New School Year Brings New Opportunities to UMW
University of Mary Washington Eagles have even more ways to spread their wings this fall, with new undergraduate offerings spanning the arts, sciences and humanities joining more than 100 majors, minors and programs already available. Two new graduate programs address regional workforce needs, while new leadership, resources and upgraded spaces create even more opportunities across campus.
Here’s a look at what’s new for 2026-27:
New Degrees, New Directions
UMW Theatre is stepping into the spotlight with a new Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts, giving students opportunities for focused study in acting, musical theatre, design and technology, and stage management. The conservatory-style program builds on UMW’s longstanding strength in theatre – recently ranked 12th in the country by The Princeton Review – combining intensive training with hands-on production experience for students pursuing careers in the performing arts.
Other new areas of study give students more ways to connect their interests across fields, including a food studies minor that examines food through historical, cultural, environmental and social lenses. A social entrepreneurship major and minor bring together business principles and approaches to creating positive social change. A medical humanities minor explores health, illness and medicine through humanistic disciplines. And a new creative writing minor lets students hone their skills in penning poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction, complementing the existing creative writing major.
Students interested in mapping, spatial data and geospatial technologies also have a new option with the Bachelor of Science in Geospatial Analysis, which replaces the previous B.A. in Geospatial Analysis and builds on UMW’s strengths in geography and geographic information science.
Graduate Programs Get Underway
Two previously announced graduate programs welcome their inaugural cohorts this fall, expanding UMW’s graduate-level offerings.
The Master of Science in Nursing launches at capacity, preparing nurses for leadership roles in clinical practice, education and healthcare systems. The program responds to regional healthcare workforce needs while building on UMW’s existing RN-to-BSN completion program.
The College of Business also launches its fully online Master of Science in AI in Business, Virginia’s first master’s degree focused specifically on AI in a business context. Designed for working professionals, the asynchronous program explores how AI can be applied strategically and responsibly in areas such as decision-making, operations and innovation.
New Leadership, Expanded Focus
UMW welcomes new leadership within two of its academic colleges this fall. Timothy O’Keefe has been appointed interim dean of the College of Business, bringing extensive academic leadership experience, most recently as dean of the Beacom School of Business at the University of South Dakota.
Melissa Napolitano joins UMW as inaugural dean of the newly named College of Education and Human Development, an updated name that better reflects the college’s expanding academic scope. Napolitano comes to UMW from George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, where she was a professor in prevention and community health and previously served as interim department chair. Her background spans psychology, physical activity, public health and behavioral medicine.
Humanities Center Brings Disciplines Together
UMW launches a new Humanities Center this year to foster interdisciplinary teaching and research, public engagement and career preparedness while exploring the human dimensions of contemporary challenges. Led by Professor of History and American Studies Krystyn Moon, the initiative supports curricular innovation, experiential learning, community projects and cultural programming.
The Center put that mission into action this summer, when Moon and Center for Teaching Director Victoria Russell brought educators from across the country to UMW for the first “Reimagining the Liberal Arts in the Age of AI” conference. The two-day event reached its 100-person registration cap and featured nearly 20 breakout sessions and three keynote talks exploring how the liberal arts can shape teaching, learning and problem-solving amid rapidly evolving technology.
A New Chapter for the UMW Bookstore
Students returning to campus will find a refreshed bookstore – and a new way to shop for textbooks and Mary Wash gear. UMW welcomed eCampus as its new bookstore operator this summer, bringing an expanded selection of spirit wear and merchandise both online and at the campus store on the third floor of Lee Hall.
There’s also a new process for course materials. Textbooks are now ordered through the UMW Bookstore online, where students can sign in with their UMW credentials and shop by class schedule. Books can be shipped directly or sent to the campus bookstore with free two-day shipping for pickup. Students can also use the in-store kiosk or get help from a bookstore associate.
Resources for Getting Started
Students can get a preview of campus living through Roomie, a new resource featuring to-scale 3D models that let them virtually explore residence hall rooms, check dimensions and experiment with furniture layouts.
Another resource designed to set students up for college success is the LaunchPad program, which is expanding to seven weeks this year, extending the welcome to first-year and transfer students and helping them find their footing beyond move-in day and orientation. The extended program offers opportunities for students to explore campus resources, connect with clubs and majors, dig into syllabi, learn to use Microsoft programs and manage their schedules as they settle into the semester. All sessions are drop-in style, with no need to RSVP or sign up.
While LaunchPad is designed with new students in mind, it’s open to Eagles of every class year. Anyone looking to brush up on study skills, get organized or find a little help navigating college life is welcome.
Support Around the Clock
Students also have added support to turn to when they need help. The University is expanding access to mental health support/help? with TimelyCare’s CrisisNow service, providing immediate 24/7/365 access to trained mental health professionals by phone through UMW’s Talley Center for Counseling Services. The service connects students in moments of crisis with professionals who can offer assistance and help them access ongoing resources.
Athletics Spaces Step Up Their Game
UMW student-athletes return to several upgraded spaces this year as the University continues investing in their experience. New locker room facilities and a locker room renovation at the Battleground Athletic Complex will serve seven sports, while newly refinished floors await volleyball, women’s basketball and the reigning national champion men’s basketball team in the Anderson Center. Goolrick Gymnasium, a hub for the entire University community, also received a refinished floor.
The new Clint Often Press Box at the turf stadium will be dedicated Sept. 19 in recognition of Often’s 30 years of service to UMW Athletics. Regular-season home athletic events are free, giving Eagles and the broader UMW community plenty of chances to cheer on their teams throughout the year. Beyond the playing fields and courts, visitors can catch a performance by UMW Theatre or explore rotating exhibitions in the University’s art galleries. Prospective students and their families can experience Mary Washington firsthand during fall Open Houses on Sept. 26, Oct. 17, and Nov. 8.
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