Giving Stories

Scholarship Recipient Discovers Confidence, Connection, and Calling at UMW

Mariana Lira wasn’t quite sure where she’d go to college, until her grandparents made a simple suggestion—check out the University of Mary Washington.

Photo of student smiling at the camera.
Senior environmental science major Mariana Lira said earning the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship has opened doors to multiple academic pursuits and leadership roles at the University of Mary Washington. Photo courtesy of Mariana Lira.

“UMW was warm, welcoming, and totally matched my vibe,” said Mariana, who was born in Arizona and attended high school in nearby Spotsylvania. A tour of campus confirmed she was in the right place. “I just felt like I belonged here.”

Mariana, now an environmental science major and a UMW Honors Program scholar, has made her mark at Mary Washington. Serving as vice president of the Latino Student Association and the Tri Alpha First Generation honor society, she has helped students with similar journeys feel connected on campus.

As she takes her next steps—including becoming a Marine Corps officer after graduation—she credits the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship with opening doors to her academic pursuits and leadership roles.

Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans, born on Feb. 21, 1872, in Thaxton, Virginia, made history when she stepped up to lead the company of her late first husband, Joseph B. Whitehead, who had the innovative idea to bottle Coca-Cola at the turn of the 20th century. Three decades later, the company appointed her to its board of directors—making her the first woman ever to sit on the board at a major corporation.

A revered philanthropist, Mrs. Whitehead also gave generously to educational institutions, arts and culture, and religious organizations throughout her lifetime. The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation, established after her death in 1953, supports tens of thousands of students in need each year as well as senior care facilities across the southeast.

More than 2,000 scholars at the University of Mary Washington have benefited from Whitehead scholarships over the last four decades. In 2024-25, the University awarded financial assistance totaling $292,110 to more than 100 Whitehead recipients, which is a part of the over $2.3 million in donor-driven scholarships from the UMW Foundation.

“Our recipients embody Mrs. Whitehead’s enduring spirit of generosity, resilience, and commitment to higher education,” said Katie Turcotte, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement and executive director of the UMW Foundation. “We’re so grateful to the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation for their ongoing support that helps ensure that a Mary Washington education remains accessible and affordable for those with financial need.”

Interested in science since childhood, Mariana discovered that UMW’s Department of Earth and Environmental Science gave her the chance to take courses in lots of different areas, including biology, chemistry, ecology, and geology. “It’s such a multifaceted field,” she said. “I love learning how everything fits together and hearing different perspectives.”

Mariana has particularly enjoyed coursework with Associate Professor of Environmental Science Tyler Frankel and Sarah Morealli, an environmental geology senior lecturer. “Everyone at UMW is so passionate about their subject area, so it’s easy to get excited about research when you’re a student,” she said.

Mariana is currently working alongside her faculty mentor, Associate Professor of Environmental Science Melanie Szulczewski, and her classmates to conduct data analysis that investigates metal contaminants in the soil and how they might affect produce that ends up in grocery stores. They recently presented their findings at CANVAS, a conference focusing on environmental and soil science, in Salt Lake City.

“This opportunity has truly enhanced my experiences in my major,” said Mariana, who plans to present her Honors College capstone project at UMW’s Research and Creativity Symposium on April 24. “I’m applying the knowledge I learned in class to address concerns and develop questions that I can then answer through my research.”

But she’s taking a different path for her career. She was recently accepted into Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, which she’ll begin this fall. As the daughter of service members, she admires the military branch’s focus on tradition and discipline.

“Honor, courage, and commitment are all important to me,” Mariana said. “I want to work with other people who uphold those same values.”

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 by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04

UMW Senior Finds the ‘Joy of Teaching’ Special Education

Mollie Moomaw thought she’d follow in her parents’ footsteps, attending the same small private college that they did. Instead, she fell in love with her grandmother’s alma mater as soon as she stepped onto the University of Mary Washington campus.

“We all knew then that this was where I was meant to be,” said Mollie, who hails from Harrisonburg, Virginia. The UMW senior enjoys sharing Mary Washington stories with her grandmother, Pamela Rave Hall ’71, and is amused that she dined in Seacobeck Hall, now home to UMW’s College of Education. “I study in the Dome Room, where she used to eat lunch!”

Student smiling in front of Virginia Hall.
Mollie Moomaw ’26, an elementary education major and disability studies minor with a special education endorsement, earned the Joy of Teaching and Claudia Moore Read Dance scholarships. Photo courtesy of Mollie Moomaw.

An elementary education major and disability studies minor with a special education endorsement, Mollie has gained critical skills for working with students receiving individualized support and their caregivers. The recipient of the Joy of Teaching and Claudia Moore Read Dance scholarships, she has applied her learning in public school classrooms while pursuing extracurricular activities and leadership roles on campus.

“I was genuinely shocked when I earned these awards,” said Mollie, president of UMW’s Performing Arts Company, Club Swim, and Talk to the Hands sign language club. She also serves as vice president of Mortar Board and the Kappa Delta Pi educational honor society and works as a house manager in Dodd Auditorium. “It means so much to be recognized and reminded that I’m here for the right reasons.”

Her most fulfilling work has been helping disabled students and their families navigate the educational system. “I’ve had hard cases, but it’s reinforced that I want to make a difference,” said Mollie, who recently gained hands-on experience in a fifth-grade classroom in Stafford County. “It was so cool seeing how the teacher adapted her lessons for different learners.”

A smiling student and donor seated at a table.
Mollie Moomaw ’26 and one of her donors, UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Vicky Nichols Wilder ’80, who serves on the Friends of Dance board and helped establish the Claudia Moore Read Dance Scholarship that Mollie received. The pair enjoyed lunch together at the 2026 Scholarship Luncheon and Student Showcase. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

She’s grateful for supportive UMW faculty like Melissa Wells and Alexis Rutt – who was, coincidentally, also her sixth-grade science teacher – for helping her develop the knowledge and compassion needed to work effectively with neurodivergent students.

After graduation, Mollie has a job waiting for her in her hometown and plans to pursue a master’s degree while teaching. She’ll bring her UMW education into her own classroom, especially when it comes to meeting students where they are.

“It’s important that they create connections and learn communication skills,” she said of the challenging but rewarding experience of teaching two nonverbal teens last summer. “And at the end of the day, I want my students to feel happy and safe.”

This article originally ran in the FY2024-25 Endowment Report. Story by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04. 

Called to the Classroom

Mary Washington alumna’s commitment to elementary education helps aspiring teachers launch their careers 

Barbara Bishop Mann ’66 discovered her calling to become an elementary school teacher when she was in fifth grade. Earning a bachelor’s degree from Mary Washington helped her reach that goal – and dedicate her life to supporting future educators and public education in Virginia.

An alumna from the Class of 1966.
Barbara Bishop Mann ’66 spent nearly four decades as an elementary school educator and advocate for public schools. She has supported UMW education students by establishing a teaching scholarship and award. She recently endowed the Barbara Bishop Mann ’66 Washington Scholarship.

“It was a career that I knew I could do well,” said Barbara, who taught students in second through fifth grade in Richmond area public schools for nearly four decades.

Barbara wanted to ensure that education students at the University of Mary Washington could reach their own goals of becoming teachers, so she created the Mann College of Education Scholarship and the Barbara Bishop Mann ’66 Virginia Educator Award. For years, she’d return to campus each spring to bestow the award on a promising student in UMW’s College of Education (COE). Barbara also recently established the Barbara Bishop Mann ’66 Washington Scholarship, which will provide full tuition, fees, and housing and dining to a selected student and is renewable up to four years.

“I’ve always loved reading and learning, and I hope to share that passion with my future students,” said McKayla Steeves ’27, who earned the Mann College of Education Scholarship, one of nearly 30 students who’ve benefited from Barbara’s gifts to Mary Washington over the years. “This contribution makes a real difference in my education and allows me to continue working toward my dream of making a positive impact in the lives of students.”

Barbara decided on her career at an early age because of the wonderful teachers who made an impact on her, including her grandmother and her father, who taught high school chemistry and mathematics before enlisting in the Army and becoming a career officer.

Photo of a student from 1966 Battlefield Yearbook.
Barbara Bishop Mann ’66 in Mary Washington’s Battlefield Yearbook. Photo courtesy of UMW Special Collections and University Archives.

