Washington College Professor on Marc Steiner Show Friday

Richard Striner, associate professor of history at Washington College, will appear on the Marc Steiner Show on WJHU, 88.1 FM, at 1 p.m., Friday, June 23.

He will be discussing his new book, The Civic Deal, and responding to calls from the audience.

In The Civic Deal, Striner presents a philosophy for reinvigorating government stewardship in American public life. He advocates a melding of conservative and liberal ideas and values to create effective and far-reaching public policies.

James MacGregor Burns, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox," says, "I greatly admire The Civic Deal because of the way it has brought together grand intellectual and political traditions in American history and applied them effectively to problems today."

Washington College President Toll Hailed As Tops In Maryland Education

Chestertown, MD, June 9—The Maryland Association of Higher Education will present Washington College President John S. Toll with its first ever Lifetime Achievement Award at the organization’s annual symposium today at Towson University.

"Dr. Toll's career as both a distinguished faculty scholar and campus and system administrator, in both the public and private sectors of Maryland higher education, truly exemplifies what the MAHE Lifetime Achievement Award is meant to recognize," says MAHE president Craig Clagett. "Along with his stellar academic accomplishments, Dr. Toll is known for his genuine interest in helping others, whether students, staff, or colleagues. He has set the standard for service to Maryland higher education."

Founded in 1946, MAHE is now in its 54th year serving the interests of all sectors and all professions of higher education in Maryland. Through its conferences, Web site, and publications, MAHE promotes communication and cooperation among all those interested in furthering higher learning in Maryland.

Toll’s accomplishments during his more than 46 years in higher education, 33 in the state of Maryland, led to this first-ever honor. A Yale graduate with a Ph.D. from Princeton in physics, Toll began his career in Maryland education in 1953, when he joined the University of Maryland faculty after helping to establish the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. He served for thirteen years as chair of UM’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, leaving to assume the presidency of SUNY Stony Brook. For his work there, Toll was listed among "100 Who Shaped the Century" by Newsday, the principal newspaper of Long Island, New York.

Toll came back to Maryland from Stony Brook in 1978, invited by the University of Maryland to become president of the five-campus system. At the request of then-Governor William Donald Schaefer, Toll headed the merger of Maryland’s two public multi-campus university systems in 1988. This led to the founding of the University of Maryland System, with Toll named Chancellor. He remains Chancellor Emeritus.

In 1994 Toll returned to the physics department at the University of Maryland, working with graduate students and faculty on research and lecturing at freshman honors seminars. He became Acting President of Washington College on January 1, 1995, and accepted the invitation of the Board to continue as president that year.

The private liberal arts and sciences college has flourished under his leadership, with no aspect of institutional life untouched by his enthusiasm.

His impact was readily apparent to the accrediting agency that visited in 1994 and returned for a follow-up visit in 1999. The Periodic Review Report of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools reported "phenomenal progress" and an "incredible turnaround which . . . far exceeds the expectations of even the most optimistic member of the 1994 Review Team."

Toll’s first initiative at the College was to develop and launch the Washington Scholars Program, a $10,000 per year scholarship program for members of the National Honor Society and Cum Laude Society. As a result of this initiative, honor society members entering the College make up more than 50 percent of the total freshman class, an increase from less than 25 percent in 1995. The number of entering freshmen also has increased 20 percent from 236 in 1994 to 282 in 1999. The Class of 2000 is the first graduating class of Washington Scholars.

During his first five years in office, Toll has overseen the addition of majors in environmental studies, anthropology and computer science, a dual degree program in pharmacy, and a K-8 teacher certification program to complement secondary education training. The College also has established itself as a leader in international education and currently offers 38 study abroad programs around the world. Two varsity sports—co-ed and women’s sailing and women’s soccer—have also been added.

As student enrollment as grown, so has the size of the faculty—a 28 percent increase of full-time faculty from 65 in 1994 to 83 in 1999.

An inveterate fund-raiser for education, President Toll has spearheaded The Campaign for Washington’s College. Initiated in 1997 with a goal of $72 million, the campaign has yielded $60 million in funds raised after one year of the public phase. The Campaign is raising money to support academic programs, including developing centers for the study of creative writing, environmental studies, and the American experience; student scholarships; faculty salaries; improved facilities; and endowment.

"John Toll’s leadership has been critical to the early success of this Campaign," notes Jay Griswold of Baltimore, vice chair of the College’s Board of Visitors and Governors and chairman of the Campaign. "He is greatly admired and respected in academic circles and political arenas alike."

Washington College Honors President With Creation Of John Toll Chair

Chestertown, MD, June 1 — In recognition of the accomplishments of Washington College President John S. Toll, the College’s Board of Visitors and Governors has established the John Toll Chair at Washington College.

The creation of the chair was announced at the Chevy Chase Club in Washington, D.C. Keynote speaker at the event was Maryland Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

The professorship has been endowed through a gift of $2 million—$1 million raised from board members over a period of only six weeks to be matched with $1 million from the Hodson Challenge. Jay Griswold, chairman of the Campaign for Washington’s College, said, "The members of the board had already contributed $18 million to our Campaign for Washington’s College. This commitment on top of that is indicative of the board’s gratitude for President Toll’s leadership.

"Dr. Toll’s untiring work on behalf of the College has been key to the success of our Campaign. His first five years have been characterized by one success after another." The

Campaign has raised $60 million in the first 20 months of a 5-year effort to raise $72 million for academic programs, faculty, scholarships, and campus enhancements.

The John Toll Chair will be awarded to an outstanding faculty member in any discipline at Washington College who exemplifies the College’s goals of superb teaching and advising, fine research and excellent service. The recipient must also display a strongly positive attitude and a deep commitment to Washington College and its students. The professor will be chosen by the president and approved by the board.

Among Toll’s accomplishments are the following:

• The College’s endowment has risen from $27 million to $109 million.
• Enrollment has increased more than 20 percent, from 1006 to 1225.
• The number of National Honor Society students making up the student body has more than doubled to 550.
• Four major building projects have been completed. The most recent, Louis Goldstein Hall, will open this fall.

Toll came to Washington College a distinguished figure in education. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in physics with highest honors from Yale University in 1944 and serving in the Navy during World War II, Toll completed his Ph.D. in physics at Princeton, where he helped to establish Project Matterhorn, now known as the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. In 1953 he joined the University of Maryland faculty and served for thirteen years as chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, considered one of the best in the country.

In 1965 Toll became the first president at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His work there earned him election to Newsday’s "100 Who Shaped the Century."

On June 9, Toll will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maryland Association for Higher Education, the first the organization has given. In July, he will be one of only eight educational leaders to receive the Council for the Support of Education Chief Executive Leadership Award.