[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 98 (Friday, June 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         STATEMENT ON JANE MARGARET O'BRIEN AND TORRE MERINGOLO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 26, 2009

  Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the efforts of 
two individuals who have been key in the success of St. Mary's College 
of Maryland. Unfortunately, both of them have chosen to move on to new 
challenges and will be leaving this summer, so I wanted to reflect on 
the incredible contributions they have both made to the College.
  Jane Margaret O'Brien leaves as the president of St. Mary's College 
of Maryland, having served in that capacity since 1996. Maggie is a 
personal friend and I want to salute her years of leadership as 
President, along with Torre Meringolo, who has served during much of 
that time as Vice President for Development. Together, they brought to 
St. Mary's College a strong reputation for excellence in scholarship, 
research, and community engagement.
  Dr. O'Brien received her bachelor's degree from Vassar College in 
1975 with a major in biochemistry. She completed a Ph.D. in chemistry 
at the University of Delaware in 1981. In her early academic career she 
was a member of the chemistry and biochemistry department at Middlebury 
College where she also served as dean of the faculty. She was president 
of Hollins University from 1991-96.
  Dr. O'Brien received a Kellogg National Leadership Fellowship from 
1989-92, served as an International Fellow with the American 
Association of Colleges and Universities in 1990-91, and was an 
Eisenhower Fellow to Malaysia and Hungary in 1999. She is a member of 
Phi Beta Kappa and the science honors society Sigma Xi. After stepping 
down as president, Dr. O'Brien will continue to work for the College 
with the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies in Oxford, 
England.
  Dr. O'Brien assumed her post in July 1996 and dedicated herself and 
the College to the newly adopted Honors College Curriculum. She 
provided critical guidance to the College's external relations and 
fundraising, which included the $40 million Heritage Campaign in 
support of the faculty's academic leadership, the extension of the 
residential college, and the enhancement of community programs. 
Fundraising during Dr. O'Brien's tenure reshaped the College's 
scholarships, professorships, lecture and learning series, and arts, 
athletic, and community programs. External support made possible the 
Paul H. Nitze Scholars Program, the annual River Concert Series, over 
40 new scholarships, nine endowed professorships and chairs, and many 
student and faculty awards presented at the annual Awards Convocation.
  The Center for the Study of Democracy was established with a $2 
million NEH grant and challenge matches. Private funds now support the 
William Donald Schaefer Internships, the Ben Bradlee Lectures, the 
Andrew Goodpaster Lecture Series and the Patuxent Defense Forum.
  In honoring the successful accomplishments at St. Mary's College 
under Maggie's leadership, we should also recognize the accomplishments 
of Torre Meringolo, who has been instrumental in carrying out much of 
Maggie's vision for the College. Torre also leaves this month after 
serving most of his 15 years at St. Mary's College as the Vice 
President for Development. He has accepted the position of vice 
president for university advancement and external relations at the 
University of Mary Washington.
  Torre leaves a proud record of accomplishment at St. Mary's. Hired 
originally as director of the library and information services, he 
directed a comprehensive modernization effort that encompassed library 
partnerships with the University of Maryland System, raised $2 million 
for library endowment, and provided the foundation for a contemporary 
IT system. Torre's previous employment at the University of 
Massachusetts at Amherst, Penn State University, and UNC Charlotte 
brought a strong knowledge of information systems to St. Mary's, which 
he deftly adapted for a smaller-scale campus with modest resources.
  In concert with Trustee Terry Rubenstein, chair of the board's 
development committee, Torre led a professional development team that 
successfully completed a $40.4 million campaign. During his time, 
endowment funds at the College grew to over $24 million. Torre worked 
to create a modern, professionally run Foundation, which granted over 
$16 million for the College's programs over the past 10 years. His 
passion for supporting students with financial needs made possible the 
graduation of many alumni.
  Under Torre's leadership, the Alumni Office now serves 11,000 proud 
alumni with regular events and mailings to keep alumni involved and 
informed. His work has led to the creation of major campus events such 
as Reunion Weekend, Governor's Cup, Madrigals, and now the River 
Concert Series on the Townhouse Greens, all successful programs that 
bring thousands of alumni and friends to the College annually.
  As Maggie O'Brien and Torre Meringolo depart, St. Mary's College is 
today a nationally recognized leader. Newsweek has called it ``an Ivy-
level College with a public-school price tag.'' It is now consistently 
ranked as one of the best liberal arts schools in the nation by U.S. 
News and World Report, and the Princeton Review named it a ``best value 
college'' this year.
  I want to congratulate Maggie and Torre for their contributions to 
higher education. Their accomplishments at St. Mary's College of 
Maryland have greatly benefitted their community and our State of 
Maryland. Both of them will be sorely missed.

                          ____________________