Dear UMBC Community, 

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I am feeling especially thankful to this community for the way you continue to show up in dedication to UMBC. 

Strengthening shared governance is one area of focus for me for this year, and I am grateful for the progress I am seeing. I have been consistently impressed this semester by the willingness of our students, staff, and faculty to engage in meaningful, not always easy conversations. It means a great deal to me personally—and makes all the difference in building trust and understanding—that you are open and honest in sharing your feedback, ideas, and perspective, as well as generous in hearing your fellow community members. 

In so many venues, we are talking about the things that truly matter for our students and for UMBC. Our ability to engage authentically in such conversations is critical in the context of today's challenging environment for higher education and in our work to shape UMBC's future. It helps me to be a better leader, the leadership team to be in greater service to you, and all of us to partner in making the university even stronger. Thank you!

Best wishes to you and your family for a warm and restful holiday. 

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby