MARSCHAK, W’72
Lived experience
Beth Marschak, W’72, has a voice and isn’t afraid to use it. As a lesbian woman, she has participated in several organizations advocating for women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. Her advocacy is rooted not only in her identity, but also in being an ally to other communities—and understanding what that allyship looks like.
Her origins date back to her undergraduate days when she was a member of many student-led groups, such as the Organization for Women’s Liberation (OWL). After graduation, she founded the Richmond-Lesbian Feminists and other LGBTQ+ coalitions in Virginia. Organizing served as a way to collaborate with individuals of similar identities and convictions, whether the issue was civil rights, anti-war movements, or the environment.
“I have an opinion about a lot of things, and I like to be able to do something about what I believe,” Marschak said.
But her identity doesn’t isolate her from other communities. For example, in the 1970s Marschak marched with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a predominantly Black organization. Unlike within organizations based on her own identity, her allyship involved acknowledging her limited perspective and not trying to be the loudest voice.
“There’s nothing that takes the place of lived experience,” she said. “It was not really up to me to make the major decisions about things. It was up to the people who were primarily impacted to do that.”
Instead, she defines her allyship by providing support. Even if she may not share an identity with a group, she shares a common humanity and an equal capacity to impact someone else.
“You’re part of a collective, interconnecting web,” she said. “No matter how big or how small you may think what you’re doing is, it has an impact.”
—Amy Ogle, ’26
Photograph by Paige Critcher
TOM LAPPAS ’98
Because it matters
After The Henrico Citizen lost all its advertising revenue in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, owner Thomas Lappas, ’98, weighed his options. Stop production? Or keep investing in his nonprofit newsroom? Lappas chose to persevere but with a twist: The newspaper would stop publishing its weekly print edition—which it had done for nearly two decades—and instead move entirely online. At a time when small independent newsrooms are disappearing, Lappas estimates the Citizen has increased its readership more than fourfold since before the pandemic to nearly 100,000 readers.
“News is more than a business,” Lappas said. “It’s a mission. If you care about your community, you should care about journalism. Because it matters.”
After graduating from the University of Richmond, Lappas never imagined he’d start a newspaper that would thrive for over 20 years. As a journalism major and senior sports editor at The Collegian, he envisioned a career in sports journalism. However, after two years at a community newspaper in Henrico County, he chose to go his own way to better support the community he cherished.
On September 20, 2001, The Henrico Citizen debuted. Despite initial doubts about the time of its release, just days after 9/11, Lappas saw its impact, saying, “Maybe it wasn’t the worst time— people needed something locally to grab onto.”
The University of Richmond has provided a lifeline for the publication in the form of internship candidates. Over the years, Lappas estimates that he has hired over 50 students to work for The Citizen, Lappas has also taught several classes in the journalism department. This connection to the next generation of journalists has allowed him to keep a fresh perspective on how he runs his business and what to focus on in the news. “[UR] is a really special place for me,” Lappas said.
—Lucy Jones, ’26
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. 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.
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
“It is never too late to be what you always wanted to be—never! UR prepared me for this one day—realizing my dream late. Earlier, life got in the way.”
—Ken Humphrey, R’64
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.
’72Lorem 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 adip -
iscing 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 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 adip -
“I was thinking about the good old days at Westhampton, when we lived in our raincoats to hide our rolled-up slacks and experienced all four seasons in an appropriate calendar year.”
—Quita Tansey Collins, W’66
iscing 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.
’74Lorem 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.
’75
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 ullam-
Old story, new teaching tool
No one alive today is old enough to remember it, but a short-lived amusement park overlooked Westhampton Lake in the early 20th century.
There was once an Eiffel Tower on the land where campus is today.
Well, sort of.
It was a knock-off, akin to today’s much bigger one at Kings Dominion amusement park just north of Richmond. The earlier tower was an attraction of Westhampton Park, which operated for a few years in the early 20th century, shortly before the university bought the land and started
building today’s campus. It sat on what would become the Richmond College side of the lake.
Back then, the land was the terminus of a new street car line. The street car company created the amusement park to entice passengers to ride the length of the route. They disembarked near where Boatwright Memorial Library is today.
In addition to the mini Eiffel Tower, the park had a performance pavilion, zoo, and café. At one point, a canvas was draped near the lake for people to enjoy a new entertainment technology: moving pictures.
The park opened in May 1902 but by August, it was struggling. It held on through intermittent closings over the next several years, launching new attractions (like the makeshift movie screen) to boost visitation.
In 1907, the morning trolleys to Westhampton Park stopped running, sealing its fate. The university bought the land in 1910. The story of the park has cropped up
over the years since, including in the pages of this magazine. It got renewed academic attention in fall 2019 when university landscapers discovered shards of pottery while planting azaleas outside Maryland Hall. They halted work immediately out of concern there might be a connection to a nearby antebellum burying ground for enslaved workers. The latter area is currently being developed, in cooperation with descendants, into a memorial site.
Professor Elizabeth Baughan, coordinator of the archaeology minor, led an excavation of the pottery shards as part of an Introduction to Archaeology course. The class, other students, and volunteers uncovered, analyzed, and cataloged more than 1,000 artifacts. They determined that the ceramics and glass were generally pieces of plates, tumblers, condiment bottles, and other items discarded from the park’s café.
The park’s existence was a short-lived moment in the long history of the land where UR is today. Baughan’s project is one example of how the campus’s physical infrastructure often becomes a learning lab for students in a variety of disciplines.
BACKGROUND
Much of the information in this article comes from “Concessions Uncovered,” an ArcGIS storymap created by Emily Dixon, ’22, Danny Saravia Romero, ’23, and Lindsey Stevens, ’23, who worked on the project as students through a 2021 summer fellowship. Their study also contextualized the park within the broader history of the land on which campus now sits.
By Matthew Dewald
CHAD
CRIGGER,
’11
Medical legacy
Chad Crigger, ’11, spent a lot of time in the local hospital as a child in his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia. It wasn’t due to chronic illness, however; he was simply tagging along with his parents while they worked. His mother was a nurse, and his father was a surgeon.
“Whether doing rounds with my dad or hanging out at the nursing station with my mom drinking grape juice and eating crackers, it seemed like I was always in the hospital,” recalls Crigger. “When I witnessed how appreciative the patients were and realized the immediate impact you can make working in this field, it influenced me to pursue a surgical career.”
A gift from his parents at age 11—a book called The Human Body Explained—sealed the deal. “I think from that point on, I didn’t consider anything other than medicine,” he said. “I still have that book. Actually, it’s sitting right here in my office.”
The office he’s referring to is at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, where Crigger is an attending pediatric urologist and assistant professor at the Brady Urological Institute. He specializes in bladder exstrophy, a rare birth defect where the bladder forms outside the fetus’ body. At the center, Crigger has been performing a surgery known as modern staged repair for the past four years as a member of pediatric urology pioneer Dr. John Gearhart’s team. During the summers after his sophomore and junior years at Richmond, Crigger was as a camp counselor for Camp Kesem, which serves children who have lost a parent to cancer. He credits this time as the pivotal moment that fostered his interest in working with children.
“That experience is the driving factor of why I chose to pursue pediatric surgery,” he said. “I enjoyed working with kids, and being a counselor equipped me for challenging conversations with families down the road.”
—Megan McMorris
corper 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.
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.
“[I] continue to recover from the broken hip caused by goofing off in the dorm on the first night of the 50th reunion.”
—Sandra Sperry, W’74
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 com-
modo 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.
’80Lorem 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.
’81Lorem 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.
’84
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 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.
’85Lorem 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.
’87Lorem 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 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
NICK OLINDO, ’15
Fired up
When Chicago Fire Football Club beat Inter Miami in 2023, Nick Olindo, ’15, joined in the energy of a sold-out crowd. For fans, it was an exciting win over international star Lionel Messi’s team. For Olindo, it was the payoff after months of planning and dedication—and it brought him right back to his time on the sidelines at UR.
