Change

Many faculty, staff, students, and alumni have shared deep and urgent concerns in recent weeks about structural racism, calling for change in America and within our UMBC community. We hear your concerns, and we share your sense of urgency—and we have hope, because we know that the UMBC community is committed to effecting change.

Looking in the mirror as a campus
UMBC has not always looked as it does today. When faced in the past with high drop-out rates among Black students, too few Black students in STEM fields, inadequate recruitment and retention of faculty and staff from underrepresented groups, and urgent concerns about sexual assault and hate speech, our campus has learned to look in the mirror, name the issues, listen to diverse voices, and work together to address the deeply rooted structural barriers to our becoming a more inclusive community.

We are committed to addressing issues involving the community as a whole, as well as issues in specific departments and units on campus through continued listening and appropriate actions. We will continue to communicate with our campus community on these very important issues.

At this critical time, we must be clear that our work is far from complete, while drawing strength from our successes:

There is no overall academic achievement gap at UMBC, and we must continue to increase the retention and graduation rates for students of all backgrounds.
UMBC has a national reputation for producing Black leaders in fields ranging from public service and the arts to STEM and healthcare, and yet we must do an even better job of supporting our students and creating an inclusive classroom and campus experience as they prepare to serve and lead in the larger society.
Increasing the proportion of underrepresented faculty at UMBC is a strategic priority of the University. This work has been supported by numerous initiatives, and yet we recognize that we have deeper institutional work to do if we are to succeed in recruiting, retaining, and promoting meaningful numbers of Black faculty and others from diverse backgrounds.
UMBC offers a wealth of courses and programs that explore structural racism, and yet we must ensure that the academic and co-curricular experiences of all students include meaningful engagement with issues surrounding diversity, including race, national origin, gender, religion, ability, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veterans status, and marital/family status. Our strategic plan, recently developed by faculty, staff, and students, recognizes this as a key priority, and we will begin planning for a major revision of our General Education Program in the coming months.
This work has not just begun. Over the past year, we have been working on several major organizational and personnel decisions, and our proactive approach has led to the promotion and hiring of several additional Black faculty and staff in senior positions. In addition, we created a new Office of Equity and Inclusion that is working with students, faculty, and staff on critical civil rights issues. And yet we know that success is never final. We have much work to do.

Change requires courage because it requires us to see things differently from the way they are at present. It requires us to recognize our failures as well as our successes. Most of all, it requires us to challenge ourselves to be better as individuals and as a community. The work ahead calls for awareness of self and others, honesty, humility, and the skill to both push and support one another. The work is hard. It is vital. And we believe there is no better place to advance the change we want to see than UMBC.

It is particularly important to recognize our Black faculty and other campus experts who are nationally recognized for their research addressing inequality. Their work speaks truth to power, and they inspire all of us.

We invite you to join us on Thursday, June 18, 4 – 5:30 p.m. for The Many Faces of Structural Racism: A Campus Conversation to learn more from some of these experts as we continue to consider how to address structural racism, both in America and on our campus. Presenters include:

Dr. Kimberly Moffitt, director and professor, Language, Literacy, and Culture, and affiliate professor, Africana Studies
Dr. Keisha Allen, assistant professor, Education
Dr. Shawn Bediako, professor, Psychology
Dr. Tyson King-Meadows, professor, Political Science, American Council on Education (ACE) fellow
Ariana Arnold, Esq., Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion
Dr. Jasmine Lee, Director of Inclusive Excellence, Student Affairs
Dr. David Hoffman, Director, Center for Democracy and Civic Life

We know that a variety of departments and divisions have sponsored and are planning events to support our community during this time. We will be compiling and sharing these through the Office of Equity and Inclusion’s website. Please contact oei@umbc.edu if you have an event or resource to share.

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Many faculty, staff, students, and alumni have shared deep and urgent concerns in recent weeks about structural racism, calling for change in America and within our UMBC community. We hear your...

