April 1, 2024

Dear colleagues,

Last Wednesday, I joined President Rowe and Dean Raitt for W&M Scholars Undergraduate Research Experience (WMSURE)’s “Conversations with a Scholar” workshop. It was a wonderful opportunity to engage with our students in a small forum, and to share some of our research and career experiences. The WMSURE student fellows who guided the discussion previously benefited from the program and choose to give back by running workshops like this one, guiding freshman W&M Scholars and developing mentorship opportunities for other young students.

Congratulations again to Peel Hawthorne, winner of the Shirley Aceto Award. I look forward to honoring her inspiring career contributions as a coach and as an administrator at the recognition ceremony and reception in the Wren Great Hall at 4 p.m. on Monday, April 8.

Here are the Top 5 Things to Know this week:

For those interested in learning more about options for hiring and retaining international employees at W&M and VIMS, the Reves Center shared a recorded session on the topic. The session focuses on the immigration process for beginning academic employees to the university, including tenure track faculty, visiting faculty, postdocs and researchers. Processes discussed include timelines, requirements, cost as well as support the International Students, Scholars and Programs office offers during these processes, including interviewing, hiring and onboarding.
Members of the W&M community from all over the world have an opportunity to connect during the W&M One Network Online Networking hour. On April 4 at noon, the Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement invites you to register to make new connections and discover professional opportunities. The W&M network, one of the strongest alumni networks in the country, is robust with academics and PhD’s who work in non-academic spheres. The One Network and their events are an excellent resource to tap for career development, mentoring and collaboration at every stage of your career.
My office, in partnership with W&M Libraries, will host the inaugural Celebration of the Book reception at Swem Library on Wednesday, April 10, from 4-5:30 p.m. This event recognizes faculty & staff who have recently published or edited a book or book chapter. All are invited to celebrate. Please RSVP to Celebration of the Book.
The Muscarelle’s spring Selected Topics in Architecture series will focus on the Renaissance period, when architectural innovation resulted in some of the world’s most impressive and enduring structures. From 5 to 6 p.m. on April 3, Muscarelle Director David Brashear will present Masterpieces of Italian Renaissance Architecture, a period rooted in the revival and reinterpretation of the buildings of classical antiquity. This lecture will take place in Tucker Hall Theatre (Room 127A)— and would be an excellent opportunity to wear one of the W&M Spirit Shop & Bookstore’s new Year of the Arts t-shirts!
The shout-out for this week goes to undergraduate admission and the admissions departments across the university. After a pressure-filled period of reviewing thousands of applications, regular decision notifications were sent to undergraduate applicants on March 22. Congratulations! This welcome video for admitted students is amazing. Over the last two weeks, around 5,000 visitors were expected on campus as high school students and their families visited during spring break. Thank you to all who work in admissions, looking forward to the future and welcoming all admitted and prospective students.

And lastly, for those amongst us that are fans of Emmy-Winning series The Office, Brian Baumgartner, known for his character Kevin Malone, will be in Sadler Center’s Commonwealth Auditorium at 7 p.m. on April 3 to give William & Mary’s 2024 Atwater Lecture. Entry is free for William & Mary students and employees with ID.