Maria Thompson Appointed President of Coppin State University

Dr. MARIA THOMPSON, Ph.D.
President
COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY

ADELPHI, Maryland -- James L. Shea, chair of the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents, announced (May 19, 2015) the appointment of Maria Thompson, Ph.D. as president of Coppin State University. Thompson is currently the provost and vice president for academic affairs at the State University of New York at Oneonta (SUNY Oneonta).

Thompson has held her position at SUNY Oneonta since 2011 after spending 13 years as a leading administrator for research and sponsored programs at Tennessee State University, a historically black institution in Nashville, Tennessee.

Thompson's appointment is effective July 1.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Thompson as president of Coppin State University," said Chairman Shea. "Her background as a top-level academic leader at SUNY-Oneonta, and her earlier experience in building a research enterprise at an urban historically black institution, position her well to advance Coppin as a vital institution in Baltimore and the state."

Coppin State University, a historically black institution, is an urban liberal arts campus anchored in northwest Baltimore. Founded in 1900, Coppin State offers 33 majors and 12 graduate degree programs with courses in nursing, business, teacher education, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

"I look forward to working with the faculty, staff, students and other stakeholders to continue the university's commitment to preparing graduates who are analytical, socially responsible and lifelong learners," Thompson said. "Urban higher education plays a vital role in shaping the future of local, national and global communities and I am excited about joining a campus with a rich legacy of community engagement."

As the chief academic officer for SUNY Oneonta, Thompson has led the educational mission for a public, regional comprehensive university offering bachelor's and master's degrees to 6,000 students. She has overseen institutional accreditation, institutional planning and assessment, and professional development of more than 500 full- and part-time faculty members. She initiated the first academic master plan for the campus and implemented a plan for restructuring the division of academic affairs to strengthen the university's long-term strategic position.

"Dr. Thompson has had such an impressive career in higher education," said USM Chancellor William E. "Brit" Kirwan. "In her four years at SUNY Oneonta, she has led an impressive university-wide effort to advance the quality of the institution's academic programs. Her leadership of the research programs at Tennessee State University is equally impressive. Her time at TSU is especially relevant as she assume the leadership of Coppin State University because, like CSU, it is a historically black institution in an urban setting. We are very fortunate to have found a person of Dr. Thompson's quality to lead CSU into the future.

"I also want to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to the presidential search-and-screen committee. Under the skilled direction of Michael Cryor, the committee of faculty, staff, students, and community representatives worked diligently and effectively to identify a pool of highly accomplished applicants from which Dr. Thompson rose to the top."

At SUNY Oneonta, in addition to the successful reaffirmation of the college's accreditation, Thompson led the implementation of a new budget model for academic programs. She is vice chair of the SUNY Association of Chief Academic Officers, an organization of provosts from all 64 SUNY campuses. At Tennessee State, Thompson developed and executed a plan that increased externally funded projects to more than $45 million by focusing on grants and contracts that provided experiential learning opportunities for students.

Thompson graduated from Tennessee State University and holds an M.S. from the Ohio State University in textiles. She earned her doctorate in textile science and textile economics from the University of Tennessee. She completed the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University in 2011 and, in 2013, completed the Spectrum Executive Leadership Program sponsored by the American Council on Education. She is in the 2014-15 class of the Executive Leadership Academy, a leadership development program jointly developed by the American Academic Leadership Institute, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the Council of Independent Colleges.

The USM Board of Regents in July 2013 appointed Mortimer H. Neufville, Ph.D., to a two-year term as president, effective through June 30, 2015. He began his service to Coppin as interim president in January 2013. He played a critical role in advancing the university's future while the board's Special Review Committee conducted a comprehensive review of Coppin State. The board's analysis developed strategies to increase student retention and graduation rates, improve administrative operations and financial stability, and build a culture focused on success.

"I offer my profound appreciation to Mort Neufville for his leadership of Coppin State University during this transitional time in the university's history," Kirwan said. "Dr. Neufville has been a great friend of the USM, taking on appointments as interim president of both University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Coppin State before his two-year appointment as CSU president. We are grateful to Mort Neufville for his insight and stewardship."

To learn more about Coppin State University, visit www.coppin.edu

B.C. Lions' backup QB position "wide open", Tedford says

QB GREG MCGHEE
College: Howard University
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Courtesy: B.C. Lions

KAMLOOPS, British Columbia — Football decision-makers have long concluded that having a top-notch backup quarterback is vital.

B.C. Lions head coach Jeff Tedford feels no differently. He just has to figure out who he is.

“After (Travis) Lulay, it’s a wide open competition,” Tedford declared Saturday, after the Lions’ three-day mini-camp for rookies and first-year players ended. “Travis is our starter.”

Veteran John Beck, the presumptive No. 2 quarterback in many eyes, will have to compete for that role, Tedford seemed to suggest, though that opportunity won’t occur right away.

Beck is being quarantined after being laid low by a bug and won’t be on the field Sunday when the Lions open their main training camp at Hillside Stadium.

That means more practice repetitions for holdover Travis Partridge and two Lions rookie quarterbacks, Jon Jennings and Greg McGhee, who move on to the main camp.

The Lions released two more rookie QBs today -- Boise State’s Grant Hedrick and Aaron Wilmer of Delaware Valley -- who simply didn’t have the time to get up to speed with the others.

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FAMU plans to learn from first tournament experience

COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS

GAINESVILLE, Florida -- Florida A&M head coach Jamey Shouppe said his goodbyes to his five seniors were emotional after the Rattlers’ first-ever NCAA tournament season came to an end.

The Rattlers (23-25) lost 8-1 to Florida Atlantic (41-18) Saturday in the Gainesville Regional, and Shouppe said after the game was over, he and his players said a short prayer for Michael Birdsong, Ryan Kennedy, Marcus Roberts, Jeremy Barlow and Jared Walker.

FAMU has plenty of talent coming back, but Shouppe said there’s no replacing the guys who helped turn the program around when he first arrived two seasons ago.

“I couldn’t be prouder of those five seniors,” Shouppe said.

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There’s a new dog at the top

ETTRICK, Virginia -- Former ACC basketball legend Charles G. “Lefty” Driesell used to use the quote, “The sun don’t shine on the same dog every day” (actually, that’s not the EXACT way the saying goes, but I can’t use it in its entirety because this is a family newspaper).

What that saying references is that no matter how much time it takes, eventually a new hound finds the shady hole.

It may take a while: just ask NASCAR driver and Sunday’s Charlotte race winner Carl Edwards about ending a 31-race losing streak or the NBA Golden State Warriors being back in the pro basketball finals for the first time in 40 years.

Where I’m taking this is the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – yes, the CIAA that has been ruled, championship-wise, by Winston-Salem State University since the red-and-white returned to the fold. Some said their advantage was that from 2006-2010 when they were trying to gain membership into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) they recruited a better grade of athlete because they were moving from NCAA Division II to D-I. When they returned four years later to the CIAA, it left their athletic programs leaps-and-bounds ahead of the rest of the schools in the league.

Well, the ‘Ram Reign’ may be just about over; and I don’t think the Chowans and Elizabeth City States and Shaws are shedding any tears.

“Winston-Salem State is not the top dog in the CIAA anymore.”

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Florida A&M Rattlers’ Baseball Season Comes to an End with 8-1 Loss to #21 Florida Atlantic

GAINESVILLE, Florida – Florida A&M (23-25) watched its’ season come to and end with an 8-1 loss to #21 Florida Atlantic (41-18) in the NCAA Gainesville Regional at McKethan Stadium on Saturday. The Rattlers cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth inning on Brian Davis’ leadoff home run to right, but was unable to break through with several opportunities in the final four innings. FAU had the leadoff batter reach in each of the final six innings as the Owls added five runs in the top of the ninth inning to put the game out of reach.

Marlon Gibbs went 2-for-3 with a walk on the day and was 3-for-7 in the two games of the Gainesville Regional for FAMU.

Rattler starter Ryan Anderson (1-4) worked 3 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits with three walks and one strikeout. Both runs came on two hits with two walks in the fourth inning.

FAU scored first with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning. Brendon Sanger led off the fourth with a single to center and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Ricky Santiago popped up to first, Roman Collins drew a walk to place runners at first and second. Esteban Puerta then doubled to the left center gap to bring home Sanger for the first run of the game. Christian Dicks followed with a walk on five pitches to load the bases with one out. That forced a pitching change as Brandon Fleming came in to pitch for the Rattlers. Collins would come home for the second run of the inning as CJ Chatham reached on a fielder’s choice as he just beat out the throw to first on a double play ball. Fleming would then strikeout Ryan Miller to end the inning.

FAMU cut the lead in half, to 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Davis led off the inning by belting his second home run of the season over the fence in right.

Florida Atlantic answered right back in the top of the sixth as Dicks led off with his eighth home run of the season to push its’ lead back to two at 3-1.

