UMGC Achiever Magazine 2021

ACHIEVER

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GLOBAL CAMPUS | 2021

PRESIDENT EMERITUS

JAVIER MIYARES A Legacy of Innovation

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MESSA GE FR O M T HE I NT ER I M P R ES I DE NT Dear Friend of UMGC: IN SEPTEMBER 2020, University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Jay A. Perman, MD, invited me to serve as interim president of UMGC, following then President Javier Miyares’s transition to a new, advisory role with the USM (see the news story on p. 2).

I was honored to accept the chancellor’s invitation. I was already wellacquainted with UMGC, having joined the university in 2003 as vice provost for academic affairs and professor, and later serving as interim provost and chief academic officer until my retirement in 2007.

I have always been inspired by UMGC’s mission and the commitment of its students, staff, and faculty. Today, I am equally inspired by the ways in which the university has grown and evolved under Javier Miyares’s leadership and by the institution’s response to and navigation of the global coronavirus pandemic.

So I am especially pleased to introduce this issue of Achiever, which celebrates Javier Miyares’s remarkable legacy, culminating in the USM Board of Regents’ decision on December 18 to bestow on him the honorary and richly deserved title of president emeritus.

I am also pleased and proud to introduce Gregory Fowler, PhD, UMGC’s new president (see “UMGC’s Presidential Transition,” pp. 2–3), whose appointment was announced December 9, effective January 4, 2021.

Dr. Fowler’s appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter in UMGC’s rich history, and I could not be more enthusiastic. The experience, skills, and educational background that he brings to the position align beautifully with the challenges and opportunities before us today, and I hope you are as excited as I am to learn how he will shape and guide our university in the months and years ahead.

In closing, let me say what a privilege it has been to lead this remarkable university for the past four months while the search continued for a new president. We are operationally and financially stable, enrollments are strong, and while we continue to deal with the realities of the global pandemic, we have continued to provide current and prospective students alike with the outstanding service they so richly deserve.

Thank you for remaining connected to your university and for your belief in our public mission and in the power of education to change lives. I wish you good health and great success in 2021!

Sincerely,

Lawrence E. Leak, PhD Interim President University of Maryland Global Campus ACHIEVER | 2 | UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GLOBAL CAMPUS

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T A B LE OF C ONT E NT S FEATURE 10

IN HIS OWN WORDS

A CONVERSATION WITH UMGC PRESIDENT EMERITUS JAVIER MIYARES

NEWS AND UPDATES 2

UMGC President Javier Miyares Tapped to Transition to USM 2

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UMGC Among Region’s “Most Innovative Schools” in U.S. News

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UMGC’s Presidential Transition

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UMGC Joins Papa John’s Dough & Degrees Program

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UMGC Grants a Record Nine Pillars of Strength Scholarships

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UMGC Receives $825,000 Grant from Ascendium Education Group

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UMGC Selected for National Cyberwatch’s 2020 Innovations in Cybersecurity Education Program

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UMGC Community Unites in Online Moment of Solidarity

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UMGC Arts Program Gift Honors Alumnus John L. and Symantha Milton

COVER PAINTING BY JASON SEILER

Record $16 Million Gift Grows UMGC Endowment, Seeds Student Fund

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Gov. Hogan Says Grads Will Make Post-Pandemic Maryland Stronger, Better

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8 UMGC’s Michael Freedman Sworn in as President of the National Press Club 9

In Memoriam: Ambassador Edward J. Perkins ’67

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UMGC MOOCs Help Entrepreneurs Worldwide Learn and Grow

30 PACE Helps UMGC Students Live and Learn During Lockdown 31 USM and UMGC Form $2.6 Million Partnership to Support Online Learning

BACK OF THE BOOK 22 CLASS NOTES

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26 FACULTY KUDOS

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NEWS U P DA T E S INTERIM PRESIDENT Lawrence Leak SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, JOURNALIST-IN-RESIDENCE, AND EXECUTIVE EDITOR Michael Freedman EDITOR Chip Cassano ART DIRECTOR AND PHOTO EDITOR Cynthia Friedman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gil Klein, Carole Mahoney PRODUCTION MANAGER Scott Eury Call 301-985-7200 with comments and suggestions, or e-mail chip.cassano@umgc.edu.

University of Maryland Global Campus subscribes to a policy of equal education and ­ employment opportunities.

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UMGC President Javier Miyares Tapped to Transition to USM UMGC President Javier Miyares, who announced in July 2020 that he would retire after eight years at the helm, stepped down on September 28, 2020. He was tapped

by University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Jay A. Perman, MD, to assume a new advisory role focused on the System’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. In that capacity, he is serving as an advisor on analytics and efforts to respond to the growing demand for distance education, working with the presidents of sister institutions and their respective academic teams to assess and improve the digital curriculum System-wide.

“When I assumed the role of chancellor, I knew that Javier was eager to begin his retirement after an incredible tenure as UMGC president— and yet he agreed to stay on another 10 months,” said Perman. “Javier’s new role will better allow System leaders to tap his considerable expertise and improve remote learning across the USM. The pandemic has reinforced how vital it is that students benefit from a high-quality online education—and I’m deeply grateful that President Miyares will remain to advance our work in this area.”

Said Miyares, “I am grateful to Chancellor Perman for this opportunity to both step back from day-to-day institu-

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tional responsibilities and yet remain focused on the educational needs of students in our wonderful system—particularly those students who would be unable to access post-secondary education without new and innovative delivery methods.”

Perman named Lawrence E. Leak, PhD, a highly regarded leader in Maryland higher education, interim president of UMGC during the search for a permanent replacement.

UMGC Among Region’s “Most Innovative Schools” in U.S. News “Best Colleges” Rankings UMGC ranks in the top 10 of “Most Innovative Schools” among Regional Universities– North, in the popular U.S. News

“Best Colleges” 2020 issue.

UMGC, the nation’s largest online public university, was No. 9 in the ranking, which is

UMGC's Presidential Transition University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Jay Perman, MD, named Lawrence E. Leak, PhD, a highly regarded leader in Maryland higher education, interim president of UMGC as a search continued for a new president. Leak had been serving as secretary of the board of trustees at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Leak, who had previously served as UMGC’s chief academic officer, said, “I am excited to once again join a global community that is so devoted to the needs of adult students and so focused on providing them with both an exceptional educational experience and outstanding support.”

based on a survey of leaders at other institutions in the region.

College presidents, provosts, and admissions deans were asked to nominate institutions that are making the most innovative improvements in areas such as curriculum, faculty, students, and technology. According to U.S. News, the ranking category enables “top college officials to pick schools that the public should be watching because of the cutting-edge changes the colleges are making on their campuses.”

UMGC Joins Papa John’s Dough & Degrees Affordable Education Tuition Assistance Program On July 27, 2020, UMGC announced that it has teamed up with Papa John’s International—the world’s third-largest pizza delivery company—in a new education alliance with their bestin-class “Dough & Degrees” tuition assistance program.

UMGC will offer Papa John’s

In a distinguished career spanning five decades, Leak has been a mainstay of Maryland education, serving as a high school teacher and principal, university professor and administrator, assistant state superintendent of schools, college trustee, and gubernatorial appointee.

Leak first came to UMGC (then University of Maryland University College) in 2003 as vice provost for academic affairs and professor, later serving as interim provost and chief academic officer.

He retired in December 2007 after a 31-year career, remaining active in higher education post-retirement.

In 2009 he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of St. Mary's College of Maryland—and the following year to the Maryland Council for Educator Effectiveness— by then Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. He also serves as vice chair of the Historic St. Mary's City Commission.

IN LATE-BREAKING NEWS, the chancellor announced on December 9 that the USM Board of Regents had selected Gregory Fowler, PhD, as the next president of UMGC, effective January 4, 2021.

“Dr. Fowler has served as president of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Global Campus since September 2018, and first joined the institution eight years ago as chief academic officer and vice president for academic affairs,” said Perman, in a message to the UMGC community. “His dynamic leadership at a pioneering institution like SNHU makes him a perfect fit for UMGC, the nation’s largest online public univer-

corporate and franchisee team members—as well as their immediate family members—reduced tuition options, and Papa John’s team members can choose from any of the university’s undergraduate and graduate programs.

In addition to expanding “Dough & Degrees,” Papa John’s International recently has hired 20,000 displaced team members during the COVID-19 pandemic and is stepping up efforts to hire additional team members over

the next few months to meet the high demand for quality meals and safe delivery for people remaining at home.

“We want to make it quick and simple for team members to join Papa John’s and immediately begin earning an income.

sity and an international exemplar in serving adult learners, including members of the military.”

A graduate of Morehouse College and two-time Fulbright Senior Scholar, Fowler has held senior-level academic and administrative positions at several universities. He holds a PhD in English and American studies from SUNY Buffalo, an MBA from Western Governors University, and an MA in English and teaching of reading and writing literature from George Mason University.

For more about UMGC’s new president, visit the UMGC Global Media Center at globalmedia.umgc.edu/2020/12/09/ gregory-fowler-ph-d-named-president-of-university-of-marylandglobal-campus.

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NEWS UP DAT E S

Pillars of Strength Scholarship recipients (clockwise from top left) Stephanie Hall with husband, Terrance, and family; Dacy Luthers with husband, Jermaine; Candace Laguna with husband, Frank; Sarahi Chavez with husband, Luis, and family; Pamela Rutkowski with husband, Jeff, and family; Lindsay Williams with husband, Erik; and Nicole Paredes-Laign with husband, Justin, and family.

An added benefit is access to long-term pathways toward sustained personal and professional growth,” said Marvin Boakye, Papa John’s chief people and diversity officer. “COVID-19 has changed how we live, work, and grow in a safe environment.

