Developing World-Class Leaders for Public Service
Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program for Government and Nonprofits
The Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program is a nationally accredited leadership development program offered by the Schaefer Center for Public Policy at The University of Baltimore. Maryland’s leaders now have the opportunity to gain the comprehensive, applied management skills needed to meet the complex demands and challenges of the 21st century. Download a PDF brochure.
The Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program is:
- A comprehensive 300-hour competency-based, academically grounded, and job-relevant program
- Results-oriented, featuring individual capstone projects designed to improve an agency’s service, reduce its costs, or increase its revenue
- Proven to improve performance and advance best practice standards for public and nonprofit sector managers
A limited number of managers in state, local, municipal governments, and nonprofits will have an opportunity to attend the Maryland Certified Public Manager® program at no cost. Government candidates will be selected based on meeting program requirements and ensuring representation throughout the state of Maryland and level of government.
City of Baltimore Employees: If you’re interested in applying for a City of Baltimore sponsored cohort, please contact [email protected] for details.
ENROLLMENT OPEN
“I’ve been on this job for almost thirty years, there are two things I can tell you that have contributed greatly to my success, development, and being a lifelong learner. One of those things was the FBI National Academy and the other was the Maryland Certified Manager® Program at the University of Baltimore.”
– Col. Orlando Lilly, Superintendent of Natural Resources Police, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
ENROLLMENT OPEN
Program Dates
Maryland Certified Public Manager®
Online with Real-Time Instruction
We are offering three funded Cohorts this fiscal year for government and nonprofit managers. If you have questions about eligibility or the program, please contact us at [email protected]
Weekly Retreats
All retreats have morning sessions from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and afternoon sessions from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. All retreat sessions are held via Zoom; attendance is mandatory. Luncheons are in person from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Graduation is in person.
Cohort 21
Mandatory Orientation:
August 11, 2025 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Retreat Week 1: Leadership Style and Personal Productivity
September 8-12, 2025
• Understanding Leadership
• Personality Style and Effectiveness
• Self-Awareness
• Motivating Others and Communicating Supportively
• Building and Leading Teams
• Using University of Baltimore Library Resources
• Professional Writing Refresher
• Introduction to Critical Thinking and Logic Modeling
• Capstone Project Work Session
Leadership Lunch 1 – The Leadership Journey (in-person)
October 9, 2025
Retreat Week 2: Strategic Management and Lean Management
October 20-24, 2025
• Strategic Management
• Lean Management
• Project Management
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Public Sector Ethics
Leadership Lunch 2 – Managing Multiple Priorities Discussion (in-person)
December 4, 2025
Retreat Week 3: Data-Based Decision Making
January 5-9, 2026
• Data-based Decision Making
• Decision Making Under Uncertainty
• Performance Measurement
• Program Evaluation • Critical Thinking-Assessing Research
• Presenting Data
• Capstone Project Working Session
Leadership Lunch 3 – Strengths Finder (in-person)
February 12, 2026
Retreat Week 4: Managing Public Resources
March 2-6, 2026
• Human Resource Management in Public Organizations
• Procurement
• Grants Management
• Public Sector Budgeting
• Developing Slide Decks
• Honing Presentation Skills
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Managing Diversity and Promoting an Inclusive Work Culture
Leadership Lunch 4 – AI in the Public Sector (in-person)
April 16, 2026
Retreat Week 5: External Management Communications and Legislative Process
May 4-8, 2026
• Harnessing the Power of Conflict
• Emergency Management
• Administrative and Nonprofit Law and Advocacy Overview
• Maryland Legislative Process
• Intergovernmental Relations
• Honing Presentation Skills
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Negotiation Skills
Capstone Presentations
June 12, 2026
Capstone presentations will be in person.
Graduation
July 17, 2026
Graduation is in person.
