Dear Campus Community,
September has become the season for college rankings, and I’m thrilled to announce that the University of Mary Washington has moved up in the top 10 U.S. News and World Report list for national public liberal arts colleges to tie for No. 8, our highest ranking to date. While one of many rankings, each with their own methodology, this one combines a number of measures that center on the achievements of our students and our alumni. It combines academic quality, graduation and retention rates, social mobility, graduate indebtedness, and college graduate earning potential, along with a survey of our reputation among our peer institutions. Notably, we’ve advanced in our mission, and I applaud you all for this well-earned recognition for our work.
In addition, the University of Mary Washington has been named by the Fiske Guide to Colleges as one of the nation’s “best and most interesting” public and private four-year institutions. UMW is among 11 Virginia universities featured in the guide’s 2026 edition – its 42nd issue. UMW’s strong sense of community, wide variety of events, academic offerings and career preparation all receive a call-out, as does UMW Athletics and our location of Fredericksburg.
We wrapped up our most successful fundraising year ever June 30, with a record $37,867,639 in gifts and pledges made in 2024-25. Giving participation increased across every UMW constituency, including alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff and students. This record-setting year also pushed UMW’s endowment to surpass $100 million, creating lasting philanthropic resources for merit- and need-based scholarships, academic programs, experiential learning, faculty resources and more. Thank you for the many ways you contribute to Mary Washington, and I hope you’ll join me in celebrating this good news, as we work together to steward these gifts throughout the University.
We’ve begun the year by identifying strategic priorities for the next five years, which include enhancing and adapting Mary Washington’s liberal arts mission, energizing campus life and school pride, modernizing infrastructure while preserving the University’s historic beauty, and meeting the region and the Commonwealth’s future workforce needs. This work is already part of our academic year through such initiatives and events as the Center for AI and the Liberal Arts, new graduate program development in nursing and AI, and continued work on accessibility improvements and other facilities renovations around campus. As part of our action plan, we’ll be convening a variety of committees with faculty, staff, and student representation. Read more in our back-to-school news story and look for more updates via email.
Our School of the Arts and School of Science, both in the College of Arts & Sciences, have begun their collaborations. We’re excited to announce that the new School of Science now bears the name Irene Piscopo Rodgers School of Science, following approval by the UMW Board of Visitors during last week’s meeting. The science disciplines housed in Jepson Science Center will have many ways to consolidate and collaborate in their work. The School of the Arts, which includes art, historic preservation, music and theatre, brings together areas with significant programming, community outreach and specialized instruction. These areas lead performances and have a significant impact on the arts and culture of the area.
I invite you to experience a performance or exhibit on campus, as UMW Theatre has just opened their 2025-26 season, and the UMW Galleries features Take a Painting until Oct. 10. Our Eagles are in conference competition for fall sports, including the newly named Roy Gordon Championship Soccer Field. You can also cheer on our student researchers as we gear up to host the NURVa symposium on Nov. 1. Start with the Research and Creativity Open House on Oct. 1, and mark your calendar for Family Weekend, Oct. 3-5, including the Education Abroad Fair. Homecoming happens at the end of the October. See the schedule online now and save the date and your space.
For our students, don’t forget to meet with area employers at Thursday’s Career and Internship Fair (Sept. 25) in the Cedric Rucker University Center, where you can also access a professional clothing closet and portraits. For our seniors, there’s still time to apply for the Fulbright Graduate and Research Abroad Program, or to start graduate school applications, if that is your goal.
Our campus community also has the opportunity to recommend future Eagles to UMW. If you know someone who is just starting their application process to colleges, we also want you to share your experience through that process. Share the code “UMWFAM” so they’ll have an application waiver for the Common App. You can invite them to campus for upcoming events, a game, Homecoming, or an Open House – the first of which is this Saturday, September 27.
We’ve enjoyed welcoming our newest students to campus, and I want to thank everyone who helped with move-in, volunteered with Launchpad, or had a hand in the innovative and engaging programming and events this fall. We also appreciate UMW Votes and the Center for Community Engagement in providing voter education, through sharing sample ballots and free pocket constitutions, assisting our community with on-campus voter registration, and encouraging civic identity and engagement through a variety of civic and public service opportunities. Congratulations, too, to the faculty earning awards to start our semester. Your excellence in the classroom and beyond is without compare, as you encourage our students and all of us to learn more.
Thank you for your dedication to UMW and for making the start of fall a wonderful showcase of our community at Mary Washington.
Sincerely,
Troy Paino