University of Mary Washington President Troy Paino welcomed employees to the new school year, delivering the annual fall faculty/staff address on Monday, Aug. 19, in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. During the hourlong gathering, he reflected on a campus abuzz with activity over the summer, from unique academic offerings to a flurry of construction projects, and spoke of an upcoming academic year packed with projects and plans.
“This campus is busy,” Paino said, pointing to the sports camps, recitals and summer orientation sessions UMW has hosted throughout the past months. “It’s hopping during the summer.”
Since Commencement in May, Mary Washington has welcomed a “remarkable” lineup of programing, Paino said. Examples include the Summer Science Institute, now named for alum Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59; the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Summer Institute; the Summer Enrichment Program; the Student Transition Program, now named STARS; and the housing of more than 100 interns for area employers.
And more than 600 alums returned to their alma mater for Reunion Weekend in June. “That kind of engagement is so important for our continued success here,” Paino said. “A lot of hard work goes into keeping our alums engaged in the work that we’re doing.”
All the while, construction continued, with a four-year project to update underground utilities across campus finally wrapping up, and staff set to move back into George Washington Hall this week after maintenance work took much of the building offline for months. Monroe Hall roof reconstruction continues through the fall semester, Simpson Library is on the schedule for stairwell repairs through March, and repairs to the Goolrick Hall pool are scheduled to be complete by early October. Design work continues for the new theatre at the corner of William Street and Sunken Road followed by renovations to the fine arts buildings of duPont, Melchers and Pollard.
Newly opened this year is the Academy of Technology and Innovation at Mary Washington, a lab school for area high-schoolers that’s housed at the Stafford Campus. Paino touted the behind-the-scenes efforts that led to last week’s launch. On the Fredericksburg Campus, accessibility improvements are in the preliminary design phase and will include updates to academic buildings and residence halls over the next three years. Included are entrance ramps, additional accessible seating in large classrooms in Jepson and Combs halls, elevators and work across Campus Walk and the Battleground Athletics Complex.
In addition to the state-supported projects, UMW has seen an increase in unrestricted donations, allowing strategic investments to areas in greatest need.
“The last couple years have been tremendously successful in fundraising,” said Paino, who spoke of increased support from the Commonwealth and from private donors, and an uptick in unrestricted donations. “That should give us all hope for the future. There’s a recognition of our important mission, and there are those who are willing to invest in that work.”
The UMW Foundation, now under the leadership of Executive Director Katie Turcotte, who also serves as vice president for Advancement and Alumni Engagement, has been revamped this summer. Turcotte has worked to reshape its governance structure and sharpen its focus on fundraising, donor engagement and academic support.
UMW also is focusing on professional development of employees, with a new Eagle’s Summit leadership program and goals for a market study on employee salaries and a retention analysis. Paino is planning to meet with academic departments to personally hear about their challenges, successes, questions and concerns, and following up on staff feedback from last year.
The importance of open dialogue permeates UMW, with upcoming events by the University’s Khatib Program, the Seventh District of Virginia Congressional Debate to be hosted on campus and summer homework for new students through the Constructive Dialogue Institute. This summer, UMW also unveiled new markers on the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail, sharing campus history and highlighting individual stories. The president noted the continued commitment to UMW’s ASPIRE values, which also received a recent shout-out in Inside Higher Ed.
“I firmly believe that is why a place like Mary Washington exists,” Paino said. “We are a public liberal arts university, so that is what our mission is, to teach these students how to live and thrive in a free society.”
He concluded with a reminder to connect with students by cheering them on, with an open invitation to attend athletic competitions, music performances, art exhibits and plays.
“I want to encourage all of you to get out and support our amazing students,” he said. “I think doing so will fill you with a sense not only of pride but of hope for the future.”
