Giving Stories

Mary Washington Alum Cycles Cross-Country – and Campus Walk – for a Cure

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Pat McAleer ’89 remembers being in college when the bricks were laid to make the University of Mary Washington’s Campus Walk.

He’ll ride that same route when he visits his alma mater Oct. 6 during the final stretch of his cross-country cycling journey – spanning more than 4,000 miles – to support research for type 1 diabetes (TD1). His daughter, Mary Kate, now a registered nurse, was diagnosed with the condition at age 10.

Pat was inspired to take this trip to transform his family’s experiences into an opportunity to spread awareness about TD1, he noted on his website, which chronicles his three-month trek that will end at the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach. “Not as a cyclist, but as a father who believes that with enough collective determination, we can find a cure.”

Pat McAleer ’89 is cycling cross-country to raise awareness and support research for type 1 diabetes, which his daughter, Mary Kate, has navigated since childhood. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
Pat McAleer’s daughter, Mary Kate, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, or TD1, at age 10. She’s now thriving as an adult, working as a registered nurse (RN). Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
Pat McAleer and daughter Mary Kate as a teen. Pat and wife Molly became like “human pancreases” after Mary Kate’s diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, he said, helping her monitor symptoms, give herself insulin shots, and check her blood sugar hourly. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.

Determination shaped Pat’s college experience from his first visit to campus during high school. The late Senior Vice President Emeritus H. Conrad Warlick, who then worked in admissions, spent an hour helping him map out a plan to earn his college degree.

“He was incredibly instrumental in my decision to come to Mary Washington,” said Pat, who grew up in Annandale, Virginia. He took Warlick’s advice and spent a semester shoring up his grades in community college before joining what was then known as the Blue Tide, which became the Eagles in 1986.

He majored in business administration but loved the liberal arts courses he took. His favorite class was taught by late civil rights leader and history professor James L. Farmer Jr.

“Those lectures were life lessons,” Pat said, recalling how Farmer’s stories about the civil rights era and the Freedom Riders, who persevered in their quest for justice, resonated with him. “I’m now amazed that I had the opportunity to listen to him in person.”

Pat McAleer in front of Brent House at Mary Washington in 1987. He said riding a bicycle was “freedom on two wheels” while he was growing up. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
Pat McAleer had taken many long-distance cycling trips and even finished the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain on bicycle after breaking his toe, but he had never taken a trip as long as his current journey. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.

Pat worked in residence life and hung out at campus hotspots like the Pub and the C-Shoppe. He also served as co-captain of the men’s lacrosse club team when it became a varsity program.

“We got clobbered in our first game and went 0-14 that year,” he said. Slowly, the team began racking up a few wins in its second season. “It’s nice to see how far the program has come.”

After graduation, he began a decades-long career in financial planning in Richmond, while pursuing his passion for cycling. “For me, riding a bicycle was even better than getting a driver’s license,” Pat said. “It was freedom on two wheels.”

Then, his daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin.

“What many people don’t understand is this is an autoimmune disease that requires constant vigilance,” he said, noting its differences from type 2 diabetes, which mainly affects older adults. “Diet and lifestyle aren’t a factor.”

Pat McAleer and wife Molly at a gala in February 2026 for Breakthrough TD1, formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
Pat McAleer’s daughters, Abby (left) and Mary Kate (right), wearing T-shirts supporting finding a cure for type 1 diabetes, which Mary Kate was diagnosed with at age 10. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
Pat McAleer and daughter Mary Kate, who has navigated type 1 diabetes since childhood and is now a registered nurse. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
From left: Pat McAleer, wife Molly, daughter Abby, son-in-law Jack, and daughter Molly during Abby and Jack’s wedding in July 2023. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.

He and wife Molly became “human pancreases,” he said, helping Mary Kate manage her symptoms, give herself insulin shots, and check her blood sugar hourly. They found support and resources through Breakthrough TD1 (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), which estimates that nine million people worldwide live with the condition.

“I was always thinking on my cycling trips about what else I could do to help, so this journey came together organically,” said Pat, who retired earlier this year.

He had taken longer rides before – and even finished the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile pilgrimage in Spain, on a rented bicycle because he broke his toe on the trip. “But I’ve never done something like this,” he said.

