Five celebrity guestswere recognized for theirpublic service and careeraccomplishments in abrief ceremony thatkicked off the UMES GalaSaturday night.

But the bigexcitement cameimmediately after theevent when former 5thDimension lead singersBilly Davis Jr. and MarilynMcCoo – still wearingacademic robes – joined

Dr. Juliette B. Bell, a senioradministrator at Central State University, willbe the University of Maryland EasternShore’s next president. Patricia S.Florestano, the new chair of the UniversitySystem of Maryland Board of Regents,announced the appointment Wednesday.

Bell, 56, is provost and vice presidentfor academic affairs at the Wilberforce,

Ohio, institution and her appointment at UMES is effective July 1, 2012."I am extremely delighted and humbled to be selected as the next

president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a great institution,”Bell said, adding, “I thank the Board of Regents and Chancellor (WilliamE.) Kirwan for this opportunity and this singular honor."

Bell, a biochemist, is recognized for increasing the number ofminority scientists. She has dedicated much of her career to providingopportunities for students to participate in scientific research.

Bell “has an impressive record of outstanding leadership in manyareas,” Florestano said, “including enhancing academic excellence,creating opportunities to attract research and private support, andnurturing pathways of success for students. The board is confident that she

C I R C L I N G T H E W O R L D

Page 2Golf Leader Visits Alumna Lends Expertise

Page 3STEM OpportunitiesFLIC Introduces ProgramQ&A with Chad Dailey

Page 6UMES CheerleadersMEAC’s Best

Page 7Artist ReceptionKatsucon

Page 8Calendar of EventsDinner Theatre Date SetMother Daughter Banquet

THEA newslet ter for UNIVERSITY of MARYLAND EASTERN SHOREstudents , facul ty, s taf f, a lumni and fr iends

COMMUNICATION IS

March 9, 2012

Page 4-5HomecomingINSIDE

Photo by Jim Glovier

will serve the university, our system and our state extremely well in theyears ahead.”

Bell has 20 years of higher education experience, spanning teaching,research and administration. As Central State University’s academic chiefsince August 2009, she oversees the academic agenda, including improvingstudent performance, developing new programs and enhancing academicexcellence.

She restructured Central’s academic colleges to create a College ofScience and Engineering, developed a designated academic unit to supportretention efforts targeting freshmen and transfer students, oversawimplementation of the university’s first online courses and enhancedinternational education programming.

Before joining Central State, Bell was interim provost and vicechancellor for academic affairs at Winston-Salem State University. During asix-month assignment, she secured an endowed professorship in physicaltherapy as well as implemented an academic program review.

“As an academic leader, (Dr. Bell) has increased student retention andgraduation rates and promoted academic excellence across disciplines,”Kirwan said. “As an accomplished scholar and scientist, she has theexperience needed to further align UMES’ academic, research, and

in with members of theUMES Gospel Choir inan a capella version of"Stoned Soul Picnic."

McCoo said theirtrip to Maryland'sEastern Shore is a first.But the couple, whohave been married for40 years, are longtimesupporters of theUnited Negro CollegeFund, an organizationof private, historicallyblack colleges and

Dr. Juliette B. Bell appointed president of University of Maryland Eastern ShoreBell is accomplished academic leader and biochemist

Celebrities earn honorary degrees from UMESStudents work at annual fundraiser for scholarship fund

BELL / continued on page 6

CELEBRITIES / continued on page 6

Blood DriveResidence Life Hosts Students

Marilyn McCoo Billy Davis Jr.Tippi HedrenLarry KingS. Epatha Merkerson

2 C I R C L I N G T H E O V A LUNIVERSITY of MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

The Key / March 9,, 2012

Allen Wronowski, the 37th president of the PGA ofAmerica, visited the University of Maryland EasternShore Feb. 21 to meet with students enrolled in theProfessional Golf Management program.

Wronowski, who is the PGA director of golf atHillendale Country Club in Phoenix, Md., nearCockeysville in Baltimore County, observed a class taughtby Chris Prosser and later met with all 46 PGM majors.

Director Billy Dillon says the program is onschedule to produce its first class of graduates thisDecember. He characterized Wronowski’s visit as anhonor for the fledgling academic program. “We werereally excited to have him come see us and talk with ourstudents,” Dillon said.

