ST. MARY’S COLLEGE of Maryland
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Named for the 2003 hurricane during which she hatched, “Izzy” has long been a favorite among St. Mary’s College students. Not able to live in the wild due to abnormalities in her shell and toes, she has her own tank in Schaefer Hall.
SPRING 2019
8TH ANNUAL
C H E S A P E AK E
The heartbeat of St. Mary’s College [ PA G E 1 8 ]
PHOTO BY BROOKE LAMPLOUGH ‘19
WRITERS’ CONFERENCE
June 23-29, 2019 at St. Mary’s College
go.smcm.edu/chesapeake
Explore your story. Be part of ours.
STUDENT CLUBS
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE
of Maryland
Calendar of Events Awards Convocation April 19 @ 3:00 p.m. Michael P. O’Brien Athletics & Recreation Center Arena
River Concert Series featuring the Chesapeake Orchestra Fridays, June 21 – July 19 @ 7:00 p.m. Townhouse Green
Commencement May 11 @ 10:00 a.m. Townhouse Green Address by Erin Ryan
8th Annual Chesapeake Writers’ Conference (by application) June 23-29
Alumni Weekend June 6-9
SOAR: Seahawk Orientation, Advising & Registration For first time, first-year students and their families June 26, 27, 28
Mulberry Music Festival: Act 1 featuring Jason Nelson June 14 @ 6:00 p.m. Townhouse Green
Patuxent Defense Forum July 17-18 A joint program of The Woodrow Wilson Center, the U.S. National Ice Center, the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, The Patuxent Partnership, and the Center for the Study of Democracy. This symposium will focus on naval and other maritime operations in an “ice-free Arctic” and brings together experts on arctic marine operations, the environment, science, policy, law, and governance. High-level
S P R I NG 2 0 1 9 , VO L . X L , NO . 2
www.smcm.edu/mulberrytree Editor Lee Capristo Design Jensen Design Photographer Bill Wood Editorial Board Karen Anderson, Michael Bruckler, Lee Capristo, Molly McKee-Seabrook ’10, Gus Mohlhenrich, Karen Raley ’94, Kelly Schroeder Publisher Office of Institutional Advancement St. Mary’s College of Maryland 47645 College Drive St. Mary’s City, Maryland 20686
The Mulberry Tree is published by St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Maryland’s public honors college for the liberal arts and sciences. It is produced for alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, the local community, and friends of the College. The magazine is named for the famous mulberry tree under which the Calvert colonists signed a treaty of friendship with the Yaocomico people and on the trunk of which public notices were posted in the mid-1600s. The tree endured long into the 19th century and was once a popular meeting spot for St. Mary’s College students. The illustration of the mulberry tree on the cover was drawn in 1972 by Earl Hofmann, artist-in-residence when St. Mary’s College President Renwick Jackson launched the magazine. Copyright 2019 The opinions expressed in The Mulberry Tree are those of the individual authors and not necessarily those of the College. The editor reserves the right to select and edit all material. Manuscripts and letters to the editor are encouraged and may be addressed to Editor, The Mulberry Tree, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, 47645 College Drive, St. Mary’s City, MD 20686. Photographs and illustrations may not be reproduced without the express written consent of St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
CSD
opening remarks are anticipated from members of the Alaska Congressional Delegation, NOAA, Navy, USCG, USARC, industry, and other representatives from the U.S., Arctic nations, and international community. More information: https://www.star. nesdis.noaa.gov/Ice2019/ Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Amphitheater, Washington, D.C. Governor’s Cup Yacht Race August 2-3 Fall Orientation & Welcome Week August 29 – September 7 First Day of Classes September 3
Jamie L. Roberts Stadium Dedication September 7
Piano Festival by the River with Beverly Babcock, Brian Ganz, Eliza Garth August 30 - September 2 Schedule at www.smcm.edu/ events/piano-festival-by-the-river/ Auerbach Auditorium of St. Mary’s Hall Hawktoberfest October 4-6
2018 CALENDAR Spring Break-a-Sweat | April 14
Alumni athletes from the fall and winter sports head back to campus to reconnect with one another, meet the current student-athletes and enjoy their reunion games. Registration opens February 1.
CHESAPEAKE
W RtoIBay T E RService S’ CO N F| EApril REN E Bay Days 21-C 22
Alumni have organized service projects from Annapolis workshops in fiction, poetry, toIntensive the San Francisco Bay to gather together and give back to theirnonfiction, local communities. Registration opens creative translation, February 15. songwriting and screenwriting for
serious writers at all levels of experience.
Alumni Weekend | June 7-10
• Get college and It’s our credit! biggestOptions alumnifor celebration ofgraduate the year!credit (teachers’ professional development). Whether it’s been 50 years, 25 years, or just a year since you’ve been faculty back toand St. Mary’s, we hope to see • Award-winning one-on-one meetings youwith thisagents June. Registration and editors. opens March 15. • Enjoy our waterfront campus by kayak or
| August Governor’s 3-5 about! paddleboard, Cup with sunsets worth writing
Held annually in early August, Governor’s Cup Yacht Race, now celebrating Teachers’ Seminarits 45th running, is the oldest and longest running overnight sailboat race on the • Earn two graduate credits foropens professional Chesapeake Bay. Registration on June 15. development. | October • Connect your own writing practices19-21 with your Hawktoberfest
pedagogy. At the College’s homecoming celebration, over 1,000 alumni the current • Come awayand withparents creativejoin writing exercisesstudents and on assignments campus for atofull weekend of activities and use in your classroom. entertainment. Registration opens August 15.
Youth Workshop (Grades 9-12)
| November 27 Giving Tuesday A fast-paced and wide-ranging literary tour to help
During 24-hour theliterature campus which community youngthis adult writerscampaign, discover the will rallies together to give back to St. Mary’s on this global truly inspire their lives and writing. day of giving. Help make this the most impactful year ever! • Practice a wide range of genres and styles, from Alumni, friends prosefamilies, to poemsand to TV scripts.of the College are welcome to all events! Register at • Plus: games, movie night, swimming and more!
www.smcm.edu/alumni or (240) 895-4280 Enrollment is limited. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
go.smcm.edu/chesapeake
CONTENTS SPRING 2019
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND July 2018 — June 2019
F E AT U R E S
ALUMNI COUNCIL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PA G E 8
Executive Board Allan Wagaman ’06, President Alice Arcieri Bonner ’03, Exec.Vice President Ryan McQuighan ’05, Vice Pres. of Operations Angie Harvey ’83, Secretary Thomas Brewer ’05, Parliamentarian Geoff Cuneo ’10, Treasurer Kate Fritz ‘04, Vice Pres. of Chapter Activities
Chair The Honorable Sven Holmes
Elected Voting Members John Ahearn ’76 Jack Blum ’07 Kelsey Bush ’94 Kate Fritz ’04 Hans Lemke ’93 Molly McKee-Seabrook ’10 Mary Claire McCarthy Moran ’14 Lauren Payne ’09 Amir Reda ’11 Kevin Roth ’93 Bobby Rudd ’13 Paul Schultheis ’98 Sara Kidd Shanklin ’11 Edward Sirianno ’82 Student Member Sophia Macek ’19 Chapter Presidents Annapolis: Erin O’Connell ’91 Baltimore: Marie Snyder ’10 Black Alumni: Nick Abrams ’99 Boston: Marina Carlson ’12 D.C. Metro: Rosa Trembour ’11 Denver: Alisa Ambrose ’85 New York: John Haltiwanger ’10 Philadelphia: Lisa McQuighan-Jordan ’05 San Francisco: Micah Benons ’09 Southern Maryland: Cathy Hernandez Ray ’77 TFMS Alumni: Tammy Swanson ’93 Western Maryland: Kristi Jacobs Woods ’97
Let’s Hear from the Chief
Vice Chair Ann L. McDaniel
Editor-in-Chief of Martha Stewart Living magazine, Elizabeth Graves ’95, tells what it’s like to be part of the Martha Stewart brand and offers insights on living well.
Treasurer John Chambers Wobensmith ’93 Secretary Lawrence “Larry” E. Leak ’76
[ PA G E 8 ] PA G E 1 2
Trustees Carlos Alcazar Anirban Basu John Bell ’95 Arthur “Lex” Birney, Jr. Cynthia Broyles ’79 Peter Bruns Donny Bryan ’73 John Bullock Peg Duchesne ’77 Susan Dyer Elizabeth Graves ’95 Gail Harmon The Honorable Steny Hoyer Capt. Glen Ives, usn Retired Danielle Troyan ’92 Allan Wagaman ’06, Alumni Council President Justin Hoobler ’19, Student Trustee Laura Cripps, hsmc
#Resistance An integrated inquiry on the themes of resistance, rebellion, and liberation came into focus through a faculty-led trip to Antigua, West Indies. PA G E 1 8
Clubs: Then & Now [ PA G E 1 2 ]
Through the years, student clubs come and go, evolve and change. What stays steady is that the heartbeat of the campus can be gauged by the clubs and activities in which students pour their energy and enthusiasm. DEPAR T MEN T S
2
President’s Letter
3
College News
21 Alumni Connection 28 From the Archives [ PA G E 1 8 ] C O V E R : Martine
Niyongabo ’20 working on an issue of the Point News student newspaper, fall 2017. Photo by Howard Korn.
O P P O S I T E & I N S I D E BAC K C OV E R :
Photos by Brooke Lamplough ’19
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | spring 2019 | 1
A
LET T E R
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F ROM
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PR E SI DE N T
ast fall, i unveiled our new brand: the national public honors college. Here is how we’ve been living our new brand:
•
The design and execution of the brand itself was “Best in Show” in the 34th Annual Educational Advertising Awards. •
History professor Adriana Brodsky did research in Israel on a Fulbright Award during the fall semester. Next spring, English professor Jennifer Cognard-Black will be in Amsterdam on her second Fulbright Award. She is also a finalist for Baylor University’s 2020 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching, the only national teaching award – with the single largest monetary reward of $250,000 – presented by a college or university to an individual for exceptional teaching. How about that? One of the three finest teachers in the nation, right here at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Sue Johnson, professor of art, is one of 18 artists selected for the Sam and Adele Golden Foundation Residency Fellowship in New York. She also was chosen for a residency fellowship at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts in Amherst, Virginia, and a residency at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. •
Barry Muchnick, assistant professor of environmental studies, gave an invited talk at the annual conference of the Association of American Colleges & Universities in Atlanta, Georgia, this past January. His colleagues heard about the innovative ways civic learning is embedded within the environmental studies major here at St. Mary’s College.
•
Biology majors Hannah Smith ’20 and Michael Timmer ’20 interned last summer at the National Cancer Institute and have been invited back: Smith returns to work in pediatric oncology and Timmer in neuro-oncology. •
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In a conference usually reserved for graduate students, St. Mary’s College anthropology students Justyce Bennett ’19, Lindsay Wooleyhand ’19, and Emma Hugonnet ’19 presented their St. Mary’s Project research in a session they created and directed, “Cross Disciplinary Research: Cultivating Awareness and Activism Through Collaborative Research.” The AnthroPlus graduate student conference took place at the University of Maryland College Park on Saturday, March 9, 2019. Kenna Nguyen ’18 graduated in December, a semester early. A DeSousa-Brent Scholar with a double major in biochemistry and biology and a minor in mathematics, she was one of 21 inductees to Phi Beta Kappa in March and now is choosing between medical school offers. •
Watch out, world. The National Public Honors College is going to take you by surprise.
Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD President, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Editor’s Note
C
ollege is a time to try things out: through coursework, study tours, clubs and activities: a fall semester club fair gives students a chance to try new things and see what speaks to them. Rose Glenn ’19 joined the Student Government Association’s programs board and now plans to go to graduate school for becoming a trained professional in student activities for higher education. She’ll use her double major in mathematics and economics for a math job to help pay for grad school. While an undergraduate and member of the sailing team, Elizabeth Graves ’95 knew she wanted to work for the Martha Stewart brand someday. She credits Adam Werblow for coaching her in working hard to achieve her goals, on and off the water. Her psychology and English professors inspired her to be curious, to develop her writing and research skills, and to present her thoughts and appreciate those of others. First-year students Chyna Landon ’22 and Charlotte Mac Kay ’22 took their first trip outside the U.S. this spring to Antigua, West Indies, for a study tour as part of their integrated inquiry into the theme of resistance, rebellion, and liberation. Their reflections of this experience and the opened lens through which they view the world, their studies, and their futures, are testaments to the power of new experiences that ignite a spark in the soul. Flames grow from sparks ignited: a club sport becomes a varsity powerhouse of national championships (sailing); a dedicated student club brings in a social justice activist with national fame (Black Student Union and their guest Brittany Packnett); a hardworking journalist on the health and beauty beat climbs to the ethereal heights of editor-in-chief of Martha Stewart Living magazine. What notions caught fire when you were a student? Are there embers still, and if so what would it take to re-ignite them? Perhaps the truest definition of a lifelong learner is one who nurtures their inner spark.
Lee Capristo, editor 2 | St. Mary’s College | T H E MU LBERRY TREE | spring 2019
COLLEGE
NEWS
CAMPUS & COMMUNITY NEWS
From Absence to Presence
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he design firm RE:site, led by founders Shane Allbritton and Norman Lee with Quenton Baker, was selected to design A Commemorative to Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland. The half-acre commemoration site is about 300 feet southeast of the intersection of College Drive and Mattapany Road along the path from the parking area for the new Jamie L. Roberts Stadium. The award of the commission was administered by a selection committee composed of College administration, faculty, staff, and members of the community. The committee selected three artists to submit and present design proposals to the campus community and general public. The presentations were videotaped and the design proposals posted to the College’s website following the presentations where comments were collected. More than $550,000 for this initiative was secured including $500,000 from the state of Maryland plus grants and donations provided by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium, and Elizabeth and Jeffrey Byrd.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland was recently recognized by Campus Labs — a leading company that works with institutions to transform higher education through data and analytics — as an All Star Award winner in its annual awards program. The Campus Labs awards recognize institutions using the Campus Labs platform to drive improvement and innovation on campus, from streamlining administrative processes to enhancing overall student experience.
Tayo Clyburn has been appointed vice president of diversity and inclusion/chief diversity officer. He holds a PhD from The Ohio State University and was the executive director of Ohio State’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. He will join St. Mary’s College in July and report to the president.
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | spring 2019 | 3
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Comedian Roy Wood Jr. took the stage on April 12 as this year’s lecturer for the Mark Twain Lecture Series on American Humor and Culture. The Series has been directed by Professor of English Ben Click since 2007.
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n February 1, St. Mary’s College of Maryland Board of Trustees with President Tuajuanda C. Jordan named Hal Edwin “Ed” Cole Sr. (posthumously) and Loretta “Tiny” Taylor to The Order of the Ark and Dove. Cole’s daughter Trish accepted the honor on his behalf.
Best in Show! Creative Communication Associates (CCA), whose president is Ed Sirianno ’82, garnered top honors in the 34th Annual Educational Advertising Awards with a “Best in Show” and Gold Award for the Brand Spirit video; a Gold Award for the LEAD graphic identity and a Merit Award for campus banners. CCA collaborates with the College’s integrated marketing team on brand and enrollment communications. In the Sixth Annual Education Digital Marketing Awards, St. Mary’s College won Gold for its Labor Day Instagram post on social media and Merit for its Admissions Website. The social media team included Gretchen Phillips, communications specialist; Elizabeth DeGrandpre, assistant director of student activities; Justin Foreman ’12, digital media specialist; Marcus Gore, senior graphic designer; and Meghan Lang ’17, assistant director of admissions. The web services team included Jeannette Modic, director of web services; Dan Pindell ’10, web developer; and Tu Shi, web developer.
L to R: Board Chair Sven E. Holmes, Trish Cole, Tiny Taylor, President Tuajuanda C. Jordan
The Order of the Ark and Dove was originally created in 1972 by President Renwick Jackson to honor those individuals who have given distinguished service to St. Mary’s College. It is the highest honor bestowed by the College. Recent past recipients of The Order of the Ark and Dove include John J. McAllister, Bradley Gottfried, Harry Weitzel Jr., and Bonnie Green ’74.
Award winning graphic identity and banners created for St. Mary’s College of Maryland
4 | St. Mary’s College | T H E MU LBERRY TREE | spring 2019
Ed Cole had record-breaking success as the men’s basketball coach at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in its first years of competition in the early 1970s. He was inducted into the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. The Cole Cinema in the Campus Center is named in honor of Ed and his wife Pat. Cole chaired the Athletics and Recreation Center Honorary Committee in 2004, which led the effort to raise significant funds for the athletics endowment. He and his wife started their travel business nearly 40 years ago, establishing Cole Travel
in Lexington Park, Md. In 2000, Cole Travel began working with the College arranging alumni trips and other business-related trips. Tiny Taylor and her husband established the Francis E. and Loretta A. Taylor Scholarship, which is awarded yearly to a qualified, deserving first-year student who plans to attend St. Mary’s College with a preference for a St. Mary’s Ryken High School senior. Taylor’s generous support of the College’s River Concert Series and the Arts Alliance has enriched cultural opportunities for both the College and the residents of Southern Maryland. Her civic engagement, including her involvement with the St. Mary’s County Garden Club, embodies her devotion to members of our community and our environment. She has been instrumental in the College securing funding for the St. Mary’s County Garden Club award.
On February 5, President Jordan joined nearly 100 presidents and provosts from across the nation at the 2019 American Talent Initiative Presidential Summit, working to advance the common goal of increasing college access and success for students regardless of income. ATI seeks to enroll 50,000 additional low- and moderate-income students by 2025.
On February 16, President Jordan was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for creativity and innovation in bringing research experiences to first-year undergraduates and for leadership in inclusive excellence in higher education.
The Office of the President with the VOICES Reading Series, presented “Nurturing the Compassionate Community: An Evening to Honor the Legacy of Lucille Clifton” on March 1. The evening featured poetry readings and reflections to honor St. Mary’s College’s former Distinguished Professor of
the Humanities Lucille Clifton. Poet and writer Sonia Sanchez read from her own works and introduced Ashley M. Jones, who also read her own poetry. Jones was presented with the Legacy Award as an emerging voice in poetry, an award for which she was nominated by Sanchez. The same evening, the President’s Lucille Clifton Award was given to Mary Johnston, operations/customer service coordinator for the physical plant at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Nominated by senior students, faculty and staff of the College, the President’s Lucille Clifton Award is given to employees who best embody the spirit of caring, compassion and nurturing that characterized Lucille Clifton’s tenure at the College.
FAC U LT Y, S TA F F & S T U DE N T N E W S Associate Professor of Religious Studies Betül Başaran gave a talk on Princess Niloufer (1916-1989) at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., on March 12 as a part of Women’s History Month. The talk, “Ottoman Princess Brides: Princess Niloufer in Hyderabad and Visual Journey of Exile,”
RICHARD BREWER
On January 25, President Jordan delivered her State of the College address: “Dismantling the Ivory Tower and Becoming Something Greater.” View the address at www. smcm.edu/president.
On March 15, President Jordan moderated the Dean’s Panel at the McNair Scholars Program Conference in College Park, Maryland. The McNair Scholars Program seeks to increase the number of non-traditional and underrepresented students who enroll in graduate school to pursue doctorate degrees. On March 29, the Office of the President presented the Presidential Lecture Series with Jamaica Kincaid. The Presidential Lecture Series, created in 2016 by President Jordan, promotes the College’s commitment to fostering an inclusive community by introducing a diverse lineup of nationally-acclaimed speakers to the campus.
On February 12, Kaitlin Aaby ’18, Ava Jensan ’20, and Jacob Rosenzweig-Stein ’20 participated in the Fifth Annual Sustainable Growth Challenge, a collegiate competition hosted by the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission to engage students in planning and sustainability. The Challenge took place at The Maryland Historical Trust in Crownsville, Maryland. The team of students, who are enrolled in a course on applied sustainability with Barry Muchnick, assistant professor of environmental studies, presented a portfolio of cross-disciplinary, collaborative student projects to an expert panel of sustainability and planning practitioners. Two St. Mary’s College students working under the guidance of Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Coordinator Aileen Bailey have been awarded grants for their research, “Antidepressant Efficacy of L-655,708 Following Infusion into the Medial Prefrontal Cortex.” Katie Robey ’19 was awarded a research grant from Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research Program and Brooke Steinhoff ’19 was awarded a research grant from the Beta Beta Beta Biological Society. Robey is a biochemistry major and neuroscience minor. Steinhoff is a biology major and neuroscience minor.
focused on Niloufer, who was a member of the Ottoman royal dynasty and condemned to life-long exile following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and abolition of the Islamic caliphate in 1924, and who became a pioneer for women’s advancement. Andrew Cognard-Black, assistant professor of sociology, has been elected by the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) membership to serve a three-year term on its board of directors. The NCHC is the professional association for researchers, faculty, and administrators who work to provide honors programming to over 300,000 students at nearly 900-member colleges and universities around the United States and internationally. Cognard-Black also serves on the Council’s publications board as well as its research committee.
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | spring 2019 | 5
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On February 7, a faculty, staff, and student team representing the Heirloom Garden Project – a new partnership between the environmental studies program at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Historic St. Mary’s City – received a grant award from the Maryland Agricultural Council during the Annual Taste of Maryland Agriculture gala in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Selected from a large competitive pool of proposals as an outstanding example of creative and unique programs being done on a local level, the Heirloom Garden Project will grow historically accurate heirloom crops for living history programs at Historic St. Mary’s City; facilitate agriculture-based service learning opportunities for St. Mary’s College students; and produce educational materials about the importance of past and present sustainable agriculture practices for the general public. Project Coordinators Barry Muchnick, assistant professor environmental studies, and Peter Friesen, director of education at Historic St. Mary’s City, accepted the award on behalf of the project, along with Bonnie Kangas ’07, acting manager at the Kate Chandler Campus Community Farm and environmental studies major Madeline Beller ’19, a student member of the larger team that collaborated on the project proposal. Environmental studies students researched and wrote the grant proposal as part of the upper-level, interdisciplinary Keystone Seminar (ENST490) in Fall 2018, which examined the relationship between food systems and environmental citizenship. Committed to learning through experiential and applied discovery, the seminar hosted a grant-writing workshop by Sabine Dillingham, director of research and sponsored programs, and enabled students to break ground on the project through structured service-learning hours and reflective writing assignments.
