The Columns Weekly - Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 From The Columns Laura Jane Ramsburg Selected as Director of the Staniar Gallery The experienced arts administrator joins Washington and Lee from Hollins University’s Eleanor D. Wilson Museum. David Marsh and Adrienne Jones to Serve as Scholars in Residence for the Office of Community-Based Learning Marsh will work with Nature Camp in Vesuvius, Virginia, and Jones will collaborate with the Legal Aid Justice Center for the 25th Judicial District. W&L Law No. 2 Best Value Private Law School; Ranks No. 5 Overall in Two-Year Employment Average The National Jurist Best Value analysis weighs schools on a blend of outcomes and affordability. Where Creativity Meets Commerce: W&L’s New Arts Management Minor Collaboration between the business administration and theatre, dance and film studies departments has created pathways for students to blend creative interests with professional skills. 2025 Ball Award Winners Make an Impact in Students’ Lives Alina de Zoysa ’25 and Henry Chen ’25 are applying lessons learned at W&L to their work helping K-12 students succeed. AI Conversations on Campus W&L’s forward-thinking mindset surrounding the emergence of AI leads to engaged classwork, research and discussions. Read More W&L News on The Columns Employee Accolades KT Vaughan Initiated as Next President of the Oberlin Group of Libraries The Hal F. and Barbra Buckner Higginbotham University Librarian will serve a one-year presidential term as part of her three-year membership on the executive board. Ellen Mayock Speaks at Centennial Celebration of Carmen Martín Gaite and Co-Edits Volume The Ernest Williams II Professor of Romance Languages shares her research on the Spanish author. Kish Parella Lectures as Visiting Scholar in Singapore During her stay, Parella lectured on topics from two forthcoming papers. Alecia Swasy Quoted in Poynter Story The Reynolds Professor of Business Journalism offered insight on the influence of X, former known as Twitter, on the media industry. Want to be recognized for your work or do you have a colleague who should be recognized for their accomplishments? Simply use the employee accolade submission form. Fuel Your Day with a W&L Dining Meal Plan Faculty and staff meal plans make eating on campus easy and affordable. Enjoy the convenience of delicious, balanced meals made fresh daily. Sign up by Dec. 31, 2025 to get a free E. Cafe smoothie token sent via campus mail! The cost is $265.00 for 25 meals (includes 11.3% VA Sales tax) or start your flex account with as little as $25.00! Questions can be directed to MealPlans@wlu.edu. Meet a Colleague Meet a Colleague: Julie Goudimova Julie Goudimova is a lecturer in the Music Department. Learn more about Julie in our "Meet a Colleague" feature series. Get to Know Your Newest Co-Workers New Employee Q&A Get to know the newest members of the Washington and Lee employee workforce through our new employee feature page! This week, we feature three new employees who have joined the W&L community in recent weeks. Campus Sustainability Month Did you know that October is Campus Sustainability Month, an international celebration of sustainability in higher education? Learn what you can do to contribute toward W&L's sustainability goals by visiting our sustainability how-tos webpage. Sign up for the Pumpkin Pieve-K Click the image to register! This Week's Scene on Campus Fall colors in front of Evans Dining Hall View Photos Support the Generals! A plethora of home events dot the schedule for Parents and Family Weekend! Featured Social Media Site Visit @wlunews for all the latest info about the university! Make sure to follow all the university's social media channels for more information about happenings on our campus! Twitter/X - @wlunews | @wlulex | @wlulaw Facebook - Washington and Lee University | Working at W&L Instagram - @wlunews | @wlulex | @wlulaw Upcoming Events Gallery Talk and Reception - Moffat Takadiwa: Recoded Memories 5:30-8 p.m. CGL Atrium and Watson Galleries Enjoy an evening with guest curator Clement Akpang and Sandy de Lissovoy, associate professor of art, as they engage in a conversation exploring the themes and processes behind “Recoded Memories.” A reception with wine and hors d'oeuvres will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Watson Galleries, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the galleries and meet the artist. More Info Contact Committee Presents: Daymond John 7 p.m. Grace Episcopal Church W&L's Contact Committee is pleased to welcome Daymond John, star of ABC’s Shark Tank, to Lexington for Parents and Family Weekend at Grace Episcopal Church. The event is free and open to the W&L community, and tickets are required. More Info Lenfest Series: “UNDERSCORED” 7:30-10 p.m. Lenfest Center/Keller Theater The Lenfest Center at Washington and Lee University presents Ephrat Asherie Dance’s “UNDERSCORED,” a stunning journey through the vibrant eras of New York City’s underground club scene. A question-and-answer session with the dance company will follow the performance. Tickets are required and available online or in person at the Lenfest Box Office. More Info Parents and Family Weekend: Choral Concert 8-10 p.m. Lenfest Center/Wilson Concert Hall Join the University Singers, Glee Club and Cantatrici as they kick off their season. A reception in Lykes Atrium will immediately follow the performance. Tickets are free, but required. More Info Parents and Family Weekend: Instrumental Ensemble 8-10 p.m. Lenfest Center/Wilson Concert Hall Join the University Jazz Ensemble, University Orchestra and University Wind Ensemble as they perform a combined concert as part of Parents and Family Weekend 2025. No tickets are required. More Info Mudd Center Speaker: Benji Backer 5:10-6:10 p.m. Stackhouse Theater Benjamin Backer, founder and CEO of Nature is Nonpartisan, will be in conversation with Ryan McCoy, assistant professor of environmental studies as part of W&L’s Mudd Center for Ethics’ series, “Taking Place: Land Use and Environmental Impact.” The event, which is free and open to the public, is titled “Common Ground, Common Future: Bipartisan Environmentalism.” More Info Nobel Symposium: Tom McClain 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Leyburn 128 Tom McClain, assistant professor of physics, will present the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics. awarded jointly to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis “for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunneling and energy quantization in an electric circuit.” The talk is free and open to the public with refreshments provided. More Info History of Photography Open House 2:45-4 p.m. Tom Wolfe Reading Room (Leyburn Library) Join Special Collections and Archives in the newly renovated Tom Wolfe Reading Room for an open house focused on the History of Photography! This event is free and open to the public. Guest Speaker: Louis E. Newman 4-6 p.m. Leyburn 128 Guest Speaker Louis Newman will discuss developing students who think freely, critically and humanely, and act with honor and integrity. Newman will address the challenges students and faculty face and share practical strategies for starting meaningful conversations that bring this vision to life. Light refreshments are provided. Register Concert Guild Series: Maroney Trio “The music of Carnero, Mendelssohn and Maroney. 7-10 p.m. Lenfest Center/Wilson Concert Hall Concert Guild presents an evening of dazzling chamber music. The program features a blend of old and new, with works for piano and strings by Argentine-Spanish composer Ana Leia Carnero, Felix Mendelssohn and Houston-based composer Marcus Maroney. Tickets are required. More Info Marlbrook Chamber Players “An Afternoon of Elegance & Passion” 3-5 p.m. Lenfest Center/Wilson Concert Hall Prepare for a mesmerizing afternoon of chamber music as the Marlbrook Chamber Players present a sublime program featuring the works of Gabriel Fauré and Ludwig van Beethoven. No tickets are required. More Info University Faculty Meeting 4:10-5:30 p.m. Stackhouse Theater The second university faculty meeting of the 2025-26 academic year will be held in Stackhouse Theater on Nov. 3. Fall University Wind Ensemble Concert: "Gradients" 8-10 p.m. Lenfest Center/Wilson Concert Hall The University Wind Ensemble presents an evening of music exploring waves of color through pieces inspired by visual art and its relation to color. No tickets are required. More Info

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