President's Letter
Category: President's Page
Dear UB Alumni and Friends,
One of the great pleasures of my job is that I am still surprised by the University of Baltimore. Halfway through my ninth year as UB president (which in itself is surprising), I’m well aware of the achievements of our students, the talents of our faculty, the dedication of our staff and the pride of our alumni in their alma mater. But just when I think I’ve seen it all, I learn of something new—which I suppose is appropriate for someone at an institution of higher learning.
This year is no exception. I’ve learned that members of our creative writing faculty have been recognized with awards that are among the most prestigious in literature. Jane Delury, assistant professor, is among the recipients of the 2011 PEN/O. Henry Prize; recent recipients include Nadine Gordimer, A.S. Byatt and Tim O’Brien. Valzhyna Mort, lecturer, won the Bess Hokin Prize for poetry; previous winners include Sylvia Plath and Robert Pinsky. These accomplishments underscore UB’s strength in areas other than its traditional fields of distinction—law, business and public affairs.
I also had the pleasure of meeting a UB undergraduate, Ty Hobson-Powell, who came to UB last summer as a transfer student from Howard University; he previously took courses at a community college and online. He will graduate in the spring with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, and then he plans to pursue law school and possibly medical school. Something else to know about him: He just turned 15. (Yes, that’s 15 years old.)
Ty’s story was so compelling that I invited him to speak at the University System of Maryland Board of Regents meeting that UB hosted in October. He was articulate and engaging, and he even admitted that his greatest challenge is procrastination.
As remarkable as Ty’s accomplishments are, his story reminds us that traditional models of education are things of the past, as increasing numbers of students will create their own educational pathways. In that sense, UB is well positioned for the future because of its history of serving students who map out individual ways to meet their educational and career goals. As our graduates can attest, a University of Baltimore classroom contains a mix of working adults, part-time students with families and—in 2010—sometimes even 15-year-olds.
A key part of UB’s future lies in our ability to envision and create what a 21st-century University must be to serve the present and future Ty Hobson-Powells—who might be any age, but who thrive in and demand an innovative educational environment that can be tailored to meet individual needs. UB provides just that kind of atmosphere, and our faculty, staff, alumni and even students are always thinking of new ways to enhance that experience. I’m looking forward to finding out what kind of new surprises are in store.
Sincerely,
Robert L. Bogomolny
President, University of Baltimore