UMD Right Now :: University of Maryland |

The University of Maryland Inaugurates President Darryll J. Pines

Contacts:

Natifia Mullings, mullings@umd.edu, 301-852-0090

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland celebrated the formal installation of Dr. Darryll J. Pines as its 34th President with a week of events showcasing the university’s excellence. During his investiture ceremony, President Pines announced five bold actions that reflect the university’s mission, values, traditions and culture and reinforce his two priorities for his leadership: ensuring excellence in all that we do and creating a more inclusive, multicultural community for all.

“This is our time to reinvent our University,” said President Pines. “This is the time to examine the future of learning to enhance the student experience; the future of work for faculty and staff to reach a new level of excellence; and a new model of research to accelerate and advance science and human understanding. I look forward to engaging with the entire community around these shared goals -- to re-imagine our campus and community as a modern flagship research university in the third decade of the 21st century.”

President Pines received many well wishes from the University System of Maryland, past UMD presidents, and state and local elected officials, including Maryland Governor Larry Hogan.

"Dr. Pines, congratulations on your installation as the 34th president of our great state's flagship higher education institution,” said Hogan. “This has been an incredibly trying year for our state and for our entire nation, but with President Pines at the helm the University of Maryland has remained a shining example of what can be accomplished with innovative and collaborative leadership, and the crowning jewel of Maryland's world-renowned network of colleges and universities.”

President Pines’ shared the following five key announcements during his investiture ceremony:

Accelerate Climate Action: Net Zero Carbon Neutral Campus by 2025

The University of Maryland will accelerate its Climate Action Plan goal to become a Net-Zero Carbon Neutral campus within the next four years. Through a combination of sustainability measures and the strategic purchase of carbon credits, UMD will reach this goal by Earth Day in 2025. In addition, the university has plans to replace its University-owned fleet - over 1,070 fossil-fuel vehicles - with an all-electric fleet by 2035.

Expand Faculty Diversity: FAMILE

UMD will invest $40 million into a new initiative to recruit and retain tenured and tenure-track faculty from underrepresented backgrounds to its campus. The Faculty Advancement at Maryland for Inclusive Learning and Excellence (FAMILE) Initiative will attract over 100 tenure and tenure track faculty to the institution, and ensure that students will interact and learn from scholars that not only look like them, but reflect UMD values and ensure its success for decades into the future.

Honor Trailblazers in Maryland Athletics

With approval from the Board of Regents, UMD will name the Cole Field House football performance center in honor of two legendary and pioneering figures who officially broke the color barrier in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the sports of basketball and football. Mr. Billy Jones was the first African-American to play basketball in the ACC, debuting at the University of Maryland in 1965. Mr. Darryl Hill was the first African-American to play football in the ACC, starting with a truly historic season at Maryland in 1963.

Invest in Discovery, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development

UMD will invest $200 million to strengthen its research, expand activities in innovation and entrepreneurship, and boost the economic development ecosystem in UMD’s Discovery District. This investment will be made to target fields such as K-12 education, public health, bioscience, neuroscience, climate science, data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, computing and technology, and quantum science.

Expand Arts Programming Across Campus: Arts for All

UMD is launching the Arts For All Initiative, supporting innovation and partnerships to foster creative and scholarly excellence among campus arts practitioners and scholars, and engage all parts of the campus and local communities in collaborative creative practice. The university will build on existing excellence by launching an expanded arts festival in partnership with the city of College Park; hiring new faculty to extend curricula, research and programming that bring together art, technology and social justice.

"In this moment in time, these five bold actions will help validate who we are, what we stand for, and where we are headed,” said Pines. “We are a land-grant public research university that serves the public good for all of humanity.”

Pines began his presidency while the world was experiencing a time of remarkable disruption and uncertainty. He started on July 1, 2020, in the midst of two pandemics - both COVID-19 and long-standing racial injustice. On his first day, he outlined twelve initiatives and recommendations to reaffirm the university’s commitment to the institution’s core mission and values, and called for unity to help address some of the world’s most pressing grand challenges.

“I couldn’t be happier for President Pines on his investiture,” said USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “But, of course, Dr. Pines has been on the job for a while. He came to the presidency in the midst of crisis, and he’s already confronted unprecedented challenges in the position—challenges none of us imagined before the pandemic. And he’s shown the extraordinary vision, leadership, and compassion that I know will characterize his tenure.”

Quotes of distinction:

John B. SLaughter (1982-1988), William “Brit” Kirwan (1989-1998), C.D. “Dan” Mote, Jr, (1998-2010) & Wallace D. Loh (2010-2020), Former Presidents, University of Maryland

“Today, we are thrilled and honored that Darryll Pines has been inaugurated as the 34th President of the University of Maryland. President Pines is just the experienced, visionary, and skilled leader that will accelerate the tremendous upward trajectory of our beloved institution. He will build on 160 years of progress by thousands of students, faculty, staff, and supporters. His twin objectives of building excellence throughout the academic enterprise and creating a fully inclusive and multicultural community will forge a proud new chapter in the story of the University of Maryland. To President Pines, we are proud to say welcome and Godspeed.”

