Get to Know the Newest Members of the W&L Community – 3/15/23 The following individuals recently joined the Washington and Lee employee workforce.
Leslie Wingard Cunningham, Associate Provost for Faculty Development and Professor of English and Africana Studies
Leslie Wingard Cunningham, associate provost for faculty development and professor of English and Africana studiesQ. Tell us a little about you and your background.
I am originally from a suburb of Philadelphia called West Chester. I received my bachelor’s degree from Spelman College and my master’s and doctoral degrees from UCLA. I also had the opportunity to study at Stanford University for my junior year of undergrad because I was a domestic exchange student there with other HBCU students from Spelman, Morehouse College and Howard University. I am an excited newlywed, too – after getting married for the first time in July 2022. My husband and I chatted and bonded about our HBCU undergrad experiences on our first date (he went to North Carolina A&T).
Q. Any favorite Lexington/regional spots/activities?
I look forward to walking or jogging the Chessie Trail and have already started asking around to see which new friends here will do that with me regularly! The campus gym looks very nice, so you’ll find me and my husband there as well. I like to sign up to slowly but surely complete community races and I am not a natural (ha!); so, I have to train for them. So far, though, I mostly just love the look of the mountains all around me. They are majestic and make me feel thankful for all I get to see, meet and do.
Q. How do you unwind/have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
Speaking of thankfulness: If anyone knows of a great gospel choir nearby, do tell. I have been an alto in gospel choirs before and it is fun to count my blessings through song. And I enjoy spinning/cycling classes if the instructor’s music is good! I also like to hang at cafes while sipping either a rooibos or London Fog tea drink
Rachel Rowland, Project Manager – University Facilities
Rachel Rowland, facilities project managerQ. Tell us a little about you and your background.
I am a graduate of the Real Estate & Community Development program at St. Louis University and have an undergraduate degree in paralegal education.
Q. How do you unwind/have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I like to travel and explore anything related to agritourism. I cherish gatherings with family and friends. In my spare time I am likely to be found gardening, cooking, doing yoga, reading or volunteering with local area non-profits.
Q. Best advice anyone has ever given you?
Do the right thing, not the easy thing, and strive for win-win solutions.
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