The Talon Vol. 3 Issue 1 - Spring 2008 - Coppin State University ...

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VOL. 3 ISS. 1 SPRING 2008PublisherCoppin State UniversityEditor-in-ChiefUrsula V. BattleCreative DirectorAndrew C. BrezinskiDesign and LayoutAndrew C. BrezinskiContributing WritersUrsula V. BattleCaron BraceDr. E. Lee LassiterJane MatthewsRoger McAfeeJim RobertsJudith D. WillnerPhotographersSean T. BarberRashid BeltAndrew C. BrezinskiI. H. Webster Phillips III (cover photo)ProofreadersDr. Jacqueline Brice-FinchOffice of University RelationsThe Talon is a publication of the Office of UniversityRelations (UR) and the Division of InstitutionalAdvancement (IA). UR is responsible for therepresentation and promotion of the University,faculty, students, programs and policies to a varietyof constituents, including the media and neighboringcommunities. UR is comprised of Public Relations,Marketing, Creative Services, and Project Management.IA directs and facilitates key developmentand fundraising activities to cultivate and maintainalliances to advance the larger educational, economic,and business interests of Coppin State University.Consistent with the role of the Coppin State UniversityDevelopment Foundation (CSUDF), IA strivesto cultivate and maintain a variety of collaborativepartnerships and alliances. Alumni Relations, AnnualGiving, Major Gifts & Planned Giving, TitleIII, and Special Events & Projects are the primaryoperational units. No part of this publication may bereproduced without the consent of the Editor.Coppin State UniversityOffice of University Relations (UR)2500 W. North AvenueBaltimore, MD 21216Phone: (410) 951-4200Fax: (410) 951-4201www.coppin.eduMr. Hughie Bowman, CSU Facilities staff member, shakes hands with Dr. Sadie R. Gregory displaying a gesture ofthanks.Thank You Dr. GregoryCampus expresses gratitude for service during receptionBy Ursula V. BattleA “Thank You” Reception for Coppin StateUniversity Provost & Vice President of AcademicAffairs Dr. Sadie R. Gregory was held on December12, 2007. The Thank You Reception was heldto express the campus’ gratitude to Dr. Gregory forserving as the University’s Interim President.“For the first time in a very long time I wasrendered speechless by your wonderful act of appreciation,via the reception held in my honor onWednesday, December 12th,” said Dr. Gregory in awritten statement to the campus. “The turnout andsupport spoke volumes and I will always be gratefulfor your thoughtfulness and for your generosity.”Dr. Gregory served as Interim President fromJune 6, 2007 until January 11, 2008. Dr. Gregorywas appointed by University System of Maryland(USM) Chancellor William E. Kirwan. In additionto her Interim Presidency, Dr. Gregory also continuedto carry out the day-to-day responsibilities ofProvost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.Dr. Gregory joined Coppin in this capacity onMay 26, 2004.During the reception, a video tribute to Dr.Gregory, which included appearances by Dr. Mar-PHOTO | I. H. WEBSTER PHILLIPS IIIcella Copes, Dean of the School of Nursing, andMr. James Brown, Chair of the Staff Senate, wasshown. Dr. Gregory was also presented with giftsand other mementos from members of the CoppinFamily.what’s insidealumni pride 3academic excellence 4-5featured faculty 6-7coppin’s new leader 8-9campus development 10campaign update 11community news 12-13student corner 14athletics 15arts & entertainment 162
alumniCould itBe DNA atWork?Richards Family Very Partial toCoppin StateBy Dr. E. Lee LassiterDarryl S. Richards was three-years-old when heattended his first class at Coppin State University.He did not listen to the lecture. He was too busydoing what kids do at that age. He was a “guest”of his mother who was a student at the time andcouldn’t find a baby-sitter that evening.Today, several decades later, Darryl holds twodegrees from Coppin—a BS degree (1992) and MSdegree in Education (2005)—and is in his thirdyear of doctoral study, not at Coppin, but onlybecause Coppin does not have a terminal degreeprogram.“If Coppin had a doctoral program, I would beenrolled,” he declares. One of his fondest “hopesand dreams” for Coppin is that it “grows to includedoctoral programs.”“I get to counsel fellow teachers on my job andI steer them to Coppin’s master’s program,” saysDarryl, who teaches at the New Era/SouthsideAcademy, formerly Arnett Brown, Jr. ElementarySchool in Cherry Hill.Mr. Richards doesn’t have a son or daughterthat is college-age, but if he did, he says, “I woulddefinitely push them to attend Coppin.” The DNA(Downright Natural Allegiance) to Coppin runs inDarryl’s family.Mrs. Joyce Richards, his mother, earned aCoppin BS degree in Social Studies in 1973. Mr.Sylvester Richards, his father, holds a BS degreein Elementary Education (1967) and 30 creditstoward a MS in Education (Masters Equivalent).Mrs. Gloria Wright, an aunt currently enrolledin Coppin’s MS degree in Education program, isscheduled to graduate in 2008. An uncle, SamuelWright, attended Coppin in the ‘70s.“I was a freshman and Darryl’s father was a seniorwhen we met,” Mrs. Richards recalls with a shysmile. After graduating from Coppin, she taughtin the Baltimore City School System for 30 years.Now retired, she still substitutes in the system.A casual “pep talk” from his dad is what reallyled Darryl to Coppin, not his visit to his mother’sclass. Darryl planned to attend Penn State Universityand visited that campus with his dad. As theywere driving home afterwards, the elder RichardsMrs. Joyce Richards, Mr. Sylvester Richards and Mr. Darryl S. Richards all graduated from CSU.talked about “the helpful profs at Coppin, … thefamily atmosphere, and the financial aid …,” Darrylrecalls. “I was impressed …” So impressed thathe decided to attend his parents’ alma mater. Mrs.Richards recalled, “It was his decision but I waspleased when he decided to keep the family traditiongoing.”Darryl Richards not only has been a supportivealumnus but also has worked at Coppin in theDepartment of Natural Sciences as a lab assistantand as an adjunct instructor of biology and generalscience classes.The “tradition” goes beyond talk. In 2002, thefamily established a memorial scholarship fund atCoppin in honor of Mrs. Joyce Richards’ mother.”Student recipients have written tremendous thankyou notes,” Darryl says. “You can’t put a price tagon what you get from Coppin…”As part of his “payback” effort, Darryl servesas an unofficial “ambassador” for Coppin. “I tellteachers that, if you are willing to work, you willget the best education to be had anywhere,” hesays. In 2006, he was awarded a Coppin AppreciationAward for encouraging graduate students.“It’s a privilege to be a part of Coppin’s rich history,”Darryl says, trying to put his alumni status inperspective. His mother puts it more sweetly: “It’slike eating apple pie with ice cream on it.”PHOTO | ANDREW BREZINSKI3
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