McDaniel College names new Alumni Council leadership

As chair of the GOLD Committee, Erin Giles Benevento, the director of the First Year Experience at McDaniel, is responsible for helping to build community among graduates of the last decade, also known as GOLD alumni, while expanding awareness and support of McDaniel College. Benevento has been a member of the GOLD Committee since graduating from the college in 2015, serving as member at-large, vice chair, and most recently as chair. A summa cum laude graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a minor in Art History, Benevento was actively involved as secretary, vice-president, and president of the Student Alumni Council. Benevento, who received a master’s degree in communication with concentrations in public and media relations and health communications from Johns Hopkins University, previously served as associate director of community engagement for McDaniel’s Center for Experience and Opportunity (CEO) and coordinator of First Year Programs at McDaniel. She was recognized with McDaniel's Young Alumni College Service Award in 2017 and the McDaniel College Arch Award for Exemplary Staff Service in 2020.

Lindsey Browning has been named president of the McDaniel College Alumni Council and will serve in this role through May 31, 2023. As president, Browning will lead the Alumni Council in supporting and advancing the college’s mission, vision, and strategic objectives for alumni engagement. Browning will assist the chairs of each of the chapters, as well as leadership of the college, to carry out this work and strengthen alumni engagement within McDaniel. Browning, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 2010, has been an active volunteer at the college since joining her class reunion committee in 2015. She has served as an ambassador for annual giving on the fundraising committee in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Before assuming the role of president-elect in February 2021 through the end of May 2021, Browning served on the Alumni Council’s Outreach Committee from 2017 through 2019 and chaired the Alumni Chapters Committee from 2019 through May 31, 2021. In addition to her degree from McDaniel, Browning obtained a Master of Public Policy from George Mason University in 2013. Most recently, Browning has served as a senior policy analysis at the National Association of Medicaid Directors in Washington, D.C., where she manages grant-funded projects that support Medicaid directors on key policy issues, including behavioral health and physical health integration, payment and delivery system reform, and maternal and child health issues.

Corynne Courpas is the WMC Heritage Society vice-chair for the McDaniel College Alumni Council and 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. She served as president of the Alumni Council from 2007-2009, president elect from 2006-2007, and president emerita from 2009-2010. She was a visitor to the McDaniel College Board of Trustees, as well as several trustee committees, including Academic Affairs, Institutional Advancement and Buildings and Grounds. A member of the Phi Alpha Mu sorority, she graduated with a degree in Biology in 1976. She worked as a medical technologist for the state of Maryland before earning a M.B.A. from the University of Baltimore’s Merrick School of Business. Since 1987, she has worked in sales at New Windsor, Md.,-based Carroll County Foods, a Performance Foodservice.

James A. Felton III has been named chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee for the McDaniel College Alumni Council and works to engage alumni in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Felton graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1995 and a master’s degree in Educational Administration (now Educational Leadership) in 1998. Felton has served as a member to the Graduates of Last Decade (GOLD) Committee from 1996 to 1998, the undergraduate relations committee from 1996 to 1997, the reunion task force from 1997 to 1998, and the fundraising committee from 2003 to 2004. Recognized as a national leader and scholar-practitioner in the field of diversity in higher education, Felton has contributed to the development of several diversity and strategic plans including the University of Wisconsin’s Plan 2008 at the Green Bay campus. He has managed several scholarship and mentoring programs for underrepresented students at a number of selective private liberal arts colleges and state-system universities across the country as well as collaborated with corporate, nonprofit and federal agencies and NGOs to promote international programs and initiatives on diversity and social justice. He is the co-author of the book “Inclusive Directions: The Role of the Chief Diversity Officer in Community College Leadership.” Felton is the inaugural vice president for inclusive excellence at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ).

Marilyn Naas Keane has been named chair of the Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Committee for the McDaniel College Alumni Council. Keane graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education (now Kinesiology) and Elementary Education in 1994 and earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction (now Innovations in Teaching and Learning) in 1997. The Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Committee chair is responsible for encouraging alumni nominations for Hall of Fame induction, reviewing nominations and selecting inductees. Keane was inducted into the Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 for her achievements as a member of the Green Terror softball team and has been involved with the committee for at least six years. After obtaining her Administration and Supervision Certification from McDaniel in 2008, Keane later went on to complete her education doctorate in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from The George Washington University in 2012. Keane has nearly three decades of experience in education, most recently serving as a health and physical education teacher since 2017 and as a content specialist in physical education, arts, and technology since 2020 at Earl B. Wood Middle School in Rockville, Md.

Maureen Carroll Martin has been named vice-chair of the Outreach Committee for the McDaniel College Alumni Council. The Outreach Committee vice-chair is responsible for assisting the coalition of leaders of various chapters and gathering alumni with similar interests to promote and support McDaniel College. Martin has been involved as the co-leader of the Montgomery County, Maryland Alumni Chapter of the McDaniel College Alumni Council since 2017. She hosted an online trivia event during I Love the Hill month in February 2021 and has served as the Class 1986 Class secretary/reporter since 2000. She also served on the Class of 1986 Reunion Committee in 2006 and 2016, was an at-large member of the McDaniel College Alumni Council from 2007 to 2010, and assisted in various roles for the McDaniel College Alumni Chapters from 1993 to 1996. Martin, who obtained a bachelor’s degree in Communication with a focus in Public Relations from the college, has spent nearly two decades as the editor of special projects at Association Research, Inc. (ARI), where she collaborates on research projects, assists in the writing, editing, and layout of surveys and reports, in addition to helping with data analysis and verification and serving as project lead for one of ARI’s largest annual projects. Martin was recognized with the McDaniel College Service Award in 2003, which is presented to graduates who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, devotion and service for the betterment of the college’s Alumni Association.

Fran McCabe has been named vice-chair of the Awards Committee for the McDaniel College Alumni Council. The Awards Committee vice-chair is responsible for encouraging alumni nominations for Alumni Association awards, which honors individuals who personify the college’s tradition of excellence, and reviewing the applications, in addition to selecting the winners. She has served as a member of the Nomination & Governance Committee, the reunion committee, and the Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Committee. McCabe, who obtained a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education (now Kinesiology) from the college in 1972, has served as an administrator, physical education and health teacher, coach, and school to career and internship program facilitator at Baltimore County Public Schools. She went on to District of Columbia Public Schools, most recently serving as a special assistant to the Secondary Instructional Superintendents.

Kittie DeLuca Pain has been named chair of the Outreach Committee for the McDaniel College Alumni Council. The Outreach Committee chair is responsible for assisting the coalition of leaders of various chapters and gathering alumni with similar interests to promote and support McDaniel College. The chapters facilitate networking events among alumni, current and prospective students, parents, faculty and staff, and the community at large. Pain began her career in graduate enrollment management immediately after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2000 and went on to earn a master’s degree from Drew University in 2004. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education and as chair of the Experts Bureau for National Association of Graduate Enrollment Professionals (NAGAP), Pain is involved in efforts to grow and support the graduate enrollment management profession. She served as president of the NAGAP regional chapter, PAGAP from 2010 to 2014, expanding it to represent all of Pennsylvania, has served as the NAGAP membership chair from 2014 to 2016, created the NAGAP Mentor Program, and served as co-chair from 2011 to 2014. Pain is currently serving as the director of graduate admissions at Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pa., and continues to be actively engaged with NAGAP as a member of the marketing committee and the publications committee. In 2013, Pain worked to establish the first regional chapter of the McDaniel Alumni Association in Philadelphia to continue supporting alumni in localized settings and ensuring that members of the alumni community can be involved with the organization no matter where they are. Pain previously served as co-chair of the Outreach Committee for two years.