With this significant expansion to our first-of-its-kind college tuition program, our team members will have the opportunity to earn not only a paycheck, but also a college degree.”

UMGC Grants a Record Nine Pillars of Strength Scholarships to Caregivers of Wounded Warriors The Pillars of Strength Scholarship Program granted nine full UMGC scholarships to volunteer caregivers of severely injured service members in 2020. It is the greatest number of scholarships ever awarded by the

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program in a single year and brings to 38 the total number of caregivers who have received Pillars of Strength scholarships since the program’s inception in 2013.

In all, eight Pillars scholarship recipients have already earned their degrees and three others are expected to graduate this year.

“I am so proud once again to reward the selfless caregivers who support our nation’s heroes,” said Navy veteran and UMGC alumnus Richard F. Blewitt, president of the Blewitt Foundation and founder of the Pillars of Strength Scholarship

Program. “It is indeed a privilege to provide full scholarships to these nine deserving individuals who sacrifice so much, and to honor them in this very special way.”

Pillars of Strength was created specifically to help exceptional volunteer caregivers—often spouses, friends, parents, or children— who have sacrificed their own careers to help their loved ones recover from serious physical injuries or psychological trauma that they suffered while serving in the military.

Its scholarships are made possible by the Blewitt

For the latest news and updates about UMGC, visit the Global Media Center at globalmedia.umgc.edu.

Foundation and the National Military Family Association (NMFA) in alliance with UMGC, the nation’s premier global provider of higher education to the U.S. military since 1947.

“Caregivers of our military servicemembers dedicate themselves to the health and well-being of their families and loved ones, often at great personal sacrifice,” said Ashish Vazirani, NMFA executive director and CEO. “It is a privilege to join the Blewitt Foundation and UMGC to ensure that the career aspirations of these caregivers aren’t sacrificed but supported.

This partnership strengthens these military families.”

This year’s scholarship recipients are Erika AuroRomillo, Sarahi Chavez, Stephanie Hall, Candace Laguna, Dacy Luthers, Nicole Paredes-Laign, Tona Rimmer, Pamela Rutkowski, and Lindsay Williams.

Candace Laguna spoke on behalf of this year’s recipients during a special online conferral ceremony in October 2020. Said Laguna, “As we wrote our applications for the Pillars of Strength scholarship, we carefully selected each word to express not only the difficulties of being a caregiver, but also the beauty and personal growth that we have experienced as caregivers to some of the nation’s finest men and women. We wanted you to see we were strong and intelligent and capable of honoring your mission. Thank you for believing in us.”

UMGC Receives $825,000 Grant from Ascendium Education Group to Prepare Next Generation of Community College Leaders UMGC received an $825,000 grant in June 2020 from Ascendium Education Group to develop a new, innovative curriculum that responds to the evolving set of leadership skills needed in higher education for its doctoral program in Community College Policy and Administration, said UMGC Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Blakely Pomietto.

The grant will fund the formation of an advisory committee, composed of thought lead-

ers from community colleges, the workforce, universities, and other nonprofit organizations, that will guide the development of the new curriculum and keep it current.

“By necessity, the role of the community college leader has evolved over time to keep pace with changes in the educational landscape that influence how colleges operate,” said then UMGC President Javier Miyares. “At the same time, a growing number of senior leaders are approaching retirement age, creating a wealth of career opportunities for the next generation of community college executives.

“We designed our premier doctoral program to train the next generation of community college leaders, and we are pleased and grateful to receive this support from Ascendium and proud of the confidence it demonstrates in UMGC.” Rebecca Villarreal, director for education grantmaking at Ascendium, said UMGC’s curriculum redesign efforts align with the philanthropy’s investment priority of developing postsecondary leaders who are committed and prepared to remove structural barriers to student success.

“We are happy to fund this project and are excited to see how the new curriculum will lead to systemic change in postsecondary education,” she said.

The new advisory committee will be co-chaired

by Karen Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream, Inc., and Richard Rhodes, president of Austin Community College. Also serving on the advisory committee are Elizabeth Bolden, president/CEO, Pennsylvania Commission on Community Colleges; Tom Brock, director, Community College Research Center, Teachers College-Columbia University; Walter Bumphus, president and CEO, American Association of Community Colleges; Michael Collins, vice president, Jobs for the Future; Sunita Cooke,

president, Mira Costa College; Rufus Glasper, president and CEO, League for Innovation in the Community College; Anne Kress, president, Northern Virginia Community College; Sandra Kurtinitis, president, Community College of Baltimore County; UMGC alumnus Justin Lonon, executive vice chancellor, Dallas County Community College District; Mary Alice McCarthy, director, Education and Skills, New America; Mark Mitsui, president, Portland Community College; UMGC alumnus Sheila Quirk-Bailey, president, Illinois Central College; Steve Robinson, president, Lansing Community College; and Deborah Santiago, CEO, Excelencia in Education.

UMGC Selected for National Cyberwatch’s 2020 Innovations in Cybersecurity Education Program The National Cyberwatch Center, a consortium of higher education institutions, businesses, and government agencies focused on advancing information security education, selected UMGC for inclusion in its 2020 Innovations in Cybersecurity Education program.

The National Cyberwatch Center based its selection on a concept submitted by Jesse Varsalone, associate professor of Computer Networks and Cybersecurity at UMGC, which allows students to try out for the school’s cybersecuritycompetition team using an

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open-source Capture the Flag (CTF) platform that both facilitates the tryout process and allows current team members to help prospects succeed.

“Being included in the 2020 Innovations in Cybersecurity Education Program means that we can now showcase our program and effecJesse Varsalone, UMGC associate tive practices to a professor of Computer Networks and much larger audience Cybersecurity through the National Students who do not qualify Cyberwatch Center’s publicato join the team can access tions, blogs, e-mails, and other resources, such as Netlab, to channels,” said Varsalone. improve their skills and are Under UMGC’s “Cybersecurity encouraged to try out again.

Team Tryout” concept, students As a result, a number have earn points by working on been able to join the team on cybersecurity challenges—set their second or third try. up by the team coach—in “The platform allows active categories such as forensics, team members to monitor and network forensics, malware encourage prospective memanalysis, and password crackbers without providing ing. Those who score enough answers to the puzzle quespoints are automatically added tions, creating an environment to the UMGC Cybersecurity where they can give back Team’s active roster.

and propel students onto the team,” said Varsalone.

UMGC’s competitive cybersecurity teams have won regional, national, and international competitions, including the Maryland Cyber Challenge, the Cyber DiploHack competition, and the gold medal at the 2014 Global CyberLympics.

UMGC Community Unites in Online Moment of Solidarity More than 700 UMGC global faculty and staff members shared a virtual Moment of Solidarity Friday, June 5, 2020, in an online event that recognized the pain and sadness many are experiencing in the wake of the death of George Floyd. UMGC Ombudsman, Vice President, and Chief Diversity Officer Blair Hayes, PhD, and then President Javier Miyares spoke about the need to address racial injustice and to comfort those suffering.

Members of the UMGC community submitted more than 100 images and messages that

were shared during the halfhour online event.

“It is important during these unsettled times to acknowledge that many of us are not okay,” said Hayes. “If we acknowledge it in ourselves, we also allow others to admit that they too may be in need of a hand, a hug, or a listening ear. The concerns that affect the Black community are affecting our UMGC community, colleagues, friends, and families, and do not pause as we attempt to make it through each day.”

Hayes added that he has been encouraged by concerned colleagues who do not know what to say or feel paralyzed at what they can do to address systemic racism.

“Not knowing is one thing, but not seeking to know what may be going on does not allow us to be the best of who we can be,” he said. “Please continue to seek to learn and fill those blind spots that we all have. We are here to help you and will continue to offer

Blair Hayes, PhD, UMGC ombudsman, vice president, and chief diversity officer, addresses the UMGC community during an online Moment of Solidarity on Friday, June 5, 2020. Attendees submitted poems, art, photos, and inspirational quotes that became part of a virtual collage.

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UMGC alumnus John L. "Jack" Milton

opportunities for dialogue, discussion, and growth.”

Miyares said we must turn away from division and “truly embrace a vision of a world made stronger by diversity.”

He added that “grief and fear can unite just as surely as they can divide,” asking the community to “reach out to one another for support, for comfort, and for strength in this moment of solidarity.”

UMGC community members submitted original poems, art, and photographs, along with inspirational quotes, that were displayed as part of a virtual collage.

Gift to UMGC Arts Program Honors the Legacy of Alumnus John L. and Symantha Milton UMGC alumnus and supporter John L. “Jack” Milton, 96, donated several pieces of ruby and emerald jewelry to UMGC in 2020, the latest—and certainly most

unique—in a series of generous gifts he has made to the university as part of his own legacy and that of his late wife, Symantha “Sammie” Davidson Milton.

During a 31-year military career, Milton amassed more than 12,000 flying hours, serving in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

He tested aircraft for coldweather performance in Fairbanks, Alaska; won a Distinguished Flying Cross supporting the Congolese military during the Russian and Chinese-backed insurgencies; and served as director of plans for a C-130 division based in Taiwan while flying combat missions in Vietnam.

While on active duty, he took advantage of the UMGC courses offered at the Pentagon, earning two years of credits and completing his undergraduate degree. He also met and married his wife, a Cincinnati fashion model

he calls “the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen,” and it is part of her jewelry collection that he has now donated to the UMGC Arts Program.

After retiring from the U.S. Air Force as a colonel, Milton began a second— and equally successful— career in finan-cial advising with Merrill Lynch, which saw him rise to first vice president. He worked for Merrill Lynch for 28 years but never lost touch with the University System of Maryland, serv-ing as a charter member of the University of Maryland Foundation board, organizing the President’s Club at UMGC, and serving on the university’s Board of Visitors.

