The Dresher Center for the Humanities is seeking an Acting Associate Director for the Fall 2025 semester (this is a one semester sabbatical replacement position). Eligible applicants are tenure track faculty in humanities fields (minimum: advanced assistant or already tenured). 

The Associate Director will be engaged in the following activities:

With Director:

• develops and implements strategies to support and promote Humanities scholarship at UMBC
• develops pedagogical and professional development workshops to promote Humanities research and scholarship
• helps coordinate and attends CURRENTS work in Progress and Residential Fellows Seminars
• makes decisions on scholarly development and completion fund applications

Oversees:

• The Humanities Retrievers network for undergraduate majors and minors in Humanities disciplines.
• develops undergraduate research and internship programming as well as graduate school and career readiness in the Humanities for the Humanities Retrievers (in conjunction with Humanities Scholars and other student groups)

As a member of the Dresher Center staff:

• develops major Center initiatives and programs
• assesses Dresher Center activities
• attends Humanities Forum events
• attends bi-weekly staff meetings and quarterly Dresher Center Board meeting
• with Program Manager, works with other units to support public, accessible, and community-engaged research/teaching at UMBC

Interested applicants should submit a one-page letter of interest and a c.v. Your letter should address how you have been involved with the Dresher Center in the past, why you are interested in the position, and what you think you will bring to it. Applications should be sent to dreshercenter@umbc.edu. Questions can be sent to Prof. Amy Froide, Director, Dresher Center for the Humanities (froide@umbc.edu). For best consideration please submit applications by close of business Friday, MARCH 7, 2025.

The Associate Director position comes with one course release for the Fall semester. Please discuss with the chair of your department.

What we can learn about conservation justice from the illegal plant trade?

On today's episode we hear from Lee Boot, Director of the Imaging Research Center (IRC) at UMBC. Lee is also Affiliate Associate Professor of Visual Arts and Computer Science & Engineering. The topic of our discussion is the recent Full Circle Climate Communication Workshop, held this January at UMBC.

Check out the following links for more information on UMBC, CS3, and our host:

• The UMBC Center for the Social Sciences Scholarship
• The University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Ian G. Anson, Ph.D.

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Retrieving the Social Sciences is a production of the UMBC Center for Social Science Scholarship.  Our podcast host is Dr. Ian Anson, and our director is Dr. Eric Stokan. Our production intern is Jean Kim. Our theme music was composed and recorded by D’Juan Moreland (UMBC '24).  Special thanks to Amy Barnes and Myriam Ralston for production assistance.  Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where you can find full video recordings of recent UMBC events.

• Projects must take place on campus or within the campus community.
• Projects are action-oriented. You are welcome to include a research component in your project, but you must include an activity (e.g., event, lecture, panel discussion, volunteering).
• Projects must involve a faculty or staff sponsor. As part of the application process, you are responsible for finding a faculty or staff member on campus to act as your sponsor to assist in project implementation.

• Complete and submit your application by the deadline: Monday, March 10, 2025 at 5 p.m.
• Find a faculty/staff sponsor to write you a letter of recommendation by the deadline and advise you on your proposed project.
• Complete a final report after completing your project. The report should include a brief description of the project and a personal reflection on how the project impacted you and the campus community.

• Providing a letter of recommendation for the student to include as part of their application.
• Reviewing student’s project proposal to ensure that student projects are appropriate and reasonable.
• Connecting the student to campus resources, as appropriate.
• Monthly meetings with the student fellow.

In the 1960s, Black writers in Baltimore utilized Chicory, a poetry magazine published by the Enoch Pratt Free Library from 1966-1983, as an artistic form for activism. Its five editors published the work by everyone from children to seniors, from social workers to people in prison about everything from bad housing and schools to celebrations of Black joy.  Visit this enlightening exhibition that explores this radical publication.