Dr. Wong discusses the future of his school and other topics related to graduate education during a discussion with UMB President Bruce Jarrell.
During the Virtual Face to Face program on Feb. 29, Kenneth Wong, PhD, dean of the University of Maryland Graduate School, outlined his vision for the school’s future in a discussion with University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS. Formed from a thoughtful understanding of the challenges facing today’s graduates, Wong summed up that vision by saying, “Training prepares you for the known, but education equips you for the unknown.”
With that guiding principle in mind, Wong said he is committed to fostering critical thinking, adaptability, and resilience among students at the Graduate School, ensuring that they are well-prepared to tackle the complex challenges of the modern workforce.
Situated in the heart of UMB’s vibrant academic community, the Graduate School is a home for aspiring scholars, researchers, and professionals seeking to make a meaningful impact on the world. The school has a range of PhD, master’s, and certificate programs that collectively fill a landscape that is constantly changing in response to need.
Wong, who has been at the helm of the Graduate School for six months and is vice provost for graduate education at UMB, began his conversation with Jarrell by pointing to the University’s unique landscape, saying its professional schools in medicine, nursing, law, dentistry, pharmacy, and social work benefit the Graduate School as it prepares leaders in health research and the social sciences.
“The Graduate School has a lot of opportunities right now. We are aggressive and expansionistic and nimble, and we also have, at a core, the support of graduate students across the University in many different fields,” he explained, adding that his goal for the school is to “be a place of growth, a place of innovation, a place of new programs, and, as well, a support for students across the University and programs across the University.”