Maryland Higher Education Commission

March 2010 Press Release

 

 

For immediate release: March 25, 2010                                     Media Contact: Christopher Falkenhagen
                                                                                                             Communications: (410) 260-4511

                                                                                                             cfalkenh@mhec.state.md.us

 

Longtime MHEC Commissioner, Vice Chair Slowinski Retires

Annapolis, MD (March 25, 2010) - Dr. Donald J. Slowinski, Sr., a longtime commissioner on the Maryland Higher Education Commission, retired yesterday.

Dr. Slowinski was presented a Proclamation from Governor O’Malley honoring March 24 as “a day of tribute to Donald Slowinski, Sr., Ed.D., in Maryland and do commend this observance to all of our citizens” by MHEC Chairman Kevin O’Keefe.

 

 

Senator Roy Dyson and Delegate John L. Bohanan, Jr., also provided resolutions honoring Dr. Slowinski’s “longtime service to the Maryland Higher Education Commission as Member and Vice Chairman.”

Dr. Slowinski has dedicated almost 50 years of service to higher education beginning as Director of Admissions at Towson University. He served as a Visiting Professor of Education at John Hopkins University before being named President of Essex Community College in 1990 and then was named President Emeritus of Essex Community College (now part of The Community College of Baltimore County). He retired as Essex’s president in 1996.

In 1997, Dr. Slowinski, who lives in Towson, was appointed as a member of the Commission and was elected Vice Chair in 2002. He stepped down from that post this past February, but remained on the Commission until today.

“Every organization has somebody ever willing to provide help,” O’Keefe said. “Dr. Slowinski is an exemplary person. It’s been my good fortune to work with you and more importantly to learn from you.”

“The Commission owes a great deal of thanks to Dr. Slowinski for his years of volunteer service on the Maryland Higher Education Commission,” said Secretary of Higher Education James E. Lyons, Sr. “His wise counsel was of great benefit to his colleagues, to me and former higher education secretaries. He was always a passionate advocate of higher education in Maryland and a constant presence at nearly all of our meetings. He will truly be missed as both a commissioner and a friend.”

“This is somewhat bittersweet,” Dr. Slowinski said. “It’s been a wonderful experience.”
 

The Maryland Higher Education Commission is a 12-member coordinating board responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and independent colleges and universities and private career schools. It serves as an advocate for more than 350,000 college students in Maryland, for the State and its needs, and for business and industry in Maryland.

 

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