The Alumni Council

Each year, the Alumni Association honors individuals who personify the College's tradition of excellence. These honors are determined by the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee meets twice a year to review applicants for the Alumni Association Awards. The Awards Committee is responsible for encouraging alumni nominations for Alumni Association awards, reviewing nominations, and selecting alumni to receive Alumni Association awards. Learn more about our Alumni Association award winners!

Chair: Steve Ports '83 Board Term: June 1, 2021 - May 31, 2024 Alumni College Service Award - 2008, Alumnus of the Year - 2017

Committee Members:

• Fran McCabe '72 (Title IX Honoree) (vice-chair)
• Janki Jani '15 
• Paul Lebo '01 (Alumni Professional Achievement Award - 2005)
• Robin Sullivan Sharp '85, M.S. '08
• Frank Kratovil '90 (Alumni Community Service Award - 2001)

The GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Committee exists to support alumni who have graduated within the last 10 years and encourage them to participate in the activities and operations of the College. They also represent our Graduates of the Last Decade at all Alumni Council meetings to ensure the voice of our newest alumni is not lost during important decision-making. 

Chair: Erin Giles Benevento '15 Board Term: July 1, 2018 - May 31, 2022 Young Alumni College Service Award - 2017

Committee Members:

• Justin Arter '20
• Deanna Dicello '14
• Anna Fine '13
• Will Giles '18
• Emily Gross '16
• Kaylen Hutchinson '19
• Mark Richman '12
• Whitney Snoops '11

The Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Committee is responsible for encouraging alumni nominations for Hall of Fame induction, reviewing nominations and selecting Inductees. The Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Committee is responsible for reviewing nominations to the Hall of Fame, electing members into the Hall of Fame and organizing and conducting Hall of Fame ceremonies. Learn more about our Sports Hall of Fame inductees.

Chair: Marilyn Naas Keane '94, M.S. '97 Board Term: May 1, 2020 - May 31, 2023 (Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Inductee - 2008)

Committee Members:

• Athletic Director Adam Hertz
• Sandra Brant Alvey '87 (Alumni Professional Achievement Award - 2012) 
• Tom Bowman '64 (Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Inductee - 2014)
• Kevin Curley (Athletic Representative)
• Sandy Lagana Bly (Athletic Representative)
• Ryan Legge '00
• Jill Krebs '02 ( Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Inductee - 2012, Centennial Conference Silver Anniversary Team Inductee - 2018)
• Dave Seibert '78, MS '81 

The DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Committee exists to ensure all the College’s alumni are engaged, including marginalized groups and BIPOC alumni.  Establishing opportunities for our alumni to connect with current students, the DEI Committee collaborates with the Office of Alumni Engagement to ensure networking, mentorship, and events.

Chair: James Felton '95 Board Term: February 18, 2020 - May 31, 2023 

Committee Members:

• Veronica Esteves Dietz '00
• Diane Drakes '98
• Erika Herron Hall '99
• Salini Jayamuni '09
• Calvin Lineberger '97
• James Martin '93
• Kimberly Bloch-Rincan '99
• Thomas Roberts '94
• Carl Taylor '01
• Jasmin Chavez-Cruz '19
• Alexaundria Leonard '17
• Jennifer Cormeny '93
• Demetrios Lambros '93

The Nomination & Governance Committee exists to nominate alumni to serve as Members-at-Large of the Alumni Council. The Committee also reviews, discusses and recommends changes to the Constitution, Bylaws and standing rules of procedures for Council committees and the structure of the Alumni Council.

Chair: Debi Lanius Cameron '75 

Board Term: July 1, 2019 - May 31, 2022 Alumna of the Year Award - 2018, College Service Award - 1990

Committee Members:

• Morgan Brooks '10
• Cathy Hosley Wattenberg '83

Our Alumni Network is a coalition of the leaders of affinity groups, heretofore known as “Chapters”. These Chapters are defined by a unifying purpose, or geographic region. The mission of the Alumni Network is to gather alumni with similar interests to promote and support McDaniel College. Chapters facilitate networking between alumni, current and prospective students, parents, faculty and staff, and the community at large. 