Steve Ports has been named chair of the Awards Committee for the McDaniel College Alumni Council. The Awards Committee chair is responsible for encouraging alumni nominations for Alumni Association awards, which honors individuals who personify the college’s tradition of excellence, and reviewing the applications, in addition to selecting the winners. Ports received the Alumni College Service Award in 2008 and was named Alumnus of the Year in 2017. He has dedicated his career to shaping public policy for the common good and has served in high-impact roles within the State of Maryland. Ports obtained a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1983 and went on to earn a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Baltimore in 1985. Over the decades, Ports has returned to campus frequently, serving more than 20 years on the Alumni Council. Ports has been involved as a participant and ambassador for McDaniel's fundraising committee in 2003 and 2020 and served on the reunion committee in 1993, 2003, 2008, and 2018. He previously served as chair of the Nomination and Governance Committee from 2006 to 2009, vice-chair of the Alumni Association Presidential Task Force from 2010 to 2011, and a member of the Presidential Task Force Implementation Committee from 2012 to 2013. He is currently an independent health care policy consultant.

Kristin Ramey has been named Green & Gold Committee chair for the McDaniel College Alumni Council. Ramey graduated from McDaniel with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science (now Kinesiology) and a minor in Business Administration in 2005 and earned a master’s degree in Exercise Science and Physical Education (now Kinesiology) in 2008. As chair of the Green & Gold Committee, Ramey works with alumni athletes in support and promotion of McDaniel’s athletic programs, sponsors or promotes events for athletes, such as networking and celebrations for current or prior team successes and expands awareness of and support for McDaniel College and its programs. Ramey is also involved as a member of McDaniel’s fundraising committee. She previously served as a member of the reunion committee in 2020 and as a member of the Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Committee from 2016 to 2020. Ramey is entering her eighth season as McDaniel's women's lacrosse head coach. During her tenure, she has led the team to two Eastern Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournaments and to the Centennial Conference semifinals in 2014. As a student-athlete at McDaniel, Ramey was the recipient of McDaniel's Women's Athletic Alumnae Award for the most outstanding senior athlete as a four-year member of the Green Terror field hockey and women's lacrosse teams. 

Donald Rembert is the chair of the WMC Heritage Society for the McDaniel College Alumni Council. The WMC Heritage Society chair 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. Rembert graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. He played all four years on the Green Terror football team. A member of the college’s ROTC program, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserves and U.S. Naval Reserves. A certified financial planner, he has worked as a financial advisor since 1974 and is the founder of Rembert Pendleton Jackson in Falls Church, Va. He is an active member of the Investment Adviser Association, the Southern Economics Association, the Ludwig von Mises Institute, and the Northern Virginia Board of Realtors. He was elected to the McDaniel College Board of Trustees in 2007 and currently chairs the WMC Heritage Society Advisory Council, which he founded in 2004. Rembert and his wife Judy, a 1960 alumna of the college, assisted in the renovation of the college’s former Buell House, which was renamed Rembert House in honor of their efforts to promote the college’s history. They also funded Waldorf Way and Rembert Way at the college, as well as established the annual Rembert Lecture in the Economics and Business Administration Department. In 2019, McDaniel College hosted the dedication of Rembert Field at McDaniel's Kenneth R. Gill Stadium in honor of Rembert and his wife. Additionally, Rembert is chair of The Founders Society at McDaniel and has served on McDaniel’s Stadium Project Committee. He is also president of the Class of 1961 and a member of his class reunion committee.

Dave Seibert has been named Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Committee vice-chair for the McDaniel College Alumni Council. Seibert graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education (now Kinesiology) in 1978 and earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration (now Educational Leadership) in 1981. The Green Terror Sports Hall of Fame Committee vice-chair is responsible for encouraging alumni nominations for Hall of Fame induction, reviewing nominations and selecting Inductees. Seibert served 38 seasons at the helm of the Green Terror baseball program before retiring in 2018, recording 526 wins along the way. He is also a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association’s “Century Club,” amassing more than 500 career wins, entering the 2018 campaign with 515 triumphs. Seibert’s coaching experience extends beyond the baseball diamond. For 14 seasons, he served as the defensive coordinator of the Green Terror football team. Seibert was a senior coach lecturer in the exercise science and physical education department, teaching the popular fencing activity course. He is the director of the Central Pennsylvania Rotary International District 7390 Youth Leadership Conference.