Jennifer Cognard-Black, professor of English, has been selected as a finalist for Baylor University’s 2020 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching, the only national teaching award – with the single largest monetary reward of $250,000 – presented by a college or university to an individual for exceptional
teaching. Three finalists have been selected with the winning professor to be announced by Baylor in spring 2020. Cognard-Black also has been selected for a Fulbright Scholar grant for research and teaching abroad during the spring of 2020. She will teach graduate students at the University of Amsterdam and do research for her upcoming anthology titled “Recipes for Social Justice: Transatlantic Essays on Ethical Eating.” Cognard-
6 | St. Mary’s College | T H E MU LBERRY TREE | spring 2019
Black joins SMCM faculty Robin Bates, Bruce Wilson, and Charles Musgrove as one of a select few SMCM professors to receive two Fulbright awards: the first took her to Slovenia in 2012, working with students that she still has ongoing relationships with today. St. Mary’s College students, faculty, and alumni presented at the 2019 Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association in New York City, February 28 – March 2. Nathan Foster, assistant professor of psychology, and Grace Harriman ’21 presented on their directed research project, “Instructed Eye Movements Do Not Affect Item-Method Directed Forgetting.” Taylor Merchant ’19 and Lane Friedman ’19 presented on their St. Mary’s Project (SMP) research, “The Effects of Chronic Stress on Social Dominance in Rodents” with Anna Matullo-Miller ’18 and their mentor, Aileen Bailey, professor of psychology. Kelsey Hancock ’18 presented her SMP “Using Acting Exercises to Reduce Prejudice” with her mentor, Jennifer Tickle, associate professor of psychology. Emilee Weiss-Rice ’18 presented her SMP “Mirror Exposure and its Impact on Body Image and Sexual Well-Being” also with mentor Tickle. James Mantell, assistant professor of psychology, Kelsey Hancock ’18, Kallan Dirmeyer ’19 and Ariel Graham ’21 presented their directed research project, “The Elusive Influences of Rhythmically Varying Tones on Speech Perception.” Led by its president Simonne Francis ’19, the College’s Black Student Union welcomed Brittany Packnett as the Second Annual Elizabeth Barber Walker Lecture guest speaker. Packnett’s lecture, “Building Bridges: An Intersectional Approach to Activ-
Simonne Francis ’19 welcomed Brittany Packnett (left) as the Second Annual Elizabeth Barber Walker Lecture guest speaker. ism,” took place on February 28. Packnett is an educator, organizer, writer, and speaker. Gili Freedman, assistant professor in psychology, received a grant for $49,051 from the Spencer Foundation for her work on “Changing Attributions to Improve Persistence of Women in STEM.” Freedman was published in The New York Times on January 22 in an article about her research on ghosting. Professor of Music David Froom’s “Before the Dawn” for saxophone and piano was performed by Tim Powell (saxophone) and Molly Orlando (piano) at the 41st International Saxophone Symposium, sponsored by the United States Navy Band, in January. The symposium took place at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Cassie Gurbisz, assistant professor of environmental studies, received the Cozzarelli Prize for a paper, “Long-term Nutrient Reductions Lead to the Unprecedented Recovery of a Temperate Coastal Region,” published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in March 2018. Papers were chosen from the more than 3,200 research articles that appeared in the journal last year.
THE ST. MARY’S WAY
Jeffrey Hammond, professor of English and George B. and Willma Reeves Distinguished Professor in the Liberal Arts, presented “I’m With Her: A Feminist Parable from Ancient Egypt,” at the Annual Reeves Lecture on February 25. Hammond’s premise that ancient Egypt holds surprising relevance for modern Westerners, especially with regard to cultural habits, political ideology, and gender was examined through the seldom recognized and under-appreciated career of Egypt’s most powerful female ruler: the pharaoh Hatshepsut of the Eighteenth Dynasty.
Sue Johnson, professor of art, has been awarded three residency fellowships in 2019. Johnson is one of 18 artists selected for the Sam and Adele Golden Foundation Residency Fellowship in New York. She was chosen by a peer review jury for the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Residency Fellowship in Amherst, Virginia. For the three-week residency at the MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) in North Adams, Massachusetts, Johnson plans to create works for her new installation project that revisions the modernist narrative as it sets out to explore how women have been pictured as objects of desire. Assistant Professor of Biology Jessica Malisch and students from her lab presented their research at the Annual Meeting for the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) in Tampa, Florida,
January 3-7. Research in Malisch’s lab focuses on the vertebrate stress response with an emphasis on hormones and metabolism in freeliving sparrows. Melanie Kimball ’19 presented a poster about her St. Mary’s Project, titled “Acute stress and glucose mobilization in Mountain Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis)”; Ava Chrisler ’20 presented a poster about research she conducted over the summer of 2018 as a directed researcher on Malisch’s Tioga Sparrow Research Project near Yosemite, California, titled “Predictors of glucocorticoid and glucose mobilization in response to an acute handling challenge in Mountain White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha).” In addition, Malisch and members of her lab were coauthors on two additional research presentations, titled “Glucocorticoid physiology, territory size, and number of chicks fledged: Untangling the relationship between corticosterone and reproductive success” and “Acute Administration of Exogenous Corticosterone in Seabird Chicks Rapidly Mobilizes Lipids but not Glucose.”
Assistant Professor of Biology Jessica Malisch, center, with students Melanie Kimball ’19, left, and Ava Chrisler ’20, right, presented ar the Annual Meeting for the Society of Integrative and Comparitive Biology,January 3-7 .
Professor of Anthropology William Roberts, with students Melody Raynaud ’21 and Daniel Mehaffey ’19. Melody and Daniel have been selected as inaugural Undergraduate Research Fellows for the American Anthropological Association.
Visiting Professor of Biology Seabird McKeon has been quoted in three Mashable articles on animal and plant species that have gone extinct. St. Mary’s College of Maryland anthropology students Daniel Mehaffey ’19 and Melody Raynaud ’21 have been selected as inaugural Undergraduate Research Fellows for the American Anthropological Association. They are two of only six fellows selected from a nationwide pool of applicants. With mentor William Roberts, professor of anthropology, Mehaffey and Raynaud will focus their research on answering questions regarding their experience of navigating career development. Funded by the Center for Research on College-Workforce Transitions of the Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, this program supports research projects that use ethnographic or mixed methods to address the question, how do anthropology majors prepare for life after college?
Barry Muchnick, assistant professor of environmental studies, presented an invited talk at the annual conference of the Association of American Colleges & Universities in Atlanta, Georgia. His presentation highlighted the numerous and innovative ways civic learning is embedded within the environmental studies major, and derived in part from an AAC&U Mini Grant for Civic Learning in the Major by Design he received in 2018. Brandon Poppell ’19 is studying archaeology, history, art and architecture abroad at the American University in Cairo this spring. He was chosen for a highly selective Simpson Scholarship in Egyptology. St. Mary’s College of Maryland biology majors Hannah Smith ’20 and Michael Timmer ’20 will work this summer at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Each was invited to return after completing a 12-week summer internship program there last summer. Smith interned in the pediatric oncology branch and Timmer in the neuro-oncology branch. Professor of Psychology Elizabeth Nutt Williams’ chapter, “Feminist critique of and integration with diagnostic and therapeutic treatment models,” is featured in The American Psychological Association’s Handbook on the Psychology of Women (2018). The handbook recently received the Association of American Publishers Prose Award for Professional and Scholarly Excellence in the category of multivolume reference works in the social sciences.
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | spring 2019 | 7
S
Graves has been editor-in-chief
is “everything I thought she’d
of Martha Stewart Living
be – inspiring, creative, a Jane
magazine since 2016. Before
of all trades, a true visionary –
that, she spent six years as
and very funny, too.”
editor-in-chief of Martha Stew-
In 2011, Graves joined the
art Weddings. In various edit-
Board of Trustees of St. Mary’s
ing capacities, she has worked
College, where she serves on
for the Martha Stewart brand
committees for institutional
since 2005. This is a dream
advancement and student af-
come true for Graves, who says
fairs. Last November, she was
that she wanted to work for Martha Stewart since college. For Graves, Martha Stewart
8 | St. Mary’s College | T H E MU LBERRY TREE | spring 2019
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELIZABETH GRAVES
PHOTO BY BILL WOOD
ailing brought ELIZABETH GRAVES ’95 to St. Mary’s College from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She and her brother Will spent summers on Lake Michigan, sailing with their parents. Her brother sailed for the Naval Academy and later, she sailed for St. Mary’s College. Graves was part of the first St. Mary’s College team to win the Intercollegiate Sailing Association Women’s Team National Championship and was voted College All-American Skipper after the championship victory.
inducted into the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame for her sailing accomplishments.
ELIZABETH GRAVES ’95
MARTHA STE WAR
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What was the most helpful training or experience for your current position? (W.J., 70s). Learning and getting experience in unexpected places. Straight out of college I had my heart set on being a food writer for either Martha Stewart Living or Gourmet. But trying to break into magazines which are all very competitive, and then specifically food magazines, really narrowed my job prospects. Fortunately, a family friend who was in the industry encouraged me to broaden my scope and aim to get an entry-level position at any good magazine—regardless of topic—to learn the craft of reporting, writing, and editing. Her feeling was if you learn the skills, you can apply them anywhere. So, my first magazine job was at Allure, a beauty and fashion magazine, and while I wasn’t initially dying to write about either topic, I ended up loving it and learned a ton from a group of really top-notch editors. When I segued to Self magazine, I became more interested in its content: health and wellness. And then later as a freelance writer, I wrote about a lot of different things, including those topics, and food and travel, too. I enjoyed it all so much I kind of lost track of wanting to solely focus on food writing as I moved into my career. And when the editor role came up at Martha Stewart Weddings and then Living, I had experience in all the topics the magazines covered.
Valentine’s Day
Since the Martha Stewart brand offers something for all ages, we thought it appropriate to pose questions to Graves from seven decades of women:
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What is it like to work at such a strong brand attached to a single individual (Martha Stewart)? Have you ever disagreed with a product or initiative launched by that brand, and if so, how did you handle it? (G.K., 60s) Working for a strong brand is a great thing. People often spend decades, as Martha has, trying to build trusted, iconic brands that are instantly recognizable and stand for quality—so it’s a wonderful thing to start with. The key is to always stay true to its core values as we evolve and modernize the brand. We stay true to Martha, too; she is a living breathing person after all.
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I feel very lucky to have had her as a mentor, and that as our founder she is so engaged. Since I started working for her in 2005, at a start-up title, I was always amazed that she wanted to hear from everyone, in every role. She gave me a lot of opportunities. But when we do disagree on things—and sometimes we do—I’ve learned to state my case clearly and thoughtfully and back up my rationale. She appreciates someone with a point of view, she doesn’t want just yes-people around her. Sometimes I sway her, sometimes she sways me. How did your experiences at SMCM help shape you into the person you are today? (C.L., 50s) The curriculum really helped me explore and discover what I’m passionate about today. I started out as a political science major, but became a psychology major after taking psych 101, a required course, with Professor Roy Hopkins—who is amazing.
