Dear UMW Community,
Fall has officially arrived on our campus, and as the leaves come through with their annual vibrant colors, we are seeing campus come to life with new activities indoors and outside. It’s time for fall festivals, the Education Abroad Fair, Family Weekend, and the Fall 2024 Career & Internship Fair, just to name a few, and I hope you’ll find new opportunities for growth and knowledge, both in and out of the classroom.
It’s a season for college rankings as well, and I’m excited to announce that UMW is in the top 10 public liberal arts colleges in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report rankings of colleges and universities throughout the U.S. This ranking is based on academic quality, graduation and retention rates, social mobility, graduate indebtedness, and college graduate earning potential. These outcomes are a direct result of the achievements of our top-notch students and the expertise, hard work, and dedication of our faculty and staff. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! It follows a collection of lists, including a top 25 ranking for UMW Theatre in The Princeton Review, a best bang for the buck in Washington Monthly, a best college mention in Money Magazine, and numerous top 100 liberal arts colleges rankings nationally, but this specific category in U.S. News and World Report is distinctive for our mission and approach to higher education.
Much of this work is led by our dedicated faculty and staff, and we want to acknowledge our award-winning faculty from the beginning of the semester. Congratulations to Angela Pitts, Kyle Schultz, Marcus Leppanen, Laura Wilson, and posthumously, Jane Huffman, for recognition of their dedicated expertise to their fields of study, their genuine support and mentorship of our students, and their roles in our community.
Our students have garnered accolades as well, notably UMW junior, Jorrin Casa de Calvo, who earned a spot on the 2024 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll. UMW not only hosted the 7th annual Virginia Student Voting Summit, but was honored with the Civic Spirit Award. Mary Washington also earned gold status from the All In Campus Democracy Challenge for its student turnout rate at the polls during both the 2020 presidential election and 2022 midterm elections, and has earned the All In Campus Democracy Challenge’s “Highly Established Action Plan Seal” for developing a nonpartisan democratic engagement action plan for the 2024 election cycle. Our campus was also buzzing with energy and excitement during our recent Constitution Day and National Voter Registration Day events. UMW Votes and the Center for Community Engagement have been instrumental in providing voter education, through sharing sample ballots and free pocket constitutions, assisting our community with on-campus voter registration, and encouraging civic identity and engagement through a variety of civic and public service opportunities.
We have many ways to stay involved throughout the year and prepare for Life After Mary Washington, with this week being the perfect example. For those of you considering experiential learning opportunities, there is still time to apply for the Fulbright Graduate and Research Abroad Program, offering an opportunity to spend a year teaching and/or conducting research abroad. And, the Fall 2024 Career & Internship Fair is scheduled for this Thursday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Chandler Ballroom of the Cedric Rucker University Center. A variety of local and regional employers such as corporations, federal and state government agencies, and non-profit organizations will be searching to fill full-time and internship positions. Visit the Center for Career and Professional Development in the Cedric Rucker University Center to learn more.
If you know someone who is just starting their application process to colleges, we also want you to share your experience through that process. Share the code “UMWFAM” so they’ll have an application waiver for the Common App. And, students who complete a “Taking Flight” interview as part of their application process will also be considered for a $1,000 to $2,000 scholarship. You can invite them to campus for upcoming events, a game, Homecoming, or an Open House. We just hosted hundreds of prospective students and their guests this past weekend, and we have opportunities coming up each month.
There’s still time to see the No. 1 ranked men’s soccer team in the nation, among DIII schools, as UMW holds the ranking this week. And, UMW Men’s Soccer Alum, Josh Kirkland ‘22, signed with the Richmond Kickers, pending league and federation approval. A business administration major, Josh led the UMW Eagles to back-to-back Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championships his last two seasons. And, through this weekend, you have a chance to catch a final performance of UMW Theatre’s 12 Angry Jurors.
With back-to-school season now in full swing, we officially cut the ribbon at the Academy of Technology and Innovation at UMW (ATI-UMW) on the Stafford Campus, joined in the dedication ceremony by Governor Glenn Youngkin, Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera, the UMW Board of Visitors, and other guests. This regional high school and lab school is providing an innovative experience merging the high-tech skill needs of today’s economy with the robust, critical thinking that a foundation in liberal arts and sciences provides. This is a wonderful example of the results of collaborative efforts by many organizations and individuals.
By now, I hope that you have discovered some new interests, clubs, organizations, study spots on campus, etc. Whether you choose to participate or observe, I encourage you to attend an athletic event, a theatrical or music performance, an art exhibit, a research project presentation, or more. There’s a wealth of opportunities and resources available for everyone.
We look forward to welcoming parents and supporters to UMW for Family Weekend beginning October 4. We hope you and your family enjoy our campus, the event programming, and touring Fredericksburg.
Sincerely,
Troy Paino