A week of activities will pave the way for the inauguration of the University of Mary Washington’s 10th president, Troy D. Paino, on Friday, April 21. President Paino will be installed at 4:15 p.m. in Dodd Auditorium of George Washington Hall on the Fredericksburg campus.
Paino assumed the presidency in July 2016, succeeding Richard V. Hurley, who retired. A personable, student-focused leader, Paino is deeply committed to Mary Washington’s public liberal arts and sciences mission of providing academic excellence and social uplift in equal measure. Prior to arriving at UMW, he served for six years as president of Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.
Among the events, a panel of prominent scholars will talk about the role of higher education in today’s politically charged era of misinformation. The discussion titled “Higher Education in the Disinformation Age: Can America’s public liberal arts universities restore critical thinking and civility in public discourse?” will be held on Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m. in Dodd Auditorium.
Panelists include Sara Cobb, director for the Center for the Study of Narrative and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University; Julian Hayter, a historian at the University of Richmond’s Jepson School of Leadership Studies; and Audrey Watters, a freelance writer and author who focuses on education technology. Stephen Farnsworth, UMW’s professor of political science and international affairs and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies, will moderate the discussion.
Other activities include:
Monday, April 17
- Presentation of UMW’s new wood-fired kiln by Jon McMillan, assistant professor of studio art, at 4 p.m. at the kiln site near the Physical Plant behind the Battleground Athletic Fields. Mary Washington is the only university in Virginia to have a wood-fired kiln.
- Music recital featuring UMW’s Faculty Brass Quintet, the student UMW String Quartet and the UMW Jazz Trio at 7:30 p.m. in Pollard Recital Hall, Room 304.
Wednesday, April 19
- Annual student art exhibition and presentation of student art and scholarship awards at 3 p.m. in the duPont Gallery.
- “Bots of Conviction Design Sprint,” featuring education writer Audrey Watters, for a look at Twitter bots and how powerful they can be, at 4 p.m. in the Hurley Convergence Center, Room 407.
- Opening reception for art exhibition,” Margaret Sutton Life and Work,” curated by students in the museum studies course taught by Marjorie Och, professor of art history, at 5 p.m. in the Ridderhoff Martin Gallery.
- Department of Theatre’s production of Macbeth at 7:30 p.m. in Klein Theatre, tickets are required. Play continues April 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. and April 22-23 at 2 p.m.
- 5K Glo Run, at 8 p.m. at Carmen Culpeper Chappell Centennial Campanile bell tower. Registration is required.
Thursday, April 20
- Earth Day festival, with student group-hosted tables, free lunch food and UMW’s first on-campus farmer’s market, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Ball Circle.
Friday April 21
- Moment of Silence at noon on Ball Circle. Members of PRISM (People for the Rights of Individuals of Sexual Minorities) and allies will lead a moment of silence in recognition of the Day of Silence, which brings awareness to the silencing effects of anti-LGBTQ name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.
- Capital Athletic Conference tournament in track and field, from 1 p.m. to dark, at the Battlefield Athletic Complex.
- Celebration of the UMW community, University Center, immediately following the 4:15 p.m. installation ceremony of Dr. Paino.
For more information on the week’s activities, please visit www.umw.edu/inauguration/inauguration-week-events-schedule.