Last semester we launched everybody’s fave, the Women’s Center Scouts! And it was really, really popular.

Like really popular and if you missed out you’re probably feeling a little sad right now. Well, don’t be because we’re rolling out the Women’s Center Scouts Spring Challenge!

BINGO!!!!

We still have the Women’s Center Scouts, but this semester it’ll be a little different. If you haven’t already, start by joining the Women’s Center myUMBC page and following at least one of our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram). If you’re already a member and following one of our pages, great! You’re one step closer.

Now, instead of completing three different Women’s Center events throughout the semester, you’ll be racing to get a Connect 5 on our brand new bingo board (aka Punch the Patriarchy Card)!

• Attend any one Women’s Center event
• Bring a friend to the lounge and give them a tour
• Donate paper towels, tissues, or food to the Women’s Center
• Attend one program before Spring Break Attend one Women’s Center workshop
• Color a coloring page in the Women’s Center
• Bring a friend to a Women’s Center event or group
• Fill out the question of the week on the whiteboard
• Attend one Knowledge Exchange
• Make a ~new~ friend in the Women’s Center!
• Read a Women’s Center blog on womenscenteratumbc.wordpress.com and ask the author a question
• Introduce yourself to a Women’s Center student staff member and learn about their astrological sign
• Free Space (Because We Love You)
• Share a Women’s Center post or event on your social media and tag or mention us!
• Follow us on social media (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram) and comment on one of our posts!
• Attend a Women’s Center Pop Culture Pop-Up (look out for when they’re announced but they’ll always fall on Wednesdays at noon)
• Attend one discussion group (i.e. Between Women, Women of Color Coalition, Returning Women Students, or We Believe You. Not sure if the discussion group is for you? Check out our website to learn more about each group’s purpose and community).
• Attend one Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) event (calendar coming later this semester. All SAAM events will take place in April)
• Celebrate Galentine’s Day with the Women’s Center on 2/13/19
• Donate coffee or tea!
• Check out a book from the Women’s Center Library
• Bring back a book from the Women’s Center library
• Make a Take Back the Night rally sign
• Go to the Clothesline Project Display on 4/8/19 on Main Street
• Attend Trans Day of Visibility film screening on 3/27/19

A few rules! It is completely up to you to track your progress. The Punch the Patriarchy Cards are already printed and ready for you to claim in the Women’s Center. Each person’s card will stay with us at the Women’s Center front desk, but you’re welcome to take a picture to help map your moves and keep track of your progress. When you complete a square, it’s up to you to “punch” it with a pen or marker of your choice. Don’t forget to date the square when it is completed. And finally, we’ll trust you to keep a scouts honor and mark challenges you ~actually~ did complete.

Any UMBC community member who completes the challenge by May 1st gets a Women’s Center T-shirt! If you already have one, you’ll get a shout-out on our social media pages for being a stellar scout (or maybe, just maybe you might be able to get one of our awesome Take Back the Night t-shirts).

All UMBC students, faculty, and staff are welcome to participate!

IT’S BINGO TIME WOMEN’S CENTER STYLE!

For questions, stop by the Women’s Center or email us at womenscenter@umbc.edu.

The Summer Research Initiative (SRI) was created in 1999 by the Office of the Dean in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) and is supported by the Office of the Provost, the Graduate School, the Office of the Vice President for Research and the College. The program is designed to encourage and enhance the diversity of scholars working in the social and behavioral science fields.

In that spirit, we are interested in receiving applications to the program from a broad spectrum of students, including African Americans, Latino/Hispanics, American Indian/Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, as well as students with research interests related to diverse communities.

The goals of the SRI are to:

• Increase the knowledge of, and interest in, doctoral-level training in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences;
• Provide rising juniors and seniors an opportunity to learn about graduate studies and the range of research and scholarship in the social, behavioral and economic sciences at the University of Maryland;
• Provide a laboratory experience that enhances basic research knowledge and skills;
• Provide lectures, workshops, didactic exchanges and other programming to enhance students' knowledge of the graduate application process, negotiating the academic rigors and professional and personal challenges encountered in graduate school, and developing career paths in social, behavioral and economic sciences; and
• Provide mentoring and networking opportunities for students to advance their training in the social, behavioral and economic sciences.

The SRI is part of the College's longstanding commitment to increasing the number of underrepresented minorities who pursue graduate degrees in the social, behavioral and economic sciences. According to 2016 data from the magazine Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, the university ranks 12th in the country in the number of graduate and professional degrees awarded and 28th in the number of undergraduate degrees awarded to underrepresented minority students. The Summer Research Initiative is an integral part of our efforts.

The application for the 2019 SRI will be available from November 1, 2018 to February 10, 2019. Applications will be reviewed February – March 2019, and selection announcements will be made beginning April 2019. 

