The Key May 8, 2015 Edition

A newsletter for students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends

May 8, 2015

EWGA opens first collegiate chapter at UMES

Tymeia Taylor was among a handful of students who got impromptu tips on the driving range from Powell, an honorary degree recipient from UMES.

UMES has racked up another “first,” this time partnering with the Executive Women’s Golf Association to form the national organization’s inaugural collegiate chapter on the Princess Anne campus.

EWGA leaders and retired pro tour golfer Renee Powell, an association member, were on hand for an April 30 ceremony where eight UMES undergraduates became the chapter’s charter members.

Sheryl Wilkerson, the EWGA’s board of directors’ president, said UMES was the ideal candidate for its collegiate outreach plans because the university’s PGA golf management program makes diversifying the game one of its goals. The chapter launch was part of UMES’ ‘Pink on the Green’ initiative to generate an interest in golf among women.

“UMES is honored to partner with EWGA in this pioneering effort to form a collegiate chapter on our campus,” President Juliette B. Bell said. “This is an innovative approach to diversifying the golf industry, which has been our motivation since our New members and advisers of UMES’ EWGA chapter, from left are: (front row) Tiana Jones, Tymeia Taylor, Jasmin Cunningham, UMES President Juliette B. Bell, golf management program accepted Nia Troutman, Jamila Johnson; (back row) Tadeeja Appleby, Alison Harris, Joe its first students in 2008.”

Journey, Kimberly C. Dumpson and Norman Blanco. Membership is open to both genders.

UMES joins HBCUs in observing land-grant history

EWGA / continued on page 6

The Thunderin’ Hawks Pep Band led the way in a 1.890 mile wellness walk on campus. The $18.90 registration fee will be used to establish a Justin Morrill Scholarship endowment fund to aid UMES students in carrying out the landgrant mission of the 1890s for generations to come.

INSIDE

Left: USDA representatives, local school children and the UMES community formed a “1890” for a photograph commemorating National 1890 Day April 23. The nation’s 19 historically black, land-grant universities, known as 1890s, observed the 125th anniversary of the signing of the Second Morrill Act with a variety of activities.

Right: Dr. Catherine Woteki, USDA’s under secretary for research, education and economics mission area, gave the keynote address.

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Murray Joins Bell’s Team Freddie Gray Protest Social Issues Workshop

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Student Commentator Culinary Award

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New Degree Offered Dietitic Student Wins Award Safety Award

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STEM Team Places First Business Seminar Phi Kappa Phi Sigma Lambda Chi

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Athletics Awards Banquet

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Earth Day Calendar of Events MADE VISTA Todd Donation

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The Key / May 8, 2015

Circling the Oval

Business and economic development specialist joins Bell’s team Dominick E. Murray, a widely respected business development professional, is joining UMES President Juliette B. Bell’s senior management team as the university’s acting executive director of business and economic development.

Murray’s primary role is to develop and implement the university’s strategic plan for building business relationships and promoting the university’s engagement in economic development of the region and state.

“I am delighted to have someone with Dominick’s experience joining my team to help the university maximize its opportunities to engage with the business community,” Bell said.

Murray previously served as former Gov. Martin O’Malley’s secretary of business and economic development, a post he held from February 2013 until just before O’Malley left office this past January. He joined the agency in 2007 as an assistant secretary of regional development and also served as its deputy secretary from 2009 to 2013.

From 2002 to 2007, Murray was the city of Baltimore’s economic development officer when O’Malley was mayor.

A native of Michigan, Murray has also worked in the private sector for Chrysler and Westinghouse. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit for two years, where he studied philosophy and theology, and earned a bachelor’s degree in radio and television communications from the University of Detroit in 1976.

He had an extensive background in sales and marketing in the private sector before entering public life as an agency administrator.

Murray began his duties May 4.

UMES students join Baltimoreans in protest

A group of 75 to 100 UMES students carried signs and marched peacefully April 19 in protest of Freddie Gray’s death in Baltimore while in police custody. The march began at the Student Services Center, crossed the pedestrian bridge and proceeded to the roundabout on Rt. 822 and on to U.S. 13. Of the protestors, 40 percent were from the Baltimore area, while 13 percent of the UMES student body hails from there.

