“We want to provide an avenue for people to learn skills that they’re not going to get in the classroom or the lab,” says Alex Rittle, Ph.D. student in geography and environmental systems and chair of the GEARS planning committee. Continue reading New GEARS symposium offers professional development opportunities to grad students across disciplines
Renetta Tull has worked with students, faculty, and staff across UMBC and the University System of Maryland to increase diversity in STEM disciplines for over a decade. At the end of March, Tull will begin a new role as vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion at UC Davis. Continue reading UMBC recognizes Renetta Tull for transformative leadership advancing diversity in STEM
Whether she’s in Jordan or Baltimore, UMBC’s Maheen Haq brings a deep sense of duty to her work with communities facing discrimination. “Amanah is a word in Arabic that means trust. For me this means that if I have knowledge of oppression, I have been trusted with the task of standing up against it,” Haq explains. “I study very hard so that I can develop the best skills to serve communities dealing with grave injustices because they deserve the best.” Continue reading UMBC’s Maheen Haq receives 2019 Newman Civic Fellowship, affirming the importance of supporting local and global communities facing discrimination
After battling through two rounds of fatiguing overtime, UMBC men’s basketball bested Hartford 90-85 to advance to the America East championship game and defend their title. Continue reading UMBC men’s basketball advances to the America East final after a gripping semifinal victory
UMBC has again been recognized by U.S. News for exceptional graduate programs in the newly released rankings for 2020. Continue reading U.S. News recognizes UMBC graduate programs as among nation’s best in new 2020 rankings
UMBC men’s basketball team captain Joe Sherburne ‘18, financial economics, has nabbed top national honors as the 2018-19 Google Cloud Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for Division I men’s basketball. “With the passion he brings on the court and the dedication he brings to the classroom, Joe truly serves as a role model for our university,” says President Freeman Hrabowski. “We’re so proud of how he represents UMBC and the leadership he’s brought to the team.” Continue reading UMBC’s Joe Sherburne is named Academic All-American of the Year
The month of March is a favorite for Retriever Nation, with America East playoffs on the horizon and memories of UMBC’s 2018 March Madness victory on everyone’s mind. This year, both UMBC’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will compete in America East postseason play. The women will take on Hartford on March 6 and the men will host UAlbany at the UMBC Event Center on March 9. Continue reading Retriever basketball heads to America East playoffs
“As I’ve grown in my career, I’ve begun to understand just how blessed I was to be afforded the opportunity to attend college and pursue my dreams,” Letitia Dzirasa ’03 says. “As I was fortunate, it is my responsibility to reach back and help others, especially those most under-resourced.” Continue reading Letitia Dzirasa to serve as Baltimore City health commissioner
At midnight on Thursday, February 28, UMBC Giving Day will officially begin, kicking off the university’s second annual 24-hour marathon of giving. The goal: for as many UMBC alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students as possible to make a gift, supporting UMBC students and projects. UMBC is relying on Retriever Nation to make the 1,000 donor goal a reality. Continue reading Looking ahead to UMBC Giving Day—shining a spotlight on ways to make a difference
After a record-setting championship tournament, UMBC Swimming & Diving Coach Chad Cradock reflects, “From the minute the events started, we all rallied around each other to compete at our best.” Continue reading UMBC men’s and women’s swimming and diving shatter records, capture America East titles
In a recent interview at the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Bob and Elizabeth Dole Series on Leadership, UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski shared his perspective on leading diverse and inclusive communities in today’s political environment.