Linda R. Gooden, Chair, Board of Regents

“During my years on the Board of Regents, I’ve seen the University of Maryland, College Park grow—in its footprint, in its programs, in its reputation,” said USM Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden. “And I know that President Pines—whose entire career has been marked by excellence—will build on the university’s strength and prominence, and on the legacy of his predecessors. I’m proud to support him as he moves UMCP forward.”

Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader, U.S. Representative, 5th Congressional District, Maryland

“I thank you for taking on this position at a time of such great challenge. I look forward to continuing to work closely with you and with your leadership team to ensure that the University of Maryland College Park can continue to enjoy strong support from the federal government in its research programs, its applied science projects and its efforts to expand expand access to the highest quality education to students in our state and in our country. Congratulations Mr. President. You will do, and are doing, an extraordinarily outstanding job.”

Adrienne A. Jones, House Speaker, Maryland House of Delegates, District 10

“I have every confidence that President Pines’ presidency will be marked by much more than his exemplary leadership during this challenging time. His advocacy for the student experience, inclusion and diversity, and advancement for the university on all fronts has been a top priority since before his first day in this role. Those who are here now, those who have come before and those who have yet to come to Maryland will benefit from the vision he has for the university, and the entire state of Maryland. President Pines, I look forward to continuing to see this vision come to fruition and to have the opportunity to build on it with you.”

Bill Ferguson, Senate President, State of Maryland

“President Pines, I thank you for your commitment to serving the state, but more importantly service to humanity. From the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change to voter access and the social unrest in our country, you have already made great strides toward highlighting and finding solutions to what you call the “grand challenges of our time.” I am confident that this work has only just begun. I look forward to what else we will accomplish with you at the helm of this great institution.”

Ellen Williams, Distinguished University Professor; Incoming Chair, University Senate

“On behalf of the University Senate and the faculty of the University of Maryland, It is my pleasure to congratulate Darryll Pines on his inauguration. President Pines remarkably combines the characteristics of deep technical capability with entrepreneurship, management skills and empathy.”

Dr. Ana Palla-Kane, Specialist, Division of Information Technology; Chair, President’s Commission on Disability Issues

"It may be too ambitious to speak on behalf of every staff member, but since you've embarked on your new role many of us have already noticed your core leadership values shining through your decision-making process during these unprecedented times. Thank you for the great work you have already done by caring for our health and safety, standing for inclusion and multiculturalism, and ensuring that our institutional mission continues to be achieved with equity, integrity and excellence.Your vision, priorities and goals are very clear, and we look forward to working with you to make this institution the best place to live, learn and work.”

Dan Alpert, President, Student Government Association, University of Maryland

"On behalf of the 30,000 undergraduate students, congratulations President Pines on your Inauguration. We've been so thankful for the changes you have brought and leadership you have shown as we've worked together over the past several months. We're excited to continue that relationship and create great change as we bring our university to new heights in the years ahead."

Share Email Print

University of Maryland Names Winners of Its 2020 Invention and Entrepreneurship Awards

Contacts:

Lee Tune 301-405-4679

COLLEGE PARK, Md.– University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines announced a slate of innovation and entrepreneurial awards on April 21 at the 2021 Innovate Maryland virtual event. The awards honor the institution’s inventions, startup, mentor and student entrepreneurs of the year.

“When you work to expand research, there’s a payoff,” said UMD Chief Innovation Officer Julie Lenzer in an interview. She said that across the board this year’s winners were chosen not just for the cool factor or sheer profit potential, but for their likelihood to change society and improve our lives.

A past winner already on the verge of creating just such societal change is IonQ, which won Overall Invention of the year and Startup of the Year in 2018. IonQ recently became the first publicly traded pure-play hardware and software company in the quantum computing space.

The 2020 award winners are listed below. The Inventions of the Year were selected by a panel of UMD personnel and industry experts, overseen by UM Ventures. Startup of the Year was selected by professionals and organizations working with university startups, and overseen by the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, UM Ventures andMtech. The Rudy Awards are in honor of Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship founder Rudy Lamone.

Overall and Physical Science Invention of the Year: Reversible Chemistry in Graphite Cathode for Safe, High Energy Batteries

This technology opens the door to better-performing electric cars and wearable technologies, among other energy storage needs. It has both high-energy density and efficiency and a fully aqueous design that—because it contains a “water-in-salt” electrolyte—is much safer, even as it outperforms most non-aqueous lithium batteries on the market.

Pines related an anecdote about introducing Professor Chunsheng Wang, who led the research for the new battery technology, to entrepreneur Greg Cooper Ph.D. ’00, which opened the door to commercial development. “This all goes to show the power of a strong, connected entrepreneurial ecosystem like the one we have gathered here tonight,” Pines said.

Invention team:

Chunsheng Wang, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chongyin Yang, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Information Sciences Invention of the Year: Cyber Aptitude and Talent Assessment

The Cyber Aptitude and Talent Assessment (CATA) enhances online security by helping organizations identify the best candidates for cybersecurity jobs and tailor the training to the individuals they hire. The assessment is a set of cognitive tests using proprietary algorithms to provide a multidimensional assessment of an individual’s aptitude and a prediction of their ability to perform different cyber jobs. CATA is designed both to find people who have the cognitive skills to succeed in cyber and to steer people toward the type of cyber careers that fit them.

