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Richard F. Blewitt

Rich Blewitt, president of Rowan & Blewitt Inc., was a founding member of the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Board of Visitors and served as its chair from 1999 to 2003. He is a former corporate officer who has spent many years successfully managing business communication issues, including major crisis management programs.

Before beginning his own consulting firm, Blewitt was vice president of public affairs for Velsicol Chemical Corporation and received national recognition for his role in leading the company's turnaround efforts.  

Blewitt is a former reporter for The Scranton (PA) Times and also served as a Navy journalist in Japan, where he began his coursework with UMUC in 1969. He earned his UMUC bachelor's degree in government and politics in 1973. Blewitt holds an MBA degree from the University of Chicago and is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Owner/President Management Program.

Blewitt, of Aldie, Virginia, has held several leadership positions in the university's Alumni Association. He served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors from 1990 to 1997 and was its president from 1993 to 1994, at which time he traveled to Asia and Europe to establish UMUC's first overseas alumni chapters. In 1998, he was named UMUC's Distinguished Alumnus of the Year and in 2003, he was presented the university's Edward A. Parnell Outstanding Alumnus Award. Blewitt served as chair of UMUC's 50th Anniversary Coordinating Council in 1997.

In addition to contributing countless hours to the university, Blewitt has been a generous contributor to UMUC. He was one of the first members of the UMUC President's Club. Most recently, he donated $200,000 to establish at UMUC the Marge and Frank Blewitt Endowed Military Scholarship for single parents serving in U.S. armed forces.

He is a member of the board of directors of the University of Maryland Foundation and the board of governors of the Josephson Institute of Ethics. Blewitt previously served on the board of trustees of the National Parks and Conservation Association. 

Blewitt recently established The Blewitt Foundation, which will focus on supporting families of the nation's active-duty military through a recreational and educational center. Called Rich's Promise, LLC, the multi-dimensional resort is due to open in 2006. Blewitt's goal is to have UMUC's active-duty military students and their children as an integral part of the new center.