In June, the Board of Trustees bestowed on me thehonor of being named the interim president ofRobert Morris University. I continue to serve asprovost, which, in the simplest terms, is the chiefacademic officer for the university. I think it issignificant that the Board decided to charge the

chief academic officer with leading RobertMorris during this period of transition.That isn’t always what happens when a

university presidency becomesvacant. So I was gratified notonly by the Board’s vote of

confidence in me personally, but also for theiraffirmation that our academic mission takesprecedence over all else and their recognition ofthe increasing rigor and enhanced reputation ofour academic programs.

Our former president, Dr. Gregory Dell’Omo, willlikely be best remembered for having launched theStudent Engagement Program with its innovativeStudent Engagement Transcript. But Dr. Dell’Omotook great pride in his collaboration with thefaculty to bolster our academic programs, whichgo hand in hand with the Student EngagementProgram to produce the excellent professional andpersonal outcomes that have become our hallmark.

As part of our current strategic plan, in 2014 welaunched the Center for Innovative Teaching andDirected Engaged Learning, which manages theStudent Engagement Program and also offersfaculty a range of programs and resources toimprove their teaching, integrate new technologyand methods, and develop meaningfulengagement activities for their students. This will fully integrate the Student EngagementProgram into the academic curriculum and thusallow students to demonstrate to prospectiveemployers precisely how they can add value to the organization and that what they learned ishighly relevant to the job they are seeking.

When Dr. Dell’Omo spoke at his final President’sCouncil dinner at the end of 2014, he talked aboutthe RMU Gallup Survey, but he did not have thecomplete results to share. Since then we havetouted those results far and wide, most recently in our magazine, Foundations, and on billboards allover town. Our graduates are more likely to beemployed full-time, to be engaged in their work,and to enjoy personal well-being than other collegegraduates nationwide.

What’s more, students who graduated since 2009 are more likely to report that they had the six experiences as undergraduates at RMU that Gallup’s research shows are directly related to professional and personal success later in life.For example, 72 percent of RMU graduates since2009 report having had a professor who got themexcited about learning, compared to 56 percentamong alumni who graduated between 1970 and 2001.

Why is that important? Because graduates whoreport having had an instructor who made themexcited about learning are three times as likely to be engaged in their work as other graduates. So I’m pleased with our trajectory, but we needevery student to have the same experiences at RMU as the best of our students. Our nextpresident, Dr. Christopher Howard — with hisoutstanding record of military and governmentservice, corporate experience, and leadership inhigher education — is ideally suited to take on thischallenge, and we are all excited to be a part of his team. Thank you for your continued support as together we write the next chapter of the storyof Robert Morris University.

Sincerely,

David L. Jamison

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President’s

INSIDERFROM THE DESK OF DAVID JAMISON, PROVOST & INTERIM PRESIDENT OF ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY

President’s

INSIDER

Robert Morris University’s leading supporters and alumnigathered at Heinz Field last month for the annual President’sCouncil Dinner. Attendees enjoyed meeting the university’s mostpromising seniors, who were nominees for the prestigious RisingStar Award, and Trustee Morgan O’Brien ‘82 M’85 received the Alumni Heritage Award. To end the evening, David Jamison,provost and interim president, introduced President-elect Chris Howard, who takes office next month.

More pictures are available here.

PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL DINNER

RISING STAR AWARD NOMINEES

HERITAGE AWARD WINNER MORGAN O’BRIEN ‘82 M’85

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RISING STAR AWARD WINNER HUNTER CARLHEIM

THE RMU FIFE AND DRUM CORPS

President’s

INSIDER

2015 Alumni Heritage Award WinnerMorgan O’Brien ‘82 M’85

Pittsburgh Magazine recently put Morgan on thecover of its “Pittsburghers of the Year” issue for hisconsiderable accomplishments, both as CEO of twomajor Pittsburgh corporations — before Peoples hewas the top executive at Duquesne Light — and asa powerful advocate of regional growth at theAllegheny Conference on Community andEconomic Development, where he has spent thepast three years as chairman.

Morgan also serves with dedication and diligenceon the RMU Board of Trustees. He is a strongadvocate for his alma mater in the region and isleading efforts to win support for a new eventscenter on campus.

Watch a video tribute to Morgan and hear his acceptance speech.

“I’ve never forgotten how important Robert Morris hasbeen to me, and I kept thinking to myself that I owe somuch to the university, but how do I ever pay it back?The whole idea started with a conversation about theevents center. I’m passionate about basketball andpassionate about Robert Morris, and it really hit homethat this could be at least a part of my thank you.”

“We need to have reasons to bring people to campus. Weneed to have people appreciate the beauty of the campusand the value of what RMU means to this region.”

2015 Rising Star Award WinnerHunter Carlheim

An applied mathematics major, Hunter Carlheim isa student teacher at Avonworth School District andplans to pursue his master’s and doctorate inmathematics education after graduation in thespring. He is also an avid volunteer with Habitatfor Humanity, the Salvation Army, AmericanCancer Society’s Relay for Life, Ronald McDonaldHouse, and other volunteer organizations andaverages 400 hours of community service annually.

Hunter’s list of campus activities includesInterfraternity Council, Phi Delta Theta, CollegeDemocrats, Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, and the Student Conduct Board. He is fluent in sign language and occasionally translates for thehearing impaired.

Watch the award presentation and Hunter’s acceptance speech.

“On behalf of all the students at RMU, I want to thankall of you for believing and investing in us. You are trulychanging our lives and giving us a brighter future full of hope and opportunities.”

“Again, thank you all for your contributions to Robert Morris University. I’m honored to win the Rising Star Award, but most importantly I’m proud to be a Colonial.”

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 6001 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD, MOON TOWNSHIP, PA 15108-1189 RMU.EDU/CHANGE A LIFE

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AWARD WINNERS