Workshop discusses social issues

TH E UMES MISSION The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the state’s historically black, 1890 land-grant institution, has its purpose and uniqueness grounded in distinctive learning, discovery and engagement opportunities in the arts and science, education, technology, engineering, agriculture, business and health professions.

UMES is a student-centered, doctoral research degree-granting university known for its nationally accredited undergraduate and graduate programs, applied research and highly valued graduates.

UMES provides individuals, including first-generation college students, access to a holistic learning environment that fosters multicultural diversity, academic success, and intellectual and social growth.

UMES prepares graduates to address challenges in a global, knowledge-based economy while maintaining its commitment to meeting the workforce and economic development needs of the Eastern Shore, the state, the nation and the world.

“Why Can’t We All Just Get Along” was the title of an April 28 workshop sponsored by the Sociological Theory II Class of 2015 in the Department of Social Sciences. The event featured guest speaker Dr. Kirkland Hall, a member of the Somerset County NAACP, and involved discussions on social issues facing the black community. Pictured, Dr. Jim Bresette, UMES’ associate dean for development and external relations in the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, shares thoughts with the group.

UMES People

This is Tawfeek Matuq:

The Key / May 8, 2015

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UMES culinary team member wins first in contest

student commentator

Tawfeek O. Matuq, a 27-yearold mechanical engineering major originally from Jordan, will deliver the student commentary at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s spring commencement exercises May 15.

Matuq is representing the Class of 2015 at the invitation of a university committee that auditioned students with strong academic records who accepted the challenge to try out for the annual honor.

He was chosen on the content and delivery of his message, which draws on his perspective as an international student as well as being a non-traditional age undergraduate.

“I have really grown to appreciate UMES, and I am thankful for everything it has provided me,” said Matuq, who speaks three languages.

His family in Jordan- he’s the oldest of five brothers – will be unable to attend the ceremony in the William P. Hytche Athletic Center. His seven-year-old son, Brydan, will be present, however.

Matuq will be standing before his classmates secure in the knowledge he has a job waiting in Detroit, where he will work for Chrysler. The carmaker also has offered him an opportunity to continue his studies in graduate school.

Matuq, who said he performed well during his first year of college in Jordan, came to America nine years ago after qualifying for a cultural exchange program that placed him in a tourism job in Ocean City.

He ended up staying and at times worked two jobs to support himself and his son while also saving to return to college, which he did in 2012.

“Within a few months,” Matuq said, “I became very comfortable. The university has given me a lot to be thankful for.”

He worked as many as 80 hours a week in the summer and still found time to serve as a volunteer firefighter in Salisbury, where he currently lives. He also moonlighted as a high school math and physics tutor.

“When I started here at UMES,” Matuq said, “I was ready to finish my education. But it was hard.” Because he is slightly older than many of his classmates, strangers and acquaintances occasionally mistook him for being a faculty member.

It’s one of those memories, he said, that will stay with him. As will the toughest class he took during his three years at UMES – “Differential Equations” taught by veteran professor Mark Williams.

Matuq was barely passing the class at mid-semester. After talking with Williams and rejecting a suggestion he should settle for a “C,” he devoted most of his efforts to proving he could do “A” level work. And that’s the grade he earned.

His 3.82 grade point average means he will graduate with magna cum laude honors as a Bachelor of Science degree recipient.

After settling in to his new life as college graduate, Matuq’s next goal is becoming a naturalized citizen.

He’s not worried about passing the citizenship test. “This country is really fair about what it requires to prove you truly want to become an American,” he said.

UMES’ culinary challenge team is used to surprise ingredients and appliances when it comes to the International Food Service Executives Association competition, but this year “took the cake.”

As the five-member teams assembled, judges announced that one member would have to leave their respective teams for a separate cake-decorating station.

“It was a big drawback for each team to be short a member,” said Leah Carpenter, a senior in UMES’ Hospitality and Tourism Management department and alternate on the team.

When the announcement was made, Carpenter said, “everyone looked at our dessert chef first, but then I shot my hand up and said, ‘I can do it!’ and ran over to the cake decorating and started going to town.” As an alternate, she would have been responsible for sanitary detail—cleaning pots and pans.

Carpenter, feeling “nervous” and “unprepared,” rose to the additional challenge despite her shaking hands. She along with other competitors were given two pre-made nine-inch vanilla cake rounds, two types of frosting, berries, chocolate, cookies and a multitude of other items to use.

