Giving Stories

Scholarships Help Dancer, Biology Major, Take Steps Toward Commencement

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Senior Madeline Brunt began studying ballet at age 5, but by the time she enrolled at the University of Mary Washington, the pandemic had put her passion on pause. A year later, once restrictions were easing up, she discovered UMW’s Performing Arts Company and auditioned on a whim.

Senior Madeline Brunt poses in her graduation gown in front of the Jepson Science Center. Scholarships helped Madeline, who majored in biological sciences and minored in ethics, engage in undergraduate research, study abroad in the Galápagos Islands, and serve as president of UMW's Performing Arts Company. Photo courtesy of Madeline Brunt.
Senior Madeline Brunt poses in her graduation gown in front of the Jepson Science Center. Scholarships helped Madeline, who majored in biological sciences and minored in ethics, engage in undergraduate research, study abroad in the Galápagos Islands, and serve as president of UMW’s Performing Arts Company. Photo courtesy of Madeline Brunt.

“It’s a strange combination,” Madeline said of her biological sciences major and her art form, which both involve performing a sequence of steps to achieve a successful result. “Biology exercises my logical thinking, while dance allows for creative expression.”

Dance – especially her role as president of the Performing Arts Company – also gives Madeline a respite from her rigorous research into genetics, an area that hits close to home due to hearing loss she and twin sister Meredith were diagnosed with as children. Earning private scholarships has meant that Madeline, who graduates on Saturday, has been able to enhance her academics with extracurriculars and experiential learning opportunities that will prepare her for life after Mary Washington.

“When I’ve told my sister about my studies, she’s blown away that I’m doing this level of research here,” said Madeline, who grew up in Gainesville, Virginia. Her parents, Amy Acker ’94 and Andrew Brunt ’96, are both alumni. “I really enjoyed having a one-on-one relationship with my professors, which you don’t always get at larger universities.”

Under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Ginny Morriss, Madeline used fruit flies to investigate how mechanisms in mytonic dystrophy type 1 can lead to muscle wasting. She recently presented her findings at the 2024 Donor Appreciation Luncheon and Student Showcase and earned an undergraduate grant award for her research, which she also shared at the annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists in March.

Madeline added a minor in ethics to her biology major after taking a medical ethics course with Professor of Philosophy Jason Matzke. “Sitting on a hospital board or a clinical ethics committee is so intriguing to me,” said Madeline, who is considering pursuing a master’s degree in bioethics and perhaps going to law school in the future.

Madeline (left) performs ‘Le Corsaire: Pas de Trois Des Odalisques’ with Sarah Blanks ’24 in the Performing Arts Company’s small show in spring 2024. Photo by Kait Piston.
Madeline is lifted by her fellow Performing Arts Company dancers in ‘Heaven is Here,’ a piece choreographed by Gabby Lyon ’25, in fall 2023. Photo by Chenin Gruber.
Madeline (third from the left) performs ‘Better in the Morning,’ a piece choreographed by Elianna Bowman ’23, with the Performing Arts Company in the big show in spring 2024. Photo by Maryn Newman.
Madeline takes center stage in ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music,’ a piece choreographed by Jessie Mills ’23, during the Performing Arts Company’s big show in fall 2023. Photo by Chenin Gruber.
Madeline (second from left) hangs out with members of the Performing Arts Company after its big show in fall 2023. Photo by Chenin Gruber.

She also served as the treasurer of UMW’s Cap and Gown chapter of Mortar Board, the historian of the Pre-Health Society, and a member of the Chi Beta Phi, Delta Alpha Pi, and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies.

But the Performing Arts Company is where Madeline has felt the most at home. Joining as a sophomore, she became the student-led organization’s treasurer and then president last year. Overseeing the production of a “big” and “small” show each semester, she weighs in on decisions about choreography, costumes, sets, lighting, and more. “I’ve made so many relationships with students outside my major whom I never would have met,” she said.

