Major UMBC stream restoration will enhance ecosystems, stormwater management, and the community experience


Community, Science & Technology

“This project will not only create and enhance wetland and stream habitats and functions, it will also provide recreational enhancements such as walking trails with stream access and connection to other existing trails,” says Lenn Caron. “The restored stream will elevate UMBC’s aesthetic appeal and provide a pleasant natural environment for members of the campus and local community for recreation, exercise and watershed education.” Continue reading Major UMBC stream restoration will enhance ecosystems, stormwater management, and the community experience

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UMBC’s Tyson King-Meadows will carry forward commitment to inclusive excellence as dean at UMass Boston


Community, Policy & Society

“Whether centered on social justice issues related to the Baltimore Uprising or the racial reckoning after George Floyd’s death, Dr. King-Meadows has consistently encouraged us to do more and do better while continuing to center issues of inclusive excellence and equity,” says Kimberly Moffitt, interim dean of UMBC’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Continue reading UMBC’s Tyson King-Meadows will carry forward commitment to inclusive excellence as dean at UMass Boston

A group of people talks around a table. A sign above them reads "Claim Your Future"

UMBC joins the University Innovation Alliance, a national consortium moving the dial on student success


Community

Today, the University Innovation Alliance (UIA) announced UMBC as its newest member. The pioneering consortium of public research universities boosts student success through sharing and scaling approaches that work. UMBC and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) are the first two universities selected to join the network since its founding in 2014. Continue reading UMBC joins the University Innovation Alliance, a national consortium moving the dial on student success

Two students, both wearing masks and graduation regalia, take a selfie. One student is holding a "Congrats Class of 2021" sign.

Graduating with gratitude: UMBC welcomes a new class of alumni


Community

Persistent. Innovative. Determined. These are the words UMBC’s commencement speakers returned to again and again to describe the Class of 2021. And despite a year of challenges—missing family and friends, technological frustrations, life lived through the computer screen—one of the resounding themes of this year’s Commencement ceremonies was gratitude. Continue reading Graduating with gratitude: UMBC welcomes a new class of alumni

UMBC grads share what inspires them: family, Baltimore communities, international experiences


Community, Policy & Society

“I had never been part of a university whose work was centered around social justice,” says Nicholas Nguyen ‘21, M.A. sociology. “The Peace Corps showed me how political systems work at an international level. UMBC’s Peaceworker Program is giving me an understanding from a social justice and antiracist perspective.” Continue reading UMBC grads share what inspires them: family, Baltimore communities, international experiences

Graduating Retrievers find joy and career inspiration in supporting K-12 students and families


Community, Science & Technology

“I was able to access excellent research opportunities in the humanities that I never thought would be available at the undergraduate level,” says Emily Rose Paul ‘21, global studies. “UMBC is known as a STEM school, but I have received the most amazing humanities education as a global studies student. You will be surprised at all that you can find here.” Continue reading Graduating Retrievers find joy and career inspiration in supporting K-12 students and families

UMBC’s 2021 grads advance research with public impact—from disaster response to assistive tech


Community, Policy & Society, Science & Technology

Students from across all three UMBC colleges are graduating this week having taken advantage of the unique undergraduate research opportunities and supportive mentorship UMBC offers. They’re poised to take their research to the next level and move on to new challenges through graduate school and careers. Continue reading UMBC’s 2021 grads advance research with public impact—from disaster response to assistive tech

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UMBC’s latest graduates in the arts forge new creative paths despite a challenging year


Arts & Culture, Community

The past pandemic year saw arts communities unable to connect with audiences in traditional ways. Usually reliant on people gathering together to experience their work, creators and performers were thrust online. Some artistic experiences were rendered impossible, but the challenging situation didn’t slow the creative efforts of visual and performing artists of UMBC’s Class of 2021. Continue reading UMBC’s latest graduates in the arts forge new creative paths despite a challenging year

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UMBC’s newest grads leave a legacy of advocacy, inclusion, and support for fellow students


Community

On the back of every UMBC black and gold ID card is a guide to essential emergency resources, including numbers for health, counseling, sexual assault, and suicide prevention helplines. The new card design was the result of student advocacy through UMBC’s Retriever Courage initiative, seeking to better prevent and respond to sexual assault and violence. And the person who suggested that change is Autumn Cook, graduating this week, a tireless advocate for fellow UMBC students. Continue reading UMBC’s newest grads leave a legacy of advocacy, inclusion, and support for fellow students

