INTENTIONAL Life AFULL AND - St. Mary's College of Maryland
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Non-profit Org.
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Leonardtown, MD
WINTER 2021
A FULL AND
INTENTIONAL
Life
Calendar of Events
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE
of Maryland Center for the Study of Healthy St. Mary’s Neuroscience Seminar Series The Mark Twain Lecture Series
Democracy & The Patuxent Partnership Webinar #4 With Joaquin Lugo With Janelle James
Partnership Host a Lecture by COVID-19 and E-Cigarettes: February 19 @ 3:00 p.m. April 10 @ 7:30 p.m.
Kerry Fosher Learn How to Stop Both
February 3 @ 12:00 p.m. February 12 @ 4:30 p.m. An Evening to Honor the Psychology Lecture Series
Registration required Legacy of Lucille Clifton With Maneeza Dawood
Healthy St. Mary’s With Li Young Lee and April 14 @ 4:45 p.m.
Partnership Webinar #3 VALUMtine’s Virtual 5K Leah Naomi Green
COVID-19 and E-Cigarettes: February 12-15 March 1 @ 7:00 p.m. Awards Convocation
Learn How to Stop Both www.smcm.edu/alumni April 16
February 5 @ 4:30 p.m. Neuroscience Seminar Series
Registration required Museum Studies Speaker With Dan Kircher ’10 Commencement, Class of 2021
Roundtable March 15 @ 4:45 p.m. May 8
WI NT ER 2 0 2 1 , VOL . X L II, NO . 1 Center for the Study of “Communities of Care”
Democracy & The Patuxent February 18 @ 4:00 p.m. Bay to Bay Service Days Commencement, Class of 2020
www.smcm.edu/mulberrytree Partnership Host a Lecture by Throughout the month of April May 15
Major General Bolden, Ret. VOICES Reading Series www.smcm.edu/alumni
Editor February 10 @ 1:00 p.m. Performance Artist
Lee Capristo
José Torres-Tama VOICES Reading Series
Design February 18 @ 8:15 p.m. 50 Years of Poetry at SMCM
Jensen Design Hosted by Michael Glaser
Editorial Board April 1 @ 8:15 p.m.
Karen Anderson, Michael Bruckler,
Lee Capristo, Molly McKee-Seabrook ’10,
Gus Mohlhenrich, Karen Raley ’94,
Lauren Taylor ’14
Publisher
Office of Institutional Advancement
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
47645 College Drive
St. Mary’s City, Maryland 20686
The Mulberry Tree is published by St. Mary’s
College of Maryland, Maryland’s public hon-
ors college for the liberal arts and sciences. It is
produced for alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, the
local community, and friends of the College.
The magazine is named for the famous
mulberry tree under which the Calvert colonists
signed a treaty of friendship with the Yaocomico
people and on the trunk of which public notices
were posted in the mid-1600s. The tree endured
long into the 19th century and was once a popular
meeting spot for St. Mary’s College students.
The illustration of the mulberry tree on the
cover was drawn in 1972 by Earl Hofmann,
artist-in-residence when St. Mary’s College Pres-
ident Renwick Jackson launched the magazine.
Copyright 2021
The opinions expressed in The Mulberry Tree
are those of the individual authors and not
necessarily those of the College. The editor
reserves the right to select and edit all material.
Manuscripts and letters to the editor are en-
couraged and may be addressed to Editor, The
Mulberry Tree, St. Mary’s College of Maryland,
47645 College Drive, St. Mary’s City, MD 20686.
Photographs and illustrations may not be
reproduced without the express written consent
of St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
For registration and information on these and other upcoming events, visit www.smcm.edu
and click on EVENTS. Events are subject to change.
TX_8794D08A9F8C
REFORESTED IN UNITED STATES
St. Mary’s College of Maryland has offset 6,905
pounds of paper used to produce this issue by
planting 83 trees in the U.S.
CONTENTS
WINTER 2021
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND
July 2020 — June 2021 F E AT U R E S
ALUMNI COUNCIL BOARD OF TRUSTEES PA G E 8
Executive Board Chair A Full and
Intentional Life
Alice Arcieri Bonner ’03, Arthur “Lex” Birney Jr.
president
Kate Fritz ’04, exec. vice Vice Chair
president Susan Dyer Nezia Munezero Kubwayo ’08 spent
Bobby Rudd ’13, vice pres.
of operations
Treasurer years of her childhood in refugee camps
Angie Stocksdale Harvey ’83, John Chambers
Wobensmith ’93 in war-torn East Africa. Now she is a
secretary
Thomas Brewer ’05, Secretary PhD candidate in conflict analysis
parliamentarian
Geoff Cuneo ’10, treasurer
Lawrence and resolution.
“Larry” E. Leak ’76
Michele Everett Shipley ’92, [ PA G E 8 ]
vice pres. of chapter activities Trustees PA G E 1 2
Nicolas Abrams ’99
Elected Voting Members
John Ahearn ’76
Carlos Alcazar
Anirban Basu
Project Parenting
Jack Blum ’07
John Bell ’95 Laraine Glidden’s longitudinal
Paul Broccolina ’00
Alice Arcieri Bonner ’03
Kelsey Bush ’94 research on families raising children
Alumni Association
Sean Floyd ’06
Hans Lemke ’93
Fatima Bouzid ’22 with intellectual and developmental
Student Trustee
Molly McKee-Seabrook ’10 disabilities spanned two decades and
Peter Bruns
Kate Monahan ’12
Lauren Payne ’09
Donny Bryan ’73 influenced scores of SMCM students in
Paula Collins
Amir Reda ’11
Mike Dougherty (HSMC) their own careers.
Kevin Roth ’93
Peg Duchesne ’77
Paul Schultheis ’98
Judith Fillius ’79 PA G E 1 6
Sara Kidd Shanklin ’11
Elizabeth Graves ’95
Segal Makes the Call
Edward Sirianno ’82
Gail Harmon, Esq. [ PA G E 1 2 ]
Student Member The Honorable
Vacant Sven Erik Holmes How does one go from English major
Regional Chapter The Honorable
Steny H. Hoyer to umpire for Major League Baseball?
Presidents & Affinity
Network Chairs Captain Glen Ives, Chris Segal ’05 shares his journey.
Annapolis: USN Retired
Erin O’Connell ’91 Doug Mayer ’04
William Seale DEPAR T MEN T S
Baltimore:
Marie Snyder ’10 Danielle Troyan ’92
Black Alumni: Harry Weitzel 2 President’s Letter
Janssen Evelyn ’01 Raymond Wernecke
Boston:
3 College News
Eunice Aikins-Afful ’95 20 Alumni Connection
California Bay Area:
Megan Brown Vilson ’07 PRESIDENT 28 From the Archives
Chicago Region: Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
Katie Tinder ’13 on the cover: Nezia Munezero Kubwayo ’08
Denver Regional: [ PA G E 1 6 ] photo by david sinclair.
