Press Release - Chancellor Forms Search Committee for New Coppin President

February 12, 2002

Chancellor Forms Search Committee for New Coppin President

Donald N. Langenberg, chancellor of the University System of Maryland (USM), today announced the formation of a search and screening committee to consider candidates for president of Coppin State College. The new president will succeed Calvin Burnett, who announced that he will retire on September 1, 2002.

"Our search committee will conduct a thorough, comprehensive national search for a new president for Coppin State College," Langenberg said. "This is a vital position at an institution that is on the rise."

Genevieve Knight, professor of mathematics and computer science, will chair the 16-member search committee, which includes members of the faculty, staff, student body, and community.

The committee's task is to develop a broad and deep pool of strong candidates, conduct interviews with the candidates it deems most qualified for the presidency, and forward to the USM Board of Regents the names of three to five finalists. The Board of Regents has the responsibility of making the final selection. (The process is outlined in "Guidelines for the Selection of Presidents," approved by the Board of Regents in 1991 and revised in 2001.)

Following is a list of search and screening committee members:

Faculty
Genevieve Knight, professor of mathematics and computer science
Habtu Braha, associate professor of management science and economics
Ruthie Hall, associate professor of nursing
John Hudgins, chairman of social sciences
Rolande Murray, assistant professor of psychology and rehabilitative counseling
Geraldine Waters, professor of adult and general education

Staff
Linda Bowie, director of career development and cooperative education
Emma (Sissy) Patterson Crosby, executive administrative assistant for the Coppin nursing program
Ahmed El-Haggan, chief information officer and director of the office of information technology

Community
James Camphor, president of the Coppin State College Alumni Association
Carol Bryant Payne, a member of the Coppin Heights community association
Skipp Sanders, deputy state superintendent, Maryland State Department of Education
J. Tyson Tildon, retired professor of medicine, University of Maryland; member, Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners

Two students also will be named to the committee. At the time of this release, the students have not confirmed their participation.

Joye Mercer Barksdale, a member of the university relations department of the USM Office, will serve as the search committee's liaison to Chancellor Langenberg. A liaison to the Board of Regents will be named as well.

Contact:

Chris Hart
Phone: 301/445-2739
E-mail: chart@usmd.edu