Pat McAleer poses atop the Sherman Pass road sign, the highest mountain pass in Washington State. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
“Every day I write a name on the duct tape and stick it to my handlebar and keep that person and their family in my heart,” said Pat McAleer, who messages the person and tells them that day’s ride is dedicated to them. “At the end of the day, I take the piece of tape off and stick it on my saddlebag with the others.” Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
Pat McAleer wore a face respirator mask to breathe as the wildfires burned in Kaiser Canyon in Washington State in late July. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
Pat McAleer camped through much of his journey, spending only a third of the time in hotels and overnight rentals. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
Pat McAleer’s bicycle parked in front of Hell Creek Bar & Grill in Montana, one of the many stops he made along the way to rest and eat. He has appreciated the many conversations he has had with strangers about type 1 diabetes. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
Pat McAleer on the new Gordie Howe International Bridge, which opened this summer, connecting Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
Pat McAleer stops with his bicycle at Glacier National Park in Montana. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
Pat McAleer takes a photo outside the U.S. Post Office in Brandon, Minnesota, a tiny city with a population of 501. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.
Pat McAleer (right) with Sean Michael Dargan ’90, who was following Pat’s journey on social media and reached out. The friends, who hadn’t seen each other since graduation, met up in Madison, Wisconsin, when Pat was passing through. Photo courtesy of Pat McAleer.

Pat flew to Seattle in July, dipped his wheel in the Pacific Ocean, and headed east. He has traveled interstates and dirt roads, braved inclement weather, wore a face respirator to avoid inhaling nearby wildfire smoke, pedaled up hills and mountains, and has frequently camped under the night skies.

But it’s been worth it, he said, because of the conversations he’s had with strangers, including some whose families have been impacted by type 1 diabetes. “I’ve chatted with people in coffee shops and cornfields and realized how kind people truly are.”

Friends, family, and fellow alumni are following along on social media, including Sean Michael Dargan ’90, who met up with him in Madison, Wisconsin, reconnecting for the first time since graduation. Pat – who has also been profiled by news media throughout Virginia and even briefly appeared on the Today Show with Molly while passing through New York City – hopes to see other former classmates in Fredericksburg, while spreading the word about TD1.

“I truly believe that we can find a cure,” he said. “In the meantime, we can fund research for better treatments so people can live healthier lives.”

Learn more at RidePatRide.org.

Do you know a high school senior or transfer student who would thrive at Mary Washington? Share our Refer an Eagle code UMWFAM to waive the $50 application fee on the Common Application for admission to encourage the student to apply. Learn more.

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04.

Scholarships Shape Recent UMW Alum’s Future in International Affairs

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When Savannah Sinor ’26 graduated from the University of Mary Washington in May, the international affairs major already had plans to put her UMW education into practice as a business immigration paralegal in her hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina.

A student in a blue cap and gown, smiling and standing on the UMW campus with brick buildings and pink blossoms in the background.
Savannah Sinor ’26, who earned a bachelor’s degree in international affairs at Mary Washington, is working as a business immigration paralegal before pursuing a law degree. Her scholarships helped provide her with a transformative education and impactful learning opportunities like a faculty-led development trip to Guatemala and a U.S. Department of State internship. Photo courtesy of Savannah Sinor.

“My experience has been wonderful,” said Savannah, who oversees several dozen employment-based petitions at a time, using her policy background and professional communication and time management skills she gained from Mary Washington. “I’ve already received several approvals, which is a fantastic feeling because each one represents a real person I’ve helped in their immigrant journey.”

Savannah, who minored in environmental sustainability and French, earned scholarships at UMW that supported her studies as an out-of-state student. The private funding also helped her find her purpose through experiential learning – a faculty-led trip to Latin America, a U.S. State Department internship, and undergraduate research – opportunities that have been foundational for her life and career after Mary Washington.

“My scholarships allowed me to focus more fully on my academic and professional goals without the added stress of financial uncertainty,” said Savannah, who was awarded the Paul and Judith Dresser Merit Scholarship all four years of college. She also earned the Elizabeth Baylor Neatrour ’54 and Mary Ellen Stephenson Memorial, Marjorie Jean Frost ’44, and Smith International Affairs scholarships. “These awards made me feel truly supported by the UMW community.”

