Awards and Honors

The title of Distinguished University Professor is the highest appointment bestowed on a faculty member by the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). The title is a recognition not just of excellence, but also of impact and significant contribution to the nominee’s field, knowledge, profession, and/or practice. The Office of the Provost recognizes these honorees at the annual Convocation ceremony held each September. Distinguished University Professor award process

Four awards are given to faculty or staff members, each signifying outstanding accomplishment in one facet of UMB’s mission: David J. Ramsay Entrepreneur of the Year, Educator of the Year, Public Servant of the Year, and Researcher of the Year. Founders Week Awards Criteria - Founders Week

The Board of Regents Faculty Awards are the highest honor presented by the Board of Regents to exemplary faculty members within the University System of Maryland. These awards publicly recognize distinguished performance in 1) Teaching; 2) Scholarship or Research; 3) Creative Activity; 4) Public Service; and 5) Mentoring on the Part of Faculty Members.

In this proud tradition, the Wilson H. Elkins Professorship was established in 1978 as the first permanently endowed, university-wide professorship at the University of Maryland.

The professorship is a fitting way to perpetuate the name and contributions of Wilson H. Elkins, a former Rhodes scholar who led the University of Maryland to new levels of distinction as its president from 1954 to 1978. Under Dr. Elkins’ leadership, the university grew notably in size, scope, and standing.

The MPower Professorship Program is a named professorship accompanied by funding to support salary, summer salary, or supplemental research activities. The program recognizes, incentivizes, and fosters collaborations between faculty at UMB and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) who are working on the nation’s most pressing issues that require collaboration between the two institutions to achieve a positive outcome.

If you have questions about the MPower Professorship Program, you can contact Adrianne Arthur, executive director, University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State, at aarthur@umaryland.edu.

The LEAPS Educator Awards are designed to recognize exceptional teaching, mentoring, and educational scholarship activities of UMB faculty members, preceptors, and mentors. Note: LEAPS Steering Committee members may not self-nominate, but can be nominated by others.

Teach or conduct research abroad through the prestigious Fulbright Scholar Program! The 2026-2027 application opens in February 2025. Contact Nick Cortina (ncortina@umaryland.edu) in the Center for Global Engagement for more information.

The Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program is a continuation of the mission of Carnegie Corporation of New York, as founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1911, to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace.  Click here for more information.

Per USM policy nominations for honorary degrees will be reviewed by the Committee on Education Policy and Student Life.

The Office of the Chancellor is pleased to call for honorary degree nominations. Here is the UMB policy for review.