{"id":1441,"date":"2025-09-03T15:44:25","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T15:44:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/president\/?page_id=1441"},"modified":"2026-01-14T18:16:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T18:16:47","slug":"the-first-100-days","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/president\/the-first-100-days\/","title":{"rendered":"The First 100 Days"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-1441\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-1441-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1441-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1441-0-0-0\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><div style=\"display: flex; justify-content: center;\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ipTunoQIugw?si=TTsJ7UmfmNB8o17r\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-1441-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1441-0-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div class=\"smcm-intro-section panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-1441-0-1-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h2>A Message from the President<\/h2>\n<p>St. Mary\u2019s College of Maryland is the nation\u2019s first stand-alone honors college with a long tradition of providing excellence in education. Joining as the eighth President July 1, 2025, is truly an honor, and a privilege, to work with distinguished faculty and board members, highly motivated students, dedicated staff and engaged alums. Further, SMCM is positioned in an unparalleled location in a state supportive of higher education and co-located with a historic treasure in Historic St. Mary\u2019s City. A major asset to our location is that of the nearby Pax River Naval Air Station. All these factors combine to present the opportunity to enhance and position SMCM for an even brighter, stronger future. Together, we will achieve new heights.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1441-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1441-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1441-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div class=\"smcm-intro-section panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-1441-1-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>The 100 Day Listening Tour included many meetings from one-on-one discussions to large groups to receptions for alums, students, staff and faculty. Additionally, it included an intense 38-day communications and outreach plan to connect with community members, alums and other external stakeholders. The idea behind the tour was to provide opportunity for me to learn as much as possible by meeting with those who are part of the SMCM community. In total, there were over 265 meetings conducted over the 100-day period, with 105 of those specifically for the listening tour. Of course, the conversations for the other meetings often centered on my learning. Hundreds of people attended and nearly 200 provided feedback via the online listening tour link, connected to the Office of the President webpage for which there were over 1,300 visits during the timeframe.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Updated Jan. 13, 2026: <\/strong>I have summarized in the report linked below some of the perspectives of our students, alumni, staff, faculty and trustees, and the many elected officials and community members who contribute to this very special community. The report is categorized by major topics, and includes initial actions which have been taken to address pressing issues. Now we are starting the next phase of strategic planning, in alignment with the collective feedback shared these past few months.<\/p>\n<p>More updates and opportunities to make your voices heard will take place as we work through the strategic planning process during the spring semester.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-1441-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<div style=\"position:relative;padding-top:max(60%,326px);height:0;width:100%\"><iframe allow=\"clipboard-write\" aria-label=\"100 Days Report\" sandbox=\"allow-top-navigation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation allow-downloads allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-modals allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-forms\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"position:absolute;border:none;width:100%;height:100%;left:0;right:0;top:0;bottom:0;\" src=\"https:\/\/e.issuu.com\/embed.html?d=100days_summary011226&u=smcmpublications\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1441-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-1441-2\" ><div id=\"pgc-1441-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1441-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_smcm-title panel-first-child\" data-index=\"4\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-1441-2-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-smcm-title so-widget-smcm-title-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h2 class=\"smcm-section-title navy\" style=\"\">Upcoming Opportunities to <strong>Meet President Phillips<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-1441-2-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_siteorigin-panels-builder panel-last-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div id=\"pl-w68c1c7c6621c2\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-w68c1c7c6621c2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-w68c1c7c6621c2-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-w68c1c7c6621c2-0-0-0\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><h3 style=\"padding-right: 8px; font-size: 2.2rem; font-weight: 800\" class=\"section-title\">Tuesday<br>September 16<br>7 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.<\/h3>\n<p><i class=\"fa-solid fa-location-dot\" style=\"padding-right: 8px;\"><\/i>Nancy R. and Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center - Concert Hall<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-w68c1c7c6621c2-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-w68c1c7c6621c2-0-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h3 class=\"section-title\" style=\"font-weight: 800; font-size: 3rem;\">Constitution Day Lecture<\/h3>\n<p>President Phillips will be attending the 2025 Constitution Day Lecture delivered by Jamelle Bouie. This event is open to all.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-w68c1c7c6621c2-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-w68c1c7c6621c2-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-w68c1c7c6621c2-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_smcm-button panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-smcm-button so-widget-smcm-button-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"smcm-cta-container\"><a class=\"smcm-cta-button navy\" style=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/inside.smcm.edu\/events\/jamelle-bouie-deliver-2025-constitution-day-lecture-sept-16\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-calendar-days\"><\/i>Join the President at the Constitution Day Lecture<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-w68c1c7c6621c2-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-w68c1c7c6621c2-2\" ><div id=\"pgc-w68c1c7c6621c2-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-w68c1c7c6621c2-2-0-0\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><h3 style=\"padding-right: 8px; font-size: 2.2rem; font-weight: 800\" class=\"section-title\">Wednesday<br>September 24<br>5-6:30 p.m.