The leaders from the School of Pharmacy and UMB Administration and Finance are recognized with the highest honor presented by the board to exemplary staff members.
Photo: Bill Cooper, left, and Nicole Palmore were recognized March 25 at the UMB Employee Recognition and Service Awards Luncheon at Westminster Hall. (Photo by Matthew D’Agostino)
Two University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) employees have been recognized with University Maryland System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents Staff Awards, the highest honor presented by the board to exemplary staff members across the 12-institution system.
Bill Cooper, MBA, senior associate dean for administration and finance and chief operating officer at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), was recognized in the category of Exceptional Contribution to the University. Nicole Palmore, MSW, executive director of the Office of Employee and Organizational Success for Administration and Finance (A&F), UMB, was honored in the category of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
Cooper and Palmore will be honored by the board at a ceremony April 26 at the USM chancellor’s residence in Pikesville, Md.
A Steady Hand at UMSOP
Cooper’s award celebrates individuals whose dedication, leadership, and service have made a profound and lasting difference at their institutions and across the broader university system. The honor highlights his more than 35 years of service within USM, including more than 26 years at UMSOP.
“I was pleasantly surprised, honored, and truly humbled to be recognized with the Board of Regents award,” Cooper said. “I’m grateful to be honored alongside so many talented colleagues across USM. With so many dedicated staff members across the system doing important work every day, this kind of recognition feels both unexpected and deeply motivating.”
At UMSOP, Cooper oversees the operational backbone of the school, including budget and finance, human resources, facilities, information technology, revenue generation, and select strategic initiatives.
“Bill’s steady leadership and deep institutional knowledge have helped guide the school through periods of growth, change, and opportunity,” said UMSOP Dean Sarah L.J. Michel, PhD. “This recognition reflects the tremendous impact he has had on our community and the many ways he continues to strengthen our mission.”
Michel said Cooper’s thoughtful approach to resource management and ability to anticipate challenges have helped UMSOP navigate complex financial landscapes while continuing to expand its academic programs, facilities, and research and practice impact.
During his career, he has played a key role in many of the school’s most significant milestones. He has supported the growth of academic programs, worked closely with university and system leadership to secure resources that enable innovation and expansion, and helped guide the development and construction of major facilities.
“Bill’s vision has transformed the physical environment of the School of Pharmacy,” Michel said. “He has played a leading role in planning and constructing more than $700 million in USM facilities, including the Pharmacy Hall Addition, Pharmacy Learning Center, Health Sciences Research Facilities II and III, and the Rita Rossi Colwell Center at the Inner Harbor.
“Anyone who sets foot in spaces shaped by Bill’s design sense is immediately impressed — his attention to light, function, and flow creates environments that inspire,” she added.
Asked about this proudest accomplishment, Cooper pointed to people rather than any one project.
“I’m most proud of the colleagues I have worked with and led through the years who enabled me to contribute to the construction of five new buildings and major renovations within USM and UMB, promote faculty salary equity before it was in vogue, support managing human resources fairly and with compassion, and guide the advancement of information technology at the School of Pharmacy.”
Cooper also appreciates a good challenge.
“When obstacles come up to do something that will advance the school or campus and someone says it’s not feasible, that’s when I like to roll up my sleeves and say, ‘Why not?’ ” he said. “With a team of great people, we designed, procured, constructed, and moved into a School of Pharmacy satellite campus in about nine months, including setting up synchronous and asynchronous learning for the first time — after they said it couldn’t be done.”
Beyond UMSOP, Cooper has contributed his expertise to numerous Universitywide committees, workgroups, and task forces, consistently helping translate institutional vision into practical execution.
“Bill is known across our school for his integrity, candor, and sound judgment,” Michel said. “He is a trusted advisor, a dedicated colleague, and a leader who is deeply committed to the success of our students, faculty, and staff. This honor from the Board of Regents is a well-deserved testament to the extraordinary contributions he has made to our school, UMB, and the entire University System of Maryland.”
UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, praised Cooper for his many accomplishments and dedication to UMSOP and UMB.
“Under Bill’s leadership, the School of Pharmacy’s operational management continues to strengthen its financial resources and build long-term growth and stability,” Jarrell said. “He has provided unparalleled leadership and service to our University while demonstrating extraordinary fiscal leadership and dedication to the University System of Maryland. The Board of Regents’ recognition is well deserved.”
‘An Authentic Commitment to Belonging’
Palmore was recognized for her efforts in building the Office of Employee and Organizational Success from the ground up over the past three-plus years, succeeding in A&F’s mission to cultivate spaces where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.
“I was absolutely shocked and honestly teared up when I learned about winning the award,” said Palmore, who has worked UMB since 2106. “ I adore A&F and UMB and feel proud of who we are and what we are trying to do as an organization. I feel so fortunate to have a career deeply aligned with my values and to work for a division that innovates, cares, and embodies A&F's guiding principles.”
Dawn M. Rhodes, DBA, who leads A&F as UMB’s chief business and finance officer and senior vice president, backed Palmore’s nomination for the USM award with a letter of support, praising her abilities and accomplishments.
“Within A&F, this success means that we create environments where every individual can contribute, grow, and excel and where outcomes are driven by talent and effort — not background or circumstances,” Rhodes said. “Nicole’s achievements in relation to equity, justice, inclusion, and belonging in three short years have been remarkable.”
In A&F, Palmore has implemented programs that support and advocate for many marginalized employee groups including our employees of color, those within the LGBTQ community, those with disabilities, and those with fewer years of education. She launched the Employee and Organizational Success Advisory Committee, which helps inform and advise on plans and initiatives to support all A&F employees, and created eight employee-initiated groups called A&F Communities to provide safe spaces for employees to be together, share experiences, and gain resources.
Palmore also facilitated a partnership between A&F and the Goodwill Excel Center High School Diploma Program that allows employees to use time during normal business hours to attend a tuition-free high school diploma program. In September, A&F’s first Goodwill Excel program student graduated, and the department anticipates at least four more graduates in the current school year.
Rather than pick a single project that gave her the most pride, Palmore pointed to her co-workers.
“I am most proud of working with colleagues who take risks to complete a high school diploma program as adults with so many real-life responsibilities, or to learn new computer skills despite significant self-doubt,” she said. “I am most proud of the colleague who says, ‘Now that I know better, I will do better to be inclusive and equitable.’ All of the work we are doing in A&F is complementary and builds on our values.”
Rhodes said Palmore’s leadership has brought impactful cultural change to A&F.
“Nicole regularly participates in listening sessions throughout the department to address employee concerns and needs,” Rhodes said. “In fact, she is sought out by our senior department leadership when employee concerns and voices require exposure, and she has established standard search committee processes to mitigate bias, standardize processes, and hire the best candidates.”
Jarrell supported Palmore’s nomination with a letter to USM.
“Three years is a short time to have accomplished so much in the department, including establishing multiple programs, several of which have earned acclaim,” he said. “Collectively, these equitable practices and programs have amplified employee voices and fostered a more inclusive, supportive workplace with increased employee engagement, satisfaction, and a richer sense of belonging. That's the difference Nicole makes.”
“Nicole has a gift for engaging people and inspiring change,” Jarrell added. “She listens deeply, educates with empathy, and has won the trust of diverse groups. What I see in Nicole's work is an authentic commitment to belonging — not just programs and initiatives, but genuine belief that every person at UMB deserves to feel valued and heard.”
Palmore had two previous roles at UMB before joining A&F, first as a senior consultant for UMB Human Resources, then as director of diversity, inclusion, and intercultural learning at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She is working on a doctoral degree in higher education and higher education administration from Frostburg State University.