Former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke Appointed UB President

BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Former Mayor Kurt Schmoke comes back to Baltimore in a different leadership capacity.

Pat Warren reports the Howard University Law School administrator is the new president of the University of Baltimore.

Kurt Schmoke's sense of political and social responsibility dates back to the March on Washington.

"Actually, it was my mother that decided we were going to go to the March on Washington," Schmoke said.

Schmoke served three terms as mayor of Baltimore before becoming dean of Howard University Law School and now the president of the University of Baltimore. In politics, law and education, he has one style.

"To listen, to try to set forth a vision and to use my energy to the advance of projects wherever I am," he said.

Most recently, Schmoke applied that energy to offer assistance to the family of Florida teen Trayvon Martin.

"I didn't think the family had the resources to hire some big law firm so Howard Law School, with its history of social justice involvement, seemed to be the right place to apply that support," he said.

Schmoke's new focus is the University of Baltimore, known for its colleges of arts and sciences and public affairs, school of business and school of law, which is renowned for its graduates and recently housed a multi-million dollar facility donated by graduate and Orioles owner Peter Angelos.

"University of Baltimore is a part of the university system, actually one of the best state systems in the United States and it's got an international reputation so I'm looking forward to working with the community here at the University of Baltimore to build on the wonderful things they've been doing the past few years," he said.

The university has added 31 new academic programs since 2002.

Schmoke's appointment ends a six-month-long search to replace retiring President Robert Bogomolney. Schmoke takes office in July.

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