College of Education welcomes four new members of Alumni Chapter Board of Directors

COLLEGE PARK, MD (December 2007) – The College of Education's Alumni Chapter Board of Directors plays an integral role in sustaining and nurturing the college's connection to its over 37,000 graduates. The board sponsors many activities and events for alumni and supports the college's strategic goals and initiatives. The chapter's continuing success is a reflection of engaged volunteers who dedicate their time and talent to serve as board members. This year four new members were elected to the board:

James Robert McGowan (Ph.D., '80-Administration, Supervision and Curriculum) is a senior faculty associate and coordinator for the Administration and Supervision Program at Johns Hopkins University's School of Education. Previously he served as the associate superintendent of Administrative Services for Howard County Public Schools. In addition he has held the role of instructional director of High Schools, principal, assistant principal, and teacher. McGowan has been an active member of the Grants in Aid Committee for Howard County, the Horizon Foundation's Board of Trustees, and the Howard County Personnel Board. He was also co-chair of the Maryland State Department of Education Committee to Implement Quality Leadership Initiatives in concert with No Child Left Behind. McGowan has been recognized with the Excellence in Teaching Award from Johns Hopkins, the Glen Burnie Jaycees' Man of the Year award, and an Outstanding Marylander award from the Maryland Jaycees. In addition to his Maryland degree, he holds a M.Ed. in administration and supervision from Loyola College in Baltimore.

Pierre A. Colombel, Sr. (Ed.D., '95 -Curriculum and Instruction) retired in 1995 from the federal government where he worked for the Indian Health Service as the director of Human Resources. After retirement he joined an international company and began working for the United Nations in New York, Africa and Europe. His Organization Development practice included such clients as Loyola College, Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ; International Fund for Agricultural Development in Rome, Italy; Luken Steel Company in Conshohocken and Coatsville, Penn., and the University of Maryland Medical Systems in Baltimore, Md. Colombel has been an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University for 12 years. Prior to his work with the federal government he worked with the Community Action Programs in Michigan, New York, West Virginia and Annapolis, Md. His community service activities have included IMPACT Silver Spring-a community based organization that provides assistance and training to local residents-and the CHRA inner-city high school program for outstanding teens. Colombel also holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland University College and has completed studies at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland and the International Gestalt Institute in Cape Cod.

Patricia F. Kinney (Ph.D., '87 - Curriculum and Instruction; M.Ed., '81-Elementary Education; B.A.,'73-Psychology) heads the Country Day School in McLean, Va., which provides educational programs for over 300 children ranging from two to six years old. Prior to this she served as the federal government's nationwide director of Work/Life Programs. She received the agency's highest recognition-the Director's Award-for two consecutive years. Kinney also worked in the Office for Employees with Disabilities at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Her other past leadership roles include serving as the National Child Care Program manager at the General Services Administration and as program manager of the National Science Foundation's first child care center. She was also a consultant for the Department of Education. Kinney received her legal training at the National Education Law Institute. Prior to joining the federal government she worked at the University of Maryland in the Office of Laboratory Experiences and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She has taught at The George Washington University and Charles County Community College as well. Kinney has been recognized as a University of Maryland College of Education Distinguished Alumna of the Year and was chosen as one of the college's 75 outstanding alumnae at its 75th anniversary celebration.

Roberta Theis (M.Ed., '72-Elementary Education; B.S., '70-Special Education) is a realtor with Long and Foster Real Estate. Prior to this she held senior management positions with AT&T, Bell Canada and Velocita Communications over a 25-year career in telecommunications. As a board member of Kleimann Communications, the Benedictine Foundation, and L'Arche Foundation, she has helped direct their business strategies and participated in the fund raising activities of non-profit and for-profit entities. Theis began her professional career as a special education teacher in Maryland and New Mexico. For several years she advocated for the special needs of her handicapped son, who now lives in a District of Columbia group home. She also has a daughter who practices medicine in North Carolina. In addition to her Maryland degrees, Theis earned a M.B.A. from The George Washington University.

These new members join the present Alumni Chapter Board of Directors: Toni Ungaretti-President, Carl E. Anderson-Vice President, Robert Ramin-Treasurer, Jennifer Roland-Secretary, Shannon Ambush, Mary Batcher, James DeGeorge, Noah Jampol, Catherine M. Kern, Carla Malozowski-Kieval, Jody K. Olsen, Holly Breault, Thomas M. Saunders, Darla Fishbein Strouse, Jane West, Irene M. Zoppi, and Michele A. Zurad. Brief biographies of all the board members are available at www.education.umd.edu/infofor/alumniandfriends.html.

For more information on the College of Education Alumni Chapter and its activities, contact Pat Costantino, Director of Alumni Relations, pmc4@umd.edu.