2025 CUMU Conference highlights the power of place in Baltimore

Over 470 leaders from across the U.S. and internationally gathered in Baltimore for the 2025 CUMU Conference, The Power of Place. Over three days, attendees reflected on how urban and metropolitan campuses are deeply rooted in their local context and connected to national and international challenges and opportunities.

Sunday

The conference kicked off with meetings of the Anchor Learning Network and Huddles for attendees to reflect on key topics and develop new relationships. A panel featured Caroline Burkholder, Temple University; Jeremy Price, Indiana University Indianapolis; Stephen Davenport, Virginia Commonwealth University; Justin Roberts, University Of Missouri–St. Louis; and Ruthie Yow, Georgia Institute of Technology.

Monday

Monday started with Pre-Conference Workshops designed for in-depth learning and skill development.

• A community-centric roadmap to higher education’s future, presented by Byron White
• Building your regional anchor collaborative, presented by Stefani Weeden-Smith, St. Louis Anchor Action Network, University of Missouri–St. Louis
• Low-risk, high-yield approaches to data collection for community engaged professionals, presented by Laura Todd and Anne Weiss, Purdue University
• The JEDI-CCE Rubric for university-community transformation, presented by Tracy Rone, Morgan State University, and Madeline Yates, Transform Mid-Atlantic

CUMU Chief Executive Officer Valerie Holton and CUMU Board Chair Ellen Neufeldt, president of California State University, San Marcos, welcomed attendees before the Monday plenary.

Neufeldt noted that the past year had been challenging for higher education, but shared, “When I think about the challenges, one of the things that I know is how fortunate I am to wake up in such a purposeful profession, at such a purposeful university, doing such purposeful work.”

She emphasized that higher education anchor institutions have never been more important. They serve as catalysts for strengthening the economic, social and cultural vitality of their regions — transforming lives and creating pathways through educational opportunity.

The plenary panel “Navigating the shifting landscape,” moderated by Scott Carlson of The Chronicle of Higher Education, set the stage for the conference. Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, University System of Maryland Chancellor Jay Perman and Lumina Foundation Vice President Debra Humphreys shared their perspectives, challenges and opportunities facing today’s higher education landscape. Their insights highlighted the forces shaping our work and how attendees can continue to be the drivers of social and economic mobility during an uncertain future.

Concurrent sessions followed the plenary and a poster session and reception closed out the day.

The CUMU board of directors met on Monday and gathered for a dinner at Towson University on Monday evening.

Tuesday

The second day kicked off with Community Experiences — opportunities for attendees to explore neighborhoods and programs where CUMU members are engaged, including:

• Building equitable ecosystems: Social innovation and entrepreneurship, hosted by Coppin State University
• Battling health disparities in Baltimore, hosted by Towson University
• Developing professionals through engaged learning with impact, hosted by University of Baltimore
• Do you know your neighbors?, hosted by University of Maryland, Baltimore
• Baltimore, a place of power: A city of innovation and beautiful resistance, hosted by University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The Presidents’ Council met to discuss critical issues facing higher education.

Kathleen Clark, executive director of the Augsburg Health Commons at Augsburg University, was awarded the 2025 Barbara A. Holland Scholar-Administrator Award. As a scholar-administrator, Dr. Clark is a resource for nursing programs and university leaders across the country seeking models for integrating community engagement into their programs. Her leadership has influenced healthcare institutions, public policy, and the development of emerging nurses.

Tuesday’s plenary panel, moderated by Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, highlighted how Baltimore has seen sustained reductions in violent crime by implementing a comprehensive approach that mobilizes local government, community-based organizations, businesses and anchor institutions to intervene in and prevent violence.

The panelists, Nadine Finigan‑Carr, executive director of the Center for Violence Prevention at University of Maryland, Baltimore; Joseph V. Sakran, executive vice chair of surgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine/Johns Hopkins Hospital; Samantha Sailsman, regional program director of Community Health at MedStar Health; and Kurt Schmoke, president of University of Baltimore, spoke directly to the ways that anchor institutions and city leadership can work together toward a common purpose to strengthen communities. They represented a powerful example of what it means to partner to enhance public safety.

Following an afternoon of concurrent sessions, a reception closed out the second day of the conference.

Wednesday

The 2025 CUMU Conference concluded with concurrent sessions, roundtables and a closing session, where attendees shared highlights from the conference and knowledge they’re taking back to their campuses to extend its impact.

The CUMU team appreciates and thanks the presenters, attendees, local partners, reviewers, volunteers, board members and sponsors for contributing to the success of this year’s conference.

The 2026 CUMU Conference will take place in Houston, Texas, November 8–11. Look for the call for proposals in January.

View all conference images on flickr.