The St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) Board of Trustees met on Friday, May 9, 2025 and approved a slate of items, including the candidates for graduation, state capital budget proposal and updates to various College policies.
SMCM President Tuajuanda C. Jordan, who is retiring at the end of June, presented her final president’s report to the Board of Trustees, in which she reflected on the accomplishments during her tenure and reported at length on the challenges presented by the current environment facing the country. “The new federal administration has introduced so much disorder into how, what, why, and with whom we do what we do that it would be understandable for anyone to lose sight of why we devote our professional lives to the goal of higher education, arguably the great equalizer of this republic,” she said. “Thankfully, we are members of an uncommon good; a community with an unwavering devotion to our mission and an unrelenting commitment to our most precious asset and hope for the future. That hope lies in our students.”
Degrees will be awarded to 386 graduates during the College’s 2025 Commencement exercises, to be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025, on the College’s Townhouse Green. U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md., 8th), the Ranking Member on the House Committee on the Judiciary, will deliver the keynote address and receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
The Board also approved the fiscal year 2026-2031 capital budget plan from the state of Maryland. The plan totals $102.8 million over six years and allows for renovation of Montgomery and Schaefer Halls, two of the campus’ major academic buildings, as well as additional infrastructure improvements.
“We mark the completion of an exceptionally successful year at the College, which included navigating the reaffirmation of accreditation, the selection of a new president and a successful legislative session in Annapolis that saw continued strong support from Governor Moore and the Maryland General Assembly,” said John J. Bell ’95, chair of the Board of Trustees. “In addition to the transformational leadership of President Jordan over the past 11 years, I want to thank our departing board members for their time, talent and treasure that have had a tremendous impact on the success of the College.” The board voted to bestow emerit status on President Jordan as well as board members Peg Duchesne, Gail Harmon and Sven Holmes.
The board received an update on the planned modernization of Prince George Hall, one of the College’s traditional residence halls. To be completed over the summer, the upgrade includes modernizing bathroom facilities and enhancements to common living areas, with an approximate budget of $3 million. $1,139,450 had been raised from the Taking the LEAD campaign toward this project, thanks in part to a challenge grant from former professor Don Stabile. The design for this fast-track project is already at 50% completion, with construction scheduled to start on Monday, May 12. This is the first phase of the modernization of all four of the traditional residence halls on campus.
Among several reports received by the Board, noteworthy was the student retention report, which documented the success of programming to enhance retention; and a report on the five-year Taking the LEAD campaign that ends on June 30 and has exceeded its goal by raising $23.3 million to date.
The Board also recognized five members who will reach the end of their board appointments in June. President Jordan personally recognized the five at the end of the Board meeting. Departing board members include:
Carlos Alcázar–Co-founder of Culture ONE World, an award-winning marketing and advertising firm in Washington, DC. Served from 2014-2025.
Lex Birney–Managing general partner and CEO, The Brick Companies, a real estate development company in Edgewater, Maryland. Served from 2008-2021 and again from 2023-2025; as chair from 2019-2021.
Peg Duchesne ’77–Owner, Duchess Enterprises, LLC, a business consultancy located in Laurel, Maryland. Served from 2004-2025.
Gail Harmon–Retired partner, Harmon, Curran, Spielberg, and Eisenberg in Washington, DC, where she was a recognized authority on exempt organizational law. Served from 2007-2025; as chair from 2013-2016.
Sven Erik Holmes–Retired vice chairman of KPMG LLC, and former chief judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. Served from 2011-2025; as chair from 2016-2019.
The Board also reappointed its current slate of officers, including Bell as chair; Paula Collins as vice chair; John C. Wobensmith ’93 as treasurer; and Nicolas Abrams ’99 as secretary.
