About The Center

Named for late Washington Post sportswriter and columnist Shirley Povich, The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism was established in November 2011 under the direction of longtime Washington Post sports editor George Solomon, who retired in June 2020.

Mark Hyman, a veteran journalist, professor, author and lawyer, assumed the directorship in July 2020 after being named the Philip Merrill College of Journalism's first George Solomon Endowed Chair in Sports Journalism.

The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism prepares students to be innovators and leaders in all facets of sports media. The center's unique, experiential curriculum and public programs elevate and amplify discussion of race, gender, politics and the world -- just as Shirley Povich did each morning in The Washington Post.

Shirley Povich was an eyewitness to the most significant sporting events of the 20th century and his fearless reporting took on questions of race, religion and gender. The Povich Center hopes to lead a new generation of sports journalists to view and chronicle events in sports.

The Center is a focal point for research and analysis of the current topics in sports and sports media. The Washington-Baltimore area is one of the nation’s liveliest sports markets, offering rich and diverse firsthand opportunities for students interested in sports journalism.

The Povich Center, with Merrill College, helps prepare journalism students for these opportunities through a range of courses in sports reporting and broadcasting and in the intersection of sports and culture.

Students are afforded the opportunity to interact with some of the nation’s leading sports journalists through classes and special events.

The Center serves as a launching pad for University of Maryland students to learn, actively participate in and develop the journalistic skills they need to meet the challenges of new media that face the next generation of sports journalists

The center was made possible by a $1 million challenge gift from Povich’s children – Maury, Lynn and David – as well as support from other involved parties.