Invention team:

Susan G. Campbell, Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), College of Information Studies
Jarrett Lee, ARLIS
Adam Liter, Department of Linguistics
J. Isaiah Harbison, ARLIS
Alexa Romberg, Truth Initiative, Schroeder Institute
Meredith Hughes, ARLIS
Valerie Karuzis, ARLIS
Polly O’Rourke, ARLIS
Michael F. Bunting, ARLIS
Gregory Colflesh, ARLIS
Lelyn Saner, ARLIS
John Romano, ARLIS
Sunhee Kim, Maryland Language Science Center
Victoria Chang, ARLIS
Arlo Sumer, ARLIS
Alison Tseng, ARLIS
Jessica Young
Amber Bloomfield, University of Maryland Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment
William Burns
Nicholas Pandza, ARLIS
Scott Jackson, ARLIS

Life Sciences Invention of the Year: A New CRISPR Editing Strategy for Plant Genomes

Plant genome editing promises hardier, more abundant crops to feed a hungry world. Now, researchers at the University of Maryland have screened new Cas12a proteins originated from different bacteria and discovered one Cas12a system showing broader target range, high target editing efficiency, low-temperature tolerance and high target specificity.

Invention team:

Yiping Qi, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture
Yingxiao Zhang, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

Startup of the Year: N5 Sensors, Rockville, Md.

Multigas sensors that safeguard people and facilities in industry, government and national security applications used to be bulky affairs. N5 Sensors, a UMD spinoff founded in 2012 by Abhishek Motayed, then an assistant research scientist in UMD’s Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, makes advanced gas and chemical sensors small enough to be wearable on a firefighter’s coat. The fingertip-size devices also detect many more gases and are more sensitive than traditional detectors. A 2011 UMD Invention of the Year awardee, Motayed’s budding technology took flight after he participated in an I-Corps cohort and received $300,000 from the Maryland Momentum Fund.

Rudy Award for Mentor of the Year: Maurice Boissiere ‘89

An experienced shepherd of startups, the electrical and computer engineering alum today is combining his technical chops with a passion for entrepreneurship by serving on the advisory boards of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the Robert H. Smith School if Business and UM Ventures' Maryland Momentum Fund, as well as teaching entrepreneurship as lecturer at the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Rudy Award for Student Entrepreneur of the Year (tie): Josh Ermias ‘21

As co-founder of Door Robotics, the kinesiology major is revolutionizing remote, airborne photography with its Vista drone, which captures 360-degree video in 8K resolution. The company, which participated in the virtual Terp Startup summer accelerator in 2020, envisions drones as platforms for delivery, interaction and even home entertainment.

Rudy Award for Student Entrepreneur of the Year (tie): Caroline Ta ‘21

The marketing major grew up baking but dove in during college as a way to destress. She honed her business approach last year in the Terp Startup summer accelerator and now sells ornate yet affordable cakes, colorful macarons and “Oreo hot cocoa bombs” that dissolve in hot water or milk—all gluten free—from her website.

Share Email Print

UMD Graduate Programs Receive High Rankings by U.S. News and World Report

Contacts:

Lee Tune 301-405-4679

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Many areas of graduate education at the University of Maryland, College Park were highly rated in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2022 Best Graduate School rankings released today. This included seven placing in the top five and 25 in the top 20. Holding on to No. 1 rankings were Criminology in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) and Counseling/Personnel Services, a joint program in the College of Education and BSOS.

Every year, the U.S. News ranking of “Best Graduate Schools” evaluates graduate programs across six major disciplines in business, education, engineering, law, medicine, and nursing, including specialties in each area. According to U.S. News, these rankings are based on expert opinions about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research output and student achievement. Beyond these six annual ranked disciplines, U.S. News also periodically ranks graduate programs in the sciences, social sciences and humanities, health, and many other areas based solely on academic experts' ratings. This year's rankings include rankings in many of these periodically evaluated disciplines.

UMD’s 2022 rankings highlights include:

The College of Education has five highly ranked programs: Counseling/Personnel Services [program is joint with BSOS] (No. 1), Educational Psychology (No. 6), Higher Education Administration (No. 13), Special Education (No. 16) and Curriculum and Instruction (No. 18).
The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences ranked highly in: Criminology (No. 1), Counseling/Personnel Services [program is joint with College of Ed.] (No. 1), Sociology of Population (No. 14) and Economics-Development (No. 17).
The College of Information Studies is ranked No. 4 in the nation. Its spotlighted programs are: Services for Children and Youth (No. 2), Information Systems (No. 5), School Library Media (No. 5), Archives and Preservation (No. 6) and Digital Librarianship (No. 8).
The School of Public Policy is recognized in Homeland/National Security Public Policy (No. 5), International Global Policy (No. 11) and Public Finance and Budgeting (No. 12).
The Robert H. Smith School of Business has the No. 9 Information Systems program.
The College of Arts and Humanities’ American Literature Before 1865 program earned a No. 12 ranking.
The A. James Clark School of Engineering, ranked 20th in the nation, is rated highly in Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering (No. 13). Electrical/Electronic/Communications (No. 16), Mechanical Engineering (No. 17) and Computer Engineering (No. 18).
The School of Public Health is ranked No. 20 in the nation.

