FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sept. 23, 2024
BALTIMORE — University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Chief Government Affairs Office and Vice President Kevin P. Kelly, JD, has selected Jeanette Ortiz, JD, to lead state legislative and agency affairs as the university’s new Director of Government Affairs.
Ortiz has served in positions in both the legislative and executive branches of Maryland state government, focusing on legislative and policy work as well as regulatory, budgetary, and procurement matters.
“We are fortunate to add to our team someone with such a powerful blend of experience with state government and knowledge of the complex issues facing higher education today,” says Kelly. “Jeanette is perfectly situated to effectively lead our advocacy for policies that advance UMB’s efforts to educate, conduct meaningful research, and make a positive difference in our communities.”
Jeanette Ortiz, JD
Prior to her appointment at UMB, Ortiz has collaborated with diverse stakeholders, drafted legislation and regulations, provided legal advice on complex matters, staffed legislative committees, and developed statewide policy in numerous areas of law, including higher education, K-12 education, and economic development. In her role as UMB Director of Government Affairs, Ortiz will represent UMB before the Maryland General Assembly, Governor, executive branch agencies, and statewide policy makers on all legislative, regulatory and policy matters that impact the University.
“In my nearly 20-year legal career I have always strived to improve the lives of Marylanders,” Ortiz says. “I am honored to be able to continue that work at UMB, furthering the university’s mission to improve the human condition and serve the public good.”
Ortiz previously worked as Legislative Counsel to the Maryland General Assembly, Policy Director for then-Maryland Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, and Deputy Director of Government Affairs for Johns Hopkins University and Medicine.
She received her juris doctor from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the George Washington University.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) was founded in 1807 as the Maryland College of Medicine, which now stands as the nation’s oldest public medical school. In response to growing social and cultural needs, UMB’s mission has evolved and grown tremendously. Widely recognized as a preeminent institution, UMB serves as the academic health, law, and social work university of the University System of Maryland and is guided by a mission of excellence in education, research, clinical care, and public service.
UMB is a thriving academic health center combining cutting-edge biomedical research, exceptional patient care, and nationally ranked academic programs. With extramural funding totaling $663 million in Fiscal Year 2023, each tenured/tenure-track faculty member generates an average of $1.5 million in research grants each year. More than 3,100 faculty members conduct leading-edge research and develop solutions and technologies that impact human health locally and around the world. World-class facilities and cores, as well as interprofessional centers and institutes, allow faculty to investigate pressing questions in a highly collaborative fashion. As a result, the more than 7,000 students, postdocs, and trainees directly benefit from working and learning alongside leading experts as they push the boundaries of their fields. For a listing of the organized research centers and institutes, visit: https://www.umaryland.edu/research/umb- research-profile/research-centers-and-institutions/
MEDIA CONTACT:
Alex Likowski
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Mobile: 410-292-3925
Email: alikowski@umaryland.edu