External Relations

The Office of Communications and Public Affairs is dedicated to promoting UMB and sharing its remarkable stories.

The office provides internal and external communications, including media and public relations, social media, image and reputation management, strategic planning, writing, editing, design, marketing, event support, and web communications services to the University’s seven schools and administrative units.

The office will help your team set priorities, focus energy and resources, strengthen your processes, and ensure that your team members have all the tools necessary to accomplish your communications and marketing goals.

The Office of Community Engagement serves as UMB’s liaison to communities across the state of Maryland.

Focusing on West Baltimore, the office develops and nurtures Universitywide partnerships with external stakeholders, including K-12 public schools, community organizations, nonprofits, and businesses. It also assists UMB’s schools with community engagement initiatives; coordinates faculty, staff, and student volunteer and service-learning initiatives; and oversees the Community Engagement Center, which helps deepen relationships with the University’s closest neighbors. The 20,000-square-foot historic building on South Poppleton Street hosts expanded services and activities to meet growing community demand. 

The Office of Government Affairs serves as the University’s primary point of contact with state, federal, and local government officials and their staffs, as well as business and community stakeholders.

The office develops collaborative opportunities and initiatives for UMB, works continuously to strengthen and maintain positive relationships with government officials, oversees legislation and related policies, guides testimony and provides information to public officials, and ensures that the University has an ongoing coordinated and unified position on issues relating to the public and higher education sectors.

The Office of Protocol and Special Events organizes annual, high-profile Universitywide events such as the Graduation Celebration, Founders Week, Faculty Convocation, and the MLK/Black History Month celebration.

It also helps plan speaker series, alumni events, and special events hosted by the UMB president, and provides management and protocol expertise for members of the UMB community in support of high-level state, national, and international visitors and delegations to our campus.