Alisa Ambrose ’85
New York City Regional:
John Haltiwanger ’10
Philadelphia Regional:
Ian Murphy ’08
Southern Maryland:
Cathy Hernandez Ray ’77
TFMS Alumni:
Tammy Swanson ’93
O P P O S I T E : Winter
walk outside Kent Hall..
Washington, D.C. Metro:
photo from the college collection.
Rosa Trembour Goodman ’11
Western Maryland:
Vacant
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | winter 2021 | 1
A L ET T E R F ROM T HE PR E SIDE N T
W
hile I welcome the arrival of 2021 with good riddance to 2020
Editor’s Note
R
and all of its challenges, I remain grateful for the truly committed
community effort that allowed us to open in the fall and remain open by ecently I read the memoirs
of Hannah Breece, a school
staying safe during this global pandemic. That commitment and vigilance must and will teacher and pioneer in old Alaska
continue in 2021. from 1904 – 1918. This remarkable inde-
pendent woman also set broken bones,
COVID-19 is one of many issues colleges and universities are facing. Others include outsmarted bears and wild dogs, endured
bitter cold and government bureaucracy.
grappling with declines in state funding, adapting to significant demographic shifts
Nezia Munezero Kubwayo ’08, fled war-
in our nation, and responding to pressure related to the cost of higher education. The torn countries to save her life twice before
Board of Trustees and I regularly assess these issues, partnering with faculty and staff turning 10 years old. This was in the 1990s.
Now she’s pursuing a PhD in conflict analy-
on solutions to enhance our educational mission and ensure St. Mary’s College remains sis and resolution.
a successful and financially viable institution. Most of us don’t have a story like Hannah’s
or Nezia’s, but we all share in the human
For the last four years, we have been engaged in the critically important effort of experience. As we develop into our unique
planning and envisioning new, sustainable and exciting opportunities for our future. selves, we are shaped, nurtured, repelled,
influenced by the forces around us.
This essential endeavor included my creation, beginning in summer 2019, of a series
What students do in their college years is
of task forces. The overarching goal of work undertaken by the task forces is to ensure
formative: working with and learning from
St. Mary’s College has a relevant and sustainable liberal arts and sciences curriculum professors like Laraine Glidden; refining
for the future. Thus far, the work has led to four new majors being under development ways to express themselves (as Nezia did, in
French); persisting when the road is long,
– neuroscience, marine science, applied data science and business administration – as as in the journey by Chris Segal ’05 to the
well as the development and implementation of a new track and field program and a Major Leagues. When time puts distance
and allows reflection on the experience, it
plan to have a pep band. is often with gratitude that a former student
remembers those who believed in their
Additionally, task force work has included a careful review of current program offerings. potential before they themselves did (like
In February, the Board of Trustees will vote on recommendations on the best program Quentin Hillsman ’93).
array for St. Mary’s College to position us for growth and continued excellence. The Olivia Sothoron ’21, who for two years
has interned with the Office of Integrated
recommendations will reflect a focus on the future – what curricular offerings are right Marketing, graduates this May. She’s just 20
for an increasingly competitive world, which make the most sense for us to undertake years old, having taken summer and winter
classes and overloaded her fall and spring
given our liberal arts and sciences focus, location and financial resources, and which are
semesters with credits to finish in three
best to help students be prepared for life beyond college. years. She has applied to the MAT program
with the plan to become a teacher. She
Here’s to good health in the new year and a resolve to move forward with gusto, doesn’t have it all figured out, but she’s fully
integrity and an unfettered commitment to 21st-century liberal arts education. engaged in the process of getting there. Isn’t
that the point?
Lee Capristo, editor
Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
President, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
2 | St. Mary’s College | T H E M U LBERRY TREE | winter 202 1
COLLEGE
NEWS
CAMPUS & COMMUNITY NEWS
Commemorative to
Enslaved Peoples of
Southern Maryland
Featured in Various
Media Outlets
St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s
Commemorative to Enslaved
Peoples of Southern Maryland and
its virtual dedication with keynote
speaker Jelani Cobb were featured
in Diverse: Issues in Higher
Education. President Tuajuanda C.
Jordan was quoted in the story,
along with Vice President for
Institutional Advancement Carolyn
Curry, Professor of Anthropology
Julia A. King, RE:site artists Shane
Allbritton and Norman Lee, and
poet Quenton Baker. President
Tuajuanda C. Jordan and the
dedication also were featured in
Essence magazine. In addition, the
Commemorative and its dedication
were featured in the Metro section
of the Washington Post, in the
Baltimore Sun and featured on air
on WETA PBS News Hour on
November 22, among other media
outlets. See collected media here:
https://www.smcm.edu/honoring-
enslaved/news-media/.
Physics Honored St. Mary’s College’s Student
Government Association (SGA)
with 2020 OSA approved a $25,000 donation
Recognition to the College’s Recovery Fund
The Department of Physics at St. that has been created to help
Mary’s College received the Diversity reduce financial burdens and
and Inclusion Advocacy Recognition obstacles facing SMCM
from the Optical Society of America students due to the COVID-19
on September 15. The physics depart- pandemic. This is the second
ment was acknowledged “for making large donation from the SGA to
long-term changes that improve the Recovery Fund. In May 2020,
diversity, equity and inclusion in its the SGA donated $50,000.
operations and culture.”
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | winter 2021 | 3
CO LLEG E NEW S
Rankings notably as deputy chief of staff to Series was launched in 2007 and
PRESIDENT’S NEWS
Roundup former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie
Rawlings-Blake. Scott Raspa ’86 is
is directed by Professor of English
Ben Click. Since then the series has
St. Mary’s College is ranked as the a retired senior IT executive whose grown to one of the largest events in
fifth best public liberal arts college career was focused in serving the Southern Maryland. Past performers
in the nation for the second year U.S. federal public sector. Most include Roy Wood Jr., Tig Notaro,
in a row in U.S. News & World recently, he was senior account The Onion’s Scott Dikkers, and W.
W S&
WO R L
D
R
Report’s “2021 Best executive at Oracle Corporation in Kamau Bell.
E
BEST Colleges.” The College also
.N
EP
COLLEGES Reston, Virginia, managing a U.S.
