Goodbye, Maryland
June 5th, 2007After five years I am leaving the University of Maryland. I worked in the Robert H. Smith School of Business from August 2002 until 2007. Like any job, my time at Maryland had its ups and downs. Overall, though, it was a positive experience.
As I exit I thought I’d list some of the things I’m most grateful for:
Maryland gave me my first job in academia. I was practicing law when they hired me. I love being a professor, and without a first break somewhere I could not have set off on this career path. Maryland provided that entry point.
Maryland gave me teaching experience. Teaching is my calling I think, but I had never prepared a syllabus, written an exam or stood up in front of 50+ undergraduates to deliver a lecture before I joined their faculty. Five years later, I have a wealth of teaching experience across a range of courses. Besides teaching a basic business law course to undergraduates many times, I’ve led four travel courses to China (two honors undergraduate trips to Hong Kong and two MBA travel courses to Shanghai) and taught an ethics class for executive MBA students. I’ve gone from being green to experienced as a higher-ed instructor.
It was a good place for my daughter during her early years. She attended the on-campus Center for Young Children for pre school and kindergarten. She thrived there. The CYC’s classroom teachers were superb. Because the facility is located on campus, I could finish my day’s teaching, pick her up from school and spend time with her each afternoon.
Maryland paid me well. I accumulated enough to pay off my student loans. It feels good to be able to buy my freedom back.
Maryland also gave my wife Maggie her first job in the US and sent us back to China to work together there for the last couple of years.
I’m truly grateful for all that. I’m dwelling on these and other positive things as I head off for new adventures.