Continue reading President Hrabowski shares an inclusive approach to difficult conversations in Bipartisan Policy Center interview
“UMBC is blessed with such diversity in every imaginable dimension that it is an exciting place to experience a scholarly exploration of the interface between science and faith,” says event co-organizer Steve Freeland. Continue reading UMBC chosen to host AAAS science and faith dialogue project
At UMBC, “I’ve been able to do my science and also put energy into the social justice aspects of the world that are important to me,” Phyllis Robinson says. “One doesn’t exclude the other.” Continue reading UMBC biologist Phyllis Robinson recognized for research, advocacy, and mentorship
It wouldn’t be a proper farewell to 2018 without reminiscing about some of the biggest UMBC stories from the year. Here are ten highlights from a year we won’t soon forget. Continue reading UMBC’s Top 10 Highlights of 2018
UMBC ranked eighth among all top large employers in the region—the only university and only government institution featured on the list. In describing UMBC as a workplace, President Hrabowski has said: “UMBC is truly a supportive and inclusive community. This is a place where we believe in mutual respect and in achieving great things when we combine our strengths and work together toward our shared vision.” Continue reading The Baltimore Sun again names UMBC one of Baltimore’s top places to work
This week, Times Higher Education shined a spotlight on UMBC’s advancements in graduating more low-income and minority students in the sciences—what it calls the “holy grail of academia.” “Everybody wants to understand our model,” UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski told reporter Paul Basken. As Hrabowski explained, lessons learned in one area can inform another, and UMBC’s work to support underrepresented students in STEM fields has led to investments in support programs for students of all backgrounds across UMBC. Continue reading Times Higher Ed spotlights UMBC as a model in supporting student achievement
UMBC Chess competed in the 2018 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, held in San Francisco, California, December 27 – 30. “The Pan-Am tournament was great for all of the players on the team,” says team member Ewa Harazinska ‘20, chemistry. “We take a great pride in representing UMBC in a national competition, and we were delighted to place in the top 10 chess teams.” Continue reading UMBC places 10th at Pan-Am Team Chess Championship
Each UMBC student has a unique journey, including challenges to tackle with tenacity, courage, and grit. For many of UMBC’s newest grads, a culture of community support has made all the difference, enabling them to both claim their future and help others along the way. Continue reading Grit and community support help UMBC grads envision—and claim—their futures
Student passion guided by faculty support is part of the fabric of UMBC. Four students’ stories, from Asian studies to biological sciences, shed light on how this winning combination makes possible big breakthroughs. Continue reading From lab to museum, new UMBC grads show the powerful impact of original research
Meet a few of the many UMBC students graduating this December who exemplify the Retriever spirit of building connections and community by offering a compassionate ear, a helping hand, and a voice of support when it is most needed. Together, these students have created a more inclusive, accessible, and supportive UMBC for everyone, and they continue to reach together to help UMBC grow. Continue reading UMBC’s newest grads leave a legacy of community-building and support
“UMBC’s participation in this year’s cohort of the ACE Internationalization Laboratory is a key component in our work to create the university’s first-ever internationalization roadmap,” shares Tony Moreira, vice provost for academic affairs. “Given today’s global landscape for higher education, universities need to implement international, intercultural, and global elements in all areas of the institution to ensure that they stay relevant and continue to provide a high-quality education to all students.” Continue reading UMBC joins innovative ACE Internationalization Lab, expanding commitment to global engagement
“Being a Rhodes finalist tells me that I can combine my passion for cell biology research, my interest in educating the public, and also my promotion of mental illness discussion within academia—and have a really unique, rewarding career,” Wiratan says. Continue reading Meet UMBC’s Linda Wiratan, Rhodes Scholar finalist
After a 1-0 victory against No. 1 Stony Brook, UMBC men’s soccer travels to New Hampshire to play for the America East Championship. Continue reading UMBC men’s soccer advances to the America East Championship
Saunders comes to UMBC from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she was assistant curator in the Department of Photographs. She will oversee the management, preservation, and exhibition of UMBC’s photography, rare book, and archival collections. “One of the things that excites me about Special Collections is that it’s a nerdy collection in the best possible way, bridging the sciences, the humanities, the arts, and other fields of research,” she says. Continue reading UMBC welcomes Beth Saunders as the new curator and head of Special Collections
“We can develop the knowledge, skills, and resourcefulness to work across differences and address challenges together, and to build thriving civic communities,” says David Hoffman, director of the new center. “UMBC is the perfect setting for that kind of learning, with so many people and programs already contributing to a vibrant civic culture.” Continue reading UMBC launches Center for Democracy and Civic Life at a critical national moment
UMBC community leaders have announced the Retriever Courage initiative—the next phase in UMBC’s work to prevent and respond to sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct. The initiative emphasizes, “Change requires the courage to speak out, to listen, to learn, and to take action. We must fully live our campus values—inclusive excellence, collaboration, innovation, and impact—to make UMBC a safer, more caring living, learning, and working environment for all.” Continue reading UMBC community leaders launch Retriever Courage, a sexual assault prevention and response initiative
UMBC performed well in several notable areas, including regional research reputation, international collaboration, and the percentage of faculty papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited. UMBC also received acclaim on two “subject lists,” as a global leader in geosciences and space science. Continue reading UMBC among the best universities in the world in 2019 U.S. News global ranking
