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St. Mary’s College Welcomes Four New Trustees The following individuals and alumna will serve six-year terms of service on the College’s Board of Trustees. Paula Collins is a retired government relations and business executive with nearly 40 years of experience in government relations, public policy, coalition building, and strategic communications. Most recently, Collins was vice president for Worldwide Government Relations at Texas Instruments. Collins is a graduate of Yale University, where she majored in history, and attended the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School. Judith M. Fillius ’79 is currently the department manager for Northrop Grumman (NG) Mission Systems where she oversees offices with multiple programs in support of the Department of Defense. Fillius holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College, majoring in social science, and a secondary education certificate.
William E. Seale is a partner in the ProFunds Group, the parent of ProShare Advisors LLC and ProFund Advisors LLC. As chief investment officer, he developed the financial models and investment techniques that direct the investments of over 200 ProShares and ProFunds, managed the portfolio staff of 35, and oversaw the funds’ trading. Seale received his PhD from the University of Kentucky. He is a former director of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Foundation. Ray Wernecke is a principal/director at Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. Wernecke holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Towson University and is pursuing an Executive Scholar Certificate from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is also a graduate of Leadership Maryland (2006), the NAVAIR Senior Executive Management Development Program, and the Federal Executive Institute. Exiting board members were Cindy Broyles ’79 and Ann McDaniel.
The following individuals and student organization received honors at the annual Awards Convocation in April: Carrie Patterson, professor of art, was presented with the Homer L. Dodge Award for Outstanding Service; Michelle Milne, associate professor of physics, was honored with the Homer L. Dodge Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Junior Faculty Member; Geoffrey Bowers, assistant professor of chemistry, was honored with the Norton T. Dodge Award for Scholarly and Creative Achievement by the Junior Faculty Member; Barry Muchnick, assistant professor of environmental studies, received the Jordan Teaching Exemplar Award; Janna Thompson, assistant professor of educational studies, earned the Andy Kozak Faculty Contribution to Student Life Award; Lucy Myers, fiscal associate II, was presented with the Joe Carroll Memorial Staff Award; Habitat for Humanity student organization received the St. Mary’s Award.
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On May 11, 403 students graduated from St. Mary’s College. Erin Ryan, host of Crooked Media’s “Hysteria” podcast and a writer for “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” gave the commencement address and received an honorary degree. Also receiving honorary degrees were Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, and Clyde “Bernie” Bernard Fowler Jr., president of Bernie Fowler Homes/C.B. Bernie Fowler Inc. and president and founder of Farming 4 Hunger, a non-profit organization which supports farming activities that provide food for the needy.
Foundation Board Gets Two New Members In spring 2019, the SMCM Foundation Board welcomed Candace Osunsade and Susan Paul. Candace Osunsade is senior vice president and chief administrative office of the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Osunsade has strong ties to Baltimore’s philanthropic community, including board experiences with the Associated Black Charities and with R.W. Coleman Elementary School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial labor relations from Cornell University. Her daughter, Kezia-Alean Osunsade, is a 2018 graduate of SMCM. Susan Paul is the owner and director of Creative Beginnings, an early childhood education center serving Southern Maryland for more than 30 years. Paul has been an active member in the College community along with her husband Robert “Bob” Paul, professor emeritus of biology. Paul is a graduate of William Woods University and Virginia Polytechnic
Farewell, Welcome, Congratulations In May, we bid farewell to these retiring faculty: Cynthia Koenig, associate professor of psychology; Katsunori Mita, professor of physics, now faculty emeritus; Israel Ruiz, associate professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies; Gail Savage, professor of history, now faculty emerita. This fall, we welcome two familiar faces to tenuretrack positions and three new faculty: Andrew Cognard-Black, assistant professor of sociology; Gerald Gabriel, assistant professor of English; Kristina Howansky, assistant professor of psychology; Sarah Lachney, assistant professor of neurobiology; Jacqueline Villadsen, assistant professor of physics. In August, these faculty were reappointed with tenure and promotion: Katherine Koch, associate professor of educational studies; Michelle Milne, associate professor of physics; Kelly Neiles, associate professor of biochemistry and chemistry; Kent Randell, associate librarian; Antonio Ugues Jr., associate professor of political science. Promoted to full professor were Betül Başaran, professor of religious studies; Todd Eberly, professor of political science; Joshua Grossman, professor of physics; Charles Musgrove, professor of history. The Center for the Study of Democracy took part in The 8th Symposium on the Impacts of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic on Naval and Maritime Operations on July 17-18, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. The forum was a joint program of the 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.