Chesapeake College Foundation Builds Student Success with Scholarships
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Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown
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Chesapeake College celebrated the opening of the 23-24 academic year with an enrollment increase and a new brand.
Faculty, staff and community stakeholders gathered for the annual State of the College address and a local leader status report where President Clifford P. Coppersmith introduced Chesapeake’s new brand and shared news of a 10 percent increase in credit student enrollment compared to last fall.
“Chesapeake has grown, and our mission has evolved with the world around us in recent years—all while the market for higher education has become increasingly competitive,” Dr. Coppersmith said. “It was essential that we assessed both who we are and how we are perceived to develop a consistent and unified message—not just visually but also in our actions.”
Chesapeake conducted a nationwide competitive bid search for a firm to develop a comprehensive new brand. VisionPoint Marketing of Raleigh, N.C. was awarded the contract. The specialty higher education firm performed the research, analysis, and creative work on Chesapeake’s brand during the last year.
Market analysis and extensive research—including community surveys and focus groups—informed development of the brand pillars and logo. While Chesapeake College used outside firms for logo development in the past, this project marks the first time the college contracted with a vendor to conduct such in-depth research and analysis.
In addition to gathering comments and perceptions from more than 1,200 stakeholders within the service community, VisionPoint led the college through deep self-reflection to build brand pillars on the foundation of the institution’s history, core values and aspirations.
The end result, Dr. Coppersmith said, is a comprehensive brand that pays tribute to Chesapeake’s nearly 60-year history as the educational, cultural and economic development hub for the Mid-Shore.
Chesapeake College Director of Marketing and College Relations Danielle Darling said Chesapeake needed a new brand that that can carry the college into the future,“ Chesapeake’s audiences are vast and diverse. We need a brand that resonates with each of these groups as an authentic representation of the College and to reinforce our unique selling proposition,” Ms. Darling said.
She added, “One of our new branding pillars is ‘connector to what’s next.’ This particular brand pillar has the most value for our students,” Ms. Darling said. “We connect students to high-quality education, to training, to universities, to employment and local industries, personal enrichment, and so much more. This reflects our position at the heart of this region and as the conduit to changing peoples’ lives.”
After all the research and exploratory work were completed, the consultants and the Chesapeake community delved into several visual interpretations of their findings, ultimately moving toward an abstract expression of forward movement, suggestive of the iconic skipjack.
“We didn’t want to have a literal skipjack, we wanted to build on this idea of connection and momentum—of meeting students where they are and getting them to their next destination, moving the community forward, one student at a time—which is really the central story of our brand.” “The idea that the skipjack, historically, was a working-class vessel with strong connections in our region was important as well,” Ms. Darling said. “We wanted to represent that in an abstract way, not only to stand out in an area that uses a great deal of nautical imagery, but to make it unique to Chesapeake College, and more accessible and approachable to our audience.”
Ms. Darling explained the negative space in the icon illustrates the rigging of a skipjack, perfectly symbolizing the connections Chesapeake helps build for its students and the community at large.
The new logo features modern hues of Chesapeake’s traditional blue and green colors, with new shades of gold and orange. A deep coral red rounds out the new brand color palette.
Five segments represent the individual identities and unity of the five counties in Chesapeake’s service region. A bold serif font blends the past and future in Chesapeake’s new visual identity.
When paired with the name “Chesapeake College,” the College becomes the wind pushing the shape forward—the force that moves students and the community forward, connecting them to what’s next.
To explore the new look, visit www.chesapeake.edu/brand
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Alice Hubbard of Unionville was named Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) of the Year during the 2023 recognition event at Chesapeake College. More than 25 CNAs from across the region were nominated for the award, which recognizes excellence in the field and dedication to patients. Ms. Hubbard has been a CNA for 30 years and works for Home Instead. The winner, center, is pictured here with Mid-Shore Certified Nursing Assistant Advisory Council members, left to right, Elizabeth Scudder of Caroline Nursing and Rehabilitation; Linda Houchens of Chesapeake College; Deanna Tobin of Chesapeake College, Nancy Pippin of Chesapeake College; Tara Simpkins of Corsica Hills; Marion Donahu
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A. Reza Jafari of Talbot County is the new chair of the Chesapeake College Board of Trustees.
