Salisbury University has recently conferred an honorary Doctor of Public Service upon Dave Rommel, a local entrepreneur and philanthropist, during its 2024 Spring Commencement ceremony. Rommel, a distinguished figure in the Greater Salisbury community, has been acknowledged for his exceptional contributions to the area.
President Carolyn Ringer Lepre praised Rommel for his leadership and influence in inspiring young entrepreneurs. With a successful career spanning several decades, Rommel has not only created employment opportunities and services through his various businesses, but has also devoted his time and resources to several institutions, including the SU Foundation, Inc., TidalHealth, the Apprenticeship and Training Committee of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and the Richard A. Henson Family YMCA.
Rommel’s ties to Salisbury University date back to his childhood when he attended the campus demonstration school and spent much of his youth honing his skills on the University’s basketball courts. His connection to SU was further deepened by his mother, who graduated from the institution in 1944. In 2017, Rommel and his wife, Patsy, made a generous $5.5 million gift to launch the “We Are SU: The Campaign for Salisbury University,” the largest fundraising initiative in the University’s history, which he also led.
A substantial portion of this donation was allocated to establish the Dave and Patsy Rommel Center for Entrepreneurship at SU Downtown, a space dedicated to nurturing student entrepreneurs. Rommel has been a strong advocate for student entrepreneurship and has actively contributed to the University’s Entrepreneurship Competition and the Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery program.
During the Commencement ceremony, which saw over 1,200 graduates receiving their degrees, Rommel was recognised for his unwavering support of student entrepreneurship and leadership in the community. The article concludes by encouraging readers to discover more about Salisbury University and the opportunities offered on its official website.