Courage & Care in the Face of Covid-19
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VenturesStevenson University Vol. 41 | No. 1 | Winter 2020-2021 COURAGE & CARE IN THE FACE OF COVID-19 PAGE 14 Around the Quad Page 2 | Fulbright Scholar Award Page 22 | Advancing the Mission Page 26 , Ventures magazine is produced twice a year, in summer and winter. For expanded features, photos, and videos, visit Ventures online at stevenson.edu/ventures. Ventures President News for alumni and friends of Stevenson University Vol. 41 | No. 1 | Winter 2020-2021 Elliot Hirshman, Ph.D. Chair, Board of Trustees T. Scott Pugatch Vice President, University Advancement Christopher R. Vaughan FEATURES Vice President, Marketing and Digital Communications and Publisher John A. Buettner 14 With Courage, Care How Stevenson Students and Alumni Are Serving on the Editors John A. Buettner COVID-19 Pandemic’s Frontlines Alison Cuomo Design Atsuko Biars 22 Biology Alum Receives Contributors Fulbright Scholar Award Chip Burkey, Claire Hoffman, Samantha Brooke Murray ’13, Greg Royce, Brandon Seidl ’06 Advancing the Mission Contributors Office of University Advancement Photography Maximilian Franz, Aaron Harris, Sabina Moran, Dan Siebenhaar, Office of University Advancement IN THIS ISSUE Questions or comments about this issue? Please contact: John A. Buettner, Vice President, 1 President’s Perspective Marketing and Digital Communications Stevenson University 2 Around the Quad 100 Campus Circle Owings Mills, Maryland 21117 443-352-4494 10 Student Success [email protected] 12 Excelling On and Off the Field No part of this publication may be reproduced in print or digital form without prior permission 26 Advancing the Mission from the publisher. 34 Class Notes PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE With the Winter 2020/2021 issue of Ventures, we mark the end of what has been one of the most challenging years in decades for our nation, our university, and our families and friends. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented changes to our lives—how we learn, how we work, and how we interact with others in community. We also know that it has significantly affected many individuals and families personally. Please know that the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes of our university community are with you as we close out 2020 and look forward to better things in 2021. When Stevenson decided to open for the Fall 2020 semester, we anticipated that COVID-19 would pose many challenges for our operations. We were able to remain open, offer online and in-person options for instruction, and provide campus housing and safe activities and events through virtual and physically distanced means. We worked to monitor, respond Care,” shares the perspectives of Stevenson students and to, and limit COVID-19 cases throughout the Fall. Notably, alumni who are helping patients, their families, and the the positivity rate from our Random Surveillance Testing of greater community during this pandemic through nursing, students was 1.15% for the Fall semester, and we are grateful testing, and primary care. Certainly, there are many more that, consistent with prior studies in 2020, symptoms in members of our SU community who are not mentioned in young adults were generally mild and short in duration. the article but who are working daily to ensure the health These experiences are serving us well as we head into the and safety of others. For your selfless service and dedication, Spring semester. we thank you. Throughout the pandemic, individuals have risen to the Lastly, I want to thank Stevenson’s alumni, parents, donors, challenge. The extraordinary efforts of our faculty and staff and friends who have continued to show their support helped us to remain open, teach and serve our students, and for our university community despite the pandemic. Your complete the semester successfully. Our students persevered, generosity throughout 2020 provided transformational gifts focused on their goals, and worked to complete their studies that are creating a brighter future for our students. You will and degrees despite changes and obstacles presented by the read about some them here in this issue of Ventures. evolving nature of the pandemic. Our “Student Success” section will give you a few highlights of our students’ many achievements throughout 2020. Each of us has a role to play in meeting the challenges of COVID-19, but we cannot fail to acknowledge those who are on the frontlines. Our feature article, “With Courage, Elliot L. Hirshman, Ph.D. STEVENSON.EDU | 1 AROUND THE QUAD In Memoriam: Dick Watts On October 25, Stevenson University lost an individual who was and Assistant to the Athletic Director. He was instrumental truly iconic of Mustang athletics and foundational to what SU in educating the administration about to the importance of has become in DIII sports. Richard “Dick” Watts passed away at athletics to the university while assisting with the application the age of 92. He served as VJC/Stevenson’s Director of Physical and acceptance into the NCAA as a member of Division III, Education and later