During the week of June 25-29, I will be participating in the meeting of The General Professional Advisory Committee (GPAC), an advisory group of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).  The GPAC meeting will be followed by the regular meeting of the Council of Presidents.  Both groups are comprised of the presidents of Virginia’s public institutions of higher education and the meetings are held in Richmond. On Wednesday, June 27, I will attend the Higher Education Advisory Committee (HEAC) meeting in Richmond.  I recently was appointed to serve on this committee.  In addition to hearing remarks from Governor McDonnell, the committee will receive information on Virginia’s workforce needs, budget, and higher education performance measures. Along with a busy schedule of meetings on the UMW campus, I will participate this week in activities of the Fredericksburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rappahannock United Way.   I believe it is important to offer … [Read more...]

On Thursday evening, June 21, Governor Gov. Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell will host a private reception at the Executive Mansion in Richmond to formally unveil the Rembrandt Peale portrait of James Monroe that will hang in the State Dining Room for the next two years.  The UMW Board of Visitors approved the loan of the portrait from the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, a National Historic Landmark owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia and administered by the University of Mary Washington. Friday, June 22 will be an exciting day in the life of the University.  A large proportion of our 2012 entering class, along with family members, will descend upon the UMW campus in Fredericksburg for a one-day open house program, known as “Flight School.”  Students will be able to check out their residence halls, learn more about what it’s like to be a UMW “Eagle,” and transact important pre-enrollment business.  We are very excited about the quality of this year’s group … [Read more...]

This week, the President’s Cabinet will be holding our annual strategic planning retreat.  On Wednesday, June 13 through Thursday, June 14, we will be retreating to Graves Mountain Lodge in beautiful Syria, Virginia.  Nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, an hour west of Fredericksburg, Graves Mountain Lodge provides a rustic and quiet atmosphere where our senior leadership team can gather to review the accomplishments of the past year and establish our strategic objectives for the upcoming 2012-2013 cycle.  The Cabinet will utilize this time to grapple with challenges and envision the future for the University of Mary Washington. On Saturday, June 16, I am honored to be the invited speaker for the commencement ceremony of Washington and Lee High School in Montross, Virginia.  The University of Mary Washington has a very special relationship with Washington and Lee High School, as this school is a partner in our James Farmer Scholars Program and our Rappahannock Scholars … [Read more...]