Investing in UMGC’s Future: The Ehrensberger Legacy Society Inducts New Members

The inductees were honored at the 2026 Ehrensberger Legacy Society Luncheon at College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center where UMGC President Dr. Gregory Fowler expressed his gratitude to the society’s newest members. “The support you provide doesn't just pay for tuition. It helps buy time — time that a working parent can spend studying instead of taking on a second job,” said Dr. Fowler. “It reduces anxiety. It signals to students that someone believes in them, maybe before they fully believe in themselves. That matters more than any of us can fully measure.”

At the event, new Ehrensberger Legacy Society inductee Piia H. Brown ’17 also shared the story of how she felt called to be part of this special group of supporters who are eager to pay it forward to help others realize their dreams of higher education.

Piia H. ’17 and Troy Brown

Piia H. Brown is a servant leader and nationally respected public health strategist with more than 20 years of experience across academia, nonprofits, and government. She has held leadership roles including Medicaid Chief of Quality for the Louisiana Department of Health, Chief of Perinatal and Infant Health at the DC Department of Health, and Senior Program Manager at the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs. She is Principal Consultant of Ph Solutions and adjunct faculty at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and George Mason University. A recognized educator and author, she has taught at multiple institutions, published influential maternal health texts, and earned numerous honors, including UMGC’s Edward A. Parnell Outstanding Alumnus Service Award.

Troy S. Brown, Esq. is a Partner at Albers & Associates, LLC with more than 20 years of litigation and transactional experience. A multi‑jurisdictional attorney licensed in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Georgia, and before the U.S. Supreme Court, he represents clients in corporate transactions, commercial litigation, construction and real estate matters, employment law, estate planning, and white‑collar and self‑defense cases. He also serves as a FINRA arbitrator and teaches Research, Writing, and Advocacy as an adjunct professor at the University of West Los Angeles, while providing corporate ethics and governance training to private and professional organizations. 

Through this planned gift, the Browns seek to invest in the university’s continued leadership in scholarship, service, and student success.

Douglas Dalzell

Doug Dalzell has served eight universities over his 52-year career in higher education advancement. Over the past 14 years he has worked for the University System of Maryland, first at Coppin State University as Vice President for Advancement and finally at UMGC as Director of Major Gifts. He received his B.A. from Kentucky Wesleyan College and his J.D. From the University of Louisville School of Law. 

Mr. Dalzell is making this gift because he credits UMGC for him with the professional opportunity in his life. He is supporting the Joe Arden Overseas Marylanders Scholarship.

Donna Escoffery ’24

Donna Escoffery serves as the medical records supervisor for the Department of Behavioral Health in Washington, D.C., where she oversees the integrity and confidentiality of patient health information. With a career rooted in healthcare administration, she is committed to ensuring compliance, accuracy, and compassionate service in behavioral health settings. Ms. Escoffery graduated Cum Laude from the University of Maryland Global Campus in 2024 with a degree in Healthcare Administration, which laid the foundation for her dedication to excellence in medical records management and patient advocacy.

Her planned gift to UMGC reflects her strong belief in the power of education and opportunity. Understanding the unique challenges faced by service members and their loved ones, Ms. Escoffery designated her gift to the Pillars of Strength Program, which provides financial aid for military care givers studying at UMGC. Inspired by her own academic journey, she hopes to create a lasting impact and empower others to pursue their dreams.

Earl H. Foote ’02

Earl Foote dedicated his life to working at UMGC for more than 20 years. After retiring in 2018 as the Office of Institutional Advancement’s Program and Support Services Specialist, he is making this gift towards his endowed scholarship, the Eiker-Foote Scholarship, to provide students with the same education opportunities that he had in life.

Telaya Jackson ’22

Telaya Jackson is a proud UMGC graduate, having transferred from the Community College of Baltimore County in 2020 following the onset of COVID‑19. She has pursued accounting since the start of her academic journey, drawn to problem‑solving and a lifelong affinity for numbers that began in second grade. Ms. Jackson volunteers her time supporting future students as they prepare for their personal and professional journeys. She has experience helping peers strengthen their résumés while continuing to refine her own, and she values the sense of community that UMGC provides—near or far.

