UMW Foundation, Alumni Association Boards Welcome New Members
The University of Mary Washington announced in August the newest members of the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees and the Alumni Association Board of Directors. These accomplished Mary Washington alumni and supporters will help guide the University’s continued growth, philanthropic outreach, and alumni engagement.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these dedicated individuals to our boards,” said Katie Turcotte, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement and executive director of the UMW Foundation. “Their leadership, experience, and passion for Mary Washington will be instrumental as we continue to advance the University’s mission and strengthen our alumni community.”
UMW Foundation Board of Trustees:
Martha “Marty” Abbott ’72 holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a Latin minor from Mary Washington and a master’s degree in Spanish linguistics from Georgetown University. She retired as executive director of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, representing language educators nationwide. She spent over 30 years in Fairfax County Public Schools as a teacher, foreign language coordinator, and director of high school instruction. Marty has served on numerous national taskforces, the College Board’s Academic Advisory Committee, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress Foreign Language Exam steering committee. She was president of the Foreign Language Association of Virginia and was appointed to the National Security Education Board by President Barack Obama. At UMW, she has served on the Board of Visitors and as an Educator-in-Residence keynote speaker. She also received UMW’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004 and is recognized among Mary Washington’s Alumni of Distinction. A member of UMW’s Washington and Heritage societies, she established the Abbott International Study Abroad Scholarship and the Craig Family Scholarship and has a planned estate gift.
Irene Cimino Roberts ’86, who earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Mary Washington, is regional director for U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine for northeastern Virginia. She retired from Dominion Energy’s corporate offices, where she managed the title sponsorship of a multi-year PGA TOUR Champions playoff tournament. Her career also includes roles as deputy press secretary in the Virginia governor’s office and as a broadcast journalist. Irene serves on the board of directors for Scouting America’s Heart of Virginia Council and volunteers with Micah Ecumenical Ministries’ Jeremiah Project. Irene and her husband, Curry Roberts, are longtime sponsors of the William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series at Mary Washington.
Alumni Association Board of Directors (AABOD):
Judith Henley Beck ’68 received a bachelor’s degree in Latin from Mary Washington and taught the subject in Roanoke and at the Samuel Ready School. She was also director of Pleasant Hill Nursery School. Since 1973, she has held multiple leadership roles in the Baltimore/Annapolis regional network at Mary Washington. Judith was the Class of 1968 reunion coordinator for almost 50 years and previously spent eight years on the AABOD, serving as president for two years. She supported the Jepson Alumni Executive Center building campaign and received UMW’s Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service Award in 2003.
Janet Hedrick ’73 holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Mary Washington and a master’s degree in education from the University of Virginia. A fundraising professional for 45 years, she worked in higher education, healthcare, and association foundations and consulted for hospitals and public broadcasting stations. She also authored the book Effective Donor Relations. A member of UMW’s Washington and Heritage societies, Janet is an active donor through current gifts and her estate plan, co-chaired her 40th reunion committee, helped plan her 50th reunion, and raised funds for the Class of 1973’s endowed scholarship. She regularly attends University events and has traveled extensively with other Mary Washington alumni through the On the Road program. Janet received UMW’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2023.
Susan Leavitt ’83 earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and French literature with an Italian minor from Mary Washington and a master’s degree in international relations, with a focus in Africa studies, from Johns Hopkins University. She spent over a decade working on Wall Street and has 25 years of experience as a D.C.-area realtor. A member of UMW’s Washington and Heritage societies, Susan has contributed to the Mary Washington First Campaign as well as the College of Arts and Sciences’ (CAS) Beyond the Classroom initiative while serving on its Advisory Board. She also established the Susan Leavitt ’83 Scholarship to help students in need, named a Hurley Convergence Center space, and served on reunion committees. She received UMW’s Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service Award in 2024.
Devon Williams Cushman ’93 earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Mary Washington and a J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law. She spent eight years on UMW’s Board of Visitors, including serving as its rector. A former litigator for several top Richmond law firms, Devon was recognized by Virginia Business as “Legal Elite” and by Virginia Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star.” She has also been an adjunct law professor, assistant general counsel at Capital One, pro bono attorney, and entrepreneur.
Alex Clegg ’17 received a bachelor’s degree in communication and digital studies with a minor in economics from UMW and later pursued graduate studies at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is an account executive at HUB International and was previously a senior client advisor at Forest Capital Management, LLC. Since graduating, Alex has stayed involved with UMW, serving on the Young Alumni Council, CAS Advisory Board, and Rugby Alumni Foundation Board.
Casey Breslin, MBA ’22 holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Saint Anselm College and an MBA from UMW’s College of Business. He is a senior consultant at Iberia Advisory LLC, a D.C.-based Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business. Before entering federal consulting, he developed corporate financial planning and analysis and treasury courses and managed data migrations for financial learning management systems. As an AABOD member, Casey aims to help UMW graduate alumni share ideas and build networks.
Learn more about the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees and the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
-Written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communication Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04
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