• U. S
ORT • U.S. N
2021 ranks 80 on USN&WR’s Air Force CRM software account. Special Education
ORT
national liberal arts colleges Ed Sirianno ’82 is executive director
Minor and MAT
LIBERAL ARTS
EP
COLLEGES
R
EW
St. Mary’s College Professor of
list, public and private (com-
S&
WO R L D
of the Buffalo Audubon Society of
pared to 92 last year) and is Buffalo, New York, after a long Certificate Spanish José R. Ballesteros has
been named director of equity pro-
E Y• M O N
named a top performer on social career in marketing communica- Program Now gramming in the recently reimag-
ON mobility, a ranking based on tions as the president of Creative Available ined Office of Inclusion, Diversity
• M O N E Y• M
EY
BEST enrolling and graduating Communication Associates and
• M O N E Y• M
St. Mary’s College now offers a and Equity now to be known as
COLLEGES large proportions of before that, as senior vice president special education minor in the the Division of Inclusive Diversity,
2020
disadvantaged students
EY
E Y• M O N
ON of the Wolf Group Integrated educational studies program. Equity, Access and Accountabil-
awarded with Pell Grants. Communications firm. These three ity: IDE(A)2. Created and named
With the special education minor,
St. Mary’s College is ranked alums replaced Foundation board by President Jordan, IDE(A)2
students will be eligible to apply
among the “Best Colleges members Tom Daugherty ’65, (pronounced IDEA2, in order to
TURED I to the SMCM Master of Arts in
EA for Your Money” by Money
2021 Brian Porto ’92 and Jack Saum Teaching program with certification highlight the second more-evolved
N
F
(#116 of 739 on the list) and ’89, all who completed their terms. iteration of or idea about inclusive
in elementary/middle school
is recognized in the 2021 diversity at St. Mary’s College)
special education (grades 1-8).
Fiske Guide to Colleges is a cross-functional division that
According to Katherine Koch,
and The Princeton Review’s provides leadership, consultation,
associate professor/associate director
“Best 386 Colleges” Guide and assistance to the College’s
of teacher education, “Students
CETON
for 2021 as well as its Top various units and constituencies in
RIN TOP R will gain a solid foundation in
50 Green Colleges list,
50
an effort to support the College in
EV
EW THE P
special education theory and
IEW HE P
and named a 2020-21 establishing a comprehensive and
practice with a special education
•T
•
GREEN
COLLEGES College of Distinction. well-coordinated set of actions that
2021 minor. Our students work closely
VI
For the third year in a row,
RI
NCE N RE
focus on fostering greater diversity,
with local K-12 schools to gain
TO
St. Mary’s College of Maryland equity, inclusivity, and accountabil-
hands-on, practical experience.”
has been listed as a Hidden Gem ity at all levels.
by CollegeRaptor.com, a higher In this new role, Ballesteros will
education planning tool that offers see that the College lives up to its
side-by-side comparisons of colleges. Twain Lecture public responsibility to create a
Series Welcomes working and academic environ-
Three Alums Jordan Klepper ment where all can prosper. To meet
Named to SMCM The Mark Twain Lecture Series this challenge, he will be part of
the IDE(A)2 division that includes
Foundation Board on American Humor and Culture
presented “Laughing to the Polls
Kelsey Bush ’94, interim diversity
Thomasina “Tomi” Hiers ’97 is officer, and Michael Dunn, assistant
with Jordan Klepper” as a virtual
vice president of the Center for Civic vice president of equity and inclu-
event on October 13. Klepper is an
Sites and Community Change at the sion. The division reports directly to
American comedian, writer, pro-
Annie E. Casey Foundation in President Tuajuanda C. Jordan.
ducer, political commentator, actor,
Baltimore, Maryland. She has
and television host. His recurring
worked for the Annie E. Casey
“Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse”
Foundation since 2016. Prior to that,
segments appear on “The Daily
she worked in government service,
Show.” The Mark Twain Lecture
4 | St. Mary’s College | T H E M U LBERRY TREE | winter 202 1
FAC U LT Y, S TA F F & S T U DE N T N E W S
“I’m excited to Charles L. Adler, professor of ence in October, a joint endeavor
join the IDE(A)2 physics, has released a new video between the Canadian Association
unit to take on the lecture series for The Great Courses, of Second Language Teachers and
challenges and titled “How Science Shapes Science the British Columbia Association
opportunities that Fiction.” The 24-lecture course of Teachers of Modern Languages.
we face as an insti- looks at dozens of books, movies, Titled, “Evolving Inclusive Practices
tution that is truly and television shows to unearth the for the (Digital) Language Class-
invested in making science behind the fiction. From the room,” Arnett’s interactive keynote
José R. Ballesteros left to right: Mertz, Neiles, Bowers
inclusion and physics of space flight and the ecol- invited participants to explore ways
equity part of the DNA that runs
ogy of exoplanets to the creation of to hone and expand their inclu- Emily Brownlee, assistant professor
through everything that we do at of biology, was recently awarded
alien languages and the paradoxes sive practices within the language
the College,” said Ballesteros. “Not a $21,840 grant from the National
of time travel, Adler uncovers the classroom. Arnett is a former high
only is it the right thing to do, it is Science Foundation for her project
ways real-world science is applied school French teacher and Ful-
the only way that we will be able to titled: “Collaborative Research
by writers and filmmakers—and bright scholar. She is the author of
honor and champion the changing FSML: PhytoChop: An Estua-
considers what they might alter “Languages for All: How to Support
demographics in higher education rine Phytoplankton Observatory.”
and meet our state-given responsi- or leave out for the sake of a good and Challenge Students in a Second
plot. Adler is also the author of the Language Classroom” (Pearson Brownlee will be responsible for
bilities as a public institution.” setting up and analyzing instrumen-
Ballesteros has been a faculty critically acclaimed science fiction Education Canada, 2013) and, with
book, “Wizards, Aliens, and Star- co-author Renée Bourgoin, “Access tation data, and will help curate and
member within the College’s
ships: Physics and Math in Fantasy for Success: Making Inclusion Work expand the imaging library.
