Giving Stories

UMW Students Earn Perkins Awards at Summer Science Institute Symposium

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One of senior Kate Green’s favorite activities this summer was wading in the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers. Swimming in the cool, chin-deep waters, she collected specimens to study how parasites differently impact male and female freshwater snails.

“From biodiversity to human recreation, aquatic ecosystems play an important role in the lives of many different species,” said Kate, a University of Mary Washington conservation biology major, who pursued a completely novel research topic this summer. “My studies will help us obtain a fuller picture of how healthy our beloved rivers are.”

Morgan Hicok ’25 (left) and Kate Green ’25 collect specimens of freshwater snails in the Rappahanock River at Motts Run Reservoir. Photo courtesy of Kate Green.
At UMW’s 25th annual Summer Science Institute, several students earned awards from the John C. and Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 College of Arts and Sciences Student Research Endowment, which will provide funding for them to continue their research during the academic year. From left: Boone Fleenor ’26, Morgan Hicok ’25, Kate Green ’25, and Joseph Gasink ’26. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Science Tyler Frankel (left) and Joseph Gasink ’26 collect samples of trace metals near a former coal-tar creosote plant in Delaware. Photo courtesy of Joseph Gasink.
UMW named its 10-week undergraduate STEM research program the Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute during SSI’s 25th annual symposium on Wednesday. The late donor left her alma mater a transformational $30 million estate gift for undergraduate scientific research and scholarships. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Kate was one of two students who took home the top prizes this year during UMW’s 25th annual Summer Science Institute (SSI), which engages undergraduate STEM students in a 10-week intensive research experience alongside their professors and peers. At a public symposium held July 24 in UMW’s Hurley Convergence Center, Green and her lab partner, biology major Morgan Hicok ’25, earned scholarship awards through the John C. and Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 College of Arts and Sciences Student Research Endowment. The funds will help them continue their research during the upcoming academic year.

Earth and environmental sciences major Joseph Gasink ’26 took second place, evaluating the impact of trace metals on invertebrates in a tidal marsh near a former coal-tar creosote plant. Joining him as runner-up was physics major Boone Fleenor ’26, who hypothesized that drones might be an effective tool to improve water circulation. They will also receive funding through Dr. Perkins’ endowment.

“I appreciate the role SSI plays in advancing student hands-on research so they can understand our world, gain valuable experience, develop critical thinking skills, and ignite their passion for science,” Dr. Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 said. “These inspired minds will shape the future with groundbreaking discoveries, improve healthcare, and address global challenges.”

Dr. Perkins earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Mary Washington and a medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia. She conducted groundbreaking research on rheumatoid arthritis at the National Institutes of Health and reviewed clinical data at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to protect patients in clinical trials.

“As a woman entering the scientific field, I find Dr. Perkins incredibly inspirational,” said Kate, also praising the late Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59, who left UMW a transformational $30 million estate gift for scholarships and undergraduate scientific research. The University named the program for Rodgers in a ceremony on Wednesday. “I’d like to wholeheartedly thank both donors for their contributions to UMW and undergraduate STEM students, as well as to the growth of SSI.”

Loren Delgadillo Llano presents her research on how starving triple negative breast cancer cells can slow proliferation. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Ryan Cloughley shares his poster about his research on the impact of noise on humidity retrievals. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
SSI participants, alumni, faculty members, and guests asked questions of presenters about their research during the symposium. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
CAS Dean Keith Mellinger thanks SSI participants, who engaged in the 10-week undergraduate STEM research program with their professors and peers. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Max W. De La Cruz Morrobel presents her findings on the expression of plasmodesmal regulatory genes in response to brassinosteroids. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Ray Scott, who launched SSI and secured funding from DuPont 25 years ago, listens during the symposium. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Morgan, who worked alongside Green and Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Abbie Tomba, researched how parasites called trematodes can affect freshwater snails and their ability to fight against a current in aquatic ecosystems.

“Climate change is beginning to affect water levels and flow due to extreme weather,” said Morgan, who will use the Perkins award to continue experimentation and hopes to eventually attend graduate school. “This experience has helped guide my aspirations and my passion for research.”

SSI has grown exponentially throughout the past quarter century, with more than 500 students engaging in the program since its inception. Alumni participants in the program recently returned to campus for a luncheon that connected them with current scholars, faculty mentors, and industry professionals.

Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Ray Scott, who attended the symposium, secured the original grant from DuPont, which helped launch the program. Funding from generous donors, as well as the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, has helped this year’s SSI participants engage in extensive research on a broad range of topics across disciplines.

Thirty students shared their findings through oral and poster presentations during Wednesday’s symposium. In labs and in the field, they discovered solutions to real-world issues, exploring breast cancer cell proliferation, electron dynamics, demographic shifts, myotonic dystrophy, decaying dark matter, how toxic pollutants affect the dopamine system, and more.

Benjamin Plonka '27 and Sophie Jensen '27 created intricate fractal patterns in their investigation of tetration, or repeated exponentiation. Photo courtesy of Benjamin Plonka.
Benjamin Plonka ’27 and Sophie Jensen ’27 created intricate fractal patterns in their investigation of tetration, or repeated exponentiation. Photo courtesy of Benjamin Plonka.

But mathematics major Benjamin Plonka ’27 said he pursued his project purely because of his passion. He and research partner Sophie Jensen ’27 investigated the concept of tetration, or repeated exponentiation, and visualized its behavior on a real and complex plane to see what intricate structures it can create.

“If we only study the world through the lenses of how it can serve us,” Benjamin said, “we deprive ourselves of seeing some pretty amazing things.”

Learn more about the College of Arts and Sciences’ Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute.

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

 

UMW’s Summer Science Institute Naming Honors Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59

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The University of Mary Washington’s Summer Science Institute (SSI) has given UMW students the chance to conduct trailblazing undergraduate STEM research – analyzing cancer cells, carbon dioxide reduction, and complex computer coding – for a quarter of a century.

UMW named its 10-week undergraduate STEM research program the Irene Piscopo Rodgers '59 Summer Science Institute at a ceremony in the Hurley Convergence Center lobby during SSI's annual symposium on Wednesday. The late donor left her alma mater a transformational $30 million estate gift for undergraduate scientific research and scholarships. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
UMW named its 10-week undergraduate STEM research program the Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute at a ceremony in the Hurley Convergence Center lobby during SSI’s annual symposium on Wednesday. The late donor left her alma mater a transformational $30 million estate gift for undergraduate scientific research and scholarships. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Many of these young scientists had access to their summer studies because of the scholarships, research fellowships, and scientific presentation grants funded by Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59. UMW named the program the Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute at a ceremony in the Hurley Convergence Center lobby during SSI’s annual symposium on Wednesday.

“Irene had a long history of supporting STEM majors in pursuing their passion through research,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Keith Mellinger, who outlined the history of SSI and recognized the more than 500 students who have participated in research with UMW faculty since its inception. The transformational $30 million estate gift she left the University has resulted in noticeable growth for the program, especially in the last couple of years, he said, from 14 students in the late 1990s to 30 students this summer. “And this trajectory will continue. More faculty, more students, more projects, more lives changed.”

Before Board of Visitors Rector Devon Williams Cushman ’93 read the board resolution, Dean Mellinger thanked Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Ray Scott, who attended the ceremony, for securing the original grant from DuPont and launching SSI. “The program has a history of setting students up for success in graduate and professional study, as well as a seamless entry into any number of careers,” Dean Mellinger said.

Since 1999, SSI’s 10-week program has offered undergraduate students the opportunity to work closely alongside their professors and peers, now in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, mathematics, and Earth and environmental science. Funding from generous donors, as well as the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, has helped these students engage in extensive research on a broad range of topics across disciplines.

At the symposium, participants summarized their findings through oral presentations and poster sessions, providing solutions for real-world concerns such as preventing breast cancer cell proliferation and exploring how environmental pollutants impact aquatic life. Other projects delved into dark matter, studied skeletal muscle function, explored how to make computers more efficient, and mined data to understand nationwide teaching shortages and demographic changes over time.

CAS Dean Keith Mellinger outlines the history of the SSI program, which has had more than 500 student participants since its inception in 1999. Alumni recently returned for a luncheon to connect with current scholars, faculty, and industry professionals. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
SSI students, faculty members, administrators, alumni, and other guests listen as College of Arts and Sciences Dean Keith Mellinger acknowledges Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 and her transformational $30 million gift. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Board of Visitors Rector Devon Williams Cushman ’93 reads aloud the board resolution naming the Summer Science Institute in Irene Piscopo Rodgers’ honor. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Ray Scott, who launched SSI and secured funding from DuPont 25 years ago, listens during the ceremony. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
At UMW’s 25th annual Summer Science Institute, several students earned awards from the John C. and Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 College of Arts and Sciences Student Research Endowment, which will provide funding for them to continue their research during the academic year. From left: Boone Fleenor ’26, Morgan Hicok ’25, Kate Green ’25, and Joseph Gasink ’26. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Morgan Hicok ’25 and Kate Green ’25, who both studied freshwater snails, earned top prizes. Joseph Gasink ’26, who researched the impact of trace metals on aquatic life, and Boone Fleenor ’26, who studied how drones can impact water circulation, were selected as runners-up. All received awards through the John C. and Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 College of Arts and Sciences Student Research Endowment, which provides funding for them to continue their studies during the academic year.

Dr. Jerri Barden Perkins earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Mary Washington and a medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia. She conducted groundbreaking research on rheumatoid arthritis at the National Institutes of Health and reviewed clinical data at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to protect patients in clinical trials.

“We’re so grateful to both of these women, Dr. Perkins and Irene, for their extraordinary philanthropy and dedication to advancing scientific education and research,” said Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte. “Their stories of being women in male-dominated fields and overcoming obstacles to find success have and will continue to profoundly inspire our undergraduate students and faculty in their own pursuit of scientific knowledge.”

Irene Piscopo Rodgers earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Mary Washington, followed by a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Michigan. She became a revered electron microscopist, working at the American Cyanamid Company and Philips Electronic Instruments.

As one of the few women her profession, she helped pave the way for current UMW students, especially women, to excel in STEM subjects of their own choosing. To date, more than 100 students have benefited from her generosity. In 2004, Irene donated a transmission electron microscope to UMW, teaching students and faculty how to use it. A decade later, the University awarded her an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for her service and contributions to the institution. Her estate gift also helped establish four new full-ride Alvey Scholarships for out-of-state students, in addition to eight she created during her lifetime.

Learn more about the College of Arts and Sciences’ Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute.  

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

Surprise Connections Tie Together Recent UMW Grad’s College Success

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When Abby Tank ’24 graduated from the University of Mary Washington, her grandmother had one of the best seats in the house.

Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet '62 and granddaughter Abby Tank '24 at UMW's Commencement in May. They attended Mary Washington more than six decades apart, but Abby's beloved 'Meena' was a constant presence on campus during her four years at UMW. Photo courtesy of Abby Tank and Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet.
Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet ’62 and granddaughter Abby Tank ’24 at UMW’s Commencement in May. They attended Mary Washington more than six decades apart, but Abby’s beloved ‘Meena’ was a constant presence on campus during her four years at UMW. Photo courtesy of Abby Tank and Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet.

“I missed out on my high school graduation four years ago, so having her there made it even more special,” Abby said. As a member of the 1908 Society, Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet ’62 processed onto Ball Circle and watched the ceremony with other alumni who graduated 50 years ago or more. Seeing her granddaughter earn a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and Spanish, she said, was “absolutely one of the highlights of my life.”

Ruth Ann attended Mary Washington over six decades ago, before transferring to another institution. She was a constant presence on campus throughout Abby’s four years of college, cheering on her granddaughter in UMW women’s volleyball games, including the team’s conference championship win, and attending departmental events for families. She even bonded with her granddaughter’s friends and roommates.

“They were all so excited to hug her and take photos with her at Commencement,” said Abby, who was surprised to learn of her grandmother’s ties to the University when she first visited campus for a high school volleyball camp. When Abby applied to Mary Washington, her mother told her that her grandmother had studied dietetics there in the late 1950s.

Ruth Ann regularly attended granddaughter Abby's UMW women's volleyball games, including the team's win in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship. Photo courtesy of Abby Tank and Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet.
Ruth Ann regularly attended granddaughter Abby’s UMW women’s volleyball games, including the team’s win in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship. Photo courtesy of Abby Tank and Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet.

“It was strictly serendipitious that Abby ended up at UMW,” Ruth Ann said. The strong science education she earned in college helped her land various administrative roles in the healthcare field throughout her career. Meanwhile, she kept in touch with former classmates, attended reunions, and donated to support current students. “I may not have graduated from here, but I consider Mary Washington my true alma mater.”

Another surprise came when Abby earned the prestigious Justin and Helen Piscopo Alvey Scholarship for out-of-state students, providing her with full tuition, fees, and room and board for up to four undergraduate years. She became close to her late donor, Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 – a Mary Washington student at the same time as her grandmother, though they never met – who left UMW a transformational $30 million estate gift for Alvey Scholarships and undergraduate scientific research.

