Department of Biological Sciences

Paths Made Possible

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Scholarships Power Student’s Journey, From Cancer Research to Celtic Culture

Biomedical sciences major Mallory Thompson '26 received the Rae Elizabeth Smith ’59 Washington Scholarship, providing her full tuition, fees, and housing and dining to attend UMW, as well as the Grellet C. Simpson International Scholarship, giving her the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland.
Biomedical sciences major Mallory Thompson ’26 received the Rae Elizabeth Smith ’59 Washington Scholarship, providing her full tuition, fees, and housing and dining to attend UMW, as well as the Grellet C. Simpson International Scholarship, giving her the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland.

When Mallory Thompson ’26 was interviewed for the Rae Elizabeth Smith ’59 Washington Scholarship, she asked the committee what experiences she shouldn’t miss out on as a University of Mary Washington student.

“They told me, unanimously, that I should study abroad,” said Mallory, a senior biomedical sciences major from Spotsylvania who went on to earn the prestigious award that provides full tuition, fees, and housing and dining for in-state students. “Receiving that scholarship totally changed my college experience.”

Mallory also recently earned the Grellet C. Simpson International Scholarship, which is supporting her studies this semester at the University College Cork in Ireland. At this world-class research institution, she’s taking courses in anatomy and philosophy for her practical ethics minor, along with Celtic cultural classes like Irish mythology and step-dancing, as well as a lesser known form of traditional folk dancing known as “Irish sets.”

“I’m so grateful to my donors for providing me with these experiences,” Mallory said. An aspiring physician, she joined UMW’s Pre-Health Society, volunteers with Red Cross blood drives and Mary Washington Healthcare’s emergency department, and traveled with Global Medical Brigades to treat patients in rural Panama – and dances with the Performing Arts Company for fun.

Mallory (back row, third from left) with her fellow Washington and Alvey Scholars at a reception at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center’s Kalnen Inn in fall 2023. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Mallory Thompson and her faculty mentor, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Laura Sipe, in front of their research poster at the Virginia State Capitol during a student showcase presented by the Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia last spring.

She has also conducted trailblazing research with Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Laura Sipe. “We’re trying to engage and alert the immune system to search for leftover breast cancer cells after a patient has undergone chemotherapy,” said Mallory, who presented her findings at a student showcase hosted by the Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia, held in Richmond last spring.

“Mallory uses her strong foundation from biomedical sciences courses to ask insightful questions and make new connections,” said Dr. Sipe. “Because of her intellectual curiosity and diligence, she will move our understanding of cancer recurrence forward.”

With a cancer research center near her apartment in Cork, she hopes to shadow doctors and learn more about the Irish healthcare system while exploring the country. She especially enjoyed visiting the Titanic Experience museum in Cobh, where the last passengers departed in 1912, she said. “It’s one of my favorite films!”

Mallory near the city center of Cork, Ireland, right outside of the English market.
Mallory in front of St. Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh, Ireland.
Mallory takes in views of Kinsale from Charles Fort, a late 17th century military fortress in Ireland.
Mallory standing in front of colorful houses known as the “Deck of Cards,” a popular tourist attraction in Cobh, Ireland.
Mallory outside of the Titanic Experience museum. “It was an interactive experience where they treat you like a passenger and give you a card with someone who had boarded the ship,” she said. “My passenger survived! It was such a neat thing to do in Cobh!”

A UMW Honors Program scholar, Mallory will continue her studies at The George Washington University School of Medicine, where she was accepted through Mary Washington’s Early Selection Program, along with several of her peers.

“Being a part of the UMW community will make acclimating to medical school easier,” said Mallory, who plans to practice oncology or dermatology. “I’m so grateful for all Mary Washington has given me.”

For information about supporting student success through scholarships now and through your estate plans, contact Jeremy Vaughn at jvaughn@umw.edu or 540-654-2063.

This story originally ran in the fall 2025 Gift Planning Connections Newsletter.

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

Why I Give: Sally Brannan Hurt ’92

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Growing up in rural Southwest Virginia, Sally Brannan Hurt dreamed of travel. She finally got her chance to go abroad to the Bahamas during a spring break trip in college. Yet, she realized she yearned to see rainforests and savannas more than she wanted to sunbathe in the sand.

Sally Brannan Hurt ’92 with a giant tortoise in the Galápagos Islands on a Mary Washington Alumni on the Road trip. The experience led her to establish the Sally Brannan Hurt '92 Study Abroad Scholarship in Biology to support students go on faculty-led trips to the islands. Photo courtesy of Sally Brannan Hurt.
Sally Brannan Hurt ’92 with a giant tortoise in the Galápagos Islands on a Mary Washington Alumni on the Road trip. The experience led her to establish the Sally Brannan Hurt ’92 Study Abroad Scholarship in Biology to support students go on faculty-led trips to the islands. Photo courtesy of Sally Brannan Hurt.

