Danylo Leshchyshyn ‘22, history and political science, came to UMBC hoping to receive the support he would need to succeed. He found it in the form of friendly staff members with Student Disability Services, and in strong connections he formed with other students. Continue Reading Advocate for self-discovery and inclusion When Sheila Abellano ‘22 received a letter in the mail about the university’s Finish Line program, she knew it was time. After leaving UMBC in 2009, she raised a family and started two small businesses. Reading that Finish Line would waive her readmission fee and offer support with enrollment, financial aid, and academics, she saw a great opportunity. Continue Reading Right opportunity, right time: Entrepreneur returns to finish her UMBC degree While working at Sodexo, a food services company, Tchuissi Mbu Nyamsi ’22 realized that there were data problems she wanted to solve. “I realized it was something I really wanted to have more knowledge in and I wanted to sharpen my skills,” she says. So she enrolled in UMBC’s master’s program in data science at the Universities at Shady Grove. Continue Reading World traveler finds future in data science at UMBC Gabby Khan ‘22 came to UMBC to study computer science and game development. What she found when she arrived was a warm, supportive community. “Everyone was welcoming and felt responsive, like humans,” she says. “People in administration who I’d call with questions were welcoming and friendly.” Continue Reading Computer science grad carries forward UMBC’s positive energy Kateryna Yakusheva ’22, global studies and economics, looks forward to working on the international stage, with an organization like the World Bank or International Monetary Fund. Wherever her career takes her, she knows she wants to help different groups come together to manage risks, address conflicts, and build new futures. Continue Reading Ukrainian graduate aims to bring people together An aspiring polyglot, Caleb Ruck ’22, modern languages and linguistics, collected languages like Pokemon when he was young. No college felt right, however, until the day he toured UMBC. He knew right away that it was where he belonged. “I genuinely think that UMBC is the best possible fit that I could have gotten,” he says, “it has a very deliberate underdog spirit.” Continue Reading Language enthusiast wants to broaden his perspective As a child in Iran, Nastaran Azar ’22, biological science, was afraid when she saw her grandmother take out her dentures, but her brother’s explanation of what had happened to her grandmother’s original teeth gave Azar a life goal. “Teeth play a really important role in our lives,” she says. She plans to help others take care of theirs when she eventually becomes a dentist. Continue Reading Future dentist values her U.S. college experience Tess McRae ‘22, individualized study, visited UMBC’s campus several times as a teenager, and says “I was always entranced by how beautiful it was and how clearly I could imagine myself thriving here.” Continue Reading Poet of democratic practices It is with sorrow that we note the passing of Dr. Robert P. Burchard, professor emeritus of biological sciences. Bob believed in the potential of the young university that he joined during its first year. A campus leader for decades, he served as president of the faculty senate, interim chair of his department, and as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Bob arrived on campus in January 1967, fresh from the Peace Corps, where he had taught microbiology in Nigeria and had conducted research on tsetse flies. He was at that time a young scholar, having earned… Continue Reading Remembering Dr. Robert P. Burchard Forbes lists UMBC among the nation’s top 150 colleges—and top 50 public universities—in new rankings announced this month. UMBC is also among the top three public universities in Maryland on the list, alongside University of Maryland, College Park, and the U.S. Naval Academy. Continue Reading Forbes ranks UMBC among the nation’s top 50 public universities UMBC has seen its share of academic and athletic success across a wide range of fields and sports, but the University recently earned national acclaim in something new: figure skating. Maya Jones ‘22, psychology, took home a bronze medal for UMBC at the 2021 U.S. Collegiate Figure Skating Championships in Pennsylvania on July 29. Continue Reading UMBC senior Maya Jones wins bronze at U.S. Collegiate Figure Skating Championships On May 13, 2021, J. Marvin Cook, Ph.D., Founder and Director of the Instructional Systems Development graduate program at UMBC, died peacefully with his family by his side at the Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, Maryland. He was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana to Clyde and Ernestine Cook in 1929. Marvin was 91 at the time of his passing; he lived a full and impactful life, always focused on following his faith service to others. He was passionate about his faith, continually learning, and had always interested in helping people through his vocation and avocations. This was evident in his educational… Continue Reading Remembering Dr. J. Marvin Cook
Advocate for self-discovery and inclusion
Right opportunity, right time: Entrepreneur returns to finish her UMBC degree
World traveler finds future in data science at UMBC
Computer science grad carries forward UMBC’s positive energy
Ukrainian graduate aims to bring people together
Language enthusiast wants to broaden his perspective
Future dentist values her U.S. college experience
Poet of democratic practices
Remembering Dr. Robert P. Burchard
Forbes ranks UMBC among the nation’s top 50 public universities
UMBC senior Maya Jones wins bronze at U.S. Collegiate Figure Skating Championships
Remembering Dr. J. Marvin Cook