“Irene was a brilliant lady and a pioneer in a male-dominated field,” said Abby, who exchanged handwritten letters and cards with Irene, even gifting her mother’s homemade peanut brittle to her donor. “We loved being pen pals.”

At UMW, Abby began as a biomedical sciences major but soon discovered an interest in international affairs. Taking fascinating courses taught by faculty members like Melissa Martinez and Jason Davidson motivated her to make the switch. She also upgraded her Spanish minor to a major, an asset when she went with UMW’s Global Medical Brigades chapter to Panama to treat underserved patients.

“I was never passionate about just one thing growing up,” Abby said. “Students often feel pressure to stick with their original plans,” she said, but the support and encouragement she received from professors across the University helped her find the right path for her.

Ruth Ann became close to Abby's friends, roommates, and teammates. She even flew out to see the UMW women's volleyball team compete in California. From left: Emma Hadley '24, Marie Butler '24, Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet '62, Jordan Lyons '24, and Abby Tank '24. Photo courtesy of Abby Tank and Ruth Ann Foiles Burnet.
Ruth Ann became close to Abby’s friends, roommates, and teammates. She even flew out to see the UMW women’s volleyball team compete in California. From left: Emma Hadley ’24, Marie Butler ’24, Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet ’62, Jordan Lyons ’24, and Abby Tank ’24. Photo courtesy of Abby Tank and Ruth Ann Foiles Burnet.

And her hard work paid off. She presented her senior thesis on the impact of organized crime on democracy in Brazil at the the Pi Sigma Alpha Conference and Midwest Political Science Association Conference in Chicago, with her grandmother even coming to support her in the Windy City. Abby will soon begin a master’s degree in Latin American studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., before pursuing a career in diplomacy and foreign service.

But she had one more surprise before she graduated from UMW, being named “Outstanding Senior” by the Department of Political Science and International Affairs. “It was such an honor, especially because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do three years ago.”

Her grandmother wasn’t surprised by the news.

“I have all the faith in the world in Abby,” said Ruth Ann, praising the strong academics and personal attention that both she and her granddaughter received from Mary Washington. “The University should be very proud of the graduates it produces.”

Read about the newest Washington and Alvey Scholars. Find scholarship opportunities that are available to UMW students, including Washington and Alvey scholarships. 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.

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

Cool Off with the Hottest New Reads by UMW Alumni Authors

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Joan Darby '74 browses books during an alumni author meet-and-greet at 2024's Reunion Weekend. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Joan Darby ’74 browses books during an alumni author meet-and-greet at 2024’s Reunion Weekend. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Earlier this summer, alumni authors assembled their latest publications during 2024’s Reunion Weekend at the University of Mary Washington. More than 40 books were displayed during the event, covering poetry, short stories, novels, essays, biographies, travelogues, self-help books, children’s stories, and more.

Pick up these pages by classmates with a few summer reading recommendations below. Copies can also be found in Simpson Library or through online vendors. Kick back and read on …

Pushing Your Boundaries: A Memoir
By Jerri Barden Perkins, MD ’61
July 2023

Dr. Perkins’ memoir chronicles her fascinating life as a chemist, physician, researcher, author, and philanthropist. Growing up as a young woman in the 1950s, she went on to work with the Food and Drug Administration during the AIDS epidemic, established six scholarships to support UMW students, met Pope Francis during her world travels, and has made health and well-being a priority through teaching yoga and other athletic endeavors.

Along the way, she earned a chemistry degree from Mary Washington and a medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia and completed a fellowship with the National Institutes of Health, where she conducted groundbreaking research into rheumatoid arthritis.

“We never know what awaits us on the road ahead and being open to possibilities could bring about many surprises,” the book’s description reads. “So just say ‘yes!’” All proceeds from the book’s sales support UMW’s General Scholarship Fund.

