Profiles: Class of '09

Noni, a resident of Kensington, is Chief of the Cell Biology Integrated Review Group for the Center for Scientific Review at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda.  She manages and supervises a group of Ph.D level scientific review officers, each responsible for coordinating expert reviews of applications submitted to NIH in specific areas of cell biology.  This Dean’s List student earned her B.S. in chemistry from Allegheny College, and her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Emory University.  Her volunteer community activities include St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Action in Montgomery and Tilden Middle School PTA. In her leisure time, Noni can be found reading (biographies-politics), training for a 5K, and enjoying time with her family.

John, a resident of Towson, is Head of Third Party Distribution for T. Rowe Price Group in Baltimore, where he supervises 90 employees and has direct responsibilities for a division of the company. This investment management firm offers no-load mutual funds and separate accounts for individuals and institutions. He formerly served as President of his own company, Cammack Associates. John earned his B.A. in history from Denison University, and his M.B.A. in finance/marketing from Columbia University.  Known for his fundraising expertise, John holds leadership positions with the United Way of Central Maryland, Mutual Fund Educa-tion Alliance, Leaders for Tomorrow, Foundation for Financial Planning and Knights Discussion Group.  His leisure time is spent playing tennis, basketball and cycling.

Marie, a resident of Glenn Dale, is Vice Provost and Dean at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC). UMUC, one of 11 degree-granting institutions in the University System of Maryland, is a comprehensive virtual university focusing on the unique educational and  professional development needs of adult students. Marie assists the institution’s 76,000 undergraduate students around the globe achieve their educational goals by ensuring quality programs that are offered in flexible and accessible modalities. She earned her B.S. in arts and science, and her M.S. in counselor education from Pennsylvania State University, and an M.S./Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. Marie recently moved to Maryland and is eager to engage with the broader community and become involved with organizations that focus on the educational and healthcare needs of the residents of Prince George’s County. She enjoys travel, swimming and hiking.

Mike, a resident of Frederick, is Executive Director of the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI). FITCI is a non-profit business incubator to assist high technology start-up companies  accelerate their businesses and create high-paying jobs in the local economy.  He formerly owned his own business, Frederick Wireless.  This Honors student earned his B.A. in business from Lewis University (Illinois).  He serves as President of the Maryland Business Incubation Association, and in leadership roles with the Entrepreneur Council of Frederick County, the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, and Fredericktowne Rotary Club.  In Mike’s leisure time you’ll find him on the links and enjoying local politics and business activities.

Natalie, a resident of Owings Mills, is Dean and Professor of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, the fourth oldest school of pharmacy in the nation. As Dean, she is the chief academic and administrative officer and provides leadership for the school’s education, pharmacy practice, research and outreach programs. A Dean’s List student and recipient of numerous academic awards, Natalie earned her B.S. in pharmacy from Howard University and her Ph.D. in pharma-cokinetics from the University of Maryland-Baltimore. She is active with and lends her expertise to the American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Phi Kappa Phi, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology and Education.  Natalie enjoys reading non-fiction books with a political slant and running.

Jeannette, a resident of Mountain Lake Park in Garrett County, is Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources for First United Bank and Trust – a $1.6 billion bank-holding company, offering a full range of banking, investment and insurance products headquartered in Oakland. She earned her B.B.A. in personnel and industrial relations/management (cum laude) from Ohio University, and holds Certificates from the School of Bank Marketing and the Maryland Banking School.  She also earned a Registered Corporate Coach designation from the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches. This busy leader finds time to contribute to the United Way of Garrett County, Maryland Banking School Board, Garrett County Workforce Development Task Force, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and Garrett County Drug-Free Coalition. Jeannette enjoys choir singing, traveling and attending her children’s activities.