Savannah visited Mary Washington for an open house during high school and fell in love with the Georgian architecture and fall foliage. Her college decision was an easy one, she said, thanks to the Washington Guides who helped her navigate campus as well as the faculty members who readily answered her questions.

“Mary Washington is not just a school but a home and community,” said Savannah, who was president of her high school’s Model United Nations chapter and was attracted to the University’s focus on intercultural competence. “Everyone here was welcoming, and UMW was so integrated with Fredericksburg that I knew I could be happy here. And I’ve been so very happy.”

She served as a peer mentor and resident assistant and was active in UMW’s Renaissance Club and The House, an inclusive Episcopalian-Lutheran campus ministry. She also completed the Peace Corps Prep Program through UMW’s Center for International Education.

Through a Sustainable Development course with Professor of Geography Dawn Bowen, she went on a faculty-led study abroad trip to Guatemala. “We stayed in a villager’s home on a mountain top, learning about sustainable development and how to empower women to build their own businesses,” she said.

She wrote her UMW Honors Program thesis on U.S. interventionism during the 30-year Guatemalan civil war, then presented the paper at a national political science conference.

“Savannah was a truly exceptional student, always prepared and willing to engage with unfamiliar material,” Professor Bowen said. “Her thesis was one of the finest pieces of student scholarship that I’ve seen in my three-decades long teaching career.”

Savannah Sinor ’26 took a semester off to intern full time at the U.S. Department of State in the Office of Caribbean Affairs. Photo courtesy of Savannah Sinor.
Savannah Sinor ’26 went on a faculty-led grassroots trip to Guatemala with Professor of Geography Dawn Bowen and her classmates to study environmental and sustainable development. Photo courtesy of Savannah Sinor.
At UMW’s Scholarship Luncheon last spring, Savannah Sinor ’26 shared how earning the Paul and Judith Dresser Merit Scholarship, Elizabeth Baylor Neatrour ’54 and Mary Ellen Stephenson Memorial Scholarship, Marjorie Jean Frost ’44 Scholarship, and Smith International Affairs Scholarship gave her the chance to go on a faculty-led trip to Guatemala, become a full-time intern at the U.S. State Department, and present her research at a national political science conference. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Savannah took a semester off to work full time in the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Caribbean Affairs, giving her the chance to engage with diplomats and visitors from across the globe.

“I even met a Mary Washington alumna who graduated in the 1960s on a tour of the U.S Capitol,” she said. She also completed a summer internship with the North Carolina Department of Natural Cultural Resources, and another as a grant writer, where she helped apply for over $300,000 in funds to support two client nonprofits.

After spending some time as a paralegal, Savannah plans to earn a law degree and is considering a master’s degree in international affairs, before pursuing a career in the federal government.

Her aspirations are possible, she said, because of the transformative education she found at Mary Washington.

“I had all these opportunities because of my scholarships,” she said last spring at the annual Scholarship Luncheon and Student Showcase. “I’m so grateful for the faculty members and donors who believed in my potential and who’ve invested so generously in UMW students and their futures.”

Learn more about establishing scholarships and how private support makes a difference in the lives of UMW students who receive scholarships, research fellowships, and internship grants. Find scholarship opportunities that are available to UMW students.

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04.

UMW’s Regional Alumni Networks Create Connections Across the Country

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Jessica Mitchell Essalih ’05 jumped at the chance to lead the University of Mary Washington’s Texas Regional Alumni Network when she relocated from New York City to Austin.

“It’s remarkable, even for a few hours, to be surrounded by people who value UMW’s Honor Code, a liberal arts education, and a Carl’s milkshake,” said Jessica, who met and married fellow alum Tony Essalih ’99, who was living in Houston. The couple have hosted events to help alumni across the Lone Star State stay connected to their alma mater and each other. “There’s never a lull in the conversation when you bring up Mary Washington,” she added. “It’s such a special place.”

She’s one of many alumni volunteers who manage Mary Washington’s nearly two dozen networks nationwide. Network leaders help UMW’s Office of Alumni Engagement plan baseball games and brunches, painting parties and picnics, and happy hours and hikes in their home cities – as well as university updates with President Troy Paino and wife Kelly – gathering groups of graduates who once called Mary Washington home.

