Category Archives: Professional Notes

Farnsworth Featured in Column by Fredericksburg Free Press

Farnsworth Featured in Column by Fredericksburg Free Press Professor Emeritus of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth was featured by the Fredericksburg Free Press in a column titled, "Thank you to the professor who has been taking my calls for almost 30 years." Columnist Jonathan Hunley begins the article by writing, "No more faculty meetings, and no more papers to grade. But we’ll still get to hear his thoughts on politics on TV and radio, and read his comments on this website. That’s my two-sentence upbeat conclusion about the retirement of Stephen J. Farnsworth from the University of Mary Washington after three decades in higher education.”  Read the column in the Fredericksburg Free Press.    The post Farnsworth Featured in Column by Fredericksburg Free Press appeared first on EagleEye.

Farnsworth Featured by The Guardian, ABC, MSN & More

Farnsworth Featured by The Guardian, ABC, MSN & More Professor Emeritus of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth was featured by The Guardian, ABC News, Spectrum News and other outlets in features about late night programming. Farnsworth is a co-author of Late Night With Trump: Political Humor and the American Presidency and other books on politics. He was quoted by Spectrum News, saying, "One of the rules of life is not to mess with success, but this is exactly what CBS is doing with late night.” Learn more from Spectrum News. The post Farnsworth Featured by The Guardian, ABC, MSN & More appeared first on EagleEye.

UMW Announces 2026 Faculty Emeriti

At the end of each spring semester, UMW faculty gather to approve the graduates and recognize colleagues who are retiring from their dedicated service. Departmental tributes chronicle their time in classrooms and labs, with committees and in communities, and as leaders in undergraduate research and in their areas of study. In spring 2026, the University of Mary Washington recognized seven faculty emeriti.

  • Ana G. Chichester, Professor Emerita of Spanish
  • Stephen J. Farnsworth, Professor Emeritus of Political Science
  • Alan B. Griffith, Professor Emeritus of Biology
  • Janusz Konieczny, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics
  • J. Larry Lehman, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics
  • Joseph W. Nicholas, Associate Professor Emeritus of Geography
  • Grant R. Woodwell, Professor Emeritus of Geology

Together, the 2026 faculty emeriti represent the very best of UMW’s academic mission – collective decades of curiosity, rigor, mentorship and unwavering dedication to students. Read more about the 2026 Faculty Emeriti.

Farnsworth Featured in Newsweek, Virginia Business & More

UMW Political Science professor Stephen Farnsworth (Photo by Norm Shafer).

Professor Emeritus of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth was featured by Newsweek in an article titled, “Democrats Dealt Major Blow as Virginia Supreme Court Tosses New Map.” It is a “significant setback” for Democrats, Farnsworth told Newsweek. “The hope for the Democrats had been that Virginia could counter Republican gains in Ohio, Missouri and North Carolina and now that’s not going to happen,” he said. “Democrats are still probably likely to pick up one or two seats with the old map but nowhere near the net gain of four with the new lines.” Read more in Newsweek.

Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Va. Gov. Spanberger still has dozens of bills to consider (The Virginian-Pilot; The Free Lance-Star)
“The governor has sent her message,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, after word leaked that Spanberger plans to veto the collective bargaining and class-action lawsuit bills. “Now, the question is how loud that message is going to be. Maybe it’s a preview of coming attractions, or this message will be sufficient.” Read more in the Free Lance-Star.

Virginia Democrats balk at proposal to retire state Supreme Court (Virginia Business)
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, said, “The idea of mandatory retirement in your 50s for a judge seems ridiculous. “Democrats wisely abandoned this idea almost immediately,” Farnsworth added. “That strikes most people as pretty unreasonable, and Democrats would pay a high price if they tried to employ this approach.” Read more in Virginia Business.

Democrats defend Maine Senate candidate’s controversial history (Fox News)
“What we are seeing here is the question of a democratic redefinition,” said Stephen Farnsworth. View more from Fox News.

