While we can’t wait to see what memories we will make in 2022, let’s first take a look back at the milestones, breakthroughs, and student stories that shaped our UMBC community in 2021. Continue reading UMBC’s Top 12 Stories of 2021
The end of the semester brings a lot to celebrate—the conclusion of finals, a well-deserved break on the horizon, and the addition of new graduates to the UMBC alumni community. Over the course of two days and three ceremonies, UMBC celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2021, as well as 2020 graduates who were unable to celebrate in person before due to COVID. Continue reading Graduating Retrievers are ready to leave their mark on the world
It may be cold outside, but competition was heating up in the pool last weekend as UMBC men’s and women’s swimming and diving dominated the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) 2021 Winter Championships. Capturing 15 out of 20 events, UMBC … Continue reading UMBC swimming and diving makes waves at ECAC Winter Championships
Joshua Slaughter ‘22, M30, has received the Marshall Scholarship, becoming the second student in UMBC history and the first in 29 years to be selected for the prestigious award. He was also a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship. Continue reading UMBC Marshall Scholar Joshua Slaughter seeks to advance equity in personalized medicine
This weekend, UMBC women’s volleyball defended their America East title. Now, they will advance to the NCAA Championship for the fourth time in program history. Continue reading UMBC volleyball successfully defends America East title, advances to NCAA Championship
UMBC is the only North American university to receive this prestigious Gold Award, affirming the collective, intentional work behind UMBC’s global engagement strategy. It reflects two years of work engaging over 400 members of the UMBC community, who together envisioned the future of UMBC’s global interconnections. Continue reading UMBC wins prestigious APLU award for global engagement strategy
Nearly 1,400 students from 90 institutions across 26 countries, including Egypt, Switzerland, and Ethiopia, participated in hackUMBC’s annual fall hackathon. The 36-hour event encouraged students to collaborate with each other to develop projects addressing a range of real-world challenges. Meet UMBC students on some of the winning teams.
Continue reading UMBC students take second place in national ChemE Jeopardy competition for second year in a row
Last weekend, nearly 1,400 students from 90 institutions across 26 countries, including Egypt, Switzerland, and Ethiopia, participated in hackUMBC’s annual fall hackathon. The 36-hour event encouraged students to collaborate with each other to develop projects addressing a range of real-world challenges. Continue reading HackUMBC 2021 brings together 1,400 creative students from 26 countries to solve challenges in their communities
Kafui Dzirasa ‘01, M8, chemical engineering, recently earned two highly prestigious honors distinctive even among leaders in the medical and life sciences: an HHMI Investigator award and election to the National Academy of Medicine. His work examines the role of the brain’s electrical activity in psychiatric illness, including depression, bipolar disorder, and addiction, with the goal of creating mechanisms to disrupt these disorders. Continue reading UMBC alumnus Kafui Dzirasa is named an HHMI Investigator, elected to the National Academy of Medicine
“The process of creating this professorship speaks to the power of collaboration within the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) and across UMBC,” says Kimberly Moffitt, interim dean of CAHSS. “I am excited to partner with donors and other supporters who are so dedicated to building programs that broaden the reach and impact of UMBC’s teaching and research in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.” Continue reading UMBC receives a $1M gift plus $1M in state match to establish the Fred and Virginia Pausch Professorship in Economics
Eight members of the UMBC community, including faculty and alumni, spoke about their work, providing online and in-person audiences a glimpse of UMBC’s local, national, and global impact. Continue reading UMBC’s GRIT-X talks return for Homecoming 2021, highlighting research with a public impact
Adekoya’s appointment as MHEC student commissioner recognizes her community-engaged work connecting students to resources and leading enrichment and leadership opportunities at both K–12 and university levels. She shares, “I believe that education is the most powerful tool to change the world.” Continue reading UMBC’s Haleemat Adekoya, education advocate, is named 2021–22 MHEC student commissioner
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
“What makes this award special is that it truly recognizes the work of our entire Division of Information Technology (DoIT),” Suess says. “Our team’s work, particularly in helping the university quickly shift to remote learning last year, due to COVID, reflects a spirit of empathy and collaboration. This spirit has made IT true partners in the university’s success, not just technology experts.” Continue reading UMBC’s Jack Suess and instructional tech team earn national awards for leadership, innovation
In the Great Colleges to Work For rankings, UMBC is not just featured on the Honor Roll, it has been recognized in every single award category. The Chronicle of Higher Education publishes this list each fall. This is UMBC’s 12th consecutive year on the list, and 10th year on the Honor Roll. Continue reading UMBC is a 2021 Great College to Work For…in every category
UMBC is among the best of the best in both undergraduate teaching and innovation. “What has always set UMBC apart is the people,” says President Freeman Hrabowski. “Year after year, these rankings illustrate the many ways in which our faculty and staff work to support the success and well-being of our students.” Continue reading UMBC sets the national standard in 2022 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings
UMBC’s profile in “The Best 387 Colleges” highlights the university’s academic strengths and supportive community spirit. At UMBC, says one student, “they provide you with the tools, people, and resources to make sure you get where you want to go in life.” Continue reading Princeton Review highlights UMBC as a university that “wants every student to succeed”
As the 2021-2022 academic year begins, UMBC is on pace to welcome nearly 2,100 new first-year students, making this the largest incoming fall class in UMBC’s history. Continue reading UMBC welcomes largest incoming class in university history
“I don’t think I’ve ever met a person who so powerfully inspires excellence,” USM Chancellor Jay Perman says of Pres. Hrabowski. “And that’s exactly what his legacy is—a commitment to inclusive excellence that lives on in UMBC, its students, faculty, staff, and alumni.” Continue reading UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski to retire in spring 2022 after three decades of transformational leadership
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
When COVID struck, students, families, and educators nationwide worried about the impact it would have on learning experiences and career opportunities. Throughout summer 2021, UMBC students have proven that with tenacity and support they can still access meaningful internships. Continue reading Ocean exploration to environmental justice: UMBC students seize on unique summer opportunities
“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
“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
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
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
The eighth annual Cangialosi Business Innovation Competition hosted by the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship was held virtually on April 29, with one track focused on technology and the other focused on social impact ideas beyond tech. Continue reading UMBC’s Cangialosi Business Innovation Competition winners focus on tech innovations, social impact
“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
“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
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
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
While juggling their academic work and co-curricular activities, these graduating Retrievers also completed multiple internships to help prepare them for their future. They share how putting their knowledge into practice is a classic UMBC experience. Continue reading Doing their homework: Graduating Retrievers use internships to jumpstart their careers
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
Six members of UMBC’s Class of 2021 share how they’ve been able to impact issues and communities that matter to them through strong relationships and an entrepreneurial approach to their UMBC experience. Continue reading New UMBC grads find entrepreneurial ways to positively impact communities
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
After five scoreless innings, UMBC softball pulled ahead in the bottom of the sixth to successfully defend their 2019 America East title with a 1-0 win over No.3 seed Stony Brook in the 2021 America East Championship this past Saturday. Continue reading UMBC softball wins America East championship, continues on to NCAA tournament
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”
“Transfer students bring a wealth of knowledge and experiences to our campus,” says UMBC’s Chloe Terrell. “Without them, we wouldn’t be the vibrant community we are.” Continue reading Retrievers buck ‘traditional’ timelines and redefine success
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
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 has recently been named a global leader in two prominent international university rankings—one focused on economic and social impact and the other on research influence, academic distinction, and alumni leadership. Continue reading Times Higher Ed names UMBC top-10 U.S. leader and top-200 global leader in social and economic impact
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
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
