Alumni College

Alumni College

Get back into the classroom with UMW professors! Learn about a variety of topics including history, politics, economics, psychology, art, and literature. Register early for your preferred classes—some lectures and tours have limited seating.

Friday, May 29

Alumni College Session 1 (9:00 – 10:15 a.m.)

An Exploration of the City Cemetery
Andrea Livi Smith, Ph.D., professor of historic preservation
This walking tour will introduce alumni to the history of graves and burial grounds and the tradition and artistry of headstones and monuments. Using the Fredericksburg City Cemetery as an example, we will see how symbols, locations, layout, materials, and wording change over time. We also will learn about the challenges in preserving these sites today. Shuttle departs from the circle between Monroe and Lee Halls. 

History and Relics of Farmer Hall (formerly Trinkle)
Jack Bales, reference and humanities librarian emeritus
Angie Kemp ’11, head of special collections and digital scholarship
Sarah Appleby ’06, university archivist
Join longtime librarian Jack Bales on a walking tour of James Farmer Hall, once known as Trinkle Library and Trinkle Hall, as he shares his deep knowledge and memories of the building. Did you know that the former library had a typing room? And a smoking room called “Foggy Bottom?” See what spaces look the same and how others have been adapted. Staff from Special Collections and University Archives will also be on hand to provide visual aids from the archives.

Alumni College Session 2 (10:30 – 11:45 a.m.)

Beyond Genius: A Journey Through the Characteristics and Legacies of Transformative Minds
Bulent Atalay, Ph.D., professor emeritus of physics, author, and artist
Genius is a broad and elusive concept, one that is divisive and difficult to define—and yet grossly overused. There are “ordinary” geniuses who achieve remarkable feats of brilliance, as well as “magicians” who make an outsize impact on their given field. This talk will focus on the highest among them: the transformative geniuses, those rare individuals who redefine their fields or open up new universes of thought altogether. 

Campus Civil War Walk (walking tour)
Beth Parnicza, supervisory park ranger at the National Park Service
Mary Washington’s Fredericksburg campus has many Civil War relics still in place. Join National Park Service staff on a walking tour to learn about places on campus that hold the history of the Civil War.

Panel Discussion: Student Life at Mary Wash
Student Alumni Ambassador program members
How have things changed for students at Mary Washington? What traditions that you remember are still in place for them now, and what new ones have developed? In this session, we will hear firsthand from current students about what life is like at Mary Washington today. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask them questions.

Alumni College Session 3 (1:30 – 2:45 p.m.)

Fifty Years on the Heights: The Lighter Side of My Half-Century at Mary Wash
William B. Crawley Jr., Ph.D., distinguished professor emeritus of history
From the perspective of five decades at Mary Washington, Dr. Crawley will look back at some of the most memorable (and often humorous) events he observed during his lengthy career. Included will be anecdotes about various people—students, faculty, administrators, and alumni—he encountered through the years.

Screenprinting Workshop
Coorain Devin, assistant professor of studio art
In this session, we will get a hands-on lesson in screenprinting. All participants will craft and take home a souvenir tote bag with a vintage MWC design. There is a $15 charge to cover materials for this session.

Disneyland Meets Mary Washington: Lessons in Storytelling and Space
Wes Hillyard ’05, dean for academic success and integrity
At UMW, every first-year student begins their journey with a First-Year Seminar (FSEM)—a small, 15-student course designed to spark curiosity while building essential skills in writing, speaking, and research. These seminars invite students to dive into a topic of shared interest, blending academic rigor with lively discussion. This alumni college session offers a chance to experience a popular FSEM: The Amusement Park. We’ll explore how Walt Disney’s vision for Disneyland revolutionized the American amusement park industry. We’ll have seminar-style discussion that connects Disney’s innovations to UMW’s own campus—imagining how Walt might evaluate Mary Washington’s spaces, traditions, and storytelling. And because no amusement park visit is complete without a ride, we’ll take a journey through a timeless Disney attraction, analyzing how narrative, design, and emotion combine to bring a story to life. No Dramamine required—just curiosity, conversation, and a willingness to see both Disney and UMW through fresh eyes.

Saturday, May 30

Alumni College Session 4 (9 – 10:15 a.m.)

Campus Civil War Walk (walking tour)
Ryan Quint ’15, park ranger at the National Park Service
Mary Washington’s Fredericksburg campus has many Civil War relics still in place. Join National Park Service staff on a walking tour to learn about places on campus that hold the history of the Civil War.

An Exploration of the City Cemetery
Andrea Livi Smith, Ph.D., professor of historic preservation
This walking tour will introduce alumni to the history of graves and burial grounds and the tradition and artistry of headstones and monuments. Using the Fredericksburg City Cemetery as an example, we will see how symbols, locations, layout, materials, and wording change over time. We also will learn about the challenges in preserving these sites today. Shuttle departs from the circle between Monroe and Lee Halls.

Screenprinting Workshop
Coorain Devin, assistant professor of studio art
In this session, we will get a hands-on lesson in screenprinting. All participants will craft and take home a souvenir tote bag with a vintage MWC design. There is a $15 charge to cover materials for this session.

Human Skills in an AI World: Thriving Professionally in the Next Decade
Anand Rao, Ph.D., professor of communication and digital studies and director of the Center for AI and the Liberal Arts
As AI automates routine tasks, the value of human capabilities—communication, judgment, collaboration, and creativity—continues to rise. This session highlights how employers are using AI to reshape roles and workflows, and how individuals can leverage these tools to amplify (rather than replace) their uniquely human strengths. Participants will leave with practical strategies for using AI to draft, analyze, plan, and problem-solve while staying grounded in the durable skills that differentiate successful professionals.