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It is with mixed emotions we share that our colleague Scott Casper, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, will step down from his position at UMBC late this summer to become president of the American Antiquarian Society (AAS). We will miss him, and yet we are also very proud and know he will do a superb job as president of the AAS.

Dean Casper is one of UMBC’s most admired leaders — as a scholar, academic administrator, and human being. He has done a masterful job as dean of our College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Most important, he lives the values we consider most significant in the humanities, including intellectual curiosity, compassion for others, and an abiding commitment to social justice.

Under Dean Casper’s leadership, the campus received the distinguished Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 2020. This achievement required a rigorous campus-wide self-study of UMBC’s work with communities in Greater Baltimore and beyond, a process that involved more than 120 members of the UMBC community as well as dozens of community partners.

The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences scaled up research in various ways during Dean Casper’s tenure, including the creation of the Center for Social Science Scholarship. The college's commitment to community engagement and civic agency has been notable, reflected in the most recent Mellon Foundation grant (one of two Mellon grants), in hosting the Imagining America conference in 2015, in the establishment of the Lion Brothers space in downtown Baltimore, and in the new Community Leadership MPS and Public Humanities minor. And, in the time since Dean Casper’s arrival, CAHSS has hired one third of its current faculty, enriching the campus with the addition of an extraordinary, diverse cohort of brilliant scholars and artists, and outstanding teachers.

He has also worked to develop robust relationships with external organizations. Under his guidance, UMBC signed an MOU with The Walters Art Museum, and he served on the advisory committee for the reinstallation of The Walters’ 1 West Mount Vernon Place. He serves on the boards of Maryland Humanities and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance.

The American Antiquarian Society, of which Dean Casper will become president this fall, was founded in 1812 by Revolutionary War patriot and printer Isaiah Thomas, and is both a learned society and a major independent research library. The AAS library today houses the largest and most accessible collection of books, pamphlets, broadsides, newspapers, periodicals, music, and graphic arts material printed through 1876 in what is now the United States, as well as manuscripts and a substantial collection of secondary texts, bibliographies, and digital resources and reference works related to all aspects of American history and culture before the twentieth century. AAS was presented with the 2013 National Humanities Medal by President Obama in a ceremony at the White House.

Dean Casper joined UMBC in 2013 after many years on the faculty of the University of Nevada, Reno. A historian of the nineteenth-century United States who received his Ph.D. in American Studies from Yale University, he is the author of Sarah Johnson’s Mount Vernon: The Forgotten History of an American Shrine (Hill & Wang, 2008) and Constructing American Lives: Biography and Culture in Nineteenth-Century America (University of North Carolina Press, 1999), and the co-author, editor, or co-editor of seven other books, most recently The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Cultural and Intellectual History (Oxford University Press, 2013). He edited the annual “Textbooks and Teaching” section of the Journal of American History from 2008 to 2018, and was acting editor of The William and Mary Quarterly in 2008–09. He has worked extensively with K-12 history and social studies educators through the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the Center for Civic Education, and the Northern Nevada Teaching American History Project.

The Provost will be working with the CAHSS community as plans for this transition are being developed.

Please join us in congratulating Dean Casper as he moves forward to lead the American Antiquarian Society, where we expect nothing less than greatness from him. He will always be part of the UMBC community.

President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous ]]>

Dear Faculty and Staff, It is with mixed emotions we share that our colleague Scott Casper, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, will step down from his position at UMBC...

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Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home Order.

For the most updated information and more information on actions to reduce COVID-19 risks in our community, please visit covid19.umbc.edu.

Retrievers Return Roadmap

Visit our site regularly for the most updated information on fall planning. We expect to be able to share additional information on fall courses by the end of the month.

Student Services and Support

The Counseling Center hosts a resilience-building workshop on Friday, June 12 at 1 p.m.
UMBC Training Centers' free live online workshop series covers a variety of skills and career sessions on software development, cyber security, leadership, and more.

Business Continuity and Staff Support

The Women’s Center is hosting a Faculty + Staff Summer Care Discussion Series that discusses remote work, distance learning, and navigating the ever-evolving context in which our lives go on.
Visit the State of Maryland’s testing location map. Testing is available for Maryland residents with a valid ID (driver’s license, U.S. passport, Social Security card).
Under the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System approved coronavirus-related distributions from the Optional Retirement Program for eligible active employees. Faculty & Staff enrolled in the ORP should see this notice for more details.

Facilities

The campus remains accessible for emergency access only. This includes employees with a letter from their supervisor, researchers approved through the Access Exception process, and/or approved students. If you have a one-time emergency need to visit campus, call UMBC Police Deputy Chief Bruce Perry at 443-677-2195 or Lieutenant Derrick Johns at 410-207-0850.

UMBC Together

Dana Bradley, Erickson School of Aging Studies, discusses how Older adults remain isolated despite reopening. In the New York Times
Zoë McLaren, public policy, shares The dos and don’ts of ‘Quarantine Pods’ in the New York Times

If you have questions or concerns, please email covid19@umbc.edu.

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Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home Order. For the most updated...

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Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home Order.

For the most updated information and more information on actions to reduce COVID-19 risks in our community, please visit covid19.umbc.edu.

Retrievers Return Roadmap

Visit our site regularly for the most updated information on fall planning. We expect to be able to share additional information on fall courses by the end of the month.

Student Services and Support

Join the UMBC Career Center for a free virtual Career Launch Summer Series designed to focus and invigorate your job or internship search. Whether you’re looking for full-time work as a Class of 2020 graduate, seeking an internship, or simply exploring your career options, you can make the most of this time to prepare yourself for success.
Registration for the annual Maryland Career Consortium (MCC) Virtual Career Fair on Friday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is now open. The MCC Career Fair provides students and alumni from all member institutions, including UMBC, the chance to connect with employers around the region. Registration is required. For questions, contact the Career Center at careers@umbc.edu.
International Education Services is hosting a virtual Town Hall this Friday, June 12, from 4 - 5 p.m. EST for current international students, faculty, and staff. Click here on Friday to connect with IES staff, ask questions, and engage in discussions.

Business Continuity and Staff Support

Faculty and staff may opt in to receive the spring UMBC Magazine at home. To receive yours, please fill out this form by close of business, Wednesday, June 17.
Under the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System approved coronavirus-related distributions from the Optional Retirement Program for eligible active employees. Faculty & Staff enrolled in the ORP should see this notice for more details.

UMBC Together

The Baltimore Sun covers how Companies at bwtech@UMBC are developing new ways to combat coronavirus.
UMBC’s first graduating classes, the Founding Four, reflect on the similarities and differences between campus in 1970 and today.
Subscribe to the myUMBC group to receive UMBC Together Weekly Highlights and more.

If you have questions or concerns, please email covid19@umbc.edu.

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Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home Order. For the most updated...

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During this time in America, each of us is faced with the challenge of understanding our position in society and our role in dismantling structural racism.

It is important to say the names on our minds—George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Sandra Bland, Korryn Gaines, Freddie Gray—and speak out against the police brutality that resulted in their deaths and the deaths of so many other Black people in this country. Action is essential to the future of our society, and action can take many forms, including protest, voting, and publicly acknowledging the pain of others.

It is also important to name the countless other forms of inequality that are just as deadly, including inadequate educational opportunities, lack of living wages and affordable housing, and unequal access to healthcare, healthy food, and high-quality public transportation. It is clear from recent protests across the nation and world that more people of all races and ages are seeing that structural racism permeates our society—our policies, laws, financial institutions, workplaces, academic and faith institutions, and our own actions and inactions. This recognition, while painful to many of us in different ways, should lead to actions that can build a stronger society.

To honor the memory of George Floyd and recognize the powerful emotions so many are feeling at this time, UMBC encourages faculty, staff, and students to pause from business as usual to participate in memorial events for Mr. Floyd and reflect on what we can do as individuals and as a university community to contribute to meaningful and lasting change. The University is offering two hours of release time for those who wish to take time off for this purpose. Please work with your supervisor to schedule that time. We also ask faculty teaching summer courses to be sensitive and accommodating to students who wish to honor Mr. Floyd’s memory and reflect.

