Census Data Workshop, Sept. 25
CSM Hosts Census Bureau Specialist for Hands-on Training
The College of Southern Maryland’s Planning, Institutional Effectiveness and Research Department (PIR) will host Nesreen Khashan, data dissemination specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, from 9 a.m. to noon, Sept. 25, for a hands-on workshop. The workshop will be held at the La Plata Campus, Francis P. Chiaramonte, MD Center for Science and Technology, ST Building, Room ST-129, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata.
Khashan will provide training to some of the data-access tools available on the Census Bureau’s website, including a web application that allows users to track migration flows to and from their county. This application provides annual estimates on various community indicators, including race and ethnicity compositions, median income, educational attainment and average home ownership.
“These are powerful tools used in planning for and adjusting to the needs of students and community members in an increasingly globalized world,” said PIR Associate Vice President Kelly McMurray.
A limited number of spaces are available for the workshop. To register, contact McMurray at kmcmurray [at] csmd.edu or 301-934-7624.
'Untold Stories of the Civil War' Explore Human Side, Sept. 9
Civil War Roundtable Hosts Nationally Acclaimed Historian Dr. James I. Robertson Jr.
The Southern Maryland Civil War Roundtable (SMCWR) will host a presentation by Civil War author Dr. James I. Robertson Jr. on “The Untold Stories of the Civil War: Exploring the Human Side of the War,” based on his latest book by the same name. The presentation will be at 7 p.m., Sept. 9 at the College of Southern Maryland’s (CSM) Center for Business and Industry (BI), Chaney Enterprises Conference Room BI-113, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. There will be a book signing at 6:15 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by the Southern Maryland Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association.
“Dr. Robertson is one of the country’s most distinguished professors of Civil War history and we are fortunate to have him join us at the roundtable’s first meeting of the new lecture series,” said SMCWR President Dr. Brad Gottfried, president of CSM.
Robertson, a Danville, Virginia native, is a nationally acclaimed teacher and lecturer, and has written or edited two dozen books on the Civil War era. His award-winning biography of Stonewall Jackson won eight national awards and was used as the base for the Ted Turner/Warner Brothers movie, “Gods and Generals.” Robertson was chief historical consultant for the film.
Early in his career, Robertson was appointed executive of the U.S. Civil War Centennial Commission by President Kennedy. He is an alumni distinguished professor emeritus of history at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he taught for 40 years. His Civil War Era courses at the university attracted 300 students per semester.
Robertson has written “Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Myth and the Legend,” “General A.P. Hill” and “Soldiers Blue and Gray.”
The SMCWR hosts monthly meetings, the second Tuesday of every month, September through May. For information, contact Gottfried at bgottfried [at] csmd.edu or 301-934-7625. For information on the SMCWR, visit http://www.somdcwrt.org/.
CSM Vice President Tony Jernigan to Lead MACCBO
College of Southern Maryland Vice President of Financial and Administrative Services Tony Jernigan has been selected to serve as president of the Maryland Association of Community College Business Officers (MACCBO) for 2014-15. Jernigan has served previously as the association’s vice president and secretary-treasurer.
“MACCBO is the conduit for business officers and related business professionals across the state to share best practices, innovative processes, analysis, trends and benchmarks, and serves as a collective source of advice and counsel to presidents and boards. Maryland community colleges are recognized throughout the United States as leaders in post-secondary education and I’m very honored to serve as president of MACCBO,” Jernigan said.
Jernigan brings 28 years of leadership in private and public college administration including experience in finance, budgeting, human resources, investments, facilities, strategic planning and auxiliary services to this role. A certified public accountant since 1981, Jernigan received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has completed post-baccalaureate studies at North Carolina State University and East Carolina University.
Before coming to CSM, Jernigan served as vice president of finance at Greensboro College, Greensboro, North Carolina. Prior to that, he worked at Nash Community College, Rocky Mount, for more than 20 years, serving as the chief financial and administrative officer until 2007. He has worked in the Office of the North Carolina State Auditor, as a systems accountant and a staff auditor.
Jernigan is a former member of the executive committee of the North Carolina Association of Community College Business Officials (ACCBO), serving as its president, vice president and treasurer. He also served as a finance evaluator for the Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and a representative on the Northeast Region Council of Government Economic Development Board. He is a member of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants.
Maryland community college representatives serve on affinity groups such as MACCBO to share and develop statewide initiatives. MACCBO includes business officers, procurement officers, auxiliary services officers, human resources officers, public safety officers, and risk managers.
Student Athletes Recognized for Academic Achievements
Six student-athletes at the College of Southern Maryland have been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Region XX All-Academic Team for the 2013-14 academic year.
Golfer George Bowie of Port Tobacco, volleyball libero Kimberly Brewer of Waldorf, women’s basketball forward/center Maekala Bryant of Waldorf, men’s basketball forward James Day of Mechanicsville, women’s soccer forward Kayla Ruiz of California and women’s soccer forward Laura Shaner of Leonardtown were named All-Academics.
To be eligible for this distinction, student athletes must exhibit excellence in their sport as well as maintain at least a 3.60 grade point average (GPA).
“The accomplishments of our student athletes in the classroom, in the heat of competition and in their everyday lives, speak to the character and caliber of the young men and women of CSM who participate in sports while advancing their academic pursuits,” said CSM Lead Director of Student Life and Athletics Michelle Ruble.
For more information on CSM athletics, visit http://www.csmd.edu/athletics/ .
CSM Program Helps Students Discover a Future of Possibilities
National Science Foundation Grant Provides Scholarships, Tutoring, Mentoring
Syria Wesley, 31, of Waldorf was chugging along, taking college classes when she could while working full time at a grocery store pharmacy to support herself. For years she took classes at the College of Southern Maryland that she thought would help her at work, never dreaming that she could climb to the highest level in her field.
That was then.
This fall, Wesley is part of the entering class of the Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy.
“I thought becoming a pharmacist was out of reach for me until a co-worker—a pharmacist—asked me why I wasn’t pursuing a degree. I hadn’t seen in myself what others saw in me,” said Wesley.
When Wesley spoke of her plans with her anatomy and physiology instructor, Professor Turner Coggins, she learned of a CSM program that could help her.
The STEM Scholars Program funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) is available to students majoring in a STEM field at CSM. In addition to scholarships providing funding for up to $5,000 per year based on financial need, students are enrolled in the Scholars program which provides support services to increase retention and assistance to graduates in transitioning to further education or employment.
“The scholarship allowed me to go to school full time instead of a class here or there while working full time,” said Wesley. “I used to have to prioritize between work and study—the scholarship allowed me to commit more time to study.”
During the 2013-14 academic year 30 scholarships totaling $150,000 were awarded. Along with Wesley, Reema Domadia, 19, of Waldorf, was one of the scholarship recipients.
While at North Point High School, Domadia entered the dual enrollment program at CSM. Following graduation, she transitioned to CSM full time and will have more than 50 credits when she transfers to the University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering this fall.
Although Domadia comes from a family of doctors, engineers and pharmacists, she is the first in her family to attend a U.S. college or university so the process of applying and funding school was new to her parents.
“I thought attending CSM would be a better transition into college since I am so used to the small class sizes and would leave me without student loan debt,” she said. “I was taking math, physics and engineering classes with all the same students so we formed study groups and eventually became really good friends. The ‘crew’ helped guide and motivate me and are all transferring to UMD with me.”
“The STEM Scholars program gave me ample opportunities to explore different science fields before settling on bio-engineering. It was while on a Scholars trip to [the National Institutes of Health] that I became interested in research. In addition to academics, the program developed me as a person—the professors not only motivated me but also informed me about the resources that are available to me. I learned how to conduct myself in an interview, proper etiquette and what to do in different situations. I had the opportunity to visit several colleges such as Rutgers, [University of Maryland Baltimore County] and Virginia Tech before deciding on UMD,” said Domadia.
“The STEM Scholars program has many spots that have not been filled for the 2014-15 academic year and we are accepting applications until all are filled,” said CSM Mathematics Professor and STEM Scholars Program Coordinator Sandra Poinsett.
Electronics technology, environmental technology, information services technology, biotechnology, mathematics/physical sciences, computer science and engineering are among the programs targeted by this grant.
“Built into the CSM STEM Scholars program are monthly activities where we bring in presenters from CSM and the professional community to speak on a variety of topics that will benefit students in their future academic and professional careers,” said Poinsett.
The faculty advisers for this program are Biology Professor Dr. Melanie Osterhouse at the Prince Frederick Campus, Mathematics Professor Sue Strickland at the Leonardtown Campus, and Coggins and Poinsett at the La Plata Campus.
Looking back on her experience in the CSM STEM Scholars Program, Wesley acknowledges that there were many hands that guided her toward success—two of those were Biology Professor Margaret Bolton who wrote her a letter of recommendation and Career Services Director Lisa Warren who helped her prepare for the rigorous entrance interview for the pharmacy program.
“They showed me that many successful people are anxious to help others—that all I need to do is be willing to ask for help when I need it,” Wesley said.
For information and to apply to the NSF STEM Scholars Program, visit http://www.csmd.edu/stem/scholarship_stem.html. The program is funded through 2015 and applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.