Jessica Mitchell Essalih ’05 and husband Tony Essalih ’99 (center) hosting a Texas Network event for their fellow Mary Washington alumni in Houston. Jessica is among the dozens of alumni who serve as Regional Alumni Network leaders. Photo courtesy of Phillip Duggins.
Members of the Richmond Network, including network leaders Amy Leap ’12 (middle row, second from left) and Marshall Vogt ’07 (back row, fourth from left) during a food drive and happy hour at Gramaphone Winery in Richmond. Photo courtesy of Phillip Duggins.
Alumni paint snowmen at Muse Paintbar in 2022 as part of the Washington, D.C./Northern Virginia Network. Photo courtesy of Angela Zosel McCormick ’00.
Mary Washington alumni gathered with President Troy Paino and wife Kelly (center), along with Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte (third from left, back row) and Associate Vice President for Alumni and Donor Engagement Mark Thaden ’02 (far right) at Redbird in downtown Los Angeles for a Southern California Network event.
Richmond Network co-leader Amy Leap ’12 (gray shirt) and other alumni attend a Richmond Kickers soccer game in 2023. Photo courtesy of Phillip Duggins.
A group of alumni and Distinguished Professor Emeritus Bill Crawley attend a Mary Wash Day and Fredericksburg Network happy hour and trivia in the Hurley Convergence Center in 2025. Their team was No. 1 in trivia. Photo courtesy of Cadi Treviño Pinto ’22.

This fall features a Boston/New England Network gathering Oct. 8 at Trillium Brewing in Canton, Massachusetts. The Richmond (Virginia) Network will host a happy hour and service project for an animal shelter Oct. 8 at Triple Crossing’s Fulton brewery. The Washington, D.C./Northern Virginia Network will host an event at Continues Arcade in Alexandria Oct. 15. President Paino will also visit locations throughout Virginia in the winter and spring. View the UMW Alumni event calendar to learn about upcoming dates.

“These events are opportunities to meet people with a shared foundation, expand personal and professional connections in a new city, and make an unfamiliar place feel more welcoming,” said Lori Foster Turley ’81, an Alumni Association Board of Directors member and Regional Alumni Networks vice president. “Most importantly, they help alumni continue building community long after graduation, keeping Mary Washington close no matter where life takes them.”

That’s why Alanna Shapiro ’18 helped get the Philadelphia Network up and running – or hiking. Last fall, she helped arrange a family picnic, playtime, and hike at a park in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, when the leaves were at their peak colors.

“I had just moved to Philly, so getting involved as a network leader has helped me meet more people,” said Shapiro, who hopes to plan future events around the city’s spirited sports teams.

Alumni attend a Charlotte Knights Minor League Baseball game in 2024 as part of the Charlotte Network in North Carolina. Photo courtesy of Phillip Duggins.
Alumni visit Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest for a Charlottesville Network event in 2024. Photo courtesy of Phillip Duggins.
Alumni and their pups attend a “Yappy Hour” at Snouts and Stouts brewery in Arlington, Virginia, as part of the D.C./Northern Virginia Network. Photo courtesy of Phillip Duggins.
President Troy Paino and alumni at the Library of Distilled Spirits in New York City, as part of the New York City Network. Photo courtesy of Phillip Duggins.
A group of alumni and Distinguished Professor Emeritus Bill Crawley attend a Mary Wash Day and Fredericksburg Network happy hour and trivia in the Hurley Convergence Center in 2025. Their team was No. 1 in trivia. Photo courtesy of Cadi Treviño Pinto ’22.
Tara Corrigall ’82 (back row, far left), Director of Alumni and Advancement Communications Angela Zosel McCormick ’00 (back row, fourth from left), and alumni visiting the Barrier Islands Center on the Eastern Shore as part of the Tidewater Network. Photo courtesy of Angela McCormick.

Marshall Vogt ’07, who grew up in Richmond, signed up to be a network leader when he returned home after college. He has helped plan a tacky holiday lights tour, book readings by local alumni authors like Kristen Green ’95, and the ever-popular Richmond Squirrels Minor League Baseball game each summer.

Leaders brainstorm ideas before bringing them to UMW Director of Alumni Programs Phillip Duggins, who helps each network secure a venue, plan a budget and timeline, and communicate details to area alumni via email and social media. Registration is required for events, which are typically free or involve a minimal cost but often include food and beverages.

