Tomorrow (4/22) the Women's, Gender, & Equity Center will be closed to support students presenting at URCAD! Spectrum will still take place as planned from 2-3, though! We hope you will join us at URCAD and Spectrum!

Our staff will be available throughout the day if you have any questions or concerns. Email womenscenter@umbc.edu. 

The Women's, Gender, & Equity Center is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

UMBC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all students, staff, faculty, and visitors. If you have difficulties accessing any of the materials on our site or any of our events or discussions, please contact us so that we can provide an alternative format and/or remedy any accessibility challenges.

Next Wednesday, April 29, UMBC's Center for Democracy and Civic Life in collaboration with the Graduate Student Association will host Dinner with Friends, an engaging, facilitated conversation that will connect you with other members of the UMBC community. The program will take place on April 29, 2026 from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. in the University Center, UC 312. The Center for Democracy and Civic Life will provide a catered dinner.

Attendees will be seated together in small groups and have the opportunity to participate in conversations in one of three topic areas:

• Transit access
• Student housing
• Graduate student employment

RSVP today to reserve your seat at this popular dinner program and select your conversation topic of interest!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email the Center for Democracy and Civic Life at civiclife@umbc.edu.

By: Bruna de Padua
Photo Credit: Zach Seidel

Zach Seidel is the Director of Digital Media for UMBC Athletics, and he also teaches in the Media and Communication Studies department. He has been part of the UMBC community for so long that the campus almost feels like a second home to him. His parents both graduated from UMBC, so he grew up hearing about the school and going to different events. His personal connection to the university grew even stronger when he started interning in the Athletics Department during his senior year of high school in 2007. What started as a simple internship eventually turned into a huge part of his life and career, and he still enjoys being surrounded by the energy and excitement of college athletics.

Zach completed his B.A. in Media and Communication Studies, added a minor in American Studies, and was part of the Honors College and the Humanities Scholars program. He has always been the kind of person who pays attention to how stories are told and how people interact with media. That curiosity naturally led him into studying media at a deeper level. Later on, he chose to pursue an M.S. in Human-Centered Computing because he became fascinated with the way technology and design can shape people’s experiences. It was the perfect blend of creativity, communication, and innovation, and it helped him develop a broader perspective on digital media and the ways people use it.

At UMBC, Zach teaches MCS 316, which is the sports broadcasting course. A lot of students come into the class thinking broadcasting is mainly about pointing a camera at the action and letting things run, but he loves showing them how much more goes on behind the scenes. Broadcasting a game means planning every detail, organizing people and equipment, communicating constantly, troubleshooting problems, and working under pressure. Even though it can be intense at times, he enjoys watching students build confidence and learn what it takes to create something that looks smooth and effortless to the audience. He hopes his students leave the class with a real appreciation for the effort and teamwork that go into producing live sports.

In his professional role with Athletics, Zach works in a field that never stops changing. Digital media grows so fast that there is always a new tool, trend, or idea popping up. That is one of the things he enjoys most because there is always something exciting to learn. Whether it is new camera technology, new ways to reach fans online, or creative approaches to storytelling, he makes an effort to stay ahead of the curve. One of the moments he is most proud of is seeing one of his former students win an Emmy. For him, it is a reminder that teaching goes far beyond the classroom. When his students go on to do amazing things, it feels like he gets to share a part of that accomplishment too.

Looking towards the future, Zach is happy to keep teaching and continuing the work he loves. He is always open to exploring new ideas, especially when it comes to innovations in digital media and sports production. He believes the field will keep evolving in ways that surprise everyone, and he enjoys being part of that change rather than just watching it happen from the outside.

Above everything else, the best part of working at UMBC for Zach is the students. He enjoys their creativity, their willingness to try new things, and their genuine excitement about learning. Being able to guide students, support their goals, and watch them grow is what makes his work meaningful. For him, UMBC is not just a workplace. It is a community he cares about and a place where he gets to make an impact every day.

This event is part of the daylong Global Asias Symposium & Celebration on Monday, May 4! Full information is available on myUMBC and the event website.

Join us on Monday, May 4 for a celebration of the many accomplishments of the Global Asias Initiative here at UMBC! The Global Asias Initiative, a three-year initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation, has created a forum for engaging in conversations in the fields of Asian American Studies, Asian diaspora studies, and Asian Studies. The Initiative has has created connections across disciplines, institutions, organizations, and communities here on campus and beyond. 

Welcome & Belonging and Community Luncheon: Conversations on Asian experiences at UMBC
Monday, May 4
11:00am-12:30pm

Visit the Global Asias Initiative myUMBC page to RSVP.