U.S. News doesn’t rank graduate programs in the below fields every year, and it ranks online programs separately. The below UMD rankings are the existing (most current) rankings for these programs, and are available on usnews.com, labeled with the calendar year in which they were originally published:

The College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences holds 11 top 20 rankings from 2019: Atomic/Molecular/Optical Physics No. 6, Quantum Physics No. 6, Condensed Matter Physics No.11, Elementary Particles/Field/String Theory No. 13, Applied Math No. 13, Physics No. 14, Computer Science No. 16, Artificial Intelligence No. 16, Computer Science Systems No. 16, Computer Science Theory, No. 16, and Computer Science Programming Language No. 17
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources program of Veterinary Medicine has a 2020 ranking of No. 17
The Robert H. Smith School of Business has a 2020 ranking of No. 10 for Best Online MBA Programs.
The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences holds a 2021 ranking of No.10 for Audiology
The Clark School of Engineering’s Online Graduate Engineering programs holds a 2021 ranking of 15

The full U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School rankings are available here.

Share Email Print

University of Maryland Looks to the Future with Inauguration of President Darryll J. Pines

Contacts:

Katie Lawson lawsonk@umd.edu

COLLEGE PARK, M.d.-- The University of Maryland will commemorate the inauguration of Darryll J. Pines as the university’s 34th President with Inauguration Week, April 19-24, 2021. The campus-wide celebration will offer opportunities to learn more about the President’s vision and goals for the future of Maryland, and feature appearances by UMD community members over multiple days of events, including:

Monday, April 19

The Art of Humanizing Grand Challenges

A moderated panel of arts and humanities experts provides insights on some of today’s Grand Challenges from a historical, cultural, and artistic perspective.

Tuesday, April 20

The Life and Legacy of David C. Driskell

President Pines joins Driskell Center Director Curlee Holton to reflect on the life and legacy of the late artist, scholar, curator and distinguished university professor emeritus.

Wednesday, April 21

President Pines on Parade

Students, faculty and staff can meet President Pines and Mrs. Sylvia Pines at one of three locations on campus. Take a photo with UMD’s new president, receive a presidential turtle pin and taste the newest Maryland Dairy ice cream flavor, named in his honor.

Innovate Maryland 2021

A celebration of the University's innovators, entrepreneurs, inventors, and creatives. This signature event brings together campus innovators, alumni, and community partners to recognize the transformational impact made by our faculty, students, and alumni, including awards for Invention and Startup of the Year.

Thursday, April 22

Installation Ceremony

Dr. Darryll J. Pines is installed as president and shares his vision for UMD.

Moving Maryland Forward: A Celebration of the Inauguration of Darryll J. Pines

This evening celebration features highlights from the official installation, special presentations, performances and remarks from special guests, including President Pines.

Friday, April 23

A Celebration of Terps: Featuring the Maryland Awards

This annual awards ceremony from the UMD Alumni Association will honor the achievements of six outstanding Terps.

Saturday, April 24

Maryland Day

The UMD tradition closes out inauguration festivities. Enjoy a day of learning, fun and discovery—online!

Visit the Inauguration Week website for additional information.

###

About the University of Maryland

The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,000 students,10,000 faculty and staff, and 297 academic programs. As one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright scholars, its faculty includes two Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners and 58 members of the national academies. The institution has a $2.1 billion operating budget and secures more than $1 billion annually in research funding together with the University of Maryland, Baltimore. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit www.umd.edu.

Share Email Print

Latest on COVID-19 and UMD

Contacts:

mediainfo@umd.edu

Information regarding the University of Maryland's gradual return to campus amid the COVID-19 pandemic can be found on the 4 Maryland website. The website includes a dashboard, reopening plan, FAQs, the latest news and announcements from President Pines and more.

Share Email Print

University of Maryland Main Administration Building Named for Thomas V. "Mike" Miller, Jr.

Contacts:

Katie Lawson, lawsonk@umd.edu, 301-405-4622

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland today announces its Main Administration Building will be named in honor of Maryland Senator Thomas V. “Mike” Miller, Jr. For more than 30 years, Senator Miller presided as the longest-serving state Senate president in the history of the United States, tirelessly advocating for higher education institutions in Maryland. His legacy will now be cemented on campus through the Thomas V. Miller, Jr. Administration Building.

“For all that Maryland Senate President Mike Miller has done, over the course of three decades, for the students, the faculty, and the staff of UMD -- those who are here now; those who came before; and those who will come in the generations ahead -- we proudly, and gratefully, etch his name in stone, upon this landmark Main Administration Building,” said UMD President Wallace D. Loh.

“I want to thank everybody who made this possible, especially my wife of 55 years who I met here on the College Park campus. We’ve been together ever since. This is our home away from home and I am very grateful for this honor,” said Senator Miller.

