Giving Stories

Business Administration Alum Invests in UMW, Shapes Future Generations

Leave a Comment

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.

Dan Clendenin and wife Ginny Tapscott Clendenin pose for a photo during the Celebration of Giving in 2024. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
From left: Kelly Paino, Associate Vice President for Alumni and Donor Engagement Mark Thaden ’02, Colette Strawn Johnson ’97, Mike Johnson ’96, Ginny Tapscott Clendenin ’08, M.Ed. ’09, and Dan Clendenin ’07 at Homecoming in 2024. Photo courtesy of Dan Clendenin.
Dan Clendenin (front row, far left) poses with other members of the Class of 2007 on the Lee Hall steps at Reunion Weekend in 2017. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
From left: Fred and Barbara Rankin, former Board of Visitors Rector Dori Eglevsky, Ginny Tapscott Clendenin, and Dan Clendenin at an event for the Mary Washington First Campaign in 2014. Photo courtesy of Dan Clendenin.
Dan Clendenin ’07 (back row, sixth from the left) and other members of the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees with UMW President Troy Paino and Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte, who serves as the UMW Foundation executive director. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

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 

Dan Clendenin ’07 and alumni friends at Mary Washington’s Homecoming. Photo courtesy of Dan Clendenin.

 

 

 

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. 

Cary Street Partners and its affiliates are broker-dealers and registered investment advisers and do not provide tax or legal advice; no one should act upon any tax or legal information contained herein without consulting a tax professional or an attorney.

 We undertake no duty or obligation to publicly update or revise the information contained in these materials. In addition, information related to past performance, while helpful as an evaluative tool, is not necessarily indicative of future results, the achievement of which cannot be assured. You should not view the past performance of securities, or information about the market, as indicative of future results. CSP2026041.

At UMW Scholarship Luncheon, Students Share Stories of Growth and Gratitude

Leave a Comment

University of Mary Washington junior Hannah Jadgchew has been able to do it all in college. She has worked on a research team with her faculty mentor, participated in a clinical internship, competed on UMW’s varsity field hockey team, held leadership roles, and even spearheaded an effort to donate 20,000 lbs. of food to local shelters.

“My scholarships have given me the freedom to flourish and engage in everything Mary Washington has to offer,” said Hannah, who came from San Diego to major in psychology and minor in neuroscience at UMW. She’s preparing for a career in speech and occupational therapy, hoping to “give a voice to children in this world who weren’t necessarily born with one.”

She thanked the donors who established the Llewellyn Scholarship in Psychology, the Kenneth L. Steen Scholarship, and the Civic Leadership and Community Engagement Scholarship that have supported her at Mary Washington over the past three years.

“Your investment doesn’t just fund education,” she said. “It transforms lives.”

That resounding message summed up the 2026 Scholarship Luncheon and Student Showcase on March 21. The annual event honors supporters who’ve established and funded private scholarships and members of UMW’s Washington and Heritage Societies who have contributed or pledged significant gifts to the University.

Hannah Jadgchew ’27 with several of her donors, Mark Ingrao ’81 (left) and Deborah and James Llewellyn ’87 (right), who is the president of UMW’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Matthew Cabrera ’27 shares research with donor Carolyn Gore. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Mollie Moomaw ’26 and one of her donors, UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Vicky Nichols Wilder ’80, who helped establish the Friends of Dance Scholarship, which Mollie received. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Kassandra Williams ’26 shares computer science research with Jake Jacocks, who established the First-Generation Scholarship Endowment with wife Trenda Powell Jacocks ’82. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Fiona Stevens ’26 with donors Bill Williams and Patricia Poole, who established the Kendra Lynn Williams ’95 Scholarship, which Fiona received. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Rev. Trenda Powell Jacocks ’82 shares her Mary Washington story and how being the first in her family to attend college inspired her and husband Jake to create the First-Generation Scholarship Endowment. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Attendees learned about academic research and artistic pursuits showcased by scholarship recipients on the first floor of the Cedric Rucker University Center before enjoying a springtime luncheon. They then listened as students expressed their gratitude and heard from UMW President Troy Paino and longtime donor Rev. Trenda Powell Jacocks ’82, who created the First-Generation Scholarship Endowment with her husband, Jake.

First in her family to attend college, Rev. Jacocks earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies at Mary Washington and a master’s degree in theological studies in Northern Virginia, where she now serves as a pastor. She’s currently pursuing a doctor of ministry degree, which she’ll complete next year.

“We wanted to model our journey for today’s students – to give them the same launch into the world my family gave me,” said Rev. Jacocks, who is sponsoring a challenge during Mary Wash Day on March 25-26. Quoting the late poet laureate Maya Angelou, she said, “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

President Paino thanked donors for their generosity over the past year, which saw a record-breaking $37.8 million in gifts and pledges from alumni and friends. Donors gave $3.57 million to support endowed and non-endowed scholarships in 2024-25. More than 824 scholarships and awards totaling $2.3 million – including 17 scholarships presented for the first time – were given to 553 students who received one or more scholarships.

President Troy Paino thanked donors for their generous gifts and celebrated the UMW men’s basketball team making it to the 2026 D-III national championships. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Donor Adam Fried with several recipients of the Curie Darwin Newton Scholarship. From left: Bryar Laine ’28, Adam Fried, Travis Jimenez ’29, Justin Yoder ’29, and Caroline VanEpps ’29. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Guests enjoyed a delicious springtime luncheon by UMW Dining. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Dianne Madocks ’25, recipient of the Craig Family Scholarship, with her donor, Marty Abbott ’72, a member of the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Lou Marmo ’94 and wife Jill Marmo chat with their scholarship recipient, Julia Hall-Pace ’27, who received the Louis A. ’94 and Jill Marmo Partnership for the Future Scholarship. Lou was recently announced as UMW’s 2026 Commencement speaker. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
1950 classmates Florence Overly Ridderhof (left) and Marcy Weatherly Morris reconnect at the 2026 Scholarship Luncheon and Student Showcase. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Donna Sheehan Gladis ’68 and husband Steve chat with Assistant Vice President for Gift Planning Emeritus Jan Clarke (center). Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

“Your investments make such a difference in the lives of these students to be able to reach their true potential and make this world a better place,” President Paino said. “I hope that being able to interact with some of the beneficiaries of your generosity today is meaningful to all of you.”

Senior Savannah Sinor, an international affairs major and French and sustainability minor, shared how receiving the Paul and Judith Dresser Merit Scholarship all four years made it financially feasible to attend Mary Washington as an out-of-state student from North Carolina.

Her awards helped her study abroad on a faculty-led trip to rural Guatemala, intern full time at the U.S. State Department, and present her undergraduate research paper at a national political science conference.

Savannah, who also received the Elizabeth Baylor Neatrour ’54 and Mary Ellen Stephenson Memorial, Marjorie Jean Frost ’44, and Smith International Affairs scholarships, thanked her donors for “believing in my potential and making my education and these life-changing experiences possible.”

William Goodman, a junior double majoring in history and Middle Eastern studies from Virginia Beach, shared how he had his own transformative experiential learning opportunities after earning the Dr. Hamlin A. Caldwell Scholarship in History and Dr. James Farmer Scholarship.

“My scholarships unlocked worlds I couldn’t have afforded otherwise,” said William, who spent a semester attending the American University in Cairo last fall, courtesy of the Constance Booth Logothetis ’61 Study Abroad Scholarship. Not only did it support his academic studies, he said, but he was able to explore the country and expand his horizons.

“The altruism shown by those who’ve established scholarships and donated to Mary Washington is truly admirable,” he said. “You are helping the next generation succeed.”

William Goodman ’27 shares how receiving the Dr. Hamlin A. Caldwell Scholarship in History, Dr. James Farmer Scholarship, and Constance Booth Logothetis ’61 Study Abroad Scholarship helped him thrive at Mary Washington and the American University in Cairo, where he studied last fall. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Deena Hodge ’27, recipient of the Fredericksburg Network Scholarship and other awards, with donor Mary Helen Dellinger ’90. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Savannah Sinor ’26 shares how earning the Paul and Judith Dresser Merit Scholarship, Elizabeth Baylor Neatrour ’54 and Mary Ellen Stephenson Memorial Scholarship, Marjorie Jean Frost ’44 Scholarship, and Smith International Affairs Scholarship gave her the chance to go on a faculty-led trip to Guatemala, become a full-time intern at the U.S. State Department, and present her research at a national political science conference. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Adelaide Gill ’26, the recipient of the A. Ray Merchent Washington Scholarship, with her donors, Cindy Jones Merchent ’77 and Al Merchent. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Virginia Powell and Meredith Walburn ’27, recipient of the Virginia H. Powell UMW Philharmonic Orchestra Scholarship and other awards. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Music major Sean Henry ’26 leads guests in singing the Mary Washington Alma Mater. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
From left: Deb Stanley Leap ’72 with her recipient, Abigail Powers ’27, who earned the Debra Stanley Leap ’72 Scholarship in Biology, and Deb’s daughter, Amy Leap ’12. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Jake and Trenda Powell Jacocks ’82, who met on the Mary Washington campus when she was a student, and he was in the U.S. Army. They established the First-Generation Scholarship Endowment to support students like Trenda, who was first in her family to attend college. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

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 awards, research fellowships, and internship grants. View photos from the 2026 Scholarship Luncheon and Student Showcase.

