USM Foundation Welcomes New Board Members

Top Row (L-R): Greg Abel, Hope Brown, Mary E. Clapsaddle

Bottom Row (L-R): Christopher Evans, Robert Owen Johnson, Jr., Ali von Paris

Gregory Abel is the Founder and CEO of Abel Communications and has worked in journalism, sports marketing, corporate communications, and agency public relations. Gregory was named “Most Admired CEO” by the Daily Record in 2017 & 2019 and Abel Communications has twice been named a finalist for the Baltimore Business Journal’s Best Places to Work. Read more.

Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at Calvert Research and Management, Hope Brown is an alumnus of the University of Maryland, College Park and has had a career in the financial industry since 1995. Hope has experience in mutual fund, investment adviser and broker-dealer compliance, risk management and vendor management and oversight. Read more.

Director of Government Relations at Frostburg State University, Mary Clapsaddle is an FSU alumnus. She has years of experience working in the Annapolis and Maryland State Government with a special focus on economic and community development; k-12 and higher education; and health and human services. Read more.

Christopher Evans is Senior Vice President Commercial Banking Relationship Manager at Wells Fargo Bank and his career in banking, management, and finance spans over 26 years. Chris is an alumnus of Towson University where he serves as a board member for the TU Foundation. Read more.

Retired Board Chair for the Prince George’s County Board of Education, Robert Owen Johnson, Jr. served in many positions in the school system throughout his career. Owen served in the National Guard for nearly 25 years and is a UMES alumnus who served on the Board of Visitors and the Alumni Association. Read more.

Ali von Paris is the CEO & Founder of Route One Apparel, which offers over 3,000 items sold online and in retailers throughout the area. Ali is a University of Maryland, College Park alumnus and has been recognized and honored by The Daily Record, the Baltimore Sun, and the Baltimore Business Journal for her entrepreneurship. Read more.