Chair: Kittie DeLuca Pain '00 Board Term: May 31, 2021 - May 31, 2024 

Committee Members:

• Maureen Carroll Martin '86 (College Service Award - 2003) (vice-chair)

The Green and Gold Committee is a coalition of alumni participants and supporters of athletic teams at Western Maryland/McDaniel College. The Committee will organize alumni athletes in support and promotion of McDaniel’s athletic programs, sponsor or promote events for athletes, such as networking or celebrating current or prior team successes and expand awareness of and support for McDaniel College and its programs. 

Chair: Kristin Ramey '05, M.S. '08 Board Term: February 18, 2021 - May 31, 2024 

Committee Members:

• Justin Arter '20 (Tennis)
• Suzy Banister '17 (Field Hockey)
• Julie Backof Boden '98 (Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Inductee - 2009, Centennial Conference Silver Anniversary Team Inductee - 2018) (Softball)
• Matt Cahill '10, M.S. '12 (Football)
• Jessica Rouse Custer '02, M.S. '07 (Volleyball)
• Lindsey Farrell '19 (Lacrosse, Soccer) 
• Brett Foelber '08 (Basketball) (vice-chair)
• Kelsey Franklin Goretsas '12 (Basketball)
• Jim Heilman '17 (Cross Country, Track)
• Kevin Keane '20 (Golf)
• Kelsey Kirkman '19 (Golf)
• Zach Kronick ’16, M.S. '19 (Baseball)
• Bob Laffey '03 (Baseball)
• Tom Lapato '99 (Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Inductee - 2020) (Football)
• Elise O'Meara Merlo '14 (Tennis)
• Tyler Naunton '17 (Soccer)
• Kelly Novak '20 (Lacrosse)
• Stephanie McPherson Powell '03 (Basketball, Track)
• Teron Powell '02 (Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Inductee - 2012) (Football, Basketball, Track)
• Reaiah Rutherford '20 (Tennis)
• KR Schultz '10 (Lacrosse)
• Emma Duesterhaus Whitehill '14 (Swimming)

The WMC Heritage Society of the Alumni Council is responsible for engaging alumni in the life of the College, supporting Academic Programming through funding and mentorship, endowing funds to support the preservation of campus historic buildings and student scholarships and supporting College events, especially those that celebrate the history and traditions of the College. The WMC Heritage Society motto is "Honor the past and embrace the future."

Chair: Don Rembert '61 Board Term: July 1, 2006 - present Alumni College Service Award - 2016

Committee Members:

• Corynne Courpas '76 (Vice Chair) (Alumni College Service Award - 2014)
• Dottie Beck '64
• Debi Lanius Cameron '75 (Alumni College Service Award - 1990)
• Miles Cole '67 (Alumni Community Service Award - 2009)
• Ralph Frith '84 (Alumni College Service Award - 2007)
• Don Hobart '62 (Alumni College Service Award - 2013, Alumnus of the Year - 2016)
• James Lightner '59 (Alumni College Service Award - 1984, Alumnus of the Year - 1998, Trustee Alumni Award - 2002)
• Sherry Fischer Manning '65 (Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Inductee - 1992, Alumni Professional Achievement Award - 2004)
• C. Victor McTeer '69, Hon. LL.D. (Community Service Award - 2009, Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Inductee - 1993)
• Bev Schott Myers '60
• Jon Myers '61
• Alex Ober '63, MEd '69 (Alumnus of the Year - 2020, College Service Award - 2018, Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Inductee - 2010)
• Lynn Keigler Pforr '73
• Lee Primm '89 (Community Service Award - 2015)
• Judith Ellis Rembert '60
• Carolyn Seaman Scott '67 (Alumni College Service Award - 1987, Alumna of the Year - 1997)
• Debbie Dale Seidel '84
• Sally Stanfield '78 (Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Inductee - 1998)
• Beth Heckert Tevis '77, M.Ed. '84 (Alumni Community Service Award - 2017)
• Rhea Ireland Wiles '61
• Tony Wiles '61
• Pat Welk Wolf '60
• Carroll "Splinter" Yingling '68
• Pamela Zappardino '71 (Alumni College Service Award - 2006, Alumna of the Year - 2007)