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

Mary Wash Day Support Powers Scholarships, Programs, and Possibilities

Leave a Comment

Betty Olander Adams ’69 began giving to Mary Washington soon after she graduated. It was one of the best ways, she said, to let her alma mater know what mattered to her as an alum.

UMW students with the Happy Mary Wash Day sign outside the Cedric Rucker University Center.
The University of Mary Washington will hold its ninth annual Mary Wash Day, a 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement, starting at noon on Wednesday, March 25, and concluding at noon on Thursday, March 26.

“Personally, I fund scholarships so that every student will have the chance to have a meaningful future,” said Betty, who earned a bachelor’s degree in history and later became a lawyer. “Each and every person connected to the University, no matter their age or stage in life, can make a difference to continue the excellence of a Mary Washington education.”

This Mary Wash Day, Betty is encouraging members of the UMW community to give to whatever matters most to them on March 25 and 26, from noon to noon. When 100 first-time donors make their first-ever gift, she’ll unlock $10,000 for the unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington. She’s also sponsoring a $5,000 match to the General Scholarship Fund, helping students in need stay in school, take on less debt, and graduate on time.

Now in its ninth year, Mary Wash Day unites Eagles across the country and the globe in a 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement that gives alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students the chance to come #TogetherUMW and share their love for Mary Washington.

Alumni and friends have sponsored more than $700,000 in challenges and matches in 2026. Their commitment will double and even triple the impact of each gift, helping the University reach its goal of 2,500 donor gifts, 1,200 alumni contributors, and 400 first-time donors.

Participation challenges and dollar-for-dollar matches support the Fund for Mary Washington, underpinning every aspect for which the University is known and loved. This includes ensuring a leading liberal arts and sciences education, small class sizes, and personal relationships with professors and peers, and supporting projects and initiatives led by students, faculty, and staff through the Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant program.

Gifts on Mary Wash Day to Friends of Athletics or to a specific sports program like UMW Basketball provide critical support to help enhance the UMW student-athlete experience. Contributions fund athletic facilities, competition travel, professional development opportunities, custom-training equipment, and more. Photo by Carly Rehberg.
Mary Wash Day gifts help students have experiences both inside and beyond the classroom that prepare them for their careers and lives after Mary Washington. Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce.
Mary Wash Day gifts provide high-impact learning experiences such as undergraduate research and opportunities for students to work alongside their professors and peers.
Contributions to UMW Music on Mary Wash Day help students explore their musical passions while providing arts and cultural experiences for the greater Fredericksburg community. Gifts can also be made to UMW Theatre, UMW Galleries, UMW Philharmonic, Gari Melchers Home and Studio, the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, and the William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series.
Many challenges and matches support the unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington, which underpins every aspect for which the University is known and loved. This includes ensuring a leading liberal arts and sciences education, small class sizes, and personal relationships with professors and peers.

Supporters can also contribute to student scholarships, academic departments, athletics, arts and culture, service and leadership opportunities, campus beautification, and more. This year’s goals include:

  • 1,010 gifts (celebrating President Troy Paino’s 10th year at Mary Washington) will unlock $10,000 from Marty Wilder ’80 and UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Vicky Nichols Wilder ’80
  • 1,908 gifts (the University’s founding year) will unlock $50,000 from Jenny Fankhauser Osterman ’73
  • 2,500 gifts will unlock $100,000 from Diane Harvey Smith ’74
  • When 200 first-time donors contribute, the Alumni Association Board of Directors will unlock $14,000
  • When 400 new donors make their first-ever gift, the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees will unlock $47,500
  • When 300 young alumni donate, the Young Alumni Council will unlock $3,800
  • When 500 gifts are made by parents of UMW students or parents of alumni, Bill and Carolyn Carpenter, parents of a current student, will unlock a $10,000 gift
  • When 1,200 alumni donors make gifts, it will unlock a $100,000 gift from a loyal Fund for Mary Washington supporter

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of a uniquely UMW tradition, UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Mike Charnoff ’95 and Katherine Valentine Charnoff ’04 will sponsor a Devil-Goat contest to see which team can make the most gifts. Making Mary Wash Day gifts and participating in events will also help alumni accumulate points in the Devil-Goat Alumni Challenge, running through May.

