2026 Schaefer Center Conference to Address Public-Sector Workforce Needs, April 24

House Speaker Emerita Adrienne Jones to receive Schaefer Award

The Schaefer Center for Public Policy at The University of Baltimore will host its annual William Donald Schaefer Conference and Award Ceremony on Friday, April 24, in Annapolis, Md. The topic for this year's conference is Building a Sustainable Public Sector Workforce. The conference and award ceremony celebrate the legacy of William Donald Schaefer, in whose honor the Schaefer Center was established. This year's awardee is Speaker Emerita Adrienne A. Jones.

The conference will open with a presentation, The Five Pillars of Effective Government, followed by roundtable sessions covering a range of topics. Two experts in excellent public service will lead this part of the event:

• Dan Chenok, executive director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government, who will preside over the opening presentation;
• Stacy L. Rodgers, acting secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Services, who will preside over the roundtables that will capturing several topic areas following the opening.

The roundtable discussions will focus on Technology and Innovation in the Public Sector, Recruitment and Retention in the Public Sector, and Apprenticeship and Training in the Public Sector. Presenters will include public leaders from across Maryland, including several graduates of the Maryland Certified Public Manager Program. During these discussions, conference attendees will actively engage in conversations on these key public sector issues.

The conference will conclude with a closing presentation, The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life, by Maryland State Sen. Cory McCray. A brief book signing with Sen. McCray will follow the presentation.

During the luncheon, University of Baltimore President Kurt L. Schmoke will present the 2026 William Donald Schaefer Award to Speaker Emerita Adrienne A. Jones.

The conference and award ceremony celebrate the legacy of William Donald Schaefer, in whose honor the Schaefer Center was established. For more than 50 years, William Donald Schaefer served the citizens of Baltimore and the State of Maryland as a city councilman, city council president, mayor, governor, and comptroller. His commitment to solving problems, and strong belief in bettering society, are both foundational pillars of the Schaefer Center. The center is proud to carry on the legacy of its namesake.

Registration is available here, or contact Pat Mikos at pmikos@ubalt.edu or 410.837.6188.

Learn more about the work of the Schaefer Center for Public Policy.

About The Schaefer Center for Public Policy

Established in 1985, the Schaefer Center is the nonpartisan applied research unit within the College of Public Affairs. Guided by its mission to Help Government Help People, the Schaefer Center supports public and nonprofit organizations to improve policy, management, and service delivery.

The Schaefer Center provides applied research and technical assistance, including program evaluation, needs assessment, data and policy analysis, strategic planning, performance measurement, opinion research, and management consulting. It also advances excellence in public service through professional development programs, most notably the Maryland Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program—widely recognized as the gold standard in public sector management training. CPM serves state, county, municipal, and nonprofit managers and is taught by Schaefer Center experts, University of Baltimore faculty, and leading practitioners.

The Schaefer Center develops future public service leaders through its NextGen Leaders for Public Service Internship Program. The program trains University of Baltimore students in public service values, links them to careers in public service through paid internships and connects them to the broader public service community through events and conferences. The Schaefer Center is a member of the Volcker Alliance Service Corp national network of universities committed to developing the next generation of public servants.