Giving Stories

Scholarships Drive UMW Senior Toward Digital Storytelling Career

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University of Mary Washington senior Blake Bauer has always dug learning about history. So, when he joined UMW’s Department of Historic Preservation – one of the country’s most highly regarded programs in the field – he knew he’d found the right place.

Fast-forward to his junior year, when he conducted “ground-breaking” archaeology research aimed at uncovering Mary Washington’s gravesite with Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Katherine Parker and Washington Heritage Museums. “When I declared my major, I could have never imagined I’d be using ground-penetrating radar to search for the final resting place of our University’s namesake,” he said.

The department’s quest is ongoing, but Blake has discovered multiple ways to make his mark in college, combining his historic preservation background with a passion for digital storytelling. Graduating in May, his unique skillset and impactful internships with the National Park Service, PBS, the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, and UMW’s University Communications office have set him up for success in his life after Mary Washington.

Blake Bauer and Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Katherine Parker used ground-penetrating radar near the Mary Washington Monument as they tried to locate the final resting place of the University’s namesake. Photo courtesy of Blake Bauer.
Blake stands in front of his poster showcasing his research with Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Katherine Parker to try to locate Mary Washington’s final resting place. Photo courtesy of Blake Bauer.
Blake completed several internships at UMW, including one with the National Park Service. Photo courtesy of Blake Bauer.
Blake thanks his donors for his scholarships at the Celebration of Giving in fall 2025. K Pearlman Photography.

These opportunities – which he hopes will help him launch a documentary filmmaking career – were possible because of the Juanita S. Carpenter and UMW Alumni and Friends Scholarships. He thanked his donors for those and other awards during the Celebration of Giving, held last fall by the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement.

“Your support hasn’t just eased the financial burden of college; it has opened doors I didn’t even know existed,” Blake said. He also expressed gratitude for the Lt. Gen. Albert J. Bowley Scholarship, which funded his yearlong internship at the James Monroe Museum, and the Veronica S. Johnson ’89 Scholarship in Historic Preservation, given to the department’s most promising student. “That was a big boost to my confidence.”

Blake, who grew up in Pulaski, Virginia, learned about UMW from his parents, Keith Bauer ’89 and Debbie Schluter Bauer ’91. The couple met in graduate school, when they realized they shared an alma mater – and a personal connection to late civil rights leader James L. Farmer Jr., who taught history at Mary Washington for over a decade.

“My mom took courses with Dr. Farmer, while my dad helped him get around campus between classes,” said Blake, who convinced his best friend since childhood, Allen Queen ’26, to apply to UMW. “We’ve been roommates all four years of college, which has strengthened our friendship even more,” he said.

Debbie Schluter Bauer ’91, Blake’s mother, and the late Professor Emeritus of Psychological Science Thomas Moeller at her Commencement ceremony. Debbie kept in touch with Professor Moeller over the years, even bringing Blake on visits with him. Photo courtesy of Blake Bauer.
Blake’s parents, Keith Bauer ’89 and Debbie Schluter Bauer ’91, met at VCU as graduate students and realized that they shared a connection as Mary Washington graduates. Debbie also had classes with Dr. James Farmer while Keith helped the late Mary Washington history professor and civil rights leader around campus. Photo courtesy of Blake Bauer.
Keith Bauer ’89, Blake’s father, on Campus Walk during his Commencement ceremony. Photo courtesy of Blake Bauer.
Keith Bauer ’89, Blake Bauer ’26, and Debbie Schluter Bauer ’91 attend the Generations Breakfast last fall. K Pearlman Photography.

Blake planned to become a history teacher but found his true calling after taking video courses taught by Assistant Professor of Communication and Digital Studies J.D. Swerzenski. A summer internship with the PBS affiliate in the Blue Ridge Mountains followed, with Blake assisting on a documentary about the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

Last semester, he interned with University Communications, producing his own Lively video series, UMW: Stories Behind the Buildings. Another recent video he created centered around Marshall and Russell Halls, where he learned that his father and Jay Bradshaw ’88, whom he interviewed, crossed paths during their years in Marshall. “Those unique, cross-generational connections deepen my appreciation for Mary Washington,” Blake said.

As president of UMW’s Historic Preservation Club, Blake helped revive its Victorian Ball, now called Sweetheart Ball, which won Best New Event at the 2025 Eagle Awards. In addition, he has worked as a digital archive lab assistant in Simpson Library, led outdoor trips for Campus Recreation, and served as a front desk assistant in Student Activities and Engagement.

Lively interns (from left to right) Lee Adams ’27, Kaitlyn Griego ’26, Marisol Juarez ’26, and Blake Bauer ’26 in the Office of University Communications. Photo by Sam Cahill.
Blake in front of Machu Picchu during his study abroad experience to Peru. Photo courtesy on Blake Bauer.

He also studied Holocaust remembrance in Austria and Hungary and recently spent spring break in Peru with his digital storytelling class after earning the Barbara Alden International Scholarship.

“You’ve allowed me to explore, take risks, grow, and discover passions I never knew I had,” he said when he thanked his donors last fall. Quoting his best friend, he added: “Because of all the experiences Mary Washington has given us, wherever we land, we’ll be able to make it work.”

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

Scholarship Recipient Discovers Confidence, Connection, and Calling at UMW

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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.

Mariana Lira ’26 (right) and Madeline Binkley ’28 presenting their environmental science and soil research at the CANVAS conference in Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy of Mariana Lira.
Mariana Lira ’26 has conducted soil research with Associate Professor of Environmental Science Melanie Szulczewski, which they’ve presented at professional conferences in their field. Mariana said: “Here, I am filtering soil samples that have been incubated after being treated with an acid phosphatase substrate. The absorbance (or in simpler terms, the color) of the liquid that will filter out will tell us how biologically productive the soil is.” Photo courtesy of Mariana Lira.

“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

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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

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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.

Laura Gomez ’13, M.Ed. ’14 with Barbara after receiving the Barbara Bishop Mann ’66 Virginia Educator Award in 2014.
Barbara (center, left) with her fellow 2016 Alumni Association Award recipients (from left) Matthew Becker ’06, Karen Laino Giannuzzi ’71, and Bryan Campbell ’06 (not pictured, Linda Jones ’80).
Barbara (center) with her classmates Winnie Woodson Stribling (left) and Eleanor McJilton Thompson (right) when the Class of 1966 celebrated its 50th Reunion Weekend in 2016.
Barbara (left) and 1966 classmate Kitty Downs Gregg at Reunion Weekend in 2016.
Barbara, who served on UMW’s Alumni Association Board of Directors and the College of Education Advisory Board, receives the Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service Award from Gayle Weinberger Petro ’79 in 2016.
Barbara Bishop Mann ’66 (second from right) with her 1966 classmates at her 50th Reunion Weekend in 2016. From left: Patricia Johnson Orgain, Mary Grace Wright Day, Kay Dawson Meyers, Barbara Bishop Mann, and Grace Marie Bamforth Garriott.

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

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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