As director of strategy and special projects for the Fire, Olindo describes himself as a “Swiss Army knife.” He works closely with several departments, including corporate partnerships, ticket sales, and matchday operations, to bring various high-priority projects to fruition. For example, he has created ROI models for a new stadium, negotiated partnerships with local Chicago institutions, grown merchandise sales, and facilitated the transition to a new stadium concessionaire.
Olindo is no stranger to ensuring the best gameday experience. Not only was he a manager of the men’s basketball team as a student, but he was also president of the Richmond Rowdies, a group of students who led chants and fired up fans at games. During his junior year, he produced “We Are One Richmond,” a video to inspire school spirit before the basketball season began.
“We sold out the student section within 24 hours after the video came out, and it made me proud to be part of this university and community. I got to see what that can mean, so I wanted to bring that back [in my career],” Olindo said.
He cherishes the opportunity to make a stadium a place for memorable experiences. The win against Inter Miami was significant for record revenue, but Olindo was also reminded of how hard work and passionate fans can make a moment.
“Business is important, but we’re also trying to create memories for families and kids and soccer diehards,” he said. “When you walk around on game day, you see the sparkle in kids’ eyes. I remember that kind of experience. I never forget it.”
—Amy Ogle, ’26
DESTINY LEVERE BOLLING, ’16
The power of voice
Running for public office had always been on her bucket list, and now it’s reality for Virginia House of Delegates member Destiny LeVere Bolling, ’16.
During Bolling’s sophomore year, the political science and international affairs double major put her ambition into practice. She participated in a Sophomore Scholars in Residence program focused on combating human trafficking. This solidified her resolve to pursue a career in public policy. “It was an incredible hands-on experience that furthered my education outside of the classroom,” she said.
After graduation, Bolling became the communications director for Virginia AFL-CIO, which prioritizes the needs of labor unions and working families. There, she got a behind-the-scenes view of what it takes to be a legislator. “We were going down to the General Assembly, sitting in committees, and meeting with legislators,” she said. “I got continuously frustrated with how things are handled and felt that I could take a more active role.”
A delegate seat opened in 2023, and Bolling jumped at the opportunity. With the support of Emerge Virginia—a nonprofit that supports Democratic women running for office—along with her family and friends, Bolling won the seat and began her two-year term in January 2024.
In her first year, Bolling passed legislation she feels personally connected to, including a bill that offers training for emergency response professionals to properly care for individuals with neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. “There are a lot of older people in my district, and dementia runs very prominently in my family, so I’m thankful we can offer this important training,” she said.
“The best part about this role is getting to practice my favorite word: altruism,” Bolling said. “I wholeheartedly believe in putting people before myself. I love being able to use the power of my vote and my voice to create positive change.”
Kyra Molinaro
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
’90
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
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.
’91
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
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 nos-
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.
“[My] car was stolen; it was later found and just needed a good cleaning. The culprit was caught based on his tattoo seen on the security camera!”
—Elizabeth Mitchell Austin, W’75
’94Lorem 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.
’95Lorem 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.
’96Lorem 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.
’99Lorem 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.
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 adipisc
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 adipisc
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 facili-
sis 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.
’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.
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.
’06
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
“ [We] celebrated [our] 50th anniversary … on Friday, Sept. 13. Having gotten married on Friday the 13th, [we] consider it [our] lucky day!”
—Terrie Payne West, W’75, and Reed West, R’76
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.
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.
’10Lorem 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.
’12Lorem 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.si. 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. ccumsan 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 sus-
cipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.si. 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.
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 feu-
JAIDE HINDS-CLARKE, ’20
Main character energy
Jaide Hinds-Clarke, ’20, wants to remind you that you are the main character of your story. Once a basketball player being coached, this leadership developer is now here to be your coach.
“A lot of times, folks will think a coach is just the person telling you what to do and how to do it,” Hinds-Clarke said. “I don’t believe that. It’s awesome to have that guidance and think through ideas with someone who has your best interest in mind.”
Hinds-Clarke puts this to work with the Trevor Project’s hotline, creating the learning modules that prepare volunteers to support the LGBTQ+ youth calling in.
“We have volunteers who go through a 10-week learning journey. They’re coming to Trevor and getting the support they need to be counselors on the lines,” she said.
Alongside her wife, Amiaya, she also cofounded Hinds-Clarke Co., a coaching and consulting service specializing in leadership relating to mental health; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and sports. Clients begin with a session clarifying why they want coaching and what their goals are. From there, HindsClarke tailors future sessions to the individual’s needs. One of her methods is Real Colors, a personality assessment based on four colors, which she often uses to demonstrate team collaboration.
“I’m the supporting character, and [the client is] the leader of their own story,” she said. “How can I help them continue to feel empowered to make the decisions that are best for them?” Hinds-Clarke views the outcomes as having learning potential rather than as a success or failure—after all, there’s no story without character development.
“Anytime I have the opportunity to brainstorm, work together, collaborate with folks, and then be part of their growth is really fun,” Hinds-Clarke said. “I love being able to be part of something that’s bigger than myself.”
—Amy Ogle, ’26
TAYLOR MCCLAIN, GC’21
Back to school
Going back to school for a master’s degree is a big decision for most college graduates. It takes time and effort, not to mention money. That’s why Taylor McClain, GC ’21, waited years to return.
“I only wanted to do it if I found a program that was affordable and really aligned with my interests,” McClain says.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree in 2016, McClain went to work in retail operations and purchasing in the grocery industry. She says hiring, training, and promoting people were the best parts of her job, and that soon led to an epiphany.
“I sort of got this idea that maybe I should be in human resources,” McClain says. She researched HR programs and found the School of Professional and Continuing Studies at the University of Richmond.
“It was flexible,” McClain says. “I could continue working while going to school at night, and I absolutely loved it. Especially at that point in my life and career.”
McClain enrolled in SPCS in January 2020 and despite pivoting to online courses during COVID-19, the smaller class sizes, accessible faculty, and friendly classmates made it an ideal fit. “I felt right away I picked the right program.”
Two years after graduation, McClain had another light bulb moment. She quit her job for a career gap, taking up a Spanish education immersion program in Latin America. McClain traveled to 19 countries in eight months, enhancing her Spanish and her empathy. “It makes you a better professional, especially if you’re in HR,” she says. “I imagine in a lot of careers.”
McClain returned to Richmond and secured a new job as a human resources manager, and she credits SPCS.
“It gave me a lot of confidence, support, and permission to pivot my career in the way that was right for me.”
—Sandi Cauley
giat 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.
’15Lorem 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 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. 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. 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. 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. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
“[We] welcomed [our] second child, Charlotte Anne, in August 2024. Christopher is a proud new big brother.”
—Chris Musalo, ’13, and Jennifer Tedrick Musalo, ’13
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
For information about photos, see:
8. Brian Beveridge B’80
9. Elizabeth Edelman, ’05
10. Tom Zydel ’05
11. Abby Torrance, ’16, and AJ Accomando, ’17
12. Colby Alvino and Bobby Piluso, ’19
BRAXTON HUGHES, ’22
No small part
There’s a chance you’ve seen Braxton Hughes, ’22, in the Netflix show you’re currently bingeing. You just didn’t notice him.
That may be because Hughes is a background actor, a role he’s had success in of late. Hughes has recently made cameos in popular shows like Outer Banks and Cobra Kai.
Hughes’ role on set is similar to the one he held on the University of Richmond’s football team. During his five seasons with the Spiders, he wasn’t always on the field, but he made up for it where he could with the little things. Hughes would often hold kicks and don a headset on the sidelines to help with signaling.
“Even with a smaller role, I just tried to be a leader and help our team win in any way I could, and I really enjoyed it,” Hughes said. “I loved it so much, and I miss it a lot, too.”
After five years at Robins Stadium, Hughes received his master’s degree from Ferrum College, where he also had a chance to play a sixth season.
Now Hughes plays the sport internationally in a league in Brazil—a destination set in motion by a love of culture and language he discovered while studying Latin American, Latino, and Iberian studies and anthropology.
His pursuits in acting were sparked during his time as an undergraduate student as well. A seminal moment came when he took a class with professor Julie Fulcher of the theatre and dance department. There he rediscovered his love for performing, which has benefited him now as a thespian.
