Dr. Miriam C. Purnell, a UMES School of Pharmacy professor, is among 17 University System of Maryland peers to be recognized by the Board of Regents as a 2022 faculty award winner.
The awards are the highest honor presented to exemplary faculty members by the governing board. They honor excellence in: teaching; mentoring; public service; research, scholarship, or creative activity; and innovation.
Purnell was singled out for her efforts as a mentor.
“Being awarded this honor,” Purnell said, “is truly humbling because I am surrounded by excellent mentoring role models at UMES.”
The regents noted “Dr. Purnell’s commitment to mentorship goes well above academic advising. She develops and maintains strong relationships with students throughout their academic careers and beyond, from engaging in regular meetings to actively reaching out to students demonstrating signs of struggle.”
A committee of faculty peers makes recommendations to each institution’s president, who reviews nominations and supporting material and forwards recommendations to system Chancellor Jay A. Perman. The regents’ Faculty Review Committee makes the final recommendations.
The citation summarizing Purnell’s role as a mentor noted “her approach … includes counseling on communication and interpersonal issues; seeking feedback from faculty; encouraging student organization participation; linking students with professional role models; encouraging students who ‘stop out’ from their studies to seek employment as pharmacy technicians; and mentoring junior faculty.”
Perman and regents’ Chair Linda Gooden will recognize the winners April 29 at Towson University, where the full board will convene for a scheduled meeting.
“It is a pleasure every year to recognize these outstanding faculty members,” Gooden said. “I am especially grateful for their dedication throughout the many phases of the pandemic and pleased we can plan to recognize them in person, thanks to the work our campuses have done to keep their communities safe.”
Purnell, who joined the UMES faculty in June 2009, is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration.
“Throughout my life, I have had people encourage me to become the best version of myself,” Purnell said. “I am privileged to work in a profession and at a university that allows me to do the same for others.”
She is the founding adviser for the campus chapter of the Christian Pharmacist Fellowship International (in 2010) and has served in that capacity since then.
“When mentoring others,” she said, “I believe in ‘speaking the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4:15), which means that it may not always be what someone wants to hear but it is honest, it is intended to help them, and it is spoken with kindness and grace.”.
The regents’ announcement noted “Dr. Purnell’s mentees have earned placement in competitive residency programs, established professional careers, and are now impacting others. Her mentoring has proven critical to achieve UMES’ mission of increasing recruitment, retention, and graduation.”
Each award carries a $2,000 prize provided by the institutions and the University System of Maryland Foundation.