A pioneering chemist, physician, and researcher, Jerri Barden Perkins, MD ’61 published her memoir, ‘Pushing Your Boundaries,’ in 2023.
Jerri Barden Perkins, MD ’61 met Pope Francis several years ago in Rome, which she chronicles in ‘Pushing Your Boundaries: A Memoir.’ Photo courtesy of Dr. Perkins.
Jerri Barden Perkins, MD ’61 at 2023’s Celebration of Giving with Harrison Miles ’15, ’23, the recipient of John C. and Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 College of Arts and Sciences Student Research Fellowship. Dr. Perkins has established six scholarships to support Mary Washington students. Proceeds from her book’s sales support UMW’s General Scholarship Fund. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Everybody Here Is Kin
By BettyJoyce Nash ’73
Madville Publishing, September 2023

'Everybody Here Is Kin," written by BettyJoyce Nash '73, was the first runner-up for the 2024 Eric Hoffer Award. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
‘Everybody Here Is Kin,” written by BettyJoyce Nash ’73, was the first runner-up for the 2024 Eric Hoffer Award. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

This coming-of-age novel was named first runner-up in the commercial fiction category for the 2024 Eric Hoffer Award.

Living on Boneyard Island, Georgia, 13-year-old Lucille navigates life without her mother, who left her and her half-siblings to rekindle a romance with an old flame. The book’s description reads: “Everybody Here Is Kin explores the lives of this sinking family, the island community, and fears of exposing wounds, old and new, when natural disaster forces them to trust, and depend on, strangers.”

BettyJoyce Nash’s writing has been published in literary journals, newspapers, magazines, and online. Her work has earned prestigious fellowships and awards, including from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, which selected her as a fiction fellow for the Tyrone Guthrie Center in Ireland. She currently teaches at WriterHouse, a nonprofit literary arts center in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Capitol Secrets: Leadership Wisdom from a Lifetime of Public Service
By William Leighty ’78
Holon Publishing/Collective Press, April 2023

In 'Capitol Secrets,' Bill Leighty '78 shares wisdom about getting things done at the highest levels of government. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
In ‘Capitol Secrets,’ Bill Leighty ’78 shares wisdom about getting things done at the highest levels of government. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

As chief of staff to two former Virginia governors, Bill Leighty has shared moments with the likes of Queen Elizabeth II and Tom Hanks and enjoyed the satisfaction of a career promoting the common good. His recent memoir, Capitol Secrets, is packed with riveting anecdotes and insider details about getting things done at the highest levels of government.

He and wife Marti, both former UMW Board of Visitors members, returned to their alma mater in spring 2023 to announce a $100,000 philanthropic commitment to the William H. Leighty ’78 and Martha Kearns Leighty ’75 Fellows Program.

Proceeds from the book will support Mary Washington juniors and seniors who aspire to careers in state government, helping to provide funding for internships with state legislators, public officials, or state agencies.

What Makes You Think You’re Supposed to Feel Better
By Jody Hobbs Hesler ’90
Cornerstone Press, October 2023

Jody Hobbs Hesler’s story collection is full of bleak portraits, including a young mother affected by the death of a loner in her community and a husband who is wracked with guilt over a long-term affair as his wife is dying.

“Told with restraint and deep compassion against the backdrop of Virginia back streets and small towns,” the book’s description reads, “[Hobbs’] collection shines with its portraits of longing, disconnection, and the ache for renewal and redemption that comes from our own frailties.”

Hobbs’ début novel, Without You Here, will be published by Cornerstone Press this fall. Based in the Blue Ridge Mountains, she teaches at Charlottesville’s WriterHouse and is assistant fiction editor for The Los Angeles Review.

Jody Hobbs Hesler ’90 has written a story collection that explores themes of longing, disconnection, redemption, and renewal.
Jody Hobbs Hesler ’90 at the alumni authors meet-and-greet during 2024’s Reunion Weekend. Photo courtesy of Sarah Amick.

Join the Mary Washington Mother of All Book Clubs to connect with fellow bibliophiles. The club, which is run by alumni volunteers, is open to alumni, students, families, faculty, and staff.

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

UMW Honors 2024 Alumni Award Recipients at Reunion Weekend

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Jay Dugger ’90 was always ready to go toe-to-toe in debates with his political science professors. In the decade after he graduated, the scholarship and legal acumen he once showcased at Mary Washington helped him earn a law degree from the College of William and Mary, pass the bar, go into private practice, make partner, and become the youngest sitting judge in Virginia.

“Jay has been a champion for not only what is the law, but also for the people who are impacted by those laws,” Rich Cooper ’90 said of his friend. Now the chief judge of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in Hampton, Virginia, Jay has helped create programs to reunify families, reduce child truancy, and provide educational and behavior services to children in the delinquency system.

