Notable People
Through the decades, hundreds of educators and administrators have entered the gates to share their talents and lessons about life. Many of these notable people have left their indelible fingerprints on the fabric of Mary Washington traditions, and they have had tremendous impact on the lives of thousands of students.
The following listing represents a few of these motivational figures from each decade since the founding of the University of Mary Washington in 1908.
- 1910 - C. O'Conor Goolrick: Founder of Mary Washington
- 1920 - Nina Bushnell: Student's Mother Away From Home
- 1930 - Eileen Kramer Dodd: Warm and Enthusiastic Mentor
- 1940 - Julian Binford: Painter and Professor
- 1950 - Edward Alvey, Jr.: Father of the Honor System
- 1960 - Albert R. Klein: Mary Washington's Theater Pioneer
- 1970 - George Van Sant: A Career of Service
- 1980 - James Farmer: "Big Four" Civil Rights Leader
- 1990 - J. Christopher Bill: Sought-After Professor and Advisor
- 2000 - Claudia Emerson: Pulitzer-Winning Poet
C. O'Conor Goolrick: Founder of Mary Washington
Portrait of C.O'Conor Goolrick donated in 1983.
Virginia State Senator C. O'Conor Goolrick was born in Fredericksburg on November 25, 1876. He attended local schools, and went on to study at Virginia Military Institute and the University of Virginia Law School, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Senator Goolrick was elected to the House of Delegates in 1908, and he moved to the state Senate in 1915, where he served for the next eight years.
In 1908, he played a key role in the struggle to have a normal school for the training of teachers located in Fredericksburg. At that time, Virginia's only institution devoted exclusively to the training of teachers for public schools was the Normal School for Women at Farmville (now Longwood University). During the 1908 legislative session, two new locations were under consideration, with the Senate supporting Harrisonburg and the House of Delegates selecting Fredericksburg. A compromise was reached, and legislation was passed that created what is today James Madison University and the University of Mary Washington.
Goolrick also was the author of the workman's compensation bill of Virginia, copatron of the state's first compulsory education law, and a member of the 1918-19 commission that laid the foundation for the county-unit system of public school administration. In addition to being known as the "founder" of UMW, he also is regarded as the "father" of the state highway system.
After his state service, Goolrick was city attorney for Fredericksburg for 28 years, and served as Fredericksburg mayor. He was a former president of the Virginia Bar Association, and for many years was the president of The Free Lance-Star Publishing Company. In 1950, he was the first recipient of the B'nai B'rith Award for distinguished service to the community, and he was a member of the Mary Washington Board of Visitors when it was affiliated with the University of Virginia. Goolrick passed away in 1960; in 1967 the new physical education building was named Goolrick Hall in his honor.
Nina Bushnell: Student's Mother Away From Home
Nina Bushnell
No doubt every student who passed through Mary Washington from 1921 until 1950 knew of the infamous Dean of Women, Nina Gookin Bushnell. From her office in Virginia Hall, Mrs. Bushnell dictated much of a student’s life outside of the classroom. She controlled the girls’ social privileges, the male guest list (and corresponding blacklist), the college event calendar, and even served as the school’s telephone operator.
Student meals took place under her watchful eye. She presided over every evening dinner, conducting attendance, reciting the evening prayer, and even lecturing the young ladies about the proper way to eat soup. Whether they loved her or not, students on the hill knew Mrs. Bushnell was a force to be reckoned with!
"She set the tone for the campus. We were terrified of her but, in retrospect, have admired her for how she helped us mature," said Mary Virginia Wilson '34.
Eileen Kramer Dodd: Warm and Enthusiastic Mentor
Eileen Kramer Dodd
After being recruited in her home state of Pennsylvania by President Chandler, Eileen Kramer traveled by train in the fall of 1926 to begin her new position as a professor of education at the State Teachers College in Fredericksburg.
Her specialty was tests and measurements, and her dissertation at New York University was titled, "A Study of One Thousand Liberal Arts Students: The Relations between Their Intelligence Test Scores, Grade Averages, and Vocational Ambition."
She enjoyed sharing her knowledge with the students in Fredericksburg and also served as faculty sponsor for Alpha Phi Sigma (the national honorary scholastic fraternity). In 1930, she married Dr. James Harvey Dodd, a respected professor in Mary Washington's commercial department.