Through that experience and many other great courses (all good things to learn for later working with others in the workplace and navigating personalities, too). I learned maybe I couldn’t counsel someone everyday (turns out I have too much empathy, I’d be a mess). But I found I really liked to research something interesting in depth—essentially report—write about it, and then move on to the next interesting thing. And that’s journalism in a nutshell. The desire to write led me to take advanced composition with Michael Glaser and creative writing with Lucille Clifton. Both were incredibly inspiring and helpful during an important time of my life. Being a part of the sailing team also left an indelible imprint on me. Coach Adam Werblow impressed upon us diligence, determination, teamwork—and well, even the importance of public speaking. A lot of my work ethic and commitment comes from him; he doesn’t settle for sub-par. He also showed me what it means to be a leader and how to coach and manage different people to their fullest potential. MSL highlights traditional qualities such as cooking, crafting, gardening, hosting and organizing. How has rapidly changing technology impacted those qualities that are still done by hand and inspire personal interaction between people? (U.K., 40s) The exciting thing is that technology and new platforms help us get more of our ideas out there, and to even more people. And then they can engage with our content in the format that they prefer. It’s also a more immersive experience. We could shoot some delicious looking dish in print, for example, that inspires you to want to cook it. When you are ready to, you might download the recipe from the website onto your phone to shop for the ingredients—or watch our video of an editor making it while you cook and showing you all the benchmarks to look for. But new technology doesn’t replace the part our audience loves most, which is making things with their own two hands. The joy of making something is equal to the joy of a finished result. And I think that inspires social interaction, too: You share that dish and maybe, in turn, the recipe with your friends and family. You may even share it online; just look at Instagram.
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | spring 2019 | 9
ELIZABETH GRAVES ’95
How far in advance are MSL issues planned and how do print and online get coordinated together? Does the print magazine content get decided/developed first and then pushed to online and social media or is online creating its own content with only some of it coming from the magazine? (LR.C., 40s) It depends. Gardening and food stories are often shot months (and sometimes even a year in advance) because we like to shoot certain things in season, when they are at their peak. Holidays are often shot in season too because we don’t fake things—like snow—or use faux things, like foam pumpkins. We work with the real deal and it makes a difference. But other topics, such as health, beauty, crafting, and some perennial food topics (e.g., a 101 on knife skills or alternative milks), we will shoot close to print time. The magazine content will go to the website later, but most often in a different form that’s suited to that platform. The digital team creates unique content as well, and we have a video team that produces additional content from a print story and unique video content, too. How does MSL sustain a climate that cultivates creativity? (N.R., 40s)Martha has always attracted likeminded people; essentially creative, curious people who want to learn something new—and the best way to do it. A lot of us have been with the brand for years, and we still get excited to create these stories. But we do work hard mentally and actually physically, too. We can be on set for long days, traveling, lugging props around, and there are long hours spent triple-testing all our recipes in the kitchen, so it’s important not to burn out. I encourage everyone to recharge by getting out in the world—see something new; go to events, go to museums, try new restaurants. Sitting at a desk isn’t going to do that for you. Taking vacation time is also as essential as prioritizing your health and family first. You need that recharge and bring that new energy back to your job, whatever it is. I’ve seen first-hand the effect a manager can have on a team when he guilts already hard-working
Elizabeth discussing a cover shoot with Sarah Carey, editorial director of food and entertaining.
10 | St. Mary’s College | T HE MU LBERRY TREE | spring 2019
“ In the beginning– and perhaps always– it’s important to roll up your sleeves and get to work.”
employees about taking time off. I don’t want to ever do that. I always say this is a brand that’s about Living (emphasis on the -ing!), so we all need to have a Life in order to bring something fresh to it.
We’re living in a 24-hour news cycle. How does a monthly publication stay fresh in that environment? (G.P., 30s) Fortunately, I’m not reporting on politics or gossip or entertainment, which is often dated before the ink dries. Our content is much more evergreen and the desire to know the best way to do something—from how to grill fish to how not to kill an orchid to paint a wall like a pro or decorate—doesn’t ever go away. We let other brands tell you about trends too; it’s never been our interest. We love featuring creative people living on their own terms and in their own way. So, the originality and that unexpected quality keeps it fresh and is our point of difference. The digital site is much more fluid with news—food recalls, health updates, and smart bits that need to be shared that day. The magazine stands the test of time; that’s the goal. It makes me happy to know many readers keep issue after issue on their shelves—that’s success to me in a MarieKondo kinda world!
What advice do you have for women trying to move up in their industry? (J.M., 30s) In the beginning—and perhaps always—it’s important to roll up your sleeves and get to work. I tried to absorb everything. Ask questions. Get clear direction. You need to hit your deadlines and do all the basics of your job with ease to prove you are ready to move up. Be patient too; your timeframe to ascend may be faster than your boss’s or her budgets allow. To keep growing in a company, look at how you fit into the bigger picture of your organization, and understand its mission and its strengths, challenges, and weaknesses. That way, you can help make decisions for the greater good, not just your role or your division. This will signal to management that you can help them solve their problems and maybe even uncover new opportunities. Whatever you do, don’t get caught up in in office politics or gossip. Even though I certainly listened to my fair share of water-cooler talk, now as a manager I’m wary of a staffer who gossips for mere sport or just out of boredom. It’s usu-
ally inaccurate and can be hurtful and stressful to others. It’s rarely productive. And third, it signals to me that a person might not be trustworthy if she can’t hold confidences well (which is doubly concerning if you work in a publicly traded company). On the other hand, if you are genuinely worried about something happening in a company or want to make a positive difference, use the right channels to affect change. It’s easier to do this now than it was before. How is your work/life balance? (J.M., 30s) Pretty good. I feel fortunate to love both my job and my life away from it. It has taken time, but I’ve learned when to turn it on for work and when to turn it off. In truth, I’m always looking for new ideas for the magazine outside of the office—even on a Saturday walking through the neighborhood or at the farmer’s market—but that’s fun for me. The stressful part—managing budgets, headcounts, deadlines, expectations—those are the things I try to leave at the front door when I come home. I used to get overwhelmed thinking about the big picture while trying to fall asleep at night. However, I realized that’s just not productive, and there is nothing I can act on at 11 p.m., so let it go. Tomorrow is another day. When I’m away from work, my husband and I are pretty much always with our son James, and phones get put away: We are on his time. I’m active in his life and school, our life together, and I carve out time just for me, too: I need to be alone with my thoughts a bit, I always have and that’s important. That time just happens to now be at 5:15 a.m. I aim to go the gym four mornings a week, and I can get back before the boys wake up. We have breakfast together, we play, and during the work week I take James to school before hopping on the subway (or biking to work along the Hudson river during the warmer months, which is the best). My family is the most important thing to me, so I prioritize
accordingly. I visit my mom in Wisconsin about eight times a year. I’m close with my brother in Connecticut. None of this would be anything for me without them. And well, I still test recipes out on them! When you were in college, is this what you imagined you would be doing a quarter century later? (Z.S., 20s) No way. Back then I just hoped I might be a part of Martha Stewart Living one day; I didn’t think about being editor-in-chief. It still surprises me if I stop and think about it. But I also moved to New York City after college, thinking I’d get some magazine experience and move away in a year or two—that was nearly 22 years ago! I wouldn’t change a thing though. I’m still the same person, but pretty much everything that I thought was meant to be back then, simply evolved. I guess the lesson is never underestimate yourself. I think of that now as I go forward and consider what’s next. Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently when you were 18? (O.R., 18 years old) Not much. I’m glad I made the decision to go to SMCM and got on a path that has made me happy and been rewarding. I think I had to stumble and struggle to find my footing though. My first years in New York were very hard— some of the most challenging in my life. But I learned a lot about who I was and wasn’t and what I was made of. Perhaps I would have told myself not to worry so much at 18. However, some of that worrying can help push you forward, as long as you don’t let it be self-defeating. I think that’s the beauty of living and learning though. Wouldn’t it be boring if we knew all the answers at 18? I’m glad I still don’t.
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | spring 2019 | 11
RESISTANCE, REBELLION & LIBERATION
#Resistance Up Close & In Person
BARBUDA
BY LEE CAPRISTO AND GRETCHEN PHILLIPS, COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
emily casey, assistant professor of art history, and ellen kohl,
CARI BBEAN SEA
assistant professor of environmental studies, along with four students participating in a pilot integrated inquiry connecting their studies to the themes of resistance,
e St. John’s
rebellion and liberation, arrived in Antigua, West Indies, on February 15 for a
ANTI GUA
week-long seminar held in the capital city of St. John’s. Alexander “Atlas” Julnes ’22 (undecided major), Chyna Landon ’22 (biology major), Charlotte Mac Kay ’22 (English/political science double major) and Zinna Moore ’21 (political science major) went to the West Indies for the Antigua and Barbuda Governor General’s Seminar on Historic Preservation as part of a recent partnership between St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the Office of the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda. Spearheaded by Maryland Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith, the partnership formed last fall when Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, was hosted by President Tuajuanda Jordan at St. Mary’s College. They learned about the history and heritage of the island nation: its archaeology, traditional 12 | St. Mary’s College | T HE MU LBERRY TREE | spring 2019
“The Caribbean music ‘Calypso’ is really popular in Antigua and is all about resistance, both historically, since it was used as a form of communication between slaves, and in the modern day, since the songs often protest certain political actions.” Charlotte Mac Kay ’22
building methods, historic conservation. They also learned that the historic Government House and outbuildings hold a legacy of slavery. The Governor General shared plans for his initiative to restore the Government House via an environmentally sustainable plan, as a model of Caribbean historic preservation. He shared his hope that, through the Government House Restoration Initiative, the faculty and students of St. Mary’s College and the Antiguan preservation team could benefit from one another. “The opportunity to participate in the seminar allowed students to see directly how memory and preservation of past histories and places related to colonialism and slavery happen in a particular environment,” said Casey.
ELLEN KOHL
Students and faculty helped prepare costumes for Carnival, a celebration of the emancipation of slavery in 1834, and engaged in conversation with local Antiguans about what some see as the commodification of the Antiguan Carnival.
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | spring 2019 | 13
“ Conservation measures for the house, outbuildings, and the gardens are needed to stem the progressing decay, which, if ignored, will soon be impossible to repair and even more costly to reinstate.”
