A Season of Reflection and Renewal

As we return from the holidays and welcome the start of the spring semester, we hope each of you had time to rest, reconnect, and recharge. A new year and a new semester offer us a natural moment to pause, take stock, and begin again with renewed energy and purpose.

Spring is a season of possibility. Even amid uncertainty and challenge, it reminds us that growth often continues quietly at first, with steady and meaningful progress. Across our university, staff play a vital role in creating stability, supporting our students and colleagues, and ensuring that our community continues to move forward. Your dedication, adaptability, and care are the foundation that allows our institution to thrive.

This semester invites us to look ahead with hope: hope in the work we do, hope in the connections we build, and hope in the impact we make, both on campus and beyond. It is also a time for new beginnings, whether that means launching new initiatives, strengthening existing partnerships, or simply finding fresh perspectives in our daily work.

As the Staff Senate, we remain committed to advocating for staff, fostering open communication, and creating opportunities to support one another throughout the year. We are grateful for all that you bring to our community and look forward to the months ahead.

Welcome back, and best wishes for a rewarding and hopeful spring semester.

If you ever want to connect — to share a concern, ask a question, or just say hello — our anonymous feedback form is always open.

UMB Employee Recognition Awards: Accepting Nominations

It's that time of year to recognize employee excellence! Take a moment to recognize yourself or a colleague for significant contributions.

Nominations and applications for the UMB Recognition Awards are being accepted until Jan. 31, 2026.

Find more information here. 

Professional Development Coaching for UMB Employees

Ready to take your career — and your well-being — to the next level? Professional Development Coaching offers UMB faculty, residents, fellows, and staff a personalized, confidential, one-on-one coaching experience designed to help you thrive.

Work with a trained coach to:

• Define your professional goals and tackle obstacles
• Build strategies that actually work for you
• Strengthen focus, accountability, and confidence
• Enhance your overall well-being
• Work on anything else that would help you succeed

Register for 2026 MLK and Black History Month Celebration on Feb. 5

University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Commemorates Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month 2026

Chris T. Pernell, MD, MPH, FACPM, a visionary physician leader and champion for health equity, will be the keynote speaker at UMB’s 2026 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month Celebration. She is the director of the NAACP Center for Health Equity, fellow and regent-at-large at the American College of Preventive Medicine, clinical assistant professor for the Department of Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and the founder and CEO of The Esther Group.

Her keynote message is titled “The Clarion Call for Health Justice: No Retreat, No Surrender.” 

Additional Program Highlights:

• Spoken-Word Performance: Ephraim Nehemiah, a published writer, educator, actor, comedian, and nationally touring performer
• Live Music: The Scott Strother Jazz Combo, led by Scott Strother, MM, a seasoned musician and educator at Middle River Middle School in Baltimore County

Register today!

Save the Date: Strategic Plan Town Halls

The 2027-2031 Strategic Plan co-chairs, Jenny Owens, ScD, MS, Vice Provost of Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, and Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the School of Nursing, will host several town halls to discuss the overall process for UMB’s 2027-2031 Strategic Plan and gain feedback from the University community on the plan’s themes, goals, objectives, and more.

In-Person (Phase I):

March 23: 1-3 p.m., Elm Ballrooms, SMC Campus Center

Virtual (Phase I):

March 25: 9-10 a.m.  

In-Person (Phase II):

May 7: 8:30-10:30 a.m., School of Pharmacy, first-floor large lecture hall (PH N103)

Virtual (Phase II):

May 8: 10-11 a.m.

The Consensus Pro Trial Is Live

The Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) is pleased to share that Consensus Pro is now available to the UMB community ahead of schedule, with access provided by HSHSL.

To help you get started, the HSHSL has created a Consensus Pro guide that explains how to create an account and highlights features, best uses, and effective search tips.

The Consensus Pro trial will run for one year as part of a planned evaluation period. We encourage you to explore the tool and share feedback with the library.

 

New Resource for the UMB Community: AI Tools Page Now Live

The Center for Information Technology Services introduces a brand-new AI Tools page designed to help the UMB community navigate which artificial intelligence (AI) tools are approved for use across campus. 

The new page, which is now available, serves as a central hub where faculty, staff, and students can quickly find: 

• Approved AI tools available for use at UMB 
• Tools approved with restrictions, including important usage conditions 
• Prohibited tools, along with brief explanations to help guide safe and compliant decision making

Visit the AI Tools page to explore this new campus resource and stay informed about AI at UMB! 

All Aboard! West Baltimore Families Get in the Holiday Spirit at Annual Polar Express Event

On Dec. 6, 2025, children and families from West Baltimore were given tickets to ride the train for the B&O Railroad Museum’s cherished Polar Express Experience through an effort organized by the Office of Community and Civic Engagement (OCCE) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).  

Read more abou the Polar Express event here. 
 

The Christmas Store Celebrates 10 Years as a Community Holiday Tradition

The Community Engagement Center (CEC) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) once again filled with holiday energy as families, volunteers, and community partners gathered for the annual Christmas Store — a decade-long tradition that has become a trusted part of the holiday season in West Baltimore. Held Dec. 12 and 13, the Christmas Store featured tables filled with name-brand toys, dress-up costumes, science kits, books, and games, all available to families at deeply discounted prices.  

Hosted for the past 10 years at the CEC’s location on South Poppleton Street, the Christmas Store is a partnership between UMB’s Office of Community and Civic Engagement (OCCE) and Foundry Church of Baltimore. For the second year, local CBS affiliate WJZ-TV, UMB’s Staff Senate, and the University of Maryland Medical Center joined a Season of Giving campaign — which also included the Thanksgiving Drive — to help raise funds for the store’s inventory. Along with monetary donations from the campus community, those efforts allowed organizers to purchase toys and gifts that families could affordably select for their holiday celebrations.  

Read more about the Christmas Store here.

What’s something you’ve accomplished on the Staff Senate during your time as a Senator?
As a new member this year I am still learning but I hope to find opportunities to support and advocate for the staff. It is important that we have a voice on campus and are heard by the leadership, especially with all the external forces in today's world. So far, my favorite part of being on the Staff Senate has been meeting all the other dedicated senators across the campus. It is a great group of people who are looking out for all of us.