Join us for our Belonging and Community luncheon to kick off the Global Asias Closing Symposium, which is dedicated to the power of storytelling, creative expression, and community. We will share personal stories through art and reflection to celebrate the joy, calm, and cultural heritage that sustain us. From these individual stories, we will build a shared vision of grounded community and understanding of Asian experiences at UMBC. Through a series of collaborative art activities and dialogue, we will turn our hopes for connection and belonging into a visual representation of our future at UMBC. Hosted in partnership with the Mosaic Center, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, and the Office of Residential Life.

Location: Fine Arts Room 011
Lunch is Provided

*

This events are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

A message on behalf of Mary Ellen Wade, Director of Assessment and Planning in the Division of Student Affairs. Original post here.

Calling all undergraduate and graduate students! The Division of Student Affairs (DoSA) Strategic Plan Steering Committee is developing its strategic plan for the next three years and we need your input! On Monday, April 20 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. stop by Lower Flat Tuesdays in The Commons for free breakfast snacks, beverages, and to offer your feedback about the student experience and how DoSA can better support you. Commuters, we will also have a table at Good Morning Commuters on April 21. 

If you can't stop by, please check out our survey between now and April 24 to provide your thoughts. We want to understand how you define student success, your experience as a student, how our division can do better, and to see if our anticipated strategic plan priority areas meet your needs.

Attached is a document with more info about the departments that make up our division, our draft strategic priority areas, and the questions we want to know more about. We look forward to your insights!

A message on behalf of our colleagues in the Department of English, the Dresher Center for the Humanities, and the Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery. View the original post to register for this event. Learn more about UMBC’s National Library Week x Bookfest 2026 and see the full list of events.

Maryland’s Freedom to Read Act, passed in 2024, ensures that “library materials and resources remain accessible to the public and cannot be removed solely because someone disagrees with their viewpoint alone.” Yet, book challenges and censorship efforts are still on the rise across our state and nation.

What can you do to protect the right to read and to ensure access to our nation’s library services? Join us for a panel of distinguished library professionals and advocates to learn more!

• Morgan Miller, Maryland State Librarian

• Stacey Nunn, Library Media Specialist, Southwest Academy Magnet School for Science and Engineering and finalist for School Library Journal’s School Librarian of the Year

• Christine Feldmann, Anne Arundel County Public Library

• Andrea Lewis, President of Citizens for Maryland Libraries

This event is supported in part by the Maryland State Library Agency. Refreshments will follow the program.

A message on behalf of our colleagues in the Department of English, the Dresher Center for the Humanities, and the Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery. View the original post to register for this event. Learn more about UMBC’s National Library Week x Bookfest 2026 and see the full list of events.

What should you know about the current assaults on authors, readers, libraries, and librarians? How can you better advocate for libraries, access to reading materials, and the freedom to read? 

Join facilitators Allison Jennings-Roche (UMBC Alum and Associate Director of Digital Initiatives and Collections at The University of Baltimore Library & Archives) and Tif Sutherland (Calvert Library and Maryland Library Association) for a lunch-and-learn.

Participants will...

• Develop an understanding of the historical and political contexts fueling the current surge in censorship and attacks on libraries across the country.

• Learn how libraries, advocacy organizations, and library workers are responding to the threats posed by anti-democratic, pro-censorship movements and how they can support their local librarians.

• Identify and practice rhetorical strategies to respond to the spurious attacks on library workers and collections. They will also brainstorm practical actions that they can take to protect libraries, the freedom to read, and their local communities.

This event requires registration. Lunch will be provided and space is limited to 30 participants, so please secure your spot no later than April 20. REGISTER HERE!

Applications for our Spring 2027 Residential Faculty Fellowships are now available on our website.

PLEASE NOTE THE REVISED DEADLINE: May 1, 2026

The Dresher Center for the Humanities, in conjunction with the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), and the Vice President for Research, invites applications for two Residential Faculty Research Fellowships for the Spring 2027 semester. Dresher Center fellowships offer the gift of time, space, and collegial conversation within a robust humanities center environment which will, in turn, enhance the UMBC conversation surrounding inclusive excellence.

Funding is intended to support and promote significant humanities research at UMBC. Dresher Center Residential Research Fellows will reside at least two days day a week in the Dresher Center and receive a release from teaching (up to two course releases) to work on a significant humanities research project or the training necessary to embark on such a project. Faculty wishing to develop expertise in a new field or discipline towards a future project are also encouraged to apply. Each Fellow will have the use of an office in the Dresher Center and will be awarded $750 to hire an undergraduate research assistant (junior or senior) for the semester. Faculty fellows will be encouraged to connect to and share their work with each other and with the graduate student fellows connected to the Center.

Any questions can be directed to dreshercenter@umbc.edu.

***reposted from CARAT***

CAHSS faculty are invited to submit a pre-proposal to be nominated for the 2026 William T. Grant Scholars Program competition, sponsored by the William T. Grant Foundation (WTGF). The WTGF Scholars Program supports career development for promising early-career researchers. 

