Many students fondly recalled dinners with the Brodys at their on-campus residence.
Brody "has inspired an atmosphere around campus that we are a world-renowned institution," Nathan Levin, president of the Class of 2010, said in an e-mail. "In turn, this has helped to foster an increasing sense of campus spirit and pride in the university. We still have work to do, though, and I only hope that the next president is able to pick up where President Brody has left off."
Colleagues across the country paid tribute to Brody yesterday.
"I think it's just an enormous loss for higher education in the state, the nation and, quite frankly, globally," said University System of Maryland Chancellor William E. Kirwan. "He's a very important force in higher education and leaves a legacy of impressive accomplishment."
`A perfect fit'
Yale University President Richard C. Levin, a fellow admirer of Chinese culture, called Brody "one of the outstanding university presidents in the nation. ... Bill is a perfect fit for Hopkins, being a medical person, an engineer and with business experience, I don't think you're likely to find someone with all those attributes."
Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, credited Brody with making Hopkins "a more academically eminent" institution.
"His breadth of strategic vision and his real palpable humanity distinguishes him among leaders, not just among university presidents but among leaders."
gadi.dechter@baltsun.com
Brody's tenure
April 8, 1996: William R. Brody named Johns Hopkins' 13th president.
July 17, 2000: Hopkins concludes a six-year, $1.52 billion capital campaign that exceeded the university's goals.
July 19, 2001: Federal regulators suspend all human medical research at Hopkins after the death of a patient in an asthma study. After agreeing to a series of reviews, the university's privileges are restored three days later.
April 16, 2002: City, state and university officials announce key agreements that pave the way for the creation of the East Baltimore biotech park.
Jan. 31, 2005: After two students are killed in off-campus apartments in less than a year, university announces a $2 million plan to increase security.
Oct. 29, 2006: Hopkins expands its fundraising goal to $3.2 billion by the end of 2008.
