You are here: Home / Archives for Newsletter Top Story

UMW Survey Shows Virginians Divided on Same-Sex Marriage

March 31, 2013 By
A new study from the University of Mary Washington's Center for Leadership and Media Studies shows that Virginia remains a swing state on many key issues.

The question of legalizing gay marriage closely divides Virginians, according to data from a new survey of state residents sponsored by the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies. The survey of 1,004 state residents, conducted March 20-24, shows that 45 percent support legalization of gay marriage, with 46 percent opposed. The remaining respondents were undecided or declined to answer the question. The margin of sampling error for the study is 3.5 percentage points. The new UMW survey comes as the U.S. Supreme Court debates two gay marriage cases and as public opinion nationally has shifted in the direction of gay marriage. The UMW survey results represent significant gains for legalization of same-sex marriage in Virginia. In 2006, the commonwealth’s voters approved an amendment to the Virginia Constitution to ban gay marriage by a 57 percent to 43 percent margin. “Rarely does public opinion shift on a social issue as rapidly as it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Newsletter Top Story, Top Stories Tagged With: ,

Anderson Wins National Championship in 400 IM

March 21, 2013 By
UMW sophomore Alex Anderson broke the NCAA Division III record in the 400-yard individual medley.

University of Mary Washington sophomore Alex Anderson became the fourth individual NCAA national champion in UMW school history by breaking the NCAA Division III record in the 400-yard individual medley on March 21 at the National Swimming and Diving Championships in Shenandoah, Texas.  Anderson finished with a time of 3:50.55. Seeded fourth in the event entering the championships with a time of 3:57, Anderson destroyed his career best by seven seconds in the final. He led the race from start to finish. He shattered the previous NCAA Division III record of 3:51.45, broken in 2009 by Alex Beyer of Washington University. “Alex represented all of the Eagles in the best way possible tonight,” said UMW head coach Abby Brethauer. “We could not be more proud of his national championship. To do it in record setting fashion makes it even more special.” Anderson joins Shannon Hutcherson (women’s swimming, 1993), Myra Simpson (women’s track, 1996), and Paul Bristow and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Newsletter Top Story, Top Stories Tagged With: ,

UMW Alumnus Shares His Experience as U.S. Ambassador

March 18, 2013 By
Clifford Hart '80 is Special Envoy to the Six-Party Talks.

At 24 years old – just four years after donning a cap and gown at the University of Mary Washington – Clifford Hart ‘80 moved halfway around the world. He left his home state of Virginia, where he had attended Mary Washington, then the University of Virginia for graduate school, to take a post in China with the Foreign Service. “It was a treat from beginning to end,” Hart said of his first assignment. “It was a fascinating time to be there.” Hart, now Special Envoy for the Six-Party Talks for the denuclearization of North Korea, spoke with students about his decades-long career in the Foreign Service during a recent trip to his alma mater. “The Foreign Service is a deeply stimulating intellectual exercise,” he said. “You are constantly learning.” As an envoy, Ambassador Hart coordinates U.S. efforts on the Six-Party Talks and leads day-to-day engagement with Six-Party partners. “It has been an occasion for me to learn a lot about a really … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Newsletter Top Story, Top Stories Tagged With: , , ,

Drew University Dean Named as UMW Provost

March 13, 2013 By
Levin_Jonathan_web

Jonathan Levin has been named to the position of provost of the University of Mary Washington. Levin has spent more than 20 years in higher education, including nearly a decade as an administrator. Currently, he serves as dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Drew University in Madison, N.J. Levin will serve as the chief academic officer at UMW and will be responsible for oversight of all academic programs, academic planning and budgets and faculty matters. Working with the deans and the faculty, the provost provides leadership of major university initiatives in teaching, research and creative activities and has responsibility for all university educational and academic policies. He also will oversee enrollment management. Levin will begin work on June 25, 2013. “I am extremely pleased that Dr. Levin has agreed to come to UMW,” said President Richard V. Hurley. “His background and experience will be a tremendous asset as we move the institution forward.” Levin has … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Administration, Newsletter Top Story, Top Stories Tagged With:

UMW Receives National Recognition for Service

March 5, 2013 By
UMW students are volunteering in Georgia and Florida as part of Alternative Spring Break trips.