After making a gift at givingday.umw.edu, supporters can spotlight their names and gifts on the donor wall or remain anonymous, and track progress on dynamic leaderboards.

Festivities will kick off on Wednesday, March 25 at the Mary Wash Day headquarters on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio (or inside in case of rain) from 12 to 3 p.m. with food, games, prizes, a photobooth, and stations for donations, selfies, and writing thank-you notes to donors. The UMW Pep Band will perform, and anyone who makes a gift of $5 or more can Pie It Forward – pie a faculty or staff volunteer in the face.

Mary Wash Day 2026 kicks off with a celebration for students on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio, featuring food, games, prizes, a photobooth, and stations for donations, selfies, and writing thank-you notes to donors. The UMW Pep Band will perform, and anyone who makes a gift of $5 or more can Pie It Forward – pie a faculty or staff volunteer in the face.  
UMW students will have the chance to write thank-you notes to donors and pose for photos in the photobooth at the Mary Wash Day headquarters outside the Cedric Rucker University Center on March 25 from 12 to 3 p.m.
Students pose for a photo with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle at the Mary Wash Day headquarters in 2025.

The Fredericksburg Regional Alumni Network will host a happy hour and bingo from 6 to 8 p.m. in Chandler Ballroom of the Cedric Rucker University Center, which will have its exterior lit up in Mary Washington blue lights.

Richmond area alumni can celebrate with their Regional Alumni Network and watch fundraising totals rise at Väsen Brewing’s newest location in Forest Hill from 6 to 8 p.m.

Members of the UMW community are invited to register as Mary Wash Day ambassadors and receive a customized dashboard. You+2: When you make a gift and inspire two others to give through your unique referral link, you’ll score a Mary Wash multipurpose insulated bag. Those who post on social are asked to tag @umw_alumni and @marywash and use #TogetherUMW and #MaryWashDay.

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

An Enduring Investment in Education

Leave a Comment

Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship Continues to Open Doors for UMW Students

A portrait of Lettie Pate Whitehead wearing white satin dress and pearls, painted at the turn of the 20th century.
Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans. Image courtesy of the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation.

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, including at the University of Mary Washington.

“I’m forever grateful to Mrs. Whitehead and the foundation for helping people like me who have a hard time affording post-secondary education,” said Mariana Lira ’26, a senior environmental science major and a UMW Honors Program scholar.

Mariana said that receiving the scholarship has opened doors to academic pursuits and leadership roles for her in college. At Mary Washington, she has presented research on metal contaminants in soil with her faculty mentor, served as vice president of the Latino Student Association and Tri Alpha First Generation honor society, and is planning a career in the Marine Corps after she graduates.

UMW senior environmental science major Mariana Lira said earning the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship has opened doors to academic pursuits and leadership roles such as being a UMW Honors Program scholar, presenting research on metal contaminants in soil with her faculty mentor, and serving as vice president of the Latino Student Association and Tri Alpha First Generation honor society at Mary Washington. She’s considering enlisting in the Marine Corps after graduation in May. 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.

“I shall pass through this world but once,” Mrs. Whitehead wrote in her personal scrapbook. “Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” Her words sum up the mission of her Atlanta-based foundation, which provides financial assistance to over 12,000 students 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.”

Timona Asnake ’29, a first-year student at UMW, expressed her gratitude toward the foundation for helping fund her studies in cybersecurity and journalism, relieving the financial burden on her family.

“This scholarship will allow me to succeed in my educational journey without money being a factor that will hold me back from it,” she said, “alongside giving back to the people and community who raised me.”

Brittany Freeman ’27, a nontraditional student, said the Whitehead scholarship has helped her balance the demands of raising four children and becoming a special education teacher.

“This opportunity reinforces my belief in perseverance and purpose – not just for myself, but for the example I am setting for my children,” she said. “I want them to know that with faith, determination, and a strong support system, anything is possible.”

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 

Mary Washington Alumna Receives Fulbright Award to Teach in Northern Ireland

Leave a Comment

As an associate writing professor, Jessica McCaughey ’01 helps undergraduate students process through prose their study abroad experiences to Portugal, Australia, Taiwan, and other countries across the globe.

Jessica McCaughey '01 smiling against a white brick background.
Jessica McCaughey ’01, earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Mary Washington. Now an associate professor of writing at The George Washington University, she received a Fulbright Scholar Award to teach and develop a professional writing archive at Queen’s University in Belfast. Photo courtesy of Jessica McCaughey/The George Washington University.