Private donor support has enabled her to pursue all these passions. Madeline earned the Deb Stanley Leap ’72 Scholarship in Biology, the Earl G. Insley Chi Beta Phi Scholarship, and the Sally Brannan Hurt ’92 Study Abroad Scholarship, which gave her the chance to take a faculty-led trip to study the flora and fauna of the Galápagos Islands.

Madeline with Vicky Nichols Wilder ’80 at the 2024 Donor Appreciation Luncheon and Student Showcase. Madeline earned the Vicky Nichols Wilder ’80 and Florence Overley Ridderhof ’50 Scholarship in Dance, among others. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Madeline received an undergraduate research grant to present her findings on mytonic dystrophy type 1 at the annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists this spring. Photo courtesy of Madeline Brunt.
On the faculty-led trip to the Galápagos Islands, Madeline poses over Sierra Negra, a shield volcano, on the island of Isabela. Photo courtesy of Madeline Brunt.
Madeline received the Sally Brannan Hurt ’92 Study Abroad Scholarship in Biology, which gave her the opportunity to travel to the Galápagos Islands to study the flora and fauna of one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Here, she poses for a photo with a Galápagos tortoise at an ecological reserve, El Chato Ranch, on the island of Isabela. Photo courtesy of Madeline Brunt.
Madeline (center) with her mother, Amy Acker ’94, and sister Meredith after the Performing Arts Company’s big show this spring. The twins were diagnosed with hearing loss in the first grade, which inspired Madeline’s decision to study genetics at Mary Washington. Photo courtesy of Madeline Brunt.

She also received the Vicky Nichols Wilder ’80 and Florence Overley Ridderhof ’50 Scholarship in Dance. At this year’s Donor Appreciation Luncheon, she met Vicky and her husband, former UMW Chief of Staff Marty Wilder, and learned about her benefactor’s own experiences dancing at Mary Washington.

“She offered great insight into keeping dance in my life after graduation,” said Madeline, who knows that her alma mater and her fellow alumni will be there for her throughout her life. “UMW truly cares about your success and will provide anything necessary to help you reach your goals.”

Find scholarship opportunities that are available to UMW students. 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 Advancement intern Tabitha Robinson ’24 

UMW Awards Inaugural Impact Grants Funding Innovation Across Campus

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The University of Mary Washington’s radio station entertained Eagles for decades, but it was in disrepair when rising senior Davy Washington first stepped foot inside its studio.

“Our overarching goal in the next school year is to reestablish WMWC as an essential part of the UMW community,” said Davy, who has ramped up engagement since becoming station director, recruited 80 student deejays, and organized events like “Eagles in the ’80s.”

Restoring the station, which now broadcasts online, also requires new microphones, a mixer, and other updated technology. That’s why Davy took the mic on April 20 to present a proposal, which secured a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant. Piloted this spring by UMW’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, the program awarded $25,000 in donor-funded grants, ranging from $1,200 to $5,000, to eight projects or initiatives pitched by students, faculty, and staff on behalf of recognized campus organizations.

The Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant program, piloted by UMW’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, awarded $25,000 in donor-funded grants to eight projects or initiatives pitched by UMW students, faculty, and staff this spring. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Senior Steve McClanahan (left) talks about the impact that the Digital Knowledge Center and its director, Cartland Berge (right), had on his UMW experience. The pair earned an impact grant to upgrade the Charnoff Production Studio in the Hurley Convergence Center. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte (center), who conceived of the Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant program, listens along with Alumni Board members Charmayne Staloff ’05 and Brendan Kelly ’95. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Student Alumni Ambassador Corbin Poyer ’24, who is the student representative to the Alumni Board, poses a question to one of the presenters. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Rising senior Davy Washington shared a proposal entitled “Rebuilding WMWC,” which earned a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant to help purchase new equipment for the now online campus radio station. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

“These grants help expand the impact of donors’ gifts to the Fund for Mary Washington, sparking innovation and creating opportunities across campus and beyond,” said Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte, who conceived of the program.

Applicants were asked to submit a pitch video and slide deck, demonstrating financial need and outlining measurable objectives, a detailed budget, a sustainability plan, and a targeted audience. Each project was evaluated on those criteria as well as how closely it aligned with UMW’s ASPIRE values.

“The Fund for Mary Washington gives the University the flexibility to put money where it is most needed, so this program embodies that,” said Jenifer “JB” Blair ’82, immediate past president of UMW’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. She oversaw a committee composed of members of the Alumni Board and the Young Alumni Council, who reviewed 27 initial applicants, winnowing the pool down to the 11 teams that gave their final pitch to the full board and council last month.

From left: Alumni Board members Harry Thomas ’97, Lisa Maloney Keyser ’05, and Brian Reagan ’04 and Young Alumni Council Chair Lauren Rainford ’15 listen to the presentations. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
First-year student Sarah Tyree-Hermann speaks about how UMW Votes educates students about voting procedures and makes the ballot box more accessible. Along with Center for Community Engagement Director Sarah Dewees, Sarah earned an impact grant for the organization to rent a trolley to transport students to the polls on Election Day. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Melissa Schmidt Estevez ’00 asks a question while fellow Alumni Board member Sean Lynch ’95 (left) and Young Alumni Council members Michael Gilchrist ’20 (right) and Theo Zotos ’19 (far right) look on. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Professor of Sociology Leslie Martin and Dee Chasten, a Simpson Library staff member and current BLS student, pitched a proposal for the Gwen Hale Resource Center, a food pantry in Lee Hall. The impact grant they received will go toward purchasing food to help alleviate hunger among food insecure students. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
JB Blair ’82, immediate past president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, led the committee that evaluated proposals for Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grants. A former student deejay with WMWC, she also helped fulfill Davy Washington’s request for funds to restore the radio station to its former glory. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Eagles in Recovery, Gwen Hale Resource Center, UMW Galleries, the Hurley Convergence Center’s Charnoff Production Studio, and a new Residence Life program for incoming students with autism spectrum disorder were among those that received grants. Recipients have one year to use grant funds and must participate in a reporting workshop this fall.

Several donors committed to funding projects that weren’t chosen, as well as providing additional resources to those that need them. “As one of the original deejays in the late 1970s when WMWC was revived, I was moved by Davy’s request and to hear of the significant interest among students,” said JB, who made her own contribution to help resurrect the radio station.

UMW Votes, a nonpartisan, student-led organization that promotes student voting and civic engagement, earned a grant to rent a trolley to transport students to the polls on Election Day.

“Before coming to UMW, I didn’t know anything about how register to vote, what was going to be on the ballot, or when elections are,” said first-year student Sarah Tyree-Hermann during her presentation. Through her participation with UMW Votes, she educates her fellow students on voting and works to make the ballot box more accessible.

“Some UMW students, especially first-year students, don’t have any way to get to the polls to vote,” said Center for Community Engagement Director Sarah Dewees, who also helped pitch the proposal. “Being able to offer rides will help our students be more civically engaged.”

Martina Nicholson pitched ‘Preventing Period Poverty’ in April, before a committee composed of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and Young Alumni Council. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
UMW Galleries Director Tracy Stonestreet (right) and rising senior Rowan Tully earned an impact grant to help the galleries secure membership in the Virginia Association of Museums and for a staff member to attend VAM’s annual conference. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Eagles in Recovery Program Coordinator and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Jiamie Pyles pitched a proposal to sustain the program, which helps UMW students struggling with substance use or addiction. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Assistant Dean of Students Chris Porter pitched “Soft Landings,” a pre-arrival program to help incoming students with autism spectrum disorder acclimate to the UMW campus before their neurotypical peers. The impact grant she received will help cover the cost of textbooks for the program and mentor stipends. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
From left: Alumni Board President Vicki Sprague Ravenel ’77, member Katherine Redmiles ’15, and President-Elect James Llewellyn ’87, examine sensory toys handed out by Assistant Dean of Students Chris Porter before her presentation. These toys help calm students with autism spectrum disorder, Porter said. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

During rising senior Martina Nicholson’s presentation, “Preventing Period Poverty,” she explained how Women and Gender Studies Club members have used Student Finance Committee funds to stock bathrooms at UMW with menstrual products for those who cannot afford them.

