Read Dr. Jarrell’s column on making the most of your UMB employee benefits and learn about student, faculty, and staff achievements; news from around the University; and upcoming events.
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
Making the Most of Your UMB Employee Benefits
Whenever I’m asked what makes working at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) special, my answer is always simple: the people.
Every day, I witness examples of how our students, faculty, staff, and alumni live by our core values of Respect and Integrity, Equity and Justice, Well-Being and Sustainability, and Innovation and Discovery. They work tirelessly to serve the public good, advancing the future of health, law, and social services here in Maryland and wherever you find members of the UMB community.
On campus, each of us plays a role in shaping the inclusive environment that makes our University a truly wonderful place to learn and work. For UMB faculty and staff, there are also many important factors that impact the employee experience. That is why I want to take this opportunity to remind you of some of the many great benefits available to UMB employees in addition to the state of Maryland health plans and retirement packages offered.
First, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to take advantage of the generous leave time afforded to UMB employees. Each summer, I am reminded of this when I schedule annual leave of my own. This time is precious to me — it’s when I make an extra effort to recharge for a bit with my wife, my children, and my grandchildren. It’s also a time when I enjoy a bit of a mental reset. After all, countless studies have shown that taking a break from your usual work routine can reduce anxiety, help prevent burnout, and even boost creativity when you return to the office. UMB’s leave programs are designed to support this balance, with generous annual leave, paid holidays, sick leave, and time for family and personal needs.
As a reminder, this summer, the UMB community will enjoy an extra day of holiday leave. While the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence officially falls on a Saturday, the University will observe Monday, July 6, as a one-time holiday for faculty and staff, in addition to the holiday observance on Friday, July 3.
Although time off is a key component of work-life balance, it is not the only factor that influences our quality of life and overall health. That is why, here at UMB, employees have access to many resources and programs to help maintain wellness across all facets of their lives.
Launch Your Life is UMB’s employee well-being program, designed to support the whole person through structured initiatives grounded in five key well-being dimensions: physical, social, mental, financial, and environmental. If you have not yet done so, make sure to sign up to receive the Launch Your Life newsletter, which includes links to resources and details about virtual and in-person wellness events.
Here at UMB, employees have access to many resources and programs to help maintain wellness across all facets of their lives.
When personal challenges arise, it is important to remember that UMB’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to help you and your family stay healthy physically, emotionally, and financially. UMB’s EAP offers mental health and relationship support, guidance in locating family services and pet care assistance, and access to financial and legal experts who can assist you in navigating a wide range of challenges including debt, mortgages, and wills.
University Recreation & Fitness (URecFit) and Wellness offers support for you no matter where you are on your physical wellness journey. UMB employees can gain access to all URecFit and Wellness facilities and group exercise classes with the purchase of a membership, and both short-term and longer-term membership options are available. If you’ve never checked out URecFit and Wellness, you can also request a complimentary one-day membership. Beyond its facilities, URecFit and Wellness offers in-person and online access to a wide variety of programs including holistic health, stress management, mental health, personal training, group exercise classes, and more.
In addition to these wellness benefits, UMB employees receive exclusive discounts to a wide variety of products and services, including for transit benefits, technology purchases, BJ’s Wholesale Club memberships, Hippodrome Theatre Broadway Series tickets, Orioles tickets, and select parking at BWI Airport. Employees may also be eligible for additional support such as child care grants and free or reduced-cost commuter benefits, helping to ease the day-to-day demands of balancing work and personal responsibilities. Throughout Maryland, several day care and summer camp programs offer discounts for children of UMB employees.
The University also supports employees in their pursuit of lifelong learning. UMB offers tuition remission at University System of Maryland (USM) institutions for eligible employees as well as dependents. All regular full-time faculty/staff employed at least 50 percent are eligible for tuition remission for up to eight credits per semester at any USM institution or reciprocal institution (Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Baltimore City Community College), excluding the MD and DDS programs at UMB. Part-time faculty and staff may receive tuition remission in proportion to their full-time equivalent. If you’re not seeking a degree, be sure to take advantage of the many non-degree learning and development opportunities available to UMB employees looking to accomplish new professional goals and hone new skill sets.
