UMES Brings Award Winning Journalist as Keynote Speaker
Princess Anne, Md. — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore brought award-winning journalist Rachel Swarns to campus for a keynote address Wednesday, where she shared her experiences covering important stories in American history. The address was part of the university’s 140th anniversary Founders Week.
One story Swarns described covered 272 enslaved individuals who were sold by the American Catholic Church to save what became Georgetown University. Swarns explained how she dug into what happened to the individuals even while other people said all 272 had died without having any family. After Swarn’s article was published, she said many people contacted her saying they recognized their family names and lines.
Swarns said that story and others are a reminder of the pervasive legacy of America’s dark past.
“This idea that slavery helped fuel the growth of so many of our contemporary institutions. I think we often think about it as this thing that happened a long time ago. One guy, another guy, they’re all dead. But, you know, the legacy really lives on in many of the institutions around us. And it felt so exciting to have the opportunity to document that,” Swarns said.
Swarns added that as an HBCU alum, she was thrilled to come speak at UMES and hopes to give some inspiration to students who came out to the event today.
“Such an honor to be here during Founder’s Week and to be able to talk to students who were sitting in an auditorium and HBCU just like I was,” Swarns said. “I just feel like there are real opportunities for students to actively go after their dreams. And I really hope that in a small way I help inspire them to do that.”
For university officials, having a speaker like Swarns come to campus is great for students and gives them access to new experiences.
“It’s so important, I think, for students to hear from extraordinary individuals who also have had world views that they can bring and share and our students who can learn from that,” said Heidi Anderson, the president of UMES.
Walter Woods, the director of outreach and strategic initiatives at UMES, said the Founders Week was a look at the past but also shows the path for the school in the future.
“I do see it as a way for us to chart our course to the future as developing as we look at standing on the shoulders of those that come behind us, moving and elevating us to greatness and allowing us to move forward,” Woods said.
Anderson said that 14o years ago, UMES had just nine students and one schoolhouse adding that the school will be celebrating all year.
“The 140th anniversary is a milestone. It is something great that will elevate the university and allow us to move forward,” Woods said.
