Read Dr. Jarrell’s column on UMB’s upcoming graduation festivities and learn about student, faculty, and staff achievements; upcoming events; and news from around the University.
To see previous editions of The President’s Message newsletter, go to the archives page on the Office of the President website.
President’s Column: It’s Time to Celebrate the Class of 2025
When the calendar turns to May, we at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) turn our attention to what I consider the best week of the year. This is the month when the graduates of our seven schools mark the culmination of their studies at UMB, celebrate their achievements and new degrees, and begin the next phase of their life journey.
The focus from May 19-24 will be on the second part of that equation: celebration. Our Class of 2025 graduates will receive their degrees during school-specific ceremonies around our campuses in Baltimore and the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville. Family, friends, faculty members, and UMB leaders will be on hand to share in the joy and applaud the graduates’ impressive accomplishments.
Each year, these school ceremonies feature keynote speeches from students, faculty members, or distinguished guests, and this year’s lineup includes five impressive educators and leaders in various fields, four of whom have previous ties to UMB.
A School of Medicine (UMSOM) alumnus, Paul A. Offit, MD ’77, will talk to our medical school graduates May 22 at the historic Hippodrome Theatre. Dr. Offit is an internationally recognized immunologist and virologist best known as the co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine, RotaTeq, which is universally recommended for infants by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and saves hundreds of lives every day.
Dr. Offit is a professor of pediatrics and director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as well as the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. He has a long list of accolades and honors, is a prolific author who has written 13 books, and has returned to UMSOM many other times to share his expertise on vaccine safety and the public perception of immunizations.
On May 23, also at the Hippodrome, Sherrilyn Ifill, JD, will deliver the keynote speech at the Francis King Carey School of Law’s Hooding Ceremony. This is a homecoming, too, as Professor Ifill taught civil procedure and constitutional law for 20 years at Maryland Carey Law.
(Photo, right: Sherrilyn Ifill will speak at Maryland Carey Law's Hooding Ceremony on May 23. Photo by Matthew D’Agostino)
She is an impressive and impactful national figure, a civil rights lawyer and expert on voting rights and judicial selection who was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2021. She led the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund for nine years and currently is a professor and founding director of the just-launched 14th Amendment Center for Law and Democracy at the Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C.
The School of Social Work’s (UMSSW) Convocation speaker, Tisha S. Edwards, MSW ’00, JD ’01, is a familiar face around the University and a double UMB graduate. Newly appointed as president and CEO of the Maryland Bankers Association, she has a wealth of executive experience in the public and private sectors and a strong commitment to service.
Ms. Edwards has served in key roles at the city and state government levels including appointment secretary for Gov. Wes Moore, been a trustee of the UMB Foundation since 2016, and is a member of the UMSSW Board of Advisors.
At the School of Nursing Convocation on May 20, Beverly Malone, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, president and CEO of the National League for Nursing and former deputy assistant secretary for health in the Bill Clinton administration, will speak to our nursing graduates and receive the Dean’s Medal.
“At UMB, we share a commitment to our mission to improve the human condition and serve the public good of Maryland and society at-large. ... I’m extremely confident in our graduates’ abilities to make their marks on the world.”
And Zac Noel, PharmD, PhD ’23, a teaching associate professor at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Eshelman School of Pharmacy, will be the keynote speaker at our School of Pharmacy’s (UMSOP) Convocation on May 22. He was on the UMSOP faculty for seven years before leaving for UNC in 2023.
UMB also will bestow an honorary degree upon Ronald Chisom, co-founder of the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, who was nominated for the honor by UMSSW. Brother Ron, as he is called, has been a tireless advocate for social justice for more than 60 years, dedicating his life to empowering marginalized communities and teaching them how to take collective action. He has transformed countless lives and embodies the highest ideals of UMB’s core values of Equity and Justice.
Robert Morris, DDS ’69, MPH, FICD, a School of Dentistry (UMSOD) graduate, will receive a UMB honorary degree, as well. Nominated by UMSOD, he is an esteemed international public health expert, champion of health education, and longtime philanthropist. Dr. Morris’ contributions have significantly improved the health and quality of life for vulnerable populations throughout the world, particularly children, refugees, victims of war, and those living with HIV/AIDS.
It should be an exciting week! I’m extremely grateful to everyone who has helped guide our graduates to this point: faculty, staff, alumni, and more. And as I do each year, I ask our graduates to let UMB’s core values guide them moving forward: Respect and Integrity, Well-Being and Sustainability, Equity and Justice, and Innovation and Discovery.
At UMB, we share a commitment to our mission to improve the human condition and serve the public good of Maryland and society at-large. There are challenges to fulfilling that mission today, with funding cuts at the state and federal levels, but I’m extremely confident in our graduates’ abilities to overcome these obstacles and make their marks on the world.
Congratulations, Class of 2025! I can’t wait to see what you do next.
Sincerely,
Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS
President
For more information, go to UMB’s Graduation 2025 website.
Laurels
See our monthly roundup of the achievements of STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF.
New Hires
See a LIST OF NEW HIRES at UMB central administration and our seven schools for April.
News and Notes
’BREAKTHROUGHS CAN’T WAIT’ CAMPAIGN PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON CRITICAL RESEARCH: At UMB, groundbreaking discoveries happen every day — transforming medicine, improving health, and shaping the future. From changing legal policy and pioneering treatments to cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, researchers at our University are tackling real-world challenges and making a lasting impact on lives everywhere. In this series of videos and Q&As, you will learn about inspiring stories of innovation from across UMB’s seven schools. See how scientists, doctors, and experts are addressing today’s most pressing issues — fueled by the critical support of government funding that drives progress forward.