“I know people who’ve gotten job offers, including me, after making a connection at a network event,” said Amy Leap ’12, another Richmond leader, who was recruited to join after her stint on UMW’s Young Alumni Council ended.

She has enjoyed planning service projects like holiday card writing and food drives, but her favorite was a celebration of late civil rights leader James L. Farmer Jr., featuring UMW Associate Provost of Community Relations and Compliance Shavonne Shorter as a guest.

Many alumni shared their personal stories about having Dr. Farmer as a history professor at Mary Washington, Amy said, while Dr. Shorter told them about current James Farmer Multicultural Center events and initiatives.

Tara Corrigall ’82 became active in the Tidewater/Virginia Beach Network, which she now co-leads, after serving on UMW’s Board of Visitors and as president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. She has helped plan a meetup at a dog-friendly brewery, visits to local art museums, and an annual luncheon and tour for Virginia’s Historic Garden Week.

“I relish any chance I have to stay engaged and informed on what’s happening at Mary Washington,” Tara said. “I loved planning dorm events and parties as a student, so this role was the perfect fit.”

Find Regional Alumni Networks in your area. Check the UMW Alumni calendar for upcoming gatherings. Contact Director of Alumni Programs Phillip Duggins to learn how you can get involved.

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04 

Mary Washington Physics Alum Wins Huge Award for Study of Tiny Particles

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Painting a picture of the quantum realm has long been the mission of Brendan Casey ’92. His quest, which has spanned nearly two decades, won him and his colleagues the 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, one of the highest honors in the field.   

A man wearing a lanyard and smiling, surrounded by equipment for physics research.
Brendan Casey ’92, a senior scientist at Fermilab in Illinois, won the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for the final phase in the Muon g-2 experiment. Seen here inside the massive superconducting magnet known as “The Ring,” Brendan’s passion for physics research began at Mary Washington. Photo courtesy of Brendan Casey.

“It’s real Antman kind of stuff,” said Brendan, whose passion for physics research began as an undergraduate at Mary Washington. Now a senior scientist at Fermilab, a particle physics and accelerator laboratory in Illinois, he oversaw a team of 200 scientists who carried out the final phase of the experiment.  

Unlike the Marvel movie, where characters shrink themselves to enter the quantum realm, Brendan and his team made and measured muons – tiny particles that could change our understanding of the universe and the standard model of particle physics. The award they earned this spring places them alongside some of the world’s most renowned physicists, including Stephen Hawking, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, and Kip Thorne.  

“This is one of the greatest collaborations of all time,” Brendan said. The research for the Muon g-2 experiment began nearly 60 years ago at CERN, a lab in Geneva, Switzerland; continued in Brookhaven, Long Island, in the 1990s; and eventually moved to Fermilab. All three facilities were recognized with the Breakthrough Prize for their contributions, sharing the $3 million prize that comes with the award.    

Two students from 1992 along with their professor on the cover of Mary Washington College Today magazine from Winter 1992.
From the cover of Mary Washington College Today, Winter 1992: Brendan Casey ’92 (left) and Andrea Neves ’92 use a laser for fractal research under the guidance of Professor Emeritus George King III. Photo by Lou Cordero and courtesy of UMW Special Collections and University Archives.

Brendan, who grew up in Massapequa, Long Island, learned about Mary Washington from a high school teacher who was from Fredericksburg. When he visited during the spring semester, Ball Circle was buzzing with energy and bodies in motion, as students played frisbee and sunbathed. “It just felt like the right place for me,” he said.  

He planned to study psychology, but a physics class taught by Professor Emeritus Bulent Atalay made him realize what mattered to him.  

“Dr. Atalay covered art, culture, and science, webbing it together into this beautiful story,” Brendan said. “And I interact with people from different countries and disciplines, so having a liberal arts education helps me understand where others are coming from and explain my own perspective.”

He served as class vice president and president and played men’s rugby for his first couple of years of college. During his junior year, however, he was pulled toward research and found his purpose. Soon, he was spending day and night in the lab, exploring particle-wave duality, general relativity, and the curvature of time and space.   

“That launched me toward the career path I’ve been on ever since,” said Brendan, who presented his findings at undergraduate research conferences with his faculty advisor, Professor Emeritus George King III, and won a competition for best paper.  

