Advancing the American Story at Our University
Through discovery, advocacy, research, and service, UMB has helped the United States meet some of its greatest challenges over the past two centuries.
On July 4, 2026, the United States will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a milestone that invites us to celebrate not only our nation’s founding, but also the people and institutions that have helped define our nation.
America’s story has never been defined by a single moment in history. The story has unfolded over generations through discovery and innovation, service and sacrifice, justice and opportunity. It is the story of individuals who challenged convention, strengthened communities, expanded access to education and health care, advanced scientific knowledge, and worked to build a nation that more closely reflects the ideals upon which it was founded.
For more than two centuries, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), through its seven schools, has been part of that story.
Since opening its doors in 1807, UMB has educated generations of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, lawyers, dentists, social workers, and public health leaders whose work has reached far beyond Maryland. Their discoveries have transformed medicine. Their advocacy has expanded justice and opportunity. Their research has improved lives across the nation and around the world. Their service has strengthened communities and helped America meet some of its greatest challenges.
UMB Celebrates America at 250 is a months-long storytelling initiative that explores this remarkable history through the people whose vision, perseverance, and leadership have left an enduring mark on our country. In the coming months, we will share stories of groundbreaking discoveries that changed the course of medicine, courageous individuals who challenged barriers and opened doors for future generations, innovations that reshaped professions, and partnerships that transformed communities.
Together, these stories reveal something larger than the history of a single university. They reflect the enduring power of education to improve lives, the importance of public service in strengthening democracy, and the extraordinary impact that can occur when knowledge is paired with purpose.
As the United States reflects on its first 250 years, UMB is proud to celebrate the countless members of our community who have helped write that history and continue to shape the nation's future. Please join us throughout the year as we look back on the ideas and achievements that brought us here, honor those whose work has advanced the American story, and imagine the possibilities that lie ahead.
The story of America is still being written. And for more than two centuries, UMB has been proud to help write it.