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May 17, 2025

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7 Ed Notes

Leveraging the Power of Allyship

April 22, 2023 by Washington College News Service

When the honor society for sociology majors inducts its newest members this month, it won’t just be an event for students. Alpha Kappa Delta is using the event to bring a speaker to Washington College’s campus with a message for anyone interested in a more diverse and inclusive society, whether they are students, faculty, staff or community members.

David Smith, associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, will speak on “Leveraging the Power of Allyship” at 6:30 p.m. on April 27. Smith has co-written two books on gender in the workplace and inclusive mentoring, and his talk will address how men, and specifically white men, can be better allies for women and other marginalized populations, according to AKD advisor Erin Anderson, associate professor of sociology at Washington College.

“I thought that topic was particularly valuable right now as we’ve been undergoing the process to develop a diversity strategic plan,” Anderson said. “We’ve had a lot of attention especially with recruitment and diversifying our student body, faculty and staff. We haven’t had as much attention on the people who are already here. We can do a fantastic job of recruiting, but if we can’t create an environment that is supporting and affirming and that helps to promote the success of diverse populations, we’re not going to retain those people.”

David Smith, associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.

An alumnus of the United States Naval Academy, Smith led diverse organizations of women and men, including command of a squadron in combat. He flew more than 3,000 hours over 30 years as a Navy pilot and did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. After earning his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Maryland, College Park, Smith returned to the Naval Academy as a faculty member, going on to teach at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island before moving to Johns Hopkins in 2021.

Together with fellow Naval Academy and Johns Hopkins faculty member W. Brad Johnson, Smith wrote Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace and Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women. Under the brand Workplace Allies, the two speak and hold workshops for businesses and colleges and universities.

The talk at Washington College will be held in Hynson Lounge and is co-sponsored by Alpha Kappa Delta, the Department of Sociology, the Department of Business Management, the Gibson-Wagner Fund Psychology Department Fund, the William James Forum, the C.V. Starr Center for the American Experience, and the Office of Diversity & Inclusion.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 7 Ed Notes Tagged With: Education, local news, Washington College

Washington College Receives Teagle Foundation Grant

April 14, 2023 by Washington College News Service

Washington College has received a grant of $126,000 from The Teagle Foundation to help fund its Visions of Freedom in America program for area high-school students. The three-year grant supports weeks-long seminars on campus, with a special focus on enrolling students from under-resourced communities and will enable participants to visit key historical and cultural sites throughout three states and the District of Columbia. With this grant support, the Visions of Freedom in America program at Washington College becomes part of The Teagle Foundation’s Knowledge for Freedom network, which includes programs at Boston College, Columbia University, Dickinson College, Fordham University, Stony Brook University, Ursinus College, Villanova University, and Yale University.

Visions of Freedom in America: A Knowledge for Freedom Program is an educational and mentoring program for high-school students, primarily in Dorchester County, with historically limited opportunities to attend college. The program, co-directed by Joseph Prud’homme, director of the Institute for the Study of Religion, Politics, and Culture (IRPC) at Washington College, and Charles Lamont Pinkett, pupil personnel specialist at Dorchester County Public Schools—a leader in the county branch of the NAACP’s Maryland conference, and recipient of the Martin Luther King Image Award—explores the writings and personal leadership of seminal champions of human liberty while mentoring students for future collegiate success and opening doors to internships.

“We are grateful to The Teagle Foundation for this exciting opportunity,” said Washington College President Michael J. Sosulski. “The Visions of Freedom in America: A Knowledge for Freedom Program introduces students to great written works that have expanded freedoms and transformed our world. This experience can empower young people to assume positions of civic and community leadership.”

Anticipated to expand across the region, Visions of Freedom showcases the contributions of leading women and men in the building of a free and just society. Seizing on its notable location at the heart of the Underground Railroad on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, as well as its proximity to the cradle of American constitutionalism in Philadelphia, the seat of federal government in Washington, D.C., and the diverse communities of Baltimore, the program offers participants opportunities to connect with leaders in government, think tanks, museums, community organizations, and places of worship. They also learn from scholars at Washington College and from universities and colleges across the nation who come to campus to assist with instruction.