Many in our community are asking what actions UMBC is taking now and how we can do more, both as individuals and as a campus. One of the most important things we can do is acknowledge that we as a campus and a community still have much work to do. We must take action, both on campus and through our engagement in the larger community, to address the impact of structural racism and inequality.

Moving forward with “business as usual” without acknowledging the lived experience of Black and other marginalized community members contributes to a pattern of harm for those directly affected. It is also important to learn about the historic roots of white supremacy, structural racism, sexual violence, gender discrimination, and other forms of systematic oppression and marginalization—in the wider world, and on our own campus.

We will continue to communicate to the campus about ways in which we are addressing these issues. Here are some examples of work that is underway.

The Division of Student Affairs has developed a five-part workshop series focused on equipping faculty and staff with the tools and skills to engage in ongoing advocacy, self-work, and self-care in response to ongoing racial injustice and our current climate. Sessions will be open to faculty and staff across campus.
There is a new [Free]dom Fridays weekly Webex. This student-centered program is designed to provide a virtual space to have an open dialogue about social justice and identity-based issues.
The Black Faculty and Staff Association will be holding a Community Care Space for a facilitated discussion focusing on self-care, healing, shared processing, and resource sharing to support community members who may be feeling overwhelmed and angry.
The Office of Equity and Inclusion has created this resource for Inclusive Excellence in Action, which provides resources for allies who are interested in actively supporting those most directly impacted by systemic racism and recent events.

UMBC was founded in 1966 in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. Our campus continues to partner with public officials and communities across the state and nation to address societal challenges. Faculty, staff, and students are supporting teachers, children, and families in Baltimore and surrounding school systems; helping young people develop job skills; activating communities to tell their stories through the arts and humanities; using the social sciences to address inequalities resulting from racial status and poverty; and working to address violence and enact criminal justice policy reforms, with special emphasis on youth.

We realize there is much more work for all of us to do. As we grieve over the many lives unjustly lost or limited by racism, we are encouraged by the outpouring of statements of solidarity and caring conversations happening within our campus community and beyond. Recalling Civil Rights protests of the 1960s led by Black children, we are moved to see people of all races and ages around the world risking their health and lives to demand an end to systemic racism. We must not let this opportunity pass.

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During this time in America, each of us is faced with the challenge of understanding our position in society and our role in dismantling structural racism. It is important to say the names on our...

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Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home Order.

For the most updated information and more information on actions to reduce COVID-19 risks in our community, please visit covid19.umbc.edu.

Updates for Fall

We have launched the Retrievers Return Roadmap which shares our approach to fall planning. The website will be updated regularly as details emerge.

Student Services and Support

Students registered for fall 2020 housing received this update earlier in the week. We know there are many questions and plan to share additional information in the coming weeks.
The Counseling Center will offer a series on resilience beginning Tuesday, June 9, at 11 a.m.

Campus Access

Despite Governor Hogan’s announcement of Maryland’s move to Phase 2 of the COVID recovery plan, UMBC’s status is unchanged. The university is open, all instruction is online, and employees will continue to work remotely. Access to campus buildings remains restricted. If you need to access campus, please review guidelines on the COVID-19 website.

UMBC Together

Check out the UMBC Together myUMBC group for new SkillSoft courses on Organizational Change.
Lucy Wilson, Emergency Health Services shares her expertise on staying safe on Huffpost and WJZ Baltimore.

If you have questions or concerns, please email covid19@umbc.edu.

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Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home Order. For the most updated...

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Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home Order.

For the most updated information and more information on actions to reduce COVID-19 risks in our community, please visit covid19.umbc.edu.

Updates for Fall

We have launched the Retrievers Return Roadmap which shares our approach to fall planning. The website will be updated regularly as details emerge.
The University System of Maryland has also shared guiding principles for all system schools.