Mr. Jafari, a trustee since 2018, now leads the 10-member body charged with oversight at Chesapeake. Milton Nagel of Caroline County will serve as the vice chair.
“I am honored to chair the Chesapeake College Board of Trustees and will do my utmost in diligently working with College leadership in serving our five Counties and delivering on our committed stewardship of students’ success,” said Mr. Jafari.
In addition to his role with the Board of Trustees, Mr. Jafari is a board member of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges. He also serves on the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Government Relations and Policy Committee and as the ACCT State Coordinator for Maryland;, and a board member of the India, China, and America Institute.
Mr. Jafari is the Chairman, CEO and Founder of e-Development International. Based in Easton, e-Development International is an executive advisory group that promotes, facilitates and participates in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives for transformational leadership, social entrepreneurships and change, strategic alliances and ecosystems development, connected healthcare, e-education, smart cities and connected communities.
Mr. Jafari succeeds Robert Grace, whose term as chair ended July 1. He worked closely with Dr. Clifford Coppersmith to guide Chesapeake out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Of Mr. Grace’s tenure as Board chair, President Coppersmith said, “Bob’s leadership allowed Chesapeake to weather the unprecedented challenges to the institution during a global pandemic. Throughout his time with the board, he has been a critical link to the region’s business community. Bob is keenly aware of Chesapeake’s role in preparing the local workforce and bolstering economic development on the Eastern Shore.”
Chesapeake’s Board of Trustees is comprised of two members from each of the five support counties. Members are appointed to five-year terms by the governor.
For information about the Chesapeake College Board of Trustees, please visit
https://www.chesapeake.edu/
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Business leader and Chesapeake College graduate Robby Sheehan will deliver the address to graduates at Chesapeake College’s Commencement on Wednesday, May 24 at 2 pm in the Todd Performing Arts Center.
At just 33, Mr. Sheehan has already had a varied career building success as a business leader, a policy advisor, a pastor, and an advocate. His is a story of success through academic excellence, and an appreciation for both opportunities and mentorship.
A 2009 graduate of Chesapeake College, Mr. Sheehan was co-recipient of the John T. Harrison Award. Mr. Sheehan began his Chesapeake years as a dual enrollment student at Kent Island High School.
Mr. Sheehan was an outstanding student at Chesapeake earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average and receiving the college’s top student honor. He was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and the All-Maryland Academic Team.
With his achievements at Chesapeake, Mr. Sheehan earned a full Board of Regents academic scholarship to the University System of Maryland.
His success continued at Salisbury University where he graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in applied political science. That academic success led to employment with the university. At 22, he was appointed director of government and community relations. As the university’s advocate to the federal, state, and local governments, he secured funding for key projects including: $106 million for the construction of a new academic library, $900,000 for a public radio project, $425,000 for a turf field replacement, and $300,000 for the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art
Fulfilling his dream to attend an Ivy League institution, Mr. Sheehan earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania.
A member of the Chesapeake College Foundation Board since 2019, Mr. Sheehan has been president of the organization since 2022. Serving on the Foundation Board, Mr. Sheehan said, is one way of giving back to the institution that he says has been foundational in his life.
“Chesapeake College, its faculty, staff, and administrators, have done more for me than I can ever imagine,” he said. “Truly, I would not be where I am today without Chesapeake. From the people who inspired me in the classroom to those who helped me identify scholarship
Mr. Sheehan, currently an area manager, has been employed with BBSI since 2018. He was recently tasked with overseeing a significant expansion of the company’s territory on the East Coast. In his role at BBSI, Mr. Sheehan received the CEO’s inaugural ‘Branch of the Year Award’ in 2020.
In addition to his volunteer work for Chesapeake College, Mr. Sheehan has served numerous community organizations on Delmarva. He currently serves on the executive board for the Kent Sussex Leadership Alliance.
He lives in Camden Wyoming, DE, with his wife, Erin, and their two sons.
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Workforce training on the Eastern Shore took a leap forward recently with the award of $2.5 million in federal and state funds for training programs at Chesapeake College.
