University of Richmond Magazine

The art of the crossover

Richmond soccer player Marisa Snee steps off the pitch to test her skills in sports where a foot (almost) never touches a ball.

Katie Fishman stands at the top of an abandoned Ski jump in Bosnia.

Lives Of Purpose

What’s the best way to travel solo?

Katie Fishman, ’09, has been to more than 100 countries. Here’s her advice for how to travel well when you’re on your own.

A photo of Gene de Souza with a microphone.

Spider Questionnaire

‘Time is precious and should not be wasted’

Gene De Souza, ’97, spends his time immersed in music, which he calls a universal language that brings people together. Here, he answers the Spider Questionnaire.

A collage featuring 6 different University of Richmond faculty.

Academic Excellence

Generative AI is raising new questions for liberal arts education.

Here’s how the University of Richmond is helping lead the quest for answers.

Spiders Near and Far

Filmmaking

Filmmaker on bringing his new rom-com to the big screen

UR history major turned creative producer, Warin Henry, ’09, is bringing his “educate, entertain, enlighten” philosophy to his biggest film yet.

Martha Callaghan, vice president of advancement, and President Kevin F. Hallock, at a presidential reception event

Engagement

President Hallock hosts alumni, talks Spider pride and progress

At a December alumni reception, President Kevin F. Hallock shared his infectious optimism about Richmond’s future — and issued a simple rallying cry.

Robert Drewry, ’12 and L’16, competing in the London Marathon

Lives Of Purpose

University of Richmond alum runs the London Marathon

Robert Drewry, ’12 and L’16, ran the London Marathon to raise money for cancer research in honor of his late father — and fellow Spider — who died of leukemia.

Civic Dialogue

I knocked on hundreds of doors last summer. Here’s what I learned.

Interning with a campaign gave senior Sophia Demerath practical experience with listening and finding common ground.

“You don’t focus on the destination — you focus on the journey.”

—Jane Pope Rigot, W’73, who walked the Camino de Santiago after a Parkinson’s diagnosis

Eye

Around Campus

Moments

They stuck together

Collegian reporter Amelia Beard, ’29, wrote about a celebration of roommates who became great friends and just kept rooming together through four years at UR.

A guest speaker leads a discussion at the McDowell Institute lecture series

Forum

Modeling constructive dialogue

President Hallock writes that the University of Richmond is recognized as a place that values and supports the exchange of ideas.

Expert

How to thrive with adult ADHD

Psychology professor Laura Knouse, author of the new book Living Well with Adult ADHD, offers five practical tips backed by science.

Back Then

The Boatwright Memorial Library book heist of 1974

A UR sophomore’s bold 1974 “booknapping” made national headlines — and encouraged a rare book renaissance on campus.

“The goal was never to have students reach a specific conclusion.”

—Terry Price, professor who teaches You Can’t Think That! Or Can You?

Sports

Molly Wise jumping at the 2025 NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon

Track And Field

The Spider that flies

Long jumper Molly Wise, the program record-holder, is elevating her goals for her senior season. Her talent has already put her on the national stage.

A photo of Ally Sweeney high-fiving a member of the women's basketball staff.

Spider Basketball

The coaches’ kids

Spider women’s basketball has one of the nation’s elite scorers, one of the top three-point attacks, and a panoply of other not-so-secret weapons. But there’s one intangible that might be staying under the radar.

Spider Questionnaire

Katie Fishman stands on the Great Wall of China with the wall seen behind her.

Spider Questionnaire

‘Do what feels right’

Katie Fishman, ’09, has traveled the world since graduation. She talks about trusting her instincts and avoiding the trap of doing “what society says you are ‘supposed’ to do.”

Spider Questionnaire

‘No one else can live out my goals for me’

Kadeem Alphanso Fyffe, ’13, talks about the power of self-belief, learning not to worry about others’ opinions, and his commitment to living boldly and authentically.

Gwynne McCue, ’97, climbing in the mountains of Nepal

Spider Questionnaire

‘Believe in yourself, even when you don’t’

Gwynne McCue, ’97, knows mindset matters, wishes we could all find more common ground, and talks about what being a Spider means to her.