The grant she received will purchase four “Aunt Flow” machines to provide free pads and tampons in the Cedric Rucker University Center and other campus hubs.

“Being able to build on the foundations of this initiative was important to me,” said Martina, who wants the program to remain sustainable after she graduates. “Students all over campus will benefit from having easy access to these basic necessities.”

Learn more about UMW’s Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grants.

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

UMW Senior, Alvey Scholar to Perform Finale Fit for Commencement

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As Sofia Taylor ’24 took the Weatherly Wing stage for her senior vocal recital at the University of Mary Washington in March, she knew it was a full circle moment.

Sofia Taylor '24 received the full-ride Justin and Helen Piscopo Alvey Scholarship to major in psychology and minor in music and neuroscience at the University of Mary Washington. She has been invited to sing UMW's Alma Mater at Commencement on Saturday, May 11.
Sofia Taylor ’24 received the full-ride Justin and Helen Piscopo Alvey Scholarship to major in psychology and minor in music and neuroscience at the University of Mary Washington. She has been invited to sing UMW’s Alma Mater at Commencement on Saturday, May 11.

“When I first arrived on campus four years ago, we couldn’t sing for a live audience,” said Sofia, who helped dedicate the space when it opened in Seacobeck Hall. “So, this was truly gratifying for me.”

Gearing up for a Ball Circle moment, Sofia will perform for her largest audience yet at UMW’s 113th Commencement on May 11. After earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology, she’ll conclude the ceremony by leading over a thousand of her fellow Class of 2024 graduates in Mary Washington’s Alma Mater, “High on Marye’s Hilltop.” Penned by Jean Crotty Machonis ’47 and Irene Taylor Robinson ’47, the beloved tune is sung at UMW milestones like Eagle Gathering and Commencement.

“It’s the perfect finale for my four years at Mary Washington,” said Sofia, a psychology major and music and neuroscience minor. Her college experience comprised a semester in Europe, performing in choral recitals and a UMW Theatre production, and research into the minds of the world’s great composers, which she presented last week at Mary Washington’s annual Research and Creativity Symposium. She was also recently named a semifinalist for the prestigious Fulbright Award.

Sofia summed up these experiences at this spring’s Scholarship Luncheon and Student Showcase. Serving as emcee, she sang the Alma Mater – and the praises of her late donor, Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59, who left the University a transformational $30 million estate gift, the largest in its history, when she passed away in 2022.

“I was so grateful that Irene gave me the chance to attend UMW and pursue all my academic interests, without the burden of having to pay for college,” Sofia said. A Michigan native, she received the Justin and Helen Piscopo Alvey Scholarship, providing full tuition, fees, and room and board for out-of-state students for up to four years of undergraduate study.

She often exchanged cards, letters, and emails with Rodgers, even sending her donor videos of her singing opera. “I’m so glad we got to know each other and bond over our shared love of science and the arts,” Sofia said.

Sofia (far left) with her fellow Washington and Alvey Scholarship recipients, who received full tuition, fees, and room and board to UMW. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Sofia (right) with Ron Pohl, Irene Piscopo Rodgers’ friend and attorney, and fellow UMW senior and Alvey Scholarship and Rodgers recipient Hannah Stottlemyer at 2023’s Celebration of Giving. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Sofia shares her research into the psychology behind Mozart, Beethoven, and other great composers with Bill Williams and Pat Poole at the 2024 Donor Appreciation Luncheon and Student Showcase. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Enrolled in UMW’s Honors Program, she made the most of the public liberal arts and sciences education at Mary Washington. Yet, psychology was always top of mind, after taking an advanced placement course in the subject during high school.

“I’m fascinated by the biological aspects of the brain,” said Sofia, who researched how dopamine production affects sleep. She also worked with neurology patients at Mary Washington Hospital, served as the community service-learning coordinator for the Department of Psychological Science, was inducted into the Psi Chi honor society, and coordinated a campus mental health fair.

In her free time, Sofia taught yoga for Campus Recreation and participated in UMW’s Honor Student Advisory Committee, Red Cross Club, Talk to the Hands ASL club, and Pre-Health Society.

But her high notes have been studying abroad in Vienna, Austria – the birthplace of psychology and a center for classical music – and performing in UMW Theatre’s production of The Rocky Horror Show. “Both were a dream come true,” Sofia said.

Sofia studied abroad in Vienna, Austria, in spring 2023. Here, she poses for a photo on the balcony of the Albertina Museum, overlooking the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera). Photo courtesy of Sofia Taylor.
Sofia (second from left) with cellist Riley Francis (left), flautist Madeline MacArthur, and Assistant Professor of Music Robert Wells (right) after her senior vocal recital in the Weatherly Wing in Seacobeck Hall. Photo courtesy of Sofia Taylor.
Sofia attended a Viennese masked ball while studying abroad in Vienna, Austria. Photo courtesy of Sofia Taylor.
Sofia (far right) with psychology classmates (from left) Valeria Duque, Dayton Keffer, Katherine Blair, and Ally Tingen, before presenting their research on dopamine at 2024’s Research and Creativity Symposium. Photo courtesy of Sofia Taylor.
Sofia rehearses with UMW’s combined choirs. Receiving a full-ride Alvey Scholarship gave her the chance to minor in music and neuroscience, in addition to her psychology major, and perform with the UMW choirs and UMW Theatre. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

Sofia aspires to earn a Ph.D. and enter private practice, using music therapy to help patients. She’s considering the University of Michigan, where Rodgers earned a master’s degree in chemistry.

But, to quote the Alma Mater, Taylor will always be “forever true” to Mary Washington.

“I may be graduating and leaving campus,” she said, “but I know that a part of me will always belong to UMW. I’ll always be welcomed back by this community.”

Watch Sofia’s senior vocal recital as well as a video thanking science donors that was played at 2023’s Celebration of Giving.

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 

Gift Planning Connections – Spring 2024

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In this issue:

Meet scholarship recipient Hadley Mantia ’24 as she pursues a career that merges her passion for the French language and her aptitude for business.

Discover how Fredericksburg-area residents Al and Sue Roth have become members of the Heritage Society by supporting Great Lives in their estate plans.

Learn how to use your IRA to fund a charitable gift annuity, earn a regular income, and save taxes.

Update your information and consider specific designations to ensure your assets pass directly to your beneficiaries without going through the probate process.

Read a special message from President Paino.

See how the family of Allene Atkinson Hull ’56  is honoring their mother’s legacy through an estate gift to benefit UMW music students.

Read each story in the spring edition of Gift Planning Connections by selecting the links above, or click here to view a PDF version.

UMW Historic Preservation Alumna Pivots to Career as a Pop Culture Critic

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When entertainment journalist Maggie Lovitt ’15 reviewed a new period drama, she relied on the knowledge base she built while earning a bachelor’s degree in historic preservation at the University of Mary Washington.

Maggie Lovitt '15, who earned a bachelor's degree in historic preservation, found success in a second career in entertainment journalism when the pandemic hit, showcasing the versatility of a public liberal arts and sciences education from UMW. Here, she interviews 'Star Wars' actor Ewan McGregor. Photo credit: FanExpo.
Maggie Lovitt ’15, who earned a bachelor’s degree in historic preservation, found success in a second career in entertainment journalism when the pandemic hit, showcasing the versatility of a public liberal arts and sciences education from UMW. Here, she interviews ‘Star Wars’ actor Ewan McGregor. Photo credit: FanExpo.

“I come at it from a deeper well of knowledge than the average viewer,” Maggie said. For example, she asked more insightful questions when covering The New Look on Apple TV+, which follows Christian Dior and Coco Chanel launching their fashion empires in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. “Even if you don’t stay in the field you majored in, you can still use what you studied in your daily life.”

In just a few years, Maggie has gone from managing a historic site to rubbing elbows with the stars at Hollywood award shows. Yet, she still employs the skills she honed at Mary Washington – conducting research, writing and editing, and collaborating on a team – in her current career. As a critic, screenwriter, and actress, Maggie has earned accolades and approval from the Screen Actors Guild, Rotten Tomatoes, and the Critics Choice Association, which she shared in the spring edition of UMW’s Class Notes.