As a tribute to her father’s military service, Ms. Jackson is making this bequest gift to show her appreciation of the sacrifices of our nation’s military and their families.

David ‘86 and Cynthia Kamioner

David Kamioner is a graduate of the University of Maryland's European Division and served in the U.S. Army with the Pershing Nuclear Brigade and the First Infantry Division. A South Florida native, he spent decades as a political media consultant, and has also worked in academia, veterans affairs, as an op-ed writer and as a director of corporate communications. He served with the Red Cross in Louisiana during the Hurricane Katrina recovery operation of 2005. 

Mr. Kamioner along with his wife Cynthia are making this gift because of the opportunity UMGC provided them. They want to give other veterans that opportunity in their lives as well.

Michelle M. LeFurge

Michelle LeFurge is a seasoned situational analyst, community organizer, events manager, and policy advocate with more than four decades of experience across Maryland, Montana, Washington D.C., Thailand, and Saudi Arabia. As Managing Partner of Winters, LeFurge and Associates, Inc. for over thirty years, she led client relations, issue advocacy, and program management for a $5M portfolio.

Her career highlights include co‑creating the USDA Conservation Districts’ first grant-funded rural economic development training program—serving 45 communities in Montana and Alaska—managing logistics for the winning 2010 O’Malley-Brown/Mikulski statewide campaign, serving as Development and Special Projects Manager in the Annapolis Mayor’s Office, and guiding special events permitting legislation from concept through passage.

With her planned gift to the Dennis Winters Foundation, she is honoring her husband’s lifelong love of education and scholarship and his commitment to student learning.  Dr. Dennis Winters career and her own reflect the UMGC legacy of public service, intellectual rigor, and meaningful impact across communities and continents.

Daniel Warren Snyder ’92

After earning his degree bachelor’s degree and serving in the U.S. Air Force, Daniel Warren Snyder’s final Air Force assignment brought him to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland where he separated from the service in 1987.  In 1988, he enrolled at UMUC—a decision that became one of the defining experiences of his academic journey. While working full‑time, he took evening and weekend classes, valuing UMUC’s flexibility, dedicated faculty, and support for adult learners. In 1992, he proudly completed his second bachelor’s degree, an achievement that strengthened both his professional development and his connection to the UMUC community.

Over the course of his federal career, Mr. Snyder served as a Department of Defense civilian and has spent the past 18 years at the IRS. He chose to support his alma mater through this charitable contribution—an opportunity that allows him to give back to the institution that played such a meaningful role in his growth, education, and long-term career success.

Ralph Curtis ’93 and Debra E.B. '88 Young

Ralph C. Young ’93 is a distinguished UMGC alumnus whose life of service reflects purposeful leadership, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to excellence. His 42‑year career in federal service and national defense includes 21 years as a civilian leader and 21 years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant. Mr. Young held senior financial and leadership roles across the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community—including U.S. CYBERCOMMAND, Joint Task Force–Global Network Operations, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the U.S. Air Force—where he strengthened organizations, stewarded critical resources, and guided mission‑driven change. He also served as a dedicated member of the UMGC Alumni Advisory Board.

Debra E. B. Young ’88 brings more than 40 years of federal service to her career, including senior leadership at the U.S. Census Bureau and earlier service as a U.S. Air Force veteran. A committed UMGC volunteer since the 1990s, she served as President of the UMGC Advisory Board during the university’s early digital transformation in 2004–2005 and has remained an engaged past President of the UMGC Alumni Association since 2005.

Together, Mr. and Mrs. Young created the LizRe Paying It Forward Endowed Scholarship Fund. Their legacy demonstrates that success is measured not only by professional achievement, but by the opportunities one creates for others. Their planned gift reflects deep gratitude to UMGC for providing accessible education during their service years and a lasting commitment to helping future veterans thrive, lead, and continue the tradition of paying it forward.