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Dr. Mary Frances Berry Delivers Feller Lecture

IN APRIL, THE BSOS COMMUNITY welcomed Dr. Mary Frances Berry—a world-renowned activist and pioneer in championing racial and gender equality who served as a leader at UMD in the 1970s—back to campus to deliver the Feller Lecture.

Dr. Berry spoke about her time serving as the director of Afro-American Studies, what is now the Department of African American Studies, and being appointed in 1974 to lead the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences, what is now BSOS. Dr. Berry was the first Black woman at UMD to hold such a senior executive position.

The college community thanks our donors and friends for their support. Recent, transformative gifts include: n Dr. Melanie E. Bennett and Dr. Jack J. Blanchard established a namesake Maryland Promise Scholarship with a gift of $50,000. n With a gift of $50,000, Ivanna L. Cole, ACCT ’04, and Alonzo S. Cole, Jr., SOCY ’05, created a namesake Maryland Promise Scholarship. n The Kenneth E. Glover Leadership Development Endowed Student Support Fund was established by Mrs. Lauren Dugas Glover with a gift of $50,000. The fund supports the Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. Center for Education, Justice and Ethics. n With a gift of $50,000, Dr. Joan R. Kahn created a namesake Endowed Graduate Research Support Fund in Sociology, which provides support for graduate students in Sociology. n Paul Mandell, GVPT ’95, donated $100,000 to create the Lisa Marion Mandell Maryland Promise Scholarship n Sachin Sachdeva, ECON ’97, established a namesake Maryland Promise Scholarship with a gift of $50,000. n Brandon Tepper, CCJS ’98, and Michelle Tepper, CCJS ’99 made a $50,000 gift in support of the Feller Center for Advising and Career Planning. n A gift of $150,000 from Dr. Jingli Yang, GEOG ’95, and Dr. Peter Li made possible the Dr. Jingli Yang and Dr. Peter Li Endowed Graduate Student Experience Fund •

Dr. Berry discussed her extensive career in academia and as a public servant, which included serving as chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder; as assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; and as chairwoman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Following her remarks, Dr. Berry engaged in a Q&A session facilitated by Dean Susan Rivera

When asked about navigating today’s political climate, Dr. Berry encouraged audience members to talk to someone they don’t agree with. She said when one is considering standing up in opposition to, or support for, something that might be controversial or challenging, ask yourself, “Is it right?”

Dr. Berry also said you’ll know you are on the right path when you feel “a fire in your bones.” •

Read more at go.umd.edu/berry23