Last summer, Visions of Freedom students participated in a college-level seminar to discuss excerpts from Plato’s “Republic,” the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, the collected speeches of Abraham Lincoln, and the writings of Martin Luther King Jr. Guest speakers included Jahkari Taylor, African American scholar and educational reform leader; Washington College Provost Michael Harvey, an expert on leadership studies; and the head of the Kent County Maryland NAACP, the Rev. Charles Tilghman. While on campus, the students also received extensive guidance and mentoring from officers of the College’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Visions of Freedom participants continue to gather for enrichment activities after they complete the summer program. The group reassembled on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January for an instructional tour of the Maryland and Delaware segments of the Underground Railroad and other historic centers of African American culture on the Delmarva Peninsula, including the Harriett Tubman National Park and Museum and the birthplace of Frederick Douglass. They took a field trip to Washington, D.C., the following day.

“As each new group starts the program, were main in close contact with the students in previous groups as they enter the colleges of their choice,” said Prud’homme.“The overarching goal of our programming is to craft a deep and meaningful engagement with these young people, to forge a long-term mentoring relationship driven by a sincere desire to stay in touch with participants for the rest of their lives, which we strongly believe is critical to achieving the most impactful educational results.”

The IRPC at Washington College inspires young thinkers of all backgrounds to explore the first principles of a free society and the enduring value of core texts and concepts that have enriched the human experience. It is dedicated to the rigorous study of religion’s influence on American and world history and its contemporary importance for cultural and political life. The Institute also explores a range of pressing issues facing contemporary society and the enduring value of America’s founding principles.

Headquartered in New York City, The Teagle Foundation works to support and strengthen liberal arts education, which it sees as fundamental to meaningful work, effective citizenship, and a fulfilling life. The Foundation’s aim is to serve as a catalyst for the improvement of teaching and learning in the arts and sciences while addressing issues of financial sustainability and accountability in higher education.

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the nation’s first liberal arts institution and the tenth oldest college in the nation. Enrolling approximately 1,000 undergraduates from more than 35 states and a dozen nations, Washington is known for outstanding academics with an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning across more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study. The College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, writing and American history. In addition to its main campus in Chestertown, Maryland, Washington College also features a riverfront campus and a 5,000-acre river and field campus that provides unique research opportunities for students and faculty.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 7 Ed Notes Tagged With: Education, local news, Washington College

Washington College to Host Marine Archaeologist Mensun Bound

March 29, 2023 by Washington College News Service

Mensun Bound

Marine Archaeologist Mensun Bound will speak at Washington College about his role as the director of exploration on the expedition that discovered Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lost ship, Endurance, near Antarctica in 2022. He will share his firsthand account of the historic discovery during the talk, his first appearance on the East Coast since the discovery and the release of his new book, The Ship Beneath the Ice: The Discovery of Shackleton’s Endurance.

Bound’s talk will occur April 12 at 7:00 p.m. in Decker Theatre at Washington College’s Daniel Z. Gibson Center for the Arts. Guests are invited to a book signing and reception with the speaker following his talk. Copies of Bound’s new book will be available for purchase.

Known as the “Indiana Jones of the Deep,” Bound has conducted wreck surveys and excavations all over the world in a career that has spanned more than 40 years. Twelve museums around the globe hold permanent displays of artifacts raised by Bound. His work has been the focus of numerous documentaries including a four-part series by the Discovery Channel entitled Lost Ships.

In 2019, Bound stunned the world with his discovery of Admiral von Spee’s flagship, Scharnhorst, which was lost in battle during World War I. That same year, Bound was director of exploration for the first expedition to find Shackleton’s Endurance, which ended in disaster when a remote operated vehicle imploded from pressure, and the principal search vehicle, an autonomous underwater vehicle, disappeared without a trace. In 2022, the search for Shackleton’s lost ship resumed under the auspices of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust with Bound in the same role. On March 5, 2022, the Endurance was found, and as predicted by Bound, it was upright, largely intact, not embedded in the seafloor and in an excellent state of preservation.