The actual program runs 8 weeks, from June 3 – July 26, 2019. Students are required to arrive on campus on Saturday, June 1 for mandatory Saturday and Sunday program orientation, but SRI programming will officially begin on Monday, June 3.

Identity-Based Discussion Groups

All groups meet beginning the week of February 4th. Groups are closed for the privacy and confidentiality of the attendees and take place inside the Women’s Center lounge. Check out a detailed description of all of our discussion groups down below!

Between Women: Weekly, Mondays at 4:30pm

Women of Color Coalition: Biweekly, Tuesdays at 4pm

We Believe You: Weekly, Wednesdays at 4pm

Women in STEM: Monthly, 2nd Fridays at noon 

Returning Women Students: varies by month, check our calendar

Returning Women Students Scholars + Affiliates Program

This program is designed to support undergraduate women over the age of 25 returning to college later in life. Students receiving a returning women student scholarship are required to participate in this program designed to support their personal, academic, and career goals of adult learners at UMBC. ALL returning women students at UMBC are invited to attend the monthly meetings and workshops designed specifically to meet the needs of adult students. You can also request an invite to join the Returning Women Students Forum on Facebook for news, resources, and community building. 

Between Women

Between Women is a discussion-based program that centers the experiences of women students who identify on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. This structured, topic-based program discusses sexuality and sexual orientation with a focus on intersectionality and provides a safe space for women and feminine-identified students to share their feelings and experiences with other women. This program follows the Women’s Center Brave Space model in order to create a community environment that fosters learning and critical discussion. For safety and confidentiality reasons, this is a closed meeting for those in the LGBTQAI+ community and it is not appropriate for students to use the space for class research or interviews. Spring 2019: Between Women meets weekly on Mondays at 4:30pm in the Women’s Center.

We Believe You

Hosted in collaboration with the Women’s Center and the student organization We Believe You, this discussion group creates space to center the experiences of survivors of sexual violence. This discussion-based program follows the Women’s Center Brave Space model to provide a welcoming environment and thoughtful community to engage in conversations focused on support and healing for survivors of sexual violence. For safety and confidentiality reasons, this is a closed meeting for those who identify as survivors and their allies. It is not appropriate for students to use the space for class research or interviews. Spring 2019: We Believe You discussion group meets weekly on Wednesdays at 4pm in the Women’s Center. For more details, join the We Believe You myUMBC page (where you can also learn more about their general body meetings and activism efforts) or connect with a Women’s Center staff member.

Women of Color Coalition

All self-identified women of color students, staff, and faculty are welcome to share their stories and learn about others’ experiences at Women of Color Coalition. This discussion-based program follows the Women’s Center Brave Space model to provide a welcoming environment and thoughtful community to engage in conversations focused on the intersections of gender and race. For safety and confidentiality reasons, this is a closed meeting for those who identify as women of color and it is not appropriate for students to use the space for class research or interviews. Spring 2019: Women of Color Coalition meets biweekly on Tuesdays at 4pm in the Women’s Center. 

Women in STEM

A discussion group for UMBC’s women in STEM. Each discussion will take place monthly and will be hosted by a different woman faculty member from the STEM disciplines focusing on a different topic related to Women in STEM. This discussion-based program follows the Women’s Center Brave Space model to provide a welcoming environment and thoughtful community to engage in conversations focused on the experiences of women students studying in the STEM fields. Spring 2019: Women in STEM discussion group will take place on the 2nd Friday of the month at noon in the Women's Center. 

Spectrum: Trans Programming and Resources Hub

Spectrum is a programming and resource hub for UMBC community members who identify as trans, genderqueer, gender fluid, outside of the gender binary, and/or those who are questioning their gender identity. Supported by the Women’s Center and the Mosaic Center, Spectrum has evolved from a discussion-based program to an umbrella of resources, discussions, and events. Currently, the Spectrum discussion group is not being offered so we can ensure support of groups like Trans Tuesdays hosted by the LGBTQ Student Union and the Trans Support group run through the Counseling Center. The Women’s Center and Mosaic Center offers trans-related events each month. For details, connect with a staff member or check out our events page. Additional resources can be shared through our offices and we encourage community members to connect with us.

For more information about each of these groups and their intentions, please visit womenscenter.umbc.edu/groups

The School of Public Policy and Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) are hosting a one-day Public Policy Camp at UMBC on March 12, 2019. 

The purpose of the program is to introduce the field of public policy to a group of students who might not otherwise be familiar with it. APPAM is looking to increase knowledge, particularly among people who are members of groups that are underrepresented in public policy work.

This is a great opportunity to identify local students from diverse backgrounds who could pursue future education and career in a public-policy-related field. 

The one-day program will consist of networking opportunities, group table activities, policy simulations, and panel sessions. Dr. Hrabowski and Dean Casper will be opening the event with remarks. There will also be discussions with the students about what public policy is, what the core competencies are in a graduate program of public policy or public affairs. 