Her family moved across the country and overseas throughout her childhood, leading Barbara to attend 12 different schools. She met longtime friend and Mary Washington classmate Anne Meade Clagett ’66, whose family was also in the military, when they both enrolled at McLean High School in Virginia during their junior year.

“We knew what it was like to always be the new kid,” said Anne, recalling that Barbara’s parents and her brother, Jim, moved to Italy around the time they started college. “When she got to Mary Washington, she truly felt like it was home.”

Barbara took several education and psychology courses in college but never had the chance to manage a classroom until her first job. She began her career in rural and inner-city schools in Alabama, and moved to Virginia Beach when she got married, where she was granted a provisional teaching license.

Determined, she spent the next nine years working evenings and weekends to earn a master’s degree in elementary education, with a concentration in reading diagnosis and remediation, and a post-graduate collegiate professional certificate through Old Dominion University. She then took a job with the public school system in Chesterfield County, Virginia, where she spent the rest of her career.

“My principal saw me coming and said, ‘Have I got a class for you!’” Barbara told UMW students when she came to campus as COE’s Educator-in-Residence in 2013.

She recalled how she helped her third graders who were struggling with reading by borrowing resources from colleagues and the school library and spending hours copying reading materials every night after work. With the help of parents and classroom aides, she and her students wrote and illustrated stories and created their own books. She read to them every day and met them at their level, helping to increase their confidence to become better readers.

“If you work hard and do what you love, the kids can feel it,” Barbara said. “And they’ll learn. If you have expertise, and it’s meaningful, you can teach anything with nothing.”

But she realized educators required more resources and support to help their students thrive. Her own first-grade teacher became a mentor, encouraging Barbara to get involved in the Virginia Education Association. She served on the organization’s board for many years, advocating for teachers across the Commonwealth, and later joined VEA Retired.

She has also remained committed to her alma mater through her generous gifts and as a past member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and numerous reunion committees, which earned her the Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service Award in 2016.

“Barbara has been a fierce advocate for Virginia teachers,” said College of Education Dean Pete Kelly, who worked with Barbara when she served on the COE Advisory Board. “I greatly benefited from her wise counsel, and our students have truly benefited from her generosity over the years.”

Like the ones she spoke with as COE’s Educator-in-Residence. When she summed up her lifetime of dedication and advocacy more than a decade ago, she wished them similar success in their own careers.

“You’re smart, you’re educated,” she said, “and you’re going to make those who came before you proud.”

Learn more about establishing scholarships, including Washington and Alvey 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, including Washington and Alvey scholarships

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

UMW’s Inaugural AI Expert-in-Residence Shares Insight on Technology’s ‘Tremendous’ Impact

When Sean O’Brien ’09 graduated from the University of Mary Washington, smartphones were the latest technology tools on the market. Within six years, almost everyone had one of these handy devices in their palm or pocket.

An alum in a suit and tie speaks to an audience with an American flag in the background.
Sean O’Brien ’09, an associate vice president at Internet2, a national tech consortium for higher education, is UMW’s inaugural AI Expert-in-Residence. He recently spoke to students, faculty, staff, and community members during a talk sponsored by the Center for AI and the Liberal Arts. Photo courtesy of Anand Rao.

Yet, it only took two months for ChatGPT to top 100 million users, he added, illustrating the acceleration of artificial intelligence, or AI. “Humanity has always lived through technological revolutions,” Sean said, citing the printing press, telephone, and internet. “But when a tech storm arrives, the question is, how do we navigate it?”

That’s what Sean – an associate vice president at Internet2, a national tech consortium for higher education – discussed when he returned to campus last month to speak about the potentials and pitfalls of artificial intelligence. As UMW’s inaugural AI Expert-in-Residence, he’s providing students, faculty, staff, and community members his critical insight on these tools and their tremendous impact on individuals, institutions, and society.

His talk, sponsored by UMW’s Center for AI and the Liberal Arts, tackled these topics and more, creating a roadmap for how leadership, especially in higher education, should prepare for these rapid changes.

The Center, led by Professor of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao, was launched last fall and serves as a hub for research, teaching, and public engagement, bolstered by $100,000 gift in seed funding from UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Donna Sheehan Gladis ’68 and husband Steve.

