PRINCESS ANNE, MD — Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) announced during his commencement address at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) that he will return to the Eastern Shore on Juneteenth, June 19, to unveil a new initiative aimed at closing the racial wage gap across the state.
Speaking to the Class of 2025, Moore emphasized the symbolic importance of choosing Juneteenth— the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States — as the date to introduce the plan. He also highlighted the significance of the Delmarva Peninsula, noting that the region was home to several historic Civil Rights figures, a factor that influenced his decision to make the announcement there.
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While the exact location of the Juneteenth announcement has not yet been disclosed, the Governor’s decision to make the Eastern Shore the platform for such a landmark initiative was met with deep appreciation from the UMES community.
“We’re a Historically Black College and University here in the state of Maryland, and we had the first African American Governor present at our campus,” said Dr. Robert Mock, UMES Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff, in an interview with WBOC. He described Moore’s speech as a milestone for the institution.
Governor Moore used the commencement stage not only to speak about policy but to offer words of encouragement and challenge to the graduating class. “The ones who obsess over answering, ‘What will I do?’ are often the ones who lose sight of answering the question, ‘What did I do?’” Moore told graduates, encouraging them to focus on the impact of their actions rather than the specifics of their career paths.
His message of public service echoed the university’s own values. “Our students that graduate from this campus [are expected] not to just do things professionally but to do things to serve their fellow mankind and humankind in our communities at large,” said Mock.
For Steven Matthews, a first-generation college student graduating with a degree in Criminal Justice, Moore’s presence came as a surprise. “I initially did not know he was going to be the speaker,” he said. “I really thought it was just going to be a regular ceremony.”
In his speech, Moore highlighted the personal stories of three UMES graduates, commending their perseverance and unconventional journeys. He connected their stories to the broader history of the university, founded in 1886 during the post-Reconstruction era.
“This university was made for a moment like this because this university was founded in a moment like this,” Moore said. “It was the graduates of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore that helped to lead this country to a higher height, and Class of 2025, that’s the assignment that we have for you now.”
The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, just days after UMES announced impending budget cuts as the state confronts a $3 billion deficit. Moore pointed to continued investments in HBCUs as essential to Maryland’s future.
UMES Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Jamar Simmons welcomed Moore’s Juneteenth announcement as a recognition of the needs of the Eastern Shore. “We know the Eastern Shore has a lot of issues that need to be resolved,” Simmons said. “So it’s nice that he’s picking a place like Princess Anne, Eastern Shore, Somerset County to make such a huge announcement.”
As Maryland continues to address racial inequities, Moore’s forthcoming initiative to eliminate the racial wage gap marks a significant policy move. According to the Economic Policy Institute, as of 2024, Black workers in the U.S. earn on average 76 cents for every dollar earned by white workers — a gap that persists across industries and education levels.
Moore’s Juneteenth visit and expected policy announcement could set a new precedent for how states tackle entrenched economic disparities. For many on the Eastern Shore, it also represents a long-overdue acknowledgment of the region’s historical and ongoing contributions to racial justice.