Beginning in 1989, Milton and his wife donated some $440,000 to UMGC and, in 2010, established the John L. and Symantha Milton Scholarship Fund, via a charitable remainder

trust. After learning about the Pillars of Strength Scholarship Program, which provides full UMGC scholarships to the volunteer caregivers of wounded military servicemembers, Milton redirected the existing scholarship funds to support the program, along with an additional $25,000.

Now, for those who will see his wife’s jewelry on display, said Milton, “I’d like for them to get a feel for how beautiful and elegant she was. How wonderful her taste was. And how much she supported the university and my part in it.”

Record $16 Million Gift Grows UMGC Endowment, Seeds Student Emergency Fund at Critical Time UMUC Ventures, a nonprofit supporting organization established by UMGC to develop innovative services and prod-

ucts for higher education, announced plans in early 2020 to give $16 million to the university’s endowment to support scholarship programs.

The influx of funds came as the first company in the UMUC Ventures portfolio— analytics firm HelioCampus— added a new majority investor, Pamlico Capital, a growth equity firm with previous

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investments in education measurement and research.

In addition to expanding UMGC’s endowment, Pamlico Capital’s investment yielded a fourfold return on the University System of Maryland’s original financial contribution to launch HelioCampus.

The gift represented the largest single contribution to the endowment in university history and was put to immediate use in support of the institution’s emergency relief fund for students suffering financial difficulties during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The fact that the funds came at such a critical moment of financial need for many UMGC students “was fortunate timing,” said Cathy Sweet, UMGC vice president for Institutional Advancement.

“We received the funds in early March,” she said, “and by the end of March we were finding a way to use them to help students in distress.”

Gov. Hogan Says Grads Will Make PostPandemic Maryland Stronger, Better Maryland Governor Larry Hogan presented the keynote address to UMGC graduates at the university’s first-ever virtual commencement, which premiered on Saturday, May 16, 2020.

“This is certainly not the graduation day that any of you anticipated or hoped for, but it in no way lessens your accomplishments or dimin-

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan offered keynote remarks at UMGCʼs first-ever virtual commencement, May 16, 2020.

ishes your achievements,” said Hogan, adding, “COVID19 . . . has required all of us to make incredible sacrifices. … [T]his moment in our history serves as a reminder to . . . always expect the unexpected: . . . things that will hit out of nowhere and test your strength, your will, and your character.”

In the face of challenges, he urged graduates to “stay true” to who they are. “Keep people around you who make you a better person and keep you grounded. And always stay positive,” said Hogan.

In addition to the keynote, the virtual ceremony featured tributes from UMGC’s chief academic officer, deans, faculty, and staff; a message from student speaker U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Timothy French; and the conferral of degrees by the president.

After the ceremony premiered, engagement was brisk. By Tuesday morning,

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the social media section had attracted almost 1,000 posts and more than 43,000 views.

UMGC Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Blakely Pomietto called the nontraditional commencement ceremony fitting, because it symbolized many graduates’ nontraditional educational journey—one complicated by the added responsibilities of jobs, family, or military service.

Said Pomietto, “Whatever life has thrown at you, your grit, character and commitment ultimately delivered you . . . here . . . where not even a global pandemic can stand in the way of you earning your degree!”

zine, was sworn in January 15, 2020, as the 113th president of the National Press Club, the world’s leading professional organization for journalists.

Freedman joined UMGC in 2012 after previously serving as general manager of CBS Radio Network News, managing editor for the Broadcast Division of United Press International, and vice president and professor of journalism at the George Washington University. He is executive producer of the award-winning public broadcasting series, The Kalb Report, now in its 26th season, and will serve a one-year term as Press Club president.

“At the National Press Club, we protect press freedom, we protect reporters around the world, and today, we must also protect the reputation of journalism,” said Freedman in his acceptance speech. He went on to add, “The National Press Club is an indispensable platform to educate, inspire, empower, and protect. I ask tonight that we join together

UMGC’s Michael Freedman Sworn in as President of the National Press Club Michael Freedman, UMGC senior vice president, journalist in residence, and the executive editor of Achiever maga-

Michael Freedman

In Memoriam: Ambassador Edward J. Perkins ’67 Edward J. Perkins—a 1967 UMGC alumnus and the first Black ambassador to apartheid South Africa—died November 7, 2020, at the age of 92.

A veteran of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, Perkins joined the Foreign Service, serving as ambassador to South Africa, Liberia, and Australia; as director general of the Foreign Service; as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; and as the U.S. representative to the U.N. Security Council.

He went on to teach geopolitics and direct the International Programs Center at the University of Oklahoma.

He used his considerable influence for good, working to increase diversity in the Foreign Service and, despite bitter opposition in South Africa, advocating for

over the next year to use it to those ends.”

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club, located two blocks from the White House, serves as the center for journalism in Washington, D.C. Every U.S. president since Theodore Roosevelt has visited there either before, during, or after his time in office, and the club’s legendary Luncheon Speakers Series has attracted kings, queens, and politicians, as well as entertainers, business moguls, authors, athletes, and explorers.

UMGC MOOCs Help Entrepreneurs Worldwide Learn and Grow For budding entrepreneurs whose businesses aren’t growing or who have questions related to finance or logistics, UMGC’s professional certificate program,

“Applied Entrepreneurship: Scaling a Business for Success,” may have answers.

The program is offered on the edX platform as a MOOC, or massive open online course, and comprises a package of two sixweek courses, organized as a series of modules, each teaching a different skill.

Aimed at those who already have launched their own businesses, the program provides help to grow them.

When UMGC first offered “Applied Entrepreneurship” in 2019, more than 700 participants from 143 countries signed up. Based on that response, the university offered the program again in September 2020, and hundreds of new entrepreneurs again enrolled.

“Starting a business is not always the hard part,” said Anna Seferian, vice dean in UMGC’s School of Business.

“a government that truly represents the majority of South Africans.”

Perkins ranks among UMGC’s most distinguished alumni, and his legacy of service and steadfast commitment to principles of justice and equality stand as an inspiration to all.

“More challenging is sustaining the business with a growth mindset and seeing opportunities to accelerate growth. This program challenges you to think about where you want to go, what turning points await you, and how to utilize resources to accelerate your plans.”

The program is proving especially popular as the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted economies and job markets worldwide.

The first of the two courses, “Design Thinking for Business Acceleration,” introduces and applies designthinking principles to business plans. Students create an updated business model that engages with current or prospective customers. The second course, “Acceleration Plan Development and Evaluation,” leverages work from the first course and takes students step-by-step

through the process of creating and refining a plan to accelerate their business with a focus on marketing, operations, and financials.

UMGC has partnered with edX, a consortium of major universities that offer MOOCs as a way of expanding knowledge around the world. Within that framework, the Applied Entrepreneurship courses are free, enrollment is open, and students can join at any time.

An enhanced, verified version of the Applied Entrepreneurship program is also available for $298.

Those who complete the program successfully receive a professional certificate signed by the instructor, as well as access to additional content resources, weekly multimedia discussions, exercises with instructor Cont'd on page 30

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In His Own Words A Conversation with UMGC President Emeritus Javier Miyares

INTRODUCTION Born in Cuba and educated in Jesuit schools, Javier Miyares was enrolled in a high school seminary when revolution rocked the island nation. When his father was taken political prisoner by Castro’s government, Miyares fled Cuba under the care of his Jesuit teachers.

It was July 4, 1961, and he was 14 years of age. He would later become part of the rescue effort known as “Operation Pedro Pan,” which brought more than 14,000 children to the United States.

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Miyares eventually landed in Miami, where he graduated from a Jesuit

high school, then entered a seminary in the Dominican Republic. There he would witness another revolution and see American troops storm ashore to intervene.

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“I was

fascinated by those troops,” he said later, “but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be the president of a university that is the premier institution serving the higher education needs of the American military.”

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Leaving the seminary, Miyares moved

to Baltimore, Maryland, to live with his brother and later to study at the University of Maryland, College Park. He has been part of Maryland higher education ever since.

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“For me,” Miyares said, “fitting into higher education allowed me to find my niche in

this experience we call America.”

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He finished his bachelor’s and master’s degrees

and completed all but the dissertation for a PhD in educational measurement and statistics, well on his way to becoming what he has termed “a data guy.” In that capacity, he worked for the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), the University System of Maryland, and the University of Maryland, College Park.

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He joined UMGC in 2001

as vice president for Planning, Research, and Accountability, and accepted the presidency in 2012. In August 2020, shortly after announcing his pending retirement, he sat down to discuss his legacy and the future of the university with Chip Cassano, assistant vice president, Communications, and editor of UMGC’s Achiever magazine.

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Chip Cassano: Many at UMGC are familiar with your story, so let’s begin by talking about how you came to the United States and to the world of higher education. How did that serve to shape your views on higher education and the ways those views have evolved?

Javier Miyares: I think to begin with, both at home and then reinforced by my Jesuit education, two things stand out. First was the importance of the life of the mind—education, critical thinking, respect for science, etc. Both my parents were teachers, and the Jesuits reinforced that. So, to an extent, I ended up in the family business: education.

Second was a concept that the Jesuits call “a man for others”— a life of service. The idea that you have a responsibility to others was very important; it was part of the Catholic faith of my parents and very much part of Jesuit teachings. So that combination of education and trying to live a life of service, I think, very much drove me into education and shaped in a very deep way what I have done as president.

CC: When you first came to UMGC—then University of Maryland University College—what was it about the institution that intrigued you and ultimately led you to spend a significant part of your career here?

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(Above right) Javier Miyares cuts JM: I knew about “University the cake celebrating the univerCollege”—it was that place at sityʼs first name change in 50 years, the corner of the College Park from University of Maryland campus—but I didn’t know University College to University of Maryland Global Campus. much about working adults.

(Far right, right, and above) My idea of higher education Miyares celebrates with attendees was around a Research 1 and honorees at the universityʼs annual Service and Achievement institution, like College Park.

So, when I was assigned to be Awards ceremony. the chancellor’s liaison in the search for a new president for UMGC, I discovered a new world of adult higher education.

That was in the late 1990s, when UMGC had begun to grow its online presence, and I was very intrigued. I thought, “That is the future.” And while I thought that was true, as you probably remember, there were many skeptics.

CC: Oh, yes, I remember. Why do you suppose you saw an opportunity—a potential tool for expanding educational access—when so many others saw only potential threats?

JM: That’s a good question, and one that I have asked myself many times. What is it in my background that led me to do certain things as president? And I keep returning to what was not in my background, what didn’t hold me back.

“

That combination of education and trying to live a life of service, I think, very much drove me into education and shaped in a very deep way what I have done as president.

First, I was never a faculty member, and I was never an academic. As you know, data was my whole life, so in ways that I have not fully realized until recently, I came into this role without many preconceptions. It was a very objective decision: Here is a channel, here is a need for access, and here is a need for learning. Put the three together and it equals online education.

I had no preordained notions of how students should be taught. Rather, my focus was on objectively measured outcomes: Did we increase access and retention? Did students learn? Did they succeed in their professions? If we could answer yes, it didn’t matter how we got there.

Also, there is a streak in me that likes new and exciting things, and while I think we took certain risks, on a personal level, I didn’t have to worry about my own career. I was already planning to retire. I have joked about this sometimes, but it

really does offer a degree of freedom, and over time I have come to realize how important that has been. I could focus solely on outcomes.

CC: When you first came to UMGC, for the better part of a decade, you served as—in your words—“the data guy.” How unusual was that role in higher education at the time, what did you learn, and how did it inform your eventual presidency?

JM: It was at the very beginning of a trend, as people were really starting to recognize the importance of data. And when you are handling data for many different facets of the university, you learn a lot. What was unusual, when I first joined UMGC as a vice president, was that I reported directly to [then UMGC President] Gerald Heeger.

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“

Our three divisions— Europe, Asia, and Stateside— had developed as three quasi-independent campuses, and we needed to blend them into one seamless institution.

I was actually hired by [Robert E.] “Skip” Myers, who had served as interim president prior to Heeger’s arrival. He and Heeger recognized that the university didn’t have a meaningful data system, and that was when he approached me with a job offer. After [Myers] left the university, I ended up reporting directly to Heeger, and reporting at that level was very unusual at that time. But it allowed me to interact directly with the president. Just by listening to Jerry [Heeger], in particular, I learned a great deal about where adult online higher education was going.

Later, under [then President] Susan Aldridge, you may remember that I oversaw Marketing and Communications for about nine months. And I learned a tremendous amount about

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the core of critical importance that marketing and communications represent to a university today. I’m talking about how and when you communicate to students, the concept of “leads” and “conversion rates,” things like that. I remember explaining those concepts to [then University System of Maryland Chancellor William E.] “Brit” Kirwan, and having that perspective allowed me to focus on and develop a better understanding of a critical piece of the university.

CC: You enjoyed, in effect, a front-row seat on two presidential administrations at UMGC. How were the university and the world changing during that timeframe?

JM: When Jerry [Heeger] came to UMGC, he brought with him a concept of how an online university should be run, for example in terms of student advising and student services. At the time, we had a very traditional advising model, not unlike College Park’s. He had developed NYU Online, and he brought that perspective, and it was against the background of the rise of the for-profit institutions. Things were changing. We had been at the forefront in online education. Wonderful. But others began to go online—and oh, by the way, they were making a lot of money doing it, and oh, by the way, they were doing business very differently than we were.

I was very aware of that background, of how critically important it was for us to change, and of how difficult that change would be. In particular, we needed to change student advising. The question was how? You may recall that there was an ill-fated attempt to create a for-profit company—UMUC Online—that would market our offerings outside of Maryland. Based on what we learned from that initiative, we had a process already in place to redesign student advising.

CC: Would it be fair to say that as you came to UMGC, the university might have more accurately been described as a traditional university that was adapting to online instruction, rather than an online university with deep insights into that world?

JM: Absolutely. I heard comments along the lines of, “We are just like College Park. We just happen to be online.” But we are not; that has never been our mission.

When I accepted the presidency, I felt that the university was losing confidence in itself—questioning its mission and comparing itself unfavorably to more “traditional” schools. But the fact is, in our space, we often rank more highly than they do. And I think it is fair to say that, today, we enjoy a deep institutional pride in what we do, and I count that among my greatest achievements. Once you have that, there are just so many things that you can do.

In fact, looking back, I think that was one of our biggest obstacles to growth. It was as though we were making decisions out of fear that someone would say that we were not “real.” And I remember saying, “You know, we can’t just accept everything that people say about us.”

CC: Working in Public Relations at the time, I had come to feel something similar—as if we had been trying to define ourselves in terms of what we are not—so it is interesting that you say that. What other challenges did you identify as you took on the presidency?

(Clockwise, from above) Javier Miyares leads the processional at stateside commencement in Adelphi; with Maryland's First Lady Yumi Hogan and Governor Larry Hogan at an art opening featuring Ms. Hoganʼs work; with former Secretary of State Colin Powell; and with VIP guests at the opening of the Col. Floyd G. and Lt. Col. Dona R. Hildebrand Student Veterans Lounge in Largo.

JM: First and foremost, changing the mindset I just described was a priority for me. I had been bothered by it for some time.

Beyond that, most may not know that, seven or eight months before I became president, I had been invited to be part of a group [established by a special advisor to the president] that was tasked with identifying strategic priorities for the university.

So I went in with a set of priorities that I had helped identify, such as standardizing our distance education operation

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PORTRAIT OF PRESIDENT EMERITUS JAVIER MIYARES The official portrait of President Emeritus Javier Miyares that appears here and on the cover is by award-winning artist, illustrator, and teacher Jason Seiler. In 2013, Seiler drew international attention when he was tapped to create the cover portrait of Pope Francis for TIME Magazine after the pontiff was named TIME’s Person of the Year. More recently, his work again appeared on the cover of the double issue of TIME that introduced President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as 2020’s Person of the Year.

Seiler works extensively in digital media, and his portraits, caricatures, and illustrations have figured prominently in publications including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, New Republic, Scientific American, Business Week, GOLF Digest, and many others.

He has worked as a character designer on Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland, helping to create the Red Queen, the Tweedles, the Bandersnatch, and others. His work is also on display in the film Escape from Planet Earth and in a series of five Forever stamps from the U.S. Postal Service honoring celebrity chefs James Beard, Joyce Chen, Julia Child, Edna Lewis, and Felipe Rojas-Lombardi.

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globally. And then as I took on the presidency, I realized that it was not merely identifying a challenge that needed to be addressed. It was building the institutional will to actually do something about it.

My God, I was hardly the first person to say that we needed “One Global University.” Our three divisions—Europe, Asia, and Stateside—had developed as three quasi-independent campuses, and we needed to blend them into one seamless institution.

But to say, “Well, let’s do something about it,” that was a step further. So, I went into the presidency with a list of 10 or 12 priorities, and that made it much easier. And that is where my background in data helped me, because I had been involved in developing that list, and I had worked in Strategic Planning.

CC: Think back to your frame of mind. Your career track was certainly different from most aspiring presidents. Had you ever entertained the idea of serving as a president?

JM: I honestly thought—and this is not a joke—that you would have to be crazy! Even early on in my career, I had been close enough to leadership to see the pressures on a president, so much so that, although I had finished everything but my dissertation, I decided not to complete my PhD. People were going to hire me because I knew how to do the data. Period. Being president never crossed my mind. But I will say that it helped me to

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observe presidents closely, (Clockwise, from above) Javier Miyares with Medal of Honor both at the University recipient Capt. Florent Groberg System of Maryland and (U.S. Army, Ret.); with Rich Blewitt at MHEC, because I got (far right) and Pillars of Strength to see both effective and Scholarship recipients; with a graduate at UMGCʼs commencement in not-so-effective presiTokyo, Japan; with Col. Tony K. Cho dents up close.

(U.S. Army, Ret.), vice president Still, when the subject and director of UMGC Europe. of serving as president first came up, my initial reaction was to say no. And then, maybe 10 seconds later, I remember thinking, “Well, for a few months, OK.” By then UMGC had become very meaningful to my life, I had developed many good relationships here, and I knew what this university could do. I don’t want to exaggerate this, but I really felt a sense of responsibility—you know, “Somebody has to step forward.”

And I asked myself three questions: “Can I do it?” If I had felt that I couldn’t do it, end of story. And my answer was, “Yes, I can do it.” And the second question was, “Can somebody else do it better at this time?” It was to be for just a few months, remember. And my answer was, realistically, “No.” The final question was key: “Do I really want to do it?” And for me, there was an element of, “You know, this is interesting.

This is going to be a challenge. This could actually be fun.”

And the rest is history.

“

You might be surprised, but I’m most proud of changing the culture of the university. At the end of the day, it is about people.

CC: What was that transition like, from a senior staff role to the presidency?

JM: You know, I don’t mean to be flippant, but even the way I dressed showed how much of a change it was for me. I remember going to Jos. A. Bank for one of their 3-for-1 suit sales. What I did not feel was insecurity around decision-making.

I thought a great deal about how best to show respect for people, certainly, but when it came to decision-making, I felt that I knew what we needed to do.

