This endowed fund is named in honor of Goldie Z. Nussbaum and will provide merit-based awards for undergraduate students majoring in dance in the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. The award will support travel, registration fees, and other costs associated with research and professional development opportunities for undergraduate dance students. Preference shall be for recipients who have graduated from a state of Maryland public high school.
Goldie Nussbaum's sons and their families, Bill and Susan and their children Michael and Rachel; and Andy and Sharon, and their children Jamie and Nicole; generously established The Goldie Z. Nussbaum Endowed Award in Dance to honor Goldie's passion for dance and theater and to impact future generations of dance students at the University of Maryland.
Goldie Nussbaum, and her late husband, Paul Nussbaum, lived within walking distance of the University of Maryland campus, in College Heights Estates, for nearly 60 years. The entire family were Terps fans and attended many seasons of Maryland football and basketball when Bill and Andy were growing up. Goldie was unable to attend college when she was raising her family, but she enjoyed taking classes as an adult at the University of Maryland University College and she proudly obtained her Bachelor's Degree (cum laude) in 1988. Goldie always loved the theater and enjoyed going to see plays, musicals, operas, and dance performances all over the world.
Goldie was also a longtime patron and volunteer at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Goldie and Paul were very excited when the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center was being constructed on campus and they were among the original donors to the capital campaign for the Clarice. In light of their philanthropic commitment, Balcony Box 5 of the Ina & Jack Kay Theater is named in their honor.