FROM: Greg Simmons, Vice President for Institutional Advancement & Keith Harmon, Director of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program
Earnestine Baker announced Monday at a combined Meyerhoff Scholars Family Meeting that she will retire from UMBC this month. Ernie has been an extraordinary member of the UMBC community for almost 30 years, and it is fitting that the Meyerhoff Scholars be among the first to receive this news, as she has spent most of her career at UMBC working to support the growth and success of this program and its students.
Ernie joined UMBC in 1983 as the Coordinator of Minority Recruitment in the Office of Admissions. Between 1987 and 1992 she served as Associate Director for Scholarships at the University. In 1992, she was appointed Director of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program. For two decades, she has worked tirelessly alongside President Freeman Hrabowski and campus faculty and staff to build the program into a nationally recognized model for talented students interested in pursuing terminal degrees in the sciences, mathematics, engineering, and computer science.
Ernie, now Executive Director of the program, has a well-earned reputation as a firm but fair mentor, colleague, and leader. More than 1,000 Meyerhoff Scholars have been introduced to “Ms. Baker” at Meyerhoff scholarship “selection weekends” and Summer Bridge programs as a demanding, but dedicated and compassionate presence. Her expectations – clearly and directly stated – were that each Meyerhoff Scholar prepare rigorously for the classroom and lab, act professionally in any situation, and serve compassionately on campus and in the community. Her deep relationships with Meyerhoff Scholars have extended far beyond graduation. She has advised and mentored graduates in their pursuit of graduate degrees, and networked on behalf of our graduates to ensure that they have good and clear options available at vital career junctures.
In July 2009, Science, the leading journal of scientific research, news and commentary, recognized UMBC’s Meyerhoff Scholars Program as a national model demonstrating “what it takes” to help more minority students earn science degrees. Ernie has been a fundamental part of the program’s success. Throughout the years, she has been a tireless advocate for students, applying her rich knowledge of the academic community with an innovative and pragmatic approach to problem solving. This approach has allowed her to build solid and lasting partnerships with research faculty, develop internships and summer research experiences, and forge institutional relationships for UMBC with the nation’s most prestigious colleges and universities. Her standards have been high and exacting; at the same time, she has generously demonstrated the magnanimity of spirit, humility, and compassion that is required to prepare future leaders for success.
Through her work with the Meyerhoff Program, Ernie also has served on numerous STEM advisory boards and represented the program at conferences and events throughout the nation and abroad, including participating in the 2012 College Completion Symposium with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Her dedication and commitment was recognized by the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents, which honored Ernie as the USM Outstanding Staff Member for extraordinary public service to the university and the greater community in 2008.
Ernie has served the UMBC community with dignity, grace, and wisdom for almost 30 years. She will continue to serve on several commissions and boards, and will consult with UMBC and the Meyerhoff Scholars Program on several on-going initiatives. We intend to host a reception in January for Ernie to celebrate her numerous contributions to the UMBC community, and will share that information as details are solidified. Until that time, please join us in congratulating her for all that she has accomplished at UMBC.
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