He then earned a master’s degree at San Francisco State University and a Ph.D. at the University of Hawaii. After post-doctoral research at Brown University, he joined Fermilab, where the team was looking for its next major project.  

“My colleagues and I pushed for muons,” said Brendan, who helped secure funding, develop new technologies, and assemble a group of talented researchers. “My goal is always to be the worst physicist on a team of superstars. And everyone became even better.”  

They needed to be. The experiment involved moving a massive superconducting magnet known as “The Ring” – so large that it occupied four highway lanes – from New York to Illinois. The team studied traffic routes, weather patterns, and even wave heights to transport the technology across state lines.

“It felt like the most challenging escape room ever,” Brendan said. “But time doesn’t run out, and you’re working with the most incredible group of people and celebrating every win together.”  

Brendan Casey ’92 and his colleagues at Fermilab at the 2013 groundbreaking of the experiment hall where they’d later conduct the Muon g-2 experiment.
Brendan Casey ’92 (left) returned to Mary Washington for the Research and Creativity Symposium in 2025 to share his findings with UMW students and faculty, including Assistant Professor of Physics Varun Makhija (center) and Assistant Professor of Physics Desmond Villalba (right). Photo by Lisa Chinn Marvashti ’92.
Brendan Casey ’92 and his colleagues celebrate earning the Breakthrough Prize in Particle Physics earlier this spring. Photo courtesy of Brendan Casey.
A tractor trailer transported the superconducting magnet across state lines from New York to Illinois in summer 2013. Photo courtesy of Brendan Casey.
The Fermilab team with “The Ring,” a massive superconducting magnet that had to be transported from Brookhaven, New York, to Fermilab in Illinois in summer 2013 for the final phase of the Muon g-2 experiment. Photo courtesy of Brendan Casey.

He plans to build on the momentum with more muon research and a program exploring neutrinos – tiny, neutral particles that have no mass and ignore electrical and magnetic fields. He also hopes to foster future collaboration between Mary Washington and Fermilab. 

“We have spots for undergraduates to do summer research,” he said. “If you want to break the laws of particle physics and answer the most challenging questions in the universe, there’s only a few places in the world where you can do that.”    

Brendan shared his experiences with UMW students – who learn about the Muon g-2 experiment in their introductory physics lab – when he returned to his alma mater for the Research and Creativity Symposium in 2025.  

“We want our students to be aware of the most exciting developments in these fields and emphasize that they can be part of the scientific endeavor,” Assistant Professor of Physics Varun Makhija said. “Hearing about Dr. Casey’s journey showed them the level of scientific contribution that they could be capable of in the future.” 

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04 

UMW Reports Over $14 Million in Gifts and Pledges Contributed in 2025-26

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The University of Mary Washington wrapped up its 2025-26 fundraising year June 30, announcing that 5,434 donors contributed $14,081,090 from 10,912 gifts and pledges. 

A photo of campus in fall with the Bell Tower at the center.
UMW announced over $14 million raised in gifts and pledges during the 2025-26 fundraising year.

Their collective generosity helps UMW uphold its commitment to providing students with a transformative liberal arts and sciences education filled with meaningful learning experiences. These include undergraduate research, internships, study abroad, and participation in arts and athletics, as well as service and leadership activities on campus and in the community. 

“We’re deeply grateful to our new and longtime supporters for their continued investment in the future of the University,” said Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte, who also serves as executive director of the UMW Foundation. “You’re helping students discover their purpose, seek new opportunities, find their voices, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make a difference in the world.” 

UMW’s endowment reached $132.6 million, with donors contributing to a permanent source of support to strengthen scholarships, academic excellence, faculty innovation, and the student experience.  

This year also saw a significant increase in donors who recognize UMW in their estate plans, with a 41% increase in new planned gifts and pledges.  

“We believe so strongly in UMW’s mission and the Department of Geography and wanted to give back to this incredible institution that has shaped my life,” said Brian Reagan ’04, a member of the Alumni Association Board of Visitors. He and wife Ashley recognized his alma mater in their estate plan this year, establishing the Brian Reagan ’04 Endowment to support geography majors, while also contributing to the Fund for Mary Washington. “There’s no better time to think about future investment than the present.”  

