June 4, 2008

James Truby and Katherine Rensin named Chair, Vice Chair

(Columbia, MD) – The Board of Trustees of Howard Community College (HCC) announced last week that James Truby will become chair, effective July 1, 2008.  Mr. Truby, who currently serves as vice chair, succeeds Dr. Patrick Huddie, whose two year tenure began in 2006.  Current board member Katherine Rensin will replace Mr. Truby as vice chair. The board of trustees elected Mr. Truby and Ms. Rensin unanimously at its May 28, 2008, meeting.

Mr. Truby has been a member of HCC’s Board of Trustees since 2002.  In addition to his role as a trustee, Mr. Truby serves as a member of the Baltimore Washington International Airport Development Council, Leadership Howard County, and the board of directors of the Horizon Foundation, where he also serves as secretary.  He is the founding principal of Synthesis Incorporated, a Howard County-based real estate consulting firm that specializes in managing the development of a wide range of institutional facilities.   He was also a member of the Howard County Adequate Public Facilities Commission and served on the Initiating Committee of Vision Howard County and chaired its Environmental and Historic Preservation Task Force.  Additionally, Mr. Truby served as President of the Howard County Economic Forum; Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Johns Hopkins University School of Continuing Studies; Treasurer of the Maryland Chapter, National Association of Industrial and Office Parks; and was also a member of the Maryland State Board of Airport Zoning Appeals and the board of Winter Growth, Inc.

Ms. Rensin has served as a member of the Board of Trustees since 2003.  During this time, she has been a member of both the audit and finance and legislative committees; she recently served on the workforce development task force for the college’s Commission on the Future and also serves as a Step-Up coach for HCC students.  She served as chairperson of the 15^th Annual Columbia Classic Grand Prix in 2002, chair of the President’s Gala in 2002, 2006, and 2007, and as a member of the HCC Educational Foundation Board from  2001 to 2007, where she has served as the vice chair as well as chair of the nominating committee.  Ms. Rensin also served on the foundation’s finance and investment committee and the new ventures committee.  She has served on the board of directors for the Domestic Violence Center for Howard County and as a volunteer tutor for Howard County Project Literacy, teaching basic literacy, math, and critical thinking skills to adults with learning disabilities.  Ms. Rensin has also served as the Design Chairperson for the Historic Ellicott City Show House and a mentor for students at Glenelg High School as well as providing in-court advocacy for the Domestic Violence Unit of the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office.