[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 92 (Thursday, June 18, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S6799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    COMMENDING JANE MARGARET O'BRIEN

 Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I pay special tribute to the 
outstanding accomplishments of Jane Margaret O'Brien, Ph.D. president 
of St. Mary's College since 1996. I was a member of the St. Mary's 
Board of Trustees and have known Maggie for many years. I have the 
utmost respect for her and what she has been able to accomplish at St. 
Mary's during her tenure.
  During her 13 years as president, the College has distinguished 
itself as a premier honors college that excels at scholarship, 
research, creative thinking, community engagement, and an appreciation 
and commitment to world issues, cultures, and communities.
  Dr. O'Brien provided critical guidance to the development of the 
college's external relations and fundraising efforts during its 
transition to the Honors College Curriculum. Fundraising during Dr. 
O'Brien's tenure has profoundly reshaped the college's scholarships, 
professorships, lecture and learning series, arts, athletic, and 
community programs.
  I will provide two examples of Dr. O'Brien's wonderful legacy. The 
Center for the Study of Democracy, an advisory board on which I have 
had the pleasure of serving since 2002, was established with a $2 
million National Endowment for the Humanities--NEH--grant and challenge 
matches. The center is a leading programmatic initiative between the 
college and neighboring Historic St. Mary's City. This relationship 
continues to flourish with the opportunity for students to serve as 
Maryland Heritage Scholars and for faculty from the college and the 
city to serve as Maryland Heritage Fellows.
  The Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, where Dr. O'Brien 
will continue her work for St. Mary's, was founded in 1975 for two 
purposes: to establish in Oxford a permanent institute for the 
interdisciplinary study of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and to 
provide academic training for overseas students who wish to study at 
Oxford.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Maggie O'Brien for her 
stellar leadership at St. Mary's College and in wishing her success in 
her continuing work on behalf of this unique institution.

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