Two dozen University of Mary Washington students spent their Spring Break serving others. The students, who spent a week in Albany, Ga., and Melbourne, Fla., built houses with Habitat for Humanity through a program known as Alternative Spring Break. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Newsletter Top Story, Top Stories Tagged With: , ,

UMW Alumni Talk Entrepreneurship at Small Business Panel Event

February 25, 2013 By
(from left): Carl Lawson, Alicia Austin Morgan, Megan Parry,

A new business venture requires hard work, determination, creativity and above all, a lot of heart and soul. “The sense of pride and accomplishment of owning a business is the highest feeling,” said Alicia Austin Morgan, who attended the University of Mary Washington and is co-owner of Fredericksburg vintage and consignment boutique Forage. “Definitely listen to your heart and rely on your instincts. There’s no right or wrong way to operate a business. If you work hard you will be rewarded with success.” Morgan and Forage co-owner Megan Parry ’05 were among seven UMW alumni who participated in a recent small business panel event. Fellow panelists Erik Bruner-Yang ’07, chef and owner of Toki Underground in Washington, D.C., Linda Fairall ‘06, owner of Fabulous Frocks in Alexandria, Va., Jay Parrish ’03, co-owner of Parrish Learning Zone, LLC, and Carl Lawson ’08, chief operating officer of CBAI & Associates in Fredericksburg, gave advice on starting a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Newsletter Top Story, Top Stories Tagged With: ,

Sir James Galway Performs with UMW Philharmonic, March 16

February 15, 2013 By
Sir James Galway will perform with the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra on March 16.

Legendary Irish flutist Sir James Galway will perform a special concert with the University of Mary Washington Philharmonic Orchestra on Saturday, March 16. The concert, part of Galway’s international Legacy Tour, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. Galway’s appearance marks the 10th anniversary of the Philharmonic’s popular William M. Anderson Celebrity Series, which began with Broadway maestro Marvin Hamlisch and has included such luminaries as Judy Collins, Kenny Rogers and the Canadian Brass. “The orchestra is honored to have shared the stage with some of the greatest musicians in the world over the past decade,” said Kevin Bartram, director of the Philharmonic. “This year, we are excited to bring Sir James to Fredericksburg, and we had ‘the luck of the Irish’ in his schedule to land him on St. Patrick’s Day weekend.” Galway, known as “The Man with the Golden Flute,” will perform the Mozart Flute Concerto in D … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Newsletter Top Story, Top Stories

UMW Students Participate in Student Lobby Day

February 11, 2013 By
UMW students pose inside the Capitol Rotunda.

Thirteen University of Mary Washington students spent a day last week talking to Virginia General Assembly legislators on behalf of the university.  Student Lobby Day provides  students from colleges and universities across the state a chance to meet with the state lawmakers. “Lobby day is our opportunity as a university to articulate the importance of a liberal arts education and inform lawmakers about all of the exciting things our university is engaged in,” said senior Sean Simons, legislative action chair for the Student Government Association. Simons also majors in political science and political communications. The students began their day with a brief introduction to Richmond’s General Assembly building. Then, students met with area legislators, including Speaker of the House Bill Howell, Sen. Bryce Reeves and Sen. Creigh Deeds. Afterwards, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling gave the group an impromptu tour of the Rotunda and shared the history of the building. Erica … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Newsletter Top Story, Students, Top Stories

Peace Corps Ranks UMW Among Top-Producing Small Colleges

February 5, 2013 By
Chad Chadbourn '06 (right) taught a small business course to high school students as part of his Peace Corps service in Costa Rica

Once again, the Peace Corps has ranked the University of Mary Washington among the nation’s top-producing colleges for alumni now serving as Peace Corps volunteers. UMW ranks third on the Peace Corps’ list of small schools or institutions with less than 5,000 undergraduates. Currently, UMW has 21 alumni serving around the world, the Peace Corps announced on Feb. 5. Mary Washington has been named to the Peace Corps’ list of 25 top-producing small schools for the 10th consecutive year. In 2012 and 2011, the university placed No. 1 among schools in the same category, with 30 and 32 alumni serving in the Peace Corps, respectively. In all, 230 Mary Washington alumni have served the 27-month commitment around the world since the Peace Corps’ inception in 1961. For Chad Chadbourn ’06, who was a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica from 2006 to 2008, UMW fosters values and skills that fit well with the Peace Corps’ mission. “Mary Washington really encourages … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Newsletter Top Story, Top Stories Tagged With: ,

RecycleMania Returns to UMW

January 28, 2013 By
Last year, UMW

Starting on Monday, Feb. 4, the University of Mary Washington will join colleges and universities across the country in RecycleMania, an annual eight-week competition to reduce, reuse and recycle the most on-campus waste. More than 600 schools are participating this year, representing all 50 states as well as five Canadian provinces. This year marks UMW’s fifth time in the Per Capita Classic Competition category, which measures the percentage of recycled materials per person. “We were number one in Virginia last year and 18th in the overall competition so the bar is high this year,” said Joni Wilson, UMW’s director of landscape and grounds. To earn first place, UMW recycled 37.96 pounds of materials per person over eight weeks, which is equivalent to more than 200,000 pounds of recyclables kept out of landfills. The 182 metric tons of CO2 kept out of the atmosphere through recycling equaled the equivalent of taking 97 cars off the road. “It is about more than … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Newsletter Top Story, Top Stories Tagged With: , , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »