UMW President Makes ‘Virginia 500’ Power List

Virginia Business magazine has announced the Virginia 500: 2022-23 Power List, naming University of Mary Washington President Troy Paino among the commonwealth’s top education leaders.

“It’s like the Fortune 500, but instead of focusing on companies, it’s about people,” said Virginia Business Editor Richard Foster in the publication’s opening letter. “We strive to inventory the most powerful and influential leaders and executives in Virginia across 20 major sectors, ranging from real estate and manufacturing to higher education and government. We accept suggestions for the Virginia 500, but it is compiled based on research by our editorial staff, not through nominations.”

Likewise Paino’s profile in the publication spotlights his personal approach, citing this year’s Region III President’s Award from NASPA, the organization of student affairs administrators in higher education, in recognition of his desire to include student views in strategic planning initiatives. The listing also chronicles his leadership through the pandemic. UMW’s COVID-19 in Context online courses in 2020 engaged the campus and community-at-large in learning more about the virus, and at the height of the pandemic, UMW was among the state’s higher education institutions with the lowest infection rates.

Virginia Business also highlights Paino’s stewardship of UMW’s public liberal arts mission and his focus on student and faculty diversity, exemplified through recent key hires, as well as the renaming of buildings to recognize outstanding service to the campus, state and nation. These include the Cedric Rucker University Center in honor of the celebrated Mary Washington alumnus and associate vice president and dean of student life, emeritus, as well as James Farmer Hall, an academic building honoring the late civil rights leader and UMW history professor.

During his tenure, Paino has overseen the renovation of several buildings, including Virginia and Willard residence halls. The University expanded the Jepson Science Center and most recently renovated Seacobeck Hall, now home to the College of Education and Office of Disability Resources. Additional campus construction is on the horizon with this year’s historic state budget allocation funding the $117 million development of a new theatre and the renovation of the fine-arts complex, consisting of duPont, Melchers and Pollard halls, a longtime UMW priority.

Paino is one of just 23 leaders in higher education on the 2022-23 list. He’s joined the ranks of the Power 500 every year since the inaugural list in 2020.

Read more in the Virginia 500 by Virginia Business.