This event is the last in the Center for Environment and Society’s winter speaker series, “A Polar Expedition with Washington College,” which spotlights experts who have made recent discoveries in the polar regions. It is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required, as seating is limited. Please visit washcoll.edu/mensun-bound for more information and to register.

This event is co-sponsored by the Rose O’Neill Literary House, the Washington College Department of Anthropology and Archaeology and the Archaeology Club of Washington College with generous support from the Phi Beta Kappa Chapter of Washington College.

Free Screening of Related Special April 5

Before Bound’s visit, the public is invited to Washington College on April 5 for a free showing of The History Channel special, “Endurance: The Hunt for Shackleton’s Ice Ship” at 2:00 p.m. in the Norman James Theatre in William Smith Hall. The show features Boundand chronicles the extraordinary conditions and efforts required of the expedition team to find the Endurance shipwreck. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.

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Filed Under: 6 Arts Notes, 7 Ed Notes Tagged With: Arts, Education, local news, Washington College

Urban Grid Sponsors Local Earth Day Festival

March 9, 2023 by Washington College News Service

Urban Grid, a utility scale renewable energy project developer, recently presented a check to sponsor Chestertown’s 2023 Earth Day Festival, a partnership between Washington College’s Center for Environment and Society and the Town of Chestertown. The town-wide festival planned for Earth Day—Saturday, April 22nd—will feature live music along the waterfront, an electric boat race on the river, vendors throughout town, food trucks, children’s activities and more.

Urban Grid’s $12,500 sponsorship will fund the Electric Boat Race stage, a highlight of the festival organized by the College’s Center for Environment & Society, bringing free, live yacht rock music to the community as spectators experience Washington College’s inaugural Electric Boat Race on the Chester River. Additionally, a portion of the company’s sponsorship will fund local green initiatives planned through the Town of Chestertown’s Environmental Committee.

Hosting an electric boat race is a first for Washington College, but the school has been participating in such events since 2017. The College’s IDEAWORKS Innovation Center hosts the Electric Boat Race Team, which brought home a first-place trophy from the Promoting Electric Propulsion Race hosted by the American Society of Naval Engineers last May. Washington College’s team competed against Old Dominion University, Princeton University and University of Kentucky, among others.

Urban Grid Earth Day sponsorship presentation

“By bringing several teams together to exhibit and compete with their electric boats, we hope to demonstrate to the public that it’s possible to work and play on our waterways without contributing harmful emissions, chancing fuel spills, or pumping oily bilge water,” said Brian Palmer, Washington College electric boat team advisor. “Urban Grid’s dedication to supporting our Earth Day eRegatta greatly amplifies the impact of our efforts.”

The College’s student team is already hard at work redesigning their race boat, so they are in a good position to compete against other schools this April. Officially sanctioned by the American Society of Naval Engineers, Washington College’s race will feature a one-mile marked rectangular course on the Chester River, beginning in front of the Hodson Boathouse. Trophies will be awarded to teams in two different categories—the quarter-mile sprint and the five-mile endurance sprint.

“I think the community is going to have a blast at this event! It’s a real treat for our Center to be able to bring the popular Richmond-based yacht rock band, Three Sheets to the Wind, here to Chestertown,” Center for Environment & Society Event and Outreach Coordinator Carolyn Fuss Thompson commented.”It’s because of Urban Grid that we were able to make this happen, and we are grateful. We hope people will throw on their boat shoes and come out for a fun dance party, helping us kick off our inaugural electric boat race!”

Earth Day Coordinator and Chestertown Environmental Committee Member Andy Goddard explained how the Urban Grid funds will help the town as well.

“The funds will be directed towards two initiatives: mosquito prevention and household composting,” Goddard said. “Additionally, we will use funds to offset costs to recycle materials that are not currently accepted at county operated locations—primarily mercury bulbs, plastic caps, and household alkaline batteries.”

