Upcoming Alumni Events, Aug. 7
The Charlottesville Carter Mountain Sunset Series is a chance to listen to great live music and connect with Mary Wash alum.
Alumni events aren’t just for alumni! Unless otherwise noted for a specific event, parents, friends, and faculty/staff are welcome to attend any events hosted by the Office of Alumni Engagement.
August 7: Charlottesville Sunset Series at Carter Mountain Orchard is a favorite annual event. On Thursday, August 7 from 6-9 p.m., we’ll gather at the orchard to hear The Rock Shakerz playing favorites from Van Morrison, the Beatles and more. The Alumni Association provides vouchers for food and non-alcoholic drinks from a food truck on site. Entrance tickets to the orchard are $10 each (children under 12 free) and should be purchased in advance on the orchard’s website. Register on the alumni site so we’ll know to expect you, then reserve your entrance tickets at the Carter Mountain website.
August 12: UMW Alumni Night at the Flying Squirrels (Richmond) 6:00-9:00 p.m. More details coming soon.
October 25: Homecoming Day 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. More details coming soon.
Richmond Jazz and Music Festival Discount, Aug. 8-10
The Richmond Jazz and Music Festival Returns to Maymont Park, August 8 – 10
The Virginia State Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) is pleased to announce that the Richmond Jazz and Music Festival (RJMF) and the Commonwealth of Virginia have partnered to extend a $10 per ticket discount to any state employee interested in attending the event this year on August 8–10 at Maymont Park, in Richmond, Virginia. This is considered one of the East Coast’s most anticipated cultural events and is powered by Dominion Energy as the festival’s Presenting Sponsor. The 2025 edition promises a weekend of unforgettable music, bold flavors, and a vibe you can only find in RVA. Longtime supporters including Altria, Virginia Tourism Corporation, Richmond Region Tourism, and more continue to help make this experience possible.
This year’s lineup features a powerful mix of icons, innovators, and rising stars across jazz, soul, and R&B. Artists scheduled to perform include: T.I., Jodeci, Muni Long, Masego, Ceelo Green, Aloe Blacc, Marsha Ambrosius, October London, Dru Hill, Raheen DeVaughn, Kirk Whalum & Mindi Abair, Norman Brown, Hot Like Mars, Charles Owens, Alexander Mack, and many more.
Please use the state employee promo code upon checking out: jazz4va
Women’s Leadership Coffee Talk, Aug. 12
August’s Coffee Talk will be led by Lisa Henry, Vice President, Advocacy and Member Communications, at American Hospital Association, on the topic of “Empowering Your Voice.”
Join Lisa to discuss ways to engage in grassroots activities in your community, state, and nationally. Learn how to assess your personal goals, level of engagement, and identify causes. Discuss with other participants the pros and cons of engaging in grassroots, the benefits of networking, and engaging your contacts in causes important to you.
Share, learn and grow from other professionals in the Fredericksburg area. Register now!
Updated UMW Brand Toolkit Now Available
We’re excited to share the newly updated UMW Brand Toolkit, which now combines the original 2022 Brand Toolkit and Supplemental Guide into one streamlined, easy-to-use document. This updated version includes important revisions and additions to ensure our brand remains current, relevant, and effective.
The toolkit continues to provide the essential elements needed to communicate UMW’s institutional brand clearly and consistently.
What’s New?
Copy Development Enhancements:
- New storytelling examples that reflect our Matter campaign, showing how both internal and external communications support our brand.
- Audience-specific content examples tailored for prospective students, community members, peer institutions, alumni, and advancement efforts.
Design Updates:
- Our photographic style has evolved to reflect a lighter, warmer, and more energetic tone, with tighter crops that highlight the personalities within our community.
- Expanded guidance on using Matter as a visual and conceptual expression of the brand—beyond just a tagline.
Additional Resources:
- Social media avatar guidelines for colleges, departments, units, and groups.
- New widgets and campus illustrations.
- Clear instructions on when and how to use the Athletics eagle mascot logo.