Rich, a resident of Hollywood in St. Mary’s County, is Vice President of Operations for Resource Management Concepts, Inc. (RMC) in Lexington Park, a position he has held since 1994. RMC is a management and technology firm serving the Federal government market. This Dean’s List student earned his B.S. in accounting from Robert Morris College, and his M.S. in systems management from the Florida Institute of Technology. Rich contributes his time and financial expertise to the Knights of Columbus, Southern Maryland Workforce Investment Board, Maryland Software Industry Consortium, St. Mary’s County Nursing Center and Historic St. Mary’s City Foundation

Jonathan, a resident of Forest Hill in Harford County, is Vice President of The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company in Baltimore, where he leads an operating group of 60 individuals. His responsibilities include oversight of ongoing construction ($175 million), employee  development and advancement, business development and the strategic pursuit of new work.  He is the mid-Atlantic Regional Director for the company’s life sciences work.  A Dean’s List student and recipient of a leadership scholarship, Jonathan earned his B.S. in industrial engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and his M.B.A. from Loyola College. He contributes his time to the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers, Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board, and St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Jonathan enjoys spending time with his family, golf, sailing and outdoor recreation.

Kate is President of Howard Community College (HCC) and a resident of Columbia. HCC enrolls over 7,500 credit students and over 15,000 non-credit students at its 119-acre campus. Before relocating to Maryland, Kate held positions with the Community College of Philadelphia.  She earned her B.S. in psychology from Pennsylvania State University, her M.S. in counseling and human relations from Villanova University, and her D.Ed. in higher education leadership from Widener University.  Kate volunteers her time and talent to Community Colleges for International Development, Howard County Chamber of Commerce, James Rouse Entrepreneurial Fund and Columbia Festival for the Arts.  In her leisure time, Kate can be found running.

Glen lives on base at Naval Air Station Patuxent River and is Group Vice President of Sabre Systems, Inc. in Lexington Park, a profess-sional services company supporting Federal, State and local government agencies, and commercial clients in the areas of engineering and  information technology solutions.  This U.S. Naval Academy graduate retired from the Navy in 2008, after serving 30 years and achieving the rank of Captain and Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Patuxent River. While at the Academy, Glen earned a B.S. in political science.  He continued his studies at the U. S. Army War College where he studied national/international strategies. He currently is working toward an M.B.A. at the Johns Hopkins University. Glen contributes his time and expertise to youth sports as a coach/referee, as well as, to the United Way of St. Mary’s County, College of Southern Maryland Foundation, Read With Me Program and Special Olympics/Christmas in April. This versa-tile athlete enjoys running, hiking, golf, basketball and tennis, as well as, reading, writing public speaking and learning to play music.

Darryl, a resident of Annapolis, is Chief Executive Officer of the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations (MANO), one of the largest nonprofit associations in the country, with over 1,750 members.  Its  work is recognized for being cutting-edge and innovative. Elected officials, media outlets and policymakers turn to MANO for information about the nonprofit sector. Darryl studied political science and labor economics at Howard University and mid-career studies in management at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Business. He also studied at The Asset-Based Community Development Institute, Center for Urban Affairs and Policy Research, at Northwestern University, and The Fundraising School, Center on Philanthropy at the University of Chicago. This busy leaders volunteers his time to the Kellogg National Leadership Alliance, Prince George’s Community Federal Credit Union, Hannah’s Grace Ministry, National Law Enforcement Museum and Maryland Fraternal Order of Police. 

Joe, a resident of Hagerstown, is Director of Public Works for Washington County. He is responsible for the administration and leadership of all public works operations consisting of six agencies (engineering, communications maintenance, highway maintenance, air-port operations, transit system, parks, recreation and facilities), and more than 300 employees and a combined operating budget exceeding $75 million. Joe earned two A.A.S. degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering from Hagerstown Community College, a B.S.C.E. in civil/structural engineering from the University of Maryland and an M.B.A. from Frostburg State University. His volunteer community activities include Antietam Exchange Club, Assembly Club of Hagers-town, Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway, Maryland, and Halfway Little YMCA.  Joe enjoys hiking, boating, golf, tennis and reading.  He is a 2003 graduate of Leadership Washington County.

Tim, a resident of Beltsville, is the Executive Director of the Pretrial Justice Institute in Washington, D.C., a non-profit organization which advocates for fair and effective policies and practice among the nation’s criminal justice systems.  Tim pioneered the work in the design of the nation’s first Drug Court and his stewardship of the Federal Drug Court programs has resulted in the adoption of new and innovative principles dealing with the addicted by over 2,000 courts around the world.  He earned a Proficiency Certificate in Vietnamese Language from the Defense Language Institute, studied anthropology at the University of Maryland University College, and sociology at Barry University (Miami).  Tim’s volunteer activities include St. Joseph’s Parent/School Association;  he is a Cub Scout Den Leader, and is active with Knights of Columbus and the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies. He enjoys playing the ukulele, motorcycles and reading.

