New Novel Features Lexington and W&L
You might recognize a few places around Lexington and Washington and Lee University in a new novel, The Widow’s Season, by Laura Brodie, visiting assistant professor of English at Washington and Lee University.
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Vote Early and . . .
Washington and Lee's Campus Kitchen has made a difference in the Rockbridge County community. Of that, there is no doubt. In 2008, for instance, Campus Kitchen served 13, 444 meals and recovered almost 2,000 lbs of food that would have otherwise gone to waste. Now it's your turn to make a difference for Campus Kitchen […]
Sculpting Business as Usual
Even the still images on the Charlotte Observer Web site make artist Bob Trotman's latest exhibition seem dramatic and eerie. In person, it must be an incredible exhibition at the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte. The exhibition, titled Business As Usual, is not unfamiliar to members of the Washington and Lee community. Bob, a […]
W&L Mourns Loss of Art Historian Joan O’Mara
Joan O’Mara, associate professor of art history at Washington and Lee, died Sunday, May 24, 2009.
Close, but…
Remember Max Adler? The 2004 Washington and Lee alumnus was the subject of a blog item way back in March when he announced that he was launching a bid to earn a spot next month's U.S. Open golf championships at Bethpage Black in New York. Max, a former member of the W&L golf team, is […]
W&L’s Doornbos Earns All-America Honors at the Division III NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Washington and Lee senior Stacy Doornbos notched a fourth-place finish in the heptathlon with a school-record total of 4,764 points and garnered All-America accolades Friday at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Marietta, Ohio.
Jenefer Davies Discusses the Genesis of Aerial Dance at W&L
Theater and Dance at W&L presents Aerial Dance Performance, under the direction of Artistic Director Jenefer Davies, on May 29 and 30, 2009, at 3:30 p.m. The performance will take place on the exterior wall of Wilson Hall. Tickets are not required.
Rapids' Opener Rapidly Approaching
The Rockbridge Rapids of the Valley Baseball League, new summertime tenants of Washington and Lee's Cap'n Dick Smith Field, are less than two weeks away from the home opener on June 6 against Staunton. The Rapids' general manager is Ken Newman of W&L's Class of 1971, and the roster includes one current General, pitcher Chuck […]
Timothy Lubin Receives Two National Fellowships
Timothy Lubin, associate professor of religion at Washington and Lee University, has received two national fellowships for work on his research project “Authority, Law and the Polity in India, 300-1700.”
W&L Magazine, Spring 2009: Vol. 84 | No. 2
In This Issue: Retirement Plan, By Wendy Lovell '90; It's All Greek to Samantha Copping '11, By Julie Cline; Public Safety Officer Prevents Tragedy During Pi Kappa Phi Fire, By Jeff Hanna
Tracking the Auto Industry
If you want to stay abreast of the rapidly changing automobile industry, W&L economics professor Mike Smitka's blog, Autos and Economics, is a good place to go. Smitka has been studying the auto industry for decades, and his posts fill in the blanks of daily news coverage about the problems the industry is facing. Earlier […]
W&L Trustees Meet Challenge to Complete Hillel House Funding
Mark Eaker, a 1969 graduate of Washington and Lee University and a member of its Board of Trustees, has made a $235,000 challenge gift to the University’s Hillel House project that was matched by fellow trustees in a matter of hours, permitting the project to move forward with groundbreaking in September.
W&L Alumnus Matthew Loar Wins CIC Fellowship
Matthew Loar, a 2007 graduate of Washington and Lee University, has been named the winner of an American Graduate Fellowship from the Council of Independent Colleges.
A Social Media Headhunter
How can you use Facebook to hire? Is Twitter a sales tool? Can LinkedIn help your business grow? Those are just some of the questions that Jim Durbin of the Class of 1995 is answering through his firm, Durbin Media, which explores all the ways companies can deploy social media. And Jim deploys plenty of […]
Fulbright Awards and French Government Teaching Award Announced
Four Washington and Lee University seniors have been awarded grants for postgraduate study under the Fulbright Programs while a fifth student has won a teaching assistantship through the French government through a Fulbright application.
