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UMW College of Business Celebrates Alumni Achievement at Annual Awards

With a solid foundation in finance, marketing and management, University of Mary Washington business graduates go on to careers in executive leadership, entrepreneurship and public service.

At the annual College of Business Alumni Awards – held in Woodard Hall during Reunion Weekend – Mary Washington honored grads who have excelled in their professions, from founding supportive online communities and leading public health initiatives to holding key positions at organizations such as Google, McDonald’s and Hilton.

The awards recognized alumni at various stages of their careers, including a Hall of Fame inductee, three Distinguished Business Award recipients and four Outstanding Young Alumni Award winners.

UMW Provost Tim O’Donnell offered introductory remarks, recognizing what he called “the very best” of Mary Washington’s business graduates. Megan Shepherd ’94, chair of the College of Business Advisory Board, served as master of ceremonies and noted that the achievements and community impact of this year’s honorees were “truly inspiring.”

The Hall of Fame Award was presented posthumously to Kevin Ely ’97, whose distinguished career in investment research and enduring commitment to UMW left a lasting legacy. After earning a degree in economics and competing as a varsity lacrosse student-athlete, Ely spent nearly 20 years with Cambridge Associates. There he rose to managing director and co-head of the firm’s research team. Ely remained actively engaged with his alma mater, serving on the UMW Foundation Board of Directors from 2017 until his passing in 2022.

“While Kevin achieved tremendous success in his career, those who knew him best remember the generosity, mentorship and leadership he brought to every part of his life,” Shepherd said. “His influence continues through the many people he encouraged, supported and inspired.”

Accepting the award on Ely’s behalf was his wife, Rebecca ’97. Their son, Miles, and Ely’s parents, Mike and Judi, were also present to honor his legacy.

Other honorees included:

Distinguished Business Award Recipients

• Erika Bush ’11, founder of Living Dappled, a leading online community for women living with vitiligo that provides education, support and connection. Her advocacy has earned national recognition and helped raise awareness of the autoimmune condition.

• Samuel Foltz ’95, president of FXBG Accounting & Advisory and associate professor of accounting at Germanna Community College. He has spent more than two decades serving businesses and individuals throughout the Fredericksburg region while remaining active in community and environmental organizations.

• Jamie Scully ’04, senior vice president with Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer, where he specializes in commercial real estate throughout the Fredericksburg region. He also serves on the College of Business Advisory Board and has held leadership roles with numerous civic organizations while mentoring UMW students and supporting Eagle athletics.

Outstanding Young Alumnus Award Recipients

• Philip Anderson ’15, who works in strategy and operations at Google and previously served as a special operations intelligence specialist in the U.S. Navy and as an advisor with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. He also mentors College of Business students and remains active in veteran-support initiatives.

• Carolina Brusch ’23, senior revenue specialist at Hilton, who also contributes to employee networking initiatives and community service programs while mentoring UMW students exploring careers in hospitality and revenue management.

• Luis Gavignano ’22, owner-operator of multiple McDonald’s restaurants in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, who became one of the youngest owner-operators in McDonald’s history at age 24 and remains an active supporter and advocate for UMW.

• Christina Malave ’17, account director at Rescue | The Behavior Change Agency, where she leads public health marketing campaigns addressing issues such as overdose prevention and health awareness while remaining engaged with UMW through guest speaking, philanthropy and alumni events.

The awards also provided an opportunity to reflect on the future of the College of Business. O’Donnell highlighted several recent developments, including rising program rankings, additional graduate programs, and new concentrations in AI in Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership.

“At a time when higher education is increasingly questioned, UMW is not standing still,” O’Donnell said. “The competition is stiff, but we are fortunate to be strategically located in Fredericksburg, with tremendous potential to sit at the nexus of growth and innovation, anchored by UMW.”