The former UMB president who is now chancellor of the University System of Maryland is honored as an accomplished and inspirational leader.
“I told Bruce Jarrell, I had told Jennifer [Litchman], please don't do this. You know, don't put me on the wall yet!” pleaded University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Jay A. Perman, MD, to the laughter of nearly 100 friends, colleagues, and former colleagues at a Feb. 23 ceremony held to unveil his official portrait as a past president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). “For God's sakes, I'm an active faculty member here. I'm not done,” he continued to more laughter.
After Perman and current UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, unveiled the portrait together, Perman agreed artist Jacqueline Jasper’s work was “beautiful” and thanked her, still appearing very self-conscious.
“And that was the look that inspired the portrait,” Jasper explained. “I saw this look. And I thought he's incredible. He looks as if he's just asked you a question. And he's waiting for the answer. And I thought that's an educator inspiring you to think of that.”
Jarrell, a longtime colleague and friend, couldn’t resist ribbing Perman. “I have always wondered how you paint a face. It must be very difficult. So, what was it about this face?” he asked Jasper with a big smile.
“Don’t answer that,” Perman shot back, to even more laughter.
But the crowd, overflowing in the hallway outside of the SMC Campus Center’s Elm Ballrooms — now dubbed “Presidents Hall” — was there not only for the camaraderie, but also to honor an accomplished and inspirational leader.