Still, I have to be honest, the transition was intimidating. Keep in mind, I don’t have a PhD; I have never been a faculty member. And I remember attending the Council of USM Presidents and being there in the company of some very experienced

presidents of very traditional institutions, nationally known and respected, or attending meetings of our Cybersecurity Advisory Board, alongside generals and the heads of large corporations and government agencies, and thinking, “What the hell am I doing here?!” It simply wasn’t a role that I had played in my life.

That aspect of the job required a mental shift. As a staff member, of course I had met with large groups, presented before many boards, but always as someone providing information. That was my comfort zone. Now, it was, no, I am the leader!

And the best way I can describe it is as a gradual shift in my own sense of identity, and of course successes make that easier.

I will never forget, after about a year, when Gen. John Campbell said to me, “You know, you’re really getting your sea legs.” I had never even heard that expression, but I think I knew intuitively what

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“

Developing a critical mind that can access content—and then assess, evaluate, and incorporate it—that is what education is going to be about.

he meant. I was becoming comfortable in the role of president.

In terms of how I approached the job, it was very clear to me from the start, for a variety of reasons, that a president cannot lead through checklists. Your job cannot be to do 20 different things on a checklist. I had seen people in leadership positions take that approach and fail. But I was also fortunate to have seen very effective presidents, people of whom I thought very highly, and I had gotten to see how they approached the presidency. And I think that guided me to some degree.

CC: We touched on the priority of creating One Global University, which was a tremendous achievement, but you’ve led a number of seismic shifts across the university—from establishing HelioCampus and UMUC Ventures to expanding the Maryland Completion Scholarship program and limiting the out-of-pocket cost of a UMGC bachelor’s degree to $12,000 or less for Maryland community college graduates. What are your greatest points of pride?

JM: I approach it like this: In 10 years, when I’m having a martini, what will I feel most proud of? You might be surprised, but I’m most proud of changing the culture of the university. At the end of the day, it is about people. There were aspects of our culture that could almost be described as toxic, and I think we have moved beyond that, and that makes me particularly proud. There was a time when I thought you could change institutional culture in a year-and-a-half. That might have been too optimistic, but I think it made a difference in people’s lives, and that is important to me.

In terms of establishing One Global University, that had ramifications across the institution. It was like figuring out how to cut a knot to really let all the threads loose, and the changes overseas were the catalyst for other changes beyond the overseas divisions.

For instance, creating One Global University led us to adopt Open Educational Resources, to standardize our curriculum

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and implement worldwide distance education. I remember talking to faculty on Okinawa, and saying, “Look, I don’t care which textbook you use, as long as everyone uses the same textbook.”

That is critical, if we are going to be able to ensure consistent quality, but it is unusual in higher education. It grew out of the One Global University initiative, though, and that’s why it is a big point of pride for me.

Another critical byproduct of the One Global University initiative was a renewed focus on our service to the military.

By creating Global Military Operations (GMO) under Senior Vice President Lloyd “Milo” Miles, we reconceptualized how we serve military personnel as deployments take them around the world. We had lost our position as the largest education provider to the U.S. military, and under GMO, we have fought back, increasing military and veteran enrollments even as the overall military market has declined!

In terms of HelioCampus—look, HelioCampus is like my child.

I’ve said many times, I am a data person, and I was originally hired to “fix the data.” So, to be able to create a data analytics company that helped guide our operations and that made us so much money, that was really an emotional component for me.

Ever since I joined the university, I thought that the potential for data analytics was incredible. We were seeing advances in computing power, and it was becoming possible to analyze masses of data. So that was a priority for me, and I was thinking, “How can I bring this into the university?” And I was so glad to be able to bring in Darren Catalano [now CEO of HelioCampus], because I knew where he was going, I just didn't know how to get there.

And Darren took us there.

The transformation of our marketing and student enrollment operations under Senior Vice President Erika Orris is another point of pride. It led to the national expansion campaign that will assure our long-term viability, and it led us to change our name to University of Maryland Global Campus, which better conveys who

mobile devices put research and opinion in immediate reach, what does “education” mean? Is our mission still relevant? And how does it change and evolve to fit the world we live in?

we are and our expansive reach.

I also believe the realignment of our academic programs, led

by Chief Academic Officer Blakely Pomietto—from undergraduate and graduate schools to three discipline-based schools that offer both undergraduate and graduate coursework—will increase our ability to create new programs, maintain the relevancy of existing programs, and recruit and retain great faculty. It will also facilitate our students’ journey from undergraduate to graduate programs.

Similarly, the transformation of Alumni Relations and Career Services to better support graduates throughout their careers promises to yield long-term benefits in the form of increased student success.

In terms of the completion scholarship, I see it serving two purposes. First, of course, it lowers out-of-pocket costs. I know that.

My hope is that it will also pressure other institutions to keep costs down. Everybody wants community college transfer students; they have already shown themselves to be good students. Well, you'll have to lower your price. And we are seeing it happen.

(Above left) Javier Miyares greets graduates at UMGC's stateside commencement; (above) addressing staff and faculty at a global Town Hall meeting in Largo and online.

CC: I remember years ago, when certain public figures were questioning the value of higher education, a reporter approached us, and we were able to say, “Well, here are our costs, and here are our debt levels at graduation. You really aren’t talking about us.”

JM: It really is a huge issue, and it will only grow in importance as we work to meet the national and global demand for education.

CC: That leads to a final question: In a world where information proliferates, where disinformation is rampant, where

JM: Well, let’s start with the fact that content has become free.

Period. Content is no longer an issue. To an amazing degree, “education” has historically meant imparting content, and I think that has shaped faculty perspectives. Now, though, content is free—and there is a lot of it, and a lot of channels.

How do we teach how to learn, how to assess content for validity? That is not easy. It is not a question of whether I know when Amerigo Vespucci drew his map. I can find that answer online. The question becomes, “Do I know how to access the content, assess it critically, and assemble or present it in a meaningful way?”

From my perspective, that makes what we call critical thinking even more important. Developing a critical mind that can access content—and then assess, evaluate, and incorporate it—that is what education is going to be about. And that will challenge how some faculty view their role. Because of what UMGC is and how we teach, I think we may be in a better position today to develop that type of person—and given the impact that the coronavirus pandemic is having on higher education, we may see some traditional institutions pressured into rethinking some of the same things.

So, for me, that is the future, and at the risk of sounding too political, when you realize what some people are consuming uncritically, the alternative can be frightening.

CC: It is certainly disturbing and, coupled with the increasing sophistication of online platforms to target specific individuals and manipulate the information they receive, the ramifications are significant.

JM: Absolutely, which is why I see this as so critical. And it’s why I love your question, because it lies at the heart of our future as a university. If somebody doesn’t know that you put the period before the quotation mark, I can still live with that. But critical thinking, assessing information, etc.—if we aren’t teaching that, we are failing as educators. That is the larger issue for our society.

CC: And perhaps that is a good note to end on.

JM: I agree. You know, when I met with the Regents about retiring, I made a joke. They—along with former Chancellor “Brit” Kirwan—took a risk in appointing me. But I told them, “If I ever write a memoir, the title will be, The Accidental President.” The safer choice may have been to go with someone else, but they took that risk, and I thanked them for appointing me. It has been a wonderful experience. G

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C LA SS NO T ES Phyllis Finley ’85 & ’95, of Alpharetta, Georgia, rejoined the board of Girls on the Run International. Girls on the Run is a national nonprofit organization that designs programming intended to strengthen third- through eighth-grade girls’ social, emotional, physical, and behavioral skills to successfully navigate life experiences. Finley currently works as an HR consultant, helping organizations build and execute their human capital strategy. She is also an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the National Council of Negro Women.

Luke McCollum ’89, of Bentonville, Alaska, is a designated surface warfare officer and served since September 2016 as the 14th chief of the Navy Reserve. A 1983 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he retired on August 7, 2020.

Patrick McKenna ’95, of Jefferson City, Missouri—director of the Missouri Department of Transportation—was elected 2019–2020 President of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) by the board of directors. He previously served as the 2018–2019 vice president of AASHTO, as the 2017–2018 president of the Mid-America Association of Transportation Officials, and as a member of the executive committee for the National Academy of Science’s Transportation Research Board.

Michael Maloney ’95 & ’03, of Greenville, South Carolina, was elected commander of the 3rd District Ohio Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), effective June 20. The 3rd District comprises 5,383 members across 34 posts in Montgomery, Darke,

Preble, Miami, Greene, Clark, and Champaign counties. A 20-year veteran of the U.S. Army with four tours in hostile zones, Maloney was elected quartermaster of VFW Post 7262 Greenville in 2006. He also serves as 3rd District Ohio American Legion chaplain since 2018 and is cofounder and vice chairman of the Veterans Memorial Park and Digital Library mission.

Steven Schupak ʼ95, of Potomac, Maryland, is executive vice president and chief operating officer of Maryland Public Television (MPT). He is being inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapterʼs prestigious Silver Circle, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the broadcast or cable industry for 25 years or more.

Prior to joining MPT, Schupak served as vice president at Henninger Media Services in Virginia, running the firm's television production and distribution group. He began his career in the 1980s as a member of the production staff at the ABC Television Network.

specializes in financing rural land and agricultural operations in Mississippi and Louisiana. It is a member of the Farm Credit System, the nation’s largest source of loans for agriculture, agribusiness, rural real estate, and country homes.

Karen Acton ’99, of La Plata, Maryland, joined Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) in July 2020 as assistant superintendent of fiscal services, bringing 35 years of budget and finance experience to the role. Prior to joining CCPS, she served as controller for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C., where she oversaw revenues of some $274 million, and before that for six years as the chief financial officer for Post Community Media, LLC, and Post Newsweek Media. Before serving as a chief financial officer, Acton was controller and publisher for Southern Maryland Newspapers in Waldorf and controller and general manager of Chesapeake Publishing, also in Waldorf, for nearly 20 years.

chief operating officer of Kaizen Approach, Inc., an information and technology services firm in Hanover, Maryland. He has served since 2018 as chairman of the board of the Southern Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Michael Guill ’00, of Omaha, Nebraska, joined Smith Kroeger as a web developer in May 2018 and was recently promoted to manager of interactive solutions and data intelligence. He is also principal of Browncoat Media, a small web consultancy focused on WordPress that designs, develops, and hosts websites for small companies, individuals, and agencies.

