UMBC’s Maheen Haq receives 2019 Newman Civic Fellowship, affirming the importance of supporting local and global communities facing discrimination


Community, Policy & Society

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,” explains Maheen Haq. “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

UMBC students Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman and Olusayo Adeleye co-create 1st U.S. conference for Black women economists


Policy & Society

Reflecting on her inspiration, Sadie T.M. Alexander, Opoku-Agyeman says, “Similar to Dr. Alexander, people have projected their limitations onto me, often focusing on what I could not do because of my race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic background, age, or all of the above. She taught me that there is absolutely nothing that I cannot do. If want to reach a goal, all I have to do is run towards it.” Continue reading UMBC students Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman and Olusayo Adeleye co-create 1st U.S. conference for Black women economists

UMBC places 10th at Pan-Am Team Chess Championship


Community

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

Grit and community support help UMBC grads envision—and claim—their futures


Class of 2018, Community, Strategic Planning

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 trainer in UMBC t-shirt (at right) chats with a small group of other UMBC students (at left).

UMBC’s newest grads leave a legacy of community-building and support


Class of 2018, Community

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

Congrats, Class of 2018! UMBC celebrates students making history.


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UMBC students have rewritten the record books in 2018. With graduation around the corner, and our soon-to-be new Retriever alumni preparing for graduate school, careers, and research around the world, we reflect on all they have achieved. Continue reading Congrats, Class of 2018! UMBC celebrates students making history.

UMBC receives $1.3 million grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to diversify economics Ph.D.s


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“It is really important to me to have people of color that I can look up to, come to, and connect with me on that level. It can be hard to understand what you are capable of doing if you don’t see a lot of people in this higher level of academia that look like you being successful,” says M’Balou Camara ‘15, political science, currently a student at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy Ph.D. program, with a concentration in economics. Continue reading UMBC receives $1.3 million grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to diversify economics Ph.D.s

UMBC alumni mentors give today’s students a glimpse of possible career paths


Arts & Culture, Policy & Society, Science & Technology

During the summer months, hundreds of UMBC students immersed themselves in high-value internships at companies, nonprofits, and government agencies. There, they learned about new fields, developed skills, and expanded their connections, taking advantage of UMBC’s strong network of emerging and established professionals who value both leadership and mentorship. Continue reading UMBC alumni mentors give today’s students a glimpse of possible career paths

Brandon Enriquez, USM student regent, heads to economics Ph.D. at MIT


Class of 2017, Policy & Society, Science & Technology

“There are many talented and intelligent college graduates in the world against whom I must compete. My advantage comes through the support I receive from my school, through how I am pushed by mentors to be innovative and creative. UMBC provides that support,” says Enriquez. Continue reading Brandon Enriquez, USM student regent, heads to economics Ph.D. at MIT

UMBC’s 2017 NSF Graduate Research Fellows prepare for groundbreaking careers, from environmental engineering to computer science


Policy & Society, Science & Technology

“UMBC is proud to have four of our undergraduate students chosen for this nationally competitive award — selected from over 13,000 applicants– to support their graduate study that will lead to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees in science and engineering,” said April Householder, director of undergraduate research and nationally competitive scholarships. Continue reading UMBC’s 2017 NSF Graduate Research Fellows prepare for groundbreaking careers, from environmental engineering to computer science

Alumni Awards highlight profound impact, drive, and commitment of UMBC alumni and faculty


Arts & Culture, Community, Policy & Society, Science & Technology1 Comment

“People you see on this stage are not just amazingly talented, they are good people who have done great work,” shared President Hrabowski. “I can’t think of anything an educator would want more than that: People who care about others, who strive for excellence, and who never, never, never give up.” Continue reading Alumni Awards highlight profound impact, drive, and commitment of UMBC alumni and faculty

First year of UMBC Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program serves more than 100 local community members


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The program was a tremendous success, with 83 percent of clients served receiving a refund and almost $126,000 in total refunds for the program. Almost two-thirds of the clients who received refunds said they planned to use it to pay off debt, pay past due bills, or save and invest the money. Continue reading First year of UMBC Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program serves more than 100 local community members

Congressman Elijah Cummings discusses UMBC’s research leadership and commitment to Baltimore during campus visit


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Faculty speak about UMBC’s well-rounded research portfolio and focus in on research strengths in physics, geosciences, space science, and bioengineering; students share career goals and experiences working with local communities. Continue reading Congressman Elijah Cummings discusses UMBC’s research leadership and commitment to Baltimore during campus visit

Justin Velez-Hagan

UMBC economic policy researcher examines the impact of Puerto Rico’s debt crisis


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Justin Vélez-Hagan, a Ph.D. student in UMBC’s School of Public Policy and executive director of the National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, has been in the news recently after Puerto Rico defaulted on more bond payments, falling deeper into debt. Vélez-Hagan … Continue reading UMBC economic policy researcher examines the impact of Puerto Rico’s debt crisis

Goalkeeper Billy Heavner ’17 receives top academic honor in U.S. college sports


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UMBC goalkeeper and men’s soccer co-captain Billy Heavner ’17, financial economics, has been selected to the 2015 Academic All-America Division I Men’s Soccer First Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Heavner is the second UMBC men’s … Continue reading Goalkeeper Billy Heavner ’17 receives top academic honor in U.S. college sports

Dennis Coates weighs costs and benefits of public subsidies for sports franchises in OC Register op-ed


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As several NFL franchises are competing to relocate to the Los Angeles area, Dennis Coates, a professor of economics, argues that facts do not support the claim that professional football would be an economic goldmine for Southern California. Coates wrote an op-ed published in The Orange County Register in which he argued public subsidies for professional sports franchises do not always provide the economic boom that officials hope for. In the column, Coates referenced a study he did with a colleague that was recently updated to examine the economic impact of professional sports teams in major cities across the country: “Our findings were … Continue reading Dennis Coates weighs costs and benefits of public subsidies for sports franchises in OC Register op-ed

Economist Douglas Lamdin shares analysis of gold mining stocks


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Douglas Lamdin, Economics, had his recent study featured on the website of the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII). The article, “New Evidence on Whether Gold Mining Stocks are More Like Gold or Like Stocks” was co-authored with Mark Johnson of Loyola University, Maryland, and is forthcoming in the journal Alternative Investment Analyst Review. The study examined the role of gold and gold mining stocks in diversified portfolios. Lamdin and Johnson found that neither gold nor gold mining stocks are a hedge against declines in the stock market. Both gold and gold mining stocks, however, do provide diversification benefits, with … Continue reading Economist Douglas Lamdin shares analysis of gold mining stocks