STEPHAN LENIK
World Monuments Fund
1
14 | St. Mary’s College | T HE MU LBERRY TREE | spring 2019
RESISTANCE, REBELLION & LIBERATION
The preservation effort has the attention of the World Monuments Fund* and its World Monuments Watch arm, which in 2018 issued this call to action for the Government House:
St. Mary’s College of Maryland has
The Government House in the center of Antigua’s capital city, St. John’s, is a treasured symbol of the nation’s democracy—its progression from slavery to full emancipation in 1834, and to confident independence in 1981. Established in a Parsonage dating from the 1700s, Government House has been the official residence of the islands’ Governor General since 1800. The present-day Government House, dating from the early nineteenth century, still remains the official residence of the Governor General, representing Queen Elizabeth II, the Head of State. The main building, a traditional West Indian construction, is surrounded by historic outbuildings that served as carriage houses, stables, laundry buildings, kitchens, servants’ quarters, cisterns, limestone filters, and gardens set within a masonry perimeter wall.
for Cultural Preservation. If the ap-
from the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund
ELLEN KOHL
plication is successful, Steve Lenik, adjunct professor of anthropology, 2
will direct several St. Mary’s College students in a multi-week archaeological survey and assessment of the Government House property in the summer of 2020. This research
STEPHAN LENIK
would develop the site’s potential for interpretation to the public by 3
learning about the free and enslaved Antiguans who lived and worked on the grounds, but who are poorly represented in the documentary record.
STEPHAN LENIK
[1] This kitchen-quarters building is located on
ELLEN KOHL
A local initiative to repair Government House has been developed with the goal of providing training and employment opportunities to underserved youth, people with disabilities, older people who are unable to find jobs, professionals with an interest in sharing their expertise, teachers, and the incarcerated. The 2018 World Monuments Watch calls attention to the Government House and the restoration program as an opportunity to connect heritage solutions with issues of urban deprivation, health, and other social issues.
versity on an application for a grant
JULIE KING
Government House has suffered from severe weather conditions, including harsh heat and drought, hurricanes, earthquakes, and neglect. Additionally, the property has evolved in a changing urban landscape, complete with the challenges of poverty, unemployment, and crime. Despite significant signs of decay and a variety of physical issues including water filtration and outdated and potentially dangerous electrical and plumbing systems, the Government House building is structurally sound, attesting to the original quality of craftsmanship. The grounds, overgrown and romantic, feature exquisite mature specimen trees, including West Indian mahogany, red cedar, and lignum vitae. Conservation measures for the house, outbuildings, and the gardens are needed to stem the progressing decay, which, if ignored, will soon be impossible to repair and even more costly to reinstate.
partnered with Morgan State Uni-
4
5
6
the west side of the Government House property. Built in the first decade of the nineteenth century, it includes laborer quarters and a cook room; [2] Seminar group with historian; [3] A view of the south side of Government House; [4] This multi-room living quarters lies in the southwest corner of the Government House property. It housed enslaved Antiguans before 1834, after which free servants continued to live there. [5] Remains of a cistern for collecting water; [6] Chyna preparing survey map.
* The World Monuments Fund is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1965 by individuals concerned about the accelerating destruction of important artistic treasures throughout the world. The World Monuments Watch, launched in 1995 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the world Monuments Fund, aims to identify imperiled cultural heritage sites and direct financial and technical support for their preservation. St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | spring 2019 | 15
RESISTANCE, REBELLION & LIBERATION
“ The Antiguan people understand their history and don’t let it affect their current position in the world.” Chyna Lyndon ’22
Chyna Landon says that “the trip to Antigua helped me understand that other countries also demonstrate resistance. The main difference between the U.S. and Antigua is the fact that Antiguans don’t shy away from their history. They acknowledge it and take pride in showing modern forms of resistance such as Calypso and Carnival.” She plans to return to Antigua in July for Carnival.
1
2
[1] Alexander “Atlas” Julnes ’22 building the structure for a Carnival costume. [2] Zinna Moore ’21 exploring the servants quarters of Government House [3] Charlotte Mac Kay ’22 prepares a Carnival costume. 3
16 | St. Mary’s College | T HE MU LBERRY TREE | spring 2019
ALL PHOTOS THIS PAGE BY ELLEN KOHL
The students and faculty also learned about the history of the festival of “Carnival.” The Antiguan Carnival began as a celebration of the emancipation of slavery (August 1, 1834), when islanders took to the streets for dancing and singing to express the joy in freedom. Full of colorful costumes, steel drums, Calypso, Soca and other music forms, beauty pageants, parades, and food fairs, the modern Carnival is an important tourist attraction and economic boost for the country. As they helped prepare costumes for the event, students and faculty engaged in conversation with local Antiguans about what some see as the commodification of the Carnival from its cultural roots to its current-day commercialization and what resistance they might offer to the cultural appropriation of Carnival.
“This trip was my first time out of the U.S. and it was a positive culture shock. Now I am looking into study abroad trips for biology and mathematics.” Chyna Landon
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | spring 2019 | 17
PHOTO BY BILL WOOD
BY LEE CAPRISTO AND ZOE SMEDLEY ’19, ENGLISH MAJOR AND PROFESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM INTERN FOR OFFICE OF INTEGRATED MARKETING
18 | St. Mary’s College | T HE MU LBERRY TREE | winter spring 2019 2019
S
ome clubs have come and gone; others have been around for decades. Some evolved from club sports to varsity sports. Some, like the newspaper, have markedly changed the tools they use to get the job done. Others, like
Samadra (St. Mary’s Drama Club), went by one name back in the day, and now go by another name: Take One! Improv.
DID YOU KNOW? St. Mary’s College had a men’s varsity basketball team before it had a women’s varsity basketball team? And that was in 1957, when male students were day students only.
DID YOU KNOW? In 1966-67, the folk club hosted “hootenannies” and in 1969 they opened the Kaughphy House, in basement of St. Mary’s Hall. Kaughphy House was used as a lounge and performance space.
DID YOU KNOW? Field hockey is one of the longest-running sports for women at St. Mary’s College. Women’s club sports over the years also included softball and tennis. In 1963, the tennis courts were right outside of the President’s house (now the May Russell Lodge).
DID YOU KNOW? Volleyball was the most popular intramural sport for women in 1967. Games were played in the Kent Hall Gymnasium. DID YOU KNOW? As late as 1969, there were still no varsity sports for women, but sailing offered the first coed team sport on campus. That same year, the men’s cross country running club had a record “no win” season.
DID YOU KNOW? St. Mary’s College choir sang on TV in Baltimore and the Eastern Shore in 1959. DID YOU KNOW? The Point News got its name from a naming contest held in 1959. The winner, Betty Watson Scheder ’60, got a $5 prize. Technology sure has changed over the years of producing the student paper! DID YOU KNOW? In 1960, the home economics club prepared baskets for needy children.
DID YOU KNOW? The Scorpion was the name of the literary magazine in 1969. Today it’s called Avatar. TOP LEFT: Record setting men’s “no win” cross country team of 1969. TOP CENTER: Students celebrating at the annual BSU graduation ceremony 2018. TOP RIGHT: Take One! Improv improvising. ABOVE: Fencing club in 1971.
DID YOU KNOW? The canoeing club won the national flatwater championship in 1970. DID YOU KNOW? Since the 1990s, the male a cappella group SMC-Men has been active in campus performance.
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | spring 2019 | 19
KNITTING PHOTO BY BROOKE LAMPLOUGH ‘19
DID YOU KNOW? Off and on since the early 1970s, there has been club football at St. Mary’s College. And for more years than not, St. Mary’s College has had cheerleaders. What they cheered has changed: Go Retrievers! Go Saints! Go Seahawks! DID YOU KNOW? In 1971, the Black Student Union was established with the purpose of adding cultural diversity to campus. In an Empath article from 1976, the BSU was working to put on a Black Arts Festival, including a showing of a Malcolm X documentary, dramatic arts and dance performances and a major concert, “hopefully with the Commodores,” according to BSU spokesperson Anita Johns ’77 (now a faculty member of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College). It didn’t work out with the Commodores, but other BSU activities have become long-standing traditions, like the annual fashion show and BSU graduation celebration. In the 1990s, BSU members ran a popular First Saturdays tutoring/mentoring program for local high school students.
20 | St. Mary’s College | T HE MU LBERRY TREE | spring 2019
DID YOU KNOW? In 2000, Constantin Kostenko ’01 submitted and got SGA approval for his own club, The Constantin Kostenko club. The essence of the club was to bring together students across different demographics and viewpoints and to share perspectives on local issues in a safe and open environment. Asked about why he formed a club in his own name, Kostenko said it had a lot to do with “testing the limits of the governance and democratic processes of the Student Government. The act of registering the club with SGA spurred more people to get involved in the SGA.” Kostenko went on to become SGA president his senior year and the club disbanded to avoid a conflict of interest. Newer clubs that are popular with today’s students include service-oriented ones like Knits for the Needy, Hawkthon, Relay for Life, and Habitat for Humanity; social ones like Bottom County Festival and Humans vs. Zombies; and sports clubs like climbing and track. TOP: Colorado and Mac of the Folk Club preparing for a “Hootenannie” in 1967. BOTTOM: Samadra, the drama club, yearbook photo from 1960.
ALUMNI
CONNECTION CLASS NOTES
2000s
1980s Christopher Holt ’86 was selected as an honoree for the 2019 Influential Marylanders. These individuals are selected by The Daily Record’s editors for their significant contributions to their respective fields and their leadership in Maryland. He is regional president for BB&T and lives in Finksburg, Maryland, with his wife Teresa Borgerding Holt ’83.
1990s Alasdair Brooks ’90 was honored with the Society for Historical Archaeology Carol V. Ruppé Distinguished Service Award in January 2018. He is currently the heritage manager for the British Red Cross and lives in Lichfield, Staffordshire (UK), with his wife Zoe and their cat Misty. Tara A. O’Brien-Elliott ’93 [1] was awarded the 2018 Christine D. Sarbanes Teacher of the Year Award by Maryland Humanities on May 12, 2018, for her work as a teacher at Salisbury Middle School in Salisbury, Maryland. Anna Ranta ’94 is working as the executive clinical director at Capital and Coast District Health Board and Consultant Neurologist in Wellington, New Zealand. Anna has completed multiple advanced degrees including an M.D. from Penn State University in 1999 and a PhD in medicine from University of Otago in 2014.
1
Rebecca Miller Klempner ’96 has just had her fifth book for children released, “Adina at Her Best” (Menucha Publishers, 2019), a novel for children ages 8 to 11. She is working on a number of other writing projects, including her first novel for adults. She, her husband Daniel, and their four children live in Los Angeles, California. Lawrence Lanahan ’97 [2] will publish his first narrative nonfiction book, “The Lines Between Us: Two Families and a Quest to Cross Baltimore’s Racial Divide” with The New Press in May 2019. Thomasina “Tomi” Hiers ’97 has been named vice president for civic sites and community change at the Annie E. Casey Foundation and works in Baltimore, Maryland. Eleanor Miller Hunt ’99 is a partner with Lewicky, O’Connor, Hunt & Meiser law firm based in Fulton, Maryland. She received her law degree from The George Washington University and before forming her current firm, Eleanor practiced family law and estate planning at Joseph, Greenwald & Laake in Greenbelt, Maryland. Eleanor currently handles divorce, custody and adoption cases as well as estate planning.
Abby Sullivan Maslin ’04 [3] has written a memoir “Love You Hard” (Dutton Books, 2019), an exploration on love, marriage and resilience, following the assault that left her young husband with a traumatic brain injury. Maslin, who has a background in dance therapy and special education, describes her role as caregiver in her husband’s recovery, while sharing lessons of transformation, living wholeheartedly and the healing power of movement and gratitude.
