Lecture series unites Hopkins and Bmore

Hopkins President Ronald Daniels spoke at the Carey Business School's "Leaders and Legends" Lecture Series this past Tuesday.

In his speech, Daniels addressed the importance of raising awareness within and around the Hopkins community with helping communal institutions.  

"By describing the East Baltimore Community School – a specific example of one Hopkins investment that could change the trajectory of an entire neighborhood – I hope people get a more concrete sense of what our commitment means to Baltimore," he wrote in an e-mail to The News-Letter.

Since 2009 when he attained the role as the university's President, Daniels has spent much of his time trying to strengthen the university's relationship with the city of Baltimore.  

"Since the university's founding, we have engaged meaningfully with this city in countless ways," Daniels wrote. "Our two Baltimore-based hospitals provide nearly $186 million of community benefits, we have some 65 partnerships with Baltimore City schools and our students contribute tens of thousands of hours of volunteer community service."  

Despite the trend towards building up the community, President Daniels admits to the challenges that the university continues to face with this promotion.

"It is sometimes hard for people to understand what our conviction means," he said.  "What I hoped to do this morning is use the story of the East Baltimore Community School to illustrate our enduring commitment in an evolving community."

Patrick Ercolano, Senior Writer and Media Liason for the Carey Business School, explains that Daniels was chosen because of his position within an institution with a global reach.

"Because JHU is a world-class institution (and the largest private employer in Maryland) whose programs and initiatives have a lot of impact across the globe, everyone in the audience, from JHU students, faculty and staff to members of the public, will probably have a good deal of interest in what President Daniels has to say," Ercolano wrote in an e-mail to The News-Letter.  

"He has placed great emphasis during his tenure on building even stronger ties with the city and the communities around JHU campuses."  

The "Leaders and Legends" Lecture Series started in the fall of 2008 as an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and members of the local community to listen to successful business figures discuss the global economy, matters of leadership and their company's role in today's economically driven world.

Erclano greatly appreciates the series and the opportunities that it offers to the Hopkins community.  

"The school particularly sees the series as an opportunity for our students, in a setting outside the classroom, to gain additional knowledge about business," Ercolano wrote.

Entering its fourth year, the monthly lectures occur from September to May, each hosting a company head or a commendable speaker.  

Some speakers in the past have included President and CEO of Forbes, Inc. Steve Forbes,  President and CEO of PBS Paula Kerger, Administrator of NASA Michael Griffin, and Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Sheila Bair.  

Each speaker presents a didactic speech, informing the audience about the global economy, and his or her company's role within it.  

Although informative, it is a light-hearted affair, as executives draw upon levity to alleviate some of the pain that coincides with the aches of today's economy.  

Steve Forbes took full advantage of this during his speech at Carey in June 2010, blaming the economy on his temporary neck brace that he had retained after surgery.

"If you have certain talents, you should have a society that will enable you to realize and develop those talents to the fullest," Forbes said.

Like others, President Daniels hopes that this series will serve as a catalyst in promoting greater good throughout Baltimore.

"One of the great things about a series like Leaders and Legends is that it brings people together from across our city," he said.  "It's critical to create forums that bring wider sections of the community together for conversations about our shared interests."

The next honored speaker and date is yet to be announced.  

For more info, visit http://carey.jhu.edu/landing_pages/leadersandlegends/index.html.