Hilary Craig ’09 Wins Sarah G. Ball Teaching Award
Hilary Craig ’09 of Georgetown, Ky., is this year’s Sarah G. Ball award recipient. She is a double major in journalism and mass communications and psychology at Washington and Lee University.
Philadelphia Fetes Lenfests
On Wednesday night at The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest will receive the prestigious Philadelphia Award for their service to that city. Of course, folks at Washington and Lee are well aware of the Lenfests' generosity. Among numerous acts of philanthrophy directed toward his alma mater, Gerry '53, '55L has established the […]
School of Law Honors Graduates at 2009 Commencement Ceremony
The Washington and Lee University School of Law celebrated its 154th commencement on Saturday, May 9 as 138 J.D. degrees and five LL.M. degrees were awarded.
Two Alumni Sworn In to W&L’s Board of Trustees
Washington and Lee University swore in two alumni — R. Allen Haight and Bennett L. Ross — to the University's Board of Trustees on May 8, at the board’s spring meeting in Lexington.
Cy Twombly '53 Returns to Chicago
When The Art Institute of Chicago opens its new Modern Wing this week, the first show in the special exhibition space will feature the work of Cy Twombly '53 in an exhibit titled "Cy Twombly: The Natural World, Selected Works 2000-2007." Called "one of this generation's greatest painters" by the museum's director in an article […]
W&L Receives $2.5 Million Endowment in Honor of Larry C. Peppers
Washington and Lee University has received a $2.5 million gift from E. Mac and Linda T. Crawford of Nashville, Tenn., to establish an endowment in honor of Larry C. Peppers, dean of the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics.
Professor of Ethnobotany Robin Kimmerer to Give Public Reading at W&L
Robin Kimmerer, author and professor of ethnobotany at State University of New York—Environmental Sciences and Forestry in Syracuse, will be giving a public reading from her recent work at Washington and Lee University on Tuesday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Northen Auditorium in Leyburn Library.
William H. Webster, Distinguished American Lawyer, Jurist and Public Servant, to Speak at W&L
Judge William H. Webster, chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council and the only American to serve as director of both the Central Intelligence Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation, will speak at Washington and Lee University on Tuesday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Chapel.
Law Professor Russell Miller Receives Fulbright Research Grant
Russell Miller, associate professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar senior research grant to conduct research in Heidelberg, Germany at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and Public International Law during the 2009-10 academic year.
Law Professor Elected Vice-President of American Bankruptcy Institute
Margaret Howard, Law Alumni Association Professor of Law at the Washington and Lee University School of Law, has been elected Vice-President of the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI). As Vice-President, Howard will serve on the ABI’s executive committee and chair the Research Grants Committee for a three-year term.
Law Student Wins Top Scholarship Award Honoring Virginia Civil Rights Champions
Kathy Pritts '11L, a first year law student at Washington and Lee School of Law, has received the top scholarship from the Greater Richmond Bar Association and the Oliver W. Hill and Samuel W. Tucker Scholarship Committee
Science of Cooking Course Provides Useful Skills
Do egg whites really foam better in a copper bowl? Do powdered egg whites work as well as real egg whites?
Head of British Supreme Court to Deliver Law Commencement Address
Lord Nicholas Addison Phillips, president of the newly formed Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, will deliver this year's commencement address during the 2009 graduation exercises at the Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Washington and Lee Names Four Distinguished Alumni
Washington and Lee University bestowed its Distinguished Alumnus Award on three recipients: William A. Jenks, Lexington, Va., a retired W&L history professor; David H. Stovall Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., president and CEO of Stein Mart Inc.; and Russell W. Chambliss, Birmingham, Ala., president and CEO of Mason Corp.