Department of International
Languages and Cultures since 2002. and Science Fiction” (Princeton for Language Learners” (Pearson
Univ. Press, 2014). In 2015, it was a Education Canada, 2018). Tristan Cai, assistant professor of
He co-created and was an associ-
photography, along with Brooke
ate director of the DeSousa-Brent
Program. The program’s retention Assistant Professor Geoff Bowers, Lamplough ’19 and Cecelia
and graduation rates for students Professor Pam Mertz, and Marquez ’18, were included in
from underrepresented populations Associate Professor Kelly Neiles the exhibition “New Photography
earned it a permanent funding from the Department of Chemistry II” at the Academy Art Museum
grant from the State of Maryland and Biochemistry led a workshop in Easton, Maryland. The national
in 2019. on November 6 at the AACU 2020 juried exhibition ran from August
Ballesteros is a contributing Virtual Conference on Transform- 1- October 7, 2020. Artworks were
poetry editor for the Library of ing STEM Education. The title of selected by Philip Brookman, con-
Congress’s “Handbook of Latin the workshop was “Build the sulting curator from the department
American Studies” and the co- Framework to Streamline Assess- of photographs, National Gallery
author of the Spanish literature ment: Scaffold Skills and Assess of Art in Washington, D.C. The
textbook “Voces de España.” He with Signature Assignments” and co-organizer of this exhibition was
co-winner of the Science Writing
is a published translator and the focused on the work the depart- SMCM alumnus Conner Dorbin
Award for Books from the American
owner and editor of the literary ment has done to create a mean- ’18, who was recently appointed
Institute of Physics, and it made ingful assessment plan as part of
press Zozobra Publishing, the curatorial assistant at the Academy
several lists of notable science books, the CUR Transformations Project
premier publisher of regional Latinx Art Museum.
including that of The Guardian. (NSF-DUE 1625354). Workshop
poets. His own poetry has been
Adler is currently co-writing a book participants were led through the
anthologized and appears in various Jeffrey Coleman, professor of
on the science of Leonardo da Vinci process of creating program
journals in the U.S. He is the author English, read three original poems
with Matthew Landrus from the learning outcomes (PLOs) based
of the book of poems “Lovedust” relating to the Black Lives Matter
University of Oxford. on desired student skills and
(Izote Press). Ballesteros has a PhD movement and discussed poems
from the University of Kansas. designing signature assignments to
Katy Arnett, professor of educa- from his edited anthology, “Words
assess multiple PLOs. A longitudi-
tional studies, delivered the opening nal assessment rubric used by the of Protest, Words of Freedom:
keynote for the (virtual) 2020 Lan- department, the Megalorubric, was Poetry of the American Civil Rights
guages Without Borders confer- also introduced. Movement and Era,” during an
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | winter 2021 | 5
C OLLE G E NEW S
audio interview for the Poet and Her session is titled “Embracing
the Poem Series, sponsored by the Disruption” and examines the im-
Library of Congress. The interview pact of disruptions on one’s work/
was conducted by Poet Laureate of home lives, relationships, well-be-
Maryland Grace Cavalieri. Cole- ing, and provide tips on seeing the
man also spoke of his role with the positive side of disruption, including
Journal of Hip Hop Studies. growth mindset, the value of self-
care, and how to use professional
Karen Crawford, professor of and personal networks.
biology, had a photo she took of Susan Goldstine, professor of
gene-edited cephalopod embryos mathematics, gave an invited pre- Argelia Gonzalez Hurtado, assis- “(I am) Not an Iron,” from Hall of Portraits
selected by Nature as one of the sentation on January 21, 2021 for the tant professor of Spanish and Latin from The History of Machines, 59” x 42”,
top 10 scientific images of 2020. Gathering 4 Gardner Foundation. American studies, has recently acrylic painting over print on canvas, 2019)
The photograph was taken during Her talk, titled “Maps of Strange published the peer-reviewed article
summer 2019 while Crawford was a Worlds: Beyond the Four-Color “Narrating the Indigenous Diaspora Sue Johnson, professor of art, ex-
Whitman Fellow on a team at Ma- Theorem” featured a selection of through Yolanda Cruz’s Lens” in hibited her work in a solo exhibition
rine Biological Laboratory in Woods her mathematical artworks along Vistas al Patio, a journal in the area titled, “Hall of Portraits from The
Hole, Massachusetts. She was first with their theoretical and historical of Humanities from The University History of Machines,” at VisArts
author of a milestone study reported context. Goldstine’s artworks have of Cartagena, Colombia. Gibbs Street Gallery in Rockville,
in the July 30, 2020, issue of Current appeared in mathematical art ex- Maryland, from Sept. 11 – Jan. 3,
Biology. hibits for the past decade. Together The American Physical Society 2021. The Washington Post’s Mark
with computer scientist and artist (APS) has selected Josh Grossman, Jenkins highlighted Johnson’s exhi-
Ellie Baker, she is coauthor of the professor of physics, to chair its bition in a review on Dec. 25, 2020.
2014 book “Crafting Conundrums: Committee on Education in 2021. Johnson also taught a virtual art
Puzzles and Patterns for the Bead Grossman has served on the workshop for VisArts, titled “The
Crochet Artist,” which collects their committee since the start of 2019. Surrealist Sketchbook.” Johnson
extensive research on mathematical Previously, Grossman served on also has work exhibited in a solo
bead crochet. and chaired the APS Committee exhibition at the Virginia Museum
on Membership. of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia,
KAREN CRAWFORD
The Association of College and through February 7, 2021.