Pam Vitteck ’98 & ’19, of Gulfport,

Renee Randolph ’03, of Falls Church,

Mississippi, is a U.S. Navy veteran and joined Southern AgCredit in 2013 as a loan administrator. She was recently promoted to senior loan closer. Southern AgCredit is a full-service co-op lender that

Virginia, is a culinary arts instructor at the Arlington Career Center. On April 20, 2020, she was named Arlington Public Schools’ 2020 Teacher of the Year. An educator since 2005, she previously

Richard Tait ’95, of Arnold, Maryland, is

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taught family and consumer science at the high school level in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

In her current role, she has won praise for teaching practical, handson skills, allowing her students to earn industry certifications from the National Restaurant Association and American Culinary Federation, and providing access to mentors, summer internships, and college scholarships. In addition, the culinary arts students at the Career Center operate a full-service restaurant, Off the Pike, several times a year, and operate a licensed food truck, Off the Pike Mobile.

Jennifer Stone ’03, of Spencerville, Maryland, joined GovernmentCIO as its new vice president of Growth for Veterans and Defense Health. She started her career as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy, where she worked in the prevention and treatment of disease and injury to naval personnel, Marines, and their families. Most recently, she served as senior manager for Veterans and Defense Health Strategy at Accenture, responsible for developing strategies in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Defense Health Agency.

Christina Eligwe Ude ’03, of Iwo State, Nigeria, was appointed Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals and Humanitarian Affairs by the Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzondinma.

Previously, she served as Sustainable Development Goals Consultant to the Nigeria National Assembly, Abuja.

Sherry Henricks ’06, of Owings Mills, Maryland, owns her own consulting company and was recently hired by Indianapolis-based Diagnotes as chief commercial officer. She began her career as a clinician and has more than 25 years of experience in executive leadership for medical device, medical IT, and telecommunications companies. She is a registered respiratory therapist and credentialed business and life coach.

Damon Williams ’06, of Memphis, Tennessee, was named executive director of the Frayser Community Development Corporation in the summer of 2020. The organization was formed in 2000 to serve as a revitalization engine for the Frayser community, working to provide improved housing and stimulate commercial and economic growth.

Christy Lombardi ’07, ’14 & ’15, of Lusby, Maryland, was recently appointed by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan as a College of Southern Maryland trustee.

She is currently executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Community Bank of the Chesapeake in Waldorf, Maryland, where she earlier served in a variety of leadership positions, including senior vice president and director of human resources, executive vice president and director of HR and administration, and executive vice president and chief administrative officer.

Cesar Pie ’07, of Waldorf, Maryland, is president and CEO of CSIOS Corporation, a veteran-owned small business provider of cyberspace operations (defensive, offensive, and information network oper-

ations) and cybersecurity services to U.S. federal government clients worldwide.

CSIOS was selected by the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc., in August 2020, as one of three finalists for the 2020 Maryland Cybersecurity Defender of the Year Award.

Tondelaya Blackstone George ’11, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was named director of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s (ESF’s) Open Academy on September 1, 2020.

The Open Academy helps prepare faculty to teach online and is responsible for facilitating ESF’s summer session courses and the college’s continuing education programs. She joined ESF from the Duke University School of Nursing’s Office of Admissions and Student Services, where she served as manager of student services.

Ronald Menold ’11, of Trenton, New Jersey, recently joined the Durst Organization as security systems manager, where he will work with the IT department and oversee the security systems team. Prior to joining Durst, he served for 20 years with the FBI as a special agent, forensic examiner, and director of the New Jersey Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, the third-largest digital evidence lab in the country. While there, he developed the FBI’s method for recovering video data from inoperable DVRs, as well as methods for analyzing volume shadow copies before commercial tools became available to conduct these analyses.

Richard “Ricky” Adams ’12, of Nottingham, Maryland, received his Juris

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C LA SS NO T ES Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law and joined O’Byrne Law LLC as an associate attorney in 2019. He was listed among “Movers and Shakers” by the Maryland Daily Record.

Samuel Crislip ’13, of Monterey, California, is a sergeant major and a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Army currently serving as the senior enlisted advisor for the Army Cyber Institute at West Point. He authored, “Capturing Flags and Recruiting Future Cyber Soldiers,” for the War on the Rocks website, a platform for analysis, commentary, debate, and multimedia content on foreign policy and national security issues.

Stevie Greenway ’13 & ’14, of Monterey, California, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, was commissioned as a U.S. Navy officer in 2010 and currently serves as a lieutenant commander. On August 8, 2020, he assumed command of the Navy Operational Support Center in Fargo, North Dakota.

Ashley Jackson ’13 & ’16, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is senior director of government affairs for the National Asphalt Pavement Association and led a recent effort to secure $3 million in funding for the asphalt airfield pavement research program as part of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization.

In recognition, she was named a 2020 Salute to Association Excellence Leading Association Lobbyist by Association TRENDS.

Maria Roat ’14, of Frederick, Maryland, former chief information officer at the Small Business Administration and current deputy federal CIO, won WashingtonExec’s 2020 Chief Officer Award for Government CIO. She served for 26 years in the U.S. Navy as a com-

mand master chief, naval reserve policy board member, and command master chief for the Center for Naval Leadership Mid-Atlantic Region, retiring in 2007. She went on to serve as chief technology officer at the Transportation Department and held multiple roles within the Department of Homeland Security, where she spent a decade in agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Transportation Security Agency.

Catherine Bonner ’15, of Mechanicsville, Maryland, was appointed supervisor of Health Services in the Department of Student Services by the St. Mary’s County Board of Education on June 24, 2020. She previously served as school nurse at Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary School in Mechanicsville.

Victor Florido ’16, of Ashburn, Virginia, joined Saliense—a leading provider of strategic technology-based solutions—as director of cybersecurity, where he will lead development and delivery of cybersecurity solutions for the company’s federal customers. An 18-year veteran of the cybersecurity industry, he previously served as branch chief and senior cybersecurity advisor to the IT security services director of the General Services Administration. He is an adjunct professor and teaches a cybersecurity certified ethical hacker course at UMGC.

Andy Williams ’16, of Odenton, Maryland, joined CreditXpert Inc., as deployment and QA specialist.

At CreditXpert—the leading credit analysis solutions provider for mortgage professionals—he is currently focused

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on migrating CreditXpert software to cloud-based hosting, which will streamline delivery, and he works closely with internal software engineers to ensure the company is fully supporting clients and deploying products with attention to quality and performance. He previously served as a technical consultant for more than 15 years at Philips, where he managed implementation of the company’s software solutions.

Tamara Riley ’17, of Fallston, Maryland, is a registered nurse and entrepreneur.

She recently assumed ownership of the Upper Chesapeake territory for Always Best Care Senior Services, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States.

Renee Cordero ’18, of Centerville, Maryland, works for Cvach Financial Service, PA. She was named a winner of a prestigious 2019 Elijah Watt Sells Award by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. To qualify for the award, CPA candidates must obtain a cumulative average score above 95.50 across all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination and pass all four sections on their first attempt.

In 2019, almost 75,000 individuals sat for the exam and only 133 met the criteria for the award.

Darius Michael ’20, of Tamarack, Florida, who served for 13 years in the U.S. Navy, received a prestigious Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship from the U.S. Department of State. Fellows receive academic funding, financial support for two summer internships, personalized mentoring and professional development opportunities, and—upon the successful completion of the program—an appointment in the Foreign Service as an information management specialist. G

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? As part of our dedicated team of scholar-practitioners, you can help provide our students with an exceptional learning experience by offering your innovation and inspiration. Long recognized as a pioneer in online instruction, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is transforming the field on a global scale, creating a powerful new model for adult education.

UMGC offers competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including health, dental, vision and life insurance.

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Patrick Appiah-Kubi, a program director in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, co-authored (with D. Ferrier) “The Optimization of an Electric Vehicle (EV) for Improved Range” in Vol. 6, No. 1, of the American Journal of Vehicle Design (2020).

Kenneth E. Aus, an adjunct professor in the School of Business, published “American Trade Deficits and the Unidirectionality Error” in Issue No. 90 of the online publication Real-World Economics Review (December 2019).

He presented “America’s Trade Deficits: Blame U.S. Policies—Starting with Tax Laws” at the World Economics Association Conference: Trade Wars After Coronavirus, Economic, Political, and Theoretical Implications.

Information Technology, has had a paper accepted for publication (with Barry Douglass), entitled “An Event Study of the Effects of Cryptocurrency Thefts on Cryptocurrency Prices,” at the Spring Simulation Conference.

Another paper, entitled “Developing Software Requirements Specification for a Strategic Goods Air Transportation System” (with Capt. Ann Wojaczek of the Polish military) has been accepted into the Scientific Journal of the Military University of Land Forces.

Jason Cade, an adjunct associate professor in the School of Business, co-authored (with K. Riley) “The Evolution of Internal Controls Impact on Operational Efficiencies,” in Vol. 8, No. 1, of the Journal of Global Merit Management (June 2020).

Jonny H. Bahk-Halberg, an adjunct associate professor in the School of Arts and Sciences, authored the chapter, “Dreams and Realities: Translating in South Korea,” in Attitudes to English Study Among Japanese, Chinese and Korean Women: Motivations, Expectations and Identity, Yoko Kobayashi, ed. (Routledge, 2020).