UMES is among an elite group of 20 colleges and

National golf leader calls on PGM studentsuniversities authorized by the PGA to offer anundergraduate degree that combines instruction inthe hospitality industry as well as the sport of golf.UMES’ PGM program is the only one of its kind at ahistorically black institution.

Wronowski also spoke with a reporter from TheDaily Times about a PGA initiative to attract moreyoung people to the game.

“I love seeing the future of the PGA of America,”he told the newspaper. “… being around the kids andbeing able to share some of my 37 years of experience… hearing their thoughts, their optimistic hopes forthe future, their concerns.”

Wronowski has held the president's post sinceNovember 2010.Allen Wronowski

A home-grown celebrity made a difference atUMES the week leading up to the 2012 Gala.

The Department of English and ModernLanguages launched its first lecture-performance with a featured

artist-in-residence, UMES alumnaStarletta DuPois.

DuPois sang with

theUMESGospel Choirand performedexcerpts from her one-woman show, “Order MySteps,” a series of vignettesfeaturing African-Americanwomen across several generations– including some inspired by familymembers.

She finished off the 75-minute program at the StudentServices Center Theatre with abrief lecture offering words ofadvice and inspiration to thegathering of 100 students,faculty and staff.

Senior Amber Russell, an English major from Chicago,said DuPois’ performance and message were “inspirational.Her message reached me. ‘Keep pushing forward. Don’t giveup.’ It’s good advice.”

DuPois, a veteran of the stage and screen, said she isenergized by the opportunity to work withundergraduates at her alma mater and to convey theimportance of determination and hard work,DuPois said.

“People are not going to hand

success toyou,” she said.

“You have to work forit. Being good at something is

often not good enough. You have to bethe best.”Freshman criminal justice major Eboni

Brown of Baltimore said the characters that DuPoisportrayed demonstrated “strength grows fromstruggles. It was a very powerful message. I’m glad Icame.”

DuPois, one of the university's most ardentsupporters, returned to Princess Anne forhomecoming festivities. She lent her expertise as aguest lecturer by speaking to fine arts classesthroughout the week and mentored students—working closely with Dr. Della Dameron-Johnson.

UMES alumna lends expertise to students

Photo by Jim Glovier

The Richard A. Henson Honors Program and the NASA Wallops FlightFacility recently hosted a speed networking event in recognition of BlackHistory and Engineering months.

Some 25 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)students and faculty from the university and NASA engineers participated.The event provided “a tremendous opportunity for our students and facultyto learn about internships and collaborative projects that could expand ourprofessional networks within the local STEM workforce,” said DeniseMeade, director of the Honors Program at UMES.

Students were divided into sessions based on their major to meet one-on-one with NASA project managers to discuss future workforce needs andresearch projects.

"Events like this allow us to form collaborative relationships withstudents and faculty at UMES,” said Brenda Dingwall, NASA equalopportunity manager at Wallops. “It is our hope that these relationships willlead to an increase in internships and projects for the students.”

A new program—Conversation Partners—was introduced in the ForeignLanguage Instructional Center (FLIC) in February, which happened to beDiscover Languages Month.

A “conversation partner” is a native speaker who meets with studentsoutside of class, Tammy Gharbi, acting program coordinator for FLIC, said.“They discuss a variety of everyday topics, giving the student time to practicetheir language skills and learn more of the culture.”

The program began this semester for students in Chinese 101/102 andArabic 101/102. Students meet with their conversation partner a minimum ofone hour each week, Gharbi said. Plans are underway to add more languagesto the program.

FLIC is more than a state-of-the-art classroom, Gharbi said. “It’s aprogram that supports foreign language instruction in a number of ways. TheConversation Partner program is one more opportunity for UMES to use itsTitle III resources to give students an advantage when it comes to developinglanguage proficiency and cultural awareness.”

FLIC is part of the Department of English and Modern Languages.

3U M E S P E O P L EUNIVERSITY of MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

The Key / March 9,, 2012

NASA and UMES expose STEM studentsto opportunities

FLIC conversation partners enhance learning

NASA Wallops Flight Facility Director Bill Wrobel meets with ShanyceStewart, a sophomore from UMES majoring in electrical engineering.

Chang Liu Aweng Parek

Q&A with PGA Golf Management major Chad DaileyChad Dailey is a 34-year-old senior from Salisbury, Md.

