Troy D. Paino will become UMW’s 10th president July 1. Paino has been president of Missouri’s public liberal arts and sciences Truman State University since May 2010. The 6,200-student school is ranked the “No. 1 Public University in the Midwest Region” by U.S. News & World Report. “I am fully aware of UMW’s reputation for academic excellence and commitment to developing the qualities of mind and heart necessary for reflective citizenship,” Paino said. “I am honored to have been selected to lead this great university forward in its critically important mission.” Paino also served as Truman State provost and vice president for academic affairs. Previously, he served as dean of Winona State University College of Liberal Arts in Minnesota. He earned a doctorate and a master’s degree in American studies from Michigan State University. He holds a juris doctorate from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy from Evangel University. His … [Read more...]
On Campus
UMW Among the Top in Technology, Value
The University of Mary Washington has been ranked 20th among “50 Most Technologically Advanced Small Colleges” by The Best Colleges Online 2015. In addition, the College Affordability Guide has recognized UMW as Virginia’s most affordable college and rated 13 of its academic programs as the most affordable degrees in the country. The Best Colleges Online ranked UMW, the only Virginia school on the list, using factors including technology awards, progressive science and technology degrees offered, and advanced campus technology offerings. UMW was recognized for the Hurley Convergence Center. The College Affordability Guide looks at affordability for average- and low-income students and focuses on three factors: financial cost, opportunity cost including graduation rates and ability to repay loans, and program flexibility in ways students can earn credits. Academic programs recognized include biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, English, fine arts, foreign language, … [Read more...]
Fourth Monroe Medal Awarded
University of Mary Washington awarded educator and community leader Gladys White Jordan its Monroe Medal in March. UMW has given only four such medals, which are among the university’s most distinguished honors. The Monroe Medal recognizes individuals who in some extraordinary way have provided lasting service to humanity and society. Jordan, a retired, award-winning teacher, has long ties to Mary Washington. As a girl, she worked alongside her parents at Brompton, then the home of Dorothy and Grellet C. Simpson, Mary Washington president from 1956 until 1974. “My mother worked as a housekeeper for the Simpsons,” the Stafford County native said. “I would help her when they had parties.” Born in 1938, Jordan came of age when Virginia’s colleges and universities were segregated by race. She attended Virginia State College, where she earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. The Simpsons believed in her abilities and helped her with tuition. In March, the Board of Visitors … [Read more...]
Educating About the Birds and Bees
Maggie Magliato ’17 wants everyone to support the important work of bees, birds, butterflies, and other insects, so she’s creating a pollinator walk on campus. The international environmental firm Marstel-Day liked the effort so well that it honored Magliato with its Innovation in Environmental Stewardship Award. “We are trying to teach people how important and easy it is to incorporate pollinators into their own landscaping,” Magliato said. “There are many plants at UMW that support pollinators, so the tour will help people understand how and which pollinators interact with each type of plant.” Magliato, who is studying biology and environmental science, will create the pollinator walk with UMW Landscape Director Joni Wilson ’00. The walk will allow anyone walking on campus to learn about plants that are important to the region’s pollinators. Marstel-Day, which is based in Fredericksburg, gave Magliato $2,500 and is providing her with a project adviser. Marstel-Day judges selected … [Read more...]
UMW Wins Regional World Geography Bowl
A team of five UMW geography students headed to Pensacola last fall and came back winners of the 2015 Southeastern Regional World Geography Bowl Competition. Each year, a team represents UMW at the meeting of the Southeast Division of the Association of American Geographers, which sponsors the competition. Virginia’s undefeated team, which included UMW students and one Georgia State University graduate student, competed against seven other state teams. Teams must include students from more than one school, both genders, and graduate and undergraduate students. Many of the competitors in the bowl are graduate students, which makes UMW’s performance especially noteworthy. UMW students also present research and visit sites of interest to geographers at the annual meeting. UMW’s Steven Fernando ’16 was the second highest scorer overall and the highest scoring undergraduate in the competition. As a result, he traveled to the national meeting of the American Association of Geographers in … [Read more...]
Mellon Funds Multicampus Digital Initiative
UMW will be part of a three-year project to expand distance, team-taught, and multicampus digital research seminars in the liberal arts. The Andrew Mellon Foundation awarded COPLAC – the 29 member-school Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges – a $540,000 grant for the three-year project. UMW is a COPLAC member. The project, “Digital Liberal Arts at a Distance,” will be co-directed by UMW History Professor Jeffrey McClurken ’94 and University of North Carolina Asheville History Professor Ellen Holmes Pearson. McClurken, who also is UMW special assistant to the provost for teaching, technology, and innovation, and Pearson co-directed the successful COPLAC-sponsored pilot course “Century America Digital Liberal Arts” that inspired the new effort. Using distance and online technologies, undergraduate researchers will collaborate across campuses to build major digital projects that will be available to the public on the web. They will develop research, production, and … [Read more...]