Contact Information:
Mailing address: 1301 College Avenue, 314 George Washington Hall, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Phone: 540-654-1052
Dr. Keith E. Mellinger became Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2018. Prior to serving as dean, Dr. Mellinger spent 14 years as a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics and served in various leadership positions at UMW including six years as the mathematics department chair, a short term as Director of Academic and Career Services, and four years as the director of UMW’s Quality Enhancement Plan which put him in charge of the university’s reformed First-Year Experience.
As dean, Dr. Mellinger serves as the chief academic officer in matters of curriculum and personnel for the College of Arts and Sciences. He is responsible for program and faculty development, faculty hiring, strategic planning, and budget management. He is a member of the Provost’s academic leadership team.
Dr. Grant Woodwell began his term as Associate Dean in the fall of 2012. He has been a faculty member in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences since the fall of 1986. In his role, Dr. Woodwell is a principal advisor to the Dean in matters of strategic planning for the college. He oversees department course scheduling, faculty development grant programs, and the curricular development for the college. In addition, Dr. Woodwell represents the Dean’s office on a variety of committees including the Curriculum Committee and the Faculty Development and Grants Committee.
Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Lewis started as the Assistant Dean for the college in January of 2020. A former chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, Dr. Lewis began as a Professor of Spanish at Mary Washington College in 1998. As the Assistant Dean, Dr. Lewis oversees all aspects of support for our undergraduate research programs, including the annual Research and Creativity Day event. She also supports the college’s partnership agreements with programs outside of UMW including the accelerated pathways to medical school, law school, and George Mason’s Volgenau School of Engineering.
Meredith O’Connell
She is the first point of contact for matters directed to the dean, is a resource agent for the college’s 20 academic departments, and manages the large amount of documentation maintained in the Dean’s office.