Spider Questionnaire

‘Work hard, add value’

Drew Poffel, ’99, quotes Mike Tyson, embraces optimism, and talks about why worrying is rarely the effort.

Faculty spotlight

An illustration depicting the various translation scenarios from the article.

Postscript

Traduttore traditore

“The translator is a traitor,” goes the Italian saying. Five faculty who regularly work on translations describe a word or phrase that challenged their ability to convey meaning from one language to another.

A photo of professor Joe Hoyle. He is smiling at the camera and standing in his office, which is plastered with posters, postcards, art, and other mementos.

Curriculum Vitae

The professor who merges Socrates and spreadsheets

Accounting professor Joe Hoyle has spent decades refining a teaching style that’s both demanding and deeply supportive.

Voices

Hot seat: A Q&A with the Richmond professor whose statue melted in the D.C. heat

Art professor Sandy Williams IV talks about the incredible melting Lincoln statue, the memes and discussions it sparked, and the role of art.

Research

I taught rats to drive, but they taught me to enjoy the ride

A neuroscientist on lessons learned from teaching rodents to drive a mini-car.

Editor’s picks

A photo of the African landscape as the sun sets with photos of Mark and Dave as college students and more recently as adults.

SPIDER FAMILY

A long walk together

A longtime friendship formed at Richmond led to a remarkable reunion far from Virginia.

A promo photo of Maggie Doogan in her Spiders jersey.

Spider Basketball

The making of Richmond Spider Maggie Doogan

No one knows Maggie Doogan’s story like Chrissie Doogan. Maggie’s mother, youth coach, and biggest fan tells the story of her daughter’s rise — and Richmond’s — to national prominence in women’s college basketball.

Paths

Kavya Borra: A golden voice

Alongside her studies, Kavya Borra, ’24, spent her time at Richmond developing her singing talent and career. Here’s your chance to say you knew her when.

A grid of portraits featuring Barry Greene, Ellen Sisson, Rachel Pierce Newell, Steve Gordon, Laura Lee Chandler, Jean Scott, and Birch Douglass. The grid has two open squares with a dark blue background.

Lives Of Purpose

7 over 70

In this riff on “30 Under 30” lists, meet seven Spiders who show that a Richmond education keeps rewarding alumni for decades after graduation.

Spider expertise

Tyler Rigot, GC’25, celebrating with teammates at the end of a Banana Ball game in Richmond

Baseball

How to think like a Banana Ball player

After Tyler Rigot, GC’25, finished his final athletic season, he jumped to playing in the Banana Ball league, a fast-paced and antic-filled twist on baseball.

Maggie Morganfield Parker, ’05, in a playroom for children

Expert

How to help children heal and grow through playtime

Professor and certified play therapist Maggie Morganfield Parker, ’05, offers tips for designing and participating in good play with children.

Student reading in a hammock at Westhampton Lake

Wellbeing

How to be supportive

UR’s director of CAPS offers his tips for how to support the mental health needs of the college student in your life.

Expert

How to design the best room in your home

Gwynne McCue, ’97, is a Manhattan-based interior designer and “a practical magician.” She shares her tips for creating your perfect interior.

President’s columns

Classroom of students listening to lecture with laptops open

Forum

AI is on our minds at UR

President Hallock reflects on efforts across campus to understand and teach the AI-related skills and competencies Spiders should have when they graduate.

Students in biology lab with professor John Peters

Forum

What do Spiders do all summer?

The summer months are very different from the rest — and just as busy, writes President Kevin F. Hallock.

Students studying outside on the grass with colorful flowers in foreground

Forum

Economics of financial aid

Investments in financial aid are key to continuing the university’s upward trajectory, writes Kevin F. Hallock, the university’s president.

President Kevin F. Hallock, teaching a class

Forum

Economic thinking

This semester, President Hallock is co-teaching a course about the economics of universities and the complexities of mission-based decision-making.

More to Explore

Innovation

As part of University of Richmond’s Sharp Viewpoint Speaker Series, leading economists David Autor (MIT) and Anton Korinek (UVA) shared insights as they explored the opportunities and challenges ahead related to the future of work in the age of artificial intelligence.