Freeman A. Hrabowski III has served as President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) since 1992, leading it to become a model for inclusive excellence in STEM education.

Hrabowski was a key advisor to the National Science Foundation and US Department of Education, and he chaired the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans under President Obama. His influential TED talk on nurturing talent has inspired millions, and his book 'Holding Fast to Dreams' provides a framework for cultivating student success, particularly among underrepresented minorities in science and math.