On Campus

The University of Mary Washington has landed on a list of top “green colleges” in the nation for the fourth year in a row. The ranking appears in the 2018 edition of The Princeton Review’s Guide to 399 Green Colleges. The Princeton Review profiles colleges with the most exceptional commitments to sustainability based on their academic offerings and career preparation for students, campus policies, initiatives, and activities. UMW was selected based on a 2017-2018 survey of more than 2,000 schools. UMW also was recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation in February as a Tree Campus USA for its commitment to effective urban forest management for the third consecutive year. University efforts include: The President’s Council on Sustainability Four LEED-certified buildings, and the promise that all new construction and major renovations will meet or exceed LEED silver standards Campus Dining, which was named a green restaurant as part of the Virginia Green initiative … [Read more...]

UMW has partnered with the American Canoe Association to provide online continuing education for Team USA canoe and kayak athletes. The canoe association has its national headquarters in Fredericksburg, and it is also the national governing body for Olympic and Paralympic canoe and kayak disciplines. Because the paddling sports are not represented by NCAA programs, elite canoe and kayak athletes need a different way to pursue higher education while training for international competition. Team members are eligible to take online courses at UMW at no cost. “We are thrilled that the University of Mary Washington will help our Team USA athletes accomplish both their athletic and academic goals on and off the water,” said canoe association Executive Director Wade Blackwood. … [Read more...]

UMW’s new executive director of human resources is Beth Edwards Williams ’94, a psychology graduate who returns to her alma mater after building an impressive career in HR and becoming a community leader. Williams has handled human resources roles for the Hilldrup Companies, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, CVS/Pharmacy’s Fredericksburg Distribution Center, and several Northern Virginia defense contractors. She’s a board member for the Rappahannock United Way, a past chair of Workforce NOW, and a graduate of and mentor for Leadership Fredericksburg. Williams was named a Top 10 of the Next Gen by the Next Generation of Business Leaders in 2012. She holds a coaching certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. … [Read more...]

Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Eric Gable received the 2018 UMW Waple Faculty Professional Achievement Award in April. Established in honor of Shirley Van Epps Waple ’52, the nomination-based award recognizes faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to their scholarly or creative area of expertise. During his 22 years at UMW, Gable has distinguished himself as an international scholar with an extensive publication record and an active research agenda. He is an expert on museum studies, heritage, and the religion and politics of West Africa and Outer Island Indonesia. … [Read more...]

What happens when two sets of parents meet to try to sort out their children’s schoolyard tussle? The adults quickly devolve into bickering children themselves. At least, that’s what happens in God of Carnage, the next production in UMW Theatre’s strong 2018-2019 season. The comic masterpiece by Yasmina Reza hilariously strips the characters to their cores, showing humanity at its most primal. God of Carnage plays in Klein Theatre on select dates from Feb. 14-21, 2019, with evening productions beginning at 7:30 p.m. and matinees starting at 2 p.m. Taking theatregoers back to Restoration London, William Wycherly’s The Country Wife follows scheming playboy Harry Horner as he attempts to seduce the wives and daughters of the city’s most influential businessmen. But when sweet, innocent Margery Pinchwife falls under Horner’s spell, his mischievous scheme takes an unforeseen turn. The Country Wife will run on select dates from April 11-20, 2019, also at 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees. … [Read more...]

Fresh off the success of October’s well-received Celebrity Series performance by Paul Anka, the UMW Philharmonic continues another high-profile season Dec. 7. That’s when travel expert Rick Steves will present his Symphonic Journey, a musical and video exploration of his favorite European countries. Also ahead are Gustav Holst’s The Planets, narrated by actor George Takei, March 23, 2019, and Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, featuring violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, April 26, 2019. All concerts will be in Dodd Auditorium and begin at 7:30 p.m. For tickets or more information, visit umwphilharmonic.com, email philharmonic@umw.edu, or call 540-654-1324. … [Read more...]

UMW is now the permanent home of the Digital Pedagogy Lab, an annual days-long professional development conference for learners, educators, librarians, and administrators who incorporate technology into their teaching and scholarly endeavors. The project is the brainchild of Jesse Stommel, UMW’s executive director of teaching and learning technology, and Sean Michael Morris, director of the UMW Digital Pedagogy Lab (DPL). Though the event at the Hurley Convergence Center draws highly regarded speakers and attendees from all over the world, it didn’t start out as a “big idea,” Morris told participants in the 2018 event in July and August. “It began with a desire to help teachers who were faced with teaching in an increasingly digital world get their feet under them,” Morris said in the conference’s opening remarks. “I am thrilled to be able to make official the relationship between Mary Washington and DPL,” UMW Chief of Staff Jeffrey McClurken ’94 said. “This internationally … [Read more...]