Career Paths: Sydney Layne ’25L
After graduation, Sydney Layne will join Troutman Pepper Locke in their Houston office.
Archive ( Stories)
Meet a Colleague: Erin Fleming
Erin Fleming is a reunion giving officer within University Development.
SEAL to Sponsor Third Annual Washington and Lee Campus-Wide Garage Sale
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sell unwanted items and donate any unsold items to benefit local nonprofit organizations.
University Singers Perform Annual Commencement Concert
The annual tradition for parents and families of graduating students will be held May 27.
Eight W&L Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships to Study Abroad
This round of recipients marks a record-setting Gilman Scholar cohort for W&L.
Get to Know the Newest Members of the W&L Community – 5/14/25
The following individuals recently joined the Washington and Lee employee workforce.
W&L’s Katie Wagner ’25 Earns U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
Wagner will teach English in Austria before pursuing a career as a German language educator.
Chris Gavaler to Debut One-Act Play at the Live Arts Waterworks Festival
The professor of English’s show will screen on May 21 and 23 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Meet Daniel Reiter ’26
Reiter has carved his own path at W&L by designing a major that combines his interests in theater, business, communications and law.
Josh Fairfield Publishes Article in the Belmont Law Review
The article critiques the failure of current privacy frameworks to protect workers from the growing encroachment of employer surveillance at home.
Meet a Colleague: Kendra Hurt
Kendra Hurt is the Administrative Assistant for the Frances Lewis Law Center.
An Uplifting Legacy
If I can create opportunities for people the way W&L created opportunities for me, I’m happy to do it.
Alex Klein Publishes Article in the Northeastern University Law Review
The article examines a legal test developed through a series of cases to determine whether a state’s proposed method of execution constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Megan Hess ’97 Named Class of 1960 Professor of Ethics and Accounting
Hess, a professor of accounting, will hold the position for three years.
W&L Welcomes New Trustees Jason W. Aiken ’94 and Courtney Camp Enloe ’97L
Aiken and Enloe were sworn in as trustees on May 9.
International Exposure
Studying abroad was the best and most impactful educational experience I had. The person I am today was forged in the experiences I had abroad.
Seth Michelson Set to Publish New Book in October
The associate professor of Spanish shares the stories of undocumented youth held in detention centers and refugee camps in the United States and Mexico.
Locating the Law
In his most recent book, Russell Miller charts the constitutional history of Germany though text and images.
Entrepreneurship Summit Connects Students and Alumni With Shared Interests
The 2025 Entrepreneurship Summit brought students together for networking, honing their pitch skills and sharing ideas with alumni.
Law Student Helps W&L Running Program Reach Historic Heights
First-year law student Cassie Carr ‘27L helped the Generals Cross Country and Track teams rewrite the record books.
Meet a Colleague: Andrea Velásquez
Andrea Velásquez serves as manager of work-life and leaves for the Office of Human Resources.
Lucas Morel Selected for Prestigious ACS Mellon Academic Leadership Fellowship
The John K. Boardman Jr. Professor of Politics will use the fellowship to lead W&L’s “Liberating Ideas” initiative.
W&L’s Anshika Patel ’26 Receives Davis Projects for Peace Grant
Patel plans to expand the reach of Wings of Women, the community-driven initiative she founded in her home country of India.
Meet Zanita Akinkugbe ’27
Akinkugbe’s goal of becoming a pediatric oncologist has been reinforced by her research lab work.
Annual Spring Spotlight to be Held on Campus May 23
Students and faculty will summarize and display their Spring Term research and coursework.
Politics Professor Publishes New Book
Stu Gray’s publication examines the Bhagavad-Gita through a political perspective.
Melissa Kerin Quoted in ProPublica Article
The professor of art history and director of the Mudd Center for Ethics offered her opinion on the nuances of the return of a Buddha sculpture by the Art Institute of Chicago to the Government of Nepal.
Washington and Lee Announces March Community Grants
Washington and Lee University’s Community Grants Committee has made thirteen grants totaling over $32,000 to non-profit organizations in Lexington and Rockbridge County.
W&L Law Professors File Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Birthright Citizenship Case
The brief is intended to assist the Court in deciding whether to allow the executive order ending birthright citizenship to go into effect.
Following the Money
The Follow the Money workshop and Spring Term course bring W&L students together with business journalists from across the nation.
Hire Education
Employers share what makes W&L graduates stand out among their peers.
W&L’s Mudd Center Announces Leadership Lab Initiative
The public lecture series kicks off May 7 with an inaugural talk by Kenneth Ruscio ’76.
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Brandon Chalk '00 followed his love for the outdoors all around the world, summiting the highest peaks on each of the seven continents with his wife, Kristine Chalk.
From Mystery to Mastery
A chance encounter in the Science Center as a child set Alyssa Cirrincione ’25 on a path to pursue her curiosity at W&L.
Faculty Profile: Sarah Gottlieb
Sarah Gottlieb is Assistant Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Criminal Justice Clinic.
Noteworthy Impact
Burr Datz ’75 has been a pillar of support – and supplier of stories and songs – to the W&L community for five decades.
