FEATURES
Sea Gulls Reach for the Stars
SU graduates from a variety of majors have been inspired by space, and now, thanks to new facilities and partnerships, even more Gulls are reaching for the stars.
Sea Gulls Have Always Been Social
Holloway Hall’s Social Room was the place to be for the earliest Sea Gulls – learn about the social life of these Gulls along with the leader of their flock, Miss Ruth.
Champions wear gold, and now, Salisbury University champions will wear Under Armour. SU and the athletic apparel company are partnering to make Under Armour the official game-day outfitter for the University’s 23 varsity sports, which proudly boast 47 combined team and individual national championships. The deal sees all SU varsity student-athletes competing in Under Armour uniforms, with the proximity to the company’s headquarters in Baltimore allowing SU student-athletes access to product testing.
Follow the Flock! For the latest schedules, stats and links to live games
IN MOTION
Showcasing opportunities to open doors for SU students and alumni
SU Inspires Two Generations of Sea Gulls
Heath Schuman started Schuman’s Cleaning Service in 1985 as a boat detailing service during his high school summers. He kept it going through college to pay for school, though he thought he’d take a different direction following his graduation from what was then Salisbury State University, in 1992.
AI Solutions for Rural Problems
Salisbury University is harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to solve problems for local agencies, businesses and nonprofit partners thanks to a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant through the “Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity” (EPIIC) program.
Sea Gull Family Tree Contest
Celebrate your Salisbury legacy with the Sea Gull Family Tree Contest to see how many legacy families have attended the school. Honor your family’s Sea Gull connection and showcase the enduring spirit of our community through three categories.
SEA GULL STORIES
Featuring outstanding people and initiatives at SU
Honoring Our Best: Faculty and Staff
Awards
Every year, SU honors its top faculty and staff with internal awards – and frequently, the University System of Maryland also recognizes our amazing Sea Gulls. Read about our latest honorees.
Marching Band Gets in Step With
New Director
Since blowing his first shaky notes on a trumpet in middle school, Dennis Senkbeil knew music would be a central part of the rest of his life.
Centennial Celebration
This year marks a significant milestone in the history of Salisbury University as it proudly celebrates its centennial anniversary.
A Sea Gull in Germany
SU Vice President of Advancement and Alumni Engagement Jason Curtin ’98 earned a U.S-Germany International Educators Administrators Program Fulbright to visit Germany with 16 other U.S. administrators from colleges and universities across the country.
OLAS: Building Bridges
To celebrate more than 20 years of SU’s Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS) promoting Latin American cultures and communities, the Nabb Research Center presents the exhibit “OLAS: Creando Puentes / OLAS: Building Bridges.” Excerpted here is just a glimpse at this comprehensive exhibit featuring photographs, documents and interviews with alumni. Check out the exhibit in its entirety during the spring semester in the lobby of the Guerrieri Academic Commons.
TOMORROW MAKERS
Profiling our alumni who are making tomorrow theirs
Meg Miller ’19
On the Road as a Music Tour Manager
For Meg Miller, award-winning tour manager for Lainey Wilson, nothing beats the feeling of when a concert begins – that breathtaking moment before the lights go up, the artist takes the stage, and the audience roars with excitement.
Anthony Johnson ’06
Sea Gulls Helping Sea Gulls
Like many high school student athletes, Anthony Johnson chose the school that offered what he thought he needed to succeed.
Wayne Smith ’58
Knowledge Is Power
In the more than 60 years since Dr. Wayne Smith graduated from Salisbury State Teachers College, a lot has changed – the student demographics, demand for state teachers and even the name of the institution.
Abby Taylor ’11
Authenticity Matters
As a typical teenager, Abby Taylor wasn’t sure what she wanted to do as a profession for the rest of her life.
CAMPUS NEWS & NOTES
SU Delivers 200 Cancer Comfort Care Kits
Patients receiving cancer treatment at TidalHealth facilities on the Delmarva Peninsula again will receive a little extra care thanks to SU.
Museum of Eastern Shore Culture Opens
Salisbury University opened its new Museum of Eastern Shore Culture, at 218 W. Main St., in November. The museum features decoys by the Ward Brothers and other esteemed carvers from the SU Permanent Collection.
New Engineering Physics Major
Students can now fast track their way to careers in aerospace and nanotechnology as SU aims to meet the growing demand for licensed engineers with the creation of a new engineering physics major.
Nigerian Partnership Formed
Students from Nubian American Advanced College (NAAC) in Lagos, Nigeria, will be eligible to transfer to SU after two years of study at NAAC thanks to a recent agreement signed by SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre and NAAC President Joseph Isaac.
Blackwell Hall Renovation
Groundbreaking
Maryland Governor Wes Moore joined SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre and others from SU and the State of Maryland to officially break ground on a $60 million project that will bring a student service center to campus.
Two New Deans for SU
SU welcomes a new dean of Libraries and new dean of the College of Health and Human Services.
Sea Gull National Rankings
The nearly 600 institutions in U.S. News’ “Best Regional Universities” category are split among four geographic areas — North, South, Midwest and West. In the northern region, SU ranked 49th in the top tier among 175 publics and privates, 17th among the region’s “Top Public Schools” and 37th among the North’s “Best Value Schools.”
Sammy’s Stash Secondhand Shop
Salisbury University students can now go shopping without leaving campus thanks to SU’s Recycling Department and Recycling Coordinator Rachael Faust.
ATHLETICS
Home Cooking: Fall Teams Protect
the Nest
Salisbury University carries a reputation as one of the toughest places to play in Division III across all sports. Three teams in particular last fall lived up to that billing and then some, putting together impressive undefeated runs at home.
Hall of Fame Welcomes Seven
The SU Athletics Hall of Fame welcomed new members to its Class of 2024. This year’s seven person class includes Coach Gerry DiBartolo, Gabby (Long) Watkins ’10, Andrew Miller ’10, Kandice (Hancock) Bond ’11 & ’13, Erika Brittingham ’12, Katie (Bollhorst) Hanson ’13 and Ashton (Wheatley) Illian ’14.
Intramural Complex Honors Doc Davis
SU’s Doc Davis intramural Complex had its official ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 12. The complex was completed in 2018 and is home to most of the University’s club and outdoor intramural activities.
Ferry Spites Odds, Achieves Hoops
Dream
The odds have never been kind to Leo Ferry. Born on August 23, 2006, with just 5% of a diaphragm, Ferry was taken from his mother for emergency medical treatment immediately after birth.
Pedersen Works to Spike Cancer
For volleyball player Kayla Pedersen, cancer research and awareness are intensely personal causes – her grandmother Annie Long went through cancer treatments, as did her great-grandmother Virginia Long, spurring her to take action long before her college years.
ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES
Alumni Greetings
The Sea Gull magazine is full of stories of SU alumni and student accomplishments. The accomplishments of our alumni and students continue to amaze me and make me proud to be a Sea Gull. As you read the stories, please reflect on how Salisbury University has impacted your life and share your story.
Alumni Homecoming & Family Weekend
The Flock Party returned outside the Sea Gull Stadium, with free family-friendly activities filling the streets in advance of Sea Gull football’s match against Rowan University – we won!
CLASS NOTES
Sharing life’s special moments, news and professional achievements for SU alumni and their families.