About Chestertown’s Earth Day Festival

Chestertown’s 2023 Earth Day Festival is a town-wide event in its 13thyear. The 2023 festival is organized through a partnership between Washington College and the Town of Chestertown. It will feature a town-wide community trash and recycle walk, electric vehicle and bike displays, free paper shredding, free recycling of household alkaline batteries and fluorescent bulbs, food trucks, children’s activities, exhibitors from solar energy contractors, energy auditors, and conservation organizations, and more. To learn more about the festival, including the electric boat race, and stay up to date with the latest event information, visit the Washington College Center for Environment and Society News and Events Page at www.washcoll.edu/ces.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 7 Ed Notes Tagged With: Education, local news, Washington College

Washington College Launches First Eastern Shore Opinion Poll

October 26, 2022 by Washington College News Service

Washington College Assistant Professor of Political Science Flavio Rogerio Hickel Jr. will launch the Eastern Shore Opinion Poll on Friday, October 28, 2022. This non-partisan poll, which is the only outreach to specifically gauge the opinions of Eastern Shore voters, will be sent via text message to a random selection of 1,000 registered voters in Maryland’s 1st Congressional District.

The survey, which takes approximately ten minutes to complete, will ask voters their opinions about candidates running for state and federal office, the cannabis decriminalization ballot initiative and attitudes on a range of topics including abortion, education and immigration. The survey will also ask questions regarding civic engagement within the 1st District. The questions are designed to assess which branches of and levels of government Eastern Shore residents trust and their openness to engaging in civic dialogue.

In addition to understanding political attitudes among Eastern Shore voters, the poll’s sponsors, Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience and Goldstein Program in Public Affairs, look to better understand how residents engage civically through volunteer work, voter engagement, activism or philanthropy. Poll organizers believe the effort will provide reliable information regarding a range of citizen preferences to elected representatives, community leaders and the general public.

Hickel, who was recently named a 2022-23 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) Public Fellow, joined Washington College Department of Political Science in 2020. He earned his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 2016 and studies American political institutions, identity politics and public opinion. He recently presented his research on attitudes within the Latinx community at Washington College.

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the nation’s first liberal arts institution and the tenth oldest college in the nation. Enrolling approximately 1,100 undergraduates from more than 35 states and a dozen nations, Washington is known for outstanding academics with an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning across more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study. The College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, writing and the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience. In addition to its main campus in Chestertown, Maryland, Washington also features a riverfront campus and a 4,700-acre river and field campus that provides unique research opportunities for students and faculty.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 7 Ed Notes Tagged With: Education, local news, Washington College

Wye Parish, Washington College Sponsor Lecture on Colonial Religious Architecture

October 19, 2022 by Christ Church Easton

Eric Anderson

Celebrating the 300th Anniversary of Old Wye Church in Wye Mills, MD, Wye Episcopal Parish, in partnership with Washington College, is offering to the public a lecture on local Colonial religious structures.  The lecture, which is free and followed by discussion and refreshments, will be presented on Thursday, October 27 at 5 p.m. in the Christ Church Parish Hall, 111 South Washington, Easton, MD.

The presenter is the architect-scholar Eric Anderson, and the title of his lecture is “Genius Loci: The Past, Presence & Future of Colonial Religious Architecture on Maryland’s Eastern Shore”.  Mr. Anderson will examine what it is that imbues our old religious buildings with the unique “spirit of the place” that we experience when we come into their presence.  In exploring of this phenomenon, Mr. Anderson will discuss the development of Colonial religious architecture in the region, the present state of several important surviving examples, and the value of maintaining such structures today and for the future.

Eric Anderson has designed a wide range of corporate, residential and religious projects over the past two decades and has taught architectural design studios at Georgia Tech, Auburn and other eastern U.S. institutions of higher learning.  At Washington College, Mr. Anderson has co-taught the College’s course on Religion & Architecture.

