As Spiders Do

What happens when an entire family falls in love with the same university? In this episode we hear from a special family of five spiders. Mike, Shannon, Claire, Emily and Alice share their journeys, the opportunities that shaped them, and how the University of Richmond fostered a sense of community that still connects them today. Learn about what makes UR so special but also the Mendelson's dy...

Valentine’s Day is here, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a special episode of As Spiders Do ! Join us as Spider couples and friends share their stories of how they got tangled in each other’s webs. Whether you're single, taken, or simply a hopeless romantic, let’s come together to celebrate love in all its forms. Thank you to Anna Lowenthal, '19, Mike Flanagan, '18, Sc...

Season 3 of As Spiders Do kicks off with an interview with Andy Bobowski, '08 where he shares how mentorship and hinge experiences have shaped his life. We explore how connection and going outside of our comfort zones help us empower each other and ourselves. Learn more about Andy's company, backrs, here:  https://www.backrs.com/ . Editing by Maggie Johnson, '18, Associate Director of...

Ever wondered what it's like for alumni to come back to campus, not as students but as faculty and staff? In this episode of From Inside the Web , we highlight the stories of Spider alumni who have returned to their alma mater to support the University of Richmond community. Join us as we chat with Lauren Withrow, '07, Kim Dean-Anderson, '97, Peter Thomas, '07, and Taylor Hoogstede...

Did you know there's a labyrinth of tunnels that connects the buildings of Richmond College? Join us for our special Halloween episode of As Spiders Do , as we explore an unseen side of campus, featuring two alums who have explored it for themselves. Please note, the tunnels can be extremely dangerous due to high temperature steam and industrial electrical wiring. Please do not attempt to visi...

What’s it like to come full circle at your alma mater, helping shape the next generation of Spiders? In this episode of "From Inside the Web," we dive into the stories of University of Richmond alumni who have returned to campus as admissions officers. Hear how their experiences as students inspired them to help others embark on their own Richmond journey, and learn how their time at UofR...

"My pathway to Richmond was indirect. My ability to stay at Richmond was also pretty creative, but the school holds a very special place in my heart because I had to fight for it." Today on As Spiders Do , Brandon Shelton, '98 shares his journey from UR's Army ROTC to Ranger School and Military Intelligence to founding a company that invests in veteran founders. Tune in to hear how...

Ever wondered what happens when alumni return to their alma mater to teach? Our latest episode of "From Inside the Web" dives into the journeys of Spider alumni who have come full circle as faculty members and academic administrators! Join us as we chat about their experiences as students, their paths to academia, and how their Richmond roots continue to shape their careers. Music by Wahyu...

Introducing our newest Mini Webisode series - “From Inside the Web!” In these episodes, we feature alumni who returned to UR as employees. As you’ll soon hear, there are truly Spider alumni everywhere on this campus. In our first episode, we chat with members of the Law School faculty and staff. Music by Wahyuddin and sound effects from Pixabay . This episode was edited and produced by Charlotte H...

We're throwing it back to Reunion 2024 with live recordings from a few of the Saturday night class parties! Tune in to hear what members of the classes of 2004, 2009, and 2019 think makes UR special! Editing and production by Charlotte Haneke, Assistant Director of Student & Young Graduate Programming and Maggie Johnson, '18, Associate Director of Regional & Young Grad Engagement....

"I think about belonging as living authentically without barriers. And I'm going to emphasize the without barriers." Today on "As Spiders Do," guest host Alicia Moseley, Assistant Director of Alumni Belonging, and Ben Delk, '09 discuss the significance of employee resource groups in his career and the evolution of his role in DEIB work. Join us as Ben offers valuable insigh...

A lot can change in 50 years, but there's a thread that connects the University of Richmond experience through the generations. In this episode, we explore that thread by conversing with two alums who are gearing up for their 5th and 50th reunion celebrations this year. Check out our Reunion Weekend schedule and register for events here:  reunion.richmond.edu . Editing and production by Maggie...

