Dr. William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland, and Dr. Catherine R. Gira, president of Frostburg State University, are pleased to announce that Dr. C. David Warner III, director of instruction at Hagerstown Community College, has been named executive director of the University System of Maryland Hagerstown Education Center, which is slated to open in January of 2005.

Warner will direct the daily operations of the center, including overseeing staff and budgets. He is charged with building a quality academic center, developing marketing strategies, directing strategic planning and balancing the needs of students, employers and participating institutions.

"The selection of Dr. Warner as executive director is an important step toward the University System of Maryland's goal of establishing the Hagerstown Education Center as a 21st century model for undergraduate and graduate education," Kirwan said. "We remain deeply committed to establishing this center as a hub of teaching, learning and economic development that will have an enormously positive impact on Hagerstown, Washington County and the State of Maryland. Dr. Warner's leadership will help us bring this vision of a high-quality, higher education center to fruition."

"Since 1988, Frostburg State University has been committed to delivering higher education to the citizens of Washington County," Gira said. "We are eager to join with our sister institutions in the University System to expand the academic offerings that will be provided in the new center."

Warner will report to Frostburg State University's provost, Dr. Stephen J. Simpson. FSU is the managing institution for the center.

"We are delighted that Dr. Warner, who has extensive experience in higher education, specifically in the Hagerstown community, has accepted this position," Simpson said. "He will bring to the center strong connections to the Washington County business and professional community, as well as an in depth understanding of the needs of community college transfer students and high school students. We look forward to welcoming him to the Frostburg State University family"

"I am very excited about joining the team on this project," Warner said. "I come from this town and attended school here, but I had to leave to get my bachelor's and master's degrees. I'm glad local people will now be able to stay home to pursue an education."

The University System of Maryland Board of Regents has placed a high priority on the development of the Hagerstown Center along with Shady Grove as a means to provide access to regions of the state that are underserved.

Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich has designated $1 million in the budget currently before the General Assembly to support the establishment of the center, which will be housed in the former Baldwin House complex in downtown Hagerstown. The building is currently under renovation.

Several institutions within the University System of Maryland will bring to the center programs not already offered in the area, in addition to what is already offered by FSU at its Hagerstown Center.

Warner will begin work in mid-March.

Prior to his post as HCC director of instruction, Warner was chair of HCC's Humanities Division and a professor of music. He is also a professional musician, most recently as a member of the local group The Holders.

Warner holds a doctorate in community college education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a master's degree in music from Towson University and a bachelor's degree in secondary music education from Shepherd College. He also attended Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Contact: Anne Moultrie

Phone: 301/445-2722
E-mail: amoultrie@usmd.edu