From the Desk of President Maria Thompson October 2018
Dear Coppin Family & Friends, I am so grateful for your many well-wishes, prayers and kind expressions during this additional time that has taken to regain my full strength. You have all been in my constant thoughts and I am looking forward to being back with you in the coming days.
October has always been a very special month on Coppin’s campus. It is the birth month of our namesake, Fanny Jackson Coppin. Her story is one of determination and giving back that resonates as much today as it did in 1865. Fanny Jackson Coppin was born a slave and her freedom was bought by her aunt at the age of 12. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and, at night, taught African Americans reading and writing. Fanny Jackson Coppin went on to teach at what is now, Cheney University, and later became the first African American superintendent of a school district in the United States. After marrying then-pastor of Bethel AME, Levi Coppin, Fanny traveled with her husband to
perform missionary work in South Africa. Fanny Jackson Coppin died in 1913, but left an enduring legacy of self-determination and commitment to education. We celebrate her spirit this month and every day in our commitment to our students.
USM Annual Women’s Conference @ Coppin
I recently read a report that only 16% of director’s seats nationwide, are held by women and that it will take until 2027 to increase that to number to 30%. Those statistics make hosting the University System of Maryland (USM) Annual Women’s conference on Coppin’s campus that much more important. For the last 28 years, the University System of Maryland has hosted a women’s conference created and designed for women, and by women, with the goal of providing tools and strategies to prepare women to thrive personally and professionally. Our very own Associate Vice President of Human Resources, Dr. Lisa Horne Early, is a presenter and will share ways for women to advance and be successful in all aspects of life. The 28th Annual University System of Maryland Women’s Forum will be held on Friday,
October 19, 2018 from 8:30-3:00 p.m. This year’s theme is; Empower, Develop, Engage. Women interested in attending can register here: ttps://usmwf2018conference.weebly.com/registration.html Space is limited.
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Foundation Merit Scholarship Induction Ceremony
CSU will induct sixteen new members into the Foundation Merit Scholarship Donor Society on October 13, 2018, at the Donors and Scholars Breakfast to be held at Martin’s Valley Mansion. A reception for all FMS donors will be held at the Chancellor's residence on Friday, October 12, 2018. Established in 2012, a total of 47 FMS donors have been inducted over the past 5 years. Each FMS represents a $25,000 scholarship endowment. We are so proud of these Coppin Scholars, for what they have already achieved, and what they surely will achieve in the coming years!
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Celebrating Fanny Jackson Coppin
On Monday, October 15, 2018, at 9:00 a.m., we will gather for a very special birthday celebration – that of our namesake, Fanny Jackson Coppin. Mayor Catherine Pugh will issue a special Mayoral Proclamation designating October 15th “Fanny Jackson Coppin Day” in the City of Baltimore and will join us, along with other specially-invited guests, in honor of Fanny Jackson Coppin’s enduring legacy and example. We hope you will plan to join us – additional details will be provided in advance.
Donors and Scholars Breakfast No gift is too big or too small. The generosity of those who wish to contribute to advancing Coppin’s legacy is so inspiring to us all. Our donors have a deep commitment to ensuring that our students succeed in college and in life. For this reason, we bring together donors and recipients at our annual Donors and Scholars Breakfast. This year’s event will take place on October 13. We look forward to honoring these devoted individuals and to highlighting all
that they continue to make possible.
PNC and Money Matters According to a recent report, student loan default rates more than doubled between 2003 and 2011. Approximately 40 percent of borrowers are expected to fall behind on their loans by 2023. PNC Bank has a goal to increase financial literacy among college students. PNC University Banking is hosting a free webcast; A Comedic Guide to Money with educator, author and certified financial counselor, Colin Ryan. Though a serious matter, the webcast will be a light-hearted approach to practical money skills.
Dr. Garey Hyatt & NADSA Congratulations to assistant professor of Visual and Performing Arts, Dr. Garey Hyatt, who has again been named vice president of the National Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts (NADSA). It’s also been recently announced that the NADSA conference will again be held at Coppin State, from April 3-6, 2019. The NADSA conference includes workshops in musical theater, production design, acting for film and the art of movement, as well as competitive events in persuasive speaking, dramatic monologues, duo-acting, oral poetry interpretation and a readers’ theatre.
Congratulations to Dr. Hyatt on these wonderful accomplishments.
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Girls in Computer Science @ Coppin Last month, Coppin hosted a Girls in CS (Computer Science) Summit. More than 70 middle school and high school girls from Baltimore City and Baltimore County attended the conference. The conference was aimed at exposing young women to computer science education, through workshops, panels, and networking with leading industry professionals. A very special thanks to Dr. Leshell Hatley for leading this effort on behalf of the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science.
Constitution Day and the Mid-Term Elections There has been a great deal of discussion around the importance of this year’s upcoming mid-term elections. Last month, we took advantage of that momentum, and joined several other colleges nationally in commemorating the formation and signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787. On campus activities included discussion around the film, 13th, a voter registration drive, and events aimed at increasing awareness of individual and constitutional rights.
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This year’s official start of the Basketball season will kick-off with Midnight Mayhem on October 11, 2018. In addition to our annual activities, Dr. Mary Wanza and former women’s basketball coach, Derek Brown will be honorary coaches for an alumni basketball game. Please plan to come out and support the Eagles! The event starts at 7:00 p.m. in the Physical Education Complex.
Theater Lab Production Coppin Repertory Theatre presents Ntozake Shange’s, " . . . for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf" in the Theatre Lab on the Lower Level of the Grace Hill Jacobs Building. Please join us for this important presentation directed by Mama Rashida Forman-Bey, a Coppin urban arts senior and one of the founding directors of WombWork Productions. The show runs October 4-8. For times and details, visit https://www.coppin.edu/events/year/2018/month/10.; Click one of the performance dates and click again in the information that appears.
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