Letter from the President | |
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Dear Friends and Colleagues,
As you may have heard, I plan to retire as USM Foundation’s president and CEO and vice chancellor for advancement on June 30, 2025.
Over the course of more than 40 years in advancement, I’ve had the privilege of working within the University System of Maryland family for nearly all of it—spending 19 years at the Foundation, 12 years at the University of Maryland, College Park, and eight years at Towson University, my alma mater. Watching the growth of philanthropy and alumni engagement across the System—and being fortunate enough to contribute to that growth, even in a small way—has been an incredibly rewarding experience.
What has meant even more to me, however, is the people I’ve encountered along the way. The kindness and grace so many of you have shown me is something I’ll always cherish, and I remain in awe of your unwavering dedication to supporting the students and faculty we serve.
With seven months of work still ahead, I’m eager to continue contributing to our mission. And rest assured, I will always stay connected to this wonderful USM/USM Foundation family as I begin my next chapter. I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the wonderful congratulatory messages I’ve received from staff, colleagues, and board members.
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Within the Foundation, our staff is still hard at work. In October, the USM hosted its first ever Wills Week Conference, a five-day virtual conference that featured expert-led webinars during National Estate Planning Awareness Week. The conference covered estate planning basics, sticky conversations about wills, and LGBTQ will planning, among other topics. We were happy to have more than 1,000 registrants from alumni and staff from our USM institutions.
I would also like to mention that our FY24 annual report is ready to view. This year's report features a letter from myself and Board Chair, Don Scheeler, as well as a letter from Chancellor Jay Perman. It also features an interview with Vice President and General Counsel Becca Salsbury and Chief Investment Officer Sharcus Steen, as well as our FY24 investment report. Click here to view the report.
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As always, please reach out to me with any questions you may have and have a wonderful holiday season!
Sincerely,
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USM Foundation Board Meeting Recap | |
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The Foundation’s Board of Directors met on November 14 at UMBC.
The meeting began with a welcome from UMBC President Valerie Sheares Ashby who has been at the helm of the institution for two years. Sheares Ashby discussed UMBC's latest advancements, including the launch of their new Institute of Politics, a new partnership with College Track, and UMBC's trip to the moon - in April, UMBC announced that NASA selected a UMBC-led lunar instrument for implementation on Artemis III's Moon Mission Landing.
Next, the Board heard from UMBC's Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation Tiffany Tucker, Laura Lacambra - a junior on the women's basketball team, and Max Casey-Bolanos - a graduate student on the swimming and diving team. They discussed the benefits of attending a research university and highlighted the notable academic achievements of UMBC student-athletes.
Chancellor Jay Perman shared an update from the USM. He informed the group that enrollment across the System is back to pre-pandemic levels and represents the second highest enrollment numbers in USM history. Collectively, the USM's HBCUs have the largest first-year class in 15 years. Nationwide, freshman enrollment of traditional students has dropped, making the USM's growth even more notable. However, the System continues to target growth of graduate student enrollment.
Board Chair Donald Scheeler presented the Governance Committee report, and the Board approved a resolution aimed at enhancing the board's composition and addressing existing gaps.
Chief Investment Officer Sharcus Steen presented an encouraging report from the Investment Committee and announced that the investment team received over 50 applications for their internship program, selecting three students from UMBC. Steen walked through the investment team's longterm plans to navigate uncertain waters and maintain investment strategy.
Audit Committee Chair Linda Jones shared the Audit Committee report and noted that a recent Foundation internal audit focused on cyber risks and that the committee is pursing the recommendations that Johnston and Lambert assessed. This winter, the committee will focus on enterprise risk management.
Leonard Raley concluded the meeting with his President's Report and shared updates, which you can find in this newsletter.
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Foundation Board of Directors News | |
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The Harford County Public Library Foundation launched its Game Changers Business Speaker Series and director Anirban Basu was its first featured speaker. He discussed “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” an in-depth analysis of major factors shaping economic outcomes.
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Tony Tijerino was featured on Rep. Jamie Raskin’s “Local Hero Video Series.” He spoke about his background as a Nicaraguan immigrant and his thoughts on the importance of telling your own story.
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Barry Garber is retiring at the end of this year – for 32 years he has served as managing director and client advisor for The Garber Wealth Management Team. Congratulations, Barry!
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Gifts and Grants Across the System | The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Chesapeake Biological Laboratory has received a $1 million donation from Brian Hochheimer and Marjorie Wax to establish the Thomas Miller Endowed Professorship. This professorship will honor Dr. Thomas Miller’s leadership and contributions, focusing on attracting emerging leaders in environmental science to continue groundbreaking work at the lab. The donation marks a significant milestone as UMCES celebrates its centennial. | Brian Hochheimer and Marjorie Wax | |
The McMillan-Stewart Foundation has donated $300,000 to Bowie State University to create an endowed scholarship in honor of the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, aimed at supporting students with financial needs. This scholarship will help reduce student debt and provide opportunities for students to pursue careers in the public and private sectors or as entrepreneurs.
