Giving Stories

UMW Alumna Author Will Tell Her Own Story for Cultural Celebration Keynote

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Beka Kruse Wueste ’06 had been filling notebooks with poems, plays, and prose since childhood, but she was reluctant to show her writing to others. That was impossible to avoid when she took a class with Professor Emeritus of English Warren Rochelle at the University of Mary Washington.

A photo of a smiling person with long, dark brown hair and a black suit jacket and shirt with a silver medallion necklace.
Beka Kruse Wueste ’06, who has written three acclaimed novels and a short story collection, returns to Mary Washington as the keynote speaker for the Gender and Sexual Minorities Cultural Celebration. Photo courtesy of Beka Wueste.

“You couldn’t take his writing workshop without sharing your work,” she said of Dr. Rochelle, who saw her strengths as a storyteller. “I reconnected with him after I started publishing my work to thank him for the impact that he had on my career.”

Beka, who majored in art history, has now published three novels and a short story collection, the latest of which – Human of the Year – was recently named one of the Best Indie Books of October by Kirkus Reviews. She’ll share her story in her keynote address at UMW’s Gender and Sexual Minorities and Allies (GSMA) Cultural Celebration, sponsored by the James Farmer Multicultural Center, on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m., in the Hurley Convergence Center’s Digital Auditorium.

Four book covers on a blue background with a drawing of books and vases on a shelf with Beka Wueste, author as the text.
Beka Wueste’s books, clockwise from the top left: ‘Human of the Year,’ ‘My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death,’ ‘The Unsent Letters of Lucy Prior,’ and ‘Fireflies in a Jar.’

Her works of fiction, which also include The Unsent Letters of Lucy Prior, Fireflies in a Jar, and My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death, explore experiences across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, bringing to life diverse voices not always represented in media.

Growing up in Northern Virginia, she was fascinated by magical realism, reading children’s books like Bridge to Terabithia and Tuck Everlasting, and digging into her own family’s tales. “Storytelling is an integral part of my Mexican American heritage,” she said. “I learned as a child that a story didn’t need to be true, but it should always be engaging and entertaining.”

The first in her family to attend college, Beka saw Mary Washington as captivating, too, with its idyllic brick buildings and columns. “It felt like a college campus you’d see in a movie.”

She threw herself into college life, becoming a residence hall secretary, working at Simpson Library, digitizing slides for the art history department, and volunteering at local shelters. And she met Daniel Wueste ’07, who lived across from her in Westmoreland Hall. The couple married in 2012 at UMW’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center.

Along with Dr. Rochelle, Beka was inspired by Professor of Art History Joseph Dreiss, the late Professor Emerita Jean Ann Dabb, and the late Thomas Somma, who directed UMW Galleries when she interned there. “He switched careers midlife and told us you don’t have to stay on the same path forever,” she said. And she didn’t.

Beka Wueste (right) with friends, including first-year roommate Amy Jessee ’06 (center), now UMW’s executive director of university communications. Photo courtesy of Beka Wueste.
Beka Wueste (second from left) and other UMW Galleries student interns at a fundraising event at the Ridderhof Martin Gallery, where Beka worked as a student. Photo courtesy of Beka Wueste.
Beka Wueste (third from left) in Mason Hall with fellow members of UMW’s Italian Language Club. Photo courtesy of Beka Wueste.
Beka Wueste and her father on her graduation day from UMW in 2006. Photo courtesy of Beka Wueste.

After graduation, she worked at the Phillips Collection, writing during her daily commute to Washington, D.C. She then took a job in marketing – a field she still works in – which allowed her to pursue a master’s degree in art history at George Mason University. And she drew and painted in her free time, becoming a member of the Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts.

“I was always willing to display my art, but I was hesitant to share my writing, even with close friends,” said Beka, whose feelings began to change as she accumulated more and more notebooks.

By now, she has presented work from her four self-published books at readings and other literary events, including UMW’s Alumni Authors showcase during Reunion Weekend in 2026.

Her stories genre-hop from science-fiction to suspense to magical realism, influenced by authors such as Gabriel García Márquez and Isabel Allende. For her artwork, she draws inspiration from artists like Frida Kahlo and Wassily Kandinsky.

“All of them can make you feel something,” she said. “As an author and artist, my goal is always for people to have an emotional response to my work and feel a connection to the characters.”

Beka Wueste and husband Daniel outside UMW’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center, where they got married in 2012. The couple met in Westmoreland Hall when they were students. Photo courtesy of Beka Wueste.
Beka Wueste and husband Daniel Wueste ’07 posing for a picture with the UMW Spirit Rock during Reunion Weekend in 2022. Photo courtesy of Beka Wueste.
Beka Wueste with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle at Reunion Weekend in 2026. Photo courtesy of Beka Wueste.
Beka Wueste with fellow writer Mary Shipe Lavin ’86 at the UMW Alumni Authors event during Reunion Weekend 2026. The alumnae have met at several author events. Photo courtesy of Beka Wueste.

Kirkus Reviews as well as the Manhattan, Chicago, and San Francisco Book Reviews have compared her to the likes of Anne Tyler, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Ray Bradbury. “Seeing my name aligned with authors I adore is unreal,” she said.

So is being selected by UMW students to speak at her alma mater.

“I couldn’t have ever imagined this 20 years ago,” said Beka, who recently announced her first full-length magical realism novel, Love by Firing Squad. “Being invited to come back home is the best feeling.”

Learn more about Beka and her writing and view her artwork.