Eligible applicants should have received their doctorate within seven years of the WTGF program's application deadline of June 30, 2026, and seven years after the year the doctorate was conferred. Applicants must currently be employed in a tenure-track position.

The program makes awards totaling $425,000 for five-year research and mentoring plans that significantly expand researchers’ expertise in new disciplines, methods, and content areas. Applicants should have a track record of conducting high-quality research and an interest in pursuing a significant shift in their trajectories as researchers. This award includes a mentoring component, as well as a supportive academic community.

WTGF’s Research Focus Areas: 
1. Reducing Inequality. WTGF funds research studies that examine programs, policies, or practices to reduce inequality in the academic, social, behavioral, or economic outcomes of young people ages 5–25 in the United States, along dimensions of race, ethnicity, economic standing, sexual or gender minority status (e.g., LGBTQ+ youth), language minority status, or immigrant origins.

2. Improving the Use of Research Evidence. In this focus area, WTGF supports research studies that examine strategies to improve the use of research evidence in ways that benefit young people ages 5-25 in the United States. The Foundation seeks proposals for studies that advance theory and build empirical knowledge on ways to improve the use of research evidence by policymakers, public agency leaders, organizational managers, intermediaries, community organizers, and other decision-makers that generally shape youth-serving systems in the United States.

CAHSS Internal Competition:

An internal CAHSS competition will be held to select the CAHSS nominee. Pre-proposals are due to the CAHSS Dean’s Office, via a box link, by May 11, 2026. Review the attached instructions and box link for detailed information.

The nominee will be notified on May 20, 2026, and will work with CARAT to develop a complete application, following the application guidelines. Complete applications will be due to WTGF, via the program's application portal, by June 30, 2026 (3:00 PM, ET). 

The CAHSS nominee must be PI Eligible, with active status, in order to prepare a proposal and receive an award at UMBC. PI Eligible active status entails the successful completion (with issued certificates) of PIRATE training; CITI Research Security Training - combined; and completion of a PI Eligibility form, with attached certificates of completion for the trainings, and your appointment letter. See UMBC Policy # IV-2.00.03 for more information. Contact Rachel Brubaker (rbruba1@umbc.edu) for assistance.

Successful applicants will be notified by WTGF on March 27, 2027. Five-year awards, made to the applicants’ institution, will begin on July 1, 2027.

Contact Marc Ruppel (mruppel@umbc.edu), CARAT Director, or Rachel Brubaker (rbruba1@umbc.edu), to discuss your pre-proposal.

WTGF Program Resources:

• Scholars Program website: https://WTGFrantfoundation.org/funding/william-t-grant-scholars-program
• Program application guide: https://WTGFrantfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-Application-Guide-WTGF-Scholars.pdf
• Applicant resources, including a webinar and annotated excerpts: https://WTGFrantfoundation.org/funding/william-t-grant-scholars-program/applicant-resources#annotated-excerpts
• Program FAQ: https://WTGFrantfoundation.org/funding/william-t-grant-scholars-program/faq

Inclusive excellence has long been a cultural touchstone at UMBC. Before now, we haven't had a definition or any other shared language to describe what we mean. This is your chance to inform our definition. Leaders in the Division of Institutional Equity have drafted a framework for inclusive excellence, and we want your input! 

The framework aims to articulate our community's shared commitments in a way that can communicate our values, guide action, inspire new collaboration, and support the development and implementation of UMBC's next strategic plan.

Join The Centers for Social Justice Dialogue and Democracy and Civic Life for UMBC Talks, which are 90-minute, co-facilitated dialogues designed to support your engagement with the framework. Each UMBC Talk will be the same, so please sign up for the one that best suits your schedule. We hope to see you there. Come and leave your mark on this important moment in UMBC's history. 

Spring Semester Open Forums

Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., UC 312 - Open to everyone. Conversations will be held in mixed groups.

Friday, April 24, 10:00 a.m. - noon, UC 312 -Foregrounding graduate student experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Friday, April 24, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., UC 312 -Foregrounding undergraduate student experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Tuesday, April 28, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Virtual - Open to everyone. Conversations will be held in mixed groups.

Stay tuned for potential additional dates! Download the attached flyer to post or share. Please RSVP by indicating that you are attending on the specific event page, linked above. 

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UMBC Talks is a collaborative initiative that aims to enhance the sense of community, vibrancy, and well-being at UMBC through guided community conversations that reestablish our commitment to inclusive excellence and foster a sense of pride for what it truly
means to be a UMBC Retriever. Using this framework offers a dialogic process for gathering community input on shared values.

If you have any questions about this feedback process, please feel free to reach out to Drs. Ciara Christian and David Hoffman at culture@umbc.edu.

These events are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.