Saying Goodbye, with Gratitude, to Gloria Friedgen

Gloria (R) with Dr. Robin Sawyer (L) and SPH founding dean 
Bob Gold (C) at the SPH 2012 commencement.

The School of Public Health will have a hard time filling the shoes of Gloria Friedgen, coordinator of alumni affairs and outreach, who is leaving after almost a decade of service in this role.

            
“She’s not replaceable,” said SPH Dean Jane Clark.

            
Friedgen and her husband Ralph, former Terrapin Football head coach, both attended the University of Maryland as students and have generously supported the school with their time and resources.

            
The couple met at the University of Maryland in 1971 when Gloria was completing her master’s degree in exercise physiology and Ralph was working as a physical education graduate assistant. The Friedgens returned to the University of Maryland in 2001 and Gloria became an adjunct professor for elementary education in the College of Education.

            

Gloria laughs with Dean Jane Clark (R) during the 2013
School of Public Health assembly. 

Originally from Bethpage, NY, Friedgen received her bachelor’s in physical education and biology from the State University of New York College at Cortland. She has a passion for education and physical activity. She worked as a coach (volleyball, basketball, track, softball, soccer, gymnastics) and a teacher (physical education and biology) for 28 years before returning to the University of Maryland. She also raised money for the former College of Health and Human Performance to support academic, athletic, and financial initiatives and scholarships. She continues to raise and donate money for School of Public Health student scholarships.

“Gloria is all about students,” Clark said.  

In 2004, after two years of working for the SPH Board of Visitors, Friedgen became the school’s coordinator of alumni affairs and outreach. In this capacity, she coordinated and hosted events such as “Breakfast with Mrs. Fridge” to connect with students, launched the first annual Deans Scholars Dinner to recognize outstanding students, and helped plan SPH Alumni Chapter Board events, the Mind Body Games and some of the APHA receptions.

Gloria (C) at Maryland Day 2013. 

Friedgen also coordinated the School of Public Health’s Maryland Day events for the past 10 years. In 2013, she worked with Dr. Sharon Desmond’s HLTH391 students to host an expanded health fair outside of Comcast Center. This was SPH’s largest outreach event on Maryland Day. View the SPH Maryland Day 2013 photo gallery.

Many SPH events, such as the annual Jerry Wrenn Golf Scramble, which raises around $25,000 for student scholarships each year, would not be the same, or even exist at all, without Friedgen’s energy and dedication, Clark said.  The tenth annual Jerry P. Wrenn Scholarship Golf Scramble will be held on Friday, August 2, 2013 at the University of Maryland Golf Course. Gloria will be there.