2
Natalie Friend Wilson ’04 [4] has been promoted to shareholder and head of cybersecurity group with Langley and Banack Inc. in San Antonio, Texas. Jaime Marti ’05 has been promoted to chief operating officer, Global Banking, HSBC Canada, and works in Toronto, Ontario. Jaime has worked with the company for 13 years in multiple locations including Mexico City, New York City, Abu Dhabi and Tokyo.
3
Yaron Miller ’05 is now officer, flood-prepared communities at The Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, D.C. Yaron has been with Pew for more than three years. Tesfaye Negussie ’05 recently started a new position as digital video producer of ESPN’s “The Undefeated,” working in Washington, D.C. Elena Papademetriou ’05 recently started a new position as senior graphic and digital designer at TGD Communications. Elena has worked for this company in Northern Virginia for the past three years, in various positions.
4
Durryle Brooks ’06 [5] has been selected as a W. K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network fellow with the Center for Creative Leadership in Baltimore, Maryland. Durryle earned his master’s
5
degree in sexuality studies from San Francisco State University in 2009 and completed his PhD in education at University of Massachusetts - Amherst in 2017.
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | spring 2019 | 21
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Shermaine Mitchell-Ryan ’06 started a new position as scientific program manager at Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) in Washington, D.C. She previously earned a PhD from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 2014. Allan Wagaman ’06 has been promoted to program office deputy lead business/financial manager of an unmanned aircraft program for the U.S. Navy. During his long career path with the Navy, Allan has been successful in the following positions: business/financial manager - AV-8B Harrier Propulsion Team at Patuxent River Naval Air Station; chief financial officer for Stability Op-
erations - Regional Command - East (Afghanistan) at Bagram Airfield; business/financial manager - Airborne Electronic Attack systems at Patuxent River Naval Air Station; and project lead business/financial manager for the Anti-Radiation Missile program at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Allan completed his master’s degree in management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2009. Jack Blum ’07 recently became an associate with Polsinelli where he works as an attorney with their employment disputes, litigation and arbitration practice in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Jack earned his J.D. from University of Mary-
land School of Law in 2012. Nicholas Iliff ’07 has joined the Maryland Judiciary as staff attorney to the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland, Hon. John P. Morrissey, after nearly five years with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. Sarah Pernick ’07 started a new job as a video producer for a healthcare agency called 21GRAMS and works in New York City. Jenalee Coster ’08 graduated from University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2012, completed an internship in surgery at University of Virginia and general surgery residency from Loma Linda University
Medical Center in June 2018. She received her certification in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery in November 2018. She is pursuing additional specialty fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Heart Institute in Houston, Texas with a focus on general thoracic surgery/ thoracic oncology. Brice Wernecke ’09 works as a controller at ITS - Internet Testing Systems in Baltimore, Maryland. Brice earned a master’s degree in accounting and business advisory service from Towson University in 2014. He is also a licensed CPA.
2010s Sylviane Elessie ’10 is an associate attorney at Sanabria & Associates PLLC in Arlington, Virginia. She earned her law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2013. Kaitlin Hines ’10 is now a multi-modal designer for Alexa for Everyone/Alexa North Star at Amazon. She works with a team to create accessible and assistive technologies for people with different physical and cognitive abilities. Kaitlin’s specific responsibility is to help design and deliver these experiences for Amazon’s Alexa devices.
Are YOU counted this fiscal year? (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019)
Time is running out to make your annual donation! Why is your donation important? • Your investment in rigorous, relevant, experiential liberal arts education prepares students for a lifetime of success • Already we have over 1100 alumni donors. Help us reach our goal of 1500+ by June 30 • Your gift contributes to the exceptional experience students expect of the National Public Honors College
Make a gift: www.smcm.edu/give
Give before May 17 and have your name listed on our donor appreciation wall at Alumni Weekend, June 6-9.
Alumni Weekend Donor Appreciation Wall
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Erin McDermott ’10 began a new position as executive director at Friends of Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas, Nevada. The organization’s mission is the preservation, protection and enrichment of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Autumn Capers ’11 recently started a new position as an insurance broker at PHP Agency, Inc. and is living and working in the Greater Los Angeles, California area. Kyle McGrath ’11 is a support analyst at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIRB) working in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John Z. Windsor III ’11 is interning at Jersey Battered Women’s Service in Morristown, New Jersey and also at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, New Jersey. He is studying at New York University for a graduate degree in mental health counseling. Marina Carlson ’12 is the director of marketing at CredSimple, a hospital and health care services company, working in the Greater New York City area. Anna Danz ’12 is the director of alumni giving at the Park School of Baltimore, Maryland.
Ashley Drexel ’12 started a new position as trial attorney at U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She earned her law degree from the University of Maryland Law School in May 2018. Diana Roman ’12 was promoted to manager of public programs at Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills, Maryland. She holds a master’s degree in marine-estuarine-environmental sciences from the University of Maryland College Park, completed in 2015. Diana recently got engaged to Allison Devers ’14. Ted Scharfenberg ’12 started a new position as a private client relationship associate at Brown Advisory, an investment management firm in Baltimore, Maryland. Ted is also enrolled in an MBA program at the University of Maryland School of Business. Emily Burdeshaw ’13 is account manager at SpeakerBox (now REQ) in Washington, D.C. Wick Eisenberg ’13 is now communications specialist at The Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering in Baltimore, Maryland. Wick previously was a writer for the Baltimore Ravens and a reporter for PressBox Media.
Caitlin Kennedy ’13 recently re-joined Booz Allen Hamilton as a senior consultant in the analytics field. Previously at Booz Allen, Caitlin worked as a data analyst. She also graduated from the firm’s Tech Tank for Data Science program. Caitlin took a break from consulting for two years to pursue her passions and curiosities in international development. She received a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in rural Thailand and also spent time supporting international education and development in Haiti and Ghana. Elizabeth Landrum ’13 is a grants analyst at CharlotteMecklenburg Police Department in Charlotte, North Carolina. She also holds a master’s degree in public administration from UNC Charlotte. Katherine Morgan ’13 recently became the Chesapeake Field Representative for the National Parks Conservation Association. She will be taking her knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay that she gained at SMCM and using it to advocate for clean water, public lands protection and increased engagement in the national parks and historic sites of Maryland and Virginia. She previously worked at the Ocean Conservancy. Kira Schwartz ’13 is an associate attorney at Morgan, Lewis, and Bockius LLP in Washington, D.C. Kira earned her J.D. from University of Virginia School of Law in 2018. Austin St. George ’13 is sous chef at Le Diplomate in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the culinary program at L’Academie de Cuisine. Lindsey Siferd ’13 had two poems published in the spring 2019 edition of 2River literary magazine. Her work can also be
found both online and in print by the Atlanta Review, Cimarron Review, Pif, and Vagabond City. Allison Berg ’14 is working as environmental project handler at UL, living and working in the Greater Atlanta, Georgia area. Allison is also pursuing a graduate degree in environmental science and engineering through The Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals Program. Peter Boyd ’14 is a platform evangelist at Archeo Futurus, Inc., based in Seattle, Washington. Peter is also the founder of Top Rock Labs, which supports web apps for green businesses in Los Angeles, California. Victoria Cain ’14 is a communications intern at The Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C. and is enrolled in a master’s degree program in strategic communications at American University. Olivia Caretti ’14 [6] is doing her PhD research at North Carolina State University using underwater acoustics to assess fish use of restored oyster reefs. Her research has found that reefs made with oyster shell attract more aquatic life than reefs made of other substances, like granite marl or concrete. Her work was highlighted on WUNC public radio and NPR. Bethany Davis ’14 has been promoted to editor-in-chief at the Author Incubator - Write a Book that Makes a Difference and works in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Prior to this job, Bethany worked for Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group as an assistant acquisitions editor.
Sami Keyani ’14 is an account executive at Broadly, a business development/services company in Baltimore, Maryland. Prior to this position, Sami worked for Atlas Lane in the D.C. metro area as head of real estate acquisition. Jonathan Kwolek ’14 is a postdoctoral researcher at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. He completed his PhD from the University of Connecticut in physics, with a specialization in atomic, molecular, and optical physics. Jonathan’s thesis research concerned quantum chemistry in the neutral Na and ionized Ca+ system and he has previously performed research in high-precision atomic sensing at NAVAIR. Alyssa Stine ’14 has started a new position as account manager at Wells Fargo and has worked for this company in various positions since 2014. Alyssa earned a master’s degree in finance from Loyola University of Maryland in 2018. Cristina Rosa Tono ’14 is interning at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. She also is pursuing a master’s degree in clinical/ medical social work at Boston College. Martha Afework ’15 is a business analyst at TENICA and Associates LLC, working in Washington, D.C. Martha previously worked for NewDay USA as a business analyst, underwriter and credit analyst. She is a certified residential underwriter through the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Christian Hatcher ’14 started a new position as behavior specialist at Brook Lane Health Services in Frederick, Maryland.
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Timothy Carey ’15 is a staff attorney at Maryland Legal Aid in Baltimore, Maryland. He completed his J.D. from Emory University School of Law in 2018. Christy Coombs ’15 is head of human resources at 3DIF LLC, a provider of business services to government agencies and private contractors. She works in Washington, D.C. Holly Gonzalez ’15 is assistant account executive at Williams Whittle, a full service advertising firm and works in Alexandria, Virginia. Holly also has professional fundraising experience from previous positions. Erica Haworth ’15 is program and operations assistant at Grameen Foundation and is working in Washington, D.C.
She recently returned from her Peace Corps assignment in Zambia, East Africa, where she worked on projects in forestry development, small-scale farmer capacity building, climate change mitigation, microfinance, and small business development. David Kersey ’15 is a resource management analyst at COMACO--Community Markets for Conservation supporting farming and conservation efforts in Chipata, Zambia, East Africa Jessie Nolasco-Sandino ’15 works as a therapeutic teacher aid at the Foundation School of Montgomery County, Maryland. Prior to this job, Jessie served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay, working as a health extension volunteer.
James Richardson ’15 has been promoted to senior financial analyst at Textron Systems, in Hunt Valley, Maryland, where he has worked for several years. James completed a master’s degree in finance from Loyola University Maryland Sellinger School of Business in 2018. Nadda Warshanna ’15 is speech-language pathologist at SPEECHKIDS LLC, working in the Washington, D.C. area. Nadda also recently completed a master’s degree in speechlanguage pathology from The George Washington University in 2018. Bethany Yates ’15 is now a therapist at the Therapy Café, working in Southern Maryland. She also completed her master’s
degree in social work from the University of Maryland Baltimore in 2017. William Alberding ’16 has started a new position as pathways mechanical engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. He also is pursuing a graduate degree in mechanical engineering at University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Grant Burgess ’16 is a simulation and modeling engineer at Northrop Grumman, working in the Baltimore, Maryland, area. He is pursuing a master’s degree in engineering physics/applied physics at Towson University.