Battle of the Branches—Washington Term Symposium at D.C. Press Club
Washington and Lee University’s Second Annual Washington Term Symposium will be held Friday, May 15, from noon to 3 p.m. at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where a panel of political scientists and political journalists will tackle the subject, “President vs. Congress: An Imbalance of Powers?”
Roddy Roediger ’69, Glynn Family Visiting Professor, to Give Public Lecture
Washington and Lee University’s psychology department will host Glynn Family Visiting Professor and psychology alumnus Dr. Henry L. ‘Roddy’ Roediger ’69 and his spouse, Dr. Kathleen McDermott, for part of the 2009 spring term. Roediger will give a public talk on Tuesday, May 5, at 5:30 p.m. in the Stackhouse Theater in the University Commons.
Scranton's Cartoonist
A few weeks ago the Scranton Times-Tribune posted a short item noting that the newspaper's editorial cartoonist, John Cole, was going to be featured on a live TV show. The notice also included the fact that John had gotten his start in drawing cartoons during four years at Washington and Lee. A 1980 W&L graduate […]
W&L Men’s Lacrosse Knocks Off Top-Ranked Roanoke, 15-14, in ODAC Championship Game
Washington and Lee senior midfielder Harry St. John (Essex Fells, N.J./West Essex) scored unassisted just 38 seconds into overtime to lift the 10th-ranked and third-seeded Generals to a 15-14 overtime victory over top-ranked and No. 1 seed Roanoke College in the finals of the ODAC men's lacrosse championship on Sunday afternoon at Kerr Stadium.
W&L Presents Former Sen. John W. Warner with The Washington Award
Washington and Lee University today presented former Sen. John W. Warner, a 1949 graduate of the university, with its highest honor, the Washington Award. The presentation occurred during Washington and Lee’s reunion weekend and the annual meeting of its Alumni Association.
More than 10 Cases of H1N1 Influenza Confirmed at W&L
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has confirmed 11 cases of the H1N1 virus (swine flu) at Washington and Lee, where the Student Health Center is treating the outbreak as a "second flu season."
Richard Bresnahan to Present Lecture on Ceramics
Ceramicist Richard Bresnahan will give a public lecture on Wed., May 13, at 5 p.m. in Wilson Hall, Room 2018, on the campus of Washington and Lee University. Bresnahan’s work is on display in the art department display cases on the third floor of Wilson Hall through May 29.
Olivia Burr ’12 Selected as Kemper Scholar
Olivia B. Burr ’12 has been selected from a group of finalists for the Class of 2012 of the prestigious Kemper Scholars Program. She joins current W&L students, Rebecca Taylor (’09), Cale Grove (’10), Eric Hamscher (’11) and Chengpeng Mou (’11) as Kemper Scholars.
Spring/Summer 2009 Issue of Shenandoah Released
The Spring/Summer 2009 issue of Shenandoah: The Washington and Lee University Review (Vol. 59 No.1) is now available.
Shannon-Clark Lecture Presents A Reading by Physician and Poet Dr. Rafael Campo
The 27th Shannon-Clark Lecture in English presents A Reading by Dr. Rafael Campo, director of medical humanities at Harvard University, on Thursday, May 7, at 8 p.m. in Stackhouse Theater in Elrod Commons. A reception will follow the talk in the Living Room of Elrod Commons.
W&L Endowed Professorships Announced
On July 1, four members of the Washington and Lee University faculty will step into endowed professorships. They are Theodore C. DeLaney Jr., associate professor of history; Marcia B. France, professor of chemistry; Dennis M. Garvis, associate professor of business administration; and Elizabeth G. Oliver, professor of accounting. These promotions reflect their outstanding contributions to their disciplines and the classroom.
W&L to Present Sen. John W. Warner with The Washington Award
Washington and Lee University will present former Sen. John W. Warner, a 1949 graduate of the University, with its highest honor — The Washington Award — on Saturday, May 2, at 10:30 a.m. during the annual meeting of the W&L Alumni Association in Lee Chapel.
