Registration is $50 and includes complimentary parking, breakfast, lunch, and refreshments throughout the day. To ensure accessibility, live American Sign Language (ASL) translation and CART captioning services will be provided. Individuals interested in learning more about digital equity are also encouraged to register for the Digital Equity Webinar Series, which will be held weekly from October 4th to December 6th. The annual Maryland Digital Equity Summit is presented by Marylanders Online, a University of Maryland Extension (UME) initiative in partnership with the University of Maryland College of Information (INFO) and supported by a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act. Read more.

Summit Speakers & Panelists

Wes Moore

Governor, State of Maryland

(Video Recording)

Bill Ferguson

Senate President, State of Maryland

(Video Recording)

Carol A. Beatty

Secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities

Speaker

Anil Lewis

Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute

Speaker

Dr. Jinhee Kim

Professor, Associate Director and Associate Dean, UME

Speaker

Dr. Revati Prasad's keynote address will introduce the 'Human Infrastructure of Broadband' project, a collaborative study led by the Benton Institute in partnership with the American Library Association, METRO's Digital Equity Research Center, and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance working to examine the crucial role of human capital in bridging the digital divide.

Dr. Revati Prasad

Vice President of Programs

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Keynote Speaker

The plenary session will examine UME’s digital equity work from both a statewide and national perspective, exploring how higher education systems can leverage their expertise and resources to connect with underserved communities, track and analyze data, and build the capacities of outside organizations.

Isaias Tesfalidet

Project Director, UME Marylanders Online

Moderator

Stephen Alessi

Associate Director for the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development

Panelist

Katie Leach

Instructional Director for the University of Idaho Extension - Digital Economy Program

Panelist

Dr. Dondra Bailey

Assistant Professor

Coppin State University

Panelist

 John Horrigan

Senior Fellow with Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Panelist

Lunch will be catered by Baltimore-based local business Zeffert & Gold. The Lightning Rounds session will run concurrently and feature a series of three-minute presentations from digital equity leaders. They will share valuable insights and actionable advice for how to approach digital equity initiatives from a community level.

Taylor Carter-Disanto

Deputy Director of Broadband and Digital Equity, BCIT

Moderator

Tyler Wolfe

Employer & Community Engagement Partner Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley

Presenter

Zach Tomlin

Founder & President

Tomlin Technology

Presenter

 Janae Henson

Executive Assistant

Tomlin Technology

Presenter

Tony Schloss

General Manager of Apartments Wi-Fi

EducationSuperHighway

Presenter

Jade Burnham

Director of the AmeriCorps Digital Navigation Program Digital Harbor Foundation

Presenter

Mitsuko Herrera

Program Director of Montgomery Connects

Presenter

Tom Branen

Vice President of National Service

Lead for America

Presenter

Santana Mays

4-H Agent

UME Baltimore County Teens as Teachers

Presenter

Stefano Selorio

CEO & Founder

Carevocacy

Presenter

The Maryland Digital Equity Champion Awards ceremony will present awards to individuals or organizations who were nominated and selected for their exceptional contributions to advancing digital access, skills, and accessible devices throughout Maryland. Three Digital Equity Champions and two Honorable Mentions will be recognized.

This panel will address the Maryland State Digital Equity plan - from core strategies and state policies to the statewide vision for the future. Panelists will examine the funding landscape for Maryland’s digital equity initiatives, exploring current priorities and alternative sources of funding to plan for scalability and sustainability. The discussion will also examine how community technology centers play a vital role in expanding digital inclusion.

Jake Varn

Broadband Access Initiative Associate Manager

Pew Charitable Trusts

Moderator

Amy Huffman

Policy Director

National Digital Inclusion Alliance

Panelist

Ronnie Hammond

Director

Maryland's Office of Statewide Broadband

Panelist

 Jay Uebel

Broadband Manager

Carroll County Broadband Project

Panelist

Ashley Teagle

Chief Executive Officer

Southern Maryland Regional Library Association

Panelist

This panel brings together state and local experts to address the essential best practices for implementing regional and county-level digital equity plans. Key focus areas will be on community outreach, outcomes-driven data collection, and building strong rural, urban, and state-level coalitions for inclusive and sustainable digital equity solutions.

Andrew Coy

CEO and President

Digital Harbor Foundation

Moderator

Samantha Musgrave

Interim Executive Director Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition

Panelist

Molly Sherman

Executive Director

Carroll County Technology & Innovation Council

Panelist

William Honablew Jr.

Digital Equity Coordinator

Baltimore City Office of Information & Technology

Panelist

Vishnupriya Desai

Digital Equity Manager

Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband

Panelist

This panel discussion will explore lessons learned from successful training programs, focusing on program themes, reaching diverse populations, sustainability, and how to curate curricula to effectively teach digital skills.

Quiana Bannerman

Director

Maryland Center for Computing Education

Moderator

James Neal

Senior Program Officer Institute of Museum and Library Services

Panelist

Gabriel Fumero

Tech Educator

University of Maryland Extension

Panelist

Rachael Stephens Parker

Executive Director

Governor’s Workforce Development Board of Maryland

Panelist

Maria Barga

Tech Educator

University of Maryland Extension

Panelist

This panel brings together experienced digital navigators from several organizations providing direct digital navigation services, or training others in digital navigation. Panelists will share their insights on the challenges and successes that have come with bridging the digital divide within their communities, and offer their knowledge and best practices in sustainable digital navigation work.

Dr. Mega Subramaniam

Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty at UMD College of Information

Moderator

Diane Ducharme

Manager of the Veterans Directed Care Program IMAGE Center for People with Disabilities

Panelist

Meinaldo Puente Batista

Digital Navigator

UME Marylanders Online

Panelist

Noah O’Ryan

Regional Program Manager

Older Adults Technology Services (OTATS) AARP

Panelist

Rasheed Green

Digital Navigator

Enoch Pratt Free Library

Panelist

For quick access to all UME Marylanders Online events, resources, social media, and more - visit our Linktree here: https://linktr.ee/marylandersonline.

Are you interested partnering with Marylanders Online?

Email us at marylandersonline@umd.edu.

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Nine Agency Rule Notifications

USDA Notice to Beneficiaries - Marylanders Online

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office.