Paulo R. Borges de Brito, an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Business, edited (with W. Leal Filho and F. Frankenberger) International Business, Trade, and Institutional Sustainability (Springer, 2020). He received a Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Fellowship Award for Fiscal Year 2021 from the Colorado State University College of Business.

The fellowship is intended to engage students, the business community, and the campus community in building a solid-based ethical framework for effective decision-making in an increasingly complex business environment.

Michael Brown, a program director in the School of Cybersecurity and

Chris K. Cavanaugh, an adjunct professor in the School of Business, published “The Arc of Women Academic Leadership: A Survey of Women University Presidents Through the Lens of Awareness, Vision, Intentionality, Impact, Joy, and Legacy,” in the Journal of Higher Education Management, Vol. 35, No. 1. She also served as guest editor of this special thematic issue, titled “Women’s Leadership in Higher Education,” published by the American Association of University Administrators.

She was elected chair of the American Association of University Administrators Board on October 16, 2020, and will serve through 2022.

James Coker, a department chair in the School of Arts and Sciences, published an op-ed, entitled “Even with a Vaccine, We Could Be Living with COVID-19 for Years to Come,” in the December 10, 2020, issue of the Baltimore Sun. The column was subsequently picked up by the Herald & Review on December 14, the Newcastle

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News and Standard-Times on December 15, and the Pittburgh Post-Gazette on December 16. In it, Coker argues that logistical challenges around distributing a vaccine, combined with herd immunity thresholds, vaccine efficacy, the possibility of viral mutations, and issues around public compliance, will necessitate coordinated government response and funding if we hope to contain the pandemic in any effective way.

Kirby R. Cundiff, an adjunct professor in the School of Business, published “Are Value Stocks a Safe Haven During Bear Markets?” in the online publication Seeking Alpha, September 20, 2020.

He published “Value Investing in the Covid Economy” in Seeking Alpha, August 7, 2020.

Joseph J. French, an adjunct professor in the School of Business, has a forthcoming article (with R. Fujitani and Y. Yasuda) “Does Stock Market Listing Impact Investment in Japan?” in the Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Vol. 59 (March 2021).

Dan Green, an adjunct professor in the School of Business, published Think On Purpose: Using Your Mind to Break Free from Anxiety and Depression (Independently published: May 2019).

Nancy T. Grzesik, an adjunct associate professor in the School of Business, completed 25 online course modules to earn International Financial Reporting Standards Certifcation–AICPA.

Douglas Harrison, dean of the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, published (with L. Harris and D. McNally) “Student and Faculty Perceptions of Study Helper Websites: A New Practice in Collaborative Cheating” in the Journal of Academic Ethics (July

2020). His article, “Online Education and Authentic Assessment,” appeared in the April 29, 2020, issue of Inside Higher Education.

Joseph S. Honer, a professor in the School of Business, served as a presenter at the Ragone CPA Lectures in Camden, New Jersey, on Saturdays in September and October 2020.

Aaron P. Jasny, a collegiate assistant professor in the School of Arts and Sciences, presented “Envisioning the Japanese Alpine: Meiji Mountaineering and the Construction of National Space” at AAS-in-Asia, August 31–September 4, 2020, in Kobe, Japan.

Frank Kesterman, an adjunct professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Education and Finance from Marquis Who’s Who in 2019.

Management Institute (PMI) on September 25, 2020.

David Michael Lyles, an adjunct professor in the School of Business, was appointed and sworn in as the City Attorney for the City of Annapolis on December 9, 2019.

Rick Martin, a collegiate professor in the School of Arts and Sciences, published (with E. J. Lim) “Understanding the Unseen: CO2’s Connections in Life” in the American Biology Teacher, Vol. 82, No. 7 (September 2020).

David F. McCormick, an adjunct professor in the School of Business, received recognition for five years of service with the Senior Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) Mid-Florida Chapter activities, including presentation of live and online workshops, mentoring with individual small business clients, and support of a new volunteer to full status as a new mentor.

Sharon L. Levin, a collegiate faculty member in the School of Business, was reappointed in summer 2020 to the AICPA Council, the governing body of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Mary Lind, who teaches in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, published (with S. R. Muller) “Factors in Information Assurance Professionals’ Intentions to Adhere to Information Security Policies,” in Vol. 11, No. 1, of the International Journal of Systems and Software Security and Protection (2020).

Diana Lucas, adjunct associate professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification from the Project

Cynthia Lee McGinnis, an associate professor in the School of Arts and Sciences, is the author of The Art and Mystery of Mathematics, 2nd Ed. (Pearson, 2007) and chaired the K–12 Florida Math Redesign for the Florida Success Center.

Daniel Mintz, a department chair in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, was invited to serve on the advisory board for the George Washington University Transformative Leadership in Disruptive Times Certificate Program.

S. Raschid Muller, an adjunct professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, was accepted as a fellow in the UC Berkeley Executive Leadership Academy, begin-

ning March 2021. He was published in the Proceedings of the International Conference on Research in Management and Technovation (ICRMAT 2020).

Luis Noguerol, an adjunct professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, was invited to become part of the editorial board and reviewer committee of the American Journal of Information Science and Technology.

Christian Nsiah, an associate professor in the School of Business, published (with H. Sahni and B. Fayissa) “The African Economic Growth Experience and Tourism Receipts: A Threshold Analysis and Quantile Regression Approach,” in Tourism Economics (March 2020). He presented “Nonlinearities in the Impact of Infrastructure Investments on LongRun Economic Growth: Evidence from African Countries,” at the ASSA 2020 Annual Meeting, January 3–5, 2020. He has served since 2018 as secretary/ treasurer of the African Finance and Economics Association.

Paula C. O’Callaghan, a collegiate professor in the School of Business, published (with J. O’Callaghan) “Courts, Trademarks, and the ICANN Gold Rush: No Free Speech in Top Level Domains,” in the Loyola Law School Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review, Vol. 40, No. 1 (2019). She served as a case judge for the American Marketing Association Collegiate Case Competition 2019 and was recently recertified for three years, through 2023, as a Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) by the American Marketing Association.

Stephen R. Orr IV, an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, coauthored (with T. Emmersen, J. M. Hatfield, and

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J. Kosseff) “The USNA’s Interdisciplinary Approach to Cybersecurity Education” in Vol. 52, No. 3, of the online journal Computer. He served as an invited panelist at the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, January 7–10, 2020, in Maui.

Ronald F. Premuroso, an adjunct professor of accounting in the School of Business, received an Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award from Colorado State University Global Campus for teaching effectiveness, student-centered approach, and engagement in teaching and student learning in July 2020.

He was named an Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member by UMGC and received the Distinguished Faculty of the Year: Student Service Award from Excelsior College in July 2020.

Mahesh S. Raisinghani, an adjunct professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, is editorin-chief of the International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, now included in the Association for Computing Machinery’s Digital Library and recently indexed by the Education Resources Information Center. His forthcoming article (with A. Hassan), “Rhetoric Situation of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Social Media,” will appear in the International Journal of Online Pedagogy and Course Design.

Another article (with P. Dayananda, V. L. Mrityunjaya, and C. N. Sowmyarani), entitled “New Approach for Target Setting Mechanism of Course Outcomes in Higher Education Accreditation,” is forthcoming in the Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences.

Birth to 24 Months: Summarizing Existing Guidance, K. Dewey and M. Harrison, eds.

(National Academies Press, 2020).

Simon R. Reese, an adjunct professor in the School of Business, published “Taking the Learning Organization Mainstream and Beyond the Organizational Level: An Interview with Peter Senge,” in Vol. 27, No. 1, of The Learning Organization (January 2020).

He co-authored (with Yusuf Sudani) “Learning Organization Thought Leaders Interview Series: Interim Synthesis of Commonalities and Differences” in Vol. 27, No. 2, of The Learning Organization (March 2020) and in the same issue, authored “Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter.”

He published, “Implement Strategic Foresight with Elements of the US Army’s Operational Art Model” in Vol. 36, No. 5, of Strategic Direction (February 2020).

He published “Developing an Employee Recognition Program that Promotes Learning Across the Organization” in Vol. 34, No. 6, of Development and Learning in Organizations (February 2020). He authored “How to Be Smarter than Your Competition and Turn Key Insights into Competitive Advantage” in Vol. 27, No. 4, of The Learning Organization (April 2020), and coauthored (with Yusuf Sidani), “Nancy Dixon: Empowering the Learning Organization Through Psychological Safety” in Vol. 27, No. 3, of The Learning Organization (May 2020).

Meir Russ, an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business and professor emeritus at the University of WisconsinGreen Bay, is editor-in-chief of the Online Journal of Applied Knowledge Management.

Selena A. Ramkeesoon, an adjunct assis-

Debra Marie Schoenfeld, an adjunct

tant professor in the School of Business, served as a reviewer for the online publication, Feeding Infants and Children from

faculty member in the School of Business, co-authored (with Y. Wang) “An In-Depth Analysis of Complex

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Industry’s Effective Tax Rate” in Vol. 16, No. 1, of International Management Review (2020). She received the Jack J. Kempner Outstanding Educator Award from the Montana Society of CPAs at its annual meeting in 2014.

Cord A. Scott, an overseas collegiate faculty member in the School of Arts and Sciences, wrote the chapter “Bill Mauldin Goes to Korea,” and the section on Stars and Stripes cartoonists in Korea, in the book Drawing Fire: The Editorial Cartoons of Bill Mauldin (Pritzker, 2020). He presented “Comics Go to War: Patriotism in WWII Comic Books” via Zoom in the Catigny First Infantry Museum “A Date with History” Series (June 11, 2020). He published “The Landing Beaches of Incheon” and “The 70th Anniversary of the Chosin Reservoir” in the September 11, 2020, and October 23, 2020, issues of Stars and Stripes, respectively. He co-authored (with M. Fukuyana) “Travel History of the Ryukyus” in Classroom on the Road: Designing, Teaching, and Theorizing Outof-the-Box Faculty-Led Student Travel (Rowman and Littlefield, 2020).