From the field to the screen and everywhere in between, Hughes’ life has been defined by a variety of activities, many of which have continued post-graduation thanks to his time at the university.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Richmond,” Hughes said.
—Jimmy James, ’25
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.
“I’m so happy that UR brought us together and that [Bobby] proposed on the campus where our relationship all began.”
—Colby Alvino, ’19
’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.
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 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.
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.
Everyone reads class notes, but only you can write them. Send your update — whether life-changing or just friendly chitchat — today using this QR code.
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@richmnd.edu.
’40s
Stanley Schoenbaum, R’47, of San Antonio, Texas, July 22, 2024. He was a tax lawyer recruited to Texas by the law firm of John Peace. Later, along with two partners, he formed Schoenbaum, Curphy & Scanlan. A veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II, he taught tax law as an adjunct professor at St. Mary’s University School of Law. The Planned Giving Council of San Antonio presented him with its Lifetime Leadership Award. He served on various boards and was active for decades at Temple Beth-El. He is remembered for his generosity, friendship, sense of humor, community service, and philanthropy.
William B. “Bill” Pond, R’48, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, July 15, 2024. He joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 and served during World War II. After receiving a UR degree, he volunteered for service in the Korean War, serving at Pearl Harbor and then on the destroyer USS Keppler. He later began a banking career, first in New Jersey and then in Harrisonburg as vice president and later as senior vice president at Rockingham National Bank. In the mid-1980s, he established a private practice as an investment counselor. Active in community service, he enjoyed travel and restoring a stone house built in 1819.
Ann Wilson Bryant, W’49, of Richmond, Virginia, Nov. 29, 2024. She taught English in Richmond and Chesterfield County from 1968 to 1993. She was a member of the Virginia chapter of the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, the Jamestowne Society, and the Commonwealth chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. She and her husband served on the university’s Lake Society and were members of the Boatwright Society.
’50s
Ruth Morrissey Bain, W’50, of Ivy, Virginia, Sept. 1, 2024. She served at the Catholic Driefontein Mission in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) for three years. She eventually became the mother of seven children. In the late 1970s, she joined the rheumatology lab at the University of Virginia Medical Center, where she worked until she retired in the late 1990s. She was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and traveled to Europe and throughout the United States with Road Scholar.
Marianne Beck Duty, W’50, of Chesterfield, Virginia, Aug. 13, 2024. She continued her education at the University of Richmond School of Law and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she completed all work for a doctorate degree except for dissertation. She left law school to marry a fellow law student and worked in public relations and teaching. She taught part time at Westhampton College in 1954, and from 1960 to 1967, she taught English full time at Westhampton and Richmond colleges. She enjoyed travel, especially the 60 cruises she took.
Ellen Largent Perlman, W’50, of Delray Beach, Florida, Oct. 27, 2024. In Washington, D.C., she worked as a researcher and writer. Following her marriage to a foreign service officer, she accompanied her husband to assignments in India, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Romania, and Washington, D.C., teaching English as a second language. After retirement and a move to Delray Beach, she served as editor of the Brandeis University National Women’s Committee bulletin.
Elijah L. “Tay” Musick Jr., R’51, of Ashburn, Virginia, July 16, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army and spent his career in the insurance industry in Northern Virginia. He worked for Cigna for 30 years as a property claims supervisor. He was passionate about classical music, travel, baseball, and football. He traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe.
William V. Ford, R’51, of Arlington, Virginia, December 22, 2024. He was a Korean War veteran and Fulbright fellow, he began working for Arlington County in 1959 and concluded his service as county manager in 1981. He served for 60 years as chairman of the board of trustees of the historic Ketoctin Baptist Church.
Wayne E. Comer, L’52, of Merritt Island, Florida, April 3, 2024.
Alice Subley Mandanis, W’52, of West McLean, Virginia, Aug. 2, 2024. She earned a doctorate from Catholic University and joined the faculty of Marymount University, where she became chief academic officer. Through 21 years, she supervised the school’s academic transformation from a junior college for 500 women to a comprehensive, coeducational university of 4,000 students. She oversaw development of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, and as the university expanded, she oversaw off-campus sites in Loudon and Fairfax counties and in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington County. She served as a trustee of the University of Richmond, Centenary College in New Jersey, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Fitzhugh X. Mullins, R’52, of Glenview Kentucky, Sept. 12, 2023. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a captain and chief of surgery at
Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. He spent two years at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, training and doing research. He later joined a practice in Louisville, Kentucky, continuing his research and teaching. He was a member of numerous surgical societies and served on the Project HOPE hospital ship in Brazil.
Jack A. Moody, L’53, of Siler City, North Carolina, Aug. 2, 2024. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before graduating from college and law school. After law school, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, becoming a first lieutenant and legal officer. In 1955, he joined his father’s law firm, which later became Moody, Moody, Williams, and Roper. He served in the North Carolina legislature from 1963 to 1967. The governor appointed him to the state’s prison commission and the North Carolina Railroad Co. board of directors. He served on two bank boards and was active in his church. The Office of the Governor named him to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of North Carolina’s highest honors.
Thomas A. Jackson, R’53, of Raleigh, North Carolina, Oct. 6, 2024. He was pastor of McLean Baptist Church in McLean, Virginia, for 23 years until moving to Wake Forest Baptist Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina, where he served until his retirement in 2004. After retiring, he often filled in as interim pastor. He taught as an adjunct professor at several colleges and led tours to the Holy Land. In 1998, the city of Wake Forest named him Citizen of the Year, and in 2004, it presented him the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for “outstanding service and commitment to keeping the dream alive in our community.”
Howard O. Haynie, R’54, of Leesburg, Virginia, Oct. 14, 2024. After service in the U.S. Air Force, he began his career in the defense industry, first with RCA and then with Sperry Univac. Having lived in France while working for RCA, he made trips back to the country later in life, along with visiting famous blues clubs in New Orleans; Memphis, Tennessee; Chicago; and Washington, D.C.
Ethel “Smitty” Smith Amacher, W’55, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Aug. 9, 2024. With a master’s degree in psychiatric social work, she worked part time, building a career while never missing the activities of her three daughters. She became a formidable advocate for at-risk children and helped pioneer a broadly used interdisciplinary approach to treating abuse victims. The U.S. Army hired her to train professionals around the world in child interviewing techniques and new treatment approaches. She loved hosting “Gigi camps” for grandchildren in South Carolina and is remembered for her deep faith.
Betty Parrish Knott, W’55 and G’65, of Henrico, Virginia, Oct. 31, 2024. She had various careers:
teaching, running a Golden Skillet restaurant, selling insurance, and being a mother. She also taught Sunday school and was a Girl Scout leader. She had a passion for tennis and became close friends with her tennis groups.
Jean Ruddle Migneault, W’55, of Williamsburg, Virginia, Nov. 26, 2023. She was a mathematician at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which later became NASA. From 1955 to 1966, she worked at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, in the sections that programmed digital machines. She became supervisor of the computer room and served as a liaison between NASA Langley and IBM. In 1965, she moved to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, to assist with the software for the lunar orbiter project. She completed her work for NASA in the program research division as a system analyst.
Charles B. Morton, R’55, of Barefoot Beach, Florida, and Manhattan, Kansas, May 11, 2024. He was a dentist and served in the U.S. Army dental corps for 21 years. He held the rank of colonel and was a consultant in orthodontics to the surgeon general.
Marilyn Abrams Salzman, W’55, of Clearwater, Florida, Nov. 7, 2024. She worked for Revlon in New York City before marrying and moving to St. Louis. After more than 20 years of being a stay-at-home wife and mother, she earned certification as a paralegal. She worked as a probate paralegal in St. Louis for 10 years and then moved to Clearwater, where she worked for a law firm for another 16 years.
Morton Bender, R’56, of White Plains, New York, Aug. 23, 2024. He spent decades as a gastroenterologist in New Haven, Connecticut, and as an associate clinical professor at Yale University School of Medicine. After retiring, he volunteered as a mentor to residents at VA New York Harbor Healthcare System in Manhattan. He was one of the world’s first coronary bypass patients in 1977 and more recently one of the first recipients of treatment for cardiac amyloidosis. He applied the skills he learned as a short-order cook early in life to become a home chef, specializing in a variety of foods from muffins to grilled turkey.
June Gregg Bennett, W’56, of Winterville, North Carolina, April 23, 2024. She taught students in Virginia, Indiana, and North Carolina for 43 years, also always learning and calling herself the “forever student.” She played a variety of percussion instruments and the electric organ.
Herman S. “Bud” Blumenthal, B’57, of Norfolk, Virginia, Feb. 27, 2023. He was president of L&B Investment Mortgage Co. At Temple Emanuel in Virginia Beach, Virginia, he served as president and treasurer.
Richard R. Butterworth, R’58, of Orange, Virginia, Oct.26, 2024. He was a dentist in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, for nearly 40 years. He coached and supported Dinwiddie youth sports, setting up leagues and teams; running the clock for football, basketball, and wrestling; and reporting on Dinwiddie High School sports for the local paper, along with his wife, Peggy, as photographer. Those efforts were recognized when he was selected to serve as grand marshal for the Dinwiddie Christmas Parade, another community activity he organized and supported.
Gerald B. Gordon, R’58 attd., of Wake Forest, North Carolina, Nov. 28, 2023. He served in the U.S. Army medical corps before a career in pathology at Virginia Commonwealth University and Grace New Haven Hospital in Connecticut, followed by a long career with Pfizer, Warner-Lambert, and Organon Teknika. In retirement, he pursued his passion for the railways by working as a ticket collector on Amtrak’s 15-hour Raleigh-to-New York City route. He enjoyed Civil War history, baseball, the Richmond Spiders, and advocating for the less fortunate.
Leo A. Massad Jr., B’58, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, July 24, 2024. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Marquette during the Korean War. After graduation, he began a distinguished career, culminating as executive vice president and controller for Hertz Corp. He lent his time and talents for decades in his Catholic church, serving as lector, Eucharistic minister, and volunteer for many parish projects.
Ann Copeland Denton Ryder, W’58 and G’66, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Aug. 11, 2024. She was an area director for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, traveling to evaluate and assist local organizations in providing better mental health services for patients. She also spent time alongside her husband training nurses at Forsyth Memorial Hospital. She was a founding member of the city of Winston-Salem’s Human Relations Commission to improve race relations and promote equality and fair treatment.
Cornelia Preddy Tillotson, W’58 and G’78, of Richmond, Virginia, Oct. 9, 2024. She taught for more than 35 years, serving as social studies department chair at Byrd Middle School and Godwin High School.
Stuart C. Wilkinson, B’58, of Glen Allen, Vir-
Margaret “Peggy” Graves Butterworth, W’57, of Orange, Virginia, Aug. 13, 2020. She was a high school and middle school math teacher in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, often serving as a mentor to new teachers. She was active in her church, where she taught Sunday school and played in the bell choir. As a volunteer photographer, she covered Dinwiddie High School sports for the local newspaper, The Monitor
ginia, Nov. 20, 2023. He was a teacher and administrator in schools in Henrico County, Richmond, and Goochland County, Virginia. He also served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, attaining the rank of lieutenant commander. He earned a divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and served as a preacher in Goochland County.
William E. “Bill” Baker Sr., R’59, of Roanoke, Virginia, Aug. 4, 2024. He was commissioned as a U.S. Navy Reserve officer and ecumenical chaplain, serving 12 years before becoming a public affairs officer. He served Baptist congregations in North Carolina and Virginia and later became the youngest dean of students at Richmond College and the Business School. As director of design and production for Virginia’s 1976 bicentennial celebration, he oversaw construction and outfitting of three bicentennial centers. As a Navy Reserve officer, he commanded four units and served as an aide to President Ronald Reagan in the 1981 inauguration. Called to active duty, he served at the Pentagon on the staff of the assistant secretary of defense for public affairs for three years. An avid believer in the healing power of laughter, he was always ready with a joke. This led to him joining the Kazim Shrine Circus as Checkers the Clown.
Cynthia Patterson Douglas, W’59, of Bruce, Mississippi, Nov. 7, 2024. As a pastor’s wife, she moved with her husband to Tennessee, Arizona, and Mississippi for more than 60 years. She wrote for Lifeway Christian Resources and taught adult and youth Sunday school.
Harry D. Hensley, B’59, of Martinsville, Virginia, Aug. 22, 2024. He taught for 43 years with the Martinsville City Schools. He mentored and offered support to other teachers, traveled, and spent many hours tending his flower gardens.
William R. Shelton Sr., L’59, of Chester, Virginia, July 14, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army and then in the commonwealth’s attorney’s office in Chesterfield County, Virginia. He became a judge of the Chesterfield General District Court in 1966 and the 12th Judicial District in 1986, serving there until his retirement in 2003. He continued as substitute judge and officiant at settlement conferences until age 90. He was a pilot, golfer, hunter, skier, and tennis player and continued to ski the Rockies until age 87. He was an active member of Chester United Methodist Church.
’60s
Germaine Graff Baldwin, W’60, of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Oct. 12, 2024. She taught school and Sunday school most of her life. She was a docent for the Virginia Historical Society and shared her knowledge of Richmond with friends, family, and
strangers. For 30 years, she sang with the Richmond Symphony Chorus.
Wesley N. “Jack” Laing Jr., R’60, of Corpus Christi, Texas, Aug. 31, 2024. A fifth-generation Texan, he was a career Army officer; a 20-year professor at Texas A&M University; a devoted psychologist specializing in PTSD and drug and alcohol recovery; and a mentor to graduate students. He motorcycled throughout his life, and his journeys took him around the world.
Arthur G. “Butch” Lambiotte, R’60 and L’63, of Plano, Texas, Jan. 27, 2024. His law career spanned 40 years in private practice on behalf of Shenandoah County and the city of Newport News, Virginia. He was passionate about coaching youth basketball, beginning with church leagues and continuing with AAU girls and boys teams, focusing on skill development and proper technique. Peninsula Sports Club honored him as a Sports Person Emeritus in 2010.
Chris J. Mitsos, L’60, of New Castle, Pennsylvania, Sept. 6, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea, and after law school, he began practicing law in New Castle. He retired in 2011 after 51 years, most recently as a senior partner specializing in trust and estate planning. He served on several community boards and was president of the Jameson Hospital board. He was co-owner of MP Coney Island, the family enterprise established in 1923 by his father and a business partner.
William L. “Bill” Painter Jr., R’60, of Rockingham, Virginia, Oct. 10, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army, and as part of his service, he assisted with the desegregation of the University of Mississippi in 1962. He later entered ministry and served churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Richmond.
Graham H. Powers Jr., R’60, of South Hill, Virginia, Aug. 12, 2022. He worked for the U.S. Treasury Department, was an avid Boston Red Sox fan, and enjoyed duck hunting and stamp and coin collecting.
Melissa Granger Sellers, W’60 attd., of Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 28, 2024. She was broker/owner of Sellers Real Estate from 1979 until her retirement in 2010. She was an accomplished pianist and seamstress and enjoyed cooking, gardening, traveling, and birdwatching.
Daniel M. Thurston, R’60, of Christiansburg, Virginia, Aug. 4, 2024. He worked for Aetna Life and Casualty Co. for 28 years and then for the Manville Trust. He was an active member of his church and cooked for church events. He also served in a food pantry and other roles to reach those less fortunate than himself.
Samuel L. “Sam” Belk Jr., B’61, of Gainesville, Virginia, Sept. 14, 2024. He worked for IBM as a sales executive for 25 years, then served as a bank vice president and business executive,
eventually retiring from M&T Bank. He was a successful restaurateur who owned and operated Waffle King franchises in Fairfax, Herndon, and Alexandria, Virginia. He served on the University of Richmond Board of Trustees and was an avid Spider fan. He traveled and explored unique destinations.
Willis E. Brownstein, R’61, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, July 21, 2024. He practiced dermatology in Northern Virginia.