Assistant to the Athletic Director from 1990 which came in 1994. to 2013. Watts was a member of the inaugural class of the Stevenson “Dick Watts represents the spirit of service and commitment University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014, and in 2015 the Hall of to innovation that is the core of Stevenson University,” said Fame was named in his honor. President Elliot Hirshman. “We are grateful for his legendary Before arriving at Villa Julie, Watts was the head men’s accomplishments in moving the university and our athletics lacrosse coach at UMBC (1971-93) and served as the school’s programs forward.” first athletic director from 1967 to 1985. He guided the Retrievers “Dick was truly essential to the creation of our athletic to the NCAA Division II national championship in 1980 and program,” said Director of Athletics Brett Adams. “As the founding totaled 178 victories during his career. A 1956 graduate of Johns father of team sports, Dick helped form a club lacrosse program Hopkins, he was a two-time All-American as a defenseman for at Villa Julie and later helped Carol Zimmerman complete the the Blue Jays. application for NCAA membership. Dick was the force behind Watts is a member of no less than five Halls of Fame. In our many ‘firsts’—our first field, our first scoreboard, our first addition to the Stevenson Hall of Fame that bears his name, teams. Without Dick Watts, to have the program we have today he is a member of the US Lacrosse National Hall of Fame, the with 700 varsity athletes and 200 club sport athletes would not UMBC Hall of Fame, the US Lacrosse Greater Baltimore Chapter have been possible.” Hall of Fame, and the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches The architect behind the university’s physical education, Association Hall of Fame, to which he was inducted in 2019. intramural, and intercollegiate athletic programs, Watts spent “Those who are fortunate to have been around Dick and be 25 years at Stevenson, from 1988 to 2013, first as a consultant mentored by him are saddened by his passing, but we will be to VJC President Carolyn Manuszak then later serving as a forever grateful for the love and guidance he gave to us and to Physical Education instructor, Director of Physical Education, Stevenson,” said Adams. 2 | VENTURES/WINTER 2020-2021 AROUND THE QUAD 2020: A Year for Rosewood Transformative Giving to Milestone: The Stevenson Future Owings Mills East On September 25, 2020, Stevenson marked a significant milestone in its history, concluding its agreement with the State of Maryland and assuming ownership of Parcels 1 and 2 of the former Rosewood Center property. Under the Owings Mills East, LLC, the property will be developed as an Despite the challenges of 2020, the year also brought a number of transformative gifts to athletic and recreational hub providing the university that will help develop new campus facilities and support student success. space for the expansion of Stevenson’s Please see “Advancing the Mission” starting on page 26 for news about gifts supporting current facilities. Owings Mills East the new Owings Mills Campus Library, Starliper Applied Finance Lab, nursing program, will ultimately encompass a track, and scholarships. turf and grass fields, and baseball and softball fields as well as roads, parking, and facilities for maintenance “Advancing the Mission” section for . and equipment. Grading and site more preparation are now underway. STEVENSON.EDU | 3 AROUND THE QUAD New Leadership on the President’s Cabinet This year, President Hirshman appointed to new vice presidents to the President’s Cabinet. In July, Melanie Edmondson, formerly Associate Vice President of Financial Affairs, joined the Cabinet as Interim Vice President of Finance and Administration and CFO. Edmondson has served the university for more than 24 years, joining in 1996 as Controller. Edmondson brings a breadth of experience in budget and financial analysis, planning, and reporting systems as well as extensive experience with construction accounting and management, and work with state and local government agencies. Edmondson and her husband Chad are proud parents of 2018 SU graduate, Sam; and Jake, who is completing his Legal Studies degree this year. Edmondson’s exemplary track record and dedication were recognized in May 2018 when she was honored with the President’s Medal. Antionette Marbray joined Stevenson as Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, COVID-19 Operations, in September. A seasoned administrator with more than 20 years of experience in student affairs and in higher education law, policy, and compliance, Marbray served as an Associate Vice President at San Diego State University where she Melanie Edmondson provided leadership and had direct responsibility for health and wellness, student rights and responsibilities, international student services, and career services, among other areas. Marbray is charged with monitoring developments in federal, state, and local COVID-19 compliance requirements that impact the university, and informing the President, Vice Presidents, and other university stakeholders.