University Housing Officers – In- Associate Professors of Com-
ternational (ACUHO-I) recognized puter Science Alan Jamieson and Julia A. King, professor of anthro-
Joanne Goldwater, associate dean Lindsay Jamieson received the pology, was recently awarded a
David Froom, professor of music, for retention and student success, Best Faculty Poster Award at the $110,000 grant from the National
had two works for flute published in and Brad Newkirk ’04, direc- 2020 Consortium for Computing Park Service to fund a complete
a new anthology by the American tor of the physical plant, in their Sciences in Colleges Eastern Region archaeological overview and assess-
Composers Alliance. “To Dance ACUHO-I Heroes program. Ac- Conference held virtually October ment of Piscataway Park in Prince
to the Whistling Wind” (1993) cording to its website, the ACUHO- 23-24. Their poster “Computational George’s County, Maryland. This
and “Ribbons” (2016) have been I Heroes program was created to Thinking for Computer Science project will be conducted through a
widely performed. Froom’s “Vio- recognize individuals who have Majors: An Introduction to CS Cooperative Agreement under the
lincelletude” was included in the displayed leadership within their Education Career Pathways” fo- Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative
California Music Center’s online organizations and the profession as cused on a pilot course to introduce Ecosystems Study Unit. The project
program to celebrate the Klein a whole, gone above and beyond computer science education path- is expected to be completed by
International String Competition their traditional scope of work to ways for computer science majors December 31, 2021. Piscataway Park
laureates. Additionally, the Uni- ensure the health and safety of and had the students in the course is a unit of the National Park Service
versity of Utah School of Music’s their communities, and tirelessly implementing lesson plans at the administered by National Capital
New Music Ensemble released a advocated for their community Chesapeake Public Charter School. Parks—East. The park is located in
live-stream performance of Froom’s members. Goldwater will also be a This work was supported through a Southern Maryland along the banks
“Yeats Songs.” co-presenter at the NASPA National grant from the Maryland Center for of the Potomac River. Situated
Virtual Conference in March 2021. Computing Education. approximately 25 miles downriver
6 | St. Mary’s College | T H E M U LBERRY TREE | winter 202 1
from Washington D.C., lands within open access data sets to support Pamela Mertz, professor of bio- Department of Political Science
the park were home to the Potomac remote learning in the neurology chemistry, was elected to a three- at St. Mary’s College presented a
Valley’s indigenous inhabitants for and biology classrooms. She is year term as chair of the American virtual roundtable and discussion of
thousands of years—dating as far concerned about increasing the Society for Biochemistry and Mo- Professor of Political Science
back as 6,000 years ago and through accessibility gap already present lecular Biology (ASBMB) Student
the 1500s. Among the occupants to minority and other underrep- Chapters Steering Committee; a Sahar Shafqat’s “Pakistan’s
were the Piscataway Indians of resented groups for STEM fields. subcommittee of the ASBMB Edu- Political Parties: Surviving between
Southern Maryland whose ancestors Lachney also published an essay in cational and Professional Develop- Dictatorship and Democracy”
still live nearby today. Neuroscience Letters titled, “Acute ment Committee. ASBMB Student (Georgetown University Press)
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin Chapters is a national community of published on November 18. Profes-
Ellen Kohl, assistant professor of Exposure in Adult Mice Does Not undergraduate students and faculty sor Shafqat and co-authors Mariam
environmental studies, recently Alter the Morphology or Inflamma- members promoting the advance- Mufti, assistant professor of political
partnered with Ridge Elementary tory Response of Cortical Microglia.” ment of biochemistry and molecular science at the University of Waterloo,
School to secure a $5,000 Chesa- biology research, education, and and Niloufer Siddiqui, assistant
peake Land Trust grant to imple- Research in African Literatures, science outreach. Mertz previ- professor of political science at the
ment an outdoor a peer-reviewed academic journal, ously served as a southeast regional Rockefeller College of Public Affairs
classroom at has published an article by As- director for Student Chapters from and Policy at University at Albany,
the elementary sistant Professor of French George 2013-2020. State University of New York, dis-
school in Ridge, MacLeod, titled “Jacqueline cussed this one-of-a-kind resource
Maryland. The Kalimunda’s Interactive Love Jeffrey Silberschlag, professor for diplomats, policymakers, jour-
grant and plans Stories: Transmedia Documentary of music, presented a recital and nalists, and scholars searching for a
for the outdoor in Present-Day Rwanda.” It looks at master class during the international comprehensive overview of Paki-
classroom were an ambitious transmedia documen- trumpet conference, The Brazilian stan’s party system and its unlikely
developed as a partnership between tary project by the France-based Association of Trumpeters (ABT), survival against an interventionist
students in her “ENST 490: Envi- Rwandan filmmaker Jacqueline November 3-8, in Brazil. Silber- military, with insights that extend far
ronmental Keystone Seminar” and Kalimunda, the first of its kind by a schlag previously beyond the region.
students and staff at Ridge Elemen- Rwandan filmmaker. The article is introduced mas-
tary School. Kohl also wrote an based on MacLeod’s presentation ter classes and Professor of Psychology Libby Nutt
article, “Some We’s Weren’t Part of at a 2017 Conference at the Univer- served as prin- Williams and alumni Margaret
We: Intersectional Politics of Belong- sity of Bristol (UK) sponsored by cipal trumpet at (Meg) Marcelli ’17, Benjamin
ing in U.S. Environmental Justice an interdisciplinary grant-funded Kyoto University (Ben) Ertman ’18 and Kelly Cullo-
Activism,” that was published in the initiative entitled “Popular Print and of Performing ta ’18 recently published an article
journal Gender, Place & Culture: A Reading Cultures in Francophone Arts (Japan), in the journal Adoption Quarterly.
Journal of Feminist Geography. Africa,” which has worked with Prague Conservatory (Czech Re- The article, “The Impact of Racial-
scholars in the United Kingdom, public), London Royal Academy of Ethnic Socialization Practices on
Dave Kung, professor of mathemat- France, and West Africa to preserve Music (United Kingdom), Beijing International Transracial Adoptee
ics, is a 2021 recipient of the Math- African cultural production through Central Conservatory (China), Identity Development” is based
ematical Association of America’s digitization and public exhibitions. Aosta Institute of Music (Italy), and on Marcelli’s SMP which was a
Deborah and Franklin Tepper the Cleveland Institute of Music qualitative study that explored adop-
Haimo Award. The award honors James Mantell, associate profes- Orchestra (USA). Silberschlag has tees’ perspectives on their parents’
professors who have been extraordi- sor of psychology and Rachel recorded as trumpet soloist with socialization strategies and the effect
narily successful and whose teaching Steelman ’21 presented at the 61st The London Symphony Orchestra, of those practices on their sense of
effectiveness has been shown to Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, identity and ability to manage future
have had influence beyond their Society in November. Their virtual Warsaw Philharmonic, Czech Radio challenges, such as racial discrimi-
own classrooms. presentation examined whether lin- Orchestra, Italian National nation. Marcelli was scheduled to
guistic labels associated with visual Symphony RAI-Torino, Seattle present the research at the Annual
Sarah Latchney, assistant professor experiences can affect psychological Symphony, and The Maryland Meeting of the National Association
of biology and neurobiology, was processing of auditory information. Bach Aria Group. The Center for of Social Workers Conference in
interviewed by the Allen Institute the Study of Democracy and the June 2020, but the conference was
because she is using the institute’s canceled due to COVID-19.
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | winter 2021 | 7
A FULL AND
INTENTIONAL
Life
Nezia Munezero Kubwayo’s journey to America included two stays in
different refugee camps, including one in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) and one in Tanzania. Her parents are from Burundi, East
Africa, but they fled independently in 1972 to escape the acts of genocide
that targeted the majority ethnic group, the Hutus. Both of her parents
settled in Rwanda where they met, married, and started a family. Nezia
lived with her parents and seven siblings in Rilima, a small town about
an hour from the capital city of Kigali. Her father was a teacher in
Rilima. In April 1994, Nezia’s family was forced suddenly to flee their
home without her father, who was in Kigali that day. After months of
traveling by foot, Nezia, her mother, and her siblings were reunited with
their father near the Rwanda-DRC border.