Mini Language Classes a Highlight of Alumni Reunion Weekend
Bon vivant, ¿Qué haces?, Wie geht’s?, domo arigato – terms like these may jog our memory, but how much do we really remember from our foreign language classes? After all, for some of us it has been quite a while…
Wolves, Bison and Pronghorn Antelope, Oh My!
Biology professor Bill Hamilton and his Spring Term class are out in Yellowstone where they are conducting research invasive plant species and "their impacts on soil nitrogen cycling and organic matter decomposition." Here's some background on the research that Bill does. When they aren't out in the field collecting samples or in the lab examining […]
T. Boone Pickens Scheduled to Speak at W&L
Oil billionaire and philanthropist T. Boone Pickens, an outspoken advocate for alternative energy, will speak at Washington and Lee University on Thursday, April 30, at 5 p.m. in Lee Chapel.
Katherine Crowley Wins AMS Congressional Fellowship
The American Mathematical Society (AMS) has announced that Katherine Crowley, assistant professor of mathematics at Washington and Lee University, will be the organization’s Congressional Fellow for 2009-2010.
Another Race for Lacey
At 81, Lacey Putney has just announced that he will run for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates from Virginia's 19th District, which includes the city of Bedford and much of Bedford and Botetourt counties. Putney, a member of Washington and Lee's Class of 1950, is already the Commonwealth's longest-serving legislative representative, having served […]
W&L Free Service Translates 50 Languages
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at Washington and Lee University has provided live translations to the Rockbridge County community for the last seven years.
Rave Reviews for John Pipkin's Debut Novel
"Gripping and profound." “Witty, bawdy, philosophical, touching, and humorous." "Audacious, wondrous." And those are just a sampling of the adjectives being used to describe Woodsburner, the debut novel of Washington and Lee alumnus John Pipkin of the Class of 1989. Scheduled to be released on April 28, Woodsburner covers a single day in the life […]
Tell Us What You Think…Really
After each issue of W&L: The Washington and Lee University Alumni Magazine is published, we post a survey for readers to give us their views. We do want to hear from our readers with their opinions and their ideas. The survey for the Winter issue is now available. Please take a moment, click on this […]
Prof. Johanna Bond Named WLSO Professor of the Year
The Women Law Students Organization at Washington and Lee University School of Law has named Johanna E. Bond the 2009 recipient of the organization's Professor of the Year award.
Three Law Students Receive VLF Public Service Scholarships
Washington and Lee School of Law students Patrick Chamberlain '10L, Gail Deady '11L, and Rachel Mack '11L have been selected as the 2009 recipients of Virginia Law Foundation Public Service Internship awards.
The Book
When Laura Turner, the technical services librarian at Leyburn Library, came to work this past Wednesday, she had no idea what awaited her. Early that morning the Associated Press had moved a story about the book that came back and, gefore the day was over, Laura had been interviewed by news outlets from Roanoke to […]
Book Returned to Washington and Lee Library Only 52,858 Days Late
What qualifies as perhaps the longest overdue library book in history found its way back to Washington and Lee University’s Leyburn Library in February, when the first volume of W.F.P. Napier’s four-volume set, History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France, was returned to the shelves after an absence of 52,858 days.
NFL Commissioner Goodell to Address Leadership in W&L Presentation
National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell will hold a conversation about leadership in sports at Washington and Lee University on Tuesday, April 21, at 7 p.m..
W&L Tax Clinic Helps People in Trouble with the IRS
The Tax Clinic of Washington and Lee University's School of Law deals with problem cases and helps clients avoid sleepless nights after April 15.
More World Travelers
In response to the recent post about the trip that W&L law grads Kara McDonald, Class of 2002, and Damien DeLaney, Class of 2003, are taking, What's News was reminded by a reader that four alumni are currently sailing around the world on a 51-foot Skye called the Obelisk. The sailors are Jesse Smith (’03), […]
Holocaust Remembrance Week at W&L is April 27-May 1
Washington and Lee University's Hillel presents Holocaust Remembrance Week from April 27 - May 1. The planned activities range from films to a vigil to a talk by Holocaust survivor, George Salton. All of the Holocaust Remembrance Week activities are open to the public without charge.
