In an effort to help create an interdisciplinary, international academic center for the University, the University of Virginia Foundation recently named Stewart Gamage, current vice president of public affairs at the College of William & Mary, director of the University's Morven Project.
The Morven Project seeks to establish an academic center for the University on land given to the University in 2001 by John W. Kluge, University spokesperson Carol Wood said. In her newly created role, which will begin in August, Gamage's responsibilities will include developing academic programming for part of this 7,379-acre property, located in southeastern Albemarle County.
The property for the Morven Project is separated into a 749-acre core property and surrounding farms, Wood said. While the core center is to be used for academic purposes, Wood said, Kluge's gift allowed for the farms to sold in order to create an endowment fund to support the physical property and to help fund future academic programming on the estate.
Wood added that the estate may feature space for conferences and seminars, as well as residential space for visiting scholars.
Gamage said the property potentially could be used for interdisciplinary work and could be transformed into an international academic center. This task, Gamage said, combines her interests in public policy, communications, government relations, the environment and community development.
"It's going to be a huge challenge, but this is a unique opportunity," Gamage said.
Before serving on William & Mary's Board of Visitors and spending the past 15 years as William & Mary's vice president of public affairs, Gamage worked for a variety of public organizations and departments. Gamage served as policy director to the former Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dick Gephardt, D-Missouri, and as associate deputy of intergovernmental affairs at the White House under President Carter.
Gamage's current ties also extend to the University, as she currently serves on the state board of the University's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, according to a William & Mary press release.
Wood, meanwhile, said Gamage's breadth and depth of experience in higher education and in Virginia state government made her an excellent candidate for the position.
"Given her background and experience, she is a really good fit for creating this new program," Wood said.
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