Coley Rice Lounge dedicated for 8th President Joan Develin Coley and M. Lee Rice '48

McDaniel College hosted the dedication of the newly named Coley Rice Lounge, formerly McDaniel Lounge, on Saturday, Oct. 8.

The renovated campus meeting and event space is named for former McDaniel College President Joan Develin Coley, who served as the college’s eighth president, and her husband, M. Lee Rice '48, a trustee emeritus of the college.

Both Coley and Rice have had a long association with the college and continue to be philanthropic supporters of McDaniel as members of the Founders Society, which recognizes donors who annually support the college through gifts of at least $1,867, and the Legacy Society for planned giving. Their gifts have supported research, scholarships, and a variety of capital projects, including technological and other upgrades to the newly named Coley Rice Lounge.

Coley was the college’s first female president and the first to be promoted from the faculty ranks. With the approval of the Board of Trustees, she led the college through a major re-positioning that was launched in 2002 with its name change from Western Maryland College and managed the largest fundraising campaign in the college’s history.

A noted expert on reading and reading disabilities, she joined the faculty of then Western Maryland College in 1973 and served nearly four decades as a professor of education, department chair, Dean of Graduate Affairs, Provost, and as President during her last 10 years at McDaniel. Upon her retirement in 2010, she received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and was honored with emeritus status as Professor of Education and College President.

Rice, who graduated from the college in 1948, joined the Board of Trustees in 1979 and served as chair from 1991-1996. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1983.

Now a business consultant, he served as an electronic technician in the U.S. Navy, taught high school mathematics, and worked for Atlantic Research Corporation in roles in applied mathematics, research and development, as well as the president, before going on to become president and CEO of Ogden Transportation Corporation and then president of Shipbuilders Council of America, retiring in 1983. He holds at least four patents, including a widely used meteorological sounding rocket which is on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and he co-invented the solid propellant system for the Polaris missile.

In addition to Coley and Rice, others who took part in the ribbon cutting of the Coley Rice Lounge were Vice President for Institutional Advancement David Sears, McDaniel College President Julia Jasken, and McDaniel College Board Chair Bruce H. Preston '75.