WINTER 2016
President’s
INSIDER
FROM THE DESK OF DAVID JAMISON, PROVOST & INTERIM PRESIDENT OF ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY
In June, the Board of Trustees bestowed on me the honor of being named the interim president of Robert Morris University. I continue to serve as provost, which, in the simplest terms, is the chief academic officer for the university. I think it is significant that the Board decided to charge the chief academic officer with leading Robert Morris during this period of transition. That isn’t always what happens when a university presidency becomes vacant. So I was gratified not only by the Board’s vote of confidence in me personally, but also for their affirmation that our academic mission takes precedence over all else and their recognition of the increasing rigor and enhanced reputation of our academic programs. Our former president, Dr. Gregory Dell’Omo, will likely be best remembered for having launched the Student Engagement Program with its innovative Student Engagement Transcript. But Dr. Dell’Omo took great pride in his collaboration with the faculty to bolster our academic programs, which go hand in hand with the Student Engagement Program to produce the excellent professional and personal outcomes that have become our hallmark. As part of our current strategic plan, in 2014 we launched the Center for Innovative Teaching and Directed Engaged Learning, which manages the Student Engagement Program and also offers faculty a range of programs and resources to improve their teaching, integrate new technology and methods, and develop meaningful engagement activities for their students. This will fully integrate the Student Engagement Program into the academic curriculum and thus allow students to demonstrate to prospective employers precisely how they can add value to the organization and that what they learned is highly relevant to the job they are seeking.
When Dr. Dell’Omo spoke at his final President’s Council dinner at the end of 2014, he talked about the RMU Gallup Survey, but he did not have the complete results to share. Since then we have touted those results far and wide, most recently in our magazine, Foundations, and on billboards all over town. Our graduates are more likely to be employed full-time, to be engaged in their work, and to enjoy personal well-being than other college graduates nationwide. What’s more, students who graduated since 2009 are more likely to report that they had the six experiences as undergraduates at RMU that Gallup’s research shows are directly related to professional and personal success later in life. For example, 72 percent of RMU graduates since 2009 report having had a professor who got them excited about learning, compared to 56 percent among alumni who graduated between 1970 and 2001. Why is that important? Because graduates who report having had an instructor who made them excited about learning are three times as likely to be engaged in their work as other graduates. So I’m pleased with our trajectory, but we need every student to have the same experiences at RMU as the best of our students. Our next president, Dr. Christopher Howard — with his outstanding record of military and government service, corporate experience, and leadership in higher education — is ideally suited to take on this challenge, and we are all excited to be a part of his team. Thank you for your continued support as together we write the next chapter of the story of Robert Morris University. Sincerely,
David L. Jamison
President’s
INSIDER PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL DINNER Robert Morris University’s leading supporters and alumni gathered at Heinz Field last month for the annual President’s Council Dinner. Attendees enjoyed meeting the university’s most promising seniors, who were nominees for the prestigious Rising Star Award, and Trustee Morgan O’Brien ‘82 M’85 received the Alumni Heritage Award. To end the evening, David Jamison, provost and interim president, introduced President-elect Chris Howard, who takes office next month. More pictures are available here.
RISING STAR AWARD NOMINEES
HERITAGE AWARD WINNER MORGAN O’BRIEN ‘82 M’85
WINTER 2016
THE RMU FIFE AND DRUM CORPS
RISING STAR AWARD WINNER HUNTER CARLHEIM
WINTER 2016
President’s
INSIDER
AWARD WINNERS 2015 Alumni Heritage Award Winner Morgan O’Brien ‘82 M’85
2015 Rising Star Award Winner Hunter Carlheim
Pittsburgh Magazine recently put Morgan on the cover of its “Pittsburghers of the Year” issue for his considerable accomplishments, both as CEO of two major Pittsburgh corporations — before Peoples he was the top executive at Duquesne Light — and as a powerful advocate of regional growth at the Allegheny Conference on Community and Economic Development, where he has spent the past three years as chairman.
An applied mathematics major, Hunter Carlheim is a student teacher at Avonworth School District and plans to pursue his master’s and doctorate in mathematics education after graduation in the spring. He is also an avid volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Ronald McDonald House, and other volunteer organizations and averages 400 hours of community service annually.
Morgan also serves with dedication and diligence on the RMU Board of Trustees. He is a strong advocate for his alma mater in the region and is leading efforts to win support for a new events center on campus.
Hunter’s list of campus activities includes Interfraternity Council, Phi Delta Theta, College Democrats, Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, and the Student Conduct Board. He is fluent in sign language and occasionally translates for the hearing impaired.
Watch a video tribute to Morgan and hear his acceptance speech. “I’ve never forgotten how important Robert Morris has been to me, and I kept thinking to myself that I owe so much to the university, but how do I ever pay it back? The whole idea started with a conversation about the events center. I’m passionate about basketball and passionate about Robert Morris, and it really hit home that this could be at least a part of my thank you.” “We need to have reasons to bring people to campus. We need to have people appreciate the beauty of the campus and the value of what RMU means to this region.”
Watch the award presentation and Hunter’s acceptance speech. “On behalf of all the students at RMU, I want to thank all of you for believing and investing in us. You are truly changing our lives and giving us a brighter future full of hope and opportunities.” “Again, thank you all for your contributions to Robert Morris University. I’m honored to win the Rising Star Award, but most importantly I’m proud to be a Colonial.”
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