CSM Board of Trustees Approves Faculty Promotions and Tenure in Recognition of Teaching Excellence

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Board of Trustees recently approved recommendations for faculty promotions and tenure, recognizing 15 professors for their dedication to teaching, scholarship, and service to the college and its students. The approvals were made during the board’s June 26 meeting at the La Plata Campus.

Dr. Bernice Brezina, dean of the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and Professional Studies; Dr. Caroline Combs, dean of the School of Health Sciences; and Dr. David Robinson, dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Humanities, presented eligible candidates for promotion and tenure to the Board of Trustees, highlighting faculty achievements and contributions to their disciplines.

Tenure Recognition

The following faculty members have been reviewed by their peers and by the Vice President of Learning. They have met or exceeded the standards set forth in the tenure review policy established jointly by the College’s administration and Faculty Senate for tenure:

• Rachael Bateman, School of STEM and Professional Studies
  “Rachael has an exceptional ability to bridge the gap between K–12 education and higher education,” said Brezina. “She leads the foundational science course for early college programs and coordinates the Environmental Studies associate degree.”

• Christopher Gransberry, School of Health Sciences
  “Chris joined the Health Information Management program in 2020 amid the challenges of the pandemic,” said Combs. “He has actively contributed to the college through his service on several committees and his published research on emerging healthcare technologies.”

• Judith Horn, School of STEM and Professional Studies
  “Judith is a versatile faculty member who teaches courses from developmental math through Calculus III,” said Brezina. “She coordinates several key math programs and helped develop the new Aviation Maintenance Technology program.”
• Jeffrey Hunt, School of STEM and Professional Studies
  “Jeff steps up wherever needed and brings thoughtful, innovative teaching to his work,” said Brezina. “He continues to serve in an expanded role as Distinguished Professor of Innovation.”
• William (Billy) Johnson, School of Health Sciences
  “Billy has contributed significantly to the college through his service on key committees and his coordination of annual Inter-Professional Simulation exercises,” said Combs. “During the pandemic, he worked tirelessly with Charles County Emergency Services to protect the community.”
• Petita Rentz, School of Health Sciences
  “Petita approaches her role with thoughtfulness and a strong student-centered focus,” said Combs. “She has contributed to numerous initiatives and serves on multiple committees while pursuing her doctorate in Health Education and Promotion.”
• Ann Stine, School of STEM and Professional Studies
  “Ann provides leadership for engineering programs while leading CSM’s K-12 robotics program and advising the Talons robotics team,” said Brezina.

Faculty Promotions

Candidates for faculty promotion undergo a rigorous, peer-reviewed evaluation of their total body of work beyond core teaching responsibilities. Excellence in instruction, student engagement in the classroom, and contributions to building a strong learning community are key criteria in the process. The following faculty members have met or exceeded the standards set forth in the promotion review policy established jointly by the College’s administration and Faculty Senate for advancement in rank:

Promoted to Professor

• Stacie Bailey, School of STEM and Professional Studies, promoted to Professor of Accounting
  “Stacie provides outstanding collaborative leadership as Accounting Program Coordinator and contributes significantly to accreditation activities and self-study work,” said Brezina.
• Eugen Leontie, School of STEM and Professional Studies, promoted to Professor of Computer Science
  “Eugen coordinates programs in computer science and previously in cybersecurity and contributes to faculty observation and committee work across the college,” said Brezina.
• Buddhadeb Mallik, School of STEM and Professional Studies, promoted to Professor of Chemistry
  “Buddhadeb has taught most of CSM’s chemistry courses, serves on multiple faculty committees, and actively supports student success initiatives such as Destination College,” said Brezina.
• James McCrary, School of STEM and Professional Studies, promoted to Professor of Physics
  “James is an exceptional educator and leader in the physics discipline,” said Brezina. “His dedication to STEM outreach, service on key college committees, and mentorship of students have made a lasting impact on CSM and the broader community.”
• Dr. Randall Salm, School of Liberal Arts, promoted to Professor of Sociology
  “Randy teaches multiple courses across campuses and has contributed to strategic planning and statewide efforts to align sociology curricula for seamless transfer,” said Robinson. “He has consistently shown dedication to the success of all students at CSM.”
• Anthony Stout, School of STEM and Professional Studies, promoted to Professor of Business
  “Anthony serves as chair of Business and contributes to accreditation efforts and strategic planning milestones, presenting regularly at regional and national conferences,” said Brezina.

Promoted to Associate Professor

• Michael Coffey, School of Liberal Arts, promoted to Associate Professor of History and Political Science
  “Michael has taught a wide variety of classes and contributed to college life through his work on several committees and global initiatives,” said Robinson. “He is also a dedicated scholar, publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at national conferences.”
• Christopher Ripley, School of STEM and Professional Studies, promoted to Associate Professor of Business
  “Chris has been a dedicated contributor to the Business program, serving on the ACBSP accreditation team, advising students through Kappa Beta Delta, and supporting key initiatives like Destination College,” said Brezina.
• Caitlyn Socrates, School of Liberal Arts, promoted to Associate Professor of English
  “In her first three years, Caitlyn has demonstrated exceptional dedication to student success while continuing her doctoral research on Afro-Diasporic literature,” said Robinson. “She is also developing internship and volunteer opportunities for students connected to Southern Maryland’s history.”