Dear USMSM Community,
Welcome to the fall semester at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland. It is an
honor to serve as Executive Director, and I am excited about the opportunities ahead for our students,
faculty, staff, partners, and the broader Southern Maryland community.
Our goal is straightforward: to strengthen USMSM's role as a regional hub connecting students with
higher education and workforce opportunity. Southern Maryland has tremendous talent and
potential, and USMSM bridges the gap between our students and their future.
The future of Southern Maryland begins with the opportunities we create today.
Welcoming students back over the past several weeks has reminded me why this work matters. Every
student who walks through our doors takes a step toward a future that benefits not only themselves
and their families, but our entire region. I encourage each of them to make the most of the USMSM
experience: ask questions, meet professionals, explore careers and programs, attend a panel, and build
relationships that expand their sense of what is possible.
This fall, we are also opening new doors for working professionals and community partners.
The inaugural USMSM Southern Maryland College and Career Pop-Up Open House brings students,
families, educators, employers, and community leaders together to explore educational pathways, career
opportunities, workforce needs, and resources available throughout the region. Our keynote speaker is
Dr. Jacqueline El-Sayed, Chief Executive Officer of Intentional Design Group LLC and former Chief
Executive Officer of SAE International and the American Society for Engineering Education.
We are also pleased to launch the USMSM Doing Business with Government Agencies Speaker Series
on September 16 with Frank Goertner, Director for Federal and Veteran Affairs and Director of
Technology Management Graduate Programs at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School
of Business. A nationally recognized leader in government innovation, technology management, and
public-private collaboration, Mr. Goertner brings a career spanning higher education, government,
technology, national security, military service, and international affairs. His perspective on how those
sectors intersect speaks directly to the future of our workforce and our economy.
Bringing leaders such as Mr. Goertner to USMSM is central to our vision. Our students and
professionals should be able to learn directly from experienced leaders, ask questions, build
relationships, and discover career pathways they may not have previously considered.
Whether you are a student exploring your future, a professional seeking to grow, an employer looking
to connect with emerging talent, or a community partner looking to make an impact, there is a place
for you at USMSM. I invite you to take part in the many opportunities available this fall and to help us
build an even stronger connection between education and opportunity in Southern Maryland.
I look forward to meeting many of you in the weeks ahead and to working together on behalf of our
students, our workforce, and our community. Welcome to the fall semester. I am excited about what
we will accomplish together.
Sincerely,
Dale K. Nesbary, PhD
Executive Director
University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland