Catalysts for excellence come in all shapes and sizes and from different backgrounds. The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) established the Catalyst for Excellence Awards to honor those who exemplify powerful advocacy for success, achievement, and philanthropy for their respective schools and UMB as a whole.
These honorees serve as visionaries for future progress by exemplifying excellence and inspiration throughout their lives and careers. With 2020 being a year of such ups and downs, the following extraordinary individuals have made UMB, the city of Baltimore, and the state of Maryland better by devoting meaningful time, talent, and resources to numerous worthy causes.
The Doctor of Dental Surgery Class of 2020 rose to meet unprecedented challenges as its final semester at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) was turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did the class members exemplify adaptability and resilience by successfully completing their graduation requirements and dental licensure exams, they also demonstrated significant generosity by donating their class treasury to the UMSOD Emergency Student Assistance Fund to help students experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic.
Elva Elizabeth Tillman, JD ’87, is an active and dedicated alumna of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law with more than 40 years of experience as an administrator, urban planner, applied researcher, university professor, and lawyer. A former member of the Alumni Board, a founding donor to the Larry S. Gibson Fellowship Endowment, a frequent mentor to students, and an advocate for the law school, Tillman exemplifies leadership and service to the Carey School of Law community.
Howard S. Brown is a longtime friend and advocate for the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and the broader UMB community. In gratitude for the medical care and education his family received, he has donated more than $4 million to UMSOM to ensure innovation in trauma care. He also gave $1.5 million to the Carey School of Law in honor of his father, a 1933 graduate. Brown is part of a true legacy family: Two of his three daughters and a son-in-law are UMSOM alums and his granddaughter is a first-year UMSOM student.
Daniel E. Wagner, JD ’62, serves as a powerful advocate for student success through his support of the Pharmapreneurship initiative at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Wagner established a collection of annual endowed scholarships in honor of his family’s legacy at the school, which includes an impressive nine graduates. Wagner has ensured the collection of Wagner Family Scholarships in Pharmapreneurship will be funded each year during his lifetime and continue in perpetuity. This generous support gives students a platform to support research and business ventures.
Ruth J. Lee, DNP ’10, MS ’04, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, has demonstrated her passion, dedication, and generosity as a University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) alumna through impactful volunteer and philanthropic endeavors. She has served as a member-at-large on UMSON’s Alumni Council and is president of the School’s Alumni Association. She spearheaded fundraising initiatives to establish two endowed scholarships — one recognizing the Doctor of Nursing Practice program’s 10th anniversary and one honoring an esteemed faculty member. Lee’s spirit of service and philanthropy serves as a beacon to the UMSON community.
The Positive Schools Center (PSC), a program in the University of Maryland School of Social Work’s Social Work Outreach Service, has been a shining example of a collaborative group of students, faculty, staff, community, and donors who have created significant positive change across Baltimore and the state. Working with individual school leadership, PSC introduces the skills and mindset to proactively and restoratively transform school climate. The team exemplifies commitment, innovation, education, advocacy, and philanthropy, all through the lens of social, racial, and economic justice.
Stars align to celebrate UMB’s Founders Week Virtual Gala. Watch the video.