Read Dr. Jarrell’s column on why UMB’s advocacy efforts are so important 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
Why Our Voice Matters
Every September, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) campus sees a burst of activity. There’s a special kind of energy in the air as we usher in a new academic year and reconnect with colleagues and students.
While summer often gives us an opportunity to pause and recharge, the past few months have been an especially active time for engagement with policymakers on issues of critical importance to our University, higher education, and the future of scientific research.
At UMB, we know that our mission to improve the human condition and serve the public good carries with it a profound responsibility. We educate the next generation of health, law, and human services professionals. We conduct research that advances knowledge and improves lives. We provide compassionate, high-quality care to our patients, and we strengthen communities through service and partnership.
We also know that, to fulfill our mission, we rely on elected leaders to understand the real-world impact of the policies they shape in Annapolis and Washington, D.C.
Recently, I joined UMB and University System of Maryland (USM) colleagues in meetings with members of Maryland’s congressional delegation. These face-to-face conversations gave us an opportunity to discuss several issues of critical importance, including the elimination of Graduate PLUS loans for new borrowers, proposed changes to the administration of federal research grants, and proposed revisions to accreditation standards and processes.
We shared how policy changes in these areas do not simply affect universities, they also have far-reaching consequences for the future of health, science, law, and social work — and, ultimately, for all the people we serve.
Every one of UMB’s schools prepares professionals who will go on to care for patients and clients across Maryland and around the world. If students cannot afford to enter these professions, Maryland pays the price. Workforce shortages limit access to care and increase wait times for routine medical appointments. Cuts to research funding disrupt progress in areas that benefit humankind: from health care and drug development to social justice reform and the rule of law. Sweeping changes to accreditation — particularly changes that risk politicizing the way colleges and universities are evaluated — can have a direct impact on our professional programs and clinical training pipelines.
These are complex issues. That’s why it is so important that our representatives in government understand how policies and regulations affecting higher education often create ripple effects that reach far beyond a university campus. I am grateful for our state leaders: They know the value of higher education and recognize that the work we do here touches every Marylander in some way.
“Our University will continue to engage with policymakers respectfully and constructively to advocate for policies that expand opportunity for students, advance discovery and innovation, and enable universities everywhere to serve the public.”
Of course, UMB’s advocacy efforts extend beyond our meetings in Annapolis and Washington.
In response to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget proposed rule, Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, UMB submitted a formal public comment letter in July to underscore how the proposed revisions could threaten the stability of the federal research enterprise. But our institutional response was only part of the story. So many of you — our faculty, staff, students, and alumni — also submitted comments, making clear just how important sustained federal research funding is to us all.
That participation matters.
It demonstrates that our engagement with policymakers is not simply an administrative function carried out by University leadership or our Office of Government Affairs. It is, instead, a reflection of the expertise and commitment of the people who make UMB one of the preeminent public research universities in the United States.
After all, UMB is a Research 1 university, conducting more than $630 million in research each year. That work supports far more than scientific discovery. It also supports graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early career investigators. It furthers clinical innovation, strengthens community partnerships, and bolsters Maryland’s economy.
Our University will continue to engage with policymakers respectfully and constructively to advocate for policies that expand opportunity for students, advance discovery and innovation, and enable universities everywhere to serve the public. And we will continue to demonstrate that what happens at UMB matters far beyond our campus.
There is no question that higher education faces new and evolving challenges. We must be honest about those challenges. But we must also be confident in who we are and the importance of our mission.
Together, we will continue to advocate for our students, our patients, our communities, and the future of higher education.
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) the School of Pharmacy’s Amy Kruger Howard, who received the Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award from the Maryland Pharmacists Association; the School of Dentistry’s Darien Weatherspoon, who received a five-year, $2.3 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to research disparities in head and neck cancer outcomes; and the School of Medicine’s Tamar Pair, who was honored as UMB’s Employee of the Month of July for her stellar work as business operations manager for the Clinical and Translational Research Informatics Center.
