WELCOME TO SU
“ The first and most important thing is for me to
listen broadly and learn about the campus and
the aspirations and goals of the community.”
V: How do you feel about returning to the Baltimore
area?
EH: I’m excited. It is, of course, an opportunity to re-
connect with colleagues and friends. There’s a saying,
“No person ever steps in the same river twice, for it's
not the same river and they are not the same person.” I
fully believe this, so I’m excited about new opportunities
given changes since I’ve been here.
V: What’s something that people would be surprised to
know about you?
EH: In some regards, the ubiquity offered by the inter-
net makes it hard for there to be many surprises. One,
however, is that my wife and I are supporters of animals
in that we think of them as family members. People will
see that I’m very interested in animal welfare. Another
thing that people might not know is that I was a student-
athlete in high school. I played defensive back for the
football team and ran track, so I understand some of the
challenges our student-athletes face.
200 products in a grocery store and sold them in bulk?
These simple ideas had enormous implications, provid-
ing opportunities for much broader distribution of high-
quality product. It’s a great example of how a simple set
of ideas can change an organization and affect people’s
lives.
V: Are there any final comments to the SU community as
you begin your tenure as president?
EH: When I was interviewing, Stevenson’s heritage of
community, its tradition as a caring community, was very
attractive to me. There is so much great work happening
here—the integration of career preparation with liberal
arts, cultural and artistic events, athletics—that I want
to nurture and support. I see Stevenson as a wonderful,
diverse community, one where people are friendly, sup-
portive, and really care about each other. I look forward
to joining the community. SU
V: What’s the last book you’ve read?
EH: Sol Price: Retail Revolutionary and Social Innovator.
Price was the person who came up with the concept of
big box stores such as Sam’s Club and Costco. For ex-
ample, back in the early ‘50s, he was looking at retail
stores and thought, what would happen if we only sold
For more on President Hirshman’s pro-
fessional, academic, and personal back-
ground, visit stevenson.edu/president.
STEVENSON.EDU
| 7