“Sean is a sterling example of how UMW liberal arts grads become leaders, especially in the AI era, when data is ubiquitous but empathy and judgment remain so important,” said Steve Gladis, who attended Sean’s talk. “Donna and I are so excited for the Center for AI, especially with Anand at the helm.”

Sean earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Mary Washington, where he was Student Government Association president. He then worked in IT on campus before pursuing a master’s degree in communication and leadership studies at Gonzaga University.

“The liberal arts foundation I received [at UMW] shaped how I think about technology’s role in society,” said Sean, who is also mentoring students and advising faculty research this spring. “I’m excited to help current students develop the same thoughtful approach to AI.”

An alum speaks in front of a screen that reads: Preparing for the Storm: Leadership in an Age of AI Acceleration. Sean O'Brien, AI Expert-in-Residence, University of Mary Washington. Several UMW faculty and staff with their back to the camera in the foreground.
Sean O’Brien discussed the rapid acceleration of AI and how these new technology tools will impact individuals, institutions, and society in the future. Photo courtesy of Anand Rao.

During his discussion, Sean delved into AI’s drawbacks and its impact on the workforce and the environment – but also its potential for breakthroughs in medicine, science, and efficiency. Most current users employ consumer tools like ChatGPT and Claude for delegating simple tasks like writing a job description or summarizing a long document, he said.

“But the ability to produce, solve a problem, think through an issue, create something new – that’s where AI can become truly transformational,” said Sean, touting multimodal capabilities that allow a person to use these tools while walking the dog or relaxing on a beach.

However, he cautioned that while AI increases productivity, studies have shown that constant interaction with it can cause burnout, an effect known as the “energy vampire.”

He noted that the uniquely human skills often associated with the liberal arts – communication, relationship-building, critical thinking, and empathy – will become more valuable and marketable to employers. “I don’t think AI limits the human experience,” he said. “It amplifies it.”

Colleges and universities should continue to teach students how to interrogate information and engage in ethical inquiry while still encouraging experimentation, he said. As these institutions adopt AI tools, he recommended they make thoughtful decisions before heavily investing in one product over another.

“Innovation isn’t a product you buy; it’s a behavior you practice,” he said. Praising Domain of One’s Own and UMW’s other projects that give students the chance to explore new technologies within the liberal arts, Sean added, “One of the things I genuinely admire about Mary Washington is that it has a history of putting this into practice.”

While he addressed concerns about the future of AI in society, he emphasized the importance of civic engagement. Citizens can push for increased regulations around privacy, more access for communities, and protecting democratic institutions like a free press and universities.

“We all have a role in building the future we want it to be,” he said. “We can choose and act toward a vision that concentrates the power of this technology into the few, or one that democratizes it and allows for a new generation of builders.”

Watch Sean O’Brien’s full remarks as UMW’s AI Expert-in-Residence. Learn more about UMW’s Center for AI and the Liberal Arts.

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

Business Administration Alum Invests in UMW, Shapes Future Generations

As a University of Mary Washington senior, Dan Clendenin ’07 accepted a position with wealth management firm Cary Street Partners, where he’d been an intern just a year earlier. Soon after earning a degree in business administration, he found himself guiding clients through the financial crisis as banks failed and the real estate market collapsed.

Dan Clendenin '07
Dan Clendenin ’07, a managing director and financial advisor with Cary Street Partners’ Fredericksburg location, has helped guide many UMW students and grads who are starting their own careers in financial planning. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

“It was such a stressful time, but I learned so much about the emotional intersection of personal finance and psychology,” said Dan, who’d planned to become an orthopedic surgeon. But at UMW, he discovered a different calling that also required a steady hand. “When other firms stopped picking up the phone, I was answering calls, holding hands, and offering our clients sound advice.”

Nearly two decades later, Dan still leads with that personal, hands-on approach. Now a managing director and financial advisor with Cary Street Partners’ Fredericksburg location – one of 20 offices nationwide – he oversees a team serving more than 400 families and representing over $1.5 billion in assets.

As his success grew, so did his commitment to his alma mater. The firm’s competitive internship program has welcomed numerous Mary Washington students, providing a promising professional start, just like the one he received in his own college career.

“We all want to see our students and alumni succeed,” said Dan, whose annual gifts to Mary Washington have earned him a place in the President’s Circle since graduation. He serves on the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees and the College of Business Executive Advisory Board, completed two terms on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and collects updates for Class Notes. “It’s all about paying it forward, staying connected, and paving the way for the future of the institution.”

