Welcome home, Eagles!
We’ve had a wonderful summer on campus, full of undergraduate research projects and discoveries, campus improvements from our brick walks to our rooftops, and many opportunities to celebrate the hard work of our staff and faculty, but we’ve missed the energy of a full campus and are eager to welcome you back.
First, I want to welcome our newest students, faculty and staff to the fall semester. Whether you are beginning your undergraduate studies, transferring into a preferred path, starting your graduate degree, or advancing your career, we are happy you are here. This fall, we celebrate our first cohorts of the new Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Master of Science in AI in Business (MS in AI in Business) programs, and we continue to see an increase in interest and enrollments in our online MBA as well as the graduate certificate in project management hosted at the Dahlgren Campus. We also meet the first cohort of the Piscopo Rodgers Science Fellows, which have been funded through Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 generous gift, as well as cohorts in Honors, Impact, and the Presidential Emerging Leadership Program.
Our newest undergraduates join us with interests ranging from anthropology to theatre, art to psychology, business, and education, and everything in between. We are proud to expand our program offerings in some signature areas, including a new Bachelor of Fine Arts in performing arts with majors in acting, design and technology, musical theatre and stage management, a B.S. in geospatial analysis, and a major in social entrepreneurship. In addition, we have new minors in creative writing, food studies, and medical humanities. Applications are open now for fall 2027, and Virginia students now have a direct pathway for admissions via the Common App, so please share the opportunity with friends and family.
Within our academic leadership, we welcome an interim dean, Timothy O’Keefe, to the College of Business, and a new dean and an updated college name with Melissa Napolitano serving as the inaugural dean of the College of Education and Human Development. Bringing together faculty experts and professionals in education, nursing, and athletics, the college emphasizes applied learning through vital career outcomes, serving communities through coursework and class projects, with practical approaches.
In addition, we are excited to share the launch of the Humanities Center, which will share more about their work this coming fall. Thanks, too, to our faculty leaders and the campus community members who envisioned the “Reimagining the Liberal Arts in the Age of AI” conference on campus this summer. If you are interested in learning more about AI, including many topics of debate, you can find video resources from the Center for AI and the Liberal Arts, attend events and conversations, and access professional development classes. Look for more announcements soon.
We also continue our work in digital accessibility, and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to make sure the information we share online is accessible to all. Accessibility improvements to the in-person experience on campus have continued as well, with new ramps and configurations in Jepson and Combs classrooms, as well as Madison and Ball Halls, which are back online. A new elevator for Ball Hall is scheduled for summer 2027, and work starts in Bushnell Hall this academic year.
The new theatre will start to take shape at the corner of William St. and Sunken Road, with construction scheduled for the next two years. The new locker rooms at the Battleground Athletic Complex open this fall, and we’re excited to once again cheer on our fall sports, with high rankings already posted for several of our teams.
It’s ranking season for higher education as well, and I’m thrilled to share that UMW is once again recommended in “The Fiske Guide to Colleges” and has earned four stars from Money, with our affordability, alumni outcomes, and our location in Fredericksburg standing out in the mentions. We’ve been making headlines for a proposed medical school with Mary Washington Healthcare, and thanks to planning funding from the state, we continue conversations and next steps on this big idea.
We are also planning ahead through our Strategic Action Plan, approved by the Board of Visitors this spring, and now moving into action plans, thanks to the contributions and leadership of many of our staff and faculty on campus. Additional updates will be shared soon.
As a we start the fall semester, I hope you, too, will be planning for the big projects and the small ways that you make an impact. Consider attending Launchpad as the semester takes off for tips on organizing your college life and setting yourself up for academic success, or take time to visit the Talley Center for Counseling Services, the Speaking and Writing Center, the Digital Knowledge Center, or the Gwen Hale Resource Center. In addition, we have expanded services from TimelyCare for students seeking support, including 24/7 CrisisNow call options, and our Employee Assistance Program is available for state employees.
Mark your calendars for a few of our favorite traditions, including Honor Convocation, Eagle Gathering, and Homecoming. Plus, ASPIRE Week is moving to the fall. I look forward to opportunities for us to come together, to share our great work, and to recognize our accomplishments throughout the year.
Sincerely,
Troy Paino
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