Make Your Mark at the Jamie L. Roberts Stadium With a gift to the Seahawk Fund which supports athletic programs, you have an opportunity to leave a tribute at the new stadium: inscribe your name, or that of a loved one, on a seat or locker. Visit go.smcm.edu/seats-lockers before June 30 to make your gift and leave your mark: $300 per seat and $250 per locker. Share this opportunity with your family and friends.
Be sure to join us on September 7, 2019 to celebrate the stadium dedication. For more information, contact Rich Edgar at 240-895-3206 or rjedgar@smcm.edu.
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Solomon Seahawk
Eleanor Cook ’16 is strategic outreach manager at the American Academy of Nursing in Washington, D.C. Prior to this position, Eleanor worked for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Caroline Drogan ’16 is a graduate assistant while pursuing her master’s degree in library and information science at the University of Maryland. Her area of study is diversity and inclusion with a planned graduation in May 2020. Caroline resides in Silver Spring, Maryland. Marissa Golison ’16 is software sales executive at Bloomberg BNA, working in Washington, D.C. Previously she worked for Hanover Research in Arlington, Virginia.
Caroline White ’16 began a new position as DBT counselor at Keystone Recovery Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She also completed a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from The Johns Hopkins School of Education in 2018.
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James Hahn ’16 is an account specialist for Crimson. Before moving to Crimson, James worked as a tech recruiter and account executive at several technology companies in the Baltimore, Maryland, area. Katelyn Kean ’16 [7] joined the staff of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum as the registrar for its collection of more than 70,000 Bay-related objects. In this role, she will help to maintain this collection and its corresponding records, and facilitate access to it. Katelyn is also currently working on a graduate degree from The Johns Hopkins University in museum studies which she expects to complete in fall 2019. Emily Quade ’16 has recently been promoted to assistant director of admissions for transfer students at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Before assuming this new role, Emily worked as an admissions counselor. Peekay Than ’16 is a staff accountant with Noble Supply & Logistics in Boston, Massachusetts. Previously, Peekay worked in other accounting positions for WinterWyman in Boston, Robert Hall Legal in Washington, D.C. and T. Rowe Price in Baltimore, Maryland.
Michael Barrett ’17 is an event sales associate at Wireless Infrastructure Association. Prior to this job, Michael was working as a tech assistant and information assistant for the Consumer Technology Association in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jonathan Bland ’17 is a layout foreman at Environmental Quality Resources LLC in Millersville, Maryland. He serves as the chapter president for Coastal Conservation Association. Paige Cohen ’17 is now a paralegal at HIAS Pennsylvania in the Greater Philadelphia area. Prior to this job, Paige worked as an operations assistant for Centro de los Derechos del Migrante and as a Spanish interpreter for The Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Zachary Lilley ’17 has been promoted to software engineer at J.F. Taylor Inc. after working there for more than two years in other technical positions. Zachary Rowe ’17 is currently a mathematics teacher and assistant varsity baseball coach at Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Zach previously worked as an admissions counselor for St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Matthew Smeriglio ’17 is now senior service associate at M&T Bank in Baltimore, Maryland. He worked previously as a political affairs intern with the Borgen Project in Columbia, Maryland.
Alumni Council Profile: Tom Brewer By Molly McKee-Seabrook ’10 Thomas Brewer ’05 lives in Great Mills, Maryland, and began working on campus in January as the manager of environmental health, safety, and sustainability programs. Working at St. Mary’s College runs in the family, as Thomas’ dad (Tom Brewer ’81) works as a laboratory coordinator and just received his 25-year service award. A biology major at St. Mary’s College, Thomas was a member of Tri-Beta - the biology honors society, played tennis, and worked off campus as a pharmacy technician. In the fall of 2003 he studied abroad in Australia. After graduating, Thomas went on to pharmacy school and became a pharmacist, but quickly realized it wasn’t fulfilling and found himself lacking purpose. He began to look for volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved in causes he cared about. He volunteered on the St. Mary’s County Commission on the Environment and applied to join the Alumni Council when he heard about an opening. He is currently the Alumni Council Parliamentarian and serves on the Governance Committee. During the 2018 election cycle Thomas ran for State Senate in District 29. Although he lost in the general election, he says, “I certainly learned a great deal about the local and state political realms and about political campaigning in general, and I am glad that I challenged myself. I was very fortunate to be able to apply for the position I am in now shortly after the election, and I am very happy with how things worked out for me.”
Delaszo Smith ’17 is now assistant varsity basketball coach at St. Mary’s High School of Annapolis, Maryland. He also works as a client associate at First Financial Group in Bethesda, Maryland. Melissa Barall ’18 began a new position as delta one sales analyst at Wells Fargo Securities in the Greater New York City area. Melissa previously worked there as a structured product research summer analyst during the summer of 2017. Taylor Fogg ’18 was recently promoted to human resources manager at Que Technology Group and works in Baltimore, Maryland. Prior to this promotion, Taylor worked there doing data entry for more than three years.
Patrick Martin ’18 is a junior intelligence analyst with IntelliWare and is working in Virginia. Before starting this position, he worked as technical writer and research intern at VSFS at U. S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. and as a business development intern for KeyW Corporation in Hanover, Maryland. TJ McPhaul ’18 has started a new position as intern at Johns Hopkins HealthCare in Baltimore and is enrolled in a master’s program in health information technology at University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
Emily O’Brien ’18 is a teacher at Quincy High School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Peter Dean ’18 is the development data coordinator at Rails-To-Trails Conservancy in Washington, D.C. Halcyon Ruskin ’18 has been promoted from research associate to research manager at Exiger and is working in Silver Spring, Maryland. Megan Schrader ’18 has started a new position as accommodation assistant at the Key Collections in Dublin, Ireland.
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MARRIAGES
Elizabeth Gossens Eide ’09 [3] married Matthew Eide on September 22, 2018 in The Plains, Virginia. Liz is a communications consultant and Matthew works in marketing. The couple honeymooned in the Seychelles and currently live in Washington, D.C. with their cat, Dr. Watermelon. Justin Perry ’10 [4] married Mimi Richert on January 12, 2019 in 2640 Space, Baltimore. The wedding party included Joseph Francella ’09 as groomsman. Guests in attendance included Elisabeth Neu Campbell ’10, John Campbell ’09, and Matthew Foerster ’10. The couple spent their honeymoon in South Africa
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and now reside in Baltimore, Maryland. Anna Winship Pollak ’10 [5] married Marc Pollak on October 6, 2018 in Savannah, Georgia. Anna Bradley ’10 was a bridesmaid. Other SMCM alumni attending were Anita Peterson ’10, Emily Hagan ’10, Emily Myron ’10, Larissa Fomum-Mugri ’10, Elizabeth Kohlway ’10, Andrea Barnes ’10, Sheena Chaudhary ’10, Katie Zdilla ’10, and Juline Kaleyias ’10. Anna and Marc honeymooned in Italy. Anna is a nurse practitioner and Marc is an attorney. They currently reside in Columbia, South Carolina, with their two dogs.
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Christy Scaljon Larkin ’10 [6] married Mark Larkin on November 3, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. Julia Puzak ’10 was the maid of honor. Janice Burns Hernandez ’10, Julie Faggio Fischer ’10, Marie Snyder ’10, and Samantha James Wasilisin ’11 were all bridesmaids. Other SMCM alumni that attended the wedding were Sarah Weiss Featherstone ’09, Reid Featherstone ’09, Tara McLernon Ward ’10, Melissa Puzak Greene ’07, Emma Lauhoff Mallowe ’11, Nick DiGiacomo ’10, Drew Barnes ’10, Keith Fischer ’09, Kate Snyder Walsh ’04, and Kate David Barnes ’10.
BRETT ALISON PHOTOGRAPHY
EMILY GUDE PENNY SOUZA
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HANNAH LANE PHOTOGRAPHY
Laura Wallace Hines ’07 [2] married Matthew Hines on March 15, 2018 in Rockville, Maryland. Wedding guests included Clare McLean ’07, Brenna Higgins-Tan ’07, Stephanie Marsich ’07, and David Marsich ’05. Laura received her MSc from University of Edinburgh in 2011. She is currently a recruiting specialist for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The couple reside in Rockville, Maryland.
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ANNA LIZ PHOTOGRAPHY
Kristin Gray Burke ’06 [1] and Mike Burke were married on August 31, 2018 in Annapolis, Maryland. The matron of honor was Mary Smith, sister of the bride. The bridesmaids included Samantha Hopkins, Cassie Clemente ’06, Lindsay Pack ’05, and Whitney Fahrman ’05. The couple reside in Annapolis, Maryland.
SARAH CULVER
& UNIONS
Diana Abells Kiesewetter ’11 [7] married Dietrich Kiesewetter ’11 on November 3, 2018 at the Lyman Estate in Waltham, Massachusetts. Alumni in attendance were Robyn Allen ’11, Lauren Grey-Hawkins ’11, John Hawkins ’10, Janice Kang ’11, Beth Porter ’11, Brittany Shimoda ’11, Skylar Bauer ’11, Ben Comer ’11, Alisha Bondurant ’11, Sam Geselowitz ’11, and Arthur Earle ’11. The couple went to Palm Springs, California, and Joshua Tree National Park for their honeymoon. They reside in Columbus, Ohio. Kay Zagrodny Barkley ’12 [8] and Jonathan Barkley ’12 were married on October 20, 2018 in Warwick, Rhode Island. Alumni in the wedding
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party included best man Raza Ahmad ’12, groomsmen Jay Massey ’12, Steven Morris ’12, Ryan Canter ’12, and Robbie Bourdon ’12. Bridesmaids included Jenny Stewart ’12 and Hallie McCarthy ’12. The couple honeymooned in Riviera Maya, Mexico. They reside in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Rachel King Blewitt ’13 [9] and Zack Blewitt ’14, who were engaged on the docks at St. Mary’s College in July 2017, married on May 5, 2018 in Annapolis, Maryland. The bridal party included maid of honor Kristin Seymour ’14, best man Gordon Muldoon ’14, Stephanie Schultz ’14, Kevin Rieg ’14 and Mikey Mellinger. The couple reside in Norfolk, Virginia.
IN MEMORIAM CLEAN SLATE BY HEATHER & ROB
Kate Niccolini ’16 and Bobby Beall ’16 [10] were married on September 2, 2018 at St. James United Methodist Church in Marriottsville, Maryland. The reception was held nearby at the historic Waverly Mansion. Alumni in the wedding party included Alice Haber ’16 and Patrick Streifel ’16.
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BRITANY HALE PHOTOGRAPHY
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BIRTHS& ADOPTIONS
Flora Reed ’97 [1] and Philip Price welcomed a son, Wesley Ahn Lihn Reed Price, on January 2, 2019. The family resides in Western Massachusetts where they lead the band Winterpills.
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Rebecca Tuttle Chapman ’09 [2] and Thomas Chapman welcomed a daughter, Madeleine Rose, born October 19, 2018. The family lives in San Leandro, California. Sara Kidd Shanklin ’11 [3] and Christopher Shanklin ’10 welcomed their son, Eli Hawley Shanklin, born on December 31, 2018. The family resides in Parkville, Maryland.