It's that special time of year when our newest graduating class take their first steps into the real world and we welcome them with open arms into the University of Richmond Alumni Association! In this Mini Webisode, young grads from the Classes of 2015 - 2023 offer words of wisdom to our newest grads and to the whole alumni community. Editing and production by Charlotte Haneke, Assistant Dire...

Reunion Weekend 2024 is just around the corner! Our amazing class committee volunteers have been hard at work helping to plan a weekend full of events you won't want to miss! A few of them took some time to sit down with us and share why they volunteer and why they can't wait to celebrate with fellow Spiders at the end of May. Check out our Reunion Weekend schedule and register for events...

Cheers to one year of "As Spiders Do!" To celebrate the anniversary of our first episode, we're bringing you a conversation between Maggie, the host of the podcast, and Erin, her best friend from UR. They talk about how they went from random roommates to lifelong friends, traveling the world together, their love of campus traditions, and of course, their favorite show, "Gilmore Gir...

"To have people show up vulnerably and say 'this is what I want to work on' and to be able to coach them on that is an absolute privilege because I know that that's translating into the classroom and impacting young people. And it's a beautiful ripple effect." Today on "As Spiders Do," guest host Alicia Moseley and Tamisha Williams, '06 discuss what it means to...

Love is in the air, and what better way to celebrate it than with this special Valentine's Day episode of “As Spiders Do.” Take a trip down memory lane with us as a few Spider couples share how they got caught in each other’s webs. Whether you're single, in a relationship, or simply a hopeless romantic like me, join us as we celebrate love in all it’s forms. Editing by Charlotte Pfamatter,...

"In order for me to keep my faith in myself, in my business, and in the life I'm building, I have to be able to sit down and find moments to dream and visualize what that could be like." Today on "As Spiders Do," LaTonia Cokely, '06 shares her life's journey - from first-generation college student, to losing her parents in her 20's, to teaching middle school and mos...

Cheers to a New Year and a new season of "As Spiders Do"! We're kicking off the new season with the introduction of our Mini Webisode series. Tune in to hear what six alums are most looking forward to in 2024! Editing and production by Maggie Johnson, '18 and Charlotte Pfamatter. Music by Looptape from Pixabay . Sound Effect by Sergei Chetvertnykh from Pixabay . Sign up for our new...

"Being able to be there with the families while in one of the worst days of their life, watching smoke pour out of their house, is an honor and it's a privilege." Today on "As Spiders Do," Dorie Griggs, W'81 shares about her experience as a college sports manager, public relations manager and chaplain. She was the first woman to travel with the UR men's basketball team...

"But if you think about where nature is, you know, nature is far away. Nature is on the fringes of our society. Well, who lives in those places? It's Indigenous peoples. So, you know, a lot of these tribes are the longtime stewards of nature. So my work has really changed to be from a science focus to...more about the who and the how than that what." Today on "As Spiders Do," A...

Join us to explore some of our favorite legends about the University of Richmond! Delve into the stories about the ghosts, spirits and mummies that roam the campus. Narration, editing and production by Maggie Johnson, '18 and Charlotte Pfamatter. Music by Oleg Fedak and Dmitry Taras . Sound effects by Mikhail  and Pixabay .

In this episode of “As Spiders Do,” we embark on a delectable journey about the intersection of food and community. Food has always been a catalyst for connection, bringing people together in authentic ways. Join us to hear two stories of alums who started their own food businesses and found community through their work. Episode editing by Charlotte Pfamatter. Episode music by  FASSounds  from  Pi...

"We've got a nation of people who have not had equitable access or their portal to understanding chemistry has been closed to them. So this opens it up to just about everybody." Today on "As Spiders Do," Colleen Kelley, W'88 shares about what it's like to attend college as a first-generation student, also staying true to your dreams as an entrepreneur and creating equit...

"My story is still being written..." In this episode, Dr. Brad Bongiovanni, R'92 and Jon Chandonnet, R'92 share about their own wellness journeys and their advice on and passion for well-being in all of us. These college friends explore the deeper connections that bind Spiders together long after our time on campus. See Jon's Vibrant U Academy to learn about the 7 pillars of we...