‘THE UMB PULSE’ PODCAST: ‘FROM MEDICINE TO MYSTERIES’: In this episode released May 2, we hear from Deborah Shlian, an accomplished alumna of the School of Medicine. Shlian discusses her career journey, from being a medical doctor to becoming a successful writer in the medical thriller genre. She discusses her early inspirations, partnership with her husband, Joel, and their collaborative ventures in medicine and writing. 
(Photo, left: Izzy, whose care was the focus of the IPE Day case study, uses assistive technology to communicate during the interprofessional patient experience panel. Photo by Matthew D’Agostino)
ALL HANDS ON DECK AT IPE DAY: Listening — to patients and to one another — was the thread that tied together every session, story, and takeaway during UMB’s 13th Annual Interprofessional Education (IPE) Day. Hosted by the Center for Interprofessional Education (CIPE) on April 2, IPE Day brought together more than 500 students from the seven UMB schools — Dentistry, Graduate Studies, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Work — for a full afternoon of collaborative learning, simulation activities, and real-life insights into the power of team-based care.
VOLUNTEER FOR A GOOD CAUSE ON UMB’S TIME: Any regular UMB full-time faculty or staff member can use eight hours of paid leave if they wish to volunteer at a qualifying nonprofit organization during each calendar year. To support this initiative, the Offices of Community and Civic Engagement and Human Resource Services have developed a webpage where employees can find potential volunteer opportunities with existing UMB community partners.
DONATE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH LITERACY: Through May 19, donation containers will be available at the SMC Campus Center and the Health Sciences and Human Services Library to collect new and gently used children’s books for ages birth through high school. This year, donated books will support three organizations: the Rise Early Learning and Family Support Center, Digital Harbor High School, and the Maryland Book Bank.
PHILANTHROPY EVENT IS A FAMILY AFFAIR: UMB’s 2025 “Celebrating Excellence: Honoring Service, Philanthropy, and Volunteerism” event April 22 at the M&T Bank Exchange had a family reunion feel to it, as four Baltimore-area families were among those recognized for their philanthropic efforts. The Attman and Levitas families were honored with the UMB Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award, while the Stoler and Marino/VillaSanta families received Catalyst for Excellence Awards from the University of Maryland Medical Center and School of Medicine, respectively.
From left, School of Social Work (UMSSW) Dean Judy Postmus, UMSSW Catalyst for Excellence Award recipient Katherine O’Donovan, and UMB President Bruce Jarrell are all smiles at the “Celebrating Excellence: Honoring Service, Philanthropy, and Volunteerism” event April 22. (Photo by Matthew D’Agostino)
Upcoming Events
MAY 8: LUNCH UNDER THE PIPES WITH MARY MALDARELLI: Head to Westminster Hall at noon for a performance by Mary Maldarelli, a clinical fellow in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the School of Medicine and the historic venue’s primary organist. Her recital will highlight works by J.S. Bach, Louis-Claude Daquin, Fanny Mendelssohn, César Franck, and Jehan Alain, offering listeners a rich introduction to classical pipe organ repertoire.
MAY 8: UMB CHILD CARE GRANT INFORMATION SESSION: The Human Resource Services benefits team is hosting this virtual session for those who might want to learn more or have questions about this program, which is accepting applications through May 26 for Fiscal Year 2026, with payments beginning in July 2025.
MAY 16: ‘PREPARING FOR FINANCIAL EMERGENCIES’: Emergencies happen when we least expect them, but preparing your finances ahead of time can help mitigate the damage. Join UMB’s Launch Your Life program led by Consumer Credit Counseling to learn how to prepare for unexpected situations and recover strong. This session is open to UMB faculty and staff members.
MAY 22: INNOVATION @ UMB | BLACKBIRD LABS: Join UM Ventures, Baltimore and Blackbird Labs to learn about their investment model for analyzing and financing next-generation technologies and life sciences startups. Topics will include Understanding Venture Perspective, Strategic Insights, and Success Stories. Innovation @ UMB is a resource for entrepreneurs and researchers interested in progressing real-world innovations.
Save the Date
JUNE 3: ‘CONFLICT WORKS’ OPEN HOUSE CELEBRATION: The Workplace Mediation Service (WMS) is celebrating its five-year anniversary with an open house 2:30 to 4 p.m. You can learn about the service, from conception to the present; meet the WMS staff; and enjoy “conflict management” treats.
JUNE 6: GLOBAL LEARNING FOR HEALTH EQUITY NETWORK CONVENING: This event will tackle the questions: What have we learned over the last five years, and how should we continue to advance the science of adapting global ideas for local impact? Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking conversations on the future of global learning for health equity and to submit papers for consideration of publication in a special supplement in the Annals of Global Health.
SEPT. 9: UMB NIGHT AT ORIOLE PARK: Join fellow UMB students, faculty, and staff members for a ballgame and the chance to get a co-branded Orioles/UMB baseball cap when the Orioles host the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ticket information is coming soon.
Video of the Month
Watch the April 29 episode of Virtual Face to Face, where UMB President Bruce Jarrell talks with two Maryland Carey Law experts — Dean Renée Hutchins Laurent and professor Mark Graber — about freedom of the press and academic freedom at universities.