America's Best Leaders: Freeman Hrabowski, University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Seeding the campus with Meyerhoff Scholars as role models was one of Hrabowski's first blows against what he sees as a self-destructive subculture prevalent in too many communities and ethnic groups, a subculture in which those who get good grades are held in contempt for being weak or effeminate, or for "selling out" or "acting white."
Many of his moves have been unconventional and sometimes controversial. He won't fund a varsity football team, but, to attract world-class minds, he funds big scholarships for chess players (many from Eastern Europe). And he stages big celebrations when the chess team wins national championships. Hrabowski pushes professors to replace boring lectures with more active lessons and to create opportunities for students to work and study in groups. He pumps students to give back by tutoring or mentoring younger kids.
It's working. Hrabowski has turned the 12,300-student school into one of the nation's biggest producers of technology graduates. The 20-year-old Meyerhoff program alone has graduated more than 600 students in the sciences, 69 of whom have gone on to earn M.D. or doctoral degrees. Overall, 43 percent of the nearly 1,900 diplomas UMBC handed out in June were for math, engineering, or science. And UMBC's student technology pipeline is growing. The number of white science majors at UMBC has almost doubled, to nearly 1,300, since 1985. The number of African-American UMBC undergraduates majoring in science or engineering has increased sevenfold, to more than 400.
Perhaps most important, Hrabowski's influence is spreading beyond Catonsville, Md. Skidmore College in New York, for example, has launched a similar program to recruit and support low-income and underrepresented youths.
Trickle down. And it is spreading down to youngsters in their most formative years, such as 13-year-old Brandon Giles. A year ago, Giles was just one of thousands of fatherless, failing youngsters in Baltimore. Then, his mother signed him up for a new, boys-only charter middle school focused on science that was cofounded by a friend of Hrabowski. At first, Giles didn't like spending six days a week, year-round, at a no-girls school. Last fall, Giles continued to get into trouble and was bristling at teachers' attempts to rein in his behavior. He asked for advice from one of the Meyerhoff scholars who volunteered Saturdays at the Bluford Drew Jemison S.T.E.M. Academy in East Baltimore. "He said, 'Don't let people bring you down. You have to run with' " whatever punishment and assignments teachers mete out. So now, Giles says, "If they say, 'Go to detention,' I go to detention. If they tell me to write 15 pages, I write 15 pages."
Last spring, Giles made the honor roll. His new ambition is to get a degree from UMBC and become a police officer. "I want to create a mentoring program for kids who grow up without their fathers," as he did, Giles says.
Hrabowski has never met Giles. But the mathematician in him would appreciate this proof of the transitive properties of leadership. He has helped create another generation of good students, eager to inspire the generation after them.
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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.
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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.
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