Mr. 唐纳德·P. Hutchinson Given Honorary Doctorate at Commencement
Dec 21, 2023 8:00 AM
Frostburg State University presented Mr. 唐纳德·P. Hutchinson '67, former Maryland politician and president/CEO of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa at its 163rd commencement ceremony held on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
Hutchinson attended public schools in Baltimore County and graduated from FSU in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He also holds Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Towson University and the University of Baltimore.
He was active in politics for many years as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of Maryland (1967-1968) and then in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 5 in Baltimore County (1969-1974). During his time as a State Delegate, Hutchinson served as a member of the Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee and served on the Commission on Young Offenders.
In 1975, Hutchinson was elected to the Maryland State Senate representing District 7, also in Baltimore County, a position he held until 1978. While a State Senator, he was on the Constitutional and Public Law Committee as well as the Maryland Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation.
In 1978, Hutchinson was elected as the 6th County Executive of Baltimore County and was reelected for a second term in 1982.
Hutchinson has also served as a member of the Board of Visitors of Towson State University (1981-1989), the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission (1985-1988), the State Board of Education (1991-1992), and the Governor’s Commission on Efficiency and Economy in State Government (1994). He was the chair of the Governor’s Commission on School Funding (1994), a member of the BWI Airport Commission (1994-1996), and the Governor’s Port Land-Use Task Force (1996).
Hutchinson was also the President of the Greater Baltimore Committee just prior to becoming the President and CEO of SunTrust Bank, Maryland (2002-2007). While on the Greater Baltimore Committee, he played a leading role in the construction of the Raven’s new football stadium, the revitalization of the Hippodrome Theatre, and his work on the development of a biotech park and neighborhood revitalization on Baltimore’s east side.
From 2008 until 2020, Hutchinson served as the President and CEO of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. He and his wife, Peggy, live in Timonium, MD, and have three adult children and three grandchildren.
To watch a recording of the live stream of commencement, visit the Commencement web site.