W&L Recognizes and Honors University Staff Retirees at Banquet
Washington and Lee University’s Employee Recognition Banquet held Monday, April 13, recognized four retiring members of W&L’s staff, with a total of 103 years of service to W&L.
W&L Emeritus Biology Professor Honored by Virginia Museum for Natural History
Cleveland P. Hickman Jr., professor emeritus of biology at Washington and Lee University, will receive the Thomas Jefferson Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Natural Science from the Virginia Museum for Natural History Foundation at the organization’s 22nd annual Thomas Jefferson Awards on Earth Day on April 22, at the museum in Martinsville, Va.
Giving Voice (and Images) to Local Communities
A story in Sunday's Charleston Gazette tells the story of how one Washington and Lee alumna has been forever changed by her participation in W&L's Shepherd Poverty Program. You can get details fromthe story but briefly it describes a project that Shannon Bell, a member of W&L's Class of 2000, created for five communities in […]
Law Professor’s Book Honored by International Law Organizations
The American Society of International Law has selected Washington and Lee Law Professor Mark Drumbl's recent book as first runner-up for its 2009 Certificate of Merit for Creative Scholarship. This prize is among the most prestigious publishing awards globally in the field of international law.
Two W&L Students Win Goldwater Scholarships
Two Washington and Lee University students — junior Bena M. Tshishiku from Martinez, Ga., and sophomore F. Andrew Tessier Jr. from New Orleans, La. — have been awarded a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship.
Theresa Braunschneider’s Study of Nighttime Activities in the 18th Century Wins ACLS Fellowship
Theresa Braunschneider, associate professor of English at Washington and Lee University, has been awarded a fellowship from the American Council of Learned Society (ACLS) that she will use for a sabbatical year during 2009-10 to complete her new book, After Dark: Modern Nighttime in 18th-Century Literature. She is the first W&L faculty member to win the fellowship.
Hunter Branstetter and Jenna Walls Named Unsung Generals of the Year
Washington and Lee University seniors Hunter Branstetter of Nashville, Tenn., and Jenna Walls of Zionsville, Ind., were named the John W. Elrod Unsung Generals of the Year at the seventh annual Celebrating Student Success Awards held Sunday night, April 5, in the living room of the John W. Elrod University Commons.
Winners of Johnson Opportunity Grants Announced
The Johnson Program in Leadership and Integrity at Washington and Lee University has announced the eight inaugural recipients of the Johnson Opportunity Grants. The grants are funded by a gift to W&L which also created scholarships, a lecture and symposia series focusing on leadership and two endowed professorships.
A Lively Alumnus at 102 (and 11 Months)
Dr. Harry Neel of the Class of 1928 confesses that he doesn't get around like he once did, he is using the cane that his son has insisted upon, and a friend describes him as "just a lively person." Those are just a few of the revelations in a wonderful feature story about Harry that […]
It’s All Greek for Grade Schoolers Learning the Language in Lexington
Twice a week, Washington and Lee University sophomore Samantha Copping sits down with her students at a Lexington, Va., coffee shop for a tutoring session. It’s an unremarkable scene until you consider the subject — ancient Greek — and the students are in grade school.
Professor’s New Study Finds ALI Family Law Principles Have Small Impact
Seeking to deal with the greater complexity of the American family, the American Law Institute nine years ago adopted a set of principles to help the courts and state legislatures negotiate these breakups.
Law School Tax Clinic Receives IRS Grant
The Tax Clinic at the Washington and Lee University School of Law has been awarded a matching grant from the Internal Revenue Service's Low Income Taxpayer Clinic program. This is the second straight year that the Tax Clinic has received federal dollars to support its efforts.
