A newsletter for students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends Over a 25-week period earlier this year, the blockbuster “Black Panther” took in $700 million in gross ticket sales domestically, the top-earning movie for the first nine months of 2018. The name of the late artist, whose creativity in the 1970s inspired the title character, was nowhere to be found in the film’s credits. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is poised to correct that oversight. A never-before-seen collection of the early works of Billy Graham – known in the art world as “the Irreverent One” – debuted Thursday at UMES’ Mosely Gallery. A celebratory opening reception was held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Gallery director Susan Holt heard about the existence of Graham’s early illustrations through a March 8 article in the New York Times that chronicled his family’s disappointment that millions of movie-goers don’t know the story of the pioneer behind the featured character in the film. Near the end of his life, Graham asked his family to preserve a trunk with his sketches and art work from his early days as an illustrator. The collection was known
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UMES awards 29 Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees Page 2
Faculty Assembly Senior Class Board
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Physical Therapy Graduation Day
Mosley exhibit: No Longer “The Irreverent One”
September 28, 2018
as the “Treasure Chest,” according to the Times’ article. For more than two decades, Graham’s family was the unassuming custodian of art that few others knew existed. Then, along came the 2018 film that cast a new light on showcasing people of color in science fiction stories. The backstory portrayed in the Times’ article intrigued Holt, so she reached out to Graham’s family with an offer: the gallery she directs at a historically black institution (where students are taught sequential arts – how to draw illustrations like those in comic books) would welcome the opportunity to display the late illustrator’s works. Shawna Graham said “we decided to allow a gallery to display some of my grandfather’s work to bring awareness to … his talents and his importance to the African American culture and history.” As far as Holt can tell, “this is the first exhibition of these original works.” The exhibition, Holt said, will showcase some 20 original illustrations in pencil, ink and color, as well as some of the artist’s personal artifacts. The works GRAHAM / continued on page 5
Twenty-nine graduate students in the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s doctor of physical therapy program were awarded degrees during summer commencement and a belated132nd Founders’ Day celebration. Following the ceremony, Rachel Whitely of Bowie and Laura Kaufman of Baltimore were named co-winners of the Joseph Beatus Award for Excellence in Patient-center care in recognition of their clinical work as students. The newly minted graduates must now pass a national licensure exam in the coming weeks so they can practice anywhere in the country. Maurice Allen Oliver Jr. is from Camden, Del. and has a job waiting in Charlotte, N.C. “It was a challenging and interesting three years,” Oliver said before the ceremony. “It’s a great program, and I highly recommend it. I feel like I’m well-prepared to start my career.” Ben Taylor, a Utah native, chose to apply to UMES because of the physical therapy’s stellar reputation of producing graduates who have little trouble finding jobs, and he also wanted to do his graduate studies in a different part of the country. Taylor said he could tell immediately the faculty was invested in ensuring the program delivers on what’s
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Tracy Bell Searches for New Ways to Treat Diabetes
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Graham’s Early Works Debut at Mosely Gallery
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Cross Country Callarman New Head Volleyball Coach Volleyball Schedule
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UMES Partners with Environmental Agencies UMES’ National Society Of Leadership & Success Chapter Visits Greece LSAMP Scholars Attended The 2018 Summer Bridging Conference
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A&E Calendar