University of Mary Washington administrator Meta Braymer received the Patricia Lacey Metzger Distinguished Achievement Award during the 18th annual Leadership Colloquium for Professional Women at the University of Mary Washington on Thursday, November 3.
Braymer is vice president for economic development and regional engagement at UMW and leads the newly established Center for Economic Development. She was recognized for her career achievements, which include more than 30 years in higher education, as well as extensive involvement in business and community organizations.
The Metzger award recognizes individuals who uphold high standards in their personal and professional lives while fulfilling a career goal of significant stature. The award, presented annually at the colloquium since 1999, is given in memory of the late Patricia Metzger, a UMW professor and founder of the event. Only past colloquium participants are eligible to receive the Metzger award.
Braymer has held various positions at Mary Washington, including dean of the faculty and vice president for graduate and professional studies. She oversaw the planning, design, construction and budget of the Stafford campus, and was instrumental in the development of the third campus at Dahlgren.
Braymer is a member of the UMW Presidential Council on Sustainability and the Executive-in-Residence Program. She received the Washington Medallion for Service to the University of Mary Washington in 2003, the highest honor given by the university.
Outside of her position at Mary Washington, Braymer has a long record of involvement in business and community groups in the region. She is involved with the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Stafford Rotary Club. She is a founding member of the Women Executives in Virginia Higher Education and Virginia Engage.
Braymer received a bachelor’s degree from Maryville College and a master’s degree from The Ohio State University. She received her doctorate in English from the University of Tennessee.
The 2011 colloquium centered on the theme “Mapping Your Journey.”
Vernice “Flygirl” Armour, the nation’s first African-American female combat pilot and author of “Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals That Matter,” gave the keynote address to more than 200 professional women at the UMW Stafford campus. In her presentation, she shared her journey of becoming a fighter pilot to emphasize the importance of a “breakthrough mentality” in the workplace.
“What is a breakthrough mentality? Simply, it is refusing to settle even in the smallest of moments and demanding a breakthrough life, career and family,” Armour said. “Acknowledge the obstacles, don’t give them power.”
The program also offered seminars focused on leadership brands, workplace obstacles, social media, managerial approaches and work/life balance.
The colloquium, which is hosted annually by UMW, was co-sponsored this year by Geico, NSWC Federal Credit Union and Mary Washington Healthcare.
For more information about the colloquium, visit www.umw.edu/lcpw.
