UMBC President Valerie Sheares Ashby joined a group of Maryland business and higher education leaders in Annapolis on September 25 to welcome King Abdullah II of Jordan, the first foreign head of state to visit the Maryland State House on official business. Led by Governor Wes Moore, the Maryland leaders engaged the King and his delegation in a roundtable to explore economic development and partnerships between Jordan and our state.
“Today, we are here to talk about ways to work together toward common goals,” said Governor Wes Moore, as he officially welcomed the delegation on behalf of the state. “We have brought together leaders from across the state to engage in this historic visit and we look forward to a vibrant discussion about our people, our economies, and our futures.”
Maryland presents attractive possibilities for any nation looking to grow its economy. According to Governor Moore’s office, the State of Maryland has a wider variety of business incentive programs than any other state in the country, providing nearly 100 grant, tax credit, and loan programs—including those targeted toward international businesses. Maryland also ranks first in the nation for the proportion of university graduates with science and engineering degrees and fourth in the nation for the percent of its workforce employed in STEM careers.
During the roundtable, President Sheares Ashby took the opportunity to highlight UMBC’s strengths in STEM and the exceptional, diverse talent it cultivates. She pointed to key university strengths, specifically those designed for working professionals, helping them earn certificates and upscale their abilities in emerging disciplines such as cybersecurity, software systems, AI, and data science. She also underscored the significance of global collaborations and the vital work UMBC is doing in the areas of information and technology.
“I want to thank Governor Moore for his leadership and deep commitment to improving the lives of Marylanders through higher education,” said Sheares Ashby. “We would not be able to do what we do without such a great partner in our governor.”
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is a top-ranked national university with an inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement.
For more information contact Cherie Parker, Director of Media Relations, at cheriepa@umbc.edu or 240-930-1169.
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