America's Best Leaders: Freeman Hrabowski, University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Reader Comments
An Amazing Individual
There's a term at UMBC, it's called being "Freeman-ized." Until I began my graduate degree at UMBC, I had never experienced such enthusiasm for an individual, a leader.
Dr. H lights up every room he walks into and remembers the face of every person he meets. I first had the pleasure of meeting Dr. H. during my orientation week last fall. My first impression was his commitment to his university. During our orientation dinner, Dr. H. dropped by to officially welcome our class to the university. He knew every professors name and was sure to greet every student. A couple days later, a group of classmates and I ran into Dr. H. as he was showing a legislator around campus. He remembered each of us and introduced us to his guest (then he told us to write the legislator and tell us how important our education is). We all obliged.
At the end of my first semester, Dr. H. came to speak to my class. In an emotional speech, he told us the story of his march in Birmingham that is mentioned in this article. He so vividly painted the picture it felt as if you were there with him. He inspired each of us to follow our dreams and stand up for what we believe in - a hard task when you are dealing with mid-career professionals! I really don't even know what else to say.
If you talk to any UMBC student - undergrad, grad, post-grad - I'm sure they will say the same thing. Dr. H. is an amazing and inspirational individual. Because of Dr. H., I am proud to be a UMBC student.
sir, i want to attend your school,
sir, i want to attend your school, among all the universities i have seen here, i think your school is the best, and am from nigeria. i don't know if it will be possible for me to apply for admission in your school. please if there is any way you can help, please let me know because am so much interested. thanks
Well Deserved
He is what a college campus needs, an inspirational leader. You can clearly see he loves what he does and wants everyone to achieve. The vibe on campus is a very positive one, thanks to his leadership. Intelligence and hard work are valued in all fields. The college leans towards math and science because of his work to increase minorities within these fields. Liberal arts are not ignored, there are a wide range of interesting classes available with fantastic professors. UMBC is a campus representing diversity. Different cultures, religions all living together in harmony in their community. It is a model for what should be seen across the country.
This is not to say UMBC is not fun, its 10 minutes from a city with many many awesome bars and clubs. The universities responsibility is the academic side, not creating a campus of fun! Students control the parties. I have been to and hosted great parties on campus but they don't magically appear - you want a party- make one happen!!
Dr. Hrabowski deserves this award, he is inspiring a generation of young people to achieve and make a difference. Congratulations Sir, you deserve this and more.
Well Deserved
He is what a college campus needs, an inspirational leader. You can clearly see he loves what he does and wants everyone to achieve. The vibe on campus is a very positive one, thanks to his leadership. Intelligence and hard work are valued in all fields. The college leans towards math and science because of his work to increase minorities within these fields. Liberal arts are not ignored, there are a wide range of interesting classes available with fantastic professors. UMBC is a campus representing diversity. Different cultures, religions all living together in harmony in their community. It is a model for what should be seen across the country.
This is not to say UMBC is not fun, its 10 minutes from a city with many many awesome bars and clubs. The universities responsibility is the academic side, not creating a campus of fun! Students control the parties. I have been to and hosted great parties on campus but they don't magically appear - you want a party- make one happen!!
Dr. Hrabowski deserves this award, he is inspiring a generation of young people to achieve and make a difference. Congratulations Sir, you deserve this and more.
Congrats to Dr. Hrabowski
Congrats Dr. Hrabowski,
As Obama says change has come to USA its all because of leaders like who are the living change.
I am proud and privileged to visit your university in 2007 and 2008 with my daughter Nicolle Correa who is studying in PHD and have witnessed the great support you have given the under-privileged and aspiring generation. We salute you as a leader and pray that with you at the helm the United States of America produce many a student to turn around the present financial and economic criss.
Edmund Correa
Mumbai, India
Dreams
Dr. H is a great man, motivator, and dream maker. He indirectly gave me a dream, I never knew I wanted and today I got accepted into my first MD/PhD program. WOW!
Dr. Hrabowski is an excellent leader who has provided many opportunities to me. I first met him as a senior in high school, and he was partly the reason why I chose UMBC. He does focus on math and science, but he does that because that field has a gaping void of minorities who are leaders. Every school can't be everything to everyone. That's life. You're going to have to make some choices. Maybe if you had taken the time to get to know him, you would understand. I took it into my own hands to get to know him, which started with a simple email to him requesting to meet him my freshman year.
The whole "speak louder, you have to project" thing is very, very true. Now as a recent graduate of UMBC, I speak very well in front of people I know and strangers. It was his nagging, and the help from my mentors, that prepared me to succeed in graduate school. It was his and others' encouragement that led to my academic success.
Oh, and this is coming from someone who came to UMBC on a full-academic scholarship and majored in political science. The last time I checked, that belongs in the liberal arts. So, opportunities exist; you just have to take the time to find out about them.
Dr. Hrabowski
Dr. Hrabowski is not just a leader, he is a compassionate man. I completed my doctorate at UMBC in 1995 in Policy Sciences/Health Policy. During the 6 years that it took to endure this difficult program, on more than one occasion I sought the support of the President. Each time he received me and helped me to re-focus myself. The time he took was not pressured nor did he whisk me out of his office. His understanding and support made it possible for me to look beyond the difficulties to see the prize: my PhD. He is a fine human being and genuinely wants to change the world and make it better. I salute him and all of his hard work.
He has a background in the Civil Rights Movement, so he decides to fund mathematics and sciences?
I'm a student at UMBC and will be graduating in May. The reason why I don't respect Freeman is BECAUSE of his very emphasis on mathematics and science. He wants to turn UMBC into a technology-based school rather than sticking to the liberal arts curriculum that most colleges follow. I attended UMBC because I didn't feel like going to a large school like College Park or an STD-filled school like Salisbury and although I had gotten accepted to the school of my dreams (Hampshire College), I couldn't afford it. So, I ended up at UMBC. I can't even tell you how many people I know at my school tell me the exact same thing. UMBC is no wonderland and what Freeman has done for the school is basically stigmatized the Arts, Humanities and Social Science students in favor of the Biology, Computer Science, and Engineering students. Yes, you can go to UMBC and get a B.S. in something, leave the school and then make tons of money making programs for Microsoft or going off to Medical School and being a successful doctor. As a Sociology and Anthropology student at UMBC with a 4.0 GPA, the amount of recognition I have received from the school for my accomplishments has been negligible. I got a $500 scholarship, but aside from that, the administration does not put much weight on the accomplishments of students who are just as proficient as Freeman's Meyerhoff posse, but are simply in a different field. He denigrates students who have chosen non-science based majors. And for someone who was an active player in the Civil Rights Movement, our Africana Studies Department is so underfunded and understaffed, it's sort of ridiculous. So, come to UMBC if you want to have your own little piece of the capitalist dream by becoming a successful scientist who scores an obscenely mundane job after graduation in which you will be pocketing boatloads of money. Enjoy.
Dr Hrabowski is definately a charismatic leader. He is one of the best this nation has to offer. And as for UMBC, UMBC is a school for the very serious academically minded person. Its totally focused on academic excellence and scholarship. UMBC is not the place to party and have mad fun. Probably 95% of social activities and gathering on campus is in some way academically oriented. So i would say if you want to be challenged academically, then UMBC should be your choice. Around here, its all about what you know on paper.
