[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19924]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            THE RETIREMENT OF DR. WILLIAM E. ``BRIT'' KIRWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 9, 2015

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my friend Brit Kirwan on 
the occasion of his retirement as Chancellor of the University System 
of Maryland.
  Brit is a true Terp, beginning his career as an assistant professor 
at the University of Maryland, College Park before rising to serve as 
its President in 1989. For the past 12 years, he has been Chancellor of 
the University System, where his passion for education and sincere 
desire to improve the lives and opportunity for Maryland students 
leaves an indelible mark on our state. He is also a respected national 
voice on higher education issues, helping to shape policy for greater 
accessibility, affordability, and quality.
  It has been a great privilege to know and work with Brit over the 
years. His leadership has been transformative--opening the doors of 
higher education to underrepresented communities, establishing new 
partnerships with federal agencies, local schools, and the private 
sector, and ensuring that the University System of Maryland is a 
dynamic place of learning. I have always valued his thoughtful counsel.
  Many of us were sorry to see Brit leave Maryland in 1998 when he 
became president of Ohio State University, but we were happy to welcome 
him back home in 2002. Now, as Brit takes his well-deserved retirement, 
his legacy is felt by every student who steps on a Maryland campus. I 
thank him for his many years of service, and wish him all the best.

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