| The Columns Weekly - Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 |
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Path to Professorship
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| For Troy Larsen ’22, the dream to become a professor began as an undergraduate and became a reality thanks to opportunities made possible by W&L’s Office of Fellowships. |
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| If you are applying for credit, leasing, or renting a car or home, financing a purchase, applying for a new job, or applying for government services, we've made it easier for you to provide verification of income and employment. |
| W&L has partnered with The Work Number service, a simple, secure and private way to access your employment and income information. The service is available 24/7. If you are working with a banker, property manager, car dealer or caseworker and need to verify your employment and income, send them to: |
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Need verification for yourself?
You can also log in to The Work Number to request your own verification 24/7. If you have any further questions, contact Masie Parker in Human Resources. |
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| Survey Deadline Extended! |
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| The deadline for participating in the 2026 W&L Faculty and Staff Engagement Survey has been extended until tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 20. Help us to progress toward exceeding our initial goal of 50% participation as we push forward on our way to 60%! Your feedback will help the university celebrate what is going well and identify opportunities to strengthen our community. Thank you for your support! |
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| Time for a Benefits Checkup? |
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| From time to time, employees stop by Human Resources to review the many benefits and services offered by the university, and to see if there are any benefits they want to consider during the upcoming spring open enrollment. If you're interested in a "benefits check-up," call or email Kim Austin or Jason Bunn for an appointment. |
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Meet a Colleague: Emily Pogue |
| Emily Pogue serves as senior associate director of annual giving. Learn more about Emily in our "Meet a Colleague" feature series. |
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| Save the following dates on your 2026 calendar! |
• Monday, April 20, 11:30 a.m. - 36th Annual Employee Recognition Banquet
• Wednesday, April 22 - Administrative Professionals Recognition
• Thursday, April 23, 9 a.m. - Ninth Annual Live Well W&L 5k Fun Run/Walk
• Friday, April 24, 9 a.m. - 5k Fun Run/Walk Rain Date
• Friday, May 29, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. - Finale |
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Plenty of home events on the schedule this week!
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| Featured Social Media Site |
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Follow the W&L Fitness Center on Instagram!
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Endowed Professorship Lecture: Jon Eastwood
5:30 p.m. Northen Auditorium
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Jon Eastwood, professor of sociology, will present a public lecture, titled “Reflections on the Sociology of Cynicism and Distrust,” to mark his appointment to the William P. Ames Jr. Professorship.
More Info
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Washington Break Begins |
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Classes will not be held the week of Feb. 23-27 in observance of Washington Break. |
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2026 Harte Center Writing Retreat
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Belfield
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This retreat is open to all faculty and staff who are looking for a dedicated space to focus on writing that has been on the back burner. Be sure to RSVP to secure your spot!
RSVP
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Classes Resume |
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Classes will resume on Monday, March 2 following the Washington Break. |
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University Faculty Meeting
4:10-5:30 p.m. Stackhouse Theater
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The final university faculty meeting of the 2025-26 academic year will be held in Stackhouse Theater on March 2. |
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Basse Salon Presents Kameliya Atanasova
12:30-1:30 p.m. Leyburn 128
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Kameliya Atanasova, assistant professor of religion, will deliver a lecture titled “Writing a Book: All You Need is Time (But Not Too Much of It)” as part of the Anne and Edgar Basse Jr. Author Talk Series. The talk is free and open to the public.
More Info
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Beyond the Page: Mikki Brock
5-6:30 p.m.
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Mikki Brock, professor of history at Washington and Lee University, will discuss her book, “Plagues of the Heart: Crisis and covenanting in a seventeenth-century Scottish town,” as part of the Beyond the Page: Milestone Works by Faculty series. The lecture, which is open exclusively to the university community, will be followed by a reception and book exhibit organized by the W&L University Store.
More Info
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University Singers Tour Home Concert
8-10 p.m. Lenfest Center/Wilson Concert Hall
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Join the renowned University Singers as they return from their 2026 tour with an evening of a capella choral mastery. The recital is free and open to the public.
More Info
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DakhaBrakha Cooking Exhibition
5:30-7:30 p.m. Evans Dining Hall
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Experience Ukrainian culture and hospitality by delving into the flavors and techniques of DakhaBrakha's favorite recipe of borscht. All while enjoying Ukrainian folk songs a capella, as they would have been sung 200 years ago. |
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Science Under Siege
5:30-7 pm. Stackhouse Theater
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W&L will host will host Michael Mann, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania, who will discuss themes from his new book, “Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World.”
More Info
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