The University had its most successful Mary Wash Day to date, with a record-breaking $1.34 million in contributions to support UMW students, faculty, and programs. Eagles across the country participated in the 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement, making 3,579 gifts April 2-3.  

Donors generously gave $811,912 to the Fund for Mary Washington, providing the University with resources for student success and investing in faculty members dedicated to maintaining UMW’s reputation for excellence in teaching and mentoring students.   

Gifts bolstered the Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant program, fueling innovative solutions across campus through projects and initiatives proposed by UMW students, faculty, and staff. Recipients included UMW’s Student Alumni Ambassadors to host a professional development conference, the Center for Career and Professional Development to take students on site visits to meet with alumni employers, and Washington Guides for new UMW-branded gear to wear while giving campus tours to prospective students and their families. 

Donors contributed $1.34 million on Mary Wash Day, a 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement, to benefit UMW students, faculty, and programs. K Pearlman Photography.
Eight projects and initiatives pitched by UMW students, faculty, and staff earned Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grants in spring 2026. K Pearlman Photography.
Hannah Jadgchew ’27 and other scholarship recipients shared their stories at the annual Scholarship Luncheon and Student Showcase in April. Here, Hannah poses with several of her donors, Mark Ingrao ’81 (left) and Deborah and James Llewellyn ’87 (right), immediate past president of UMW’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Kate Stoneman ’26, who majored in environmental science, spoke at last fall’s Celebration of Giving about the internship they completed at UMW, which was funded by scholarships established by donors. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Recent graduates returned to their alma mater attend Homecoming in 2025. K Pearlman Photography.
Nearly 600 alumni and their families and friends returned to campus for Reunion Weekend in 2026. K Pearlman Photography.
A group of UMW graduates wearing matching “Kahn Ball” T-shirts in honor of Coach Marcus Kahn celebrate the men’s basketball team’s NCAA Division III win at a watch party in Indianapolis.

Making a UMW education affordable and accessible remains a top priority for the University and its supporters, with 700 donors giving $2.16 million for endowed scholarships in 2025-26. More than 462 scholarships and awards, totaling more than $2.68 million, were given to 594 students during this fiscal year.

Twelve endowed scholarships were awarded for the first time in 2025-26, including the Carrol Adair Gury ’68 Environmental Sciences Scholarship, Donna Frances Drake Smith ’66 Music Education Scholarship, and Drs. Woodward and Herban Undergraduate Research Endowment. Five incoming students earned full-ride Alvey or Washington scholarships for the upcoming academic year.  

Other 2025-26 highlights include: 

  • 1,550 first-time donors, a 5.6% increase from 2025
  • 100 more student donors than the previous year, with over 30 more graduating seniors making gifts
  • A 19% increase in giving from friends (community members, grandparents, and other non-alumni supporters) 
  • A 38% increase in dollars raised from faculty/staff donors 
  • A 7% increase in dollars raised from current and former parent donors
  • A nearly $400,000 increase in multi-year pledges  

The University was also honored with the “Philanthropy Excellence” Award during the 2025 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign Awards, recognizing UMW employees’ strong commitment to giving back to Mary Washington. 

Hundreds of donors attended the Celebration of Giving and Scholarship Luncheon and Student Showcase, where they learned how their investments provide a transformative education for UMW students and experiential learning opportunities that prepare them for their lives and careers after Mary Washington.  

More than 3,854 alumni and friends attended regional network and affinity group gatherings, presidential events, On The Road trips, Mary Talks, and Homecoming, as well as Reunion Weekend, which welcomed 559 attendees to campus in May. Over 600 guests attended watch parties in Fredericksburg and nationwide before UMW men’s basketball won its first national championship.  

“I’m truly inspired by the enthusiasm and commitment of Mary Washington graduates who support their alma mater, along with the alumni team and volunteers who serve on boards and bring these events to life,” Turcotte said. “We look forward to welcoming even more of you in the year ahead. If you haven’t been back to campus in a while, we hope you’ll return and reconnect with the Mary Washington community soon.” 

Make a gift  for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. To learn more about giving options, please contact the Office of University Advancement at advance@umw.edu or 540-654-1024. Explore upcoming Mary Washington alumni events. 

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04