About the Summit
UMD has hosted a Summit on Equity, Race, & Ethnicity nearly every year since 2003. It is organized by the Commission on Equity, Race and Ethnicity (CERE) and participants include community members from all of the Twin Ports in addition to students, faculty, staff, and administrators from UMD.
The 2026 Summit will take place on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Kirby Student Center. Stay tuned for more details to come! The Summit is open to the UMD students, faculty, staff, and broader Twin Ports community. All are welcome regardless of identity.
This year's Keynote Speaker is Hoan Do. Hoan Do is an award winning inspirational speaker, author, and city finalist in NBC’s hit show, American Ninja Warrior. Overcoming adversities in life has allowed Hoan to connect with others in a powerful way. Hoan travels the world sharing practical strategies to develop resilience and mental strength. Hoan has partnered with over 400 companies, organizations, and schools to positively impact over 250,000 professionals and students.
Summit Features
This year’s keynote speaker is Hoan Do. Hoan Do is an award winning inspirational speaker, author, and city finalist in NBC’s hit show, American Ninja Warrior. Overcoming adversities in life has allowed Hoan to connect with others in a powerful way. Hoan travels the world sharing practical strategies to develop resilience and mental strength. Hoan has partnered with over 400 companies, organizations, and schools to positively impact over 250,000 professionals and students.
After the keynote, attendees will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions on a variety of topics related to this years theme: "Empathetic Conversations." New to this year’s summit, we are offering Community in the Making, which is a come-as-you-are space at the Summit where creativity and conversation come together. Join campus organizations and departments for hands-on crafts and meaningful dialogue inspired by the day’s TED-style talks. Whether you’re creating something with your hands, sharing ideas, or simply connecting with others, this is a space to gather, reflect, and build community together.
During this year's Summit the commission is partnering with Champ’s Cupboard to collect food items during the summit, with a special focus on international foods. For more information, please visit the Champ’s Cupboard website.
Many thanks to this year's Summit co-sponsors: The Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Dining Services, Kirby Student Center, Champ's Cupboard, and the Department of Social Work.
Registration
Registration for the 2026 Summit is now open. This year's summit will take place on March 25, 2026 in the Kirby Ballroom. A small donation is encouraged but not required. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered without charge.