ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. (Sept. 24, 2008)—The St. Mary's College of Maryland Center for the Study of Democracy will host former Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening on Friday, Sept. 26. Gov. Glendening will give a lecture at 4:30 p.m. in Goodpaster Hall Seminar Room 195 entitled "The Bay, the River and Smart Growth." It is co-sponsored with the college's Environmental Studies Program, and is free and open to the public.
"Environmental issues continue to be central to both local and state governments as they strive to balance the growth and jobs with our quality of life and good stewardship of land and water," said Michael Cain, director of the Center for the Study of Democracy and a professor of political science and chairman of the political science department. "Regardless of your views about politics, Gov. Glendening has a strong voice on environmental issues. I know our students will find his views exciting."
Glendening was governor of Maryland from 1995 to 2003. He is a strong advocate for environmental issues concerning the Chesapeake Bay and a critic of overdevelopment of rural areas. He is also committed to educational issues. During his second term as governor, Glendening authorized the Maryland Heritage Project, the largest capital project in the history of the college and Historic St. Mary's City.
Glendening began public service in 1973 as a city councilman in Hyattsville, Maryland. In 1974, he was elected to the Prince George's County Council and twice served as council chair. In 1982, he began his three terms as county executive of Prince George's County. He started his career as a professor at the University of Maryland College Park, where he taught government and politics for 27 years and co-authored the text book, Pragmatic Federalism, an Intergovernmental View of American Government. He received a doctorate in political science and urban administration from Florida State University in 1967.
The Center for the Study of Democracy is a joint initiative of St. Mary's College of Maryland and its affiliated institution, Historic St. Mary's City. It explores contemporary and historical issues associated with democracy and liberty in national and international contexts. The center provides a forum for presentations by government officials, journalists and scholars; publishes scholarly writing on subjects of civil governance; encourages and supports public participation in political processes; and engages undergraduate studies in study and research on related subjects.