- Logo usage guidance for events, student organizations, and commercial purposes.
You can access the updated toolkit here: go.umw.edu/logo
Photos available for use may be found here: umwedu.smugmug.com/browse/
If you have any questions about UMW style or usage, please don’t hesitate to call or email us. We’re here to help!
Liz Kuvinka
Associate Director of Design Services and Brand Manager
540-654-1277
ekuvinka@umw.edu
Deadline Extended: Scholarship Opportunity for Children of UMW Faculty & Staff
Deadline Extended to: July 31, 2025
The Arabelle Laws Arrington ’41 Scholarship is a wonderful opportunity for UMW students who are the children of full-time faculty and staff who have been employed with UMW for at least 5 years within a teaching, administrative or classified position. Arabelle Arrington served as a member of the Board of Visitors from 1975-1983, was a member of the Alumni Association, and served as president of the Foundation Board of Directors. Mrs. Arrington left a generous fund from her estate, along with donations from alumni, parents, faculty, and staff of the University to fund this opportunity. This Scholarship is a awarded annually.
To be initially eligible for the benefit, the student must meet the University’s admissions requirements, must be accepted as a degree-seeking student, be a dependent student, be enrolled full-time (12 credit hours or more) and maintain good academic standing (cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better). The award is renewable and can vary in amount each year based on the students’ financial need and eligibility for other financial aid awards. The award could cover up to the total cost of in-state tuition and mandatory fees, however, room, board, books, and other college expenses or additional fees are not covered by this scholarship. This scholarship does not apply to the enrollment of faculty or spouses of staff members, non-degree seeking students, part-time students (less than 12 credit hours), or summer session enrollment.
This scholarship opportunity is administered by the Office of Financial Aid. Please contact the Financial Aid office for more details and to self-identify as a continuing student candidate or if you are a new student coming in for the Fall semester by emailing finaid@umw.edu or by telephone at 540-654-2468.
Advancement & Alumni Engagement New Faces
The Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement and the UMW Foundation has had two new faces join their respective teams on June 25th.
Priya Panikkar is the new Assistant Vice President for Advancement Services and Innovation. She will oversee data services, gift processing, donor relations, and business intelligence, prospect management and research. She comes to us from Old Dominion University, where she served as the AVP of Advancement Services.
Rebecca Armstrong joined the UMW Foundation as the Assistant Vice President for Finance and Accounting. Longtime foundation member and Senior Accountant, Ann Hodges will report to her. She comes to us from the Fredericksburg Nationals, where she served as the Controller.
Along with these two new hires, the Foundation Office moved from their location in Eagle Village to the third floor of the Jepson Alumni Executive Center on June 27th. This move marks the completion of the Foundation’s reorganization which began last fiscal year as Katie Turcotte assumed the additional role of Executive Director of the UMW Foundation.
Advancement & Alumni Engagement Leadership Promotions
The Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement is pleased to share leadership promotions which are designed to help prepare our team to help further philanthropic and alumni engagement to the University of Mary Washington.
- Mark Thaden ’02 has been promoted to Associate Vice President for Alumni and Donor Engagement. He will now oversee Alumni Engagement, Alumni and Advancement Communications and Events, and Annual Giving.
- Shelby Orlando ’14 has been promoted to Executive Director of Annual and Family Giving.
- Angela Zosel McCormick ’00 has been promoted to Director of Alumni & Advancement Communications; Jill Laiacona ’04 will now report to her.
- Phillip Duggins has been promoted to Director of Alumni Programs, with Jessica McGraw ’07 promoted to Assistant Director of Alumni Programs, reporting to Phillip.
- Beth Hunsinger ’01 has been promoted to Assistant Vice President for Development and Campaign Operations. She will lead planned, major, principal, corporate and foundation giving efforts—key to our upcoming campaign for which she will also help coordinate all communications, volunteer leadership and events.
- Jeremy Vaughn ’08 was selected to serve as UMW’s Executive Director of Planned Giving, reporting to Beth.