In addition to the in-person retreats, participants are required to:
• Complete pre- and post-session work (about 10 hours per retreat)
• Complete a capstone project related to their organization (about 80 hours)
• Participate in capstone conference calls between sessions (approximately 1 per month)
Cohort 22
Mandatory Orientation:
August 18, 2025 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Retreat Week 1: Leadership Style and Personal Productivity
September 22-26, 2025
• Understanding Leadership
• Personality Style and Effectiveness
• Self-Awareness
• Motivating Others and Communicating Supportively
• Building and Leading Teams
• Using University of Baltimore Library Resources
• Professional Writing Refresher
• Introduction to Critical Thinking and Logic Modeling
• Capstone Project Work Session
Leadership Lunch 1 – The Leadership Journey (in-person)
October 9, 2025
Retreat Week 2: Strategic Management and Lean Management
October 27-31, 2025 •Strategic Management
• Lean Management
• Project Management
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Public Sector Ethics
Leadership Lunch 2 – Managing Multiple Priorities Discussion (in-person)
December 4, 2025
Retreat Week 3: Data-Based Decision Making
January 12-16, 2026
• Data-based Decision Making
• Decision Making Under Uncertainty
• Performance Measurement • Program Evaluation
• Critical Thinking – Assessing Research
• Presenting Data
• Capstone Project Work Session
Leadership Lunch 3 – Strengths Finder (in-person)
February 12, 2026
Retreat Week 4: Managing Public Resources
March 9-13, 2026
• Human Resource Management in Public Organizations
• Procurement
• Grants Management
• Public Sector Budgeting
• Developing Slide Decks
• Honing Presentation Skills
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Managing Diversity and Promoting an Inclusive Work Culture
Leadership Lunch 4 – AI in the Public Sector (in-person)
April 16, 2026
Retreat Week 5: External Management Communications and Legislative Process
May 11-15, 2026
• Harnessing the Power of Conflict
• Emergency Management
• Administrative and Nonprofit Law and Advocacy Overview
• Maryland Legislative Process
• Intergovernmental Relations
• Honing Presentation Skills
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Negotiation Skills
Capstone Presentations
June 19, 2026
Capstone presentations will be in person.
Graduation
July 17, 2026
Graduation is in person.
In addition to the in-person retreats, participants are required to:
• Complete pre- and post-session work (about 10 hours per retreat)
• Complete a capstone project related to their organization (about 80 hours)
• Participate in capstone conference calls between sessions (approximately 1 per month)
Cohort 23
Mandatory Orientation:
August 25, 2025 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Retreat Week 1: Leadership Style and Personal Productivity
September 29- October 3, 2025
• Understanding Leadership
• Personality Style and Effectiveness
• Self-Awareness
• Motivating Others and Communicating Supportively
• Building and Leading Teams
• Using University of Baltimore Library Resources
• Professional Writing Refresher
• Introduction to Critical Thinking and Logic Modeling
• Capstone Project Work Session
Leadership Lunch 1 – The Leadership Journey (in-person)
October 9, 2025
Retreat Week 2: Strategic Management and Lean Management
November 17, 20, and 21, 2025**
•Strategic Management
• Lean Management
• Project Management
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Public Sector Ethics
Leadership Lunch 2 – Managing Multiple Priorities Discussion (in-person)
December 4, 2025
Retreat Week 3: Data-Based Decision Making
January 26-30, 2026
• Data-based Decision Making
• Decision Making Under Uncertainty
• Performance Measurement • Program Evaluation
• Critical Thinking – Assessing Research
• Presenting Data
• Capstone Project Work Session
Leadership Lunch 3 – Strengths Finder (in-person)
February 12, 2026
Retreat Week 4: Managing Public Resources
March 23-27, 2026
• Human Resource Management in Public Organizations
• Procurement
• Grants Management
• Public Sector Budgeting
• Developing Slide Decks
• Honing Presentation Skills
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Managing Diversity and Promoting an Inclusive Work Culture
Leadership Lunch 4 – AI in the Public Sector (in-person)
April 16, 2026
Retreat Week 5: External Management Communications and Legislative Process
May 18-22, 2026
• Harnessing the Power of Conflict
• Emergency Management
• Administrative and Nonprofit Law and Advocacy Overview
• Maryland Legislative Process
• Intergovernmental Relations
• Honing Presentation Skills
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Negotiation Skills
Capstone Presentations
June 26, 2026
Capstone presentations will be in person.
Graduation
July 17, 2026
Graduation is in person.
**Retreat Week dates could change due to instructor availability and will be held December 2-3, 2025
In addition to the in-person retreats, participants are required to:
• Complete pre- and post-session work (about 10 hours per retreat)
• Complete a capstone project related to their organization (about 80 hours)
• Participate in capstone conference calls between sessions (approximately 1 per month)