Umb President To Step Down

Ramsay Transformed College During His 15-year Tenure

Ramsay said early on that he hoped to turn the campus into a bustling research center, and in that quest, he spent liberally to lure renowned scientists and helped to develop a cluster of biotechnology businesses, known as the UM BioPark. The university now attracts about $450 million a year in research funding.

Ramsay also oversaw a westward expansion of the campus and pushed for the rehabilitation of the Hippodrome Theatre, calling it a linchpin to the renaissance of surrounding neighborhoods. The feel of the campus changed during his tenure, with many more students living nearby.

Ramsay has served on the boards of numerous community organizations, including the Greater Baltimore Committee, which honored him with its Regional Visionary Award in 2004.

Rothenberg said Ramsay loved to have photos snapped with the law school employee of the month. "He really enjoyed the people part of it," she said.

A committee will begin searching for Ramsay's replacement in the next few weeks, but Kirwan said he did not know how long the process would take.