“Being in nature brings me joy,” said Sally, who has since visited some of the most biodiverse places on the planet through the University of Mary Washington’s Alumni on the Road trips. “I love seeing plants, insects, and animals that aren’t in my neck of the woods.”

UMW students have been able to take their own excursions because of the Sally Brannan Hurt ’92 Study Abroad Scholarship in Biology, which she established soon after going on an Alumni trip to the Galápagos Islands in 2011. Under the direction of Professor of Biology Andrew Dolby, dozens of her recipients have explored the flora and fauna found on this remote archipelago off the coast of Ecuador.

“Getting to experience a global ecological treasure like the Galápagos Islands inspires students like nothing else,” said Dr. Dolby, who helped Sally work with UMW’s Office of Advancement to set up the scholarship. “Sally opens up the world for students who would not be able to travel internationally without support.”

That’s true of Kylie Jackson ’24, who was surprised to learn her donor grew up near her hometown of Rocky Mount, Virginia. Along with her classmates, the UMW senior visited four different islands during spring break, where she observed and learned about wildlife from local guides, visited research facilities, hiked and snorkeled, and planted native trees for a forest restoration project. She also saw sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed booby birds, and more, and even had an up-close encounter with a large group of sea turtles.

“I’m beyond grateful to Sally,” said Kylie, a conservation biology major who hopes to pursue a career helping to protect endangered species around the world. “Without this scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to experience what life as a conservationist could be like,” she said.

Kylie Jackson ’24 on a faculty-led trip to the Galápagos Islands. Receiving the Sally Brannan Hurt ’92 Study Abroad Scholarship in Biology made the trip possible for her, Kylie said. Photo courtesy of Kylie Jackson.
UMW students plant trees for a forest restoration project in the Galápagos Islands. For more than a decade, Sally Brannan Hurt’s scholarship has helped dozens of students visit one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Photo courtesy of Professor of Biology Andrew Dolby.
A Galápagos sea lion, taken by Kylie Jackson.
A Galápagos finch, taken by Kylie Jackson.
Green sea turtles, taken by Kylie Jackson.
A marine iguana in the Galápagos Islands, taken by Kylie Jackson.

As a child, Sally rarely left Botetourt County but envisioned life outside her small town. Knowing that she’d be the first in her family to attend a four-year school, her high school chemistry teachers, Lorraine Huffman Firestone ’62 and Louise Shick Jargowsky ’68, both Mary Washington alumni, took her to a local college fair to meet an admissions representative from their alma mater.

Sally at her Mary Washington Commencement ceremony in 1992. Photo courtesy of Sally Brannan Hurt.
Sally at her Mary Washington Commencement ceremony in 1992. Photo courtesy of Sally Brannan Hurt.

“From the very beginning, I knew Mary Washington was the right fit for me,” said Sally, who majored in biology with a concentration in environmental science. She also studied dance, served as a resident assistant, and formed close relationships with faculty and friends. “If I could relive any time in my life, I’d go back to college in a heartbeat.”

After graduation, Sally worked within the chemistry field in various positions and raised four children with husband Michael. In her free time, she pursued her passion through local conservation efforts to preserve wildlife and their environments.

Over a decade ago, Sally received a brochure in the mail for the Galápagos Islands Alumni trip and immediately told her husband she wanted to go. “It was everything I wanted to experience,” she said. With Dr. Dolby as their guide, her group came face-to-face with giant tortoises, colorful birds, and marine iguanas camouflaged into the rocks.

Now, because of her scholarship, UMW students who share her passion for conservation can experience these cool creatures themselves. Sally loves to hear their stories, exchanging letters and meeting them whenever she gets the chance.

“The sentiment is always the same; there’s no way I could have gone on this trip without you,” Sally said. “I hope it sparks a love of travel that continues throughout their lives.”

Sally poses with dozens of marine iguanas camouflaged into the rocks, one of the many species found on the biodiverse Galápagos Islands. Photo courtesy of Sally Brannan Hurt.
Sally (fourth from right) with her fellow Mary Washington alumni who went on the Alumni on the Road trip to the Galápagos Islands, led by Professor Dolby (far right), in 2011. Photo courtesy of Sally Brannan Hurt.
Sally took advantage of a a Peru extension on the Mary Washington Alumni on the Road trip to the Galápagos Islands. Here, she stands in front of Machu Picchu. Photo courtesy of Sally Brannan Hurt.

Q: What other UMW Alumni trips have you been on?
A: I traveled to Costa Rica this January, where I saw several active sloths, which is a rare sight because they usually don’t move! While I was there, I was notified that a spot had opened on the Africa trip. In June, I got to see so many magnificent animals roaming free: lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes, baboons, and amazing birds!

Q: What would you say to inspire a fellow alum to create a scholarship?
A: If you have passion for any part of the Mary Washington experience, no amount of money is too small to contribute to the education of current and future students.

Q: What is your favorite spot on campus?
A: Mine is more campus adjacent. I love Mary’s Rock by Kenmore Park. It’s so beautiful and quiet. On campus, I loved my window overlooking Ball Circle when I was an RA in Virginia Hall.

