The accomplishment validates his career proficiencies while allowing him to be ready for whatever comes next.
On most days, Michael Miklewski, MBA, MS, arrives at work before much of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) campus has stirred to life.
Arriving as early as 6 a.m., Miklewski uses the quiet hours to set up air monitoring equipment or conduct building audits. The specialist with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is laying the groundwork for a day that rarely goes according to plan. By mid-morning, he might be responding to an indoor air quality concern. By afternoon, he could be leading safety training or investigating a chemical spill. In between, there are emails, system design work, and the perpetual task of keeping a complex campus safe.
Recently, Miklewski earned his Certified Safety Professional (CSP) credentials. Considered the “gold standard” in safety, health, and environmental certification by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, the certification recognizes “advanced expertise in safety management, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance.”
For Miklewski, the accomplishment is also personal.
“I always want to keep growing,” Miklewski said. “Earning the CSP was a way to validate to myself that I am proficient in my career and to be ready for whatever opportunities come next.”
Miklewski joined UMB in 2019 as an EHS assistant, working primarily with hazardous and medical waste. Over time, he moved into occupational safety, expanding both his responsibilities and his impact. Along the way, he also continued his education, earning a master’s degree in environmental management from University of Maryland Global Campus and an MBA in business analytics from Frostburg State University.
Today, his role spans a wide spectrum of safety functions. He responds to indoor air quality concerns, monitors hazardous conditions, supports chemical safety, and conducts campuswide audits.
He also leads training sessions, including forklift certification and laboratory safety, and performs respirator fit testing to ensure that students and employees are properly protected.
“I have a very wide range of tasks on campus,” Miklewski said. “It’s a balance between working on ongoing projects and pausing those to handle whatever situation comes up.”
At an institutional level, having a CSP on staff strengthens UMB’s ability to proactively manage risk and maintain a safe environment for research, clinical care, and daily operations. It also reinforces the University’s credibility with regulators and external partners, underscoring a commitment to safety and professionalism.
A Personal Connection
For Miklewski, the impact of his work extends beyond systems and protocols.
“I do really love that in some tangential way I am helping research, education, and health care by helping others as I do my job as a safety professional,” he said.
That sense of purpose is rooted in his own life experience. As a child, Miklewski nearly lost his father in a workplace accident. The experience left a lasting impression on him.
“I nearly lost my father in a workplace accident when I was only 2 and the wonderful people at Shock Trauma allowed me to grow up with my dad,” he said. “I can’t do what researchers, medical professionals, lawyers, and social workers do on this campus. My position does allow me to help make it safer for them, the staff, and students to be here, and I’m grateful to be a part of it all.”
Moving Forward
Miklewski is currently developing a new incident recording system designed to better track and analyze safety data across campus. The goal is to provide clearer insight into the work EHS performs and to strengthen data-driven decision-making. He’s aiming for a launch this summer.
Beyond that, one of his next goals is to become a Certified Industrial Hygienist, continuing the professional growth that has defined his career so far. And tomorrow morning, as most of the campus is just waking up, he’ll be back at it, quietly helping ensure that everything, and everyone, runs a little safer.