The next presentation in the ongoing Wye Parish/Washington College lecture series will occur on Wednesday, November 16 at 5 p.m. in the Old Wye Church Parish Hall, 14114 Old Wye Mills Road, Wye Mills, MD.  The lecturer will be the widely-published Washington College scholar of religion and culture, Dr. Joseph Prud’homme, speaking on the “Rev. Thomas Bray and Colonial Maryland: A Case Study in Religion and the Public Good”.

For questions or further information about the lecture series, call  Wye Parish, 410-827-8484.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 5 News Notes Tagged With: Christ Church, local news, Washington College

Washington College Will Inaugurate Michael J. Sosulski as its 31st President

September 29, 2022 by Washington College News Service

On Saturday, October 8, Washington College will inaugurate its 31st president, Michael J. Sosulski, Ph.D. Inauguration festivities will take place on Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8 and include a day-long academic symposium, activities at the waterfront campus, and the installation ceremony.

A seasoned leader in academic and student affairs, financial stewardship, and change management, Sosulski took office on September 1, 2021, after serving as provost at Wofford College in South Carolina for five years. In his first year as Washington College president, he moved quickly to invest $20 million in campus renovations, secured a new dining services partner for the campus, created the new position of associate provost of diversity and inclusion—since filled by Alisha Knight, Ph.D.—approved the addition of men’s and women’s golf to the athletics program, and has reshaped the senior leadership to ensure synergy in moving the College into the next decade and beyond.

Early in the Fall 2022 semester Sosulski announced the start of the strategic planning process for the College with the expectation of finalizing a five-year plan for launch in January 2023. The process includes a number of opportunities for Washington community members to provide input in shaping the strategic direction of the institution.

President Michael J. Sosulski, President of Washington College

“The installation of a college president is a time of promise, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to formally celebrate Dr. Sosulski with a traditional ceremony that honors the rich history of this institution,” said Stephen Golding ’72, chair, Board of Visitors and Governors. “Mike’s contributions in his first year alone have re-energized this community, and we are confident that his leadership and enthusiasm for the liberal arts experience will carry us forward as we work to realize a bold vision for the future of the institution.”

In addition to his role as Wofford College provost, Sosulski also served as a professor of German. Prior to that, he was with Kalamazoo College from 2004 to 2016, serving first as an assistant professor of German and eventually earning the roles of associate professor, department chair in German studies and associate provost. Sosulski earned his bachelor’s in German from Georgetown University and went on to receive a master’s and Ph.D. in Germanic studies from The University of Chicago.

On Friday, October 7, Washington College will host a full-day inaugural symposium. The program—“Literacy and Transformative Learning Experiences in Local and Global Contexts”—is grounded in Washington College’s powerful liberal arts education and the centrality of writing and reading in experiencing new perspectives. Faculty, students, and community members will join keynote speaker—Emory University Professor of German Hiram Maxim, Ph.D.—for an interdisciplinary exploration of the transformative potential of literacy and language learning. The symposium’s keynote address will begin at 4:20 p.m. followed by a reception and an exhibition tour in the Kohl Gallery.

Saturday will include a celebration at the College’s waterfront campus between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Activities will include a Chester River Challenge regatta, electric boat demonstration, live music, kayaking and paddleboarding. The installation ceremony will take place on the Washington College Campus Green at 3 p.m. followed by a reception on the Miller Library terrace.

All events listed are open to the public, though RSVP’s are strongly encouraged at this link: Washcoll.edu/inauguration. The full listing of inaugural events is located here.

About Washington College

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth oldest college in the nation and the first chartered under the new Republic. It enrolls approximately 1,100 undergraduates from more than 35 states and a dozen nations. With an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning in the arts and sciences, and more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study, the College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, history, and writing. Learn more at washcoll.edu.

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Filed Under: 7 Ed Notes Tagged With: Education, local news, Washington College

WC’s Natural Lands Project Awarded FY23 Grant from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund

September 1, 2022 by Washington College News Service

The Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund has awarded the Natural Lands Project (NLP) a $678,871 grant. In partnership with the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and Ducks Unlimited, the funding will focus on working with area landowners in Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, and Talbot Counties interested in converting marginal cropland into productive wildlife habitat.

