Following a weeks-long winter break and a snowstorm that started the spring semester before classes were in session, University of Mary Washington President Troy Paino delivered a heartwarming message.
During an All UMW Faculty and Staff Assembly on Jan. 15 in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium, Paino urged UMW employees to hold tight to their positive attitudes as the University continues with campus construction, celebrates employee contributions and focuses on meeting the needs of the Fredericksburg region. Recruitment efforts – and results – are trending up, he said, and Mary Washington has much to look forward to, from springtime Destination Days that bring admitted students to campus to a May 10 Commencement, which he called “the most joyous day of the year.”
“As we go through the spring semester, do what you always do so well,” he said of the entire University’s role in recruitment. “It’s what our students talk about over dinner – how a faculty member has changed their life or how a staff member took the time to invest in them and become a mentor. They talk about how their lives have been transformed because of the work you do, because you care.”
During the 45-minute talk, Paino spoke of state funding for Mary Washington projects, along with the promise of more with the start of a fresh legislative session in Richmond. He stressed the importance of seeing challenges in Virginia’s competitive higher education landscape as opportunities.
With a current legislative agenda that includes a focus on meeting regional workforce needs such as support for healthcare, UMW is pushing health and human development to the forefront.
“There is an acute need for more nurses in this region,” he said, mentioning that the University is working with local healthcare providers. “We feel it is our responsibility to help the region meet that need.”
Meanwhile, Paino said, construction continues, with myriad projects playing out across campus, including renovations to Simpson Library and Monroe Hall. UMW’s champion men’s and women’s swim teams splashed into a newly revamped Goolrick Pool, which opened this week after extensive improvements took it offline last semester.
“This will be something that benefits our school and future swimmers on that team for years to come,” Paino said.
On the horizon is UMW’s fine and performing arts project, buoyed by state funding of $169 million. Plans include renovations to duPont, Pollard and Melchers halls, along with the creation of a new theatre and academic building at the corner of William Street and Sunken Road. Site prep is set to kick off this summer, with completion slated for fall 2027.
Accessibility and energy efficiency are on the semester’s agenda, as well, with plans for new ramps and elevators, upgrades to the Battlefield Athletic Complex and the addition of electric vehicle charging stations.
Paino also praised the efforts of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, citing 2024 as a milestone year for fundraising and the promise of another in 2025. Thanks to many devoted donors as well as a transformational multi-million-dollar bequest for scientific undergraduate research by Mary Washington alumna Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59, whose lifetime giving totals more than $45 million, UMW’s endowment now stands at more than $100 million.
“Our private donors are investing in us in incredible ways,” said Paino, who urged employees to mark their calendars for Mary Wash Day, a 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement scheduled to kick off at noon on Wednesday, April 2.
He also highlighted Network Mary Wash, an initiative connecting current students seeking career opportunities with alumni employed in particular fields. And he noted a series of Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grants, which awarded $25,000 last year in donor-funded grants to projects and initiatives proposed by students, faculty and staff on behalf of campus organizations.
“We have a lot of reasons to celebrate as we think about those who are investing in what we do. We also have the opportunity to rejoice in the success that we see every day around us,” he said. “I believe that our country needs what we do now more now than ever.”
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