Maude “Becky” Powell Harrison, W’61, of Garner, North Carolina, Aug. 13, 2024. She was a public school teacher, an early childhood education administrator, and a Sunday school teacher. She was involved in community organizations and established a book club where she could exchange literary viewpoints with members.
Jean Stonestreet Mann Lloyd, W’61, of Midlothian, Virginia, July 9, 2024. She was a longtime member of Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond, attending Sunday school for more than 50 years. She was a “snowbird” in Venice, Florida. At home in Virginia, she cooked large meals for family during the holidays and hid Easter eggs for the grandchildren to find. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and participated in the Red Hat Society.
Katherine Raiford Smith, W’61, of Buena Vista, Virginia, Oct. 1, 2024. She was a librarian at the Medical College of Virginia and then oversaw the library of the Virginia Institute for Scientific Research. She was head of the science library at Boatwright Memorial Library at UR. She was a dedicated gardener, joining the Seed Savers Club and spearheading the establishment of a master gardener program in Rockbridge County, Virginia.
Gayle Gowdey Williams, W’61, of Axton, Virginia, July 28, 2024. Following graduation, she began a career as a teacher in Richmond and as a business manager in the lodging industry. Moving to Martinsville, Virginia, she was a loving and proud wife, mother, and grandmother and an avid supporter of her husband’s legal career. She was a member of PEO and First Baptist Church in Martinsville.
Lawrence M. Fuccella, B’62, of Richmond, Virginia, July 26, 2024. He spent 35 years in the Virginia Air National Guard, serving the last 20 years full time as comptroller and budget officer, retiring at the rank of colonel. He enjoyed several retirement jobs, including one fulfilling his dream of working in a hardware store.
Marti Bratcher McSharry, W’62, of Delmar, New York, Sept. 6, 2024. She began her career as a medical technician. Her commitment to serving others led her to work at the Samuel S. Stratton Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Albany Medical Center, where she made sig-
nificant contributions, including the establishment of two HIV labs. She was deeply engaged in her community, serving with the PTA, the Girl Scouts, the Delmar Progress Club, and PEO International.
Richard S. Miller, L’62, of Lynchburg, Virginia, Sept. 27, 2024. He was in private law practice before becoming a district court judge and then a Lynchburg circuit court judge, where he presided until his retirement in 2001. He enjoyed wine collecting and gourmet cooking.
Pettus T. “Tom” Morris Jr., R’62, of Peoria, Illinois, June 30, 2024. An Army veteran, he moved from active duty to the Army Reserve with the rank of captain. He joined his uncle’s furniture business, representing the Midwest territory, and chose to live in Peoria because it reminded him of his home state of Virginia. He later worked in pharmaceutical sales and was active in the Jaycees, the Toastmasters, and First Presbyterian Church.
John E. Buck Jr., R’63, of Martinsville, Virginia, Oct. 17, 2024. He taught history and political science for 41 years at Patrick & Henry Community College. He retired in 2009 and was named professor emeritus. He enjoyed camping and fishing and was a member of First Baptist Church and several civic organizations.
Jack B. Yaffa, R’63, of Coral Gables, Florida, Aug. 21, 2024. The first in his family to attend college, he excelled at football and science. He earned his medical degree and became a noted general and vascular surgeon at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Known as a “titan in the operating room,” he was also known as an incredible husband, father, grandfather, friend, and role model.
Ronald W. “Ron” Davis, G’64, of Richmond, Virginia, Aug. 23, 2024. He was a chemist and an accomplished musician who played organ, harpsichord, and piano.
Susie Gray Fleming, W’64, of Rockledge, Florida, June 12, 2021. She was an elementary school teacher and principal. In retirement, she spent many years volunteering with the Cocoa Elks Ladies’ Auxiliary.
Lucille Phillips Lebold, W’64, of Williamsburg, Virginia, July 18, 2024. She taught math for 30 years in Newport News, Virginia, the last 22 years at Denbigh High School.
Daniel R. Lytle, B’64, of Jamesville, Virginia, Nov. 21, 2024. He was a U.S. Army veteran and spent his career in advertising in Rochester, New York, and on Madison Avenue in New York City. He loved laughter, music, shooting sporting clays, fishing, and tending purple martins.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Mathewson Roberts, B’64, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, June 22, 2024. She was one of the first women to graduate from the
Robins School of Business. After graduation, she studied and traveled abroad. She devoted many years of service to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia, Casady School in Oklahoma City, Moravian Academy in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, and the Episcopal Church. She also was a companion with the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross.
Michael D. Andrews, R’65, of Carrollton, Virginia, Sept. 12, 2024. After teaching for four years, he became a parole and probation officer in Suffolk, Virginia. He was an active member of Benn’s United Methodist Church, the Smithfield Jaycees, and the Possum Hollow Ruritan Club, and he helped start soccer in Isle of Wight County.
James R. “Jimmy” Chisman, B’65, of Hampton, Virginia, June 27, 2024. He worked at WVEC-TV and Chisman Concrete and was owner of JR Chisman Development. He was active at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Jackson Field Behavioral Health Services, Old Point National Bank, and the Virginia Air and Space Science Center.
Linda Holt Lilly, W’65, of Norfolk, Virginia, Nov. 21, 2024. She was active in the Norfolk Academy of Medicine Auxiliary, Friends of the Norfolk Public Library, the Virginia Opera State Board, and the Chrysler Museum. She taught Sunday school for more than 40 years and served on the church’s administrative board.
Donald A. “Don” Nicholas, B’65, of Tappahannock, Virginia, April 10, 2024.
Nancy Saunders Pierce, W’65, of Blackstone, Virginia, Sept. 13, 2024. Nancy and husband Will met at UR while both were singing in the choir. Music was a constant in their lives, starting with jobs for both at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia, then singing in a choir in Germany while Will was stationed there. Back in Virginia, Nancy served for 40 years as organist at Blackstone Baptist Church. She received two master’s degrees and became a librarian for Nottoway County.
Robert L. Sondej, L’65, of Portsmouth, Virginia, Aug. 18, 2024. He practiced law in Portsmouth until, at age 26, he received a direct commission as an assistant legal officer for the 5th Coast Guard District for three years. He then went into practice again in Portsmouth, becoming a partner at two firms before retiring. He was a founding director of TowneBank and a past member of the board of trustees at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy in Suffolk, Virginia.
Carolyn “Urky” Urquhart Burkey, W’65, of Porterville, California, Sept. 8, 2024. She taught piano for more than 40 years, teaching not just the basics, but a passion for the music. She played piano for various schools’ choral groups and at two churches. She sang with the Sierra Vocal Arts Ensemble and shared her love of piano with residents of Sierra
Hills, where she lived the last three years.
Allen H. Sinsheimer, B’66, of Arlington, Virginia, July 31, 2024. He was a certified public accountant and worked for several federal government agencies before his retirement in 2007. He was active in local politics and a proud furniture upholsterer.
Charles S. “Chuck” Montagna, L’66, of Norfolk, Virginia, Nov. 13, 2024. His law practice spanned seven decades. He served clients as diverse as union locals, a longshoremen’s association, and individual clients. He took pride in helping others.
Leycester Owens Jr., R’66, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Oct. 2, 2024. In the U.S. Army, he worked as a general surgeon at Martin Army Hospital. After his military service, he completed a residency in cardiovascular surgery at Emory University. He cofounded North Central Heart and then, with his partners, opened the Heart Hospital of South Dakota. Following in his father’s footsteps, he became a licensed barber and had the honor of giving all of his grandchildren their first haircuts.
JoAnn Jamison Webster, W’66, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Sept. 13, 2024. A scientist, she began her career in biochemistry at Oklahoma State University, then moved to Symex Corp., where she contributed to the development of influenza testing. She was a researcher for drug trials for Alzheimer’s disease and led an early-onset Alzheimer’s support group for patients and caregivers.
Randolph W. “Randy” Baird, B’67, of Bristow, Virginia, Nov. 15, 2024. A Vietnam veteran, he worked for Carpenter Co. for nearly 40 years, retiring as vice president of taxation.
