Dear UMB Community,

In response to the many rapid changes happening at the federal level, I am bringing together an Issues Management Advisory Group (IMAG) to assess how federal policies of the new presidential administration might impact the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). The group will develop recommendations to better inform UMB’s leadership about how to appropriately respond to the changing policy environment in a timely and responsible manner.

IMAG will build on the successful Crisis Management Advisory Group (CMAG) model that we used to help the University manage the COVID-19 pandemic as an institution. IMAG will have subcommittees focused on specific areas and feature broad representation from across UMB. A key focus of this work will be aligning with and prioritizing our mission and values as we move forward with the changes in policy and practice at the federal level.

I will chair IMAG as president. The other members include Roger J. Ward, EdD, JD, MSL, MPA, provost and executive vice president; Jennifer B. Litchman, MA, senior vice president for external relations; Dawn M. Rhodes, DBA, chief business and finance officer and senior vice president; Kevin P. Kelly, JD, chief government affairs officer and vice president; Alana Kyriakakis, JD, general counsel and vice president; Patty Alvarez, PhD, MS, chief student affairs officer and vice president; and Renée Hutchins Laurent, JD, dean of the Francis King Carey School of Law. I have asked Jenny Owens, ScD, MS, vice provost of academic affairs and strategic initiatives, to serve as the coordinator for IMAG and its subcommittees with support from Peter Henderson, PhD, MPP, senior policy advisor to the president. 

As we build out committees with representation from across UMB’s schools and units, some of you will be asked to join. We will share pertinent information that comes out of IMAG with the UMB community.

My goal is for UMB to remain proactive and informed as we continue to meet our mission in the most effective way possible. Thank you for your continued commitment to improving the human condition and serving the public good.

Sincerely,

Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS

President