Within the Foundation office, our teams have been hard at work. The advancement team has facilitated professional development webinars and seminars that were well-attended by staff across the USM working in advancement and alumni relations roles. Topics included: the basics of donor analysis, implicit bias trainings, writing clear paragraphs, and dementia and philanthropy. Also of note, our own Stephanie Senserini, director of professional development, hosted a wonderfully-received in-person seminar, “Dining Out with Donors,” which taught fundraisers proper etiquette when dining with prospective donors. Additionally, the team and the Alumni Relations Committee hosted its annual Alumni Relations Summit at Bowie State University in mid-June. More than 70 USM professionals working in the field of alumni relations attended.

The Business Office finalized and filed Foundation’s annual Form 990. A major focus of the past year has been on compliance, with the Foundation validating many of its current practices and working on formalizing and documenting practices. We are improving our culture of compliance, making this Foundation a stronger organization.

Lastly, for investment team news, I would like to welcome investment analyst Kelly Emson to the team. Kelly comes to us from Cambridge Associates, where she also served as an investment analyst for three years. We also want to congratulate Interim Chief Investment Officer Sharcus Steen, who was elected as a public member of the $64 billion Maryland State Retirement and Pension System for a three-year term on the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees, starting in July 2023.

I was recently re-elected to continue to serve as Treasurer for the State of Maryland Marketing Partnership Board of Directors. USM Foundation Board member Ali von Paris, who is also on the Maryland Marketing Partnership Board of Directors, was elected to serve as Secretary of the Board. The Maryland Marketing Partnership was created to develop a branding strategy for the state, market the state’s assets and encourage the location and growth of new businesses in Maryland.

Finally, I'd like to acknowledge two USM institutions who have had amazing success in fundraising. Bowie State University has met its goal to raise $50 million as part of BSU Bold: The Campaign for Excellence two and a half years ahead of its scheduled closing date. This is the largest campaign in the history of the university.

The USM Foundation Board of Directors met in early June at Hidden Waters for its annual meeting.

First, the Foundation Board heard about an extensive governance review from Alan Cason, Governance Committee chair. The review resulted in significant changes to the bylaws which included introducing term limits for Executive Committee members, applying term limits consistently for all directors, and clarifying the authority of the Executive Committee. The review also resulted in a clear nominations process and guidelines for choosing directors for leadership positions. Furthermore, every committee charter is now updated.

Next, the Board heard from Chancellor Jay Perman (pictured right) who provided an update on the USM. He noted that the recent legislative session was a success for the System and that Maryland's leaders are investing in the work the USM performs. Chancellor Perman addressed Senate Bill 426, which was signed in mid-May and allows the System to create a quasi-endowment fund. The fund's returns will support need-based aid for students who do not quite meet the requirements to become Pell Grant eligible. Overall, the System is in good shape and its retention rates remain above national averages. For the seventh year in a row, the System graduated students that represent more than 3/4 of the higher education degrees in the state.

The Board heard a report regarding investment performance before hearing a report from Audit Committee Chair Linda Jones. The Audit Committee has been working with Johnson Lambert on an internal audit that looked at the Foundation's business office and accounting. The firm reviewed the Foundation's policies and procedures manual and deemed it reasonable and appropriate. Additionally, the firm tested the Foundation's policies and procedures for a 15-month period, looked at monthly close, bench mark reviews, and more, and found no items of concern.

Stu is the retired CFO of C-Mart, a retail outlet for designer clothing, furniture, housewares and more that became a legendary Baltimore institution. He is an alum of the University of Baltimore and has been a dedicated volunteer on the UBalt Foundation Board for many years. Stu also has another USM connection – he taught evening classes on entrepreneurship at UMBC.

Bob is a member of the USM Board of Regents. His volunteer work is extensive and he serves on a number of boards such as the Board of the Greater Baltimore Committee, Maryland Economic Development Commission, and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Bob is an internationally-known entrepreneur, author, business consultant and keynote speaker.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Medicine announced plans to open the Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine. The Institute will be funded by a $10 million gift from the Kahlert Foundation, $10 million from UMB, and $5 million from the School of Medicine. The School of Medicine has committed to raise an additional $5 million for the Kahlert Institute. The Institute will address the alarming rise in overdose deaths and addiction and will bring together leading addiction experts in the fields of neuroscience, clinical researchers, and substance use disorder specialists.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Nursing received a $7 million gift from the Bedford Falls Foundation donor-advised fund established by Bill and Joanne Conway – longtime supporters of UMB. The gift will fund 116 Bachelor of Science in Nursing scholarships, 42 Master of Science in Nursing Entry-into-Nursing program scholarships, and 60 scholarships for the Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions Certificate. The scholarships will cover 50 to 100 percent of students’ tuition, fees, and books and will be awarded from spring 2024 to fall 2027. Additionally, the gift will support the creation of a full-time faculty position dedicated to preparing students for the Next Gen NCLEX – a nursing licensure exam. The gift will also support promotion of the Nursing School’s Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions Certificate.

The Ratcliffe Foundation pledged $900,000 to continue their sponsorship of Salisbury University's Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery entrepreneurship competition through at least 2026. The foundation has invested $2.9 million in SU in total. The entrepreneurship competition invites entrepreneurs to compete for their share of an annual prize pool of $200,000.

Frostburg State University, Towson University, and the University of Maryland, College Park reported record giving days. FSU’s second annual “Bobcat Giving Day,” an online 24-hour fundraising campaign, saw a total of 2,122 donors with gifts amounting to $167,969 – $23,000 more than last year’s giving day. The “TU Big Give” raised $375,072, nearly $135,000 more than last year’s TU giving day with gifts from 1,662 donors. UMCP raised $3.8 million from 8,967 donors – last year the university raised $3.75 million from 8,875 donors. 

On May 5, Coppin State University held their inaugural gala at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel. More than 550 guests attended the gala, a new signature event for the university that highlights the positive impacts and achievements of the university and its students. CSU raised more than $300,000 at the event. 

A $200,000 gift from the Henson Foundation to Salisbury State University will support STEM education through the construction of a new planetarium. The Henson Foundation is a longtime supporter of SU and this new gift will help strengthen the university's physics program.

Frostburg State University and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science are offering a joint Master in Environmental Management in Sustainability degree. The in-person program studies sustainability and the impact on society with an emphasis on problem-solving and addresses the need for environmental managers. Students enrolled in the program will have access to UMCES and FSU faculty and courses.

In May, the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM) hosted a Bowie State University Day to highlight and promote degree programs BSU is offering at USMSM. Recruiters offered information on programs in criminal justice, computer science, human resource development, and nursing. The programs offered at USMSM allow students living in southern Maryland the chance to take coursework from USM institutions without the challenge of commuting.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore officially opened its new School of Pharmacy and Health Professions building with a ribbon cutting ceremony in late April. The opening of the building is much anticipated, as construction on the $90 million, 125,000-square-foot building began in 2019. The opening of the facility will house the university’s kinesiology, physical therapy, physician assistant, rehabilitation services, pharmaceutical sciences, and pharmacy practice and administration department in one location.

Jacob Ashby is the new executive director of the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown. He is the third executive director of the regional center and succeeds Mark Halsey, who retired in July 2022. Ashby comes to the USM from Frederick Community College, where he served as assistant dean of academic assessment and articulation. Ashby holds a doctorate degree from Shenandoah University in organizational leadership, a master's degree from West Virginia University, and a bachelor's degree from Shippensburg University.

Towson University officially opened the Dr. Francis S. Soistman Jr. ’79 ’15 (hon.) and Family Athletics Academic Achievement Center, named in honor of Emeritus Board Director Fran Soistman and made possible by a historic gift from Fran. The $5.3 million gift, made in 2020, was the largest gift in the university’s history from an alum. The new Center aims to help TU’s student-athletes thrive in the classroom.

The USM Board of Regents has named Dr. Mark R. Ginsberg as the next president of Towson University. He currently serves as provost and executive vice president of George Mason University and will begin his tenure at Towson on October 30. While at George Mason, he served as dean of the College of Education and Human Development and then served as interim provost and executive vice president before his current role. In a USM press release, Chancellor Jay Perman said "Mark has a habit of rising at every organization he joins. He’s told me he intends to center the vision of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends, and invite them to imagine the future of TU together." Ginsberg holds a master's degree and doctoral degree from The Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor' degree from State University of New York at Cortland.

In late April, UMBC President Valerie Sheares Ashby was inaugurated. Governor Wes Moore, Chancellor Jay Perman, and other elected Maryland officials were in attendance at a ceremony that celebrated the next chapter of UMBC's leadership. Sheares Ashby is the sixth president of the university and the first woman to serve in the role. Sheares Ashby has expressed that her goal for UMBC is for the university to be nationally and internationally known as a model of inclusive excellence in higher education.

On May 5, Salisbury University President Carolyn Ringer Lepre was inaugurated. In attendance were state and local officials, former SU President Janet Dudley-Eshbach, and members of the SU community. Ringer Lepre is the tenth president of the university and she has worked hard since coming to SU to advance the institution as it nears its 100th anniversary in 2025. This fall, SU will welcome its most diverse class of new students with 32 percent coming from underrepresented backgrounds.

UBalt President Kurt Schmoke was featured in the January 2023 edition of Baltimore Magazine in a story titled, "The Bold and the Brilliant," which celebrates local leaders who "charted a unique, purposeful, and often applecart-upsetting path." The article lauds President Schmoke for his stance on drug policy reform and calls him "one of the most influential national politicians of the past 30 years." Also featured in the article are Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, former Orioles player Brooks Robinson, filmmaker John Waters, former Senator Barbara Mikulski, and visual artist Joyce Scott.

USM Foundation Board Director Ali von Paris and Salisbury University President Carolyn Ringer Lepre were named to the Maryland Daily Record's list of Top 100 Women. The award recognizes high-achieving Maryland women who make an impact through leadership, community service, and mentoring. They were honored at a ceremony on May 6.

A number of USM presidents and employees of the USM were named to the The Daily Record’s 2023 Higher Education Power List. UMES President Heidi Anderson, BSU President Aminta Breaux, UMGC President Gregory Fowler, Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden, USM Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Ellen Herbst, UMB President Bruce Jarrell, CSU President Anthony Jenkins, FSU President Ronald Nowaczyk, Chancellor Jay Perman, UMCP President Darryll Pines, SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre, UBalt President Kurt Schmoke, and UMBC President Valerie Sheares Ashby were all honored on the list. The list acknowledges those who who are leading key institutions, creating change and impacting their communities.