UMB LAURELS FOR SEPTEMBER 2026
New Hires
See a lists of new hires for UMB central administration and our seven schools for JULY and AUGUST.
News and Notes
BALTIMORE YOUTH FIND THEIR VOICE THROUGH THEATER AT UMB
When Baltimore student Layla Cheatham joined WombWork Productions’ Summer Teen Ensemble at UMB’s Community Engagement Center, she was used to being the quiet one. “I was like, OK, I’ll just be quiet, just get my stuff done in the corner,” she said. Cheatham, who participated through Baltimore City’s YouthWorks summer employment program, did much more than just perform. She researched issues affecting young people, helped shape scenes, and became increasingly comfortable sharing her ideas. By summer’s end, Cheatham was performing a poem she had written in front of an audience — a sign of just how much had changed in five weeks. That transformation was at the heart of WombWork’s YouthWorks program, hosted by UMB’s Office of Community and Civic Engagement. The program culminated July 30 and 31 with “What They Don’t See: Youth Incarceration, Resilience, Resistance and Restoration,” an original production created and performed by the participating Baltimore youth.
GET YOUR TICKETS TO SEE THE STARS SHINE AT UMB’S ‘BROADWAY IN BALTIMORE’ EVENT
Tickets are on sale for UMB’s “One Night Only: Broadway in Baltimore,” a one-of-a-kind event Oct. 19 at the M&T Bank Exchange that will feature two Broadway stars performing favorites from hit plays: Norm Lewis, a Tony Award-nominated Broadway actor and singer who has played the Phantom in “Phantom of the Opera” and Javert in “Les Misérables,” and Felicia Curry, a Helen Hayes Award-winning actor and singer and Everyman Theatre Resident Company member who has performed in Broadway’s “Into the Woods.” The event will be cabaret-style with intimate seating at small tables. Tickets range from $75 to $150, plus taxes and fees. The concert benefits UMB’s CURE Scholars Program, and the $150 tickets include a post-concert cocktail reception.
PROUD TO WORK HERE, PROUD TO GIVE HERE MARKS ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE EMPLOYEE GIVING CAMPAIGN
June 30, 2026, marked the conclusion of UMB’s eighth annual employee giving campaign — Proud to Work Here, Proud to Give Here — as nearly 700 faculty and staff donors supported a wide range of areas across the University. From student scholarships and endowments to professorships, research initiatives, public service programs, institutional priorities, and areas of greatest need, this type of generosity makes a meaningful difference and is deeply appreciated by UMB. The generosity reflects the pride employees have in the University and the impact we can make together. Thank you for helping strengthen our University and create opportunities for our students, faculty, staff, and community.
SENIOR MOMENTUM: STATE OF MARYLAND RECEIVES AARP AGE-FRIENDLY STATE DESIGNATION
UMB welcomed state leaders including Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (at right in photo, with Secretary of Aging Carmel Roques), advocates, and community partners to the 4MLK building July 29 as Maryland officially became an AARP Age-Friendly State. With this recognition, Maryland joins a growing national network committed to creating communities where people of all ages can thrive. Maryland Secretary of Aging Carmel Roques selected UMB as the site for the announcement in recognition of the University’s longstanding leadership in advancing age-friendly education, research, and community initiatives. The designation builds on Maryland’s recently enacted Longevity Ready Maryland Act, a statewide framework designed to help ensure that Marylanders can live longer, healthier lives while aging with dignity. The AARP Age-Friendly Network encourages states and communities to improve housing, transportation, public spaces, health care, social engagement, and other factors that support people throughout their lives. Maryland’s designation commits the state to long-term improvements that help residents remain healthy, connected, and engaged at every stage of life.
SCORE FREE RAVENS TICKETS THROUGH THE CORE VALUES CHALLENGE
UMB students and employees can enter a drawing to win two tickets to one of the Baltimore Ravens’ eight home games at M&T Bank Stadium during the 2026 season. Simply answer the question involving the UMB core value that is associated with the game you’d like to attend. You are welcome to enter for as many games as you’d like, but each person is eligible to win tickets to one game only. Please enter only for games that you are able to attend. And if you want an extra chance to win, answer the optional open-ended core values question to receive one additional entry for each game drawing you’ve chosen. A winner will be selected and notified about one week before each game, then will have 24 hours to accept their pair of tickets. If a response is not received within that time, another winner may be selected.
