Join Kate Drabinski for an in-person walk down Pratt Street in downtown Baltimore. We'll learn about it's history as a place where people have struggled for freedom, labor rights, and for and against war. We'll learn about the building of the baseball stadium, the light rail system that brings people there, and then check out a game together! Space is limited. UMBC students, faculty and staff who...
Big News from UMBC Procurement! We are beyond excited to unveil the very first edition of our brand-new newsletter: Procurement Purpose! Consider this your go-to source for everything happening in our world. We’re moving fast, staying sharp, and we want to keep you in the loop with all the latest wins and updates from the UMBC Procurement Department. Inside This Issue: Our New Mission Statement:...
Our 2025/2026 Accessibility Trailblazers are here! We invited the UMBC community to nominate a faculty member and/or an academic department for the annual UMBC Accessibility Trailblazer Awards. Our goal is to recognize and celebrate the individuals and departments who are true allies in advancing accessibility and inclusion across campus. Trailblazers are pioneers in ensuring that course...
Dear UMBC Community, I had the pleasure recently of joining thousands of attendees and student presenters at UMBC’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD). What began on the 7th floor of the library with about 50 presenters has grown, now in its 30th year, to more than 450 presenters, including an inaugural group of students from area community colleges, filling the Retriever...
The Division of Institutional Equity joins the Jewish Faculty and Staff Association, UMBC Hillel, Chabad UMBC and our campus community in recognizing and honoring Jewish American Heritage Month. Celebrated each May in the United States, Jewish American Heritage Month is a time to honor the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans. This observance highlights the enduring impact of...
The purpose of the Traveler + Arranger Training is to give travelers a complete understanding of how to use SAP Concur to plan and book travel, obtain required approvals, travel in compliance with UMBC policies, submit expenses, and receive reimbursement for university business trips. The first portion of the session focuses on this full end‑to‑end process from the traveler's perspective. In the...
In celebration of the upcoming Student Recognition Week, the Student Honors and Awards Booklet for 2026 is now online. The book includes: Student award winners from each academic department and program Undergraduate Research Award Scholars National and international award winners New members and invitees of each honor society Celebrate the awards and honors your fellow Retrievers have earned for...
One photon, a trillion electrons. A Q&A with our Faculty, Daniel Suárez-Forero, is now live in UMBC News. They discuss Daniel's research interests and goals for his experimental group at UMBC. We thank Sarah Hansen for this fun read. Photo by Brad Ziegler/UMBC.
This May, the Division of Institutional Equity has a full lineup of events and opportunities for the UMBC community. All events and opportunities across the division are open to full participation by all community members. Here’s how you can get involved! May 4 | 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm | The Commons: 2B23 Media Bytes: Dialogue and Meaning in Bollywood Lyrics Join the Center for Social Justice Dialogue...
For My People: A Hazara Woman's Journey · Join us on Wed, May 6 for a film screening of Dr. Zareen Taj's براي قوما | For my people: A Hazara Woman's Journey. We'll kick off the event with some delicious Afghan appetizers. We'll then engage in a participatory dialogue about hope & culture building rooted in UMBC's 2025-2026 Culture Builders Program and the themes of the film. We'll then screen the film and have a conversation with Dr....
Just tackling the rigors of a college course load on its own can be daunting for any student. But when you add in the additional responsibilities of working and getting involved with co-curriculars, it can become impossible…unless you’re Shawn Bearam, Jr., computer science. Throughout his time at UMBC, he saw how much value this level of involvement and responsibility added to his college career...
Join us for food, swag, and study resources before finals! · For Study Day, make the AOK library your one-stop shop during crunch time this semester! Relax and refuel with us at StudyCon before you hunker down at your favorite study spot. At StudyCon: Relax and Refuel you will find things both fun and practical to help you prep for finals, such as: Tabling giveaways Snacks Drop-in tutoring (Get the new Study Buddy plushie when you check in for tutoring!)...
Did you know you can be awarded up to $1,500 to support your research? Bruce knew! And to celebrate, he's pointing at an empty screen! "Yes, it's empty now but after I get my URA award, I'll really have some research to put up there!" Bruce opined. "I was just kind of practicing." You can apply here: https://ur.umbc.edu/ura/ "The process was clear and concise and my faculty mentor was very...
Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to share an important update to the University System of Maryland’s (USM) leave programs that will expand support for employees during significant life events. Beginning July 1, 2026, USM will implement a new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. This benefit provides eligible employees with fully paid, job-protected leave for qualifying family, medical,...
SJP Merch is finally here for 2026! All proceeds are being donated to families in Gaza. The ordering period will be open until May 3rd. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTUCB_UiRo-xTnAl2hbVEZmsalv5IfijRnCXevfrSL8e3V_Q/viewform?pli=1
President Valerie Sheares Ashby Invites You to Join Us for the Presidential Faculty and Staff Awards Ceremony Wednesday, May 13, 2026 University Center Ballroom 3-5 p.m. Awards Ceremony and Reception Please join me in sharing gratitude for the UMBC community, and celebrating this year’s Presidential Faculty and Staff awardees, University System of Maryland awardees, and additional distinguished...
Imagine a material where trillions of electrons are locked in an intricate, collective dance—so tightly choreographed that the tiniest nudge can send ripples across the entire system, transforming its behavior in dramatic ways. Now picture using light—especially the delicate touch of a single photon—to peek inside that dance, understand its hidden steps, and maybe even change the rhythm. That’s...
Congratulations to Frank Rodriguez '26 on being accepted to the English Literature PhD program at Penn State University! Read a statement from Frank below: My name is Frank Rodriguez, and I am a senior at UMBC majoring in English and Education. It's my honor to announce that after graduating next month, I plan on continuing my academic journey at The Pennsylvania State University, as a member of...
UMBC’s strength in environmental research spans all three colleges, along with its NASA-partnered centers, making Earth Day an especially meaningful time on campus. This year, on April 24th 2026, the Atmospheric Physics (ATPH) Department hosted its 10th Annual Earth Day Symposium (EDS), themed “Extreme Events in a Changing World.” Organized by a committee led by Joshua Richards, a PhD candidate...
Voting for ESS and CUSS representatives ends at 11:59 p.m. tonight. Click Here to Vote! 🎉 Note: only exempt staff are eligible to vote.
