Dear Campus Community,
Spring has arrived on campus, and with this new season, we have so much to celebrate. Our annual Mary Wash Day brought together the campus community through the spirit of generosity, with our alumni, family, friends, faculty and staff giving to the areas that matter to them. In a quick total from the conclusion on March 26, we raised a preliminary total of $1.3 million (and still counting) across a variety of programs, initiatives and areas, all while being #TogetherUMW.
Of course, we have more to cheer for, as our UMW Men’s Basketball team plays in its first National Championship Game on Sunday, April 5, and our campus community will be traveling to the game, watching on campus, or sharing in the moment with Eagles fans. It’s truly history in the making for the team and Mary Washington. Look for the ways to watch, listen and cheer on the team at UMWEagles.com.
April is also the month when our campus starts to bloom, not just through the beautiful landscaping and grounds, but through the events and projects filling our calendars. The next Open House for Admissions is on Friday, April 3. We will also celebrate the annual Multicultural Fair on April 11, and the weekends are full of baseball and softball games, lacrosse and rugby, track and field, as well as equestrian and esports competitions.
Save the Dates for ASPIRE week, which starts April 13, and is led by SGA President Amira Said, along with many students leaders and professional staff across campus. We’ll end that week with Destination UMW on April 18, and celebrate a full week of Research and Creativitybeginning April 20 in celebration of the Research and Creativity Symposium’s 20th anniversary. This is the inaugural year for the Eagle Egg Innovation Fund, which has a top prize of $10,000 to help the winning team get its proposed venture off of the ground. Catch up on the more amazing projects and presentations on the Beyond the Classroom blog.
As classes wrap up for the semester, it’s also a historic milestone for Devil-Goat Day, which has its 100th anniversary this year, and our student leaders and Student Affairs staff are planning to make this one the biggest collegial competition yet.
If you haven’t already saved the date for Commencement, it’s coming up on Saturday, May 9, 2026, and we’ve announced that alumnus and business executive Lou Marmo ’94 will serve as the Commencement speaker this year. Marmo majored in business administration at Mary Washington – an undergraduate program that continues to earn accolades, most recently ranked in the top 100 on the Poets&Quants annual list of the “Best Undergraduate Business Schools.”
Also, among the awards this month are a pair of impressive educator accolades. Kendyl Miller, one of our elementary education students, was named the Outstanding Student in a Virginia Initial Licensure Program at the Virginia Association of Teacher Educators (VACTE) Conference. Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Assessment and Accreditation Jennifer Walker received the VACTE Faculty Award. Just last week, we learned that UMW junior Ned Gable, a double major in chemistry and environmental science, has earned a highly prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, which recognizes students who aspire to be the nation’s next generation of researchers in science, engineering and mathematics. Ned’s accolades already include impressive undergraduate research with faculty mentors, summer internships and presenting his work internationally. Congratulations, Ned!
As many of you are finalizing summer plans to include research and internships, I encourage you to connect with the Center for Career and Professional Development. If you are considering graduate school opportunities, applications are open now for the new Master of Science in Nursing program. We also continue to recruit for the MBA and M.Ed. programs.
Several construction projects continue this spring. Accessibility improvements to Ball Hall are well underway with a temporary detour at Ball Circle. Demolition of Marshall and Russell Halls is in progress, with a groundbreaking for the new theatre planned for Thursday, April 16. It’s not too late to get tickets to the last UMW Theatre performance of this semester, or see the Class of 2026 Exhibit in the duPont Gallery, which opens with a reception on March 31.
With such creativity springing up, as well as those end-of-semester assignments, you might also need additional resources. Our Health and Wellness colleagues continue to offer programs and expanded awareness for a variety of opportunities. Students can access on-demand, free mental health services any time via TimelyCare, online or via the app. Go to timelycare.com/umw to get started. For faculty and staff, information about the Employee Assistance Program may be accessed through the Human Resources website.
If you just need a moment to take it all in, we’re also excited to announce that bench sitting is back – in part due to the wonderful weather, and in part from the newly installed park benches along Campus Walk and entrances to most of our buildings. I hope to see you on campus, at one of the many spring events, or in Indianapolis for the championship game.
Go Eagles!
Sincerely,
Troy Paino