Convocation Shines a Spotlight on Collaboration and Service

The annual George Washington Birthday Convocation honoring staff, faculty, alumni, and community members whose dedicated efforts have benefited the Washington College and Chestertown communities was held Friday, Feb. 23. This year’s event was especially notable as the Washington College community cheered on the announcement of a newly endowed chair in History.

Keynote speaker Caryn York ‘06 told the audience that a lifetime of service is instilled in all who learn and work at Washington College. Since graduating, York has gone on to serve in state government in Maryland, become the first Black woman to lead both Baltimore’s Job Opportunities Task Force and New York City’s Women’s Prison Association, and is currently serving as the President and CEO of City Corps/Baltimore Corps, a nonprofit organization that connects mission-driven BIPOC professionals with career opportunities in social innovation and impact. 

Barbara Townsend Cromwell ’55 Chair in History

Convocation was the setting for the announcement of a newly endowed chair – the Barbara Townsend Cromwell ’55 Chair in History. The endowment totals $2 million. Cromwell, along with her late husband George Cromwell ’53, has expressed steadfast devotion to her alma mater through service as well as philanthropy, including the building of Cromwell Hall, which opened in Fall 2016 and houses the Departments of Anthropology and Environmental Science and Studies. It’s also home to the Barbara and George Cromwell Center for Teaching and Learning, which supports faculty innovations through talks, workshops, and grants. 

The first holder of the Barbara Townsend Cromwell ’55 Chair in History will be Associate Professor of History Clayton Black, who has been with Washington College for over 27 years. Black, whose research focuses largely on Russia of the 1920s, has provided active service to the College community—participating in Middle States self-studies, giving unyielding support to students, and aiding in the tenure and promotion process. The Chair position will allow Black to reach more students, sparking fascination with history and how it informs our present.

Convocation Awards: Collaboration, Service, Innovation

Whether the President’s Medal, the Joseph L. Holt Distinguished Service Award, the Alumni Service Award, or the Cromwell Award for Innovation in Teaching, the award winners were recognized for some traits universally: collaboration, innovation, and a penchant for tireless service.

The first award, the Cromwell Award for Innovation in Teaching, was awarded to two recipients this year – Sara Clarke-De Reza, associate professor and chair of education, and Meghan Grosse, assistant professor and chair of communication and media studies. Together, the duo created a qualitative research methods course that bridges the social sciences. The initial offering of the course brought students together with faculty across campus, students and community historians to examine civic engagement at the College and helped identify ways to improve that work. Clarke-De Reza and Grosse were also recognized for engaging students in collecting resources using a hashtag syllabus assignment.

“This use of technology in teaching,” noted President Mike Sosulski, “underscores our dedication to innovative and collaboration in support of student success.” 

A trio of awardees were honored with the Joseph L. Holt Distinguished Service Award, which, as Chair of the Board of Visitors and Governors Stephen T. Golding ’72 noted, “honors those who have devoted themselves to serving the broader community, students and environment, as well as showing service and humility that supports our values while providing leadership.” 

They include Patrick Nugent, the Thomas V. Mike Miller director for civic engagement; Victor Sensenig, chief of staff and vice president for planning and policy; and Janet Thompson, who has worked in Washington College’s dining services for nearly two decades. 

“Dr. Nugent models truly collaborative and civically minded work”, said Sosulski, noting Nugent often draws people together and connects resources while always empowering others.

Sensenig, an ever-present fixture around campus, is “constantly involved in cheering on our students and community,” the President noted, “even when he is dealing with thorny administrative issues.”

The final Holt award recipient has served “quietly and humbly with genuine care and connection” as she works with her team to bring nourishment and comradery to students and the larger College community, noted Sosulski. 

The Alumni Board honored two College alumni with the Alumni Service Award. Long-time supporter of the College Glen Beebe ‘81 was lauded for his personal involvement on leadership committees, association with the student body (his daughter is currently class of ‘26), and engagement of fellow alumni. Beebe has made a gift to Washington College for 38 of the last 41 years and was the principal donor to an endowment fund supporting the Earth and Planetary Science minor. 

Lindsay Kreig Cram ‘00 was the other Alumni Service Award recipient. The last 20 years have seen her tireless dedication to Washington, fundraising for the Maloney scholarship and planning events around the $1 million Hutton grant. She has also served as the vice chair for communications and marketing for the Drama Alumni board for nearly a decade. 

Two President’s Medals were awarded this year. The first was received by Robbi Behr and Matthew Swanson, who were honored for their Busload of Books nationwide tour and the research project that they’ve partnered with education department faculty and students to conduct.

"Busload of Books is truly a civic project, national in conception, carried out one school and one young reader at a time," Sosulski said. "Through their advocacy work, Behr and Swanson have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering a love for literature and art among the youth, enriching the educational and artistic fabric of our town."

Additionally, Truman Semans was honored for his more than 35 years of tireless work to expand the offerings, and teaching and research of Washington College. Chief among his efforts, Semans helped to raise more than $10 million to fund the construction of the Semans-Griswold Environmental Hall.  

"Semans is exemplary in his example of service to his fellow human beings, to our community, this nation and our world," Sosulski said. "He truly personifies the words citizen leader. But what his resume cannot reflect is that Semans is a gift to those who have the pleasure of knowing him. He is humble, kind, intelligent and has lived a life defined by service to others."

 
— Dominique Ellis Falcon