Senator Miller was instrumental in the passing of legislation that reorganized higher education in Maryland in 1988, designating College Park the state’s flagship institution and prioritizing state funding for higher education to help the university become a preeminent national public university. This was a significant turning point for higher education in Maryland, raising the reputation of the College Park flagship and the entire public university system.

“Every year, tens of thousands of Terps will cross McKeldin Mall, inspired by Senator Miller's unwavering commitment to propelling our university forward. His name will remind us all of his unwavering pursuit of service to the great state of Maryland and to the world,” said UMD President-Designate Darryll J. Pines.

Senator Miller’s passion and advocacy for UMD has also helped to transform the physical campus, helping to combine investment from the state with private support to provide world-class facilities for our students, faculty and staff. He provided state support for dozens of university projects, including the Bioscience Research Building, XFINITY Center, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, the Physical Sciences Complex and Cole Field House.

“For the first five years that I held office as Maryland’s Governor, I had the privilege of serving alongside Senate President Emeritus Mike Miller. After an historic tenure as the longest continually serving presiding officer in the nation, Mike Miller continues to be a strong, unifying leader for the legislature and for the state of Maryland. And as a proud Terp, his passionate advocacy has had a profound impact on the entire University System of Maryland. The dedication of the Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. Administration Building is a fitting tribute to a lifetime of selfless service,” said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan.

Senator Miller’s belief in the capacity of public universities to serve our state was made more evident by his unwavering advocacy for the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: Mpowering the State. Through this partnership, UMD and the University of Maryland, Baltimore now have a $1 billion joint research enterprise, 25 joint programs and centers and 600 joint research proposals - all to deliver on a vision of collaboration, innovation, and transformative impact across the state.

In 1970, Senator Miller was elected to represent Prince George’s County in the Maryland House of Delegates, and in 1974, he was elected to the Maryland State Senate. His current district includes portions of Calvert, Prince George’s and Charles counties. He has been re-elected to the State Senate every four years since 1978.

Senator Miller was first selected by his peers as President of the Maryland Senate at the beginning of the 1987 Session of the Maryland General Assembly, and was the longest serving Senate President in both Maryland and United States history until he stepped down from the role in 2020. From 1983 to 1986, he served as Chairman of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

Senator Miller is the 1999 recipient of the Tyser Medallion Award for Outstanding Service to the University of Maryland. He was honored in 1997 as the nation’s outstanding legislator. He has served as the President of the National Senate Presidents’ Forum and as Chairman of the Southern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments. Miller is a former Chairman of the National Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. Other honors and awards include Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Maryland, College Park, the University of Maryland Hall of Fame, the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame and the William P. Coliton Community Service Award for Excellence from Johns Hopkins University.

Senator Miller is a native of Clinton, Md. He is a graduate of Surrattsville High School, the University of Maryland (B.S. 1964) and the University of Maryland School of Law (LL.B., J.D. 1967). Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1967, Miller is a member of local, state and national bar associations.

The University System of Maryland Board of Regents approved the naming in May 2020.

Read what people are saying about the Thomas V. Miller Administration Building below.

###

About the University of Maryland
The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,000 students,10,000 faculty and staff, and 280 academic programs. As one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright scholars, its faculty includes two Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners and 59 members of the national academies. The institution has a $2.1 billion operating budget and secures more than $1 billion annually in research funding together with the University of Maryland, Baltimore. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit www.umd.edu.

What people are saying about Senator Miller’s impact on the University of Maryland

Larry Hogan  (full remarks)
Governor, State of Maryland
“For the first five years that I held office as Maryland’s Governor, I had the privilege of serving alongside Senate President Emeritus Mike Miller. After an historic tenure as the longest continually serving presiding officer in the nation, Mike Miller continues to be a strong, unifying leader for the legislature and for the state of Maryland. And as a proud Terp, his passionate advocacy has had a profound impact on the entire University System of Maryland. The dedication of the Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. Administration Building is a fitting tribute to a lifetime of selfless service. Congratulations Mike on this fantastic achievement.”

Dereck E. Davis (full remarks)
Chairman, House Economic Matters Committee
“Senator Miller, for the entirety of your political career and especially the years as Senate President, providing a quality education for our young people has always been one of your top priorities. Many of the achievements and advances this state has made in education, particularly when it comes to funding, are due in no small part because of your leadership and dedication to the effort.”

Rushern L. Baker III (full remarks)
Former County Executive, Prince George’s County
“I want to congratulate President Loh, the Board of Regents for their decision to honor Senate President Mike Miller. I can’t think of anyone else who better embodies the spirit of the University of Maryland at College Park than President Miller.”

Vicki Gruber (full remarks)
Executive Director Maryland Department of Legislative Services and Former Chief of Staff, Senate President Miller
“I think it’s incredibly fitting that the University has chosen to name its seat of leadership after Mike who has done so much to lead both the state and the university to reach its highest potential. President Miller, we thank you for letting us be a part of what you tried to do here at the University of Maryland and what you have achieved. It was an honor and privilege being a part of Team Miller and the Miller family. We all thank you and congratulations.”

William E. “Brit” Kirwan  (full remarks)
President, University of Maryland (1989-1998)
“Mike, I am thrilled that your name will grace the Main Administration Building. You became the Senate President the year before I became the university’s president. I could never overstate my appreciation for the support you gave me during my tenures both as president and chancellor and what this support meant to the ever-growing excellence of your beloved alma mater. Simply put, you are the best!”

C. D. "Dan" Mote, Jr. (full remarks)
President, University of Maryland (1998-2010)
“Today, naming the Thomas V. Miller, Jr. Administration Building after a man who transformed this campus is a truly wonderful day. On the first morning of my first day on this campus, Patsy and I welcomed Mike to an early breakfast at the President’s Residence. I wanted him to be the first person I met that day. We went on to develop a warm and trusting relationship, and Mike remains my best friend in the State. Mike, congratulations on this magnificent recognition and thank you for allowing me to claim that my office at Maryland was in the Thomas V. Miller Administration Building.”

Wallace D. Loh  (full remarks)
President, University of Maryland
“For all that Maryland Senate President Mike Miller has done, over the course of three decades, for the students, the faculty, and the staff of UMD -- those who are here now; those who came before; and those who will come in the generations ahead -- we proudly, and gratefully, etch his name in stone, upon this landmark Main Administration Building.”

Darryll J. Pines  (full remarks)
President-Designate, University of Maryland
“Every year, tens of thousands of Terps will cross McKeldin Mall, inspired by Senator Miller's unwavering commitment to propelling our university forward. His name will remind us all of his unwavering pursuit of service to the great state of Maryland … and to the world.”

Tommy Miller (full remarks)
Senator Miller’s Son
“Myself and my siblings want to say thank you to the University of Maryland for adding my father’s name to this building. It’s been such an honor. He put the university on his back, he’s been like a father figure to it and protected it, and I’m just so glad and honored that somebody was able to see this.”

Catherine Miller (full remarks)
Senator Miller’s Granddaughter
“I can speak for all of my cousins when I say we are all incredibly honored to be at a place that we love so much, University of Maryland, and to be here honoring a man that we love so much, our awesome grandfather. No matter where I go and no matter who I’m with or where I am, I’m always proud to be a Miller, a Marylander and a Terp.”

Linda Gooden
University System of Maryland Board Of Regents Chair
“Throughout his career in public service, Senate President Mike Miller has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to higher education. Two-year and four-year institutions, public and private, have all benefited from his support. To be honored like this, on the state’s flagship campus, and his alma mater is certainly well-deserved.”

Dan Alpert
Student Government Association President
“Senator Miller has been a long-standing friend and advocate for the University of Maryland throughout his tenure as a State Senator and Senate President. With several of our own University Presidents, student interns, graduates, and more overlapping their own experiences with that of Senator Miller, it is clear that his leadership has had an impact on many. From efforts to ban assault pistols in 1994 to more recent legislation calling for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and moving away from mandatory minimum sentencing for minor crimes, Senator Miller has been an ally in progressing Maryland to be a leader in the Nation. Renaming the main admin building is a way to remember this Terp’s legacy as the longest-serving Senate President in our State’s history and as a support of this University throughout his life.”

Annie Rappeport
Graduate Student Government President
“Thank you, Mike Miller, for your lifelong dedication to education and the State of Maryland. Thank you for supporting schools in Maryland from K-12 to community colleges and four-year institutions with proactive and unifying (bipartisan) policies. Your legislative work has helped to keep public universities accessible with a focus on affordability and outreach.”

Share Email Print

The Hall CP Opens in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District

Contacts:

Hafsa Siddiqi hafsa@umd.edu 301-405-4671

COLLEGE PARK, Md -- Located in the heart of the University of Maryland Discovery District, new arts and entertainment venue, The Hall CP is now open. Developer, CEO of WarHorse Cities and University of Maryland alum, Scott Plank debuts the soft opening of his much-awaited venue today, billed as a gathering place for artists, entrepreneurs and members of the university community.

The Hall CP is the next big thing to hit the Discovery District, alongside the Capitol One Tech Incubator and WeWork. The Discovery District is part of the university’s Greater College Park initiative, a $2 billion public-private investment to rapidly revitalize the Baltimore Avenue corridor and academic campus, which includes dynamic academic spaces, a public-private research hub and vibrant downtown community.

“The Hall CP stems from a long-standing relationship between War Horse Cities and WeWork, resulting in an incredibly simple and successful concept that similarly brought the arts and tech communities together in a unique way in San Francisco,” says Plank. “Now, we’re bringing that concept to the heart of College Park.”

Spanning more than 20,000 square feet, the venue boasts a performance and private events space dubbed the Longhouse, a pizzeria, coffee shop, full-service restaurant, outdoor patio and multiple bar areas. Veteran Baltimore-area restaurateurs Chad Gauss (The Food Market) and Dennis Sharoky (Coal Fire Pizza) will run the food and beverage programming.

In addition to serving as a new social and creative space for students, the venue will also be a gathering place for alumni, WeWork clients, visitors staying at The Hotel at the University of Maryland, and, with the incoming Purple Line Metro stop, D.C. residents as well. In collaboration with UMD President Wallace Loh, UMD Chief Strategy Officer for Economic Development Ken Ulman, and real estate developers Chesapeake Realty Partners and partner Jon Mayers, Plank is helping to grow College Park into a top-tier college town with The Hall CP.

During its soft opening, The Hall CP will operate seven days a week in a limited capacity, only serving the cafe and pizzeria menus from 8 am to 3 pm daily. Extended hours, full dining menu and programming activations will begin in late January 2020. For more information, please visit www.TheHallCP.com

About The Hall CP
The Hall CP (4656 Hotel Drive), a new arts and entertainment venue at the University of Maryland, is a space for artists, entrepreneurs, students, and community leaders to unite and collaborate through food, art and innovation. Developer and War Horse Cities CEO Scott Plank, in collaboration with Chesapeake Realty Partners and UMD, returned to his alma mater to create The Hall CP with the intention of fostering the school’s and community’s relationship with local artists and entrepreneurs. With more than 20,000 square feet of activation space, boasting amenities like a private event space, indoor and outdoor dining, and a coffee bar and pizzeria, The Hall CP will cater to both student-driven and community-focused programming. Located in Greater College Park, Md.’s Discovery District, The Hall CP is the latest effort in growing College Park into a top-tier college town.

About the University of Maryland
The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,000 students,10,000 faculty and staff, and 280 academic programs. As one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright scholars, its faculty includes two Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners and 58 members of the national academies. The institution has a $2.1 billion operating budget and secures $514 million annually in external research funding. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit www.umd.edu.

Share Email Print

UMD Alums Honored in Forbes' 2020 "30 Under 30" List

Contacts:

Hafsa Siddiqi hafsa@umd.edu 301-405-4671

COLLEGE PARK, Md.— Three University of Maryland alumni were recognized by Forbes Magazine on their 2020 “30 Under 30” list, which highlights “600 young entrepreneurs, risk-takers and game changers who are redefining what it means to innovate and lead by example,” according to Forbes.

The Forbes “30 Under 30” list class of 2020 includes 30 honorees for each of the 20 categories. James Fayal '12 founded Zest Tea, a line of high-caffeine, natural energy drinks, and Atara Bernstein '13 is COO of pineapple collaborative, a community of 70,000 food-loving women. Jared Brown M.P.S. '19, who was incarcerated for two misdemeanors at age 18, now works for the Obama Foundation's My Brother's Keeper Alliance, which aims to close opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color.

More about UMD’s 2020 “30 Under 30” winners:

Food & Drink List:

James Fayal ‘12 founded his line of energy teas while working as an analyst at a venture firm in 2014. After a $10,000 crowdfunding campaign, Zest Tea started selling hot teas containing about three times the caffeine levels of traditional teas (on par with coffee and energy drinks). Last year, Fayal launched a line of low-calorie and sugar-free ready-to-drink iced teas, which are sold in more than 2,500 stores across the U.S., including Whole Foods, Safeway, Giant and Shaws.

In 2015, pineapple collaborative started as a potluck with 30 women in Washington, D.C.. Today, pineapple is a community of over 70,000 women who love food, including hundreds of industry leaders from Christina Tosi to Carla Hall. Led by cofounders Ariel Pasternak, CEO, and Atara Bernstein ‘13, COO, pineapple operates through the events in D.C., New York City and San Francisco, digital content, social media and a podcast, providing opportunities for women to express their style, identity and values through food. In 2018, they expanded through a partnership with delivery app Caviar, offering customers a curated list of women-owned restaurants to order from in 16 cities. In November 2019, the duo debuted a line of pantry products, launching with olive oil and apple cider vinegar, which are now must-haves for the perfect woman-powered #shelfie.

Education List:

Jared Brown M.P.S. '19 was incarcerated for two misdemeanors at the age of 18, received a reduced sentence and has spent the past decade helping fellow young men of color earn second chances and bridge educational and opportunity gaps. He is now a change agent at My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Alliance, part of the Obama Foundation, where he launched and manages a network of youth and local leaders in 250 jurisdictions nationwide. The University of Maryland graduate represented the U.S. at the 2017 UN Youth Assembly.

View the full “30 Under 30” list here.

Share Email Print

The Honorable James R. Clapper to Address University of Maryland's 2019 Winter Graduates

Contacts:

Katie Lawson, lawsonk@umd.edu, 301-405-4622

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland announced today that James R. Clapper ‘63, former director of national intelligence and author of the best-selling book, “Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence,” will deliver the university’s commencement address on Dec. 17, 2019. Clapper will address thousands of graduates, family and friends during the ceremony at the XFINITY Center.

“During his half century serving our nation’s security, General Clapper earned a reputation for helping unify the Intelligence Services and speaking truth to power. He has an important message to share with our graduates and this campus,” said University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh. “We are delighted to welcome him back to his Alma Mater.”

Clapper served as the fourth director of national intelligence from Aug. 9, 2010, to Jan. 20, 2017. In this position, he led the United States intelligence community and served as the principal intelligence adviser to President Barack Obama.

“It is a true honor to be chosen to speak at the University of Maryland’s commencement,” said Clapper. “I look forward to returning to my alma mater to address the graduating class on their momentous day.”

Clapper’s career began in 1961, when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and culminated as a lieutenant general in the U.S. Air Force and director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. His intelligence-related positions over his 32 years in uniform included assistant chief of staff for intelligence at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and director of intelligence for three combatant commands: U.S. Forces, Korea; Pacific Command; and Strategic Air Command. He served two combat tours during the Southeast Asia conflict, and flew 73 combat support missions in EC-47s over Laos and Cambodia.

Following his retirement from the armed forces in 1995, Clapper worked for six years as an executive in three companies, focusing on the intelligence community. He also served as a consultant and adviser to Congress and to the departments of Defense and Energy, and as a member of a variety of government panels, boards, commissions and advisory groups. He was a senior member of the Downing Assessment Task Force, which investigated the Khobar Towers bombing in 1996, and vice chairman of a commission chaired by former Gov. Jim Gilmore of Virginia on homeland security, and he served on the National Security Agency Advisory Board.

Clapper returned to the government two days after 9/11 as the first civilian director of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency. He served in this capacity for almost five years, transforming it into the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, as it is called today.

Prior to becoming director of national intelligence, Clapper served for over three years in two administrations as undersecretary of defense for intelligence, where he was the principal staff assistant and adviser to the secretary and deputy secretary on intelligence, counterintelligence and security matters. He was also director of defense intelligence for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Clapper earned a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in political science from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and an honorary doctorate in strategic intelligence from the then-Joint Military Intelligence College.

He has been honored with three National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medals, two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Coast Guard’s Distinguished Public Service Award, three Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Awards, the presidentially conferred National Security Medal, and many other U.S. civilian and military, and foreign government awards and decorations.

###

Share Email Print

UMD Team Again Wins National Affordable Housing Design Competition

Contacts:

Maria Day-Marshall 301-405-6795, Lee Tune 301-405-4679

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – For the second year in a row, a team of graduate students from the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation has won the Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). UMD teams finished first last year and second in 2016, their only two previous entries in the 6-year-old competition.

This year the University of Maryland team took first place and the $20,000 top prize with its design for Brooklyn Bend, a mixed-use housing and retail development for low- and moderate-income residents located along San Antonio’s Riverwalk. Results were announced Wednesday. Defending champion Maryland beat out more than 70 other teams, including the other three finalists, second place University of California, Berkeley, and runners-up Yale University and Virginia Tech.

Judges cited the team’s well-developed financial package and understanding of the concepts behind the proposal, and commended the project for having the highest population density among the four finalists. The design, which fronts the San Antonio River, emphasizes energy efficiency, water pollution control and promotion of healthy lifestyles.

Instead of a layout that included just one or two large buildings, the team designed a village-like development with a variety of housing unit designs and sizes to meet a wide range of needs, said Kyle Huck (dual master’s degree program in architecture and real estate development).

“All the proposals were unique in their own ways, but I think what set ours apart was that we really tried to use the site to its highest and best use,” he said, “and not just meet the requirements but to use the site as appropriately as possible to create a proposal that was more dense, which results in a greater amount of affordable housing.”

“We have a lot of dual degrees on our team,” said Cassandra Huntington (dual master’s degree program in architecture and real estate development). “The fact that we have the real estate development degree in addition to the architecture degree gives us a leg up on most of the competition, because we have a better understanding of both the design and the finance sides.”

In addition to graduate students Huck and Huntington, other members of the team are: Lauren Stamm (master’s degree program in community planning); Andrew Mazer (master’s degree program in architecture); and Nyasha Mandima (master’s degree program in real estate development). The team’s advisors are Maria Day-Marshall, director of UMD’s Real Estate Development Program. and Rob McClennan, senior project manager, Bonstra | Haresign Architects, AIA, and UMD adjunct professor.

Donald Linebaugh, interim dean of the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, said the Maryland team's design demonstrated the strengths of the school's interdisciplinary approach.

"Their winning submission was a thoughtful and nuanced response to a challenging site along San Antonio's Riverwalk," said Donald Linebaugh, interim dean of the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. "They drew on their strengths in design, planning, and real estate finance to craft a project that put people and community first, activating the site and delivering a safe, affordable, and beautiful housing solution."

"With 12 dual degree programs in our School," explained Linebaugh, "MAPP+D is a national leader in interdisciplinary graduate education. And the students' innovative winning submission, clearly demonstrates the strengths of our interdisciplinary approach to the built environment."

The San Antonio Housing Authority board, which is looking to redevelop the site, will review the winning proposal in coming months.

According to HUD, “the need for quality, affordable housing has never been greater,” and its affordable housing competition is intended to “advance the design and production of livable and sustainable housing for low- and moderate-income people through research and innovation.”

“When it comes to creating innovative affordable housing, HUD does not do this work alone,” HUD Secretary Ben Carson said in a statement. “Congratulations to the University of Maryland and all of our finalists, for their consciousness stream of good ideas that increases housing opportunity for Americans with modest incomes.”