Janet Graves, W’67, of Richmond, Virginia, July 10, 2024. She committed her life to supporting her family. She enjoyed family traditions and the camaraderie of sunny days on the beach and the river with family and friends.
Thomas W. Green Jr., R’67, of Blountville, Tennessee, Nov. 28, 2024. An outstanding athlete, he was inducted into the NCAA Division I Hall of Fame. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and physician. After residencies at Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia, and the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Salem, Virginia, he joined his father and uncle in their internal medicine practice and served as a community physician and clinical professor for East Tennessee State University School of Medicine for 47 years.
Dennis L. Null, R’67, of Mayfield, Kentucky, Sept. 17, 2024. He practiced law in Kentucky and was the attorney of record for the United Steelworkers for more than 50 years. He taught business and labor law and was a city attorney, an assistant commonwealth’s attorney, a district judge, and a special judge.
Bonnie Robertson Wheatley, W’67, of Raleigh,
North Carolina, June 10, 2024. She helped children discover the joy of reading during her years as a librarian in the Wake County, North Carolina, public school system. She enjoyed traveling and dancing with her husband of 55 years.
Patricia Rainwater Whitfield, W’67 and G’84, of Henrico, Virginia, July 31, 2024. A lifelong educator, she earned a bachelor’s degree in music education, a master’s degree in learning disabilities, and a doctorate in special education. She began her teaching career in Chesterfield County, Virginia, and retired as associate dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Longwood University. She was active in her church, where she played in the handbell choir, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, and worked on writing and editing projects.
Orren Beaty III, R’68, of Fairview, North Carolina, Oct. 28, 2024. He earned a doctorate in physiology, conducted postdoctoral research at the Mayo Clinic, and taught osteopathic medicine at A.T. Still University, where he earned another degree in osteopathic medicine. He completed a pediatric oncology fellowship at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. He later helped start a pediatric oncology program at the Ruth and Billy Graham Children’s Health Center in Asheville, North Carolina, and guided the program’s acceptance into the national Children’s Oncology Group. Treating children with cancer was his passion, and his quiet nature and quirky sense of humor enabled him to immediately connect with his small patients.
Donald Dziedziak, R’68, of Toms River, New Jersey, Oct. 30, 2024. He was a veteran who taught math at Spotswood High School until his retirement in 1994. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, archery, and foraging for mushrooms.
Albert C. “Al” Eisenberg, R’68, of Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 15, 2022.
William R. “Buster” O’Brien, R’68, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Sept. 30, 2024. He played football for the Spiders, earning All-Southern Conference, All-State, and All-American honors and being named a co-MVP in the 1968 Tangerine Bowl. The university inducted him into the Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979, and he is a member of the Virginia High School Hall of Fame, the Citrus Bowl Hall of Fame, the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame, and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. After being drafted by the Denver Broncos and playing brief stints with Washington and San Francisco, he completed law school and spent more than 30 years as a criminal defense attorney. He served in the Virginia General Assembly and was a judge in the circuit court of Virginia Beach, serving for 15 years and becoming chief judge.
Terry A. Bupp, B’69, of York, Pennsylvania,
Aug. 17, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and spent his career as a math teacher at West York Area High School. He also coached within the school district. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the West York Football Hall of Fame, and the York Area Sports Hall of Fame. He also managed and volunteered with Special Olympics and was a basketball official, softball umpire, and track and field official.
John E. Good Jr., R’69 and L’72, of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, July 8, 2024. He completed ROTC at UR and served on active duty with the U.S. Army. As a lawyer, he was a public defender and worked in private practice. He served on the board of Middletown Area School District in Pennsylvania and later became a high school government teacher.
J. Wayne Linkous, R’69, of Quinton, Virginia, Oct. 23, 2024. For 30 years, he traveled throughout the northeast and southeast as a medical salesman of ultrasound equipment. He and his wife traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, and the United States, visiting all 50 states. He also enjoyed playing golf, running in marathons, and reading biographies and nonfiction.
J.R. “Raoul” Morin, R’69, of Roatan, Honduras, April 18, 2024. Prior to moving to Roatan, he was a pediatrician in Kingsport, Tennessee. He practiced medicine for 45 years and founded a solo practice called the Care Center, which grew to 20 employees. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and attained the rank of lieutenant commander.
’70s
Herbert H. Eades Jr., C’70, of Henrico, Virginia, Sept. 3, 2024. He worked his way up from mail service to a progressively advancing career in accounting at DuPont. After retiring, he was active in the Masonic Lodge, serving as master for two years. He was a deacon and treasurer at Westhampton Baptist Church and a member of Derbyshire Baptist Church.
April Jureit Major, W’70, of Naples, Florida, Sept. 7, 2024. She was a social worker in Virginia before moving to Florida and opening Summit Medical Supplies with her husband. She cherished her family and actively participated in PTO, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts. She also loved to travel and went with her family to Europe and on adventures in the United States.
Lisa C. Byers, W’71, of Monroe, Michigan, Sept. 21, 2024. A music education major, she later earned a law degree and master’s degrees in music education and organ performance. She was an elementary music teacher and an organist and choir director at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and Trinity Episcopal Church. She sometimes
wrote for The Diapason, an international journal devoted to organ, harpsichord, carillon, and church music.
Edward B. Burns Sr., GB’72, of North Chesterfield, Virginia, June 24, 2024. He served in the U.S. Air Force with a 10-month deployment in the Korean War, earning two Bronze Stars, among other medals. He worked for DuPont, where he developed and patented several products that are still in use today. After retiring from DuPont, he traveled the world as an electrical engineering consultant. He was active in his church and completed the Boston Marathon eight times. In his 60s, he transitioned to racewalking and won several events.
Wayland B. Denton III, B’72, of Concord, North Carolina, Sept. 9, 2024. He served in the U.S. Army, earning a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star in Vietnam. He later retired as a captain in the Army Reserve. He put his business degree to use as a restaurant owner.
Peter S. Horos Jr., G’72, of Naples, Florida, July 11, 2024. He had a career in finance and commercial real estate with Maryland National Bank, Aetna, First Chicago, and Allstate. He enjoyed many activities with his family, especially biking, skiing, bodysurfing at the Jersey Shore, and tennis.
Steven R. Salter, R’72 attd., of Kearney, Nebraska, June 27, 2024. He was a CPA in Fort Worth, Texas, until he retired. He was devoted to his family and is remembered for his laughter, love, and unwavering support.
Charles W. “Chip” Thompson, R’72, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, July 13, 2024. He was an avid outdoorsman and a member of The Lord’s Table Church of Goldsboro.
Terrence R. Batzli, B’73 and L’75, of Richmond, Virginia, Aug. 27, 2024. He was a U.S. Army captain and after active duty spent many years in the Army Reserve. In his law career, he was a partner at Mays & Valentine, a stakeholder and chairman at Durrette Irvin & Bradshaw, and stakeholder and president of Batzli Stiles Butler, which he founded in 2004. After stepping down as a practicing attorney, he started Terry Batzli Mediations. He earned many accolades as an attorney and was founding president of the Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association. The Virginia State Bar’s Family Law Section awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award.
J.S. “Stephen” Buis, L’73, of Port Haywood, Virginia, Aug. 29, 2024. He was a U.S. Army veteran and began his law practice in Richmond with Taylor, Hazen and Kauffman. He later practiced many years with Spotts Fain. He became a judge of the 13th Judicial Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in 2001. He loved spending time with family, friends, and his dogs. He enjoyed hunt-
ing, spending time on the water, puttering in his workshop, and reading.
Barbara Hayes Vann, W’73, G’75, and L’81, of Richmond, Virginia, Sept. 21, 2024. She was an associate in the law firm of McGuire, Woods and Battle before joining the Virginia Office of the Attorney General as assistant attorney general. She was a two-time recipient of the commonwealth’s Excellence in Professional Development Award.
Robert H. Yates, R’73, of Sacramento, California, Aug. 11, 2024. He worked in social services before moving to Yosemite National Park, working as a bellhop and then a union representative. In the 1980s, he took a position with the California teachers’ union and moved to Sacramento, where he arbitrated labor disputes and helped write and sponsor propositions that became state legislation.
