The College of Southern Maryland celebrated the contributions of 56 employees during the college’s Annual Service Recognition dinner Feb. 3.

Among the employees who have provided 635 years of collective service to the college were Professors William Klink and William Montgomery, who together have been associated with the college as either students and or faculty for 82 years.

In a time when employees are moving from one business, institution or position to another every three to five years, having seasoned and dedicated employees, who have grown with and propelled the success of an organization, provides a foundation for future development and can often make or break an institution.

Bill Montgomery: Inspired by His Students’ Determination

 
“So many things have changed during my years at the college,” says Bill Montgomery who was recognized by the College of Southern Maryland on Feb. 3 for his 35 years of service to the college. An alumni of CSM, Montgomery says, the “motivation and determination of [our] students is very inspiring to me.”                Submitted Photo

CSM Professor Bill Montgomery began his association with the college in 1961 as a student of Charles County Community College.

“Classes were held in the evening in the old La Plata High School, which is now the county government building. I came on board as faculty in 1971 when my position at Freedmen’s Hospital School of Nursing ended,” said Montgomery, who is professor and chair of CSM’s biological and physical sciences department.

“So many things have changed during my years at the college. As a student, the college was so small that one time the dean’s secretary called all the students and faculty to let them know classes were cancelled that evening due to snow. Years later, as a member of the faculty, the year book contained not only the graduates but all full-time faculty and staff,” said Montgomery.

While the college has grown tremendously since then, Montgomery notes that when it comes to teaching biology some things never change.

“Every semester you are faced with new faces and new advances in biology to teach, but the students often come in with the same general misconceptions about science. One of the most prominent is the idea that science is anti-religion, but that is an attribute that other people have placed on science and scientist. Science is a dedicated method of looking at the world. It is not the only method; it has its limitations, for there are things science cannot know,” said Montgomery. “I like biology because it is all around us. My students experience events every day and we get to explain how and why these events occur,” Montgomery continued.

For Montgomery, interacting with and getting to know his students are the benefits of staying with the college for over 35 years. “Most of my students are studying nursing; they are often pursuing second or third careers.

They may be mothers who stayed home to raise their kids and are only now getting to focus on their lives. Many are under tremendous pressure–juggling jobs, family and work obligations. They come into the program and don’t know if they can compete academically with people who are younger and they think smarter than themselves; but they learn they can not only compete but often outperform other students. The motivation and deter