Maryland Governor Wes Moore has appointed Yaakov “Jake” Weissmann ’06, social work and psychology, as acting secretary of the Maryland Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Weissmann, UMBC’s vice president of government relations and community affairs since December 2023, joins an impressive group of UMBC alums serving in state and federal leadership roles.
In a statement on the governor’s website, Moore called Weissmann “an experienced public servant and one of the most effective policy minds in our state. His deep understanding of the Maryland budget, developed over years in both the legislative branch and in local government, makes him uniquely qualified to lead DBM.”
Weissmann, a proud UMBC alumnus, called the move “exciting, but bittersweet.” Coming into his role at UMBC from an already full career of public service, he helped spread the word of UMBC’s impact among legislators and across the state, and nurtured relationships with the communities surrounding UMBC. He was among President Valerie Sheares Ashby’s first executive hires.
“It has been an enormous gift to work with Jake and to benefit from his counsel as we have built and strengthened relationships with elected officials and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels,” Sheares Ashby said in a message to campus. “He has positioned us not only to be well-known among our public officials, but also to be well-supported; he believes deeply in UMBC’s distinctive value and conveys that value to others in ways that resonate meaningfully and build lasting connections.”
Weissmann called Sheares Ashby “a singular leader” who believes deeply in the people and mission of UMBC.
“UMBC really is a special place,” he said. “And part of what makes this position work so well is that President Sheares Ashby has a true understanding that our communities matter…and of the importance of making sure UMBC’s goals align with the goals of the state.”
After graduating from UMBC, Weissmann went on to earn his master’s in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, as well as his juris doctor from the University of Baltimore. He served for two years as the assistant chief administrative officer in Montgomery County, where he helped steer the county’s economic development strategy and was responsible for several county departments. Prior to that, he spent 14 years with the Maryland General Assembly, including two years working in the House of Delegates, and 12 years with the Office of the Senate President. During his time in the Senate, Weissmann served in many roles, including as chief of staff for Senate President Bill Ferguson and former Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. He has also served on the state Board of Elections for the last two years.
Weissmann joins an impressive list of UMBC alumni who occupy prime positions in state and federal government, including Adrienne Jones ’76, psychology, the first Black woman to serve as speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, Congressman Johnny Olszewski, Ph.D. ’17, public policy, and many others.
Looking ahead to the new role, Weissmann said he was excited about the “incredible opportunity to serve,” and shared a quote from the late United States Representative Elijah Cummings to capture their shared philosophy on the work: “Public service is the rent we pay for our space on this earth.”