The latest edition of LeaderNotes is available. This edition includes a Letter from the President, a Board Meeting Recap, Gifts Across the System, and more.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since I have interacted with you in person.
Recently, Governor Larry Hogan announced two major milestones in the fight against COVID-19. Two-thirds of Maryland adults have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine and the state’s seven-day positivity rate has dropped to 2.23 percent, the lowest level on record. While the pandemic is not over, this news is heartening and I am hopeful that vaccination rates will increase, positivity rates will continue to drop, and that we will be able to meet face-to-face once more very soon.
The University System of Maryland
has a lot to celebrate. As you’ll read in more detail in this newsletter, the System’s twelve institutions awarded more than 40,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees this spring at virtual and in-person ceremonies. This marks the fifth year in a row that System institutions have awarded more than 40,000 degrees. Our leaders and directors have been recognized with several prestigious honors. Our very own Director of Investments, Sharcus Steen was named by Chief Investment Officer Magazine into its Class of 2021 NextGens. Each year for the past decade, CIO has highlighted 25 rising stars in the institutional investing world. While it is unsurprising to me that Sharcus is among this very elite group, it is nevertheless a great honor and a well-earned reflection of Sharcus’s hard work, leadership, and integrity. Please join me in congratulating Sharcus on this global distinction. I am so proud of Sharcus and thank him for his excellent leadership and service to our investment program and team.
Click here to read Sharcus’s interview with CIO.
The Foundation has been hard at work supporting the USM. In this newsletter, you will find a recap of our June Foundation Board meeting, as well as profiles on our six new directors. We also say goodbye to eight retiring Board members, whose contributions and dedication to the Foundation and the USM are unmatched.
I hope you are continuing to stay safe and healthy and that you have a restful summer. Please contact me at
raley@usmd.edu with any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Leonard R. Raley