Leslie, a resident of Arnold, is the Director of External Relations for Opportunity Builders, Inc., a 46-year old nonprofit organization that  provides vocational training and employment services to adults with developmental disabilities, serving over 300 clients.  Leslie earned her B.S. in zoology from the University of Maryland.  She formerly owned her own company for 8 years, The Edible Edge Corporation.  Leslie has contributed considerable time and expertise for several years to Special Olympics Maryland, HeartSmart, Boys and Girls Clubs of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, and Meeting Professionals International.   In her leisure time, she enjoys driving a race car, cycling, photography, swimming, squash, racquetball, and spending time with her son.

Clare, a resident of Bowie, made the entrepreneurial leap in 2000 creating net.America Corporation located in Upper Marlboro, which provides professional and IT management services to its clients. This  viable and successful small business employs 29 individuals. A Dean’s List student and the recipient of numerous academic and civic awards, Clare earned her B.S. in international management (graduating magna cum laude) from Southeastern University, her M.S. in technology management (graduating magna cum laude) from the University of Maryland University College, and continued her studies at the Tuck Business School at Dartmouth College.  She is a Court Appointed Special Advocate in Prince George’s County and a Sunday school teacher at Pathway Christian Church. 

Mary is a resident of Columbia and the George R. Hepburn Dynasplint Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.  Through Mary’s leadership over the past 10 years she has brought the department from relative obscurity on the national stage (and unranked nationally) to the fifteenth ranked department of Physical Therapy in the country (out of 210 programs).  This award-winning and Honors student earned her B.S. and M.S. in physical therapy, and biomechanics from the University of North Carolina, and her Ph.D. in biomechanics from Pennsylvania State University.  Mary provides volunteer leadership to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, Physical Therapy and Society Summit, University of Maryland Center for Research on Aging, and Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  She enjoys running, travel and wine-tasting.

Stacy, a resident of Pikesville, is Deputy Secretary for Programs, for the Maryland Department of Human Resources (DHR), which serves  over 500,000 Marylanders per year. Stacy oversees the department’s public welfare and child support enforcement programs, the Office of Grants Management, local departments of social services, and supervises 5,000 employees.  She earned her B.S. in psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, her M.P.A. in public management from the University of Baltimore, and a Certificate in executive leadership from Harvard University JFK School of Government.  This busy leader still finds time to contribute her time and expertise to Provident Adult Day Care Center, American Baptist Churches of the South, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and National Forum for Black Public Administrators.  Stacy enjoys travel and short-term missionary work.

Scott, a resident of Westminster, is Principal/President of Oasis Design Group in Baltimore, a firm which provides urban design, planning and landscape architecture services to public, institutional and private organizations nationally.  A Dean’s List and Honors student, Scott earned his B.S.L.A./B.A. in landscape architecture and geography with a specialization in planning, and studied abroad in Italy through the University of Georgia.  He is the co-founder of the Maryland Public Gardens Consortium, founded in 2002 to share resources for marketing Maryland’s public gardens and raising the standards of practice for public horticulture in Maryland. The Consortium is one of only two statewide public gardens organizations in the country.  Scott also is past president of the Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architecture and the author of Professional Planting Design: An Architectural and Horticultural Approach for Creating Mixed Bed Plantings.  He enjoys gardening, hunting, fishing, golfing and hiking.

Louise, a resident of Baltimore, founded Louise Phipps Senft and Associates/Baltimore Mediation 15 years ago - the first private mediation firm in Baltimore.  She mediates, trains, supervises and mentors staff and  a team of seven independent contractors, creates and produces public trainings in conflict transformational skills, writes articles and delivers keynote addresses.  An award-winning student, Louise earned her B.A. in psychology and women’s studies from the University of Virginia, and her J.D. from Washington and Lee School of Law. Additionally, she has earned Certificates from numerous other institutions. Her volunteer community activities include Safe Haven Network (Founder/Director), Roland Park Civic League, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and the Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office and Network 2000.  Louise enjoys spending time with her husband and five children, and serving as an advisor to Chief Judge Bell of the Maryland Court of Appeals.