The childhood refugee experience of Nezia Munezero Kubwayo ’08 (excerpted above) was published in the
College’s River Gazette (Vol. 6, No. 4, September 2006) in a feature written by Parker Bennett Gueye ’06.
8 | St. Mary’s College | T H E M U LBERRY TREE | winter 2021“Even before I experienced
war myself, which happened
when I was only 8, I was
already aware that empathy
and compassion are crucial
in any community.”
Nezia Munezero Kubwayo ’08
DAVID SINCLAIR
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | winter 2021 | 9PHOTO BY HOLYZINER
left to right: Nathan, Nezia, Carl, Jean Calmère and Naima Kubwayo in Burundi.
In the DRC (which was actually Zaire in 1994), Nezia and her In March, 2002, the family arrived in Baltimore through the U.S.
family lived in the Kagunga Refugee Camp. After a few weeks, the Refugee Resettlement Program. Their new home presented difficul-
United Nations arrived at the camp to provide food and tents. Her ties making friends due to the cold weather preventing neighbors
family turned their tent into a more stable shelter, by adding onto from coming outside, as well as the language barriers. When she
the tent with cut trees and mud bricks. Nezia and her family spent enrolled in Southwestern High School, Nezia spoke French, Kirundi,
two years in the DRC, and the camp turned into a community, fea- Kinyarwanda, and Swahili, but not English. Fortunately, family
turing a school, water pumps, and security. friends and teachers worked hard to make the transition easier on
In 1996, Nezia’s family fled the DRC due to civil war in the na- Nezia and her family. After only two years in America, Nezia enrolled
tion. On their journey to Tanzania, her parents became separated at St. Mary’s College, where she majored in French and political sci-
from their children while buying food. The family was reunited af- ence. After graduating from St. Mary’s College, Nezia received her
ter a few weeks, and they moved to the Muyovozi Refugee Camp in master’s degree in international human rights law from The Ameri-
Tanzania where they lived for the next six years. While in Tanzania, can University in Cairo. After leaving Cairo in 2009, she visited Bu-
Nezia completed grades three through eight. Her father helped to rundi for the first time. It was there that she met her husband, Jean
organize a primary school at the camp and worked for the camp’s Calmère Kubwayo. They have three children (Carl, Nathan and
field office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Naima, ages 8, 5 and 4, respectively). She is currently working to-
This helped the family to begin the application process to move to wards earning her doctorate degree in conflict analysis and resolu-
the United States. tion at Nova Southeastern University Halmos College of Arts and
Sciences. She has worked as a public and community relations offi-
cer for Ethiopian Community Development Council Inc., a writer
for USAHello, the director of philanthropy at Shepherd’s Clinic, the
owner of MK Editorial Services, and a news writer for Pollack Peace-
building Systems.
10 | St. Mary’s College | T H E MU LBERRY TREE | winter 202 1A FULL AND INTENTIONAL LIFE
Q: How did your experience at The American international level. The team of volunteers in the U.S. and Burundi
University in Cairo shape your goals and raised enough funds to support the education of about a dozen
aspirations? students, three of whom were at the college level.
A: As a student at SMCM, I discovered my love of travel. I studied Q: How does your writing allow you to
abroad in Alba, Italy, as a junior and again in Bordeaux, France, share your story with the world and your
during my senior year. I was very eager to learn about the workings hopes for the future?
of the international human rights and humanitarian systems. My
A: I feel that my writing is among the central features of who I am
experience in Cairo introduced me to a world in which theory and
now. It allows me to share stories that inspire others to pursue inner
practice merge. I was learning about the development of human
peace and joy in their lives. I believe in the power of words, and I use
rights and humanitarian conventions in the classroom while work-
them to impact positive change wherever I can. Writing also declut-
ing with organizations that implemented them.
ters my mind, bringing me the serenity I need in order to live a
Q: In your four years as the founding happy life. Professionally, I have used writing as a philanthropic tool
executive director of the Burundi Fund for throughout my career so far. The end goal is always to do my part in
Hope and Restoration Inc., what did the improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities.
organization accomplish? Q: How has your past shaped your present?
A: The Burundi Fund for Hope and Restoration (BFHR) was es- In other words, what about your past
tablished to provide educational support for repatriated Burundian pushed you to pursue post-graduate degrees
refugee youth. In many ways, the project was experimental and your work post-SMCM?
as I was unfamiliar with the nonprofit world, especially on an
A: Even before I experienced war myself, which happened when
I was only 8, I was already aware that empathy and compassion
are crucial in any community. Having lived in refugee camps where
everyone depended on the kindness of others left me with a desire
to serve. My experiences growing up taught me the art/science of
“Nezia took a number of French self-awareness and resilience, which now serves me personally
classes with me, all of which had and professionally.
substantial reading and writing
assignments in French. These Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
classes were a linguistic home A: My mission in life has always been to help people in whatever
for her. In them, she continued capacity I can. In 10 years, I hope to be helping communities and
to develop skills in French in nations identify strategies to live cohesively and peacefully together.
synthesis, analysis, evaluation and Q: What is your hope for your children?
writing. A writer needs the same How has your life impacted your wishes for
habits of mind – diligence, careful their success?
thought and attention to detail – A: My hope is that our three children – ages 8, 5, and 4 – will
in French and English. Students have the emotional intelligence they need to live full and intentional
often do not believe me when I tell lives. They have the opportunities I needed as a child, and we take
them that being a good writer in advantage of that as much as possible. At the end of the day, I hope
French will carry over into their they will define their own success and pursue it with the same level
writing in English – until it begins of commitment, determination, and passion that my husband and
I have tried to exemplify for them.
to happen.”
LAINE DOGGETT, professor of French
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | winter 2021 | 11PROJECT
PARENTING
The Composition of a Lifetime, Orchestrated by Laraine Glidden
BY LEE CAPRISTO, EDITOR
Laraine Glidden’s professional career has spanned
50 years. Though she officially retired in 2012, she’s
barely slowed down. This past fall she completed a
four-year editing project of a two-volume, 1,117-page
reference work, “APA Handbook of Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities” (American Psychological
Association, December 2020). Of that experience,
Glidden admits that her love of learning and
her love of writing and editing, combined with
“dedication, determination and patience” helped her move the project to the
finish line. She has plenty of prior editing experience: she edited “Formed
Families: Adoption of Children with Handicaps” (Haworth Press Inc., 1990);
“Autism” (Academic Press, 2001); and from 1997-2009, she edited 16 volumes
of “International Review of Research in Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities” (Academic Press/Elsevier).