8th Annual Live Well W&L 5K Fun Run/Walk Spirit Awards
W&L's Office of Human Resources recognized individuals with a Spirit Award for the first time.
Meet a Colleague: Katharine Farrar ’11
Katharine Farrar ’11 is the director of alumni chapter programs at W&L.
Author Erin Crosby Eckstine to Give Glasgow Endowment Reading at W&L
Eckstine will read from her debut novel, “Junie,” at the May 6 event.
Anima e Grazia Presents a Mother’s Day Recital
The W&L faculty duo will perform on May 11 at 3 p.m. in Wilson Concert Hall.
Meet Nona David ’26
David serves as head intern of the Burish internship program that connects local schools with student volunteers.
Tim MacDonnell Publishes Article in the South Dakota Law Review
The article examines U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence in reaction to emergencies such as natural disasters, economic crises, and epidemics.
Business Administration Professor Publishes Book in Tandem with W&L Alumna
Jeff Schatten and Teresa Aires ’19 co-wrote a book on the impacts of artificial intelligence on the workforce.
Learning Environments
We’re so grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support that recognizes what John, Nell and others built and helps ensure that top-notch archaeological work will continue at W&L in the years to come
Career Paths: Rheise Berro ’25L
After graduation, Rheise Berro will work in the Asset Management group at Ropes & Gray in Washington, D.C.
W&L Presents Screening of the West End’s ‘Fleabag’
The May 7 screening concludes the Lenfest Center’s National Theatre Live series.
W&L’s Jack Evans ’25 Named a Grand Strategy Fellow by the Hertog Foundation
Evans will spend four weeks in an intensive learning experience focused on the most pressing national security challenges facing the U.S.
Preserving the Future
Robert Balentine '79 and his wife, Betty, are recipients of the 2025 Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal from the Garden Club of America for their preservation work at the Southern Highlands Reserve.
Meet a Colleague: Wendy Rains
Wendy Rains is the office manager for the University Library.
Get to Know the Newest Members of the W&L Community – 4/22/25
The following individuals recently joined the Washington and Lee employee workforce.
W&L Presents Faculty Recital with William McCorkle
McCorkle will perform a selection of works on the harpsichord on May 6 in Wilson Concert Hall.
W&L Presents Faculty Recital with William Taylor and Patrick Summers
The pianists will perform works from the Final Fantasy video game series on May 2 in Wilson Concert Hall.
Meet Weyimi Agbeyegbe ’25
Studying abroad in Paris allowed Agbeyegbe to learn more about the intersection of fashion and business.
Student Organization Spotlight: International Student Mentors
W&L’s International Student Mentors Program pairs new international students with upper-division students to help them navigate life on campus.
Leading Expert and Scholar of Chinese Export Ceramics to Deliver Lecture at W&L
William R. Sargent’s talk on May 2 is part of the closing ceremony for Stephanie Shih’s ‘LONG TIME NO SEE (好久不見).’
W&L Law Announces Faculty Appointments and Promotions
Three faculty members were named to endowed professorships, and two other faculty members were promoted.
Byron Faidley Quoted in Garden & Gun Magazine Article
The digital collections manager presented historical facts concerning Merle Haggard’s personal dome car currently in use by the Virginia Scenic Railway.
Parents Find Lifelong Connections Through W&L Leadership Council
Richard And Wimberly McPhail P’24 share their journey of giving, leading and forming bonds at Washington and Lee.
W&L Holds 2025 Leadership Excellence Awards
The annual banquet recognizes the many individual and group accomplishments of W&L students within the past year.
Alumni Spotlight: Karen Vallejos Corrales ’20L
Karen Vallejos Corrales is Executive Director of the Dream Project, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Virginia students whose immigration status presents barriers to higher education.
Faculty Spotlight: Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith is the Vincent L. Bradford Professor of Law and is an expert in children’s equality law.
‘Unlikely Pairings’ Ignite Curiosity at Science, Society and the Arts Conference
The interdisciplinary conference gave students the chance to share original research that integrated their academic interests and personal passions.
Black Alumni Weekend Celebrates Legacy, Community and Connection
The celebration, held April 4–5 on campus, brought students and alumni together to share experiences and make new connections.
‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Beth Staples
In this month’s episode, Staples speaks of the power of imagination and storytelling and the continuous, and evolving, legacy of the Shenandoah literary magazine.
Meet a Colleague: Dave Wells
Dave Wells serves as a custodian for the university.
W&L’s Staniar Gallery Presents ‘Hugo Crosthwaite: Tijuacolor’
The exhibition will feature a live mural performance from April 28 to May 10, with an artist’s talk slated for May 12.
Looking Forward and Giving Back
The Class of 2025’s Senior Gift Committee co-chairs have already sailed past their monetary goal as they look toward Commencement.
Drew Hess Named Interim Associate Provost for Academic Development and Operations at Washington and Lee
Drew Hess, the Ehrick Kilner Haight Sr. Term Professor of Business Administration at Washington and Lee University, has been appointed to a one-year term as interim associate provost for academic development and operations, beginning July 1.
Meet AJ Thomas ’26
Thomas enjoys the balance between athletics, academics and making lifelong connections with fellow students.