Dr. Dodd's students often described her as warm and enthusiastic. She later served as head of the psychology department. She retired in 1970 after 44 years of teaching, and in 1980, the auditorium in George Washington Hall was named to honor her many contributions to students.
Julian Binford: Painter and Professor
Julian Binford
Julian Binford experienced a full career and life as an artist before joining the faculty in 1946 as a professor of painting. He had spent much time in France where he painted "jewel-like gouaches," and his series of painting titled "New York Harbor at War" was published in a special section of Life magazine in 1944.
When he first arrived at Mary Washington, Binford and his wife lived in a cottage at Belmont, and Mrs. Melchers let him use her late husband's studio. As a faculty member, Binford was known to be patient, helpful, and encouraging. During his 25 years at Mary Washington, Binford helped many students succeed in their own creative endeavors.
He retired in 1971 to devote more time toward his painting, and today several of his works are in the UMW Galleries' permanent collection. Fellow faculty member Edward Alvey, Jr., wrote that Binford was "a warm, friendly, natural person. He painted with a sensitivity and devotion, establishing a feeling of rapport between the artist and the viewer. His work has a freshness and originality that well exemplifies Binford's own zest for life and his desire to share its beauty with others."
Edward Alvey, Jr.: Father of the Honor System
Edward Alvey, Jr.
When Dr. Alvey joined the education faculty of the State Teachers College at Fredericksburg in 1932, he could not have foreseen the incredible journey on which he embarked. By 1934, he was named Dean of the College, and he held that post for 30 years through different presidents, institution name and affiliation changes, and a time of turmoil and transition in this country and around the world.
He played a significant role in the administration during those years and not only researched history, but lived it. He wrote the definitive History of Mary Washington College, 1908 - 1972. He retired from Mary Washington in 1971 after 39 years of service, and was the recipient of numerous honors and distinctions including an honorary doctorate of humane letters and recognition as dean emeritus. In 1991, one of the residence halls was named Alvey Hall in his honor.
After Dr. Alvey's passing in 1999, Distinguished Professor of History and Historian of the University William B. Crawley, Jr., wrote that Alvey "was able through both word and deed to inculcate within the very character of the College his own lofty ideals: constant intellectual curiosity, impeccable personal integrity, genuine respect for others. He, more than anyone, was responsible for establishing the College's honor system, referring to it as 'a way of life' - - which for him it surely was."
Albert R. Klein: Mary Washington's Theater Pioneer
Albert R. Klein
Albert Klein came to campus in 1952 as an instructor in dramatic arts. He immediately began to influence students and community audiences with his unique perspectives and introductions of some of the newest theatrical developments of the time.
Some of the plays presented during his tenure include Blithe Spirit, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Pygmalion, King Lear, The Crucible, and Tartuffe. Dr. Klein introduced "Studio 13" to provide students an opportunity to experiment with other forms of theater.
He taught courses in stagecraft, dramatic literature, and creative writing, and later served as chair of the former department of dramatic arts and speech (now known as the department of theatre). He passed away suddenly as the result of a heart attack in 1970; in 1971, the theater inside duPont Hall was dedicated in his memory.
George Van Sant: A Career of Service
George Van Sant
George Van Sant joined the faculty in 1958, the year of Mary Washington's 50th anniversary. He served as an assistant professor of philosophy, and was immediately recognized as a leader of students and faculty. During his 32-year tenure, Dr. Van Sant taught several classes in philosophy including medieval philosophy, contemporary philosophy, freedom and determinism, and an interdisciplinary course on time. He also served as marshal of the faculty and chair of the philosophy department.
A retired colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, Dr. Van Sant was actively involved in numerous committees and organizations both on campus and off, published extensively, and received several prestigious awards including the Grellet C. Simpson Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and the Citizen Salute Award from the Mary Washington College-Community Symphony Orchestra.
In 1990, he retired as distinguished professor emeritus of philosophy, and received many tributes including one from a fellow faculty member, "He has served his country, he has served his city, and he has served this school and its students. In each role he has won distinction and gained honor. He has been the faithful servant, the joyful giver."
James Farmer: "Big Four" Civil Rights Leader
James Farmer poses with his Medal of Freedom, the highest honor that the United States bestows upon civilians.
