[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 102 (Wednesday, June 24, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S4595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO DR. WILLIAM E. ``BRIT'' KIRWAN

 Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, as you know, when Senators converse 
in the cloakroom between votes, we often claim bragging rights--who 
represents the State with the best crab cake, which State has the best 
hiking trails, and which baseball team will win the American League 
East division for example. Everyone likes to chime in and claim his or 
her State as the best in some regard. But if anyone mentions leaders in 
higher education, the conversation just stops. Every Senator knows what 
the senior Senator from Maryland and I are going to say--Dr. William E. 
``Brit'' Kirwan. That ends the competition right there. Today I wish to 
honor this man who can rightfully be called one of the Nation's most 
respected leaders in higher education.
  After 51 years in the field of education--spending 25 years as a 
faculty member and administrator at the University of Maryland, College 
Park, president of both the University of Maryland, College Park and 
The Ohio State University, and now as the chancellor of the University 
System of Maryland for the past 12 years--Dr. Kirwan will be retiring 
on June 30, 2015.
  Under Dr. Kirwan's extraordinary leadership, the University System of 
Maryland has thrived. Our State's universities are among the best in 
the Nation, with cutting-edge research programs which support the work 
of private businesses and Federal agencies located nearby, 
internationally renowned academic programs, and diverse student bodies. 
Dr. Kirwan also paved the way for innovative solutions to cut the 
university system's costs while improving quality, expanding 
educational access for minorities, and initiating other successful 
strategies, such as the University System of Maryland's ``Closing the 
Achievement Gap'' program.
  Outside of Maryland, Dr. Kirwan's expertise has been sought by 
Presidents of both parties and the U.S. Congress to offer his input on 
national higher education efforts. Even after he announced his 
retirement, Dr. Kirwan cochaired the Task Force on Federal Regulation 
of Higher Education, and currently serves as the cochair of the Knight 
Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics; chair of the College Board's 
Commission on Access, Admissions, and Success in Education; a member of 
the Business Higher Education Forum and as chair of the National 
Research Council Board of Higher Education and the Workforce.
  His work is not without recognition by the citizens of our State. 
Among his many accolades but not an exhaustive list after his numerous 
years of service, Dr. Kirwan is the recipient of the TIAA-CREF Theodore 
M. Hesburgh Award for Leadership, the Carnegie Corporation Leadership 
Award, the 16th recipient of the Maryland House of Delegates Speaker's 
Medallion in recognition of his contributions to the State of Maryland, 
the Maryland Senate First Citizen Award in recognition of his ongoing 
commitment and service to our State, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 
Education from the Tech Council of Maryland, the Champion of Children 
Award from the Maryland State Department of Education, the Regional 
Visionary Award of the Greater Baltimore Committee, and the Public 
Service Award from the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.
  As impressive as Dr. Kirwan's resume may be, it does not define who 
he is as an individual. Dr. Kirwan is a man of integrity and loyalty 
who maintains a passion for ensuring access to a quality education for 
all. He has been visionary in all things academic and believer in the 
well-being of young men and women. I would also like to thank Dr. 
Kirwan's family for the support they have given to him throughout his 
academic career and for allowing him to so greatly share his talents 
with the people of Maryland.
  Dr. Kirwan's efforts have left the University System of Maryland and 
the State of Maryland both stronger academically and better prepared to 
educate students for the challenges of tomorrow. He has made social 
justice a genuine priority, which has elevated the university system 
even further. Through his vision and actions to establish the then 
Center for Academic Innovation at the University of Maryland, College 
Park, and the legacy of the newly commissioned William E. Kirwan Center 
for Academic Innovation will advance the priorities of Dr. Kirwan to 
address barriers to a college education for decades to come.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Kirwan on 
his well-deserved retirement and thanking Dr. Kirwan for his service 
and commitment to higher education.

                          ____________________