Bradley believes “This is a world where engineers, designers, coders, visual artists, musicians, writers, mathematicians, economists—you name it—they are all needed to design living, working, and transportation spaces that are responsive to how humans age. This is a collective question that needs answers from all fields.” Continue reading UMBC welcomes Dana Bradley as new dean of the Erickson School for Aging Studies
“There should not be any student that limits their aspirations because they are unsure how to pursue a Ph.D. or because of financial constraints,” says Michael Hunt, a UMBC alumnus and Ph.D. student, and assistant director of the McNair Scholars Program. Continue reading UMBC’s McNair Scholars Program prepares the next generation of leading researchers
CSJ: Ignite takes place October 22 – 26, 2018. The week’s programs have been designed both to tap into the passion people already feel for issues that matter to them and to provide pathways for people who haven’t been engaged in traditional forms of activism to see opportunities to have an impact. “It’s about being able to share your strengths and skills for activism and social change, and being able to share the message with others,” says Jess Myers, director of UMBC’s Women’s Center. Continue reading UMBC’s 6th Critical Social Justice Week focuses on passion and pathways to have an impact
Lynne Schaefer and Jack Suess are known across UMBC for their essential roles in shaping and sustaining the university’s strong and steady growth over the years. They’ve also had a major impact beyond the university through leading boards of directors of national higher education organizations, bringing “UMBC’s collaborative style” along with them. Continue reading Lynne Schaefer and Jack Suess share UMBC’s “collaborative style” as national higher ed leaders
“I was really interested in looking at transfer from an asset-based perspective,” says UMBC’s Sarah Jewett. “Transfer students bring so many experiences and talents to this campus, just like every other student, and I think those strengths need to be recognized and tapped.” Continue reading UMBC and community colleges collaborate to boost transfer student success in STEM
Artists, scientists, and social change agents from across UMBC presented the third annual GRIT-X talks on October 13, sharing their ideas and perspectives on stage in UMBC’s Dance Cube. “All our talks gave a different facet, a different beam of light, on what we do at UMBC,” said Vice President for Research Karl Steiner, who spearheaded the event. Continue reading Third annual UMBC GRIT-X talks highlight thought-provoking ideas, experiences, and discoveries
At the fall Career and Internship Fair, students across colleges and departments learned about job and internship opportunities, and connected with top global and local companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Continue reading UMBC connects thousands of students with top employers, from Google to GM
Hundreds of enthusiastic attendees heeded President Hrabowski’s advice to “listen, learn, and be inspired” as eight exceptional awardees from the founding class to the 2000s shared their UMBC stories. They all emphasized the relationships they formed here that are still strong today. Continue reading 30th UMBC Alumni Awards celebrate leadership, service, and community
“It’s time,” says Professor Chris Murphy, “for all of us to listen to survivors, engage in serious and deep self-reflection as a campus, and to work together to invest the time and resources needed to provide everyone with a safe and productive educational experience at UMBC.” Continue reading UMBC outlines next steps in work to improve sexual assault prevention and response
Hundreds of UMBC community members gathered on Thursday, September 20, for an open listening session on sexual misconduct, in a painful and powerful moment for the university. A large crowd rapidly filled the Fine Arts Recital Hall and then two overflow spaces in the biology building and library, connected through a live video feed. As everyone took their seats, ready to begin, a sense of quiet tension filled the space—a community taking a breath, ready to speak and to listen. Continue reading UMBC community gathers for listening session on sexual misconduct and campus safety
“There is nothing more important here than a climate and culture that focus on respect for all people,” said UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski at the start of the full-day workshop. “Some people think this is the work of a few, but it is all of our responsibility.” Continue reading UMBC community focuses on ethic of care in sexual misconduct response training
Traveling far from home for an immersive research experience can be transformational for an undergraduate. Living and working in a completely new environment, with new colleagues, can be intimidating, but it also offers powerful opportunities for growth. Five STEM BUILD students from UMBC took that plunge this summer, and all made lasting memories that will inform their paths forward. Continue reading South Africa to Colorado: Summer research helps UMBC STEM BUILD students chart their course
“These teaching and innovation rankings include institutions specifically identified by college and university leaders across the country as being at the forefront of higher education,” says UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski. “They speak to our core commitments to student and faculty success and to constant learning and growth.” Continue reading Retriever Nation celebrates UMBC’s “top 10” U.S. News rankings in teaching and innovation
The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education have just released their popular college rankings for 2019, again naming UMBC one of the nation’s top universities. This year’s rankings specifically highlight the strength of UMBC’s diverse learning community, including student and faculty diversity and the representation of international students. Continue reading Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Ed name UMBC a top U.S. university, with focus on diverse learning community
“This year’s entering freshmen and transfer class represents our most diverse ever—ethnically, academically, as well as geographically,” says Dale Bittinger, assistant vice provost for admissions and orientation. Continue reading UMBC ushers in new academic year with largest class ever
