As a University of Mary Washington student, Sean Simons ’13 spent two years working in the Office of the President on campus, where he got to know countless alumni who supported him on his journey to become one of the youngest congressional aides on Capitol Hill.
“I made a pledge that I’d someday return the favor and give back to the University that gave me so much,” said Simons, who went on to shape former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly’s gun violence prevention organization.
Simons now oversees communications for RED, U2 lead singer Bono’s nonprofit combatting AIDS and injustice. When he’s not working to raise millions for global health, Simons is helping his alma mater; in the past he has served on UMW’s Alumni Association Board of Directors (AABOD), as vice president for Reunion Weekend and on the Alumni Awards committee.
Now, Simons has won an Alumni Award of his own, accepting an Outstanding Young Alumnus Award from Mary Washington during 2023’s Reunion Weekend. Graduates across generations applauded the four alumni recognized by President Troy Paino and UMW’s Office of Alumni Engagement at the June 3 ceremony, held in Dodd Auditorium. Alumni Awards Vice President Sean Lynch ’95 announced the honorees, who were selected by AABOD.
Grads and guests also had a chance to get their first glimpse of the newly installed Alumni of Distinction gallery in George Washington Hall. Alumni will have the chance to nominate their classmates to be added to the display every five years.
Celebrating her 50th reunion this year, Janet Hedrick ’73 received the Distinguished Alumni Award for making significant contributions in her profession and community, while serving as a leader in her field.
After teaching math and physics, Hedrick spent 45 years as a fundraising professional, working in higher education and healthcare and at association foundations. She also served as a consultant for hospitals and public broadcasting stations, and penned a book, Effective Donor Relations.
Hedrick has attended every Mary Washington reunion for her class, co-chaired her 40th reunion committee, helped plan her 50th reunion and raised funds for the Class of 1973’s endowed scholarship.
“Janet gives back to the community, to her school, to her church and to her friends,” said nominator Joyce Hines Molina ’73. “She remains forever true to Mary Washington.”
Beth Craig ’77 became Honor Council president in college. Her continued engagement at her alma mater over the past four decades earned her the Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service Award, recognizing an alum who has provided a lifetime of service to the University.
“I cannot think of any other person who has given more of her time and energy to our alma mater,” said nominator Phyllis Quinn ’77, who serves with Craig on UMW’s College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board. Together, they issued a challenge last fall to fellow alumni to raise funds for the Beyond the Classroom initiative, which supports student research, internships, study abroad and other high-impact learning experiences.
Craig has served on reunion committees and as an AABOD member, and she represented her class for the University’s Centennial Celebration. She has mentored students and was a Common Read facilitator as part of UMW’s First-Year Experience.
Brent Turner Monseur ’09 was also the recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, for graduates of the last 15 years who have distinguished themselves in serving Mary Washington or their professions and communities.
As a first-generation college student, Monseur, who is gay and non-binary, grew up uncertain whether their dream of becoming a physician was possible. Today, they are considered one of the leading experts on LGBTQ family building in the United States.
Monseur’s passion for serving others flourished at UMW, where they majored in interdisciplinary biochemistry, and through volunteering at Mary Washington Hospital. “I can think of few people more involved in student activities than Dr. Monseur,” said Alexis McLane ’09, recalling how Monseur went door-to-door campaigning to become Russell Hall president.
Monseur also served on UMW’s Association of Residence Halls, on the curriculum committee, as Academic Affairs Council chairperson and as a member of UMW’s Young Democrats.
After graduation, Monseur trained at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and earned a medical doctorate at the Medical College of Virginia. They also completed a prestigious internship at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where they focused on promoting fertility preservation options for astronaut crew members.
Monseur now chairs the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s (ASRM) LGBTQ special interest group and is drafting the nation’s first guidelines on LGBTQ family building. In September they will join the faculty of Stanford University to lead its specialty LGBTQ family building program.
Monseur has also received numerous awards for physicians in reproductive endocrinology, obstetrics and gynecology, and is the inaugural recipient of ASRM’s Diversity Fellowship Award.
Read more about Mary Washington’s Alumni Award recipients from past years. Learn about the Alumni of Distinction display.