“I didn’t have a chance to study abroad in college, so I live vicariously through their adventures,” said Jessica, who was a first-generation student while earning a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Mary Washington.

Now, she’s experiencing an overseas opportunity of her own. After receiving a prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award, Jessica moved her family to Northern Ireland in January, where she’ll spend six months teaching creative nonfiction at Queen’s University in Belfast while developing a professional writing archive.

She’s among the dozens of Mary Washington alumni who’ve earned the U.S. government-sponsored grant through the Fulbright Program, one of the world’s most competitive international exchange initiatives. Roughly 30 recipients – including Sofia Taylor ’24, currently conducting psychology research in Germany – and nearly 40 semifinalists have come from UMW, reflecting the University’s growing reputation for Fulbright achievement.

“Jessica is an outstanding example of lifelong learning, and where a Mary Washington degree can lead,” said Professor of Middle Eastern History Nabil Al-Tikriti, who serves as UMW’s Fulbright program co-advisor with Professor and Chair of Biological Sciences Dianne Baker. The University offers information sessions for applicants as well as courses that prepare students for applying for international grants and living and working abroad.

Alumna standing in front of an older building on the campus of Queen's University in Belfast.
Jessica McCaughey ’01 on the campus of Queen’s University in Belfast. Photo courtesy of Jessica McCaughey.

At Mary Washington, English department faculty helped Jessica perfect her own craft and inspired her to pursue writing as a career. She served as a junior copywriter and worked in corporate communications after college but found her way back to academia, earning an MFA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in rhetoric and communications from George Mason University.

She’s taught at The George Washington University (GWU) for over a decade, designing a professional writing program and helping revamp a global bachelor’s degree curriculum. She also co-founded the Archive of Workplace Writing Experiences, an audio collection of interviews with writers from different professions that formed the basis of her project proposal to the Fulbright committee.

“I’m speaking with Belfast writers about what their work looks like post-conflict,” said Jessica, citing the decades-long struggle in Northern Ireland commonly known as The Troubles, which culminated in the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

In her free time, she plans to explore all that Northern Ireland has to offer with her husband, a staff member in the English department at George Mason, and their daughter. “I’ve found everyone here to be warm and welcoming, and it’s such a walkable city,” she said.

A mural at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University in Belfast. Seafoam green background with a blackbird sitting on branches. Text reads: Welcome to the Seamus Heaney Centre. We aim to strengthen and expand Belfast's dynamic writing practices. Our emblem, the blackbird, is inspired in part by the ancient Irish poem 'The Blackbird of Belfast Lough,' which both Seamus Heaney and founding director Ciaran Carson translated. Italicized quote: 'There are, to paraphrase Wallace Stevens, at least thirteen ways of looking at a blackbird; and the blackbird can be heard in many ways... Poetry resides in that ambiguity.' - Ciaran Carson.
As part of her Fulbright Scholar Award, Jessica McCaughey ’01 will spend six months teaching and developing a professional writing archive at the Seamus Heaney Centre, named for a late Irish poet and playwright, at Queen’s University in Belfast. Photo courtesy of Jessica McCaughey.

And a literary one. Belfast was once home to Nobel laureate Samuel Beckett, The Chronicles of Narnia novelist C.S. Lewis, and a late Irish poet and playwright for whom the Seamus Heaney Centre – where she’s developing the writing archive – was named.

After her stint abroad, Jessica will return to GWU’s University Writing Program, where she teaches in the multidisciplinary first-year program and an upper-level class.

But her favorite is a community-engaged course that partners with a nonprofit founded by one of her former students. The young scholars she teaches now are asked to write, research, and create multimedia projects for Clinic+O, which brings tech-enabled healthcare to rural communities in West Africa.

She credits Mary Washington courses like Literature of Resistance, taught by late Professor Emeritus Taddesse Adera, for helping her better understand global struggles in different parts of the world, including the African diaspora and Northern Ireland.

“Dr. Adera was brilliant, kind, and probably one of the most influential professors I’ve ever had,” said Jessica, recalling how he often came into the bar she worked in during college, where they’d discuss life and literature.

She also appreciates the guidance she received from late Professor Emerita Claudia Emerson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. Jessica herself has had essays published in prominent publications and is working on a book about writing during career changes.

“All of my professors were so incredibly supportive,” she said. “Mary Washington was really the perfect place for me.”

Learn about applying for UMW Scholarships established by private support, including those to study abroad, as well as external education abroad scholarships through UMW’s Center for International Education. 

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