Benjamin Carson, Rita Colwell, and Lois Duffey to be honored at Washington College

Chestertown, MD, August 16, 2000 — Surgeon Benjamin S. Carson Sr., National Science Foundation Director Rita R. Colwell, and Eastern Shore civic leader Lois S. Duffey will be honored at Washington College's Fall Convocation at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, September 7.

Benjamin S. Carson Sr. is professor and director of pediatric neurosurgery at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore. Dr. Carson, one of the preeminent pediatric neurosurgeons in the world, gained international renown in 1987 when he led the medical team that successfully separated conjoined twins who shared a major cerebral blood system. In 1997, he led the first completely successful separation of twins joined at the top of the head. He has refined the techniques for hemispherectomy, a radical brain surgery to stop intractable seizures, and he is known for his work in craniofacial reconstructive surgery, achondroplasia (human dwarfism), and pediatric neuro-oncology (brain tumors). As an African American who overcame the obstacles of an inner-city upbringing and difficulties in school to become one of the most celebrated physicians in the world, Dr. Carson also is an inspirational role model. He is president and co-founder of the Carson Scholars Fund, which recognizes young people of all backgrounds for exceptional academic and humanitarian accomplishments. His three books—Gifted Hands, Think Big, and The Big Picture—provide inspiration and insight for leading a successful life.

Rita R. Colwell is director of the National Science Foundation, an independent agency of the federal government that provides support for research and education in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. Before becoming director of the NSF in 1998, Dr. Colwell was president of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, a position she had held since 1991. She was appointed professor of microbiology at the University of Maryland in 1972. While at UM, Dr. Colwell also served as Director of the Sea Grant College and as Vice President for Academic Affairs for the University of Maryland System. A member of the National Science Board from 1984 to 1990, she has held several advisory positions in government, with private foundations, and in the international community. She was chairman of the board of governors of the American Academy of Microbiology for ten years. She has authored or co-authored 16 books and more than 500 scientific publications, and produced the award-winning film, Invisible Seas.

Lois Salmon Duffey is a highly regarded American horsewoman whose philanthropic interests are focused on the needs of children and youth. Since moving to Maryland's Eastern Shore in 1946, Mrs. Duffey has been keenly interested in preserving and sharing the advantages of country living, and promoting educational opportunities here. Decades ago she and her husband, Harry, founded a summer camp at their Corsica River farm for disadvantaged boys from Baltimore City, and since 1947 were influential supporters of The Gunston School in Centreville, MD. Today, Mrs. Duffey continues to support Gunston and other private educational institutions and organizations helping children and young people, particularly those on the Eastern Shore. Since 1965, when she and her husband created the Harry J. Duffey Jr. Scholarship, she has been a generous benefactor of Washington College.

Washington College Dedicates Louis L. Goldstein Hall

Chestertown, MD, August 15, 2000 — Washington College will celebrate the dedication of Goldstein Hall, its newest academic building, at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 27.

The $4 million facility honors the memory of Louis L. Goldstein, Maryland's legendary comptroller and the nation's longest serving elected official.

Goldstein Hall is the only academic building in the state of Maryland to bear the name of this revered public servant. Among the honored guests who plan to attend the ceremony are Goldstein's children, Louisa, Phillip and Margaret, as well as such state and local officials as William Donald Schaefer, Comptroller; Richard Dixon, Treasurer; Thomas V. "Mike" Miller, President of the Senate; Casper Taylor, Speaker of the House; Paul S. Sarbanes, U.S. Senator; Steny H. Hoyer, U.S. Congressman; Wheeler R. Baker, Maryland Delegate; and Margo Bailey, Mayor of Chestertown.

Louis L. Goldstein graduated from Washington College in 1935 and remained a dedicated alumnus all his life. He joined the Washington College Board of Visitors and Governors in 1957 and served the College throughout his tenure as State Comptroller. Goldstein was chairman of the board for 18 years until his death in 1998. He spoke often of his connection to the College, saying, "As someone who loves history, I take particular pride in Washington College. Our history, so closely linked to the creation of a new nation, is what distinguishes us from other selective liberal arts colleges in the country." Robert G. Smith, vice president for Development, said, "We at Washington College respected him as a distinguished alumnus, proud parent, and great leader."