Q: Where are you traveling to next?
A: After I traveled to Africa, I thought it was such an amazing experience but realized there’s so much of the United States I still want to see. However, I’d also like to do volunteer vacationing, specifically working with sea turtles.

To learn more about establishing scholarships, please contact the Office of Advancement at (540) 654-1024 or advance@umw.edu. To find out about upcoming Alumni on the Road trips, please visit the Mary Washington Alumni website.

View more of Sally’s photos from 2023 Mary Washington Alumni on the Road trips to Africa and Costa Rica:

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This story originally ran in the Advancing Mary Washington newsletter and was written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04.

Summer Science Students Earn Perkins Research Awards

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As temperatures soared near triple digits last Wednesday, the weather formed a compelling case for Ava Spencer’s research on how extreme heat impacts Fredericksburg’s most marginalized communities.

“I wanted to look at these issues from a sociological perspective, in a way that could help people,” said Ava, a rising senior majoring in environmental science at the University of Mary Washington.

She was one of a pair of students who took home the top prizes at UMW’s Summer Science Institute (SSI), which engages undergraduates in an intense 10-week research experience with professors and peers. At a public symposium held in the Hurley Convergence Center’s Digital Auditorium, she and physics major Kevin Leong were chosen by a panel of faculty judges to each receive a scholarship award through the John C. and Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 College of Arts and Sciences Student Research Endowment. The funds will help the students continue their projects through the upcoming school year.

Participants in Mary Washington’s 2022 Summer Science Institute pose for a picture with their professors and peers. “I have witnessed the power of SSI to transform lives and send students down career paths that they would have never considered before,” says Associate Professor of Chemistry Randall Reif (front row, center), who led this year’s cohort with Assistant Professor of Mathematics Jeb Collins. Photo credit: UMW’s Summer Science Institute.
Last Wednesday, UMW students, faculty, staff, family and friends came to the Hurley Convergence Center to listen to presentations delivered by participants in the 2022 Summer Science Institute. Photo credit: UMW’s Summer Science Institute/Ava Spencer.
Students presented their posters to professors and peers in the Hurley Convergence Center. Photo credit: UMW’s Summer Science Institute/Ava Spencer.

Second place winners were Curtis Kasiski for his research on determining the dietary diversity of bumblebees, and Orianne Mbuyi Mujinga Kazadi for her work identifying fungal strains that can destroy invasive spotted lanternflies.

“I hope this award inspires them to open their minds to possibilities in life,” said Dr. Jerri Barden Perkins, who watched the presentations via Zoom. She was amazed at the variety and relevance of topics, she says, from fighting antibiotic resistance with phage therapy to using sockets to create video games. “The liberal arts and sciences education students find at Mary Washington broadens their perspectives and prepares them for the real world.”

Dr. Perkins earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Mary Washington and a M.D. from the Medical College of Virginia. She went on to conduct her own trailblazing research into rheumatoid arthritis and approved one of the first FDA drug therapies to combat AIDS. Her endowment, one of several she established at UMW, is in honor of her late husband, Cal, who practiced internal medicine.

“The Perkins scholarship award will allow us to recognize UMW students demonstrating exemplary performance,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Keith Mellinger. “This elevates SSI to a professional level.”

Rising senior Kevin Leong, a physics major, presented his poster detailing how he created a solar-powered cell phone charging station for the homeless with Assistant Professor Desmond Villalba. Photo credit: UMW’s Summer Science Institute.
Rising senior Ava Spencer, an Earth and environmental science major, presents her research on how extreme heat impacts Fredericksburg’s most marginalized communities, which she conducted with Assistant Professor Pamela Grothe. Photo credit: UMW’s Summer Science Institute.

Kevin, a rising senior, received the “Best Poster” award for his creation of a solar-powered cell phone charging station for homeless people. Working with Assistant Professor of Physics Desmond Villalba, he used a 3-D printer, and created and programmed circuits, to assemble a functioning prototype he hopes can be replicated in Fredericksburg.

“I feel so honored to have won the Perkins award,” said Kevin, adding that SSI has inspired him to pursue a career or further education in research. “The entire experience has been fantastic.”

Ava, who won the “Best Presentation” award, collaborated with Assistant Professor of Environmental Science Pamela Grothe ’06 and a team of volunteers to map temperatures across Fredericksburg.

They discovered that some neighborhoods historically zoned for African Americans were up to five degrees warmer than others due to lack of tree canopy and green spaces. “Research like this has been performed in larger cities, but not smaller communities like ours,” Ava said.

Receiving the Perkins award, she said, will help her continue the research through the fall semester. She hopes her findings will eventually aid local officials with the city’s climate action plan. “It’s a great feeling to be recognized for a project you’ve poured your time, energy and love into.”

For information on endowing scholarships at the University of Mary Washington, please contact the Office of University Advancement at advance@umw.edu or 540-654-1024.

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