The Monday schedule of University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Robert Caret, PhD, showed a full day of meeting, greeting, and listening on the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) campus. In the morning, UMB’s deans and vice presidents shared accomplishments and talked about their goals for each of the University’s seven schools. For lunch, it was a special edition of the brown bag employee lunch, hosted by UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD, with attendees unaware of their star guest until he walked through the door! Later, student leaders had a chance to question Caret and express their interests and concerns.
Monday’s visit is likely to be just one of many in Baltimore. Caret chose Baltimore in late 2014 as the place to announce that he would replace former Chancellor William E. “Brit” Kirwan, PhD. Last October, Caret conducted a four-day statewide bus listening tour – with stops in Baltimore - where he met regional leaders, community members, and representatives from all 12 USM institutions. And in November, his official inauguration took place at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology at the Columbus Center, which UMB shares with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
In his inaugural speech, Chancellor Caret spoke of the impact of his bus tour through Baltimore, what he learned, and the importance of higher education to the city.
“In Baltimore, we all talked about the ways in which we can work together to provide hope … and the vision of a better future … and the means of actually achieving it: improved K-12 outcomes, increased access to postsecondary education, and a focus on increased opportunities for jobs and a better quality of life,” he said. “And this is why I am so passionate about public higher education and the transformational role that the University System of Maryland plays for students all over the state. And in a particular way for the people of Baltimore and so many other communities . . . communities where young people who have the ability, and desire, and perhaps the vision … but may just need the mentoring -- the guidance that I received, that probably many of us received, to put it all together and achieve a better career, a better life, and a better future than they would without that support.”
Read more about Chancellor Caret’s vision for the University System of Maryland here.