12 | St. Mary’s College | T H E MU LBERRY TREE | winter 2021Glidden was St. Mary’s College’s first lies who adopt [youngsters with retardation]
recipient (in 1989) of the Norton T. Dodge find it a rewarding experience. To many
Award for Scholarly and Creative Achieve- people that conclusion will still be hard
ment. Over her career, she has been recog- to comprehend. This book will help them
nized with local, state and national awards, to understand better why that conclusion
including The Arc Distinguished Research should not be surprising.”
Award in 2008, appointment as a Global Glidden’s first sabbatical from St. Mary’s
Scholar by Special Olympics International College was spent in London, England, in
in 2011, and in 2015, the Edgar A. Doll Award 1982-83. It was here that she first interviewed
from the American Psychological Asso- families raising children with IDD. Build-
ciation for career research achievements in ing on that research and data, she wrote her
intellectual and developmental disabilities book, “Parents for Children, Children for
(IDD). In 2020, Glidden received the Presi- Parents” and applied for grant funding.
dential Award from the American Associa- Once funded, her work for Project Par-
tion of Intellectual and Developmental Dis- enting started by reaching out to adoption
abilities for her outstanding contributions agencies to gain access to families who had
to the field and record of scholarship. adopted children with IDD. With each
It is for her two decades of longitudinal re- family, Glidden asked for referrals to other
search in “Project Parenting” that Glidden families, and the number of families and
is best known. This grant-funded research her data set began to grow. Her second sab-
began with a three-year National Institute batical was spent at UC-Berkeley in 1990-
of Child Health and Human Development 91; there she added California families to
(now the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD) her research. Early interviews were done in
grant in 1987, and continued through re- person or by mail; later interviews by email
newals and supplemental grants from and by video. To help with the workload,
NICHD, as well as SMCM faculty develop- she hired and trained SMCM undergradu-
ment grants, through 2006. The research ates as research assistants to help manage
focused on the positive adjustment made the interviews and oversee data compilation.
by families rearing children with IDD, in- The scope of the data collection allowed
cluding those families who knowingly adopt an unprecedented study of personality as
them, and are prepared for a child with spe- an important predictor of parental adjust-
cial needs. In the 1980s, there was linger- ment and that general good mental health
ing stigma, left over from previous decades, and emotional stability benefited parents as
that raising a child with IDD was, overall, a their children with IDD grew to adulthood.
negative experience. Glidden’s work helped Glidden also mentored undergraduate
to change that and provided the research to students wanting to help with the research,
prove that the large differences in depression teaching them how to compile, sort, analyze
and subjective well-being between adoptive and write about the data. Over the lifespan
and birth parents at the initial diagnosis of Project Parenting, more than 100 students
declined over time, such that most parents, were involved and several dozen wrote or co-
regardless of how the child entered the fam- wrote articles and presented posters and
ily, had adapted quite well. In the foreword talks at national conferences. Glidden’s 19-
of Glidden’s book, “Parents for Children, page CV includes more than 100 articles, pa-
Children for Parents: The Adoption Alter- pers and book chapters written with students
native” (AAMR Monographs, 1989), Sey- during Project Parenting. Many found the
mour Sarason (eminent researcher in the experience to be career-defining and pur-
field of psychology and IDD) wrote: “There sued advanced degrees in psychology them-
can no longer be any doubt that most fami- selves (see sidebar on the following page).
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | winter 2021 | 13“Laraine is the consummate researcher and always
included undergraduates in the work. She created teams
ALUMNI OF
of students, those with more experience on the project PROJECT
serving as mentors for those just joining the team.
Laraine worked side-by-side with them, modeling both PARENTING
the specific research techniques and the critical thinking
skills important to being a scientist.”
Jennifer Willoughby ’92, earned her
Wes Jordan, professor emeritus of neurosciences and psychology
PhD in clinical child and pediatric psychol-
ogy at University of Miami. She has worked
For grant-funded research, annual reports persisted for another five years with publica- in private practice as a licensed psychologist
on that research are a routine requirement tions often co-authored by Glidden and for- for many years and since 2005, has been the
and publications are expected. “Because mer undergraduate, now graduate stu- owner of Psychological Services Center LLC
it takes time to set up a project like this dents. This work was supported by faculty in Leonardtown, Maryland.
one, recruit subjects, collect data, analyze development grants from SMCM.
data, begin to discern patterns, write ar- Glidden’s research and sample size of “I worked on Project Parenting as a
ticles, submit articles, revise articles, and 249 families living in more than 30 states research assistant until I graduated
wait in the queue for actual publication, and in several countries outside the U.S., from SMCM in 1992. After gradu-
most publications have a several-year lag,” followed over 20 years, remain unique in ation, I took a gap year, and Lara-
Glidden explains. “Conference presenta- their methodology and scope. “I have been ine hired me as a fulltime research
tions, however, show that you are active, asked multiple times for my data set, or a coordinator for Project Parenting
and help to get your research out into the portion of my data set, by other research- for that year. With the help of stu-
community. I and my students [did] a lot ers who are compiling summary articles,” dent research assistants, I oversaw
of that.” By “a lot” Glidden means more says Glidden. data collection and maintained
than 150 invited conference presentations In 2021, she will finish a writing project correspondence and follow-up with
and papers shared by her and her students she started 15 years ago during sabbatical study participants. During all of
and research assistants on the findings of at Georgetown University. The subject of that time, Laraine mentored me and
the Project Parenting research. her research is American artist Joseph helped me conduct my own research
Data continued to be collected through Cornell, best known for his avant-garde project, which I believe was instru-
2011, at which time the sample had grown style and boxed collages. Glidden’s in- mental in my getting into graduate
substantially smaller. Some parents and terest in Cornell, apart from his creative school.”
adult children had died; others could no work, is that after his parents died, Cornell
longer be located. Glidden knew that the became the sole caretaker of his younger
Brigid Cahill ’94 completed her PhD at
time was right to end Project Parenting. brother, who had cerebral palsy and a
University of South Carolina in clinical-com-
But writing about the research and findings mild intellectual disability.
munity psychology in 2002. She has worked
at University of Rochester for many years, di-
recting training programs for graduate and
post-graduate students learning to work in
college mental health. Since 2018, Cahill has
been the director of the university’s counsel-
ing center.
left to right: Michael Rozalski, Brigid Cahill, Mike Kiphart, Leslie Tucker, Jennifer Willoughby, Mark Clayton,
Allisen Hayworth, with Laraine Glidden outside her house in early 1990s.