- Sophia Weldi-Miller ’22 has been promoted to a full-time role as the Advancement and Alumni Engagement Coordinator, supporting alumni engagement, donor relations and campaign operations.
All of these changes are a reflection of the departure of two long-standing Advancement team members, Jan Clarke and Catherine Seller who’s combined 30 years of service have left an indelible mark on Mary Washington and our work with our many alumni, donors and friends.
Spencer Named Head Men’s Rugby Coach at UMW
Head Men’s Rugby Coach Andrew Spencer
The University of Mary Washington athletic department is pleased to announce the hiring of Andrew Spencer as the new head men’s rugby coach, according to Director of Athletics Patrick Catullo. “We look forward to having Andrew Spencer join UMW Athletics to be the next head coach of the men’s rugby program and continue the team’s tradition of excellence,” said Catullo. “Coach Spencer’s experience and coaching ability will be a great asset to the team, the department and the entire UMW community.”
“I’m honored and excited for the opportunity to lead the men’s rugby team at the University of Mary Washington,” said Spencer. “I want to thank Patrick Catullo and the search committee for their warm welcome throughout the interview process — I’m truly grateful to be joining the UMW athletics team. It is a privilege to work alongside current coach and UMW rugby alumnus Charbel Medlej ’16 as we build on the program’s strong history and guide this team into the next chapter. I look forward to working with this talented group of student-athletes to help them be successful academically and athletically.”
Spencer comes to UMW from Nazareth University, where he served as head coach for 2024-25. Nazareth competed in the National Collegiate Rugby’s Liberty Conference, and advanced to the NCR’s National Rugby 7’s championship tournament in spring 2025. He was an assistant coach for backs and 7’s at Nazareth in 2023-24. Prior to Nazareth, Spencer served as head coach at SUNY Geneseo, where he led the team to a pair of conference 15’s championships and one state 7’s championship in his two seasons – both of which culminated in CRC championship appearances. A 2015 bachelor of science graduate form John Carroll University, he also has playing experience on 15’s and 7’s squads for the Rochester Aardvarks (15s) and the Roc City Reapers (7s), as well as at St. John Fisher College, where he gained his doctorate of Pharmacy in 2019. He is licensed with a USA Rugby L200/World Rugby Level 1 Coaching Certification.
Remembering Professor Emeritus Thomas Moeller
Remembering Professor Emeritus of Psychology Thomas Moeller who taught psychology for 35 years at Mary Washington.
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Professor Emeritus of Psychology Thomas Moeller. Services will be held in Freeport, Illinois. For the past few years, he has lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after spending most of his career in Fredericksburg and Stafford.
Moeller retired from the Mary Washington faculty in 2008, after 35 years of service. Within the Department of Psychology, he was the founding editor of the alumni newsletter and also coordinated the department’s Graduate-in-Residence program. Alumni recall his impact long after they graduated with many citing him as the reason that they chose Mary Washington, and later returning to campus as a graduate-in-residence.
One recalls how Moeller was an academic advisor, and internship supervisor, and taught her favorite class of all time (health psychology). She noted how he was so good at “really seeing and listening to people and reaching out to share an encouraging word and taking time to recognize and appreciate the connections we have.”
Moeller’s main areas of expertise were normal and abnormal child development, educational psychology, parenting education and the study of aggression in youths and adults. In 2001, he authored a book, Youth Aggression and Violence. In 2007 he was awarded the Grellet C. Simpson award from UMW for excellence in undergraduate teaching. He was also an active member of the Virginia Psychological Association and involved in mental health issues in the Fredericksburg community.
In retirement, Moeller enjoyed genealogical research, traveling and studying European languages. He loved baseball and was an avid fan of the Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals. Above all, however, he loved having more time to spend with his family, especially his grandchildren. Moeller will be remembered throughout the Fredericksburg region, with many colleagues and alumni fortunate for the opportunity to work with him.
See Moeller’s obituary for additional details on his memorial events and options for expressing condolences.