Class Notes

Rebecca DelCarmen Wiggins, Ph.D. wrote that she recently joined the Office of Research on Women’s Health in the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), working to address the sex and gender imbalance in biomedical research. She is in her 28^th year working at NIH. After receiving her BA degree at Mary Washington, she earned a master’s at Catholic University and a Ph.D. at Ohio State University.  After teaching briefly at American University and Georgetown University, she began her career at NIH. Married to Stephen E. Wiggins, M.D. (a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia) for 25 years, they have two children, Daniel, 23, and Elizabeth, 20.  They moved to Potomac, Maryland from DC in 2016.  She added, “I recently visited Mary Washington and was so happy to see how the campus has grown.  It is in many ways just the way I remembered it but even better! The library is very nice, and I did some reading in a quiet corner of the 2^nd floor while I was visiting. It is great that it is open to the public and to alumni.”

Dr. Keith Littlefield and Ellen Erskine Littlefield’s daughter, Katie Littlefield, was married at the beautiful UMW Jepson Executive Alumni Center on Oct. 27, 2018. The UMW a cappella group “One Note Stand” performed the Australian Football League ‘Richmond Tigers’ fight song for a surprised and enthusiastic groom Will Mosley. Grandmother Mary Jo Lacey Littlefield (MWC Class of 1953), attended as did Keith’s twin brother Michael Littlefield (Class of 1983). Glenn Markwith (Class of 1976) ably represented early male residents of Trench Hill – the hub of the Jepson Alumni Center. Katie and Will reside in Melbourne Australia.

Gayle Weinberger Petro wrote that Lisa Bratton Soltis was recognized with an award for her economic development efforts as “Small Business Advocate of the Year” by the Roanoke Regional Chamber. Gayle added that Lisa Carle Shields has retired and is now living at Smith Mt. Lake. Nancy Quaintance Nelles retired as well from teaching. She went with Donna Anaya and her brother and friend to the National Parks out west this past summer. Nancy and Karin Hedberg also went to St. Kitts in the West Indies the week after Thanksgiving.

We hope everyone in the Class of ’79 has May 31-June 2, 2019 on your calendars for our 40^th Reunion. You won’t want to miss it!