Dan and his wife, Ginny Tapscott Clendenin ’08, M.Ed. ’09, whom he met through a fellow Mary Washington alum, live with their three children in Fredericksburg, further rooting their family in the community that shaped them.

His dedication also fuels the strong pipeline he has helped build between the University and Cary Street Partners. About 2,500 applicants vie annually for 10 internships within the entire firm, with many awarded to UMW business majors and recent graduates, several of whom have become full-time employees.

That’s what happened to Brittany McBride Doughty, CFP® ’18, who connected with Dan while earning a business administration degree and minoring in economics. “The role felt like the perfect mix of analytical work and caring for personal relationships,” said Brittany, now a vice president and financial advisor with the firm.

“My responsibility is to understand what matters most to our clients and help them navigate their financial lives,” she said. “That means talking through their goals, helping them evaluate trade-offs, and building a plan that supports them through expected milestones and unexpected moments.”

Dan’s own college experience began on the pre-med track, but a business class taught by Rob Strassheim ’96 changed his direction. He began loading up on coursework in accounting, finance, and management.

College of Business faculty recognized his drive. When local financial advisor Doug Stewart needed an intern to help with his firm’s upcoming merger with Cary Street Partners, Professor Ken Machande ’94 recommended Dan.

“I started off moving boxes and quickly fell in love with the business and my colleagues,” Dan said. He turned down offers from major accounting firms in Washington, D.C., and Richmond, instead opting to stay in Fredericksburg. “I saw the promise and opportunity of joining a growing company.”

He became the company’s youngest partner within a decade. Along the way, he helped recruit nearly half a dozen Mary Washington alumni.

Lee Murray ’04, rector of UMW’s Board of Visitors, also joined the Fredericksburg office a decade ago and leads his own wealth management team. “It’s really meaningful that we get to collaborate as colleagues and friends while advancing Mary Washington,” said Dan, who co-hosts a tailgate party with Lee and another local alum, Jamie Scully ’04, at Homecoming each year.

Three UMW alumni in the College of Business.
Savannah Green ’20, Dan Clendenin ’07, and Brittany McBride Doughty ’18 in the College of Business, where the UMW alumni and Cary Street Partners colleagues recently taught a personal finance class. Photo courtesy of Brittany McBride Doughty.

Dan also keeps close ties to the College of Business, recently co-teaching a personal finance course with Brittany and Savannah Green ’20, a vice president and client service and operations supervision manager at Cary Street Partners. Using their professional networks, the adjunct professors brought UMW graduates who are real-world practitioners into the classroom to mentor students, Dan said.

“Spreading financial awareness and literacy is a passion for all of us, and teaching college students from all different majors who are about to enter the workforce, and at our alma mater, was such a special experience,” Brittany said.

Grateful for the alumni who supported him, Dan is proud his own team – which also includes Ashley Carpenter ’12 and Marina Bonanno Lampiris ’14 – is paying it forward to Mary Washington and the Fredericksburg community.

“Seeing the people you supported succeed and grow,” he said, “and passing that on to the next generation is a special phase of my career.”

Learn more about career opportunities at Cary Street Partners. 

Visit UMW’s Center for Career and Professional Development website to learn about career resources for Mary Washington alumni, including Network MaryWash. Register for Handshake to post open internships and positions at your organization and sign up for future Career & Internship Fairs.

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

 

 

 

Cary Street Partners is the trade name used by Cary Street Partners LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC; Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC and Cary Street Partners Asset Management LLC, registered investment advisers. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

Any opinions expressed here are those of the authors, and such statements or opinions do not necessarily represent the opinions of Cary Street Partners. These are statements of judgment as of a certain date and are subject to future change without notice. Future predictions are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those currently anticipated or projected. 

These materials are furnished for informational and illustrative purposes only, to provide investors with an update on financial market conditions. The description of certain aspects of the market herein is a condensed summary only. Materials have been compiled from sources believed to be reliable; however, Cary Street Partners does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information presented. Such information is not intended to be complete or to constitute all the information necessary to evaluate adequately the consequences of investing in any securities, financial instruments, or strategies described herein. 

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