NEW PAVILION ADDS TO DONALDSON BROWN CENTER’S ALLURE
Perched high above the Susquehanna River on a 23-acre estate in Port Deposit, Md., the Donaldson Brown Riverfront Event Center is one of the state’s most distinctive destinations for executive retreats, corporate conferences, leadership meetings, waterfront weddings, nonprofit galas, and unforgettable special events. Affiliated with UMB, this historic destination has welcomed conferences, weddings, and special events since 1965. Donaldson Brown offers a perfect blend of timeless elegance, modern amenities, overnight accommodations, and spectacular riverfront views. Whether you’re searching for a Maryland conference center, a corporate retreat venue, a waterfront wedding venue near Baltimore, or a destination event venue for a milestone celebration, Donaldson Brown provides an experience unlike any other in the Mid-Atlantic. The newest addition to the estate is an outdoor pavilion that is redefining the riverfront event experience. Handcrafted by Amish artisans, the 40-foot-by-90-foot timber frame pavilion combines timeless craftsmanship with innovative engineering to create one of the East Coast’s most distinctive event venues. 
Shown in an illustration, the Donaldson Brown Riverfront Event Center’s pavilion is being handcrafted by Amish artisans.
Upcoming Events
SEPT. 10: ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING TOWN HALL
Join colleagues from across UMB for a special town hall featuring nationally recognized accessibility and higher education expert Thomas J. Tobin. In his presentation, “Taking Work Off Our Plates with Universal Design for Learning [UDL],” Tobin will explore how UDL can help faculty and staff create more accessible, inclusive, and effective learning experiences while reducing barriers, stress, and workload.
SEPT. 17: FACULTY CONVOCATION
Join President Bruce Jarrell and the UMB community for the fifth annual Faculty Convocation, which will be held under the tent at Koester’s Lot on West Lexington Street. The convocation marks the beginning of the academic year and celebrates faculty achievement and excellence. This year’s program will feature recognition of the 2026 Distinguished University Professors, engaging TED-like talks by two UMB faculty members, and remarks by President Jarrell. Register by Sept. 9.
SEPT. 22: VALUES IN ACTION SPEAKER SERIES
This installment of UMB’s core values-focused speaker series will feature a candid conversation about Respect and Integrity and the everyday experiences that shape the University’s workplace culture. Nicole Palmore of Administration and Finance and Denise Meyer, Keisha Blake, and Kyra Franklin, all of Environmental Services, will share perspectives from the employees and teams whose work is essential to keeping UMB running each day but whose contributions might not always be visible to everyone across the University community.
Save the Date
OCT. 19-22: FOUNDERS WEEK
The annual celebration of the University’s founding will feature the Student Cookout, Staff Luncheon, UMB Historical Treasures Tour, and Awards Recognition and Reception event, where our Founders Week award winners — David J. Ramsay Entrepreneur of the Year, Researcher of the Year, Public Servant of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Student of the Year — will be recognized.
OCT. 23: ‘HEALTH CARE ACCESS AT A CROSSROADS’
Join UMB’s PA Leadership and Learning Academy for an afternoon exploring the evolving health care landscape and strategies to expand access to care across Maryland. Expert speakers will examine current health care challenges and opportunities, including recent legislative changes that are helping expand access to care, particularly in underserved regions such as the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland.
DEC. 2: UMB HOLIDAY MARKET
Mark your calendars for the 18th Annual UMB Holiday Market (formerly known as the Holiday Craft Fair), which will be held in the SMC Campus Center Elm Ballrooms. The event features artisans who sell handmade or original products and help create a festive shopping experience for the UMB community.
Video of the Month
The heat didn’t stop the fun at UMB’s National Night Out event Aug. 4 as hundreds showed up for the annual community-building event hosted by Police and Public Safety.