William L. “Bill” Andrews Jr., C’74, of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Dec. 25, 2022. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving on the Germany-Czechoslovakian border. Upon leaving the military, he joined Ramon W. Andrews Insurance Agency. He served on numerous boards, including Good Samaritan Ministries, the Central YMCA, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and others.
Denis D. Heiry, GB’74, of Richmond, Virginia, March 21, 2024. He worked 32 years at Reynolds Metals as a corporate director of materials management. He was an avid football fan and enjoyed time at the beach. He had an unwavering faith in God and the Catholic church.
Robert W. “Bob” Jones Sr., C’74, of Richmond, Virginia, Aug. 12, 2024. A U.S. Navy veteran, he spent most of his career with Reynolds Metals, primarily in the packaging and recycling divisions. He worked his way up to advertising manager. He received honors from the American Advertising Federation and the American Marketing Association, among others. He was president of the Richmond Advertising Club, and in retirement, he continued in marketing and advertising with Sanders Consulting and then Goodwill. He was active in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and volunteered with Meals on Wheels.
William K. “Kirby” Carrington, R’75, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Sept. 3, 2024. He was a chemical engineer at Bridgestone/Firestone. He was a family man who enjoyed coaching football, boating, and spending time at the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Leslie W. Rose III, R’75 and GB’98, of Richmond, Virginia, Sept. 14, 2024. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and served in Vietnam. After receiving a medical degree, he began practicing in Amelia County, Virginia, and later joined his father’s practice, which became James River Primary Care. He continued to practice medicine until June 2024.
He volunteered with UR athletics, the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, the Foundation at Williamsburg Place, and Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services.
Anne King Venturino, G’75, of Richmond, Virginia, Oct. 28, 2024. She worked for Henrico County schools for 30 years as an English teacher, a department chair, and a coordinator of English and reading for secondary education. She enjoyed sailing and all aspects of river life. She was a charter member of the West End Cultural Society and co-director of Camp Gwynn.
Philip A. Huss, B’77, of Moseley, Virginia, Aug. 13, 2023. For three decades, he dedicated himself to serving clients of his tax practice, where he also offered personalized financial services. His greatest joy in life was being “Bop Bop” to his four grandchildren.
William F. “Whitey” Waid, C’79, of Acworth, Georgia, Oct. 30, 2024. He had a 43-year career with Gulf Oil and Chevron Corp. A position as a terminal manager for Gulf brought him to Richmond, where he was involved with his children’s activities, including serving in many capacities in support of daughter Courtney’s competitive swimming. He relocated to Atlanta to take on a training position, which he held until his retirement in 1999. He enjoyed spending holidays in Florida, where he was an avid golfer, racking up seven holes-in-one.
’80s
Douglas W. Brown, B’80, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 30, 2024.
James H. “Jim” Cochrane Jr., C’80 attd., of Richmond, Virginia, Oct. 24, 2024. He worked at Overnight Transportation and Highway Express before owning and operating a Tourtime America motorcoach franchise. He served on the boards of the Richmond Ski Club, the Museum of the White House of the Confederacy, and the Frontier Culture Museum. He was a longtime member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Susan O’Keeffe Johnson, W’80 and GB’86, of Glen Allen, Virginia, Feb. 28, 2019. She worked in banking for 13 years, rising to vice president. She later became self-employed and worked for a nonprofit organization. She was active at St. Michael Catholic Church and was a member of the Richmond Symphony Chorus.
August H. “Gus” Samek II, R’80, of Richmond, Virginia, Oct. 20, 2023. He worked for Republic National Distributing Co., serving many grocery accounts. He loved to go to Grateful Dead concerts.
Patricia Lail Bennett, C’82, of Sandston, Virginia, June 12, 2024. She was a preschool teacher and member of the Commonwealth and Fort Loudoun chapters of Daughters of the American Revolution.
Clarence M. Madison, C’82, of Chesterfield, Virginia, Aug. 31, 2024. He was an Army veteran and used his skills as a cryptographer to serve his country during the Korean War. He spent his career in accounting.
David W. Clarke, L’83, of Richmond, Virginia, Oct. 16, 2024. He was a leader and mentor in the legal and legislative community of Richmond and was employed at the firms McCandlish Holton, LeClairRyan, and Eckert Seamans. He also held leadership positions with Orchard House School Board, Richmond Business Council, Leadership Metro Richmond, and Chesterfield Food Bank.
David A. Wilson, B’83, of West Lawn, Pennsylvania, Aug. 17, 2024. He was an independent insurance broker for 35 years. He enjoyed working out at the gym and relaxing on the deck with music and a favorite drink.
Patti Bruce Hunter, W’84, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Aug. 12, 2024. She was an active member of her community, organizing fundraisers and food drives and hosting events for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, along with annual backyard Halloween celebrations. She was passionate about golf and looked forward to tailgating at Penn State and Temple University football games.
Karen Moschler DeCicco, W’86 and G’94, of North Chesterfield, Virginia, Nov. 21, 2024. She taught high school English for 15 years in Chesterfield County Public Schools and then for several years in the community college system. She also was a paralegal for two law firms. She loved dogs and was active in fundraising for the American Cancer Society.
Neil F. Suffa, B’86, of Williamsburg, Virginia, July 1, 2024. He was a CPA for Deloitte and then continued in various finance and accounting leadership roles with different organizations. He enjoyed boating and tennis. A member of Williamsburg Community Chapel, he was active in small groups, outreach events, and greeting worshipers on Sunday mornings.
Maximillian “Max” Hernandez, R’87, of Baltimore, Maryland, Nov. 6, 2024. Professionally, he worked at Provident Bank, Baltimore Gas and Electric, and CAM Construction, but his true passion was coaching tennis. He was an inventor and entrepreneur and was always seeking new challenges. He passed his expertise to others starting their own businesses through his company Max3s.com.
Genevieve “Ruthie” Kimbrough Griffin Burdge, L’89, of Newport News, Virginia, Oct. 1, 2024. For more than two decades, she was a prosecutor for the city of Newport News, specializing in domestic violence and crimes against children. She loved music and anything tie-dyed.
’90s
William J. “Jamie” Nicoll, B’91, of Cockeysville, Maryland, June 9, 2023. An attorney, he worked at the firm Eccleston and Wolf in Baltimore and then for many years at Jenkins and Block, where he became partner. He focused his practice on workers’ compensation, personal injury, and Social Security disability law.
Dellanna West O’Brien, H’93, of Frisco, Texas, Sept.7, 2008. She was the first international missionary to serve as executive director/treasurer of Woman’s Missionary Union. She introduced innovative ways to engage a larger audience in missions, including coeducational mission organizations, the Christian Women’s Job Corps, and WorldCrafts, which imports handmade crafts from impoverished artisans worldwide and markets them in the United States. She also led initiatives to house missionaries while they were on stateside assignment; provide water purification systems to missionaries; create a publishing house; and establish a foundation to secure the group’s future.
Steve D. Hawkins, GB’94, of Powhatan, Virginia, Oct. 3, 2024. He worked at Philip Morris for more than 35 years and took pride and joy in his two sons, coaching their teams and cheering them from the stands.
William H. Mason II, ’94, of Winchester, Virginia, July 12, 2024. He received a culinary degree from Johnson and Wales University and worked at restaurants in Richmond, Montana, Idaho, Winchester, and throughout the Shenandoah Valley. The creation of eM, a fine dining restaurant in Winchester, fulfilled his dream of ownership. He loved soccer and fly fishing, which he pursued on free days and vacations while living in Montana and Idaho.
Patrick H. “Pat” Woods, L’94, of Glen Allen, Virginia, Oct. 22, 2024. An Air Force veteran, he worked for several companies as a chemical materials expert and taught chemistry at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. He loved travel and visited all seven continents.
Traci Grieshaber Zeller, ’96, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Aug. 24, 2024. She earned a law degree, and after clerking with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, she worked as a management consultant, a litigation associate, the first full-time clerk for Judge David Keesler of the Western District of North Carolina, and an attorney with Paul Hastings. After marrying and becoming mother of twin boys, she focused on her creative and artistic talents. She turned her home into a “showplace of beauty” and opened a business, Traci Zeller Interiors. Many national publications featured her designs, and she was thrice named one of Charlotte’s “most stylish people.”
