Violinist Itzhak Perlman kicked off the UMW Philharmonic’s 49th season in October as the featured guest of the Celebrity Concert Series. A classical superstar, Perlman has four Emmy Awards, 15 Grammy Awards, a Medal of Liberty presented by President Ronald Reagan, and a National Medal of Arts from President Bill Clinton. This was Perlman’s second performance with the UMW Philharmonic. The season continues: Friday, Dec. 6 – Holiday Pops: Winter Wonderland with traditional favorites and new arrangements. Sunday, Feb. 16 – Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, UMW’s first artist-in-residence, joins the newly formed UMW Chamber Orchestra. Saturday, March 21 – Rockwell Reflections, inspired by the works of Norman Rockwell, composed by Stella Sung, and narrated by Abigail Rockwell, the artist’s granddaughter and an authority on his work. Friday, April 24 – Actor Dennis Quaid joins the UMW Philharmonic to sing the original version of Take Me Out to the Ballgame. The program, Made in … [Read more...]
On Campus
Grant Supports Eagles in Recovery
The University of Mary Washington has received a $50,000 grant for a unique program that helps students in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse and addiction. UMW’s Eagles in Recovery program is benefiting from the “Expanding Collegiate Recovery in Virginia” grant, awarded this summer by the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Though a number of colleges claim substance-free housing, the Eagles in Recovery program puts UMW among only a handful in Virginia – and relatively few across the country – to offer support services for students recovering from substance addiction. The program offers weekly meetings, support groups, and a dedicated safe space called the “clubhouse” where those in recovery can escape the pressures of college life. Funds from the grant will allow administrators to maintain and expand meetings and resources. … [Read more...]
Binkley to Lead Professional Development Center
Paul Binkley has been named executive director of UMW’s Center for Career and Professional Development, fulfilling one of the university’s key strategic goals. His hiring solidifies the university’s commitment to meeting state workforce needs and reinforces its conviction that a liberal arts education is the essence of career and life readiness. Binkley, co-author of Students’ Federal Career Guide, has more than 20 years’ experience in career services, student affairs, international development, and higher education management. Most recently, he directed the student career development team at Johns Hopkins University. He holds a Ph.D. in higher education management from The George Washington University, a master’s degree in international affairs from the University of Kentucky, and a certificate in human performance improvement. … [Read more...]
2019-20 UMW Theatre Season Thrills Fans
UMW Theatre opened its season in September with The Complete Works of Shakespeare, a comic recap of the Bard of Avon’s entire canon. Fun Home, a dazzling, funny musical about growing up, follows in Klein Theatre Nov. 7-24. The season continues in 2020: Feb. 13-23 – Ordinary Days, a musical look at four young New Yorkers navigating the city where ordinary days, weeks, months, and years add up to remarkable lives. April 9-19 – Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s romantic comedy built on mistaken identities, misdirected insults, devious fakery, and bumbling antics. Learn more at cas.umw.edu/theatre or by calling 540-654-1111. Purchase tickets at www.fredtix.com. … [Read more...]
UMW Students to Study Endangered Species With Smithsonian
By Jill Laiacona ’04 Thanks to a partnership with the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC), UMW students will soon be able to study the world’s most endangered species. They’ll spend a semester working directly with these animals and learning from Smithsonian scientists and George Mason University professors at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. The agreement comes just as UMW’s biology department introduces a major in conservation biology. “We’ve always had a cadre of students who are passionate about conservation and sustainability,” said Professor Alan Griffith, who teaches conservation biology. Starting in fall 2020, SMSC will make six of its 40 seats available to Mary Washington students, who will choose from such topics as biodiversity, animal behavior and reproduction, ecology, genetics, migration, and conservation sustainability. The interactive, hands-on courses will let students delve into field research, and the 16 … [Read more...]