Dailey, a PGA Golf Management major, has recently accepteda position as an assistant professional at the Bay Club inBerlin, Md.

Why were you interested in the PGA program?I was looking for a new career after I had retired from

the Maryland State Police. I heard about the program andimmediately enrolled.

How long have you been interested in golf?I have loved playing golf since I was 14-years-old.

How does it feel to be one of the first graduates of the PGAprogram?

I can't wait to walk across the stage and start my new career in the golf

industry as a PGA professional. It has been an unbelievableexperience—a long journey going back to college with 20-year-olds!

What advice do you have for future PGA students? Take each semester one at a time. I was able to do it whileworking full time and being a husband and father of twochildren. So if I can do it with all the extra responsibility, ayoung motivated individual should have no problem.

What have you learned from this program? I have learned a lot from Chris Prosser and our program director BillyDillon, and I still have a lot of learning to do after I graduate. This programwould not be where it is today if it wasn't for the efforts of these two PGAprofessionals. Their dedication and the knowledge they bring to theclassroom has been a valuable learning experience.

UNIVERSITY of MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE UNIVERSITY of MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

H O M E C O M I N G 2 0 1 2 54 The Key / March 9,, 2012 The Key / March 9,, 2012

A group of UMES students celebrate a friend’s birthday at thehomecoming concert. Photo by Alverne Chesterfield

One of this year’s Grammy nominees for Best New Artist, J Cole,performs as the headliner at the homecoming concert. Photo by Alverne Chesterfield

Students of the Human Ecology Club strutt down the UMES catwalkduring the fashion show—another homecoming tradition. Photo by Alverne Chesterfield

The UMES cheerleaders are all smiles despite bitter temperatures at thehomecoming parade. Photo by Alverne Chesterfield

A step-dancing team shows its stuff at one of the popular events forhomecoming—the step show. Photo by Jim Glovier

UMES’ dance troupe, The Diamonds, pave the way for the Thunderin’Hawks pep band during the annual homecoming parade.Photo by Jim Glovier

Look closely and you might see the VP’s and Dr. Neufville join studentsand alumni in “The Wobble” at the pep rally. Photo by Jim Glovier

UMES alumna and actress Starletta DuPois (center) joins fellow alumni insome of the “Old School” chants.

Showing their “Hawk Swag” at the pep rally are UMES’ vice presidentswith the Interim President Dr. Mortimer Neufville. Pictured from left, are:Dr. Ronald Forsythe, Gains Hawkins, Dr. Ronnie Holden, Neufville andDr. Anthony Jenkins.

UMES’ Royal Court glides down Somerset Avenue in Princes Anne.Photo by Alverne Chesterfield

6 A T H L E T I C SUNIVERSITY of MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

The Key / March 9,, 2012

HAWK TALKUMES cheerleaders are among MEAC's best in 2012

Senior Adrian Gibbs is the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's bestcheerleader and helped the University of Maryland Eastern Shore squadwin top Co-Ed Division honors Sunday in the 2012 MEAC CheerleadingChampionship.

Those achievements propelled the Hawk cheerleaders into asecond-place finish in the overall performance category behind MorganState University.

The cheerleading championship was the opening event at thisweek's 2012 MEAC Basketball Tournament held at the Joel Coliseum inWinston-Salem, N.C.

According to MEAC championship organizers, the Lady Bearscaptured first-place "overall performance" honors for the secondconsecutive year. Howard University finished third in overall teamperformance. Morgan State, with 10 seniors, also won in the All-GirlsDivision.

UMES' win in the Co-Ed Division was a first for the university. SouthCarolina State earned the silver and Florida A&M finished in third.

Gibbs, a 23-year-old exercise science major, won the individualgold in the All-Star Division, while Morgan State's Amanda Ross wassecond and Carmen Blunt of Hampton was third.

“This team has come a long way” Gibbs said. “I've never been ona team that worked so hard and deserved this more.”

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

1st place: Morgan State University

2nd place: UMES

3rd place: Howard University

CO-ED DIVISION

1st place: UMES

2nd place: S.C. State University

3rd place: Florida A&M University

ALL-STAR DIVISION

1st place: Adrian Gibbs, UMES

2nd place: Amanda Ross, Morgan State University

3rd place: Carmen Blunt, Hampton University

outreach activities with the workforce and economicdevelopment needs of the Eastern Shore and the state,especially in the science, technology, engineering andmathematics fields.”

Kirwan noted Bell is also a successful grants writer andfundraiser who “brings expertise in attracting outsideresources and developing partnerships that are so critical,especially during these difficult economic times.”

An Alabama native, Bell was the first in her family toattend college, earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry fromTalladega College. Her Ph.D. in chemistry with a biochemistryconcentration is from Atlanta University (now Clark-AtlantaUniversity) and she did post-doctorate work in biochemistryat the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“I look forward to working closely with faculty, staff,students, alumni and the Board of Visitors; the greatercommunity of business and government leaders; theUniversity System of Maryland administration and colleagues;and the entire state to continue building upon the tremendous125-year legacy of UMES,” Bell said.

Dr. Mortimer Neufville has served as interim presidentand will continue in that position until Bell joins UMES in July.

“We are grateful to Dr. Neufville for his excellent serviceduring this period,” Kirwan said. “Under his capableleadership, UMES has continued to move forward.”

BELL / continued from cover CELEBRITIES / continued from cover

universities. UMES is a public historically black university."It is an honor to have been chosen to receive an honorary doctorate degree,"

McCoo said. "I am impressed with the history of the university. We have been involvedwith UNCF since the 5th Dimension years. I know UMES is a public university, but weappreciate what (HBCUs) stand for."

McCoo and Davis received (honorary) Doctor of Humane Letters degrees, as didactress S. Epatha Merkerson, known for her role as Lt. Anita Van Buren on TV's "Law &Order," and former CNN host Larry King.

Actress Tippi Hedren, known for her roles in two Alfred Hitchcock films, "TheBirds" and "Marnie," was awarded the honorary Doctor of Public Service degree for herlongtime commitment to humanitarian, environmental and animal conservation causes.

This year's event — which had the theme of "Lights, Camera, Action!"— involvedabout 200 students working before and during the event, which raised money for theuniversity's scholarship fund.

Guests at the gala munched on 13 different hors d'oeuvres during the cocktail hourand placed bids on silent auction items.

Dinner in the Student Services Center ballroom included cream of collard soup,champagne lobster salad, mushroom-stuffed filet mignon with a curried seafood cupand corn pudding, blackberry-lemon tart with raspberry sauce and wine.

All of the food was prepared by students in the Department of Hotel and RestaurantManagement. Other students, such as the members of the Drama Society, gave musicaland theatrical performances. Honors Program members were on hand to greet guestsand work at the auctions.

This article originally appeared in The Daily Times, a corporate sponsor of the 2012 UMES celebrity Gala, and isreproduced with permission

7S C H O O L N E W SUNIVERSITY of MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

The Key / March 9,, 2012

Artists Nina Buxenbaum and ZoeCharlton of the “Fair and Lovely” exhibit inthe Mosely Gallery mingled with universitysupporters, alumni, students and faculty at areception during UMES’ Homecoming 2012festivities. The artwork was also fitting forthe observation of Black History Month.

Buxenbaum and Charlton, African-American artists, both address questions ofidentity, femininity and race in the exhibit ondisplay through March 15.

Buxenbaum, who idenifies herself as bi-racial, explores race and personal identity inher images of a “topsy-turvey” doll. Charltonexamines interpretations of beauty and skincolor in her sketches of fashion plateswithout faces or exposed skin in the series“We’ll have a black one one day.”

UMES’ sequential arts students showcased their talents and networked at theKatsucon 18, a fan convention for the latest in comic book art and animation, held atPrince George’s County’s National Harbor.

The Feb. 17-19 event was a two-year dream that came to fruition for the talentedartists in the popular UMES program.

“Katsucon is an epic anime/manga convention,” said Brad Hudson, an instructor inthe university’s Department of Fine Arts and catalyst for the concentration. “Theconvention is wildly popular and competition for space in the Artist’s Alley is great.”

Hudson said the convention was the first of its kind that his “animated troop ofbudding sequential artists” have participated in. They normally attend western/Americancomic book conventions, but he wanted to “meet the demand and interests of thestudents.”

Students worked diligently to promote the university and the department, Hudsonsaid. They also sold their own works and made connections with other artists andprofessionals within the field.