The college offers a variety of both credit and noncredit classes designed to help students prepare for transfer to four-year institutions, immediate entry into a career, or enhancement of work-related skills.
In one of the last federal legislative actions of 2022, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) secured $1.2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for workforce training at Chesapeake College in the fiscal year 2023 omnibus funding bill signed by President Biden during the final week of the year.
“Investing in our workers is essential to building an economy where everyone has a chance to succeed. That’s why we secured this direct federal investment for Chesapeake College’s workforce training program. These funds will equip more Marylanders with valuable skills that will help them attain good-paying jobs, including those that will be in high-demand as we’re also making historic investments in modernizing our infrastructure. I will keep working to support the growth of our skilled workforce and bring greater opportunity to the people of our state,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee.
Senator Cardin said, “Congressionally Directed Spending is designed to meet the local needs of our communities, which is exactly what Chesapeake College continues to do for Eastern Shore workers and employers. Team Maryland will keep working to promote federal investments that help train our students in the very skills that will help our communities today and into the future.”
The $1.2 million in federal funds will support expansion of Chesapeake’s popular welding program. Through Chesapeake’s program, students learn skills for high-demand jobs in the region. Program expansion includes a mobile welding training lab designed to reach students where they live and work.
Funds will also be used for the creation of an Advanced Manufacturing Program that will provide training in Computer-Aided Design, Computer-Aided Manufacturing, Computer Numerical Control Plasma, Computer Numerical Control Router, 3D printing, universal laser systems and robotics.
“We have exciting plans for expansion of our workforce training programs and these funds will help us reach our program goals,” said Chesapeake President Clifford P. Coppersmith. “Both Senator Van Hollen and Senator Cardin are strong supporters of Chesapeake’s mission, and of our role in driving economic development on the Eastern Shore. We’re grateful to have support at the local, state and national levels for these critical workforce programs.”
Chesapeake also received $1.35 million from the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund with support from Caroline, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties.
The college will use these funds to expand Marine Trades programming, enhance Marine Trades lab spaces, acquire an on-site learning vessel and hire additional personnel.
A coordinator position will be created to build an Advanced Manufacturing Program, develop the program curriculum and select necessary equipment.
A new navigator will be a liaison between the local business community and Chesapeake’s proposed Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
New staff will be added to recruit for the trades programs, and to provide advising and tutoring for trades students.
In addition, Chesapeake will increase workforce training options in Dorchester County with a proposed auxiliary truck driver instruction site.
“Both area businesses and their prospective employees will benefit from the training these funds will help us provide,” Dr. Coppersmith said. “Our workforce students will have enhanced learning experiences and more options as they prepare for new careers in promising industries.”
For more information about Workforce Training at Chesapeake, please contact [email protected]
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Nationally, Upward Bound boasts alumni such as actress Viola Davis and broadcast journalist John Quinones among their ranks. Leaders in business, science, entertainment, and education credit their preparation for future success to the federal program designed to help teens reach their full potential as adults.
For more than 50 years, Upward Bound has been preparing students in -need for college and success after graduation. Students in the program receive guidance and resources from 9th grade through college. Founded in 1965, it was the first federally funded program to help low-income and first-generation students succeed in higher education and attain middle class status. Locally, the program helped students through the mid-1990s.
Now Upward Bound is back on the Mid-Shore thanks to three federal grants awarded to Chesapeake College this year.
“It seems that every day I hear of someone who benefitted from an Upward Bound experience,” said Executive Director of TRiO Programs Christle Foster. “The skills attained and guidance provided through the program are proven to help students succeed in high school, through college, and on into their early careers.”
Students in the program will receive academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, career exploration, cultural enrichment and stipends.
Students in Caroline, Kent and Talbot counties can now join the program this academic year. Combined, the three federal grants will allow 180 area high school students to participate in the program at Chesapeake.
Chesapeake recently named Mark Berry to be director of TRiO Upward Bound. Mr. Berry previously served as Chesapeake’s director of student engagement.
The Upward Bound application is now open online and Mr. Berry has been meeting with potential participants in area schools and in the community. Mr. Berry said students are encouraged to apply now, and plan to begin participating in the program by the beginning of Spring Semester.