Maggie has been exploring these seemingly disparate interests since her fourth birthday, when her mother took her to a Star Trek convention, her first foray into fandom.

Around the same age, she also became fascinated by history. Growing up in Virginia, she and her family often visited Fredericksburg area locales like George Washington’s boyhood home, Ferry Farm, and his sister’s residence, Kenmore.

So, it was no surprise when she applied to Mary Washington, one of the few institutions in the country with an undergraduate major in historic preservation. At UMW, Maggie enjoyed the broad benefits of a public liberal arts and sciences education, taking courses in history, British literature, museum studies, geography, and journalism while volunteering at nearby museums and historic sites.

Maggie Lovitt (fourth row, second from right) with Department of Historic Preservation faculty members and classmates before Commencement in 2015. Photo courtesy of Maggie Lovitt.
Maggie with her parents, Karen and Brad Lovitt, after UMW’s Commencement in 2015. Photo courtesy of Maggie Lovitt.
Maggie explores a display at Ferry Farm in Stafford. Visits to George Washington’s boyhood home and other historic sites around Fredericksburg influenced her decision to pursue a bachelor’s degree in historic preservation at Mary Washington. Photo courtesy of Maggie Lovitt.

But television and movies were still on her mind. “Anyone who was in class with me knew I was always reading reviews in The New York Times,” Maggie said. “I talked about ratings for my favorite shows ad nauseum.”

After graduation, Maggie earned a master’s degree online in engaged anthropology from the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, while working as the executive director of the Chapman-Beverley Mill in Fauquier, Virginia, where her family has had roots since the 1700s.

She oversaw the 19-century historic site, planned events and programs, coordinated volunteers, maintained the website and social media accounts, and wrote press releases and grant applications. Then came COVID, which slowed traffic to museums and historical landmarks.

That’s when her other passion came into play. She began reviewing films for online publications and launched a podcast, Petticoats & Poppies: History Girls at the Movies, with friend and fellow film buff Nicole Ackman. “I realized this wasn’t a dead end; it was a doorway to more opportunities,” Maggie said.

Hired by digital entertainment hub Collider, she rose to the role of senior lead news editor. She now manages a team of writers and produces prose on pop culture topics like the latest from the Star Wars universe, rom-coms, horror flicks, and historical dramas.

Maggie Lovitt (far right) on a panel with sci-fi actresses (from left) Alexa Kingston, Michelle Hurd, and Felicia Day. Photo credit: FanExpo.
Maggie with her mother, Karen Lovitt, and actor Robert Beltran, who played Chakotay on ‘Star Trek: Voyager.’ Photo courtesy of Maggie Lovitt.
Maggie Lovitt interviews ‘Harry Potter’ actors Matthew Lewis (left) and Jason Isaacs. Photo credit: FanExpo.
Maggie Lovitt interviews Diego Luga, an actor who has appeared in the ‘Star Wars’ vehicles ‘Andor’ and ‘Rogue One.’ Photo credit: FanExpo.

She has also been cast in a dozen onscreen roles, including in Wonder Woman 1984 and The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and designed costumes for several projects. And her screenplays have placed in film festivals in New York City, Los Angeles, and Richmond, Virginia.

Looking back at her time at UMW, she’s grateful to the alumni, donors, and faculty members who supported her endeavors in college and continue to root for her success. Among them is Professor of English Eric Lorentzen, who remembers having lively discussions with Maggie at Mary Washington over film interpretations of their favorite texts.

“I love when a piece of Maggie’s writing takes on instances of literary adaptation,” Dr. Lorenzten said, “so I can see the wonderful ways that echoes of our old conversations in class recur and expand in these brilliant new venues.”

Maggie’s advice for current UMW students? “No matter what you are currently studying, you never know what your future might have in store for you,” she said. “It’s important to always stay true to yourself and to go with the flow.”

– Article written by Advancement intern Tabitha Robinson ’24