Trump rejecting Iran’s latest deal poses a ‘serious threat’: political analyst (CTV News Canada)
“Well, it does seem that both the Iranians and the Americans are convinced that time is on their side, said Stephen Farnsworth. View more from CTV News.

Virginia Democrats appeal to US Supreme Court and consider wiping out their own (The Washington Examiner)
“The decision is going to be made by the Supreme Court about whether or not they are going to be new lines in Virginia,” said Stephen Farnsworth. View more from The Washington Examiner.

Farnsworth Featured in Newsweek, Virginia Business & More

Farnsworth Featured in Newsweek, Virginia Business & More

Professor Emeritus of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth was featured by Newsweek in an article titled, "Democrats Dealt Major Blow as Virginia Supreme Court Tosses New Map." It is a "significant setback" for Democrats, Farnsworth told Newsweek. "The hope for the Democrats had been that Virginia could counter Republican gains in Ohio, Missouri and North Carolina [...]

The post Farnsworth Featured in Newsweek, Virginia Business & More appeared first on EagleEye.

Farnsworth Featured by C-SPAN, Newsweek & More

Farnsworth Featured by C-SPAN, Newsweek & More Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth, who also directs UMW's Center for Leadership and Media Studies, was featured by C-SPAN in an piece titled, "Stephen Farnsworth on Virginia's Redistricting Referendum." In the piece, Farnsworth said, "What happens in Virginia may very well shape the outcome for the mid-term elections for Congress and the country as a whole.” Learn more from C-SPAN. In addition to C-SPAN, Farnsworth shared his political expertise with a number of other media outlets, including WUSA, Newsweek, Almanac of American Politics and more. Recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:   Trump’s Approval Rating Hampering 6 Republican Incumbents: GOP Polls (Newsweek) Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, told Newsweek on Wednesday that Trump’s approval ratings, if not soon reversed, “are likely to be toxic for Republicans in swing districts.” Read more in Newsweek. Multiple lawsuits challenge Virginia’s redistricting election. Here’s where each case stands. (Virginian Pilot) “Right now, voters don’t know what district they’re in, and candidates don’t know what district they’re going to run in,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at University of Mary Washington. “Fortunately, the Virginia Supreme Court tends to move a lot faster than the U.S. Supreme Court, but time is clearly of the essence right now.” Read more in the Virginian Pilot. Virginia judge blocks redistricting referendum (DC News Now) “Well, it always seemed like this was going to be a pretty close contest,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Read more in DC News Now. Trump’s disdain for wind projects creates a political storm for Republicans in coastal Virginia (NBC Washington) Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, said front-line Republicans have been put in a difficult position. “Kiggans is not the only Republican being squeezed” as Trump focuses on his own priorities and the country faces economic headwinds exacerbated by the war with Iran, he said. Although few want to risk upsetting the president, Farnsworth said, “in coastal Virginia politics, there’s not much upside to opposing wind.” Read more in NBC Washington. Virginia Redistricting Battle Now Goes to the Courts (RTVI News US) “The legal question here is not whether the voting outcome was legitimate — it was — but rather whether the referendum question was properly put before the voters in the first place,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. Learn more from RTVI News US. 2 school board members are running for County Council. Will their positions haunt or help? (Baltimore Banner) “Serving on a school board is a double-edged sword, particularly in a place like Montgomery County, where there is a lot of scrutiny,” said University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen J. Farnsworth. Learn more in the Baltimore Banner. Virginia redistricting win sparks jubilation, fierce criticism (WUSA; Yahoo.com) Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, noted that the results highlight a state still deeply polarized by the influence of the Trump era. He also pointed to a missed opportunity for the Republican opposition. Read more in WUSA. Trump’s Redistricting Push Backfires as Virginia Voters Rebuke GOP (Newsweek) Mid-decade redistricting has accomplished “nothing” for Trump, Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, told Newsweek on Wednesday. “President Trump has lost another election in Virginia, and this one may cost Republicans their House majority this fall,” he said. Read more in Newsweek.