Goucher College is proud to honor Dr. La Jerne Terry Cornish with the 2019 Marguerite Barland ’60 Merit Award. Dr. Cornish is both a product of Goucher College and at the heart of it. She is a leader of the community, and forever a student of it.

The matriculation oath for new students of Goucher College begins, “I hereby pledge to think, to learn, to question, to seek wisdom, and to gain knowledge for the betterment of myself and others at home and abroad.” Dr. Cornish has lived up to this oath. She is a fixture in communities in Baltimore and abroad. In 2004, at the urging of two students, she went to South Africa, her first trip out of the United States. Dr. Cornish was so transformed by the experience that subsequently, and for more than 12 years, she co-led an intensive course abroad in Grahamstown, South Africa, taking Goucher students to teach English and mathematics to South African kids in grades five through seven every summer.

The oath continues, “I hereby pledge to abide by and let my actions reflect the Community Principles of inclusion, service and social justice, respect, responsibility, and communication.” Dr. Cornish has lived up to this oath. She worked in Baltimore City Public Schools for 15 years as an English teacher and assistant principal. During that time, Dr. Cornish piloted the Maryland’s Tomorrow Middle School Program, which gave internships and jobs to at-risk youth. She also started the Future Educators Association in five Baltimore City middle schools to inspire underrepresented youth to become teachers.

Read the full 2019 Marguerite Barland ’60 Merit Award for Dr. La Jerne Terry Cornish ’83, M.Ed. ’94, P ’18 (PDF)