Scholars News Desk
Changing Leadership in Scholars Programs
June 9, 2008
College Park, Md. – As we welcome our 15th class of Scholars, we bid farewell to the leadership of two Scholars programs:
In a message sent to all students and alumni associated with the Arts program, Professor James Harris, Dean for the College of Arts and Humanities, announced the appointment of Professor Harold Burgess as Director of the College Park Scholars in the Arts program. Harold comes to the program from the Department of Theatre where he is Assistant Professor of Lighting and where he earned his Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts degrees in Theatrical Design. In addition to directing the Arts program, he will continue teaching lighting design, drafting, and graduate seminar courses in design. In 2005, Burgess received the distinguished Henry C. Welcome Fellowship and a General Research Board Summer Award in 2006. As a professional lighting designer, he has worked with numerous Baltimore/Washington area theatres including: Round House Theatre, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Rep Stage, Everyman Theatre and the African Continuum Theatre Company. Dean Harris said, “Harold brings to the program an enthusiasm for working with students in the creative and performing arts, and a commitment to making Scholars/Arts an even more vital community of artists living and learning together.”
Returning to the Environmental Studies program are Professor Bruce R. James and Dr. Wendy Whittemore. Both Professor James and Dr. Whittemore served Scholars for eight years as the Environmental Studies Director and Associate Director respectively.
"Because of Scholars’ emphasis on community, it is always difficult to bid farewell to such talented and dedicated colleagues such as Professor Peter Beicken, Dr. David Solomon, and Ms. Margaret Giblin," said Greig Stewart, Scholars Executive Director. Stewart continued, "Though Margaret’s tenure with the Environmental Studies program was short, her dedication and commitment had a true impact. As for the Arts program, given David and Peter’s tenure, their absence creates a significant loss. But together with the central Scholars staff, we look forward to assisting Professor Burgess in achieving the goals he has for Arts."
In addition to transition in program leadership, Stewart was happy to announce the return of two, truly dedicated members of the Scholars community: astronomer Neal A. Miller, and human development specialist Brenda Jones Harden. Dr. Miller will be returning to the Science, Discovery and the Universe program, and Dr. Jones Harden will be returning to the Advocates for Children Program.College Park Scholars is a class of twelve programs, each comprising a multi-disciplinary learning community. Scholars are academically and creatively talented freshmen and sophomores, eager to explore their future personal and professional roles. Each program prepares students academically for competitive research opportunities and challenging internships. Through civic engagement, team projects and other programs, Scholars examine and develop their personal character. For more information on this press release or on College Park Scholars, contact Kevin Baxter at (301) 314-1522, or bax@umd.edu.
