ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
Thank you MacKenzie Scott! UMES receives $20 million donation from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott The University of Maryland Eastern Shore received a transformational donation of $20 million in December from philanthropist and novelist MacKenzie Scott. UMES was among 384 organizations included in Scott’s second round of donations. The ex-wife of Amazon co-founder wrote in an online statement Dec. 15 that the “384 carefully selected teams have dedicated their lives to helping others, working and volunteering and serving real people face-to-face at bedsides and tables, in prisons and courtrooms and classrooms, on streets and hospital wards and hotlines and frontlines of all types and sizes, day after day after day.” University leadership plans to use Scott’s donation to make strategic investments to benefit students short- and long-term. Among the university’s top priorities is financial assistance for students, many of whom face challenges finding ways to pay for their college education. “Most of this generous gift will be put in the University’s endowment,” President Heidi Anderson said, increasing the university’s endowment from $30 million before Scott’s announcement to approximately $50 million.
“The road to success is under construction” Cheryl McKissack Daniel, President & CEO of McKissack & McKissack, imparted lessons and encouragement to the UMES students and community during “On-site with Cheryl McKissack Daniel.” McKissack & McKissack is “the oldest minority and womanowned design and construction firm in the nation. “ The Nashville, Tenn. native and HBCU alumna was the guest speaker during the March 4 virtual event in celebration of Black History Month and Women’s History Month. The Instagram live conversation included her family history, lessons learned from life experiences, and support for entrepreneurship in the Black community. The Chief Executive Officer gave the following advice: • “Building relationships are key. Never discount building relationships with people. Get your elevator pitch together.” • “I define my lane. I define who I am. It is so important that you do something that you have a real strong passion around.” • “The road to success is under construction. You have to avoid the potholes of I could, I would, and I should. You got to do. You will see mountains move just because you decide to act. Indecision is the worst place to be. It is paralysis by analysis.” • “Do not be afraid to fly. Do not be afraid to take risks. Dream outside your limitations.” The event, which was previously scheduled to be in-person during Women’s History Month 2020 prior to the pandemic, was arranged by Tahja Cropper. ANNUAL REPORT
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Protesting Injustice: The UMES Experience
Maryland State College alumni and University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) students came together in person and virtually for “Racial Equity: Then and Now,” an hour-long discussion on the past experience and contributions of Maryland State students and the state of racial justice today. Social distancing guidelines were in place as the event was in the Student Services Center Theater. Moderated by the dean of the School of Education, Social Sciences, and the Arts Dr. Marshall Stevenson, panelist included Starletta DuPois (MSC ’68), Curtis Gentry (MSC ’66), Willie Baker
(MSC ’65), Dr. Percy Thomas (MSC’65), Stephanie Edmonds (class of 2021, Semaj Fielding (class of 2022), and Ciani Wells (class of 2022). The conversation acknowledged the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor in 2020, and the 1933 lynching of George Armwood. “I think today we are beginning to see a more overt, coming out of the closet if you will, of putting Black people back in their place,” Thomas said. “I hope that our students recognize that their striving for excellence is not viewed by many people of a different racial hue as
excellence at all. It is viewed as they are stepping out of their place.” The panelists also addressed the importance of using your vote and your voice. In the midst of the injustices Maryland State alumni shared, each was clear about their experiences and the university’s role in their lives. “Four of the greatest years of my life that I would not ever wanted to have missed,” said Gentry, a retired NFL athlete who became emotional while expressing his gratitude for his experience at the historically Black college.
Hawk first to serve two-year term as student regent on USM Board of Regents Aaliyah Edwards, a UMES junior at the time of her appointment, was selected as the first student regent to serve a two-year term representing peers on the University System of Maryland’s governing board. A 2019 state law change doubled the number of student appointees to two that Maryland’s governor can make to the panel responsible for oversight of all but two of the state’s public, four-year colleges. In this position, the exercise science major from Parkville, Md., was a non-voting member of the system’s Board of Regents for the 2020-21 academic year, then transitioned the next year to being a voting member. “I take this position very seriously,” said Edwards, a dean’s list student. “I wanted to show people you have to take chances. You have to step out of your comfort zone.” ANNUAL REPORT
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Class of 2021’s rite of passage modified during pandemic
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s first inperson commencement ceremony since the start of the pandemic personified the resilient spirit of its graduates. On May 14, 284 degrees were awarded in the Hytche Athletic Center. Among the graduates were Gabrielle Christian, the student commentary speaker, and newly minted alumna Dr. Pamelia Hytche-Hunter, the last of Deloris and UMES President William P. Hytche’s three children to join the ranks of UMES alumni. Dr. John B. King Jr., former U.S. Secretary of Education during the administration of former President Barack Obama and grandson of 1894 Princess Anne Academy Alumna Estelle Livingston Stanberry, was awarded an honorary degree of public service.