UMB also encourages employees to stay engaged with the surrounding community through volunteer and civic engagement opportunities that reflect our shared commitment to public service in Baltimore. In fact, UMB allows full-time faculty and staff to use eight hours of paid leave if they wish to volunteer at a qualifying nonprofit organization of their choice during each calendar year.
UMB also boasts a robust homebuying support program called Live Near Your Work (LNYW). This initiative between UMB and key community partners focuses on community revitalization and stabilization in several West Baltimore neighborhoods. LNYW benefits UMB employees by offering $16,000 per eligible participant toward a down payment and closing costs for a newly purchased home in Barre Circle, Druid Heights, Franklin Square, Harlem Park, Heritage Crossing, Hollins Market, Mount Clare, Pigtown/Washington Village, Poppleton, Union Square, or Upton. Employees must live in the home for five years from the date of settlement.
These programs and resources reflect UMB’s commitment to supporting employees both professionally and personally. Whether you are prioritizing your health, pursuing new learning opportunities, or simply seeking greater balance in your day-to-day life, I encourage you to explore the many benefits available to you as a UMB faculty or staff member.
As summer gets underway, I also hope you will make time to rest, recharge, and enjoy all that the season has to offer!
Sincerely,
Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS
President
Laurels is a roundup of student, faculty, and staff achievements that is published 11 times a year in The President’s Message newsletter. This month’s edition includes kudos for (in photo, from left) Mohit N. Gilotra, School of Medicine, who received a U.S. patent as the lead inventor of “Dual Mobility Cup Reverse Shoulder Prosthesis”; Patricia Campbell, Francis King Carey School of Law, who received the Catherine C. Blake Exceptional Service Award from the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland; and Katelyn “Katie” Folberth, MEd, School of Nursing, who was recognized as UMB’s April Employee of the Month.
New Hires
See a LIST OF NEW HIRES at UMB central administration and our seven schools for May.
News and Notes
A School of Dentistry Class of 2026 graduate is hooded during the school’s Honors Convocation on May 15 at the Hippodrome Theatre. (Photo by Matthew D’Agostino)
UMB CELEBRATES THE CLASS OF 2026
UMB’s Class of 2026 was honored during school-specific ceremonies across campus and at SECU Arena in Towson from May 12-20, featuring keynote speakers ranging from District Court Judge Brendan Hurson to State Sen. Brian Feldman to Karen Doyle, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer of the University of Maryland Medical Center. At our Graduation 2026 website linked in the headline above, you can read about the ceremonies, see photo galleries, read UMB President Bruce Jarrell’s message to the class, and watch a video of graduates from each school about why they chose to attend UMB (see Video of the Month below). There also are video messages from Gov. Wes Moore and University System of Maryland Board of Regents chair Linda Goodman.
(Left: Pamela Cipriano at the School of Nursing ceremony. Right: UMB President Bruce Jarrell, Mark Wagner, and School of Dentistry Dean Mark Reynolds. (Photos by Matthew D’Agostino)
HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS RECOGNIZED
UMB bestowed honorary degrees upon five individuals this spring, recognizing their contributions to dentistry, science, medicine, nursing, public service, the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System, the University System of Maryland, UMB’s schools, and more. The recipients: Dr. Mark Wagner (nominated by the School of Dentistry), Dr. Pamela Cipriano (nominated by the School of Nursing), Dr. Eli Adashi, Stephen Lazinsky, and B. Thomas Golisano (the latter three all nominated by the School of Medicine). Wagner, Cipriano, and Adashi received Honorary Doctor of Public Service recognition, while Lazinsky and Golisano were awarded Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees.
LATEST ‘CATALYST’ MAGAZINE FOCUSES ON UMB’S IMPACT
The spring 2026 issue of CATALYST magazine celebrates the UMB students and alumni who represent the future of Maryland’s health, law, and social work professions, as well as the faculty and staff who work to educate, support, and inspire them. Across Maryland, anyone who has received medical care, sought legal advice, or taken part in a community program has inevitably benefited from the work of a UMB graduate or faculty or staff member. Outside Maryland, thousands of UMB alumni serve the public good in their communities as well as in national and global roles. In this issue, you’ll read many examples of how members of the UMB community are shaping the world for the better through their endeavors in scientific discovery, community service, entrepreneurship, and patient care.
2027-2031 STRATEGIC PLAN NEARLY FINALIZED
UMB’s 2027-2031 Strategic Plan co-chairs held town halls May 7-8 to present the nearly finalized draft of the plan and discuss next steps in its implementation. The town halls were led by Steering Committee co-chairs Yolanda Ogbolu and Jenny Owens, who were joined by Diane Forbes Berthoud, whose UMB Office of Inclusive Excellence and Institutional Effectiveness will oversee the plan’s implementation and progress. The plan has six themes: United for Impact; Student, Faculty, and Staff Success; Future-Ready Graduate and Professional Education; Research and Scholarship Excellence; Digital Transformation and Innovation; and Community and Global Engagement.
SIX NAMED DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS
Six faculty members have been recognized with the designation of Distinguished University Professor, the highest appointment bestowed upon faculty at UMB. This title is a recognition not just of excellence, but also of impact and significant contribution to the nominee’s field, knowledge, profession, and/or practice. The 2026 honorees are (in photo, clockwise from top left) Dr. Eun-Shim Nahm, School of Nursing; Dr. Thomas Scalea and Dr. Deanna Kelly, both of the School of Medicine; Dr. Huakun Xu, School of Dentistry; Professor Michael Van Alstine, Francis King Carey School of Law; and Dr. Hongbing Wang, School of Pharmacy. The cohort will be honored at the UMB Faculty Convocation on Sept. 17. You can read about previous cohorts at the Distinguished University Professors webpage.
VALUES IN ACTION SPEAKERS DISCUSS INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY
Sol Roberts-Lieb, director of UMB’s Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, was the featured speaker in the latest Values in Action Speaker Series event, which focused on the UMB core values set of Innovation and Discovery on May 11. Roberts-Lieb said innovation and discovery at UMB doesn’t always have to involve major breakthroughs, “but what we have is the opportunity in our everyday interactions to innovate and to discover,” adding, “innovation doesn’t have to be new, but it can be new to you.” The opening speaker, third-year School of Medicine PhD candidate Erica Leyder, talked about her research on viruses and how it intersects with discovery, education, and impact.
Sol Roberts-Lieb delivers his Values in Action Speaker Series presentation, which was titled “Everyday Innovation: Small Shifts, Big Impact.” (Photo by Matthew D’Agostino)
Upcoming Events
JUNE 8: ‘SEEING SMALL AND AIMING BIG’
Join the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for Advanced Research Training and Innovation and the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences for a Distinguished Researcher Lecture Series presentation by Dr. David Huang, the co-inventor of optical coherence tomography (OCT), 2022 National Medal of Technology and Innovation medal winner, and 2023 Lasker Award recipient. OCT has revolutionized diagnosis of eye diseases and has been co-opted to other fields, including but not limited to cardiology, neurology, and gastroenterology. Huang will discuss the conception and invention of OCT, its rapid development to clinical application, and the value of bridging engineering and clinical medicine.
JUNE 13: BALTIMORE PRIDE PARADE
The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and School of Medicine (UMSOM) will celebrate with the Baltimore community on a shared parade float for this event, which is the centerpiece of Baltimore Pride Week and scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. Preregistration is required to participate in the UMMS/UMSOM parade float.
JUNE 18: ANNUAL JUNETEENTH JUBILEE
UMB invites the University community to commemorate Juneteenth, which celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States as well as African American freedom, culture, and achievements. This year, the event will be held at the 4MLK building and feature free food, giveaways, and music.
Save the Date
AUG. 4: NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
Police and Public Safety invites members of the UMB community to the annual community-building event that promotes positive relationships between police and the communities they serve. It will be held at the University of Maryland BioPark from 5 to 8 p.m. and feature free food, dancing, community resources, and more.
SEPT. 17: FIFTH ANNUAL FACULTY CONVOCATION
The convocation to celebrate the new academic year will feature faculty speakers and recognition of the 2026 Distinguished University Professors. The event will be held on Koester’s Lot, in front of the Saratoga Building, starting at 9:30 a.m.
OCT. 19-23: FOUNDERS WEEK
The annual celebration of the University’s founding will feature the Awards Recognition and Reception, Student Cookout, Staff Luncheon, and more.
Video of the Month
Class of 2026 graduates were asked why they picked UMB for their postgraduate studies.