Renee Decker

University of Maryland Baltimore County

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County was born amid the turbulent swirl of the 1960s, and we had to cut our own path in a field of older, established institutions. From the beginning, we believed that a university could be innovative, interdisciplinary, inclusive – and great. We believed that ground-breaking research and a relentless focus on undergraduate success could go hand-in-hand. To this day, our faculty, staff and students work and create outside traditional structures. We re-imagine and build. It's not happenstance that UMBC had the first university research park in Maryland, dedicated to growing ideas into thriving businesses. And it's not happenstance that we are consistently cited as one of the best universities for undergraduate teaching and a leading innovator in higher education. MISSION UMBC is a dynamic public research university integrating teaching, research and service to benefit the citizens of Maryland. As an Honors University, the campus offers academically talented students a strong undergraduate liberal arts foundation that prepares them for graduate and professional study, entry into the workforce, and community service and leadership. UMBC emphasizes science, engineering, information technology, human services and public policy at the graduate level. UMBC contributes to the economic development of the State and the region through entrepreneurial initiatives, workforce training, K-16 partnerships, and technology commercialization in collaboration with public agencies and the corporate community. UMBC is dedicated to cultural and ethnic diversity, social responsibility and lifelong learning.