Outstanding Service Award

Wes Moore is the 63rd Governor of the state of Maryland. Elected in 2023, he is Maryland’s first Black Governor in the state’s 246-year history, and is just the third African American elected Governor in the history of the United States. As governor, he has focused his tenure on expanding economic opportunity, strengthening education and workforce development, advancing equity and public safety, and much more. In 2025 Governor Moore announced the “Capital of Quantum” initiative, a public-private collaboration between the State of Maryland, the University of Maryland College Park, and industry partners to catalyze more than $1B in investments in quantum research, innovation, workforce development, and economic growth. Governor Moore is a veteran and a scholar: he served as a captain in the U.S. Army including combat in Afghanistan, earned degrees from Johns Hopkins University and Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, authored several best-selling books, and worked in investment banking, government, and the nonprofit sector.

Ross Stern recently retired as the Executive Director of Government Relations. For over 25 years, Ross has had an incredible impact at the University of Maryland, College Park leading the Office of Government Relations, advising university presidents, establishing the UMCP Foundation, and working with the board on advocacy efforts. He has been instrumental in protecting and securing billions of dollars in funding for key campus initiatives and priorities, including operational dollars and capital projects for new buildings on and off campus, need-based financial aid, MPower, and more. Through his advocacy for the University, Ross’ legislative knowledge has helped shape policies and strengthened partnerships with our state. He is a two time Terp with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s of public management.