Kathleen Sindell, program director for finance and economics in the School of Business, presented “Expanding Diversity in Wealth Management” at the annual Diversitas Symposium, October 27, 2020, at the University of Akron in Ohio.

Netta Squires, an adjunct professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, presented (with B. Yelin) “Integrating Cybersecurity into Emergency Management Higher Education Programs,” at the FEMA Higher Education Symposium.

Andrew Vance, an adjunct associate professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, presented and

Emeri

CELEBRATE HIS LEGACY

SUPPORT THE MIYARES FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP FUND In his eight years as UMGC president, Javier Miyares championed UMGC's core value of "students first."

In 2014, he created the Miyares Family Scholarship Fund to provide support to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need.

Help transform the lives of our students, who dream of a brighter future for themselves and for their loved ones, by supporting the Miyares Family Scholarship. Through your financial contribution, you can make a difference and honor the legacy of President Emeritus Javier Miyares.

Make a difference and give today. impact.umgc.edu/miyaresfamilyscholarship Funds for the UMGC Foundation are administered by the University of Maryland Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

UMGC is a proud member of the University System of Maryland.

To learn more, visit impact.umgc.edu or call 301-985-7110 © 2021 University of Maryland Global Campus

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FA CU L T Y K UDO S

later published (with co-authors O. Bulda and T. R. Vance) “International Law in Cyberspace: The Need for Collaboration and Coordination to Promote International Peace in the Fifth Domain,” in Vol. 9, No. 2, of Conference Proceedings: Ninth Annual Cambridge International Law Conference; International Law and Global Risks: Current Challenges in Theory and Practice (April 2020). He served as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations Telecommunication Development Advisory Group by an appointment through the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. He served as a Conference Program Committee Member for the 2020 IEEE International Scientific-Practical Conference, “Problems of Infocommunications: Science and Technology,” October 6–9, 2020, at Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Jesse Varsalone, a collegiate faculty member in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, coached two UMGC Cyber Competition teams in the first online capture-the-flag competition by MAGIC (the Mid-Atlantic Gigabit Innovation Collaboratory) on Saturday, May 16, 2020. UMGC’s teams finished second and third out of 93 registered teams with 180 players from 14 countries. He was nominated for the prestigious “Cybersecurity Champion of the Year Award” from the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc. (CAMI).

Ping Wang, an adjunct professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, received an award for “Distinguished Service and Contributions to Information Technology Research, Education,and Mentoring” from the 17th International Conference of Information Technology— New Generations, held online. He served as a panel moderator at the conference and presented (with R. Sbeit),

“A Comprehensive Mentoring Model for Cybersecurity Education,” which was later published as part of the Advances in Intelligent Systems Computing series, Vol. 1134 (AISC, 2020).

Tizita Wasihun, an adjunct associate professor in the School of Business, coauthored (with P. V. Schaeffer and T. G. Gebremedhin) “Analysis of the Role of Commercial Real Estate in the Economic Development of the Northeastern United States,” in Vol. 9, No. 5, of the American Journal of Industrial and Business Management (May 2019).

Lorette S. J. Weldon, an adjunct professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, published “Keyboard Club: Motivating Students to Become QWERTY Literate” in Vol. 40, No. 1, of Computers in Libraries (January/ February 2020). She published “Using Bibliometrics to Build a Free Resource Library for Your Students,” in Vol. 40, No. 4, of Computers in Libraries (May/ June 2020).

Benjamin B. White, an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business, published Conley Bottom: A Poemoir (Eden Stories Press, 2020). He published The Recon Trilogy +1 (Running Wild Press, 2020).

Clay Wilson, an adjunct professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, published a chapter, entitled “Artificial Intelligence and Warfare,” in 21st Century Prometheus: Managing CBRN Safety and Security Affected by CuttingEdge Technologies (Springer, 2020).

Irene Wong-Bushby, an adjunct professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, published “Increasing Women IT Graduates,” in Vol. 1, No. 1, of the Journal of Women and Minorities in Technology (2020). G

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NEWS

Cont'd from page 9

critiques and personalized feedback, and the opportunity to compete for a $1500 cash award for the best business model developed during the program.

PACE Helps UMGC Students Live and Learn During Lockdown The coronavirus pandemic has pushed individuals around the world to merge their home and work environments while maintaining focus and productivity, establishing schedules and routines, and keeping distractions at bay.

It is a landscape that many UMGC students are already adept at navigating, thanks in part to a required undergraduate course—Program and Career Exploration (PACE)—introduced in fall 2019.

In the course, students establish academic and career roadmaps, connect to one another and to their instructors, and build the habits they need for success in an online environment.

A primary objective is to keep students from feeling overwhelmed.

“Planning and focusing their time can do wonders for people, making them more productive and in control of their day,” said Martina Hansen, UMGC vice president of student affairs. “There are some things you are going to change about your life in order to be a student, and we want our students to develop a plan to meet their goals.”

UMGC students and faculty said the lessons taught by PACE have also given them a leg up when it comes to adapting to the coronavirus pandemic.

“For example, PACE helps students connect virtually with one another—and with UMGC faculty—so they feel less isolated. This is a skill that millions who are stuck at home can use, both personally and professionally, as they seek to network and maintain relationships

online using videoconferencing platforms, social media, etc.“ In PACE, students are assigned to one of six customized versions of the three-credit course, depending on their field of study. Technology students, for example, join PACE 111-T, while business students enter PACE 111-B. One course is tailored specifically for military servicemembers. This approach allows instructors—who are encouraged to operate as “success coaches”—to make class discussions more career-specific and encourages networking between students and faculty alike.

This has the added benefit of helping faculty feel more connected to their students, said Marsha Fortney, a UMGC faculty training specialist who also teaches PACE courses. “We have amazing faculty who care deeply about their students. I’m sure a lot of faculty would say that one of their most satisfying things is meeting students.”

And while the financial, social, and emotional impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been felt across the UMGC community, staff and faculty involved with PACE said that not only do they feel that PACE has helped students adapt, but they personally take inspiration from the positive moments that have emerged.

“We had a faculty member whose student told her that everything else in her life has been completely turned upside down,” Hansen said. “UMGC is the only constant.”

USM and UMGC Form $2.6 Million Partnership to Support Expansion of Online Learning Across System Institutions UMGC has allocated $2.6 million and partnered with the University System of Maryland (USM) to establish USM OnTrack, working with provosts, teaching and learning center directors,

instructional designers, technology professionals, and others to support and assess the expansion of high-quality online learning across the system.

USM OnTrack is a critical component of the USM’s comprehensive plan for system schools as they adapt to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with many offering a hybrid of online learning and in-person instruction in the fall 2020 term.

To prepare, institutions have adapted both their instructional technology use and their teaching methods to produce an optimally effective online learning environment, with improved student participation, engagement, and faculty effectiveness. USM OnTrack is designed to meet and master this challenge, with UMGC working closely with USM’s William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation.

“COVID-19 has forced universities to manage a number of challenges they’ve never confronted before, and to do it fast,” said USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “We know our quick pivot to remote instruction wasn’t ideal—not for students [and] not for faculty. [T]his partnership between the Kirwan Center and UMGC leverages their combined strength in online education so we can optimize learning for all of our students and really innovate in this space.”

De-densifying has emerged as a key component in achieving a safe learning environment under COVID-19, meaning that classroom space—already in short supply—will be further restricted.

Combine this reality with some students’ inability or hesitancy to return to campus, and the need for effective and engaging online instruction is paramount.

This past spring, USM institutions and regional centers were forced to make an immediate and complete transition to what has been dubbed “emergency remote teaching.” While acceptable in

the short term under the unprecedented circumstances, this approach—marked by taped lectures, Zoom classes, and other platforms—is untenable as a longterm option.

MJ Bishop, USM associate vice chancellor and director of the Kirwan Center, said that the goal in the spring was simply to “keep teaching and successfully close out the remaining 6–8 weeks of the interrupted semester.” By the fall, that objective had shifted, and schools were focused on “the expansion of high-quality online learning across the System to help ensure academic continuity for students and to strengthen our ability to support continued learning in the future.”

Through USM OnTrack, institutions will have the option of temporarily adopting UMGC courses for delivery to their students, mostly from among general education and elective offerings. This will offer students immediate access to online education courses that have been proven effective, with full credit equivalency and transfer.

For institutions embracing more of a “do-it-yourself” approach, OnTrack will support full-service online course conversion, featuring instructional design support that schools can access as needed, as well as resources for faculty on the fundamentals of instructional design and best practices of teaching online and online orientation materials for students.

Institutions interested in a middle ground—one that falls between readyto-adopt online courses and building online courses from scratch—can opt to expand the use of adaptive courseware that, when paired with faculty training workshops, can improve student and faculty experience by creating a more interactive platform for content delivery and interaction with faculty, especially in courses that may not adapt well to online modalities. G

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Join Your UMGC Alumni Network More than 254,000 members strong and growing!

In today’s global economy, networking is an essential tool for every professional. As part of the UMGC alumni community, you can tap into a vast network of professionals with similar goals and career aspirations—online and at 170+ locations worldwide.

Complimentary UMGC Alumni Association membership provides exclusive access to • Networking opportunities • Career resources • Mentoring • Alumni benefits and discounts • Alumni events • Volunteer opportunities, and more

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HELP OUR STUDENTS CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION For more than 70 years, UMGC has let nothing get in the way of helping our students pursue their dream of higher education.

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