Over the next three years, the partnership plans to install 230 acres of native grass meadows, pollinator habitat, and buffers, as well as restore 12 acres of wetlands in priority areas of the Upper and Mid-Shore watershed. The restoration of grasslands and wetlands will have an immediate impact on regional biodiversity and wildlife, galvanizing participating landowners with land-based benefits, while immediately improving local water quality.

The funding is part of over $18 million in support for Chesapeake Bay projects that was announced by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in July. The awards have been directed to a total of 22 projects at 77 sites, all of which will improve water quality and habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, while building local resilience to climate impacts. According to a DNR release, the projects awarded funding will benefit local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay by removing more than 41,083 pounds of nitrogen, 4,332 pounds of phosphorus, and 7,967 tons of suspended solids.

A buffer filled with Black-eyed Susans on the Langdon Farm, which borders Harris Creek.

“This funding from the Trust Fund allows NLP to continue our primary mission of working with landowners interested in creating habitat on working farms,” said Dan Small, NLP Coordinator. “We are building a lot of momentum for these positive changes to the farm landscape, but there are still many people on the Shore that we have not reached. This new round of funding makes it possible to increase our outreach, develop new partnerships and establish more conservation practices on the ground.”

This is the third grant that the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund has awarded the Natural Lands Project. Previous grants funds have been utilized to plant 495 acres of buffers and meadows and to restore 47 acres of wetlands on private farms throughout Maryland’s Upper Shore. The result is that the nitrogen, phosphorus and sediments that negatively impact water quality are prevented from ever leaving the farm lands.

About the Natural Lands Project

Increasing human populations and the rise of intensive farming have shifted the balance away from wildlife and toward humankind on the Eastern Shore. In partnership with a number of organizations, the Natural Lands Project seeks to make the rural landscape more wildlife friendly.

This project is coordinated by the Washington College Center for Environment & Society (CES). CES’s vision is a Chesapeake Bay and watershed that is healthy and thriving; one in which natural systems and human communities are in balance. Washington College provides strong interdisciplinary academic programs that promote the integration of environmental and social values.  Graduates of the College gain applied and real-world knowledge and experience, preparing them to be productive citizens, skilled and agile professionals, and champions and stewards of natural and cultural resources.

About Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a private, nonprofit land conservation organization committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them. ESLC works to ensure a future for rural communities and thriving towns that reflect the region’s culture and heritage. Since 1990, ESLC has helped preserve 63,892 acres of land and establish 310 easements. For more information, please visit www.eslc.org.

About Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited (DU) got its start in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North America’s drought-plagued waterfowl populations plunged to unprecedented lows. DU conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people. Since DU began, it has invested over $21 million in the mid-Atlantic to conserve nearly 80,000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands.

For more information on the Natural Lands Project and how to get involved, contact Dan Small, NLP Project Coordinator, at 410-708-4479 or [email protected].

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Filed Under: Eco Notes Tagged With: Ecosystem, local news, Washington College

Brian Speer Named Vice President for Marketing and Communication at Washington College

July 29, 2022 by Washington College News Service

Brian Speer

Washington College has named Brian Speer to the newly created position of Vice President for Marketing and Communication. Speer, a seasoned marketing and communications leader, brings deep experience in developing and implementing strategic communications programs and marketing initiatives that build compelling brand stories and support institutional goals.

In this critical role, Speer will have the opportunity to shape and lead the newly established Office of Marketing and Communications, with a focus on increasing the College’s brand awareness. As a member of the Cabinet, he will report directly to President Mike Sosulski.

“I’m excited to welcome Brian Speer to the senior leadership team at Washington College. His deep experience and proven results speak for themselves, and align extremely well with the College’s own immediate needs and strategic goals,” said Sosulski. “What really set him apart were his obvious passion for the liberal arts experience, his thoughtful approach to the challenge at hand, and his ability to innovate and evolve. He is exactly the right person to lead our marketing and communications as we look ahead to the next decade and beyond.”

