OUR BOARD
HARRY BASEHART
Harry Basehart is Professor Emeritus at Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland where he taught political science and was co-founder of the Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement. He received his B.A. from Kent State University (1964), his M.A. (1965) and Ph.D. (1972) from The Ohio State University.
He is co-author of State and Local Government: Politics and Public Policies and numerous articles on state legislatures and the civic engagement of college students. He has been active in local and state concerns including the Wicomico County Commission on Aging, Special Committee on Voting Systems and Election Procedures in Maryland, City of Salisbury Ethics Commission, City of Salisbury Election Board, and treasurer of two recent political campaigns.
He was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Student Government Association at Salisbury University in 2018.
JANET ST.LAWRENCE
Janet S. St. Lawrence Ph.D. completed a doctorate in clinical psychology at Nova University, followed by a residency at the University of Mississippi Medical center. Her academic career spans for than 40 years as a Professor of Psychology at the University of Mississippi, Jackson State University, and Mississippi State University. She is currently a Research Professor at Portland State University. She is the author of more than 300 research articles published in scientific journals and is the author or coauthor of 11 books.
For ten years, Dr. St Lawrence was the Branch Chief of Behavioral Research and Interventions at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During that time she conducted research and provided consultation internationally in countries such as Botswana, Cambodia, Cameroon, Russia, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe.
She served in the Medical Service Corps of the US Navy and retired as a Lieutenant Commander from the USNR.
While at Jackson State University, she founded and served as Executive Director for a 501C3 nonprofit, Daybreak, which provided services to homeless adults. Daybreak provided services such as GED classes, medical and dental screenings, job training, recreational skills, drug and alcohol treatment referrals and counseling. At the time she left Jackson Daybreak became a United Way Agency.
ERIC NEWMAN
Eric grew up in the hills of southeastern Ohio, where he hiked and explored the outdoors. As a teenager, he read Emerson and Thoreau and developed an appreciation for the physical and spiritual connections between people and nature. He continues to “recharge his batteries” by exploring trails with his dog Stella and visiting places of natural beauty.
Eric studied philosophy and political science at Miami University, graduating in 1992. After spending two years living in the Colorado mountains, where he worked for a time on an Earthship project, he attended the University of Michigan Law School and graduated in 1997. Since graduation, he has practiced law in Chicago and has 26 years of experience representing a variety of different clients, from large corporations, to small businesses just getting started, as well as individuals with a vast array of legal needs.
In 2011, Eric started his own law firm. He continues to have a diverse practice and has represented architects, designers, homeowners, construction companies, and a solar installer. One of the most exciting parts of Eric’s legal practice is supporting the work of not-for-profits and artists. He has helped create and served on the boards of not-for-profits throughout his career, acted as a volunteer attorney for Lawyers for the Creative Arts, and served as the chair of a committee dedicated to the promotion of the arts. He has performed legal work for artists who have created public artworks that are now displayed in commercial, university and public settings. In the end, Eric is still passionate about the connections between people and the natural world, including the art we choose to place outdoors.