2024 Alumni Award recipients Simran Kaur-Colbert ’11, Susan Leavitt ’83, and Jay Dugger ’90 with President Troy Paino at UMW’s Alumni Awards ceremony on June 1 during Reunion Weekend. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
From left: AABOD Past President Jennifer Blair ’82, Alumni Awards Vice President Sean Lynch ’95, former BOV Rector Dori Eglevsky, and President Troy Paino. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

His support of underserved communities earned him the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Mary Washington, honoring graduates who have made significant contributions in their profession and community, while being leaders in their fields.

Nominated by Rich – who received the same award in 2020 – and Michael Michalowicz ’90, Jay was honored in a June 1 ceremony in Seacobeck Hall’s Weatherly Wing during Reunion Weekend. Alumni joined President Troy Paino in celebrating Jay, Susan Leavitt ’83, and Simran Kaur-Colbert ’11, as well as Dori Eglevsky, former rector of UMW’s Board of Visitors (BOV), who was named an honorary alumna. Alumni Awards Vice President Sean Lynch ’95 announced the honorees, who were selected by the Alumni Association Board of Directors (AABOD).

Susan received the Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service Award, recognizing alumni who have provided a lifetime of service to the University.

“People gravitate to Susan, and her style shows she is a leader in every sense of the word,” said Karen Laino Giannuzzi ’71 in her nomination. The two alumnae were charter members of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Advisory Committee, on which Susan still serves.

Jay Dugger ’90 receives the Distinguished Alumni Award while Jenifer Blair ’82 looks on. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Susan Leavitt ’83 accepts the Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service Award from Jenifer Blair ’82. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Simran Kaur-Colbert ’11 shakes President Paino’s hand after receiving the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Susan majored in economics and French literature and minored in Italian at Mary Washington. She then received a master’s degree in international relations, with a focus in African studies, from Johns Hopkins University. A successful realtor who was recognized by Washingtonian as a “Lifetime Top Producer,” Leavitt is the vice president of Compass, a residential real estate firm. She was also named Philanthropist of the Year by the National Capital YMCA in 2010.

At UMW, she is a member of the Washington and Heritage giving societies and contributed to the $52 million raised during the Mary Washington First Campaign. She has given to CAS’s Beyond the Classroom initiative, named a Hurley Convergence Center collaboration space, established scholarships for students in need, and served on Reunion Weekend committees.

Simran earned the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, for graduates of the last 15 years who have distinguished themselves serving Mary Washington or their professions and communities.

Natalie Grossman ’11 nominated Simran “for her vision and dedication in fostering diversity, inclusion, and belonging at UMW and beyond.” Simran helped found UMW’s Multicultural Alumni Affinity Group and serves as its chair. She also holds leadership roles at several organizations dedicated to antiracism, decolonization, and Black health.

At UMW, Simran, a business administration major, was a Student Transition Program counselor and a resident assistant. She was also active in the Asian Student Association, Eagle Bhangra, Model United Nations, and the James Farmer Multicultural Center Advisory Committee.

Simran earned a Ph.D. at Miami University, where she joined the Celebrating Global Sisterhood Planning Committee, Graduate Student of Color Association, Asian/Asian American Faculty Staff Association, and the Sikh Student Association. She was recognized as the 2019 Contemplative Justice Scholar by the Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education and earned a 2018 fellowship by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management’s Equity and Inclusion.

The Honorable Jay Dugger ’90 with his wife, Rhonda Dugger. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Susan Leavitt ’83 with her husband, Jon Kim Andrus, MD. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Simran Kaur-Colbert ’11 with her partner, Jarrod Colbert. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Former BOV Rector Dori Eglevsky with her daughter, Cristy Eglevsky Reeder ’93. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Jenifer Blair ’82, AABOD past president, announced the naming of Dori Eglevsky as an honorary alumna in the Class of 2024. Dori has served Mary Washington for over 30 years, including a decade as the BOV’s rector and vice rector. She then joined the UMW Foundation Board of Directors, chaired its operations finance committee, and served as its vice chair.

As a community member, volunteer leader, and a parent of an alumna, she has been an enthusiastic proponent of Mary Washington and has given generously to support its students.

“UMW has held a very unique place in my heart,” Dori said. “I want to thank everyone who participated in this exceptional gift and meaningful honor.”

Read more about Mary Washington’s Alumni Award recipients from past years. 

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