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

UMW Senior Uncovers ‘Mary Washington Mystery’ at Historic Preservation Internship

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Natalie Froustet ’27 was organizing a portrait collection during her summer internship with Preservation Virginia when she made an amazing discovery. Hidden inside a closet at the John Marshall House in Richmond was a centuries-old painting of Mary Ball Washington.

Or so she thought.

“I learned that Mary Washington was never painted during her lifetime, so it was actually a portrait of George Washington’s face on his mother’s body,” said Natalie, a historic preservation and environmental science major and museum studies minor. “A relative commissioned the painting so he could sell it to make a lot of money.”

Natalie Froustet ’27, a historic preservation and environmental sciences double major at Mary Washington, made an amazing discovery of a forged painting of Mary Washington during her summer internship through Preservation Virginia. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.
The painting of Mary Ball Washington that Natalie Froustet discovered at the John Marshall House in Richmond. The portrait, which was falsely attributed to 18th-century artist Robert Edge Pine, was actually of George Washington’s face on his mother’s body. A Washington relative had it commissioned to make money after her death. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

Will Glasco, Preservation Virginia’s chief executive officer, said the painting is “now known to be a forgery, yet it’s famous in its own right.” In fact, George Washington’s Mount Vernon had been searching for it for decades, so he and his colleagues arranged a transfer of the piece, noting that proceeds will help fund future initiatives for their collection. “We might not have made such a discovery without our paid interns and the support of the Chrisman Family Foundation.”

While Natalie’s find featured a fake Mary Washington – the painting was falsely attributed to 18th-century English artist Robert Edge Pine – she has had numerous real-world learning experiences through UMW’s Department of Historic Preservation, one of the nation’s top undergraduate programs in the field. She’s also grateful for the generous donors who’ve supported her education and professional pursuits.

“No amount of thanks could be big enough for Chrisman Family Foundation Internship and Preservation Virginia for giving me this opportunity,” said Natalie, who also received the Dovetail Cultural Resource Group and Kathleen Myra and Everett Geno Jr. scholarships for historic preservation majors, noting that they helped alleviate the cost of college.

Natalie Froustet at Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown, another site that is overseen by Preservation Virginia. During her first-ever archaeological dig, Natalie discovered a fragment of a ceramic plate. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.
Natalie Froustet (left) with a fellow intern from William & Mary (center) and Elyse Werling, director of interpretation and collections at Preservation Virginia. “We did an archaeological dig to ensure that there were no important cultural artifacts,” Natalie said, as the historic museum was installing an accessibility ramp on that site. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.
Natalie Froustet labels objects – reproductions and props rather than original artifacts – on display at Scotchtown’s Patrick Henry exhibit. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

Natalie, who grew up in Chesterfield County, Virginia, had a passion for the past ever since she was a child, thanks to her grandfather, a Civil War and World War II buff, and her parents, who brought her to museums in Washington, D.C.

“I was researching colleges during the pandemic and found UMW’s historic preservation program,” said Natalie, who was accepted to the University through early decision.

As a first-year student, she joined the Presidential Emerging Leaders Program, which prepared her for her current leadership role as a Washington Guide. Last spring, she earned a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant to help purchase new UMW-branded gear for her fellow guides, who lead campus tours for prospective students and their families.

Natalie Froustet, who holds a leadership role with the Washington Guides, while pitching a proposal last spring. Her initiative earned a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant to purchase new UMW-branded jackets for the Washington Guides. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Natalie Froustet in her Washington Guides role, posing for a photo with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

But she’s mostly focused on applying her classroom learning in the field. Associate Professor of Historic Preservation Michael Spencer ’03 helped her secure a National Park Service internship that gave her insight into historic landscaping. And Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Katherine Parker, director of UMW’s Archaeology Lab, inspired her to become an aide there.

Natalie has also worked closely alongside Associate Professor and Center for Historic Preservation Director Christine Henry in fieldwork, learning about digital photography, measuring and creating scaled drawings, and engaging in archival research.

“Natalie brought a real curiosity and open-minded exploration of buildings, both as artifacts of the past and as a repository of stories of the people who created, used, and transformed these spaces,” Dr. Henry said. “She’s also the kind of student who naturally helps the group gel together in order to get the work done.”

Natalie Froustet played George Washington in the Department of Historic Preservation’s annual Ghostwalk last fall and resumes the role this year on Oct. 23 and 24. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.
Natalie Froustet participating in a historic mortar workshop at the Mary Washington House, organized through the Department of Historic Preservation in partnership with Dominion Traditional Building Group. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.
UMW students Natalie Froustet (right) and Gavin Rice apply new mortar to the bricks in the Mary Washington House basement during a workshop organized by UMW’s Department of Historic Preservation. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

Natalie has also begun interdisciplinary research with Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Melanie Szulczewski, studying metal contents in pre- and post-industrial brick buildings in Fredericksburg. They plan to share their findings at the Soil Science Conference in Portland, Oregon, later this year.

“It’s fascinating how much these fields intersect,” said Natalie, who is taking U.S. Women’s History, Moonshine and American Memory, and Introduction to Biological Archaeology this semester. “I’m considering a career in archaeology, so this is a chance to learn about human bones and remains.”

And for fun, she’s playing the role of George Washington – not his mother – for the Historic Preservation Club’s annual Ghostwalk student-led tours in downtown Fredericksburg Oct. 23 and 24.

“I know that I’ll use the skills I learned at UMW and in my internships in whatever future career path I choose,” said Natalie, who plans to work before pursuing a master’s degree. “Mary Washington has already opened so many doors for me.”

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.

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. 7 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 Alanna, 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. Email Director of Alumni Programs Phillip Duggins at gduggins@umw.edu to learn how you can get involved.

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