“Our partners in the county high schools are as excited about the program as we are, and we’re working together to recruit students, “ Mr. Berry said.
With the proliferation of businesses designed to help high school students navigate college admissions and rising higher education costs, the barriers to college can seem impossibly high to some high school students.
First generation students – those who have parents without bachelor’s degrees – are at an even greater disadvantage. Unfamiliar with the language of higher education and inexperienced, these students are unable to turn to their families for help. The only guidance they receive is provided by school counselors, who may have hundreds of students to assist.
Upward Bound academic coordinators will help guide students through the college admissions and financial aid process with workshops and field trips. Students will also learn to recognize good opportunities and how to build professional connections.
Participation in the program can also boost a student’s high school performance.
“The program includes grade monitoring, so our academic coordinators can see how Upward Bound students are doing throughout the quarter. They can provide encouragement and guide students to available resources,” Mr. Berry said. “Those check-ins aren’t limited to academics. Our staff will communicate regularly with students to make sure they’re thriving outside of the classroom and connect them with community resources such as mental health services or local food pantries. We’re taking a holistic approach to student success.”
Also included in the program, is a six-week, intensive summer session designed to keep students on track for continued success as they transition to the next grade. Each of the six weeks will include days with an academic focus and one day of enrichment, according to Ms. Foster. For graduating high school seniors in Upward Bound, a summer bridge program will include two Chesapeake classes for college credit. These credits can provide a head start at Chesapeake College or be transferred to a four-year college.
To learn more about the program and apply, please visit https://www.chesapeake.edu/
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Darius Johnson, a Kent County native and current Talbot County resident, is the newest member of the Chesapeake College Foundation Board.
Mr. Johnson is the Northeast Regional Director for the ACE Mentor Program of America, an award-winning, afterschool program designed to attract high school students into pursuing careers in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering industry, including skilled trades.
“I couldn’t be more excited to work with Darius,” said Amber McGinnis, Executive Director of the Chesapeake College Foundation. “His extensive experience in the local, non-profit world paired with his current position and background in the skilled trades will contribute great value to the Board. We look forward to the business and industry connections Darius can bring, as we continue expanding and creating new workforce training programs here at the College.”
Previously, Mr. Johnson served as the first Executive Director of Kent Attainable Housing, which helps low-to-moderate income families in Kent County achieve homeownership. Johnson’s other work experiences includes Communications and Community Revitalization at Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, and Strategic Outreach and Program Management at the Maryland Center for Construction Education & Innovation, Development Operations at Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology and Global Business Analytics at Prometric.
Additionally, Mr. Johnson is a Senior Fellow with the Environmental Leadership Program and a Community Curation Fellow with Chesapeake Heartland: An African American Humanities Project at Washington College’s Starr Center.
Mr. Johnson is a 2015 graduate of Washington College, where he studied Business Management, Political Science, and Philosophy.
He is currently enrolled in Goucher College’s Master of Historic Preservation Program where he will focus on developing the preservation trades workforce and rural preservation initiatives.
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Advancement professional, Dorchester County native, and former assistant professor Amber Tolley McGinnis returns to Chesapeake College as the new Director of Development and Executive Director for the Chesapeake College Foundation.
In her role, Ms. McGinnis leads and directs the College’s resource development efforts with an emphasis on private and philanthropic fundraising. She also manages grant efforts, identifying funding priorities and developing/executing an annual grant strategic plan. As the Executive Director of the Chesapeake College Foundation, Ms. McGinnis manages the operations of the Foundation including all fiscal responsibilities.
“Having grown up here on the Shore, I’ve always gotten great satisfaction from helping my family, friends, and neighbors achieve their goals and dreams here at Chesapeake College. And in my new role, I’m looking forward to playing a part in the bigger picture–raising funds that can help fuel those transformations,” Ms. McGinnis said.
She added, “Scholarship support is crucial for many of our students to pursue their educational goals. It is also essential for the College to provide leading-edge technology in our instructional labs – whether for computer science, health professions, or skilled trades. The training and education that we deliver at Chesapeake College not only helps to better the lives of our students, but also provides the qualified workers for many of our local businesses, resulting in a positive impact on our local economy here on the Shore.”
