The Passing of Congressman Elijah Cummings

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 11:34:45 -0400

Dear Members of Our UMBC Community,

This morning we woke to the news of the passing of Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings, who represented Maryland’s Seventh District, including UMBC, in the United States House of Representatives. This is a tremendous loss for our community, the State of Maryland, and our country.

Congressman Cummings showed the nation how to lead with both authenticity and dignity. He represented Baltimore and Maryland masterfully. We know he cared deeply about us, and he understood the power of education to transform lives.

Congressman Cummings was born, raised, and lived in Baltimore, and his dedication to the city he loved was evident in everything he did. Cummings began his distinguished career as an attorney, then served the people of Baltimore in the Maryland House of Delegates, where he became the first African-American Speaker Pro Tem. He was elected to represent Maryland’s Seventh District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, and he represented this district with integrity and passion.

For more than two decades, we have deeply appreciated the support Congressman Cummings has offered to students and families—at UMBC and across our state. University System of Maryland Board Chair Linda Gooden and Chancellor Robert L. Caret have also shared their reflections on Congressman Cummings’ incredible dedication to the State of Maryland. Their message is available here.

The thoughts of our UMBC community are with the Cummings family and the Congressman’s staff, colleagues, and friends during this difficult time.

President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous