UMBC’s own Tiffany Robinson ’97, political science, was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan as Maryland’s new Secretary of Labor on July 9. The appointment follows Robinson’s service to the state as the Hogan’s deputy chief of staff, where she oversaw issues of labor, human services and health, housing, and education since 2016.

With a leadership background in housing and community development organizations, according to the governor’s office, Robinson is well-suited to serve as labor secretary. In a statement, Hogan said, “Tiffany’s experience as an advocate for Maryland’s workers and small businesses, and her commitment to public service, make her an outstanding choice to be our next labor secretary.”

Robinson meets with UMBC representatives, including UMBC’s first Rhodes Scholar, Naomi Mburu. Photo by Marlayna Demond '11. — Robinson, center, meets with UMBC representatives, including UMBC’s first Rhodes Scholar, Naomi Mburu ’18, left. Photo by Marlayna Demond ’11.

UMBC alumni have been steadily rising through the ranks of Maryland politics in 2019. On May 1, Adrienne A. Jones, ’76, psychology, was unanimously voted in as Maryland’s first female and first African American Speaker of the House. On March 11, Letitia Dzirasa ’03, M11, biological sciences, took on her new role as Baltimore’s Health Commissioner. She is also the first African American woman to hold this position.

Other alumni, of course, populate various leadership positions in regional, state, and federal government, most notably, the U.S. Surgeon General, Jerome Adams ’97, M4, biochemistry and molecular biology, who replaced Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams Ph.D. ’06, public policy, in August 2017, who was serving as acting surgeon general.

Robinson will continue to work alongside many other alumni in Annapolis, including Hogan’s chief of staff, Matt Clark, ’00, history, in serving the nearly 70 percent of UMBC alumni who live and work in the state. Speaker Jones says of her fellow Retrievers working for the Maryland government, “They believe in the power of education. They are committed advocates for UMBC here in Annapolis. And they continue to be involved with the university as mentors for current students and ambassadors for UMBC in their communities.”

Robinson’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation in January 2020, but effectively begins her role at the end of the month.

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Header image: Tiffany Robinson and Matt Clark join Governor Hogan on a visit to UMBC. Photo by Marlayna Demond ’11.

Tags: Political Science