The Rattlers had a scoring chance slip away in the bottom of the sixth inning after loading the bases with one out. Peter Jackson reached on a fielding error by Owl second baseman Stephen Kerr and Jared Walker followed with a bunt single to put runners on first and second. A great sacrifice bunt from AJ Elkins moved the runners to second and third, while Gibbs walked on four pitches to load the bases. Still with one out and the bases loaded, Ryan Kennedy fouled out to second base. The Owls then made a pitching change as Devon Carr came in for relief and struck out the first batter he faced, in Davis, as the Rattlers left the bases loaded.

FAMU had another chance in the eighth inning and again wasn’t able to score. Elkins and Gibbs recorded back-to-back singles with one out to put runners on first and second. Kennedy then reached on a fielder’s choice, as Gibbs was out at second, putting runners on the corners with two outs. With runners on the corners and a chance to cut the FAU lead to one, Davis went down swinging to strand the two runners.

Florida Atlantic put the game out of reach with five runs in the top of the ninth inning, including a three-run home run from Puerta for the final score of 8-1.

FAU starter Kyle Miller (7-3) pitched 5 2/3 innings and only allowed one run on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Miller retired the first 11 Rattler batters he faced as the first FAMU hit didn’t come until the fourth inning.

The Owls will face the loser of tonight’s Florida/South Florida winner’s bracket game, which is scheduled for a 6:00 PM first pitch.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @FAMUAthletics and live stats will be available via www.FAMUAthletics.com.

BOX SCORE

FAMU V. FAU PLAY-BY-PLAY

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Coastal Carolina Beats Texas Southern, 4-1, to Stay Alive at NCAA Regional

COURTESY COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Andrew Beckwith, making his second career start in as many appearances, produced another outstanding performance to lead second seed and 25th ranked Coastal Carolina to a 4-1 victory versus fourth seed Texas Southern Saturday afternoon in the first elimination game of the NCAA College Station Regional, played at Texas A&M's Blue Bell Park.

Coastal Carolina will now face the loser California and Texas A&M on Sunday at Noon (CT)/1 pm (ET).

Beckwith, who now has 56 appearances in his two years at Coastal, scattered seven hits over a career-high 8.1 innings. He allowed one run in the ninth before exiting the contest to a standing ovation. The sophomore walked one versus Texas Southern and struck out five, which marks his second-best, single-game total in his career. (Beckwith struck out seven in a loss versus Radford on April 7 in 4.0 innings this season.) In his last outing, the Blythewood native led CCU to a 9-3 win in the Big South semifinal versus High Point as he pitched a then career-high 8.0 innings.

Chanticleer shortstop Michael Paez broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning as he hit a two-out home run over the left field wall for his eighth round-tripper of the year.

In the fourth, the Chanticleers exploded for three runs to take a 4-0 lead. Zach Remillard and Tyler Chadwick started the frame with back-to-back doubles, the second being an RBI for Chadwick. Jack Curtis then plated Chadwick with an RBI single to right-center field. Anthony Marks capped the scoring in the frame with an RBI single to left field.

Texas Southern avoided the shutout with a run in the ninth. Ryan Lazo hit a leadoff double and Christopher Scroggins walked. Robert Garza followed with an RBI single to bring home Lazo. After a ground out, Beckwith turned the game over to Bobby Holmes. The 2015 Big South Freshman of the Year got a ground out and a fly out to end the game and record his fourth save.

G.K. Young, for the second consecutive game, led CCU's offense by going 2-for-4.

Felix Gomez (4-3) suffered the loss for the Tigers as he allowed five hits and four runs in 3.1 innings

FINAL BOX SCORE

COURTESY COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU Rattlers hope to regroup against FAU

Saturday, 1 p.m.: No 2 FAU vs. No. 4 FAMU; TV: ESPN3

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M’s baseball team isn’t done yet, but it’ll have to improve to survive another game in the double-elimination Gainesville Regional.

The Rattlers were drubbed 19-0 by the No. 4 Florida Gators, and head coach Jamey Shouppe said the team needs to be ready to represent both FAMU (23-24) and the MEAC better when it takes the field against Florida Atlantic (40-18) in the loser’s bracket at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

“It was just too much Florida,” Shouppe said.

“They kept putting the pressure on us. I thought early on we showed a chance to stay in the game. In baseball anything can happen. As the game wore on, it was like the tide coming in. Too much orange and blue.”

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