Margaret “Marnie” Tilghman Owen Goldsborough Brink ’53 of Raleigh, North Carolina, died on her 86th birthday on February 4, 2019. Originally from Easton, Maryland, Marnie graduated from St. Mary’s Seminary in 1951 and St. Mary’s Junior College in 1953. She went on to earn a B.A. in English literature from Temple University and worked as a librarian and a writer for the Baltimore Sun. Brian Vismale ’89 of Baltimore, Maryland, died of cardiac arrest on January 27, 2019. The following tribute was offered to the family by his close friend Leon Henry ’88: “Brian was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. He had a big smile, kind eyes and a booming laugh that would fill up a room. No one ever had a negative thing to say about him as he was kindness personified. I will miss his kind words and his stories about his beloved children. He was a family man without question, always putting his kids first. If you merely asked about them, his eyes would light up and his face would beam and that big toothy grin would come out. He always lifted me up when school was hard. Brian waited five years after graduating from POLY (one of the best they ever produced) to attend SMCM, so he came with more life experience than I and always knew the right thing to say. He made friends wherever he went and will be mourned by people from every walk of life.”
FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE Frank Daigh van Aalst died in Paranpur, Malda District, West Bengal, India on January 21, 2019. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeannette Elissa van Aalst, who died in 2005. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Frank also had a master’s degree in Indian history at Banaras University in India and a master’s degree in divinity from Princeton University. He completed a doctor of philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania. From 1970-1976, he was a member of the faculty of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. He taught classes in social sciences and non-Western cultures. In 2005, Frank returned to St. Mary’s College to lead Collegesponsored trips to India and China. In India, he met and befriended Sadibul Hoque. The two eventually bought a house together in India, where Frank lived with Sadibul and his family and was affectionately known to their three boys as Dada. Frank was cremated at the Sadullapur Burning Ghat near Malda, in West Bengal, as he wished. Myron “Mike” Marlay of Savannah, Georgia, died on September 24, 2018. A memorial service was held on November 3, 2018 at Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Mary’s City, Maryland. Dirk Griffith ’79, offered remarks at the service. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Alice “Maggie” Bump Marlay, who died in 2007.
Mike was a navy pilot during World War II, and then a banker until he was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. After the war, Mike remained in the navy until retiring in 1969 and then he and Maggie moved to St. Mary’s County, Maryland. Mike joined the Metropolitan Commission as chief engineer and lead the county’s implementation of the Clean Water Act of 1972. He retired in 1981. Mike and Maggie were longtime supporters and fundraisers for St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, for Historic St. Mary’s City, and for St. Mary’s College of Maryland. They created two scholarships at the College, given annually and in perpetuity, to outstanding students in science and language arts, respectively. Femi Ojo-Ade, professor emeritus of French, died on March 19, 2019. He was a member of the St. Mary’s College faculty from 1989-2007. He taught Francophone literature, particularly the literature from the Caribbean and West Africa written in French. He was instrumental in founding the College’s African and African Diaspora Studies program. A native of Nigeria, Femi spoke Yoruba, French, Portuguese and English. An accomplished writer and scholar, he made significant contributions to African and Afro-Latin studies.
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ST. MARY’S IS NOT THE PARENT
COLLEGE’S ARCHIVED HANDBOOKS REVEAL SOCIETAL, INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES By Kathryn Herberger ’19, student archives assistant
On the surface, student handbooks at colleges and universities are lists of rules and regulations students are to adhere to while attending the school. But when taking a deeper look at handbooks dating back to the 1960s these guides documented societal changes as to what expectations should be placed on students and what role the College had in enforcing those expectations.
The 1966-1967 handbook, for example, included strict dress codes which extended to dating, requiring that “your date must be neatly and appropriately dressed. This is to uphold the standard of dress required by the college.”
In loco parentis (“in the place of a parent”) in the context of higher education, allowed colleges the legal standing to create a broad range of rules and enforce punishments in the name of encouraging a “moral upbringing.” The St. Mary’s College student handbook, like other handbooks from institutions of higher education, reflected in loco parentis with its extensive rules and regulations that impacted all aspects of a student’s life. These included dormitory regulations, dress codes, and strict social regulations.
By the end of the decade the content of student handbooks demonstrated a drastic change. The handbooks still provided the guidance for behavior but provided more freedom for the students. St. Mary’s College directly addressed the change that was demonstrated in the 1972-1973 handbook, explaining that “decisions have been made on the assumptions that … the college still will not undertake to function in loco parentis.” The dress codes were removed from the handbook and dormitory regulations focused on safety rather than social regulations. Similar changes in handbooks are seen in other college’s handbooks of the time. One of the many pressures for change was from the students themselves. At St. Mary’s College, the discrepancy in regulations between men’s and women’s dorms as well as attempts to restrict men’s facial hair caused student protest in the late 1960s.
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Students were afforded more freedoms and began to be treated as self-sufficient adults, rather than children that needed to be controlled by the College. This change was a result of a myriad of sources both from society and the demand from change within the institution. The rules of the early 60s no longer aligned with the expectations and changed in response.
“...your date must be neatly and appropriately dressed. This is to uphold the standard of dress required by the college.” St. Mary’s College Student Handbook, 1966-67
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE
of Maryland
Calendar of Events Awards Convocation April 19 @ 3:00 p.m. Michael P. O’Brien Athletics & Recreation Center Arena
River Concert Series featuring the Chesapeake Orchestra Fridays, June 21 – July 19 @ 7:00 p.m. Townhouse Green
Commencement May 11 @ 10:00 a.m. Townhouse Green Address by Erin Ryan
8th Annual Chesapeake Writers’ Conference (by application) June 23-29
Alumni Weekend June 6-9
SOAR: Seahawk Orientation, Advising & Registration For first time, first-year students and their families June 26, 27, 28
Mulberry Music Festival: Act 1 featuring Jason Nelson June 14 @ 6:00 p.m. Townhouse Green
Patuxent Defense Forum July 17-18 A joint program of The Woodrow Wilson Center, the U.S. National Ice Center, the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, The Patuxent Partnership, and the Center for the Study of Democracy. This symposium will focus on naval and other maritime operations in an “ice-free Arctic” and brings together experts on arctic marine operations, the environment, science, policy, law, and governance. High-level
S P R I NG 2 0 1 9 , VO L . X L , NO . 2
www.smcm.edu/mulberrytree Editor Lee Capristo Design Jensen Design Photographer Bill Wood Editorial Board Karen Anderson, Michael Bruckler, Lee Capristo, Molly McKee-Seabrook ’10, Gus Mohlhenrich, Karen Raley ’94, Kelly Schroeder Publisher Office of Institutional Advancement St. Mary’s College of Maryland 47645 College Drive St. Mary’s City, Maryland 20686
The Mulberry Tree is published by St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Maryland’s public honors college for the liberal arts and sciences. It is produced for alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, the local community, and friends of the College. The magazine is named for the famous mulberry tree under which the Calvert colonists signed a treaty of friendship with the Yaocomico people and on the trunk of which public notices were posted in the mid-1600s. The tree endured long into the 19th century and was once a popular meeting spot for St. Mary’s College students. The illustration of the mulberry tree on the cover was drawn in 1972 by Earl Hofmann, artist-in-residence when St. Mary’s College President Renwick Jackson launched the magazine. Copyright 2019 The opinions expressed in The Mulberry Tree are those of the individual authors and not necessarily those of the College. The editor reserves the right to select and edit all material. Manuscripts and letters to the editor are encouraged and may be addressed to Editor, The Mulberry Tree, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, 47645 College Drive, St. Mary’s City, MD 20686. Photographs and illustrations may not be reproduced without the express written consent of St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
CSD
opening remarks are anticipated from members of the Alaska Congressional Delegation, NOAA, Navy, USCG, USARC, industry, and other representatives from the U.S., Arctic nations, and international community. More information: https://www.star. nesdis.noaa.gov/Ice2019/ Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Amphitheater, Washington, D.C. Governor’s Cup Yacht Race August 2-3 Fall Orientation & Welcome Week August 29 – September 7 First Day of Classes September 3
Jamie L. Roberts Stadium Dedication September 7
Piano Festival by the River with Beverly Babcock, Brian Ganz, Eliza Garth August 30 - September 2 Schedule at www.smcm.edu/ events/piano-festival-by-the-river/ Auerbach Auditorium of St. Mary’s Hall Hawktoberfest October 4-6
2018 CALENDAR Spring Break-a-Sweat | April 14
Alumni athletes from the fall and winter sports head back to campus to reconnect with one another, meet the current student-athletes and enjoy their reunion games. Registration opens February 1.
CHESAPEAKE
W RtoIBay T E RService S’ CO N F| EApril REN E Bay Days 21-C 22
Alumni have organized service projects from Annapolis workshops in fiction, poetry, toIntensive the San Francisco Bay to gather together and give back to theirnonfiction, local communities. Registration opens creative translation, February 15. songwriting and screenwriting for
serious writers at all levels of experience.
Alumni Weekend | June 7-10
• Get college and It’s our credit! biggestOptions alumnifor celebration ofgraduate the year!credit (teachers’ professional development). Whether it’s been 50 years, 25 years, or just a year since you’ve been faculty back toand St. Mary’s, we hope to see • Award-winning one-on-one meetings youwith thisagents June. Registration and editors. opens March 15. • Enjoy our waterfront campus by kayak or
| August Governor’s 3-5 about! paddleboard, Cup with sunsets worth writing
Held annually in early August, Governor’s Cup Yacht Race, now celebrating Teachers’ Seminarits 45th running, is the oldest and longest running overnight sailboat race on the • Earn two graduate credits foropens professional Chesapeake Bay. Registration on June 15. development. | October • Connect your own writing practices19-21 with your Hawktoberfest
pedagogy. At the College’s homecoming celebration, over 1,000 alumni the current • Come awayand withparents creativejoin writing exercisesstudents and on assignments campus for atofull weekend of activities and use in your classroom. entertainment. Registration opens August 15.
Youth Workshop (Grades 9-12)
| November 27 Giving Tuesday A fast-paced and wide-ranging literary tour to help
During 24-hour theliterature campus which community youngthis adult writerscampaign, discover the will rallies together to give back to St. Mary’s on this global truly inspire their lives and writing. day of giving. Help make this the most impactful year ever! • Practice a wide range of genres and styles, from Alumni, friends prosefamilies, to poemsand to TV scripts.of the College are welcome to all events! Register at • Plus: games, movie night, swimming and more!
www.smcm.edu/alumni or (240) 895-4280 Enrollment is limited. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
go.smcm.edu/chesapeake
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE of Maryland
Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #10001 Leonardtown, MD
Named for the 2003 hurricane during which she hatched, “Izzy” has long been a favorite among St. Mary’s College students. Not able to live in the wild due to abnormalities in her shell and toes, she has her own tank in Schaefer Hall.
SPRING 2019
8TH ANNUAL
C H E S A P E AK E
The heartbeat of St. Mary’s College [ PA G E 1 8 ]
PHOTO BY BROOKE LAMPLOUGH ‘19
WRITERS’ CONFERENCE
June 23-29, 2019 at St. Mary’s College
go.smcm.edu/chesapeake
Explore your story. Be part of ours.
STUDENT CLUBS