Jermon Bushrod ’07, member of the 2010 Super Bowl-winning New Orleans Saints and two-time All-Pro honoree, has been selected as the 2015 Towson University’s Distinguished Alumni Award winner and will be honored at a ceremony Thursday, May 14, in the University Union Chesapeake Rooms beginning at 6 p.m.
“Jermon put Towson on the map for aspiring football players and professional talent scouts alike,” said Head Coach Rob Ambrose. “He paved the way for [Cleveland Browns running back] Terrance West and others yet to come. Future Tiger football players now know they have a legitimate chance of being seen and drafted by the NFL.”
A four-year starter at left tackle for Towson, Bushrod helped the Tigers record back-to-back, 4000-plus-total-yard seasons – just the fourth time in program history teams have done so. His efforts on the offensive line helped his quarterback, Sean Schaefer, set school career records in eight categories.
Bushrod, a three-time All-Atlantic 10 selection, was chosen in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. After 38 career college starts, Bushrod played just three games prior to the Saints’ 2009 season. However, after starter Jamaal Brown suffered an injury, Bushrod took over and never looked back. He was part of an offensive line that won the John Madden Protectors Award in 2009. His prowess on the field helped the Saints to their only Super Bowl Championship. In 2013, Bushrod signed a five-year, $35 million deal with the Chicago Bears.
He created the Visualize and Rize Foundation to inspire youth to become leaders, to be positive influences in their communities, and to motivate them to reach their dreams. A signature event of the foundation is a celebrity golf tournament held annually in his home town of King George, Virginia. He also sponsors scholarships for high school senior athletes who continue their education with vocational training or who go on to college.
The TU Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually to an alumnus or alumna who exemplifies continued professional development, success in his or her field, and a commitment to Towson University. The award has been conferred since 1958.
The following alumni will receive the Deans’ Recognition Awards for 2015:
Beverly Decker Brown ’75
College of Health Professions
Beverly Brown has spent most of her 40-year career working with Baltimore City Public Schools in the field of audiology. She began her career with BCPSS and Baltimore County Board of Education in 1975 (the same year she received her M.A. from TU in speech pathology and audiology), working as a speech/language pathologist. After a stint in the banking industry, Brown returned to audiology, where she now holds the position of clinical supervisor of the Speech/Language Program at BCPSS. She is charged with such responsibilities as developing procedures and documentation for services that comply with federal, state and city schools mandates; overseeing the PIEL (Prevention and Intervention for Early Learners) Project, and programmatic changes for students with mild intellectual disabilities. Brown has made numerous professional presentations including one titled, “The Evolving Role of the Speech-Language Pathologist in Improving Student Outcomes: Prevention, Intervention, Services.”
Keith L. Ewancio ‘94/’07
College of Fine Arts and Communication
Over the past 20 years, Keith Ewancio has blazed a path in the field of human resources. Armed with both a B.S. (mass communications, cum laude) and M.S. (human resources) from Towson, Ewancio is now senior human resources specialist for the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General. In this position, he manages the human resources functions for the 550 staff who encompass the Inspector General’s North American Operations. Previous positions in human resources have included working for such companies as the May Department Stores Company and Citigroup’s consumer finance division, CitiFinancial, completing his 10-year career there in 2009 as a vice president of human resources. Keith served as a liaison between Towson University’s advancement team and Citigroup to help secure grant funding for Towson’s educational initiatives in Baltimore City.
Jeffrey C. Miller, D.D.S. ’78
Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics
Miller is a board-certified orthodontist with over 20 years’ experience specializing in orthodontics for adults and children. He graduated summa cum laude from Towson State University and received his dental degree from the University of Maryland. He completed his orthodontic training at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Miller founded Orthodontic Associates in 1984 after merging his practice with Dr. Aaron Schaeffer. Miller has a keen interest in orthodontic research and is a benefactor of the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation. He has encouraged the orthodontic community to use an “evidence-based” treatment approach. His opinion is frequently sought by other orthodontists working with difficult cases.
Miller is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, American Dental Association, College of Diplomats of the American Board of Orthodontics, Maryland State Dental Association, Mid-Atlantic Society of Orthodontists and president of the Metropolitan Dental Study Club.
Thomas R. Mueller, Ph.D.
College of Liberal Arts
Thomas Mueller has been a geography professor at California University of Pennsylvania for more than 14 years with interests in the areas of geographic information systems (GIS) (computer mapping), geography education and sports geography. His students have completed real-world projects using sports geography for local police departments and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Mueller has built a successful geography research agenda through a variety of scholarly endeavors, including conference presentations, grants, technical reports, book reviews and publications in professional journals. He has taught several GIS workshops for members of the local community, professors at Cal U and other campuses and the K – 12 community.
Karen Gregory Schafer ‘68/’75
College of Education
Karen Schafer served as the director of the Center for Professional Practice in the College of Education at TU for more than 10 years. She has made numerous academic presentations at Professional Development Schools National Conferences and at other related professional organizations. Schafer has served on numerous boards, committees and councils at TU, the National Association of Professional Development Schools, Maryland State Department of Education, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Harford County and Howard County Public Schools. Her funded projects have received nearly $700,000 in grants and other financial support. She has been the recipient of a several prestigious awards including the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education (2008), American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
Robert W. Sharps ’93
College of Business and Economics
Rob Sharps is a vice president of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. He is also a member of the T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Steering Committee and lead portfolio manager for the firm’s US Large-Cap Growth Equity Strategy. He has managed institutional portfolios and other accounts since joining the portfolio management team in 2000. Sharps has 19 years of investment experience, 17 of which have been with T. Rowe Price.
He graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in accounting from TU and earned his M.B.A. in finance from the University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School. He also has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
The Deans’ Recognition Awards are presented annually to TU alumni who have distinguished themselves through superior professional growth and accomplishment in their fields. One recipient is selected by the dean of each of the university’s colleges. Honorees represent commitment and excellence in a diversity of professional disciplines.