James Leonard Farmer joined the history faculty at Mary Washington College in 1985, and brought with him a wealth of real-life history lessons. Born in Marshall, Texas, in 1920, Farmer earned a bachelor of science degree from Wiley College and a bachelor of divinity degree from Howard University.
In 1942, he founded and later became the national director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). In the 1960s, his organization of "Freedom Rides" to protest racial segregation in southern transportation earned him a place among the "Big Four" civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young.
During his lifetime, Farmer published nearly 100 articles, wrote two books, and received more than 20 honorary doctorate degrees including one from MWC. In 1998, President Bill Clinton awarded him the prestigious Medal of Freedom.
Mary Washington students benefited from 13 years of awe-inspiring lectures from this larger-than-life icon before his retirement as Distinguished College Professor of History and American Studies in 1998.
After Dr. Farmer's passing in 1999, Distinguished Professor of History and Historian of the University William B. Crawley, Jr. wrote that "the hallmark of any Farmer presentation was his rich and resonant voice that instantly commanded attention. In the midst of a story, he might break into song, or offer an illustrative anecdote typically punctuated by his own booming laughter. He could be disarmingly self-deprecatory, denying that he possessed any particular courage. 'I was scared all the time,' he once said, adding, 'Anyone who said he wasn't afraid during the civil rights movement was either a liar or without imagination.'"
The University of Mary Washington Multicultural Center, a scholarship program, and a faculty position are named in his honor.
J. Christopher Bill: Sought-After Professor and Advisor
J. Christopher "Topher" Bill
J. Christopher Bill joined the Mary Washington College faculty in 1972 as an assistant professor. He attained the rank of professor in 1987 and served as chair of the Department of Psychology from 1987 through 1998. Dr. Bill specialized in several areas of psychology, including perception, statistics, sports, and law. Under his guidance, the Department of Psychology became a leader in computer applications at the College. In 1997 he was presented the Grellet C. Simpson Award, Mary Washington's most prestigious award for teaching.
During his tenure, he was a respected member of the Mary Washington and the Fredericksburg area communities. He was a proponent of active recreation and regularly engaged and supported many sports including hiking, tennis, and swimming. Throughout, he was admired by his students and was a much sought-after professor and advisor.
He unexpectedly passed away in 2001. Posthumously, he was awarded the Mortar Board Senior Honor Society's Richard Palmieri Outstanding Professor Award and the Mary W. Pinschmidt Award. A memorial scholarship was established and named to honor Professor "Topher" Bill's 27 years of dedicated service as a teacher at Mary Washington and to recognize his tireless support of psychology majors as they progressed through their studies.
In a published tribute to Dr. Bill, Tom Moeller with the Department of Psychology wrote, "Topher was unique; an enormously complex, talented, and dedicated man with an unbridled zest for life. He will be missed."
Claudia Emerson: Pulitzer-Winning Poet
When Claudia Emerson learned she won the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, her phone rang all day with congratulations from friends and colleagues.
In 2006, UMW Professor of English Claudia Emerson was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry for her book Late Wife. This prestigious award focused the national spotlight on Emerson and the University of Mary Washington as she was featured in numerous publications, and was asked to speak and hold book signings across the country.
Born in Chatham, Va., Emerson previously received other awards and fellowships for her writing including the Associated Writing Program's Intro Award, the Academy of American Poets Prize, the Virginia Commission for Arts Individual Artist Fellowship in poetry, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in poetry, and a Witter Bynner Fellowship from the Library of Congress.
She began her career at Mary Washington in 1998 teaching classes in composition and creative writing. In 2003, she received the University of Mary Washington Alumni Association Outstanding Young Faculty Award. Today, she holds the Arrington Distinguished Chair in Poetry at UMW.
President Emeritus William M. Anderson, Jr., commented about Emerson's Pulitzer Prize, "This is a significant honor for both Claudia and the University of Mary Washington. It has been apparent to anyone who has taken one of her classes or heard a reading from her works that Claudia is an extraordinary writer, poet, and teacher. It is gratifying to have these accomplishments acknowledged and recognized by the Pulitzer Committee."
In winning the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, Emerson is one of only 19 women to have received the prize, and she joins a prestigious company of previous recipients including Robert Frost and Carl Sandburg.