December 2005

Three Faculty, Staff Receive Presidential Awards

By Karen Satin

On November 17, 2005, Presidential Awards were presented to three UMUC employees for their exceptional service to the University. The individuals were selected by a committee from among a group of people who were nominated by their supervisors and their peers. They each received a cash award of $5,000.

This year’s winners are Kimberly Chung, director of Web marketing in Adelphi; Marilyn Maupin Hart, assistant vice president for arts and special events in Adelphi; and Ruth Smiley Lattimore, academic director of mathematics and statistics in UMUC-Asia.

Kimberly Chung with daughter Amanda

Kimberly Chung was recognized for her leadership and organization of the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day both in 2004, when it was launched, and in 2005. More than 50 children participated in 2004; that number rose to more than 80 in 2005. Because of her leadership, 40 volunteers came forward to help. She took on the role while deeply involved in one of her department’s most important initiatives—the launch of the PeopleSoft portal.

Chung is also being acknowledged for the highly successful role she played in directing the host committee for the 2004 commencement, which was held in the Comcast Center for the first time, adding complexities and requiring all new procedures.

In nomination letters, she was referred to as an “unsung hero” and a “quiet storm”—someone who has a “knack for some of the most energy-driven programs and events one human could possess.” The letters pointed to her determination to find a way to get any job done, no matter the challenge, and to her selflessness.

	Marilyn Maupin Hart

Marilyn Maupin Hart’s exemplary leadership in bringing visibility to UMUC through the significant enhancement of the Arts Program was key to her award. Her efforts have led to greater attendance at art events and to enhanced recognition of UMUC, which in turn has increased fundraising and support of the University at many levels. She is also being recognized for bringing refinement and high quality to such University occasions as commencement, the staff holiday party, and the annual service awards event.

With reference to the Arts Program, one nomination letter stated that it had been “a nice little program with infrequent and poorly attended events and no reputation in the state,” while now it is “the top program in the state of Maryland for artists.” Another nominator wrote that Hart “gives her heart and soul to the visibility, growth, and recognition of University of Maryland University College.”

Ruth Smiley Lattimore

Ruth Smiley Lattimore received the Presidential Award for exemplary performance and leadership in her role as academic director of mathematics and statistics for UMUC-Asia. Particularly noteworthy is her leadership in the effort to define mathematics skills required across the curriculum and her initiative in creating a comprehensive manual on the subject to be used worldwide. Through her persistent efforts, quantitative reasoning has now been adopted by the University as one of the core learning areas applicable to all graduating students.

According to one of her nomination letters, Lattimore “embodies the spirit of Maryland overseas with her enthusiasm, flexibility, and her vital and dynamic approach to her work and her teaching, as well as her creativity and people skills.” Other nominators commented on her creative ways of introducing math faculty members to the latest developments and technologies in the field so that they might maintain high academic standards, and on her inclusion of faculty in a variety of department-wide projects.