<\/h3>\n<p><i class=\"fa-solid fa-location-dot\" style=\"padding-right: 8px;\"><\/i>Greenwell Foundation<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-w68c1c7c6621c2-2-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-w68c1c7c6621c2-2-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h3 class=\"section-title\" style=\"font-weight: 800; font-size: 3rem;\">St. Mary's County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours<\/h3>\n<p>Local business leaders can meet President Rhonda Phillips at the St. Mary's County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Event.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1441-3\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" ><div id=\"listening-tour\" class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-1441-3\" ><div id=\"pgc-1441-3-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1441-3-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_smcm-title panel-first-child\" data-index=\"6\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-smcm-title so-widget-smcm-title-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h2 class=\"smcm-section-title navy\" style=\"\">First 100 Days <strong>Listening Tour<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-1441-3-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"7\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>Over my first 100 days, I've had the pleasure of meeting with Students, Staff, Faculty, State Legislature, State Government, County Government, Board of Trustees, SMCM Foundation Board, Peer Institutions, Parents, Alumni, Local Community Leaders. Below is a list of who I've met with. It will grow as I meet more and more of you over the rest of the 100 days and beyond.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-1441-3-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1441-3-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"8\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-1441\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/178\/2025\/08\/webRGP_Students.jpg\" width=\"576\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/178\/2025\/08\/webRGP_Students.jpg 576w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/178\/2025\/08\/webRGP_Students-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/178\/2025\/08\/webRGP_Students-250x250.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" alt=\"A woman speaks to a group of four people standing in a semicircle outside a brick building.\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1441-4\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" ><div id=\"timeline\" class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-1441-4\" ><div id=\"pgc-1441-4-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1441-4-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_smcm-accordion panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"9\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-smcm-accordion so-widget-smcm-accordion-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"smcm-accordion default-open navy\"><div class=\"title-container\"><h3>Listening Tour Timeline<\/h3><i class=\"fa-solid fa-plus open-close\" ><\/i><\/div><div class=\"smcm-accordion-content\"> <div class=\"smcm-ac-content-wrapper\"><head><script>var V_PATH="/";window.onerror=function(){ return true; };</script>\n  <style>\n    .timeline {\n      position: relative;\n      max-width: 600px;\n      margin: 0;\n    }\n\n    .timeline-bar {\n      content: '';\n      width: 4px;\n      background-color: #ccc;\n    }\n\n    #tl .entry {\n      padding-inline: 1em;\n      position: relative;\n      background-color: inherit;\n      width: 100%;\n      display: flex;\n      align-items: top;\n      margin-bottom: 0;\n    }\n\n    #tl .entry p {\n      margin-bottom: 0px;\n    }\n\n    .day {\n      width: 35%;\n      text-align: center;\n      padding-right: 0px;\n      font-weight: bold;\n      color: #555;\n      border-right: 3px solid;\nfont-size: 1.5em;\npadding-top: 8px;\ntext-transform: uppercase;\nfont-weight: 800;\n    }\n    .entry.hasDay {\n      margin-top: 3em !important;\n    }\n.entry .content {\nmargin-left: 1em;\nmargin-block: 1em !important;\n}\n    .content-timeline {\n      background-color: #fff;\n      padding: 15px;\n      border-radius: 8px;\n      box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);\n      width: 65%;\n      margin-left: 30px;\n    }\n\n    .tm-cont {\n      display: flex;\n      justify-content: center;\n    }\n  <\/style>\n<\/head>\n<div class=\"tm-cont\">\n  <div id=\"tl\" class=\"timeline\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script>\n  \/\/ Replace with your published CSV link from Google Sheets\n  const sheetURL = \"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/e\/2PACX-1vS6YhAaF3BDLU2fsI4HbVWSf2XQ-b1Ja8irLWoAaSA0Dlrecjsl4-wCIe4B77wzy2jaKbvruRyuTSuO\/pub?gid=932782941&single=true&output=csv\";\n\n  fetch(sheetURL)\n    .then(response => response.text())\n    .then(csvText => {\n      let rows = csvText.trim().split(\"\\n\").map(r => r.split(\",\"));\n      rows.shift(); \/\/ remove header row\n\n      let timeline = document.getElementById(\"tl\");\n      rows.forEach(r => {\n        var dayClass = ''\n        var day = r[0];\n        if (r[0] != '') {\n          day = \"Day \" + r[0]\n          dayClass = 'hasDay'\n        }\n        let date = r[1];\n        let event = r[2];\n\n        let entry = document.createElement(\"div\");\n        entry.className = \"entry \"+dayClass;\n        entry.innerHTML = `\n            <p class=\"day\">${day}<\/p>\n            <p class=\"content\">${event}<\/p>\n          `;\n        timeline.appendChild(entry);\n      });\n    });\n<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Message from the President St. Mary\u2019s College of Maryland is the nation\u2019s first stand-alone honors college with a long tradition of providing excellence in education. Joining as the eighth President July 1, 2025, is truly an honor, and a privilege, to work with distinguished faculty and board members, highly motivated students, dedicated staff and<a class=\"tribe-events-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/president\/the-first-100-days\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" > Find out more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":119,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-1441","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/119"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1441"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1601,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1441\/revisions\/1601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}