Speer has extensive higher education experience, including serving as Vice President for Communications for Muhlenberg College, Vice President for Marketing and Communications for Wilson College and Director of Integrated Marketing for Colby College.

Just as he is tasked with in this new position, Speer successfully transitioned a small, public-relations focused office to a strategic, full-service, centralized communications team at Muhlenberg, his most recent higher education post. While there, he implemented a new brand narrative for prospective students, launched a fresh website design and moved the institution towards a unified brand voice. Prior to that role, he was entrusted with a similar department build-out at Wilson College, where he also implemented a digital marketing program, redesigned the website and established a social media strategy that supported enrollment, retention, advancement and alumni program goals.

“This is a great time to join Washington College and build on the strong foundation of the College,” said Speer. “I’m excited to work with President Sosulski and the campus community to more clearly define the Washington College experience for students and their families. Through all of my conversations on campus I have felt a real sense of energy and enthusiasm about the opportunities at the College and look forward to working with the communications staff and campus partners to increase the institution’s reputation and express its brand story.”

Speer holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio University. Working in communications and design for more than 25 years, his work has received numerous awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the University and College Designers Association (UCDA), and the Society of Publication Designers (SPD) among others.

Speer’s start date with Washington College is August 1.

https://www.washcoll.edu/live/news/brian-speer-named-vp-marketing.php

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 7 Ed Notes Tagged With: Education, local news, Washington College

ShoreRivers and Washington College Complete Urban Stormwater Retrofits

May 26, 2022 by Spy Desk

Chester Riverkeeper Annie Richards, center, cuts the ribbon for the completion of the North Commons Bioretention Project at Washington College.

ShoreRivers and Washington College recently celebrated the completion of the North Commons Bioretention project, which installed numerous bioretention practices in the North Commons parking lot to better manage and treat stormwater runoff. Urban stormwater runoff is one of the most damaging threats to our waterways because it contains nutrients and other harmful pollutants, and can contribute to localized flooding. The project culminated in a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Kent County Chamber of Commerce on May 6, 2022.

These stormwater improvements were made possible with funds from Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Green Streets, Green Towns, Green Jobs (G3) grant program. The practices were designed to capture and hold water so biological activity can remove nutrients as well as pollutants coming from asphalt and vehicles before draining into the stormwater pond that eventually discharges to Radcliffe Creek, a tributary of the impaired Middle Chester River. This project is the first of a number of improvements the college hopes to make on its campus that will have water quality and habitat benefits and serve as demonstration projects to the large audience the college serves.

“This project is an example of leveraging private investment to increase water quality protections,” explains ShoreRivers Restoration Manager Kim Righi. Washington College invested in the gray infrastructure components of the upgrades—resurfacing and curb placement—providing the required matching funds for the green infrastructure components paid for by grants from Chesapeake Bay Trust.

ShoreRivers Agriculture & Outreach Coordinator Laura Wood poses by the sign she created about the “Stormwater Sanctuary” partnership with Washington College

Washington College Interim Director of Sustainability and Regenerative Living Shane Brill, adds, “We plan to continue partnering on more regenerative stormwater conveyances, attractive native plantings, and signage. ShoreRivers is helping us improve water quality, habitat, and aesthetics while also providing educational opportunities for our student body and campus visitors.”

ShoreRivers is a leader in designing, funding, and managing major restoration projects to reduce the sediments and nutrients that pollute our waterways. Community collaborations like this have resulted in hundreds of projects installed on county-owned properties, private lands, school campuses, town properties, and church lands.

ShoreRivers is certified by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as a Technical Service Provider with an in-house engineer, staff with training in geospatial technologies, and the technical expertise to manage these projects. If you are interested in implementing a restoration project at your home or business, please contact our Director of Agriculture & Restoration or your local Riverkeeper at shorerivers.org/staff-directory.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

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Filed Under: Eco Notes Tagged With: Ecosystem, local news, Shore Rivers, Washington College

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