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Action! UMES offers bachelor degree in digital media studies State regulatory approval for a curriculum expansion at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore allows the Department of English and Modern Languages to offer an undergraduate degree in digital media studies beginning the fall 2021. The program aims to “produce graduates who will be viable candidates for entry-level media positions across a broad cross-section of the (communications) industry … such as (a) production assistant in a broadcast newsroom, an account assistant in a public relations firm, a videographer in a commercial production house or a social media coordinator,” President Heidi Anderson wrote in a letter accompanying the proposal. In addition to fulfilling a 14-class, 42-credit “core curriculum,” digital media studies majors also must take two foreign language courses and earn 18 digitalmedia elective credits, which could include off-campus internships.
UMES named an Apple “Community Education Initiative” partner
As part of a collaboration between Apple and Tennessee State University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore was selected as a “Community Center for Coding and Creativity.” Apple’s Community Education Initiative supports Tennessee State’s “HBCU C2” efforts to “bring coding and creativity experiences to historically black colleges and universities and their communities.” UMES’ curriculum expanded to include instruction in programming language for Apple’s X-code platform. Two coding courses on coding and application development were added to the curriculum, including one for nonmajors. This partnership with Apple also allows UMES to offer people in the surrounding community access to free instruction, which will be executed through free workshops for secondary school students utilizing Apple’s free coding and creativity curriculum along with Apple devices. ANNUAL REPORT
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Hard hats & white coats at UMES
In April, “Hard Hat Day” at UMES substituted for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new health professions building which was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the half-way point of construction and by invitation only, elected officials, health professions students, and university supporters including Dr. Jay Perman, chancellor of the University System of Maryland, were present for the gathering. The acknowledgements were followed by a tour of the first floor of the structure with 125,000 gross square-
the-art laboratories for training and pharmaceutical research. UMES offers eight such programs, including graduate degrees in physical therapy and physician assistant studies and undergraduate instruction in exercise science and rehabilitation services. The building is on schedule to be completed by mid-2022, with the first classes expected to be held starting with the fall semester.
feet* across College Backbone Road from the university’s Engineering and Aviation Science Complex. When the $90 million structure is completed, the School of Pharmacy currently spread (*) - The building will have 65,000 square feet of among six buildings, will be consolidated useable space. under one roof and feature state-of-
U.S. Dept. of Education $1 million grant supports rehab counseling student stipends at UMES The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s graduate program in rehabilitation counseling will have the support of the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $1 million. This federal funding over the next five years allows UMES to produce “well-qualified personnel available to provide vocational, medical, social and psychological rehabilitation services to people with disabilities.” The money will underwrite stipends for roughly 14 graduate students annually, which Dr. William Talley is hopeful will be viewed as an incentive to choose UMES as the place to pursue a master’s degree. The university’s grant proposal pledged the university would make a concerted effort to identify people with disabilities, minorities and individuals from traditionally underserved populations. UMES offers the only nationally accredited graduate program in rehabilitation counseling on the Delmarva Peninsula. The Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling degree at UMES is a two-year, 60-credit program that meets the standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and the Council on Rehabilitation Education, which merged in July 2017. ANNUAL REPORT
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UMES is Northeast Region Center for A recent addition to the SANS Center of Integrated Pest Management’s scope of work is the management of the Northeast Region of the IR-4 Project. Established in 1963, IR-4 is a USDAfunded national research program that facilitates the registration of safe and effective pest management tools for specialty crop farmers who grow “many of the fruits and vegetables recommended for a healthy diet as well as flowers, trees and shrubs that enhance our environment.” From 2015, Rutgers, in partnership with The State University of New Jersey and the University of Maryland, managed the IR-4 NER. In September 2020, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore assumed the responsibility, appointing Dr. Simon Zebelo, associate professor of entomology and plant biology, director for
the region. Dr. Moses T. Kairo, dean of the UMES School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, serves as the Northeast Region’s administrative advisor and Marylee Ross of the University of Maryland is the field coordinator. North Carolina State University heads the project and administers three other regional facilities at the University of Florida, Michigan State University and the University of California - Davis. “It has been great working with the UMES team to grow the initial idea into a full partnership,” said Dr. Jerry Baron, executive director of the IR-4 Project at North Carolina State University. “Dean Kairo and Dr. Zebelo have shown great passion for joining the IR-4 network. This is a true win-win-win for UMES, IR-4, and most importantly, the specialty crop farmers in the Northeast Region.”
