Read Dr. Jarrell’s column reflecting on the past year and learn about student, faculty, and staff achievements; upcoming events; and news and notes from around the University.

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: A Time for Reflection and Gratitude

As we approach the end of the year, I find myself reflecting on the past 11 months and want to take a moment to talk about gratitude. In a busy world that can sometimes feel chaotic and challenging, taking a moment to pause and appreciate the people in our lives, the experiences we go through, and the opportunities we are given can transform our perspective. Gratitude helps us recognize how we are all connected, and it reminds us that we are not alone and each of us contributes to the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community in meaningful ways.

I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation for all of you — our dedicated and passionate staff, faculty, and students. It is your hard work that allows us to pursue our mission to improve the human condition and serve the public good.

I invite you to join UMB's Staff Senate and Office of Community and Civic Engagement (with support from WJZ-TV), for its first annual Season of Giving campaign to help fund meaningful programming that benefits our West Baltimore neighbors during the holidays. You also can help make a holiday memory for a West Baltimore family with a gift to this year’s Polar Express Experience (see photo, above right). Families will receive tickets to ride and enjoy hot chocolate, caroling, holiday crafts, and more at the B&O Railroad Museum.

And you can help parents and guardians make the holidays special for their families with a gift to this year’s Christmas Store. In partnership with the Foundry Church of Baltimore, parents and guardians can shop for their children at the UMB Community Engagement Center for a discounted cost.

Whether you choose to support one or both of our Season of Giving drives, your donation, no matter the size, will make an impact and create memories for many! Donations will be accepted through Dec. 13 at the Season of Giving webpage.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to thank all of you for the vital role you play in shaping our community. Let us carry this spirit of gratitude into the new year, using it as a guide in our work and our lives.

Here’s to a future filled with gratitude, growth, and collective success.

Sincerely,

Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS
President

Laurels

See our monthly roundup of STUDENT, FACULTY, AND STAFF achievements.

New Hires

See a LIST OF NEW HIRES at UMB central administration and our seven schools for October.

News and Notes

At left, Ray Lewis holds up local youth Blair Pinnacle at the Office of Community Engagement’s 10th anniversary celebration Oct. 16, re-creating a moment from 2019 (right) when the former Ravens star lifted up the then-second-grader at the groundbreaking for UMB’s Community Engagement Center on South Poppleton Street. (Photos by Matthew D’Agostino)

PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY: UMB marked the 10th anniversary of its community engagement office with an event at the Community Engagement Center (CEC) on South Poppleton Street. Community members, UMB employees, community partners, Ravens legend Ray Lewis, and others packed the CEC’s multipurpose room to look back at the office’s accomplishments and forward to new programs and partnerships in the newly named Office of Community and Civic Engagement. Rev. Alvin Hathaway Sr., president and CEO of the Beloved Community Services Corporation, said, “When I think of these last 10 years, for me, it is what I would call a decade of difference.”

A MILLION-MILE JOURNEY: Jody K. Olsen, PhD, MSW ’72, (in photo at left) was the guest Oct. 31 at an UMBrella Speaker Series event at the SMC Campus Center, talking about her distinguished career with the Peace Corps, the importance of building community and trust with the people the agency serves, her eight-year tenure at UMB, and much more. Several of the stories she told are chronicled in her new book, “A Million Miles: My Peace Corps Journey.” The first 100 attendees received a free copy of the 315-page book, and she took time to sign them one by one after the hourlong discussion. There was a lot of love in the room for Olsen in her homecoming, and she returned it, saying, “I love you all. You are bringing back all those fabulous memories from the eight wonderful years I had here.”

SHORING UP HEALTH CARE: To address rural health disparities and the challenges faced by Maryland’s Eastern Shore residents, the University of Maryland School of Medicine launched the Rural Health Equity and Access Longitudinal Elective. The goal is to support 10 new students interested in rural health in this elective program each year with 10 full in-state tuition scholarships. The state has provided $1.4 million to begin the effort, with added funds provided by UMB, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the Rural Maryland Council, and philanthropic donors.

