Classes start Monday, only 2 weeks prior to Labor Day this year.  While we might not yet be ready for such an early start, geography faculty and students are very excited to be back in Monrovia (now with a new and improved roof!!).  We’re starting the year with around 75 majors – after graduating nearly 30 last year.  We are also thankful that President Rick Hurley will provide Mary Washington with stable and forward-looking leadership.This year we welcome back Steve O’Connell (MWC 1998) as a visiting assistant professor.  He will be filling in for Melina Patterson in the Fall (maternity leave) and Farhang Rouhani (sabbatical) in the Spring.  He also defended his doctoral dissertation in May.  Congrats to Dr. Steve!

In addition, we’re also pleased to have Gretchen Wietmarschen (MWC 2004), Bill Major (MWC 1993), and Pete Chirico (MWC 1993) teaching for us the Fall.  Our wonderful alumni continue to contribute to Mary Washington Geography in so many ways!

Yesterday President Rick Hurley addressed the faculty and staff.  After our leadership turmoil of the past years, everyone at Mary Washington is very pleased that Rick will lead us for the foreseeable future.  He has challenged us to make sure that Mary Washington is the best public liberal arts institution in the country.  That’s a vision we can all embrace.  So here’s a question for you: What will it take for Mary Wash Geography to be the best undergraduate program in the country?