With more than 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, Ms. McGinnis specializes in education communications. At Chesapeake College, she has held both faculty and leadership positions: Assistant Professor of Communication, Faculty Vice-Chair, Director of the Honors Program, and Interim Director of the Cambridge Center. She was also the College’s 2018-2020 Stuart M. Bounds Distinguished Teaching Chair.
“I am grateful to have a skilled hand and great leader who understands Chesapeake and the community we serve,” said President Clifford Coppersmith. “Amber brings a wonderful level of enthusiasm and understanding of our mission to her work.”
Most recently, Ms. McGinnis was the Assistant Director for Communications and Outreach at Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience. Returning to Chesapeake in a new role, Ms. McGinnis said, brings new opportunities to connect area residents with all the programs and services available at the college.
“I look forward to working with Michelle Hall, our Director of Constituent Engagement and Event Management. Together we will continue building relationships with industry and community leaders throughout our five-county service region, so the College can remain an engine for economic growth on the Shore.”
Through her experience teaching community college students and her own personal journey, Ms. McGinnis learned the power of education to transform lives.
“The 14 years I’ve spent in the classroom at Chesapeake College has given me an intimate view into how education can be truly transformative,” Ms. McGinnis said. “And as a first-generation college graduate myself, I know the grit and self-confidence you gain from achieving something you’ve worked long and hard for–it translates into all aspects of a person’s life.”
One of the first priorities Ms. McGinnis will oversee is raising funds to support expanding the college’s skilled trades education. These funds will bolster programs like welding and marine trades, as well as introduce new initiatives in advanced manufacturing technology. Demand for quality, trained workers in these areas continues to run high on the Shore, and the college has seen tremendous interest from students to enter these fields.
Additionally, Ms. McGinnis looks forward to working with the Chesapeake College Foundation’s Board of Directors, whose members oversee the direction of the Foundation and represent all five counties within the college’s service region. The Chesapeake College Foundation builds the resources to support scholarships, teaching and learning, innovative projects, and local partnerships at Chesapeake College, serving the wide-ranging needs of the community
Ms. McGinnis is a graduate of Cambridge-South Dorchester High School, holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mass Communications from Towson University, and a Master’s of Arts in Publications Design from the University of Baltimore. A resident of Cambridge, she is married and has two children.
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Dr. Linda Singh, Executive Director at TEDCO Maryland and former Major General in the Maryland National Guard, will deliver the graduate address at the Chesapeake College 2022 Commencement on Wednesday, May 25 at 2 p.m. in the Todd Performing Arts Center.
With over 30 years of leadership, consulting, and systems integration experience, having served in various senior executive level positions, Dr. Linda Singh offers a blend of public and private sector experience that spans health, defense, state, and local government.
Dr. Singh previously served as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kaleidoscope Affect, LLC providing leadership and strategic advisory services for a variety of clients. Prior to that she served as a Major General in the Maryland National Guard, dedicating more than 38 years of service. As the Adjutant General and a Cabinet Secretary she was responsible for the Maryland Military Department. As part of her military role, she worked with senior level officials at ministerial and ambassador levels in Estonia and Bosnia developing country strategies under the Department of Defense State Partnership Program. Dr. Singh retired from Accenture in 2016, she was a Managing Director in the Health and Public Service North America Operating Unit where she served for 21 years.
Dr. Singh personally mentors, coaches, and speaks on leadership, diversity, adversity, career transition and issues that plague women and veterans in the workplace. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business, a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Strategic Studies and a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. She is the author of “Moments of Choice: My path to leadership” and “What’s in Your Box.”
Dr. Singh is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Gallup Strengths Coach and John Maxwell certified trainer and speaker. She has received numerous awards, among them are the 2013 DiversityMBA Top 100 under 50 Diverse Emerging Leaders, The Network Journal 25 Influential Black Women in Business Award for 2014 and recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for 2015. She was also inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame in March 2015.
For more information about Commencement 2022 at Chesapeake College, please visit https://www.chesapeake.edu/
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