“I tried to make my cake as different as possible from the other teams,” Carpenter said. She sliced each round in half horizontally to make a 4-layer cake with alternating raspberry filling, vanilla icing and crushed Oreo cookies. The outside was iced with chocolate and decorated with whole and crushed Oreo cookies and drizzled raspberry sauce.

Carpenter, who took first place in the competition, was the first to finish. “I ran back over to my team to help,” she said.

“It was a great challenge, because it really threw us for a loop, but was a lot of fun.”

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The Key / May 8, 2015

School News

Dietetic student receives award Michelle Hill, a senior at UMES majoring in human ecology with a concentration in dietetics, is the 2015 recipient of the Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Outstanding Dietetic Student— two in a row for UMES. Hill accepted the award late April at the annual meeting of the Maryland Nutrition and Dietetics at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum, Md. “Michelle is an inspiration to both faculty and students,” said Dr. Malinda Cecil, UMES’ dietetics program director. Hill, as a business owner, volunteer with Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Golden Key Honor Society, and mother of a teenage son, has a full plate. What is unique about her, Cecil said, is she has accomplished this as someone who is visually impaired.

“Her visual impairment has not stopped her from excelling in her science courses and labs and is currently enrolled in her foodservice systems management practicum,” Cecil said. “She will graduate December 2015 and plans to apply to dietetic internships.”

UMES commended for worker safety The State Employee Risk Management Administration commended UMES for a 22.9 percent reduction in workplace injury claims reported in calendar year 2014 compared to 2013. UMES joined Bowie State, Frostburg State and the University of Maryland at Baltimore in the honor. Representatives from the universities will accept the special award at the SERMA annual conference May 21 in Baltimore.

UMES now offers master’s and doctoral degrees in pharmaceutical sciences

Beginning this fall, UMES’ School of Pharmacy and Health Professions will offer a limited number of graduate-level positions for students in pharmaceutical sciences at the master’s and doctoral levels.

Faculty say the curriculum will prepare graduates “for careers in advanced scientific research in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, academia or government.”

UMES began training pharmacists with a year-round doctoral-level program in 2010 that already has produced more than 100 graduates.

Graduates of pharmacy programs like the one currently offered at UMES are prepared to “work with existing drugs, patients, and other healthcare practitioners to optimize patient care and drug use,” according to the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, “Pharmaceutical scientists,” the association notes, “are typically involved in the development of new drugs. They spend most of their time doing research in a laboratory or office setting.”

At UMES, students accepted in the new program will focus on two areas: drug design and discovery, and drug delivery and pharmacology.

Dr. Mark Simmons, UMES’ pharmaceutical sciences graduate studies director, said “these two areas of specialization are multi-disciplinary and on the cutting edge of the ever-advancing field of pharmaceutical sciences.”

Successful applicants for the program should have an undergraduate or graduate degree in: biology, biochemistry, engineering, molecular biology, pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences or a related area and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or “B” on a 4.0 scale.

Other requirements include Graduate Record Exam scores, three letters of recommendation and a statement of academic goals and research interests.

Contact Dr. Mark Simmons, professor and graduate studies director, at 410-621-2028 or email PSGP@umes.edu for more information.

School News

Technology students win first at STEM event

A group of NASA-sponsored Maryland Elite Researchers In-Training Scholars at UMES took first place in a research poster session at the 2015 Innovative STEM Conference. The poster highlighted the group’s scale model home using the microprocessor Raspberry Pi. The event, held earlier this spring at Morgan State University, also included participants from the University of Maryland College Park, the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Towson University and Bowie State University.

UMES technology students Cole Chesser, Omari Carter, Brandon Cartwright and Miranda Nettey “wanted to do something with Raspberry Pi as a mini-computer to show what it can do,” said Etahe Johnson, the MERIT Scholar coordinator.

The cutting-edge technology, she said, has been out about two years as a microprocessor, but students in the department have just begun to use it in projects. What made the UMES team unique, she said, was that it constructed a scale model home and programmed Raspberry Pi to have a camera look inside the house and control the lights and temperature. Furniture was made with a 3D printer.

