Dear UMBC Community,
I am writing to you today to share more about the work that we are doing to monitor and respond to the developments in Washington. As I communicated with you in a message last week, I have assembled a core team of relevant leaders with whom I am meeting frequently to assess the various executive orders and related actions of the new Trump administration and how they may affect UMBC.
I want to share the makeup of that core team, which consists of several senior leaders, as well as others whose expertise is particularly critical to our efforts. Many core team members are leading small rapid-response teams—subgroups specific to an issue, area of work, or audience. The subgroups will contract and expand—the number of groups themselves, as well as their memberships—to meet evolving needs.
Joining me on the core team are:
- Manfred H. M. van Dulmen, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Kacey Hammel, Chief of Staff to the President
- Paul A. Meggett, Vice President and General Counsel
- Yaakov “Jake” Weissmann ’06, Vice President, Government Relations and Community Affairs
- Academic Excellence Team Leader: Ana Oskoz, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
- Budget and Finance Team Leader: Kristy Michel, Associate Vice President, Administration and Finance
- Communications Team Leaders: Tim Cobb, Interim Vice President, University Communications and Marketing; and Angela Paik, consultant
- Enrollment Team Leader: Yvette Mozie-Ross ’88, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Planning
- Inclusive Excellence Team Leader: Tanyka M. Barber, Vice President, Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer
- Global Engagement Team Leader: David L. Di Maria, Associate Vice Provost for International Education
- Research and Creative Achievement Team Leader: Karl V. Steiner, Vice President, Research and Creative Achievement
- Student Success Team Leader: Renique T. Kersh, Vice President, Student Affairs
Over time, I know that these leaders will draw on the expertise and perspectives of many of you; thank you in advance for your support and assistance should they reach out to you. Please also know that you may reach out to the individuals listed above with questions or concerns about specific issues.
As our work continues, we will communicate with you regularly. Some messages will come from me, and some will come from other members of the team, as was the case with this week’s messages regarding research and creative achievement activities and the potential for federal immigration enforcement on campus.
We also have created a website to serve as a central hub of relevant campus resources and information. Campus communications related to the Trump administration’s orders and actions will be housed there, as well as an updated list of resources related to federal actions that may impact UMBC.
We are witnessing a substantial amount of change in Washington, both in volume and scope. The impacts of that change on us as individuals, as an educational community, and as a research institution are not yet clear. What is certain—rock-solid—is our commitment to UMBC’s mission and vision. I urge you all to carry on with your important work, knowing that our support for it and for the well-being of all members of this community is unwavering.
Sincerely,
President Valerie Sheares Ashby
