Welcome and Plenary Session

Rafael Lorente, Dean of Philip Merrill College of Journalism

The treatment and status of professional track faculty has improved significantly over the last decade at the University of Maryland, and at many of our peer institutions. And while there remain significant areas for improvement, I believe now is the time for professional track and tenure track faculty to come together, both because we are better together, and because the health of our institutions and our democracy are at stake. The attacks on academic freedom across the country are just beginning. We need to stand together to defend both academic freedom and the role of vibrant, diverse universities in a functioning democracy.