An Advocate for Students
On Friday, July 11, UMBC junior Joshua Michael was sworn in as the University System of Maryland’s (USM) student regent.
Michael, who is studying political science and secondary education, says he has a passion for public education and has already served as a student representative or intern at a variety of institutions. He was the UMBC representative to the USM Student Council, a student commissioner on the Maryland Higher Education Commission and a student member of the Maryland State Board of Education. Michael also spent two summers as an intern in the Maryland State Department of Education’s Office of Academic Policy.
“We are extremely proud of Josh,” said President Freeman Hrabowski. “It is a tremendous honor to be named student regent, and Josh has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and dedication to academic issues. He will be a strong advocate for all USM students.”
As a member of the Board of Regents, Michael will be directly involved with a number of issues, including accessibility and affordability in the USM. He is excited about working with student leaders at campuses throughout the System. “It is important to ensure that all students have a voice and access to resources,” he said. “We need to present a unified student voice on System and statewide issues.”
Michael added that he was pleased with the student response to the letter writing campaign to legislators during last year’s Special Session. “Students realized they can make an impact. It will be important to continue to express the needs of students to our representatives.”
After graduation, Michael says he would like to teach social studies and mathematics at a Baltimore City middle school. A member of UMBC’s Honors College and Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, this summer he is working as an intern at UMBC’s Shriver Center and coaching lacrosse for an intramural team of 9th and 10th graders.
Michael was nominated to the Board of Regents by Governor Martin O’Malley and confirmed in March by the Maryland Senate. He will serve a one-year term. As USM’s governing body, the Board of Regents is responsible for the system’s academic, administrative, and financial operations. In addition, the board formulates policy and appoints the USM chancellor and the presidents of the system’s 13 institutions.
Michael can be reached at joshmichael@umbc.edu.
Learn more about how UMBC undergraduates get involved on campus and off at www.umbc.edu/undergraduate.
(7/11/08)
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