The College has set a goal of raising $2 million in private funds for the support of Goldstein Hall. To date, gifts and other commitments total $1.1 million. Gifts and pledges of any size will be accepted by the College through the end of December 2000 to be fulfilled over three years. Donors of $1,000 or more will be recognized on a commemorative plaque in the building. Rooms in the building will be named in honor of those giving $15,000 or more. Leading the Friends of Louis L. Goldstein Committee in soliciting support for the project are Comptroller Schaefer, former Chestertown Mayor Elmer E. Horsey and former Maryland Deputy Comptroller Robert L. Swann.

The construction of Goldstein Hall has been financed by the state of Maryland, which provided half the cost, and The Campaign for Washington's College.

Announced just two years ago, the $72-million-dollar Campaign now totals $61.1 million. Louis Goldstein made the first contribution to the campaign, a gift of $1 million. The Campaign goals are to build and maintain facilities such as Goldstein Hall and to support academic distinction through scholarships, professorships, research centers, equipment and academic support.

This fall Washington College, a liberal arts school located on Maryland's Eastern Shore, will enroll its largest entering class ever. Once again, National Honor Society and Cum Laude Society members represent 51% of the freshman class.

Goldstein Hall has been built to meet the academic needs of the growing student population. It will house 3 classrooms, 5 seminar rooms, 2 teaching laboratories, a 75-seat lecture hall, 24 faculty offices, and consolidated office space for the Writing Center, Math Workshop and Study Skills Office.

Goldstein Hall was designed by architects Steve Parker and Rick Morrison of Grimm & Parker Associates of Calverton, Md. Harper & Sons, Inc., general contractors based in Easton, oversaw the construction of the building.

New Director Takes Message of Chesapeake Bay to World

Chestertown, MD, August 11, 2000 —When Wayne H. Bell, Ph.D., was named director of the Center for the Environment and Society at Washington College in July, he called for the Center to become "a catalyst between the education programs at the College and the community, including the local Chesapeake Bay region, and the world beyond."

Making good on that pledge, Harvard-educated Bell will be a keynote speaker at the International Seminar on Chesapeake 2000, held in Kobe, Japan, August 21 to 24. Chesapeake 2000 is the name of the new Chesapeake Bay Agreement signed this past June by the Chesapeake Executive Council. The Council, which includes the governors of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia and the mayor of Washington, D.C., has committed itself to continued restoration of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Specific goals include improved water quality and restoration and maintenance of balanced ecosystems. If the water quality standards are met as outlined in the agreement, the Bay will be removed from the federal list of impaired waters by 2010.

The seminar is being hosted by the Scientific and Policy Committee of the International Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS) Center. EMECS works internationally to bring together scholars, governments officials, industry representatives, and private organizations to resolve problems of bodies of water nearly surrounded by land. The Chesapeake Bay is one of nine major enclosed coastal seas recognized by EMECS. It is the largest and the most biologically diverse estuary in North America.

Dr. Bell will speak to approximately 120 government officials, researchers and private citizens about the Chesapeake 2000 agreement and his scientific point of view. Dr. Bell received both an A.M. in biology and a Ph.D. in marine microbiology from Harvard University. He comes to Washington College from the University of Maryland system where he most recently served as the vice president for external relations and the assistant to the director of special projects at the Center for Environmental Science. "Wayne Bell's public education experience and teacher outreach programs, combined with his extensive knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay, are perfectly suited to the mission of the new Center," said John S. Toll, president of Washington College.

Community outreach is a primary goal of both Chesapeake 2000 and the Washington College Center for the Environment and Society. The Center's mission is "to explore the critical relationship between society and environment...taking the Chesapeake Bay watershed region as [the] primary focus." It will be housed in the historic Chestertown Custom House, currently under restoration. The Custom House is located on the Chester River, a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.

Support for the Center has come from Ted and Jennifer Stanley, Tom and Barbara Gale, L. Clifford Schroeder and the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. The effort is part of the Campaign for Washington's College, now at $61 million. The Center for the Environment and Society is one of three new centers enhancing the Washington College academic program through rigorous, innovative courses and internships, issue analysis, collaborative work with leading scholars, and national community outreach. The other new centers are the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience and the Center for Writing and the Creative Process.

Washington College Announces New Majors

Chestertown, MD, August 9, 2000 — Washington College is pleased to announce the addition of two new major programs of study, anthropology and computer science. Beginning in the fall of 2000, students will be able to choose from these or any of the other 23 majors the College offers.

Washington College will be the only institution of higher learning on the Eastern Shore to offer a major in anthropology and only one of four to do so in the state of Maryland. The major has been established primarily due to student demand. During the past four years, enrollment in anthropology courses has been consistently high. In the past three semesters, course offerings have doubled, yet class size has continued to increase. Seven students have taken the initiative to design independent majors in anthropology by petitioning the Dean of the College. Future majors will complete ten four-credit courses in anthropology, one study abroad experience and a major research paper. The anthropology major directly supports the mission of the College, "to stimulate men and women to think deeply, imaginatively, and creatively about past and present civilizations."

The new major in computer science also promotes the College's mission by providing an additional area of intellectual inquiry in a rapidly growing and evolving field. The current demand for college graduates in computer science and related technical fields far exceeds the supply. "By graduating students in this critical field, many of whom will settle in the Baltimore-Washington area, Washington College is contributing to the economic development of the state of Maryland and to the needs of employers and the work force," said Joachim Scholz, Dean of the College. Students majoring in computer science will be required to complete eleven four-credit courses and either a substantial programming project or an investigation into a topic in theoretical computer science.

In addition to computer science and anthropology, the College has also recently implemented a program leading to certification in elementary education.

Students interested in these or other programs at Washington College should contact the Admissions Office, 1-800-422-1782, or visit the college Web site at www.washcoll.edu.

History Course Tackles Vietnam War

Chestertown, MD, July 21, 2000 — In the space of 30 years, Vietnam went from being a word Americans barely knew to one that excites passionate feelings in several generations. Equally important, the Vietnam War remains a trauma from which American military and political strategists have yet to recover. The tumultuous conflict and the diplomatic and political climate preceding and following it will be among the topics examined in "The Vietnam War: A Turning Point in the 'American Century'," a history graduate course offered at Washington College this fall.

Visiting professor Ann Connell, Ph.D., who teaches the course, comes to Washington College from George Washington University where she has taught in the Honors Program on the subjects of the Vietnam War, the Peace Movement and the civil rights struggle in the United States. Connell, a graduate of the University of Maryland, holds a masters degree in American military history and a Ph.D. in American diplomatic history.

Like many Americans, Connell is passionate about the subject, having come to study the period before, during and after the Vietnam War with much personal experience behind her. In 1968, she and her husband adopted a Vietnamese orphan. The next year, Connell's 19-year old brother Joe, a Marine, was killed fighting a North Vietnamese regiment in Quang Nam Province near Danang. In 1999 the family visited the orphanage where the couple's daughter spent her first 10 months of life. They went on to find the site of Connell's brother's death. There, with help from a former Viet Cong soldier and local villagers, they placed a shrine honoring Joe's sacrifice and all the war dead.

"The war was a great tragedy for so many families on both sides," said Connell. She believes it is important to understand how American idealism, leadership and power could have led to what in retrospect seems to have been a predictable unraveling of United States policy in Indochina. "To begin a study of the Vietnam War in 1965 with the commitment of U.S. ground forces is like tuning into a show when it's half over," Connell said. "This course will examine not only the war in Vietnam from 1965 to 1975, but also the circumstances and decisions that led to that costly commitment in the contexts of the Cold War, the nationalist fervor in the Third World, the emergence of social activism in America and, the diplomatic and political exigencies which shaped the second half of the 'American Century'."

The class will be held Thursdays, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 7. For more information, call 1-800-422-1782.

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."