Jared, a resident of Baltimore and an entrepreneur, founded Old Town Construction, LLC in 1999, which builds and develops sustainable commercial and multi-family projects. A leading practitioner of “green building” in the Mid-Atlantic region, it focuses on creating structures that reduce the impact on the environment during the construction phase, continue to respect the ecosystem, enhance the wellness of their inhabitants, and provide solid economic return for their owners.  Jared earned his B.A. in public policy from Washington and Lee University and earned a Certificate in British Studies from Richmond University (London). Additionally, he was designated a LEED Accredited Professional by the U.S. Green Building Council. Jared’s volunteer community activities include the Ellicott City Business Association, Gilman School Annual Giving Campaign, Scott E. Caplan Foundation, and is a member of the Maryland Department of General Services Professional Services Selection Board.  He states that he “enjoys anything that involves his wife and two children. …other than that, he plays a lot of squash.”

Mary Ellen Vanni

Mary Ellen, a resident of Baltimore, is the Executive Director of the Fuel Fund of Maryland, Inc., a charitable non-profit organization established which assists low-income families in central Maryland with home heating and utility bills. The organization partners with 9 agencies to determine eligibility and benefit levels.  An award-winning student,  Mary Ellen earned her B.A. in mathematics from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, her M.A. in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and University, and is a 2004 graduate of The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Fellow’s Program. She is active with several institutions and organiza-tions, including St. Matthews Church Community, School Sisters of Notre Dame, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program Board. Mary Ellen enjoys church activities (social justice and liturgy), travel, book club, friends, her dog, cooking, entertaining, theatre and the arts.  She is a 2006 graduate of Leadership Baltimore County.

Barbara, a resident of Easton, is President of Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, which serves five counties on the Eastern Shore, offers Arts  and Sciences and vocational degrees and certificates to 3,600 students, and another 8,000 in continuing education and workforce training.  She earned her B.A. and M.A. in English from Lehman College, City University of New York, and her Ed.D in education leadership from Fairleigh Dickin-son University.  New to Maryland, Barbara has not yet become involved in volunteer roles at the level she would like; however, she chaired two Berkshire United Way campaigns that raised over $3 million each, and founded a community leadership program, Berkshire Leadership Program.  She also served on a Regional Employment Board and several arts organizations that contributed to economic development and the quality of life. 

Betty, a resident of Chestertown, is Vice President of the Maryland State Teachers’ Association (MSTA), a 70,000 member organization of teachers, administrators and support professionals that works to support  its members and improve public education for all Maryland students.  To fulfill this role, Betty is on leave from her teaching position in Kent County Public Schools.  She earned her B.A. in German, and her M.A. in psychology from Washington College.  She previously served as President of the Kent County Teachers’ Association and served on several state higher education accreditation teams. She is active with the Kent Associ-ation of Riding Therapy and sings in the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Choir.   Betty enjoys gardening, football and traveling.

Paul, a resident of Baltimore, is the Administrator of the Maryland Transit Administration, the 10th largest public transit agency in the country, providing rides to over 350,000 customers a day via bus, light rail, subway and commuter rail services. He formerly served as the Executive Director of the Maryland Aviation Administration during the Glendening Administration. A Dean's list student, Paul earned his B.S. in Political Science from Towson University, and his M.C.R.P in city planning from Rutgers University. Paul has volunteered his Professional expertise to the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, BWI Partnership, American Public Transportation Association and Immaculate Conception School. He enjoys coaching sports at his daughter's elementary school, gardening, golfing, bicycling and camping.

Madeline, a resident of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is President of Resources for Global Citizenship (RGC), based at Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  RGC assists educational organizations (K-12 and higher education) develop and enhance their praxis relating to  local and global engagement. She coordinates the Maryland Campus Compact, a higher education association of college and university presidents dedicated to the “public purposes of education,” i.e. using the resources of the academy to address community development with community partners.  Madeline earned her B.A. in political science from Gettysburg College, and her M.A. in human development from Hood College. Her volunteer activities include Project Gettysburg Leon, National Service Learning Partnership, Superintendents Service-Learning Advisory Board, Health Adams County Latino Taskforce.  Madeline enjoys civic involvement, keeping in touch with international and domestic friends, reading, walking, hiking, kayaking, writing, restoring a log-home from the 1820’s situated on the site of the “first day” of the battle of Gettysburg, and international traveling and volunteering.