Save the dates to graduate

Congressman to speak; Korean CEO to receive honorary doctorate at Commencement

The Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin, who represents Maryland’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Sae Joo Chang ’81, chairman and CEO of Korea’s third-largest steel group, will be guests of honor at TU’s 141st Commencement Exercises, to take place May 24, 25 and 26 at the Towson Center.

The occasion also marks the 140th anniversary of the university’s founding as the Maryland State Normal School. The institution opened its doors in 1866 in Baltimore and graduated its first class of 11 public-school teachers that year.

Rep. Cardin, the distinguished guest speaker, is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, the senior Democrat on the Trade Subcommittee and a member of the Human Resources Subcommittee. He is also the senior Democrat on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the U.S. Helsinki Commission).

Over the course of 19 years in the House, he has gained national attention and recognition for his leadership on fiscal issues, pension reform and health care. In 2001Worth Magazine named him to its list of "100 people who have influenced the way Americans think about money." In 2004 Treasury and Risk Management added him to its list of the "100 most influential People in Finance."

Cardin served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 to 1986, holding the post of speaker from 1979 to 1986.

He will address graduates of the College of Liberal Arts on Wednesday, May 24, at 2 p.m.

Sae Joo Chang, this year's honorary degree recipient, is a 1981TU graduate (B.A., economics) and one of the Republic of Korea’s most prominent business executives. Under his leadership, Dongkuk Steel Mill Co.’s 1,642 employees produced 5.5 millions tons of steel plates, reinforcing bars and sections per year. The company has become the second-largest supplier of steel plate to the Korean shipbuilding industry and the world’s largest steel slab buyer.

He also directs the Songwon Cultural Foundation at Dongkuk Steel, which administers scholarships, support to the elderly who live alone, child-welfare programs and subsidy programs to those on government assistance.

His gifts to TU have supported scholarships, faculty research, support for visiting scholars and the work of the Korean-U.S. Business Relations Institute.

Chang has played a vital and much-appreciated role in maintaining TU’s close relationship with the Republic of Korea—a relationship that has led to university-to-university exchanges and successful efforts to establish Maryland’s Sister State Program there.

He will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from President Robert L. Caret at Commencement Exercises for the College of Business and Economics on Thursday,  May 25, at 2 p.m.

Story by Jan Lucas /Photos courtesy of Benjamin L. Cardin and Sae Joo Chang

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