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UMW Announces 2026 Faculty Emeriti

At the end of each spring semester, UMW faculty gather to approve the graduates and recognize colleagues who are retiring from their dedicated service. Departmental tributes chronicle their time in classrooms and labs, with committees and in communities, and as leaders in undergraduate research and in their areas of study. 

In spring 2026, the University of Mary Washington recognized seven faculty emeriti.

Faculty members who have served the University of Mary Washington for at least 15 years and who have attained the rank of professor or associate professor are eligible to be considered for emeritus status, which is bestowed by the Board of Visitors.

Ana G. Chichester, Professor Emerita of Spanish

Professor Emerita of Spanish Ana Chichester has devoted more than four decades to UMW as an inspiring teacher, accomplished scholar and tireless advocate for nontraditional learners. She also is a Mary Washington alumna who has called Fredericksburg home since her childhood, after leaving Cuba with her family. She earned a B.A. from Mary Washington, before pursuing prestigious graduate programs including an M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. She returned to Mary Washington as a faculty member in 1992, and in 2009 she earned the J. Christopher “Topher” Bill Faculty Service Award.

A nationally respected scholar of Spanish and Latin American literature, Chichester has been beloved for her compassion and mentorship. As her colleague noted: “She understands our non-traditional students because she was one too. The immigrant student for whom English is a second language. The parent who’s returning to study after years away from the classroom. The student with family responsibilities and the one who’s gone through trauma and tragedy.”

As director of the Bachelor of Liberal Studies program from 2011 to 2026, Chichester inspired and transformed the academic lives of many students, as well as those of her colleagues.

Stephen J. Farnsworth, Professor Emeritus of Political Science

Professor Emeritus of Political Science and founding Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth retires from the University of Mary Washington with an extraordinary legacy as an educator, scholar and nationally recognized voice on American politics. Director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies since 2012, Farnsworth authored nine books and earned numerous teaching and faculty awards over his career, including UMW’s Alumni Association Outstanding Young Faculty Award, Richard Palmieri Outstanding Professor Award and Mary W. Pinschmidt Teaching Award, as well as the 2017 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).  

He also has held three Fulbright fellowships and recently announced a fourth, serving as a Fulbright specialist in India this fall 2026.

Farnsworth joined the faculty at Mary Washington four decades ago in 1996 after earning a Ph.D. and M.A. from Georgetown University, a B.A. from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. A former journalist, his expertise on the presidency, media, political humor and misinformation made him a trusted commentator for regional, national and international media. Colleagues highlighted not only his scholarly impact but his mentorship, integrity and enduring commitment to civic education.

Alan B. Griffith, Professor Emeritus of Biology

Professor Emeritus of Biology Alan Griffith is celebrated for his deep impact on UMW’s curriculum, student research and environmental leadership. A conservation biologist and ecologist with a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland and B.S. and M.S. from The Pennsylvania State University, Griffith taught a wide range of courses, mentored dozens of student researchers and published extensively in plant biology, ecology and pedagogy, including mapping projects for many parts of campus.

As his colleagues noted, his work has had national impact and hyperlocal focus. He has surveyed and mapped the fauna and flora of campus, developing UMW’s first tree map, as well as working with students and campus police to map the blue lights. His work has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Park Service and the Nature Conservancy, among others.

During his 24 years at Mary Washington, he played a central role in developing the conservation biology major, strengthening biostatistics instruction and leading campus sustainability efforts, including service as co-chair of the President’s Climate Action Task Force. His work has exemplified hands-on, inquiry-driven learning rooted in both global and local ecosystems.

Janusz Konieczny, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics

Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Janusz Konieczny concluded a 34-year career marked by scholarly distinction and profound devotion to teaching. As his colleague stated, “In the classroom, he brought not only mastery of subject matter but a rare profundity that challenged students to think critically, carefully, rigorously, deeply and precisely.”

During his tenure at UMW, Konieczny authored more than 50 research articles and reviewed hundreds of scholarly works, quietly shaping the standards of his discipline. Just as impressive is his service to the broader mathematical community through the careful reframing and reviewing of well over 830 publications in over a dozen journals – the kind of scholarly labor that often takes place out of the spotlight.

His students know of his work and his leadership in the classroom, often referring to him as Dr. K, and leaning on him to illuminate mathematics at any level. In 1996, he was named the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Young Faculty Member, and in 2021, he earned the Waple Faculty Award for Professional Achievement. Konieczny holds a Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University and an M.S. from Jagiellonian University in Poland.

J. Larry Lehman, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics

Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Larry Lehman retires after four decades of extraordinary service to UMW. A gifted teacher and respected scholar, he is known for his clarity, reliability and quiet leadership, repeatedly called upon for departmental and university service on countless committees.

“His classroom has been a place where clarity met challenge, where expectations were serious but learning was deeply rewarding, and where students were taught not only to solve problems but how to think with care, confidence and precision. Such a legacy cannot be measured only by years served but by life’s influence, careers launched and habits of disciplined thought cultivated over a lifetime of devoted instruction,” according to a colleague.

Lehman authored two influential books in number theory that have become standard references in undergraduate mathematics education. These publications have instructed students, guided faculty and enriched the teaching and learning of one of mathematics’ most fundamental fields. Lehman holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and a B.A. from Eastern Mennonite College. 

Joseph W. Nicholas, Associate Professor Emeritus of Geography

Associate Professor Emeritus of Geography Joseph Nicholas joined the Mary Washington faculty in 1991 and taught Introduction to Physical Geography, Weather and Climate, and Geomorphology. Every summer, he traveled to his field site in the La Sal Mountains of Utah, bringing a student along every couple of years; every winter, he regaled students with stories of the weather in Bemidji, Minnesota, where he earned a B.A. from Bemidji State University. He also holds an M.S. from the University of North Dakota and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. 

He has published articles on rock glaciers, permafrost and periglacial processes, talus landforms as indicators of climate, and locational and morphometric characteristics of landslide deposits, with recent investigations into climate change in western Colorado and Utah.

Grant R. Woodwell, Professor Emeritus of Geology

Professor Emeritus of Geology Grant Woodwell is one of the founders of the Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium at UMW, giving a name to the unique hands-on, real-world learning opportunities that have been ingrained in a Mary Washington education for more than a century, and celebrated under the umbrella name for two decades. His own research centers on nuclear waste disposal, petroleum geology, seismology and structural geology, and he has inspired researchers across disciplines to dig deep into their interests to make an impact.

Woodwell earned both a Ph.D. and an M.Phil. in geology from Yale University. He received a B.A. in geology and geography from Columbia University. In 1991, he was named the Alumni Association Outstanding Young Faculty Member at Mary Washington, and in 2025, the Board of Visitors recognized him with the Faculty Leadership Award. His tenure at Mary Washington spans four decades.

A member of the Geological Society of America and the American Geophysical Union, he also has conducted post‑doctoral research in nuclear waste management for Oak Ridge National Laboratory and has served as an analyst following major earthquakes. In cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, Woodwell has produced digital databases for the Circum‑Atlantic and Circum‑Pacific mapping projects. Recently, he has been involved in the development of a geographic information system database for the Lake Anna Watershed. He also served for 12 years as the associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences at UMW.

Together, the 2026 faculty emeriti represent the very best of UMW’s academic mission – collective decades of curiosity, rigor, mentorship and unwavering dedication to students. Their formal recognition will take place at Commencement on May, 9, 2026.