Kurt L. Schmoke Installed as the University of Baltimore's Eighth President
April 14, 2015
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
The Investiture of Kurt L. Schmoke as the eighth president of the University of Baltimore took place on Tuesday, April 14 in the Patricia and Arthur Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric, 140 W. Mt. Royal Ave. in Baltimore. At this special event, President Schmoke was installed as UB president and received his official charge from University System of Maryland Chancellor William E. "Brit" Kirwan. This event marked Kirwan's final investiture for a president of a USM institution before he retires as USM chancellor.
Attendees included Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Lt. Gov. Boyd K. Rutherford, and special guests from UB's sister institutions, the Maryland legislature and from the institution's many supporters. The event, which was fully funded by private donations, was more informal than traditional investiture ceremonies and focused on the entire University community.
Schmoke was named UB president last spring and took office on July 7, 2014. Since then, he has focused on raising the institution's overall profile, reaching out to the region's community colleges and engaging with various constituencies that recognize UB's unique place among Maryland's public institutions of higher learning.
Among the highlights of the Investiture ceremony, the president announced a goal to double the University's endowment by 2025, UB's centennial year, to $100 million as a symbol of 100 years of educational excellence. Live music at the event was provided by the Knights of Jazz from Baltimore City College, President Schmoke's high school alma mater.
On the day of his Investiture, President Schmoke was quoted in local media about his call for a major increase in UB's endowment and for new efforts to convince military veterans to pursue a higher education.
"We think we're a perfect fit for [students with a military background]," Schmoke told The Daily Record. "[They're] more comfortable in a classroom with a wide range of ages."
In The Baltimore Business Journal, Schmoke said the timing is right to begin work on doubling UB's endowment.
"Growing the university's endowment from about $45 million to $100 million by 2025—the university's centennial year—is a key piece of Schmoke's vision, which he will unveil Tuesday evening during an investiture ceremony in Baltimore," the newspaper said. "The larger endowment would go toward new scholarship and new research programs, as Schmoke looks to elevate UB's reputation and attract more students."
Finally, The Baltimore Sun provided a photo gallery from the event.
Learn more about the University of Baltimore's celebration of President Schmoke's Investiture.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the College of Public Affairs, the Merrick School of Business, the UB School of Law and the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.