1890 Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense Charged with guiding the collective work of the nineteen 1890 universities in addressing food security and defense challenges, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is home to the newlyestablished 1890 Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense. UMES, known for its international presence and for providing research-based solutions to developing countries, ranks among the “R2” high research institutions in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the university $1.6 million after a rigorous and competitive selection process among the 1890 universities. The Center’s work is specific to the following four sub-regions of the world: West/Central Africa, East/Southern Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Its broad goals are to strengthen agricultural development in developing countries, address new and emerging animal and plant pests and diseases, and engage in agricultural disaster recovery. “This Center provides a unique opportunity to leverage the collective capacity across the nineteen 1890 universities to address key issues,” said Dr. Moses Kairo, dean of the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. “We are very excited about this and anticipate that the Center will begin to deliver beneficial outcomes relatively quickly. We are deeply grateful to legislators on the Hill for the foresight to fund the Center.” The Center is also committed to training a globally-educated workforce, fostering international partnerships, and employing international researchers to help accomplish its goals. ANNUAL REPORT
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UMES professors receive
USM Regents’ Faculty Awards The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Dr. Kausik Das (left) and Dr. Hoai-An Truong (right) received the 2021 University System of Maryland (USM) Regents’ Faculty Award and a $2,000 prize provided by the institutions and the University System of Maryland Foundation. The awards are the highest honor presented by the board to exemplary faculty members. They honor excellence in: Teaching; Public Service; Mentoring; Excellence in Scholarship, Research or Creative Activity. Das, an associate professor of physics in the Department of Natural Sciences, was chosen in the scholarship, research or creative activity category. He secured $1.4 million in extramural funding and is known for involving undergraduate students—many from underrepresented minority groups—in his research, writing and presentations. His research includes work on nano-fluidics (study of manipulating fluids in extremely small spaces), efforts to create on-chip graphene-based nano-inductors and work on light-activated resistive switches. Truong, a professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration, was recognized in the public service category. At the national level, he has chaired committees for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and American Public Health Association. Internationally, he has created opportunities for his students to provide care for patients in Haiti, Vietnam and South Africa.
UMES is a Yellow Ribbon Campus & Military Friendly Campus For the 2020-2021 academic year, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is a participant in the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ “Yellow Ribbon” program. The Yellow Ribbon program helps cover tuition not covered by the VA’s Post-9/11 GI Bill. The maximum amount is $2,000 (per student, per year). Funding is available for 10 students and is open to all programs and degree types. The institution was also recognized as a Military Friendly School for 2021-2022. “Schools (that) achieve designation show true commitment and dedication in their efforts. Our standards assist schools by providing a benchmark that promotes positive educational outcomes, resources, and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community,” said Kayla Lopez, national director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly.®
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ATHLETICS Big year for Hawks Bowling program The University of Maryland Eastern Shore won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship and advanced all the way to the NCAA semifinals. The team also reached the USBC Championship, while freshman Chloe Skurzynski qualified for the USBC singles championships. Cayla Hicks made the Junior Team USA roster and then won MEAC Player of the Year and an NTCA Honorable Mention All-American honor. The alumni got into the act as well with Maria Rodriguez (2011) winning the 2018 PWBA Tour Championship and Jessica Worsley (2008) being inducted into the MEAC Hall of Fame.
Women’s Basketball matches program mark The women’s basketball season saw the team match a program record with 17 victories and finish second in the regular season MEAC standings. Fred Batchelor was named MEAC Coach of the Year, while senior point guard Ciani Byrom was First-Team All-MEAC, BOXTOROW SecondTeam All-American and finished her career in the program’s Top 10 All-Time in several categories.
Track & Field, Cross Country The Shore’s young squad finished the year with a flourish taking five individual medals at the MEAC Outdoor Championships. Freshman Joshua Goslee was a repeat medalist with a second place in the pole vault after finishing third in the pole vault during the indoor championships. ANNUAL REPORT
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2020-2021
UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR 2021 Revenues REVENUE BY SOURCE Auxiliary Services 10%
Tuition & Fees 10%
Other Revenues 9%
State Appropriation 39%
Non-governmental Grants & Contracts 12%
Government Grants & Contracts 21%
Expenses
EXPENDITURE BY PROGRAM Scholarships 2%
Auxiliary Services 15%
Operation of Plant 9%
Instruction 35%
Academic Support 6%
Education & General: Instruction.........................................................$41,882,568 Research.............................................................12,062,231 Public Service.......................................................3,499,921 Academic Support.................................................7,715,271 Student Service....................................................5,806,663 Institutional Support............................................18,548,690 Operation of Plant...............................................10,327,146 Scholarships...............................................................2,239,556 Auxiliary Services......................................................17,904,111 Total Expenses........................................................119,986,157
Net Decrease in Fund Balance....................($3,585,411)
Institutional Support 15%
Student Service 5%
Tuition & Fees.........................................................$11,473,109 State Appropriation...................................................44,934,930 Government Grants and Contracts...........................24,284,516 Non-governmental Grants and Contracts.................13,745,550 Other Revenues........................................................10,581,198 Auxiliary Services......................................................11,381,443 Total Revenues.....................................................$116,400,746
Public Service 3%
Research 10%
Questions on this statement may be directed to the Office of Administration and Finance
2020-2021 UMES Foundation Endowment Growth
63 operating accounts 58 scholarship accounts 35 common trust accounts
312 endowment accounts (including several Title III matching accounts and State matching accounts) for a total market value of $58,376,612 Giving FY 2021 = $26,350,5238 Scholarships: 333 awards; $393,920 awarded
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2020-2021