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Letter from the President
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It's been a busy month with a lot of wonderful activities and I have had the good fortune to attend a number of them. One was the Maryland Teacher of the Year Awards Gala, where Chancellor Brit Kirwan was presented with a special tribute for being a great champion of K-12 educators. Another was the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Awards Dinner where Governor Martin O'Malley received the Truitt Environmental Award. Also, Chancellor and Mrs. Kirwan hosted a dinner at Hidden Waters to introduce new University of Baltimore president Kurt Schmoke to more than 120 guests. Towson University (TU) had more than 300 people attend the grand opening of their beautiful new TU Northeastern Center in Bel Air. Acting President Tim Chandler told the assembled guests, "It's one of the most anticipated projects in the near-150 years of our history." More can be found about the TU Northeastern Center in this edition of LeaderNotes.
The University System of Maryland Alumni Relations Council met earlier this month and discussed trends and hot topics in the alumni relations field, shared what's working and what isn't, and brainstormed ideas on the future of alumni relations initiatives. It was a nice opportunity for our alumni relations colleagues from around the System to network and leverage their resources.
We also officially welcomed our new Investment Associate - Capital Markets, Chris Ingram. In this capacity, he monitors global trends and market movements, and oversees the investment team's macroeconomic and capital markets research. Welcome aboard, Chris!
As always, please contact me at raley@usmd.edu or call me at 301.445.1941 with any ideas, questions, or comments.
Sincerely,
Leonard R. Raley
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August 2014 Investment Office Update
In August, the broad financial markets rallied, buoyed by the perception that the major central banks would continue and - in the case of the European Central Bank - expand their accommodative stances. This view was reinforced by comments from the Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, the European Central Bank's Mario Draghi, and the Bank of Japan's Haruhiko Kuroda. Delivered from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City 2014 Economic Policy Symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, their comments seemed to clear the way for investors to take on more risk, and had an immediate positive effect on markets. U.S. equities and bonds performed particularly well, with the S&P 500 crossing the 2000 level for the first time in its history.
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The U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology has selected The MITRE Corporation to operate the first federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) solely dedicated to enhancing cybersecurity and protecting national information systems. MITRE will partner with the University System of Maryland to support the center, working closely with students, faculty, and staff at the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The new FFRDC will support the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, and will help foster public-private collaborations to identify and solve today's most pressing cybersecurity challenges. The partnership is an incredible opportunity for faculty, students, and staff to tackle present-day issues in cybersecurity. |
Advancement Goes For a Ride
Salisbury University's annual Sea Gull Century bike ride hosted two of our very own institutional advancement leaders: UMCP's Peter Weiler and Towson University's Michael Cather. On September 27th, they joined more than 6,000 other riders on a 100-mile bike ride across Maryland's eastern shore. The Sea Gull Century is among the oldest rides of its kind on the East Coast, and cycling enthusiasts visit from as far away as Texas, California, and Hawaii. Their athletic efforts go to a good cause: all proceeds from the ride support programs on campus and in the community, including student scholarships and faculty grants, Wicomico County's Habitat for Humanity and other local nonprofits and civic groups.
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Towson University Opens Campus in Northeastern Maryland
Towson University and Harford Community College have teamed up to provide a seamless transfer for students pursuing a four-year bachelor's degree after completing their associate degree. This innovative partnership allows students in northeastern Maryland to enroll in specific degree programs or earn credit for electives offered by Towson University. The new facility is located on the grounds of Harford Community College and makes Towson's programs easy to access while providing opportunities for study and workforce development in the region. Classes will begin in the spring.
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October 2014
Vol. 8, Iss. 9
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USM News Briefs
The UMUC Cyber Padawans (made up of students, faculty, and alumni) won an international competition that tested its hacking and cyberdefense skills. The Global CyberLympics brought various academic and professional cybersecurity teams from around the world to Barcelona to test their hacking skills.
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Trends in Philanthropy
Dynamic Phonathons Still Have Value
Though online giving has increased, phonathons are still an important part of any successful annual fund. Phonathons help create a connection between students and potential donors by reminding donors of their connection to the university and what their own student experience was like. Phonathons also remain incredibly efficient due to the volume of prospects that can be reached in a short time.
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Staff Member News
We are pleased to welcome Chris Ingram to the USM Foundation as part of our investment team. Chris joined the Foundation in 2013 as a graduate student intern and now serves as Investment Associate - Capital Markets. Prior to joining the Foundation, he worked in business development for the nascent online learning division of John Wiley & Sons Publishers. Chris graduated with honors from Middlebury College and received an MBA from Georgetown University.
Welcome, Chris!
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