The Key / May 8, 2015

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Phi Kappa Phi inducts members

UMES President Juliette B. Bell and Dr. Terry Smith, an associate professor in the Department of English and Modern Languages and president of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, are pictured with recent inductees. From left, are: (front row) Morgan Chandler, Bell, Smith, and Roxanne Sudendorf , one of the freshmen and sophomores with 4.0 GPAs invited to attend, (second row) Colleen Hendrickson, Jameson Dorrine, Gabrielle Lang, Jon’mel Davenport, (back row) Adaobi Egwuago, Koriante’ Rogers, Jonathan Wheeler and Olivia Coleman.

Sigma Lambda Chi inducts members

From left (holding ceremonial candles), Kevin Prag, Brian Sarmiento and Zachary Stryjewski, are pictured among family, peers and faculty congratulating them on their recent induction in UMES’ Tau-2 Chapter of Sigma Lambda Chi, the International Honor Society for Leaders in Construction. Sigma Lambda Chi offers the opportunity to be recognized locally and nationally for academic and scholastic accomplishments as a construction major, said Dr. Joseph O. Arumala, faculty advisor. Membership is based on scholarship, leadership and an interest in the construction field.

Business students benefit from seminar Students in the School of Business and Technology attended a Life Management Seminar April 11 led by Joel Oppenheimmer, senior vice president of STV Inc of Baltimore. The firm is listed as being among the top 25 construction firms in the U.S. and Canada for education, transit and corrections. A group of attendees pictured from left are: (kneeling) Mohamad Mansaray, Richard Oden, Tochi Chukwu, Briana Moss, (standing) Brian Daniels, Omar Taylor, Hafeez Shittu, Steven Iluymade, Dr. Joseph Arumala, Oppenheimmer, Dr. Ibibia Dabipi, Mohsin Mehmood, Stephanie Martinez and Harrison Fisher.

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Events

The Key / May 8, 2015

UMES honors athletes at “The Harrys” awards banquet

Photos by UMES Media Relations

She also aided student-athletes in UMES’ athletics department hosted winning numerous national awards its second annual awards banquet, for academics including NCAA Elite 89 “The Harrys,” featuring a red carpet awards, Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar and big screen atmosphere like Awards and Academic All-Americans.

“The Oscars.” Team and individual She “has mentored and mothered” accomplishments during the 2014-15 many of the Hawk student-athletes, season were honored. the inscription on her plaque read.

UMES Male and Female Athletes of The men’s basketball team, with the Year were basketball senior Mike the biggest improvements collectively Myers and women’s basketball senior throughout the season, was this year’s Jessica Long as the top vote getters in Assistant Athletics Director of Academics Collene Dean (center) is recipient of the Quantum Leap Award. the department. congratulated on being named Hawk of the Year by UMES President Juliette Team of Scholars went to baseball Myers was selected the Riley B. Bell, Director of Athletics Keith Davidson and UMES Mascot HH3. and women’s bowling, while the Wallace National Player of the Year as male and female Jostens’ Award for the country’s top DI transfer and a Sportsmanship honored baseball’s finalist for the Lou Henson Award as Jordan Bone and bowler Valerie the country’s top mid-major player.

Riggin.

Long left her mark on the record Male and female Scholar book as she finished tied for sixth Athletes of the Year were track and in steals, fifth in assists, third in free field’s Dillon Simon and bowler throws made, and 10th on the all-time Tatiana Munoz. The inaugural scoring list, including nailing a gamemale and female Citizen Athletes winner to beat #1 seed Hampton in of the Year were Ishaq Pitt (men’s the MEAC Tournament and guiding basketball) and Samantha Casarez UMES to its first championship game (softball). appearance.

Keith Davidson, presented the UMES’ 2015 Hawk of the Year Director of Athletics Appreciation was presented to Collene Dean, Senior basketball players Michael Myers and Jessica Long were named UMES Award to Jesse T. Williams in the assistant athletic director of Male and Female Athletes of the Year. recognition of his contributions academics. Dean has led the charge throughout the years. in the area of academics. She helped UMES win the Mid-Eastern Athletic He will be honored again this fall when the basketball court will be Conference’s Graduation Success Rate five years in a row and assisted men’s basketball in graduating more student-athletes than any other HBCU. dedicated in his name.

EWGA / continued from cover

UMES hosted a mid-day event at its driving range to promote the game.

EWGA representatives and university dignitaries signed the organization’s first collegiate chapter affiliation agreement there. An evening event for women in the community followed.

“This is a milestone as we welcome UMES as the first collegiate chapter of the EWGA,” said Pam Swensen, the organization’s chief executive officer.

“We anticipate this to be the first of many collegiate chapters to come.

EWGA excels at creating opportunities for women to use golf personally and professionally,” the EWGA’s Swensen said. “We are delighted to provide our collegiate members with leadership tools to be successful both on and off the course.”

Jamila Johnson, the PGA golf management program’s academic coordinator, will be the UMES chapter advisor.

The 14,000-member association with 120 chapters across the country and internationally, including on the Lower Shore, is a business networking organization built around an interest in and the benefits of playing golf.

President Juliette B. Bell is pictured with EWGA representatives, from left, Sheryl Wilkerson, volunteer president of the EWGA board of directors; Renee Powell, a member, retired pro tour golfer and honorary member of St. Andrew’s Golf Club in Scotland; and Hollis Kerler, EWGA chapter development director.

School News

Earth Day campus clean-up held

The Key / May 8, 2015

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Campus group raises funds for Todd family

Members of the university’s chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success made a $500 donation to the Rodney Todd Family Fund. Todd and seven of his children, ages six to 15, perished in their Princess Anne home the first week of April from carbon monoxide poisoning.

UMES men’s initiative supports community

The Graduate Student Association organized a campus clean-up in honor of Earth Day. From left, Wilmelie Cruz-Merrero, Lindsey Hughes, Laura AlmodovarAcevedo, Mason King, Rebecca Peters, Justin Wilson, Stephanie Martinez and Audy J. Peoples, are pictured with their “booty”—trash picked up on campus. “It was great to have so many different groups on campus come and help out; we hope to make it an annual event,” Kristen Lycett said. Some 40 undergraduate students joined eight graduate students in the event, which earned them community service hours.

UMES’ Men Achieving Dreams through Education teamed up with the Office of University Engagement and Lifelong Learning and Midway Chevrolet in Pocomoke, Md. to assist citizens in need in Somerset County through the Seaton Center. The groups donated over 200 hygiene kits to the community center. The effort was led by Andre Webb, MADE’s program assistant, who said, “It’s amazing what an idea can do. This effort would not have been accomplished without total support from UMES’ students, faculty and staff.”

Making a difference in our community Ria Arnold (left, standing at center), the university’s representative for the Maryland-DC Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA program, spent the 2014-15 academic year working with the Garland Hayward Youth Center in Princess Anne.

Arnold worked to strengthen tutor/mentor relationships between the center and the university and increase service learning, enrichment activities and family events. Among those activities were: a Martin Luther King Jr. event where children recited poems, sang and drew/colored portraits of the civil rights leader; a Healthy Bodies-Healthy Minds workshop; and a Spring Field Day where 140 UMES students volunteered as chaperons and activity leaders for Somerset County children. Arnold worked out of UMES’ Office of University Engagment & Lifelong Learning.

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The Key / May 8, 2015

Calendar

Submit entries by May 11.

june

Princess Anne Street Fest 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Food, music, crafts, games, bingo, bike parade, petting zoo and more.

410-651-2536

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Art Exhibit Opening Reception 4-6 p.m.

Mosely Gallery “Selected Works by UMES Artists.� Group show of the hidden talents of non Fine Art faculty. Curated by local artist and UMES alumnus Patrick Henry. Show on display through July 31.

410-651-7770 or www. moselygallery.com

Art Shell UMES Invitational* 8 a.m. tee off Great Hope Golf Course, Westover, Md. Advanced registration required. Registration includes a pairing party, 18 holes of golf with a celebrity, food and drink on the course, an awards banquet and commemorative gifts. $200 per player/$750 foursome 410-651-UMES

*Unless stipulated (*) all events listed are free and open to the public.

The KEY is published by the Office of Public Relations in the Office of the President 410-651-7580 FAX 410-651-7914 www.umes.edu Editors

Ashley Collier, Public Relations Assistant

Gail Stephens, Assistant Director of Public Relations and Publications Manager

Design by Debi Rus, Rus Design Inc.

Bill Robinson, Director of Public Relations

Printed by The Hawk Copy Center

Submissions to The KEY are preferred via email. All copy is subject to editing.The Key is written according to the Associated Press stylebook.

Julia Rocha