Each year, the University of Mary Washington opens the semester with an all-faculty meeting, celebrating contributions to the UMW community, dedicated expertise to fields of study, and support and mentorship of students. In fall 2025, five faculty members were recognized for their commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching, and their service to the campus and their professions.
Associate Professor of Education Melissa Wells received the Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award, which goes to a full-time faculty member for outstanding teaching in a graduate program.
Since her arrival at UMW in 2017, Wells has taught a wide range of graduate-level courses, from early literacy to educational evaluation, and helped shape graduate pathways, including the Accelerated Master of Education for Instructional Improvement. She is also the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
Wells was cited for her “deep commitment to meeting students where they are” and for her practical course assignments, such as inquiry journals that bridge theory and classroom practice, and assessments that help teachers use data to tailor instruction. “Wells doesn’t just teach material,” a student said, “she believes in what she’s teaching, and it shows in her compassion and support for every one of us.”
Professor of Psychological Science Christine McBride received the Grellet C. Simpson Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching. Named for a former Mary Washington president and supported by an anonymous donor, this award goes to a full-time faculty member and reflects the importance of the University’s primary mission as an undergraduate teaching institution.
A research mentor who excels in running award-winning student projects, McBride has been instrumental in developing and expanding offerings in the Department of Psychological Science, including courses in health psychology and career exploration. She is known for teaching the challenging psychological statistics course in a way that makes it accessible to students.
McBride was a member of the Life After Mary Washington QEP working group and serves as a Center for Career and Professional Development faculty fellow. She “is in a league of her own,” a colleague said, “when it comes to her pedagogical skill, contributions to the undergraduate curriculum and commitment to the educational experiences of our students.”
Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry received the Waple Faculty Award for Professional Achievement, honoring a full-time faculty member with outstanding scholarly, creative and professional accomplishments.
Throughout her nine years at Mary Washington, Barry has published many articles and book reviews, delivered professional presentations and guest lectures, and authored a monograph titled Bishops in Flight, with her next work, Gender Violence in Late Antiquity, forthcoming. She also has signed a contract for her fourth book, Terrifying Women of the Ancient World. “Barry’s research extends far beyond our university,” a recommender noted.
Her awards and fellowships include a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipend, a Loeb Classical Library Foundation Fellowship from Harvard University, a Shohet Scholars Fellowship and a nomination for the prestigious Dan David Prize for historical research. And she was recently elected associate editor for the Journal of Early Christian Studies. All the while, she has advanced equity initiatives on campus, supported student research and fostered a scholarly community through mentorship and collaboration.
Associate Professor of Computer Science Xin-Wen Wu received the Alumni Association Outstanding Young Faculty Member Award, honoring those who have been with the University between two and five years for their significant achievements and contributions.
Since arriving at UMW in 2021, Wu has received praise from students for his enthusiasm, caring attitude and propensity for incorporating hands-on tools. He advises approximately 40 students and has supervised more than 30 student projects and won more than $40,000 in grants to support student research. Called “the backbone of the cybersecurity major” by a nominator, he has created a new elective, grown the department’s engagement in Research and Creativity Day, and advised a student team that took fourth place at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division’s hack-a-thon competition.
Wu also has published peer reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings, focusing on the “Internet of Things” (devices, like “smart home” products, that are embedded with technology that manages data via the internet). He won a best paper award at the International Conference on Smart Applications, Communications and Networking, and has served as guest editor for a special issue of the journal Mathematics on error-correcting codes and cryptography.
Professor of Education Janine Davis received the Christopher (Topher) Bill Service Award for full-time faculty members who have been with UMW for at least seven years and have been consistently involved in service endeavors. Named in memory of a former professor of psychology, the award was created through donations by his students, colleagues, friends and family members.
It’s an honor “to recognize a member of our community whose service, leadership and generosity have profoundly impacted our college, our university and our educational partners across the region,” said Associate Professor of Education Christy Irish, who presented the award on behalf of the Sabbaticals, Fellowships and Faculty Awards Committee. “Janine’s contributions reflect a commitment to servant leadership that exemplifies the very spirit of this award.”
Since joining the faculty in 2012, Davis has served as secretary of the University Faculty Council during the COVID-19 pandemic and as associate dean of advanced programs, accreditation and assessment while the College of Education navigated a transformative shift in licensure pathways.
She spent seven years on the Institutional Review Board, protecting the quality and ethics of student and faculty research and supporting an extraordinary volume of research while maintaining the highest standards. Her leadership has helped launch major initiatives, such as the Call Me MISTER program, which supports Pell-eligible students, and she continues to shape the University’s future through faculty mentoring, professional service and strategic vision.
Davis also has extended her expertise to schools across Orange, King George and Albemarle counties, coaching early-career teachers and helping create a powerful bridge between university preparation and K–12 success.
“Dr. Davis, your colleagues and students are better because of your work. This university is stronger because of your voice,” Irish said. “And today, we are proud to celebrate your extraordinary legacy of service.”
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