Hudson and the sequential art students are preparing for the upcoming summer convention circuit, includingappearances at Wizard World Philly, the Baltimore Comic-Con and the New York Comic-Con.

UMES’ Office of Residence Life and Life Skills Academy team members recentlyhosted students and staff from Worcester County's “Helping Empower Youth” (HEY)program. The high school students toured the campus and listened to motivationalspeeches on the importance of a college education, honing life skills and setting goals.HEY committee members include members of Worcester County’s Youth Consortium andthe Sand Castles Runaway and Homeless Youth Program.

Artist Nina Buxenbaum discusses herpainting “The Real Me?” withChristopher Harrington, interim chair ofthe Department of Fine Arts at UMES.

Members of the Princess Anne Chapter of the LINKS(from left) Sharone Grant, Tselate Talley and DianeMitchell greet artist Zoe Charlton (second from left). TheLINKS sponsored the “Meet the Artist” reception for theBlack History Month-Homecoming exhibition.

Harley Quinn, the Joker’sgirlfriend, poses with BradHudson, instructor in UMES’Department of Fine Arts, at the2012 Katsucon.

Residence Lifepresenters, CliftonHarcum, LaritaHugee and AyannaTilghman (top rowpictured from left)are pictured withstudents and stafffrom the HEYprogram.

Codjo Gbedo, ajunior from NewCarrollton, Md.,donated blood onValentine’s Day inconjunction witha Kappa AlphaPsi communityservice project.The Blood Bankof Delmarva,which partneredwith thefraternity,reported that itcollected 43 pintsof blood from theUMEScommunity.

Earnest Browningworks on a piece ofsequential art at theUMES display at theKatsucon’s ArtistAlley.

Artists mingle at Mosely Gallery reception

Residence Life hosts studentsCampus community donates blood to drive

Sequential arts students exhibit at convention

*Unless stipulated, allevents listed are FREE &OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

For Athletics, visitwww.umeshawks.com

The KEY is published by theOffice of Public Relations inthe Division of InstitutionalAdvancement. 410-651-7580410-651-7914 faxwww.umes.edu

EditorsGains B. Hawkins, VicePresident for InstitutionalAdvancement

William Robinson, Directorof Public Relations

Gail Stephens, AssistantDirector of PublicRelations

Ashley Collier, PublicRelations Assistant

Design by Debi Rus, Rus Design, Inc.

Printed by The Hawk Copy Center

Submissions to The KEYare preferred via email.All copy is subject toediting.

The KEY is deliveredthrough campus mail.Call 410-651-7580 torequest additionalcopies.

The Key is writtenaccording to theAssociated Press stylebook.

& EntertainmentSPRING 2012 CALENDARArts

8 The Key / March 9,, 2012

UMES Dinner Theatre

“Do You Remember?”

A musical revue of Dinner Theatreperformances from 2000 to 2011

Tickets on sale soon!

28* Jazz Ensemble Concert7 p.m. Ella Fitzgerald Center for the Performing Arts“Guest instrumentalist Duane Eubanks”$7 general, $5 seniors, $3 students with ID410-651-6571

29 Opening Reception 4-6 p.m. Mosely Gallery “Fine Arts Student Show” Exhibition of student art on display through April 12Gallery hours: Mon. through Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 410-651-7770

APRIL1 Concert Choir Concert

4 p.m. Ella Fitzgerald Center for the Performing Arts410-651-6571

14* Military Recognition Dinner6 p.m. Student Services Center Ballroom “Duty, Honor and Country”$45 per person, $500 per table of 10 • 410-651-6277Proceeds benefit Silver Star Scholarship Fund

MARCH

19-21* Dinner TheatreAdvanced tickets required • 410-651-6230

19 Art Exhibit thru 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon. - Fri., Mosely Gallery 5/17 “Graduating Senior Show” • 410-651-7770

22 Honors Band and Choir Concert4 p.m. Ella Fitzgerald Center for the Performing Arts410-651-6571

24 Jazz Combo and Chamber Concert7 p.m. Ella Fitzgerald Center for the Performing Arts410-651-6571

26* Imani Winds Concert7 p.m. Ella Fitzgerald Center for the Performing ArtsThe five-member guest instrumental group will also hold a master class at 11 a.m.$7 general, $5 seniors, $3 students with ID410-651-6571

SAVE THE DATE

April 19-21