Students will also be able to hear from and speak with people who have MPP, MPA and PhD degrees and see what they do for a living, what a typical day is like for them and how their career paths have lead them to their current positions.  

Registration for the event is FREE.

UMBC Students can register for the event through this link: https://goo.gl/forms/X38b0DEBAN9AdZbR2. 

URCAD is on Wednesday, April 24th, 2019.  

Applications are due by Feb. 22nd. Any student with completed mentor-led research, scholarship, or creative work that is ready to present by April 24th is eligible to participate.The application is simple- a 200-word abstract and mentor support statement. 

We strongly encourage social science students to apply! The Center for Social Science Scholarship will be selecting four submissions to feature as a themed social science panel. 

Please see below for a curated list of upcoming funding opportunities. If you are working on a particular project and would like additional assistance in finding funding opportunities, please email: socialscience@umbc.edu.

This past summer, WTCI launched its newest professional development program for college students, Global Pathways for Students (GPS). Partially funded by visionary founder and former McCormick & Co. executive Jim Albrecht, GPS aims to connect 25 globally-minded college students to international corporations in the region. We are seeking your help to identify students who are goal-oriented, professional, open-minded and have a passion for global work, and ask that you share this opportunity with those who meet these criteria.

 

The GPS Program is designed to prepare Maryland college students for the competitive job market upon graduating. By leveraging our vast regional network, 25 top students from various universities around the region will have the opportunity to get their foot in the door of nine different globally-minded companies, jumpstarting their professional network. Concurrently, this cohort of students, deemed Albrecht Fellows, will strengthen their professional skills through a series of supplemental development workshops.

 

By participating in GPS, Albrecht Fellows enhance their network and global knowledge, become more marketable, and increase their likelihood of being hired upon graduation.

 

Candidate Pre-requisites:

·         Must be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior

·         Must be able to participate in full 10-day program, from Wednesday, May 29^th to Friday, June 7^th

·         Program fee of $250 (Need-based scholarships are available)

 

Students can apply using the following link: http://www.wtci.org/gps/apply/.

Congratulations to the following faculty, students, and alumni for their recent accomplishments! 

Matt Baker, Geography and Environmental Systems, discusses the flooding in Ellicott City and stormwater management. With new plan on pause, Ellicott City business owners feel stuck (WTOP)

Amy Bhatt, gender, women's, and sexuality studies, discusses her new book High-Tech Housewives: Indian IT Workers, Gendered Labor, and Transmigration. H-4 and H-1: Time for Indian immigrants to speak up on immigration policy, says author Amy Bhatt (The American Bazaar)

Chris Curran, Public Policy, discusses the final report of The Federal Commission on School Safety. Recommendation to Give Teachers Guns Misses the Mark (The Globe Post)

Erle Ellis, Geography and Environmental Systems, shares the latest climate change research on the impact of humans on the environment. How 300 Years of Urbanization and Farming Transformed the Planet (City Lab)

Felipe Filomeno, Political Science, wrote a piece about the range of forces impacting migration. “Who is responsible for migrants?” (The Conversation and Houston Chronicle)

Carolyn Forestiere, Political Science and her coauthor Filippo Tronconi (U. of Bologna) have recently edited an issue of the journal Contemporary Italian Politics. tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

Brian Grodsky, Political Science, discusses the impact of the growing protest movement in Bosnia. Could Mysterious Death of Student be the Spark that Sets Off Bosnia (The Globe Post)

Erica Lozy, Psychology, and Jolene Sy, Psychology, recently published an article in #JABA. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.10…

Roy Meyers, Political Science, weighs in on the history of federal government shutdowns: Shutdowns Are ‘All Games of Chicken.’ Here’s How They’ve Evolved (The New York Times) and This Friday, hundreds of thousands of federal workers will miss their first paycheck (Vox)

Kerwin Miller, Political Science, has been named to the Harford County District Court bench.

Gov. Hogan names Kerwin A. Miller Sr. to Harford County District Court bench (The Baltimore Sun)
Meredith Oyen, History, took part in a “US-China 2018 Year in Review: A New Cold War?” Panel at the Kissinger Institute.

Colin Studds, Geography and Environmental Systems, worked with a team of researchers to discover the full life cycle of a dragonfly.  Dragonflies Embark on an Epic, Multi-Generational Migration Each Year (Smithsonian)

Claire Welty, Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education, and Chris Swan, Geography and Environmental Systems, reflect on the work that has happened and the future of funding for the Baltimore Ecosystem Study. Science foundation cuts 20-year-old Baltimore ecological study’s funds (Bay Journal)

James C. Willett, Jr. '05, Economics, noted as a rising star in law firm. Semmes Bowen attorneys (Daily Record)