Barbara Spraker Shavelson, C’98, of Cary, North Carolina, Oct. 24, 2024. She worked in Richmond at Reynolds Metals as part of the pensions and benefits team. After retiring, she moved to Cary to be near family.
’00s
Seth M. Edwards, ’02 attd., of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, Oct. 14, 2024. He was a director at the global business consulting firm Protiviti, where he spent 20 years in consulting within the internal auditing and financial advisory group. He was a certified public accountant and certified in risk management. He loved all sports and served as a coach for the Upper Providence Huskies baseball team.
Chantal Meek, ’02 attd., of Rigby, Idaho, Sept. 30, 2024. She attended UR on a soccer scholarship, later moving to Idaho and developing, with partner Corey, a farm they named “Tertulia,” a Spanish term meaning “a friendly gathering of like-minded people.” She was a friend and unofficial therapist to many people, and she was noted for her writing, which won several awards in short-story contests.
Sylvia J. Britt, C’05, of Richmond, Virginia, July 16, 2024. Having earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources, she worked most recently for Virginia Commonwealth University as director of support services and contract management. She enjoyed time with her family at the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Richard M. “Dick” Barnett, H’09, of Elliston, Virginia, Nov. 23, 2023. He was in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving with his unit in the Battle of the Bulge. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a rural letter carrier for 23 years. With a strong belief in the stewardship of the land, he was a director of the Skyline Soil and Water Conservation District and a member of the zoning appeals board of Montgomery County, Virginia.
’10sMichael J. Pausic, C’15, of Saluda, Virginia, Nov. 24, 2024. Before his retirement, he was president of Cavalier Controls.
FACULTY, STAFF, AND FRIENDS
Clinton D. “CD” Burr Jr., of North Chesterfield, Virginia, Nov. 19, 2024. He worked for NAPA for 30 years before retiring and working for Bragg Drywall. He was an avid sports fan, an active member of the local stock car racing community, and a Spider football supporter.
Graham S. Heath of Richmond, Virginia,
Nov.13, 2024. He worked at the University of Richmond from 2010 to 2019 and later for J&L Amusements. He was known for always lending a helping hand to any friend in need.
Paul H. Kvam of Richmond, Virginia, Sept. 1, 2024. He served on the UR faculty from 2014 to 2024 and was an author and coauthor of professional books and papers. He enjoyed playing tenor saxophone and was a member of the UR wind ensemble. In 2004, he completed a bike ride from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic shore.
Violet R. Lowry of Columbia, Virginia, Oct. 24, 2024. She retired from the University of Richmond. She possessed many skills, strengths, and warm kindnesses that made all feel welcome.
Vivian H. Marcoccio of Richmond, Virginia, May 23, 2024. She was an award-winning graphic design coordinator at UR’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies, where her work drew praise from colleagues throughout campus.
Andre A. Moenssens of Glen Allen, Virginia, July 28, 2024. Considered one of the nation’s premiere forensic science scholars, he dedicated his life to advancing fingerprint analysis and criminal investigation. He wrote his first book at age 19, became a member of the International Association for Identification at 23, and studied American fingerprinting techniques through a home study course. He earned master’s and law degrees and taught at Chicago-Kent College of Law. He taught at University of Richmond for 22 years, retiring as professor emeritus, and continued to teach, lecture, and consult throughout the world.
Charles B. Nunn Jr., of Mechanicsville, Virginia, July 25, 2024. A past member of the University of Richmond board of trustees, he earned degrees from Randolph-Macon College, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He did post-graduate study at the University of Oxford in England and pastored churches in Texas; Alexandria, Virginia; and Bluefield, West Virginia. In 1977, he returned to the Richmond area, where he served for 20 years with the Richmond Baptist Association. He was active in the Richmond community and taught Sunday school at First Baptist Church. In 1987, he helped establish a nonprofit corporation to ensure that the annual Richmond community Christmas pageant, The Nativity, would continue.
Susan E. Opdycke of Richmond, Virginia, Aug. 14, 2024. Following her graduation from Mary Washington College, she worked as a medical technologist for Roche Biomedical Laboratories. From 1994 until her retirement in 2021, she was a user support specialist at UR’s Boatwright Memorial Library. Following retirement, she was an administrative aide during sessions of the Virginia General Assembly. She loved travel, family get-togethers, and the many friendships she made through the years.
Linda P. Pugh of Richmond, Virginia, Nov. 11, 2024. She taught preschool Sunday school at Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond for more than 50 years and was a member of the church’s choir and Coventry Ringers. She worked at the University of Richmond, retiring after 25 years of service.
Mark A. Sternheimer of Henrico, Virginia, Oct. 1, 2024. He attended the University of Richmond, and later, in honor of his mother, he founded the Hazel Ione Moses Sternheimer Endowed Scholarship for Music at the university. He was a member of UR’s Quatrefoil Society for giving. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and was president and owner of A&N Stores, a family business that he helped expand to more than 60 stores throughout Virginia. An avid pilot, he was instrumental in the creation of the Virginia Aviation Museum and was a board member of the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society. In 1997, the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities awarded him and wife Anne its Humanitarian Award.
L. James “Jim” Trotmater of Midlothian, Virginia, June 12, 2024. He received a doctorate in psychology from Texas Christian University and then moved to Richmond, where he was a professor at UR from 1966 to 1998, heading the psychology department for several years. He and wife Florence shared a passion for music, square dancing, and travel. Their adventures took them to Europe, Scandinavia, Iceland, and Greece.
Patricia A. “Pat” Tyler of Fairfield, Connecticut, May 7, 2023. She taught high school English for 27 years. In retirement, she volunteered at Caroline House and served on the board of the High School Scholarship Foundation of Fairfield. She was a member of the University of Richmond Charter Associates.
Spider census
WHEN ALUMNI GRADUATED
YES, SPIDERS ARE EVERYWHERE. HERE’S A CURRENT LOOK AT UR’S ALUMNI COMMUNITY.
The mean graduation year of living alumni is 1999. In other words, roughly half graduated in 1999 and before, and half graduated in 2000 and after.
500-999: D.C., South Carolina, Colorado, Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio
ONE-THIRD OF LIVING ALUMNI GRADUATED before 1990
100-499: Washington, Delaware, Arizona, Missouri, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Oregon, Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Indiana, Wisconsin, West Virginia
ONE-HALF GRADUATED IN 1999 or earlier
ONE-HALF GRADUATED IN 2000 or later
1-99: Nevada, Utah, Kansas, Vermont, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Iowa, Hawaii, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Puerto Rico, Nebraska, Alaska, South Dakota, North Dakota, U.S. Virgin Islands
WHERE ALUMNI LIVE
LIVING ABROAD: 1,148
SPIDER SUPPORT
1,937
ALUMNI DONORS for Giving Day 2024, a 33% increase over 2023
500-999: D.C., South Carolina, Colorado, Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio
100-499: Washington, Delaware, Arizona, Missouri, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Indiana, Wisconsin, West Virginia
1-99: Nevada, Utah, Kansas, Vermont, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Iowa, Hawaii, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Puerto Rico, Nebraska, Alaska, South Dakota, North Dakota, U.S. Virgin Islands
Percentage of living undergraduate alumni who ... gave in FY24 19% gave in the last five fiscal years 35% have ever given 73%
“By making a planned gift, I can make a difference that extends far into the future. I firmly believe this is something anyone can do, regardless of their financial situation.”
—Price Riggs, B’84
BY INCLUDIN G UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND IN HER ESTATE PLANS, Price is ensuring that Richmond’s mission to educate and prepare students for lives of purpose will endure for generations to come.
Are you interested in learning how you can make a lasting impact through your estate while also ensuring your financial security? We’re here to help. Contact Jessica Will, director of gift planning, at jessica.will@richmond.edu, 804-287-1864, or giving.richmond.edu/types-of-gifts/planned.