14 | St. Mary’s College | T H E MU LBERRY TREE | winter 202 1“Laraine approached me when I was Brian Jobe ’03 earned his PhD in clini-
taking a class with her and asked cal psychology from University of Maryland
me to join her group. I remember Baltimore County. He is associate director
initially organizing research litera- of the Child and Family Therapy Clinic at
ture and doing lots of data entry Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore,
and data cleaning. I eventually Maryland.
worked on my own project within
Project Parenting, comparing the “I first became involved with Project
adjustment of parents of children Parenting in July 2003 after gradu-
with Down Syndrome vs. other ating from SMCM with a degree in
disabilities by matching families psychology. The work was incred-
to compensate for sampling biases ibly collaborative and helped me to
in previous research. Being able to increase my knowledge and confi-
clockwise from bottom left: Glidden, Brian Jobe,
present at national conferences as dence in the work of psychology. Amanda Lamont Link ’05, Deirdre Bulger
an undergrad in 1994 and pub- I remained with Project Parenting
lishing work as a first and second for two years before pursuing my
Deirdre Bulger ’04 completed a master’s
author in peer reviewed journals PhD in clinical psychology. Without
degree in leadership studies and organi-
(in 1996 and 1998) from work I a doubt, Project Parenting prepared
zational development from Fresno Pacific
did as an undergrad was a great me for graduate school and made
University. She has worked in the nonprofit
experience and I’m sure helped my me a highly qualified applicant.
environment in quality assurance and be-
applications for graduate school. Dr. Glidden and I continued to col-
havioral support and was SMCM’s director
Laraine was incredibly generous laborate on research projects, and
of disability support services before transi-
with her time and support, keeping together we presented 14 research
tioning to federal work in source selection for
us all engaged at every step of the posters, published 5 articles, and
contracts with AbilityOne (the nation’s larg-
research process.” two book chapters. One of my
est employer of persons with disabilities).
favorite things that I learned from
Dr. Glidden was her dedication to
Michael Rozalski ’94 earned his master’s “After I graduated, Laraine hired me
training and mentoring. Project
and PhD at University of South Carolina, as the project manager for
Parenting provided initial research
focusing on special education. He is asso- Project Parenting. I have always
experience for many undergraduate
ciate professor of special education at State had a natural passion for persons
students at SMCM. This is some-
University of New York at Geneseo in the with disabilities. I had a natural
thing that I have continued at KKI,
Ella Cline Shear School of Education. rapport with families and helped
serving as the co-director of our
complete many of the surveys, as
undergraduate internship program
“Laraine was, and continues to be, well as do videotaping. I was able
for the Child and Family Therapy
an inspiration. I learned so much to participate in research ques-
Clinic. The best part is that the
more from Project Parenting than tions and statistical analysis of the
process comes full-circle as I have
any other course I took. When work- responses as well as presenting
been able to have several SMCM
ing with my current students, I con- during developmental disability
undergraduate students complete
stantly push them to get involved in symposiums. Most of my career has
summer internships with us.”
research projects with professors. been spent utilizing or advocating
Project Parenting is some of the for evidence-based practices within
best research that addresses parent education, developmental plans and
and family dynamics for students policy and that was reinforced as a
with intellectual disabilities.” foundation during my time with
Project Parenting.”
St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | winter 2021 | 15SEGAL MAKES
THE CALL
By Olivia Sothoron ’21,
English major and
intern for the Office of
Integrated Marketing
PHOTO: SCOTT KANE
16 | St. Mary’s College | T H E MU LBERRY TREE | winter 2021St. Mary’s College | THE MULB ER RY TR EE | winter 2021 | 17
SEGAL MAKES THE CALL
In February 2020, Chris Segal ’05 received the call St. Mary’s College prepared Segal for the
arduous training which came with becoming
that all aspiring professional umpires dream of receiv- a professional umpire. Segal explained that
his time at St. Mary’s College allowed him to
ing: he was offered a position as a full-time umpire for better adapt to life on the road during train-
ing. “A large portion of working with base-
the MLB. Wrapping up his first season as a full-time ball is working with people,” he remarked,
and he credits those skills to his time at St.
umpire, Segal’s years of training and experience have Mary’s College. Segal mentioned that the
training is not as bad as many make it out
prepared him to call games at the highest level, pro- to be, but there were definitely times when
viding him with the opportunity to visit ballparks all it was difficult. He also explained that it was
challenging to see his friends from St. Mary’s
across the country and meet some incredible people. College starting jobs, getting married and
starting families while he continued to pur-
sue a career that did not assure a payoff at the
Segal began umpiring when he was in high tion during his first semester at St. Mary’s end. He joked that the process of becoming a
school as a job to make some extra cash and College. “Though he never took another class professional umpire is “an American Idol of
be around the game he loved. The last game with me, I was his academic adviser, and umpires,” for so many people are eliminated
in his high school career ended in controversy so I had the pleasure of watching his abili- and very few make it to the final rounds.
when another umpire intentionally missed ties evolve and grow across his entire college However, for Segal, the training paid off, and
a call, preventing the game from heading career,” she noted. “Even back then, Chris he noted that “for all of the downsides, there
into extra innings. It was this moment, Segal knew he wanted baseball to be a central part were a lot of positives along the way.”
explained, that made him seriously consider of his life, whether that was as a player, a “The hardest part of this job is confidence,”
pursuing a career as an umpire. He remarked, sports writer, or – as it turned out – a profes- Segal says. “People are going to yell at you
“I said at that moment that I wanted to be- sional umpire. I couldn’t be more proud of no matter what you say. Even if you’re right,
come an umpire because I could do a better his achievements, and I am confident that people are going to yell at you.” The main
job than some of the other umpires out there, he is among the best-read and most clever expectation of the umpire is to maintain
which is ironically a way that some umpire umpires out there.” control of the game. “If you start doubting
organizations try to recruit new umpires.”
Bursting onto the baseball field at St. Mary’s Photo from Derek Jeter Day at Yankee Stadium courtesy of Chris Segal
College, Segal wrapped up his freshman
season by being named Rookie of the Year
for the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC).
During his time in a Seahawk uniform,
Segal helped his team advance to the second
(2004), third (2003, 2005), and fourth (2002)
rounds of the CAC playoffs. Segal, who
caught and played outfield for the Seahawks,
graduated in 2005 before attending school
to become a professional umpire.
During his time at St. Mary’s College,
Segal studied English and was an advisee of
Professor Jennifer Cognard-Black. She noted
that as she was adjusting to her new life as a
professor, Segal was adjusting to life as a col-
lege student. The only class that Segal took
with Cognard-Black was English Composi-
18 | St. Mary’s College | T H E MU LBERRY TREE | winter 2021You can also read