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UMBC together: Graduating Retrievers reflect on building community through conversations


Community

When listeners tune in to the Retriever Tales podcast hosted by Tirzah Khan ‘21, information systems, who is graduating this week, they’ll hear UMBC voices sharing their journeys of finding and creating community. Moving, inspiring, funny, and thought-provoking, the show is a testament to Khan’s own UMBC experience and a broader culture of co-creating community at UMBC. Continue reading UMBC together: Graduating Retrievers reflect on building community through conversations

Strong finish: UMBC student-athletes discuss support and resilience in “one of the toughest years”


Community

Due to the pandemic, the NCAA has offered senior college athletes around the country a waiver to compete for an extra year. Many fourth-year student-athletes at UMBC and around the country will take advantage of this opportunity, but others decided to press forward with making the most of an unusual senior year before shifting gears to the next phase of their lives. Continue reading Strong finish: UMBC student-athletes discuss support and resilience in “one of the toughest years”

A group of eleven young men and women huddling together in front of a mural.

UMBC’s Faith Davis is named a 2021 Newman Civic Fellow for work on healthcare, food, and housing insecurity


Community, Policy & Society

Campus Compact Mid-Atlantic has named Faith Davis a 2021 Newman Civic Fellow. “My greatest hope for this fellowship is to connect with a large network of change-makers who I can learn from and be inspired by throughout my life,” says Davis. “I hope to eventually work together to create a better world.” Continue reading UMBC’s Faith Davis is named a 2021 Newman Civic Fellow for work on healthcare, food, and housing insecurity

UMBC’s Jordan Troutman to continue algorithmic fairness research as Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford


Community, Policy & Society, Science & Technology

At UMBC, says Jordan Troutman, he’s had space to develop his authentic self and build confidence that he can do impactful work. “I think that’s the beauty of this school,” Troutman shares. “You can be whoever you want.” Now, he’s heading to Stanford for a Ph.D. in computer science. Continue reading UMBC’s Jordan Troutman to continue algorithmic fairness research as Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford

UMBC’s Anthony Johnson, pulse laser innovator, elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences


Community, Science & Technology

Being elected as a member of the Academy is one of the highest honors a scholar can receive. Founded in 1780, its members, who come from every field of study, “examine new ideas [and] address issues of importance to the nation and the world.” Anthony Johnson has spent his career dedicated equally to creative applications of ultrashort pulse lasers and to teaching and mentorship. Continue reading UMBC’s Anthony Johnson, pulse laser innovator, elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Two gold trophies with a medallion sitting above cup, the medallion says American Mock Trial Association, one in the foreground is in focus, there are beige tables and grey chairs in the background

UMBC Mock Trial defeats Yale to win first national championship


Community

On the evening of April 18, UMBC defeated Yale University to win the American Mock Trial Association National Championship for the first time in program history. UMBC Mock Trial President Sydney Gaskins ‘21, political science, remembers thinking, “What a beautiful day to win a national championship.” But she didn’t quite realize exactly what becoming a champion would feel like. Now, she knows. Continue reading UMBC Mock Trial defeats Yale to win first national championship

UMBC Event Center partnership launches new chapter in Retriever history with a new name


Community

The UMBC Event Center has become synonymous with high-level athletic play, premier entertainment, and university milestones since opening in 2018. This spring, UMBC has officially announced the beginning of a new chapter for the Event Center—a new name. The Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena, a new partnership between UMBC and Chesapeake Employers’ Insurance Company, will open doors for both the university and the facility. Continue reading UMBC Event Center partnership launches new chapter in Retriever history with a new name

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URCAD 2021 showcases creativity, resilience of UMBC student researchers


Arts & Culture, Community, Policy & Society, Science & Technology

Due to the constraints of COVID, student researchers have become even more creative in using technology not just to display their research, but to pursue their research at a time when in-person interviews, fieldwork, and traditional performances aren’t possible. Students learned to do interviews online and navigated lab research within physical distancing guidelines. They also responded to the pandemic by examining the changes in society and in themselves. Continue reading URCAD 2021 showcases creativity, resilience of UMBC student researchers

UMBC volleyball makes program history, returns to NCAA tournament for the first time since ‘98


Community

“History-making” is a term that’s become synonymous with UMBC athletics over the last few years, and UMBC women’s volleyball has exemplified that spirit this spring. On April 2, they took on UAlbany to win their first America East Championship in program history. Continue reading UMBC volleyball makes program history, returns to NCAA tournament for the first time since ‘98

Kizzmekia Corbett ’08 talks to CNN about Meyerhoff Scholars, vaccine hesitancy


Community, Policy & Society, Science & Technology

“Had I not been exposed to Dr. Hrabowski and the Meyerhoff Program…I’m not even so sure that I would be a scientist. It’s really about exposure and resources given to people,” Kizzmekia Corbett told CNN. In particular, encounters at UMBC that led her to double major in biological sciences and sociology uniquely prepared her for this moment. Continue reading Kizzmekia Corbett ’08 talks to CNN about Meyerhoff Scholars, vaccine hesitancy

Portrait of a smiling middle-aged South Asian man wearing a white button up shirt. He sits in front of a desk with tech equipment.

Chronicle features UMBC as a leading voice on the future of higher ed


Community

A new report from the Chronicle of Higher Education features UMBC’s peer-based work to boost faculty diversity. For decades, UMBC’s strong reputation for inclusive excellence has focused on student diversity. The new UMBC case study in “Diversifying Our Campus: Key Insights and Models for Change” expands that conversation. Continue reading Chronicle features UMBC as a leading voice on the future of higher ed

UMBC Mock Trial heads to national semifinal as undefeated regional champions


Community

“This year’s team, they’re not afraid of anyone,” says UMBC Mock Trial head coach Ben Garmoe ‘13. “They will go into every round knowing they have a shot.” Garmoe’s confidence in the team is rooted in their strong performance this season, capping years of steady growth into a national powerhouse. Continue reading UMBC Mock Trial heads to national semifinal as undefeated regional champions

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UMBC’s Danyelle Ireland is named a national Rising Star as champion for transfer students


Community, Science & Technology

This award honors Ireland’s years mentoring and advocating for UMBC transfer students in information technology and engineering fields. It also brings greater visibility to UMBC’s transfer student population and to how the university can most effectively support their success. Continue reading UMBC’s Danyelle Ireland is named a national Rising Star as champion for transfer students

UMBC students help create richer online courses for peers in engineering and computing fields


Community, Science & Technology

As UMBC faculty prepare for spring, they are reflecting on lessons learned from a primarily online fall 2020 semester. In UMBC’s College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT), this means honoring teaching fellows and teaching assistants for their role in making sure courses met student needs. Continue reading UMBC students help create richer online courses for peers in engineering and computing fields

UMBC’s newest computing grads, from bachelor’s to Ph.D., share stories of connection, support, opportunity


Community

UMBC’s newest graduates in computing and data science fields include students at all stages in their education and careers. Undergraduates, master’s students seeking to access new career opportunities, and Ph.D. students completing high-impact research have thrived at UMBC. Many cite the university’s strong academics, accessible faculty, research opportunities, and connections across disciplines as drawing them to UMBC. Continue reading UMBC’s newest computing grads, from bachelor’s to Ph.D., share stories of connection, support, opportunity

Students focus on mental health and the environment in 2020 UMBC Idea Competition


Community

Six student groups recently vied for the top prize in UMBC’s annual Idea Competition, presenting to a panel of alumni judges their innovative solutions to everyday challenges. The competition, hosted by UMBC’s Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship, was held virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s winning ideas focused on physical and mental health and the environment. Continue reading Students focus on mental health and the environment in 2020 UMBC Idea Competition

HackUMBC goes virtual in a big way, attracting over 1,000 students


Community, Science & Technology

More than 1,000 students from institutions across the country and around the world—from as far away as Kazakhstan, Albania, Spain, and Nigeria—logged onto their computers for a 36-hour hackathon organized by UMBC students, November 13-15. HackUMBC’s events typically draw huge crowds overflowing conference spaces. This year, the event was held virtually for the first time due to COVID-19. Continue reading HackUMBC goes virtual in a big way, attracting over 1,000 students