Supported by a $1.6 million federal grant, UMCP researchers will work to preserve affordable housing and protect neighborhood assets for residents along Maryland's Purple Line light-rail corridor, focusing on anti-displacement measures. The two-year project, led by the Purple Line Corridor Coalition, will engage community stakeholders to ensure vulnerable residents benefit from transit-oriented development while preserving cultural and neighborhood identities.
Towson University's College of Education has received a $5.15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to enhance Maryland's teacher pipeline and improve teacher preparation and induction programs in Montgomery and Baltimore counties. The five-year grant will support the training of over 400 new teachers and strengthen retention efforts for early-career educators, particularly in high-need areas such as elementary, early childhood, special education, and English learner teaching.
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Dr. Robert “Doc” Davis, who dedicated over 40 years to coaching Salisbury University’s Men’s Rugby Club, has had a profound impact on the team, leading them to four national championships and numerous conference titles. In recognition of his legacy, the university has dedicated the Doc Davis Intramural Complex, a new facility that will serve all SU clubs and intramural teams. The complex is a permanent tribute to Davis’ voluntary service and commitment, and alumni and supporters have honored him by contributing to its naming and fundraising efforts. | |
Groundbreaking at the Doc Davis Intramural Complex | |
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The University of Maryland Global Campus has introduced a Credit for Military Rank program, allowing active-duty and retired service members to earn academic credits based on their military experience and rank. The program aims to fast-track degree completion by recognizing leadership and skills gained in the military, ultimately reducing time and tuition costs for students. Since its launch in Fall 2024, the program has helped nearly 2,000 students, primarily noncommissioned officers, gain up to 12 credits toward a degree.
UMES has partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to offer students career development opportunities in public service through the Pathways to Public Service Program. This collaboration provides students, especially those in STEM fields, with paid internships, professional development, and exposure to federal agencies like the CDC and NIH. Additionally, UMES will help recruit student ambassadors to promote the program on campus and assist with outreach efforts to connect students with federal career opportunities.
The University of Maryland, College Park is one of 17 U.S. universities participating in the Welcome Corps on Campus program, which helps resettle academically qualified refugee students by privately sponsoring their higher education. Through this initiative, UMCP provides housing, academic support, and community integration for refugee students.
UBalt will mark its 100th anniversary in 2025 with a year-long series of events, including a Centennial Launch Party in January, a Centennial Block Party in April, and a grand celebration in November. The university aims to reflect on its history and academic achievements while looking ahead to future growth, with a focus on its impact in Baltimore and beyond, under the theme "Proud Past, Bright Future."
UMB has broken ground on a $120 million, six-story building for its School of Social Work, designed to be the first net-zero emissions building in both the USM and downtown Baltimore. The facility, set to open in late summer 2027, will consolidate the school's programs into a modern, sustainable space that emphasizes collaboration, accessibility, and community engagement.
|  | Rendering of UMB's School of Social Work | |
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For the 15th consecutive year, UMBC has been recognized on ModernThink’s Great Colleges to Work For list, securing a spot on the Honor Roll among top four-year institutions. The distinction is based on feedback from faculty and staff across various categories, including well-being, compensation, and leadership confidence.
Bowie State University has officially opened the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, a $166 million, 192,000-square-foot facility designed to enhance education in communications and humanities. The center’s design incorporates Dr. King’s words and symbolizes the power of voice, with the aim of empowering students to develop their own voice and navigate real-world challenges in their future careers.
Frostburg State University has created a direct pathway for undergraduate students in Health Science to transition seamlessly into its Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies program. This new initiative offers guaranteed spots and preferential consideration for qualifying students, with the goal of training healthcare professionals who will serve local, underserved communities in Western Maryland.
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FSU Health Science Students | |
USM Leaders Recognized by The Daily Record | |
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The Daily Record's 2024 Higher Education Power List has recognized 26 Maryland leaders for their significant contributions to higher education, and a significant number of them are from the USM. Their collective efforts in enhancing access, affordability, research, and workforce development have helped elevate Maryland's position as a national leader in higher education, driving positive change across the state. Among the honorees are:
Heidi Anderson, UMES President
Aminta Breaux, BSU President
Mark Ginsberg, TU President
Linda Gooden, USM Board of Regents Chair
Bruce Jarrell, UMB President
Anthony Jenkins, CSU President
Jay Perman, USM Chancellor
Darryll Pines, UMCP President
Carolyn Ringer Lepre, SU President
Kurt Schmoke, UBalt President
Valerie Sheares Ashby, UMBC President
Alison Wrynn, USM Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
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Jason Curtin Selected for Fulbright International Education Administrator Program | |
Jason Curtin, SU vice president of advancement and executive director of the SU Foundation, was selected for the Fulbright International Education Administrator Program and traveled to Berlin with 16 other U.S. higher education representatives. During the two-week program, he learned about Germany's educational system and built connections with cultural, societal, and education leaders. Jason gained insights that will enhance SU’s international initiatives and expand global opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. His selection continues SU’s strong track record with Fulbright programs, which includes two Fulbright Scholars and three Fulbright Students this year.
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