The honorees exemplify powerful advocacy for success, achievement, and philanthropy for their respective schools while serving as visionaries for future progress.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) Catalyst for Excellence honorees exemplify powerful advocacy for success, achievement, and philanthropy for their respective institutions while serving as visionaries for future progress. Exemplars of excellence and inspiration, they have accomplished meaningful progress in their lives and careers, in addition to devoting meaningful time, talent, and resources to numerous worthy causes. UMB, UMMC, the city of Baltimore, and the state of Maryland are made much better through the impactful efforts of these extraordinary individuals. The 2025 honorees will be recognized April 22 during the UMB Foundation’s Celebrating Excellence: Honoring Service, Philanthropy, and Volunteerism event at M&T Bank Exchange.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY
Robert E. Deery, DDS ’73, earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) before joining the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, where the clinic’s dentists would venture into local villages to provide oral care, sparking his lifelong commitment to giving back. Dr. Deery went into private practice in Florida in the 1970s, becoming the first dentist within the city limits of Port St. Lucie. He stayed there until retiring in 1991. He was active in many professional organizations, serving as the dental director of Florida for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and associate director for the Southern Union Conference. Dr. Deery is a longtime donor to UMSOD’s Russell Gigliotti Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of the late Dr. Gigliotti, who was one of his most memorable instructors.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES
James F. Cawley, MPH, PA-C, has made significant contributions to advance physician assistant (PA) education, scholarship, leadership, and policy for over 50 years. A Maryland native, he is a professor and scholar-in-residence of the Physician Assistant Leadership and Learning Academy (PALLA) at the University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies (UMSGS). Professor Cawley has generously mentored more than a dozen budding educators and clinicians who have gone on to become exceptional leaders in the field. In 2024, UMSGS launched the James F. Cawley Award for Excellence in the PA Profession, which honors an individual who has made extraordinary contributions toward advancing the PA profession through scholarship, leadership, and policy in Maryland and beyond. This award was made possible through generous support from Professor Cawley and his colleagues.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FRANCIS KING CAREY SCHOOL OF LAW
Darrell Braman, JD ’88, spent almost 30 years at T. Rowe Price Associates, providing leadership as the Legal Department’s vice president and managing counsel until retiring in 2021. He has been instrumental in strengthening Maryland Carey Law’s partnership with the global financial services firm, including connecting T. Rowe Price to the Legal Excellence and Promise Scholars and Business Law Fellowship programs. Mr. Braman is an outstanding adjunct faculty member in Maryland Carey Law’s Business Law Program and has taught, mentored, and inspired law students who have pursued a wide range of careers. As a longtime member of the Board of Visitors, he has shared his strategic expertise and insight to support the law school’s mission. He has personally supported several funds, including the General Scholarship Fund and the Honorable Elijah E. Cummings ’76 Scholarship and Donald B. Tobin Professorship endowments.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
The Marino/VillaSanta Family has been connected to the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) for over a century. Dr. Frank C. Marino graduated in 1916 at age 21, beginning a legacy of medical excellence. His son-in-law, Dr. Umberto VillaSanta, was director of gynecological oncology from 1962-87, and his grandson, Mario VillaSanta, joined the board of the Shock Trauma Center in 2024. For 40-plus years, the Dr. Frank C. Marino Foundation and Marguerite VillaSanta have supported UMSOM through philanthropy. In 2016, the family established the Umberto VillaSanta, MD Scholarship Endowment to provide financial support for UMSOM students. In 2025, Mrs. VillaSanta created the Dr. Umberto and Marguerite VillaSanta Gynecological Surgeon Professorship to advance education in obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences. The family’s donations have strengthened medical education and patient care for generations to come.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF NURSING
James Melonas, MBA, is a distinguished executive and advisor with extensive experience in telecom, technology, and business development. He has held leadership roles with Verizon, the World Trade Center Institute (WTCI), and JCDecaux, driving innovation and strategic growth. Mr. Melonas is president of Spartan Allied Group, advising organizations on smart city initiatives, cybersecurity, and technology ventures. A dedicated supporter of education, he is a valued member of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) Board of Visitors. To honor his late wife Jackie, a UMSON alumna, he endowed a scholarship to support pediatric and psychiatric/mental health doctoral nursing students. His mentorship extends to the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps and TEDCO Network Advisors programs and WTCI’s Bowe Fellowship Advisory Board. Mr. Melonas continues to transform lives and advance health care through his leadership, service, and philanthropy.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
Ellen H. Yankellow, PharmD ’96, BSP ’73, president and chief executive officer of Correct Rx Pharmacy Services, Inc., is a national leader in the advancement of clinical pharmacy for institutions and one of the leading women pharmacists in the United States. Her business success is matched by her commitment to and passion for community activism and philanthropy. She has served on the UMB Foundation Board of Trustees since 2014 and is the board’s vice chair. Dr. Yankellow is a University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) Founding Pharmapreneur, a member of its Board of Visitors and Center for Women in Pharmapreneurism, and namesake of the Ellen H. Yankellow Grand Atrium in Pharmacy Hall. She has endowed scholarships and fellowships and supported numerous programs at the school, which is grateful for Dr. Yankellow’s standfast support.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
Katherine O’Donovan, MSW ’81, MA, served in former Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer’s administration and has held roles at Towson University and the Edward A. Myerberg Center in Baltimore. A city native, she is a member of the University of Maryland School of Social Work’s (UMSSW) Board of Advisors, where she chairs the Development Committee and plays a crucial role in advancing the school’s fundraising and constituent engagement efforts. Mrs. O’Donovan is a tireless advocate for social justice. As a UMSSW scholarship benefactor, she also is keenly focused on meeting the needs of today’s social work students to ensure that a graduate education remains accessible to all who want to enter the profession. Mrs. O’Donovan’s dedication underscores her commitment to fostering a thriving and impactful school of social work in Baltimore and Maryland, contributing to UMSSW’s continued success and growth.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER
The Stoler Family has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) through its generous philanthropy and volunteer leadership. Len Stoler has served on the University of Maryland Medical System and UMMC Boards of Directors, the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) Board of Advisors, and the Building for Life Campaign Committee, which oversaw the most successful fundraising effort in UMMC history. This tradition of service continues with Barry Stoler, who is chair of the UMGCCC Board of Advisors. In 2026, UMMC is scheduled to open the Roslyn and Leonard Stoler Center for Advanced Medicine, a state-of-the-art facility that will launch a new era of cancer care and research in the region. The Stolers’ philanthropy provided the cornerstone of this transformative project, creating the launching pad for the next generation of care at UMMC.