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL WORK: The University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) aims to bring its students, faculty, and staff under the same roof with its new $120 million, 127,000-square-foot building on West Lexington Street that will include sustainability-focused features to make it the first net-zero emissions building in downtown Baltimore. “I want a building that reflects our values — who we are as social workers, who we are as a profession,” said UMSSW Dean Judy L. Postmus, PhD, ACSW (in photo at right). “I want people to look at the building and say, ‘I see the values. I experience the values. I live the values.’ ”

THANKSGIVING DRIVE: CAN WE REACH 300 TURKEYS? The UMB Staff Senate’s Community Outreach Committee and Office of Community and Civic Engagement are coordinating their annual Thanksgiving Drive in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and WJZ-TV. The goal is to secure funding for 300 turkeys by Nov. 25. Every $25 contributed will provide a family of four with one frozen turkey between 12-16 pounds.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH MCC: The state of Maryland’s annual charitable workplace giving program, the Maryland Charity Campaign (MCC), is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and will run until Dec. 13. This annual program offers state employees the opportunity to contribute to charities that are meaningful to them through payroll deduction or one-time credit card gift. For example, even just giving $1 per pay period ($26 total pledge) will allow for 75 books to be collected and distributed to underserved populations locally and internationally.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Did you know that in 1819, the first lectures on dentistry in the United States were delivered by Horace Henry Hayden, co-founder of the School of Dentistry? Or that in 1961, UMB became the first and only urban campus in the United States to serve the professions of law, health science, and social welfare? You can see these and other innovations associated with UMB on the updated List of Firsts Fact Sheet.

FOUNDERS KEEPERS: UMB showcased its talented faculty and student award winners while musical guest Felicia Curry showed off her performing talents during the Founders Week Award Recognition and Reception at the M&T Bank Exchange. President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, was the host for the evening as the University celebrated the key parts of its mission: academics, teaching, public service, research, and entrepreneurship. The event capped the University’s annual celebration of its founding, with the week’s festivities including the Student Cookout, Staff Luncheon, and a day to visit UMB’s “Historical Treasures.”

Joga Gobburu, the Founders Week David J. Ramsay Entrepreneur of the Year for 2024, is flanked by School of Pharmacy Dean Sarah Michel (left) and UMB President Bruce Jarrell at the Awards Recognition and Reception on Oct. 17.

Upcoming Events

NOV. 13: CLIMATE CHANGE, HEALTH, AND SOCIETY SPEAKER SERIES: Maryland Del. Lorig Charkoudian will deliver a presentation on Maryland energy and climate issues. With her years of community activism and legislative know-how, Charkoudian, who has worked on dozens of successful initiatives in Annapolis and in her Montgomery County district, serves on the House Economic Matters Committee and chairs its Unemployment Insurance Subcommittee.

NOV. 28: PROJECT FEAST: A student organization at the School of Medicine, Project Feast puts together a free meal for local community members on Thanksgiving Day. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Booker T. Washington Elementary School. The group also connects its guests with community resources and donated items to meet their immediate needs.

Save the Date

DEC. 4: 16TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: Mark your calendars for one of UMB’s most beloved traditions — the Holiday Craft Fair. Join us for a festive celebration featuring a variety of talented vendors, including returning favorites and exciting newcomers. This is a perfect opportunity to find unique gifts, support local artisans, and enjoy the holiday spirit with friends and colleagues.

FEB. 6: MLK AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION: UMB will hold its celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and diversity from noon to 1:30 p.m. at MSTF Leadership Hall. Diversity Recognition Award winners will be honored, community leaders recognized, and Darrick Hamilton, PhD, of the New School in New York will be the keynote speaker.

Video of the Month

UMB looks back at 10 years of the newly renamed Office of Community and Civic Engagement. You also can read more about the office’s history and future in THIS STORY ON THE ELM.