To the St. Mary's Community
A Letter from James P. Muldoon, Chair, Board of Trustees
January 7, 2009
President O’Brien announced her intention to resign as president of the College to the executive committee of the board of trustees on Tuesday, January 6, 2009. Dr. O’Brien will step down as president effective June 30, 2010 or with the appointment of her successor, whichever comes first. After stepping down as president, Dr. O’Brien will continue to work for the College with the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies in Oxford, England.
The trustees will begin discussions about the presidential search process. This is an exciting opportunity for our college community to work together to review our mission and vision for the coming years. I will ask all members of the community to be involved in the search process and will keep you posted as we organize. Developments related to the search will be posted at the Presidential Search site.
I speak for the entire College community in thanking Dr. O’Brien for thirteen years of service as president. During this period, the College has distinguished itself as a premier honors college within a residential community that excels at scholarship, research, creative thinking, community engagement, and a appreciation and commitment to world issues, cultures and communities.
Dr. O’Brien assumed her post in July 1996 and dedicated herself and the College to the newly adopted Honors College Curriculum. She provided critical guidance to the development of the College’s external relations and fundraising that included the $40 million Heritage Campaign in support of the faculty’s academic leadership, the extension of the residential college and the enhancement of community programs. Fundraising during Dr. O’Brien’s tenure reshaped the College’s scholarships, professorships, lecture and learning series, arts, athletic, and community programs. The initiatives supported with external support included the Paul H. Nitze Scholars Program, the annual River Concert Series, over 40 new scholarships, nine endowed professorships and chairs, and many student and faculty awards presented at the annual Awards Convocation.
The Center for the Study of Democracy was established with a $2 million NEH grant and challenge matches. Private funds now support the William Donald Schaefer Internships, the Ben Bradlee Lectures, the Andrew Goodpaster Lecture Series and the Patuxent Defense Forum. The Center was a leading programmatic initiative between the College and neighboring Historic St. Mary’s City, a relationship that continues to flourish with the opportunity for students to serve as Maryland Heritage Scholars and faculty from the College and the City to serve as Maryland Heritage Fellows.
The advancement of international programs was spurred by successive grants from the Mellon Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation and the Japan Foundation. With Dr. O’Brien’s leadership, the advancement of ten international programs for St. Mary’s students will meet faculty expectations and student requirements in the new Core Curriculum.
The Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies was founded in 1975 to achieve two purposes: to establish in Oxford a permanent institute for the interdisciplinary study of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and to provide academic training for overseas students who wish to complete part of their education in Oxford but are not matriculated members of Oxford University. St. Mary’s College is one of the Centre’s three founding members and its most significant U.S. partner. Through Dr. O’Brien’s efforts, the College will continue to provide the Centre unique support as we work towards a new formal affiliation between our institutions. In commenting about Dr. O’Brien’s new role, Dr. John Feneley, Principal of CMRS, noted: “Fortunately for St Mary’s, they are not going to lose you . . . and CMRS is going to benefit greatly from the change. I can scarcely wait to start planning with you the future of CMRS and its long-term affiliation with SMCM.” Fifty St. Mary’s students will be able to study at the Centre each year, and St. Mary’s faculty will have the opportunity to participate in the Faculty Seminars and extended research stays during the summer and during their sabbaticals.
There are many other commitments to students, faculty and staff, alumni, trustees and friends of the College that we will celebrate in due course as a result of Dr. O’Brien’s leadership. Please join me in thanking Dr. O’Brien for her leadership these past thirteen years as we look forward to her continuing work on behalf of this unique and fortunate institution of learning. We will continue our efforts to provide the State of Maryland and this nation a distinctive learning environment supporting public diversity and academic excellence. I thank all of you for your efforts to contribute to the College’s bright future.