Student Services and Support

Students registered for fall 2020 housing received this update today. We know there are many questions and plan to share additional information in the coming weeks.
Free online group fitness classes will continue to be offered this summer. Class schedule is available here.
Campus Life's (CL) Mosaic, Interfaith, & Pride Centers will host a Community Care Space: A holding space for Black-Identified Students on Wednesday, June 3 at 3 p.m. and [Free]dom Fridays at 3 p.m.

Academic Continuity

The University System of Maryland (USM) COVID Research & Innovation Task Force invites the USM community to help the State of Maryland find solutions to the current health crisis through the COVID App Challenge.

Business Continuity and Staff Support

Related to COVID-19, The State of Maryland Employee Benefit Division announced new IRS provisions that allow limited mid-year benefit changes. The following post includes details about new enrollments and changes to flexible spending accounts (FSA) that must be submitted by July 31, 2020.
The UMBC Summer Enrichment Academy is now fully online. Staff and faculty can receive a $50 discount on these academic camps with code UMBC20AFF. Learn more at sea.umbc.edu.

Facilities

The campus remains accessible for emergency access only. This includes employees with a letter from their supervisor, researchers approved through the Access Exception process, and/or approved students. If you have a one-time emergency need to visit campus, call UMBC Police Deputy Chief Bruce Perry at 443-677-2195 or Lieutenant Derrick Johns at 410-207-0850.

UMBC Together

The newest edition of the UMBC magazine is in the mail. Check out Dr. Hrabowski’s column Up on the Roof as he talks about alumni leadership during the pandemic and a symbol of hope in tough times.
Learn more about UMBC’s class of 1970 and their Golden Commencement.

If you have questions or concerns, please email covid19@umbc.edu.

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Campus Status: The University is open, with employees working remotely. UMBC’s physical campus remains closed. Maryland is currently under a Safer at Home Order. For the most updated...

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Dear Faculty and Staff,

We deeply appreciate the determination and care you brought to your work this spring and, as the summer begins, we know that you are eager to hear about how UMBC will support our students, faculty, and staff as we prepare for fall semester. While much remains uncertain, we would like to share with you the Retrievers Return Roadmap that outlines the principles, assumptions, and strategies that will guide the gradual return to campus.

The health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community remain at the forefront of all of our planning considerations. UMBC’s plan to reopen our campus will be grounded in the best available scientific and medical information and adhere to guidance and constraints provided by federal (including CDC and OSHA), state, and local government officials, as well as the University System of Maryland. Our Roadmap is based on current knowledge and assumptions about what is possible, and we recognize that it will likely evolve as the environment changes.

UMBC’s commitment to shared governance will inform every stage of our planning process. We will continue to engage the campus community broadly, through participation on planning groups, frequent communication, and solicitation of input as plans are developed.

We are planning for UMBC to return to campus in a measured and closely monitored way. Most courses will continue to be delivered virtually, with fewer undergraduate and graduate courses offered either fully or partially in-person this fall. The courses offered in-person will meet two specific criteria: (1) courses required for majors and graduate programs that need special spaces, facilities, and equipment; and (2) courses designed to help build a connection between new students and the campus. For public health reasons, there will be reduced numbers of students living on campus, and we are currently determining who will be given priority for the limited space available.

Most faculty and staff will continue to telework during the fall semester. We thank all of our colleagues for your quick work to move both academic and business processes online, from teaching and advising to the PMP and training. We will identify those offices and functions that need to operate on the physical campus, and we will consider plans to return these functions to the campus with appropriate precautions. These measures will include mandatory use of appropriate PPE, enhanced cleaning services and access to hand sanitizing, physical distancing, training and education, and continued use of remote meetings. Supervisors will be encouraged to be flexible and provide support and alternatives when it is feasible to do so.

While the location and mode of our work together is changed during the pandemic, students will continue to have a distinctive experience centered on their success and well-being. Hallmarks of the UMBC student experience—including innovative teaching and learning, mentoring, career-building experiences, and student organizations and social life—will continue to be available to students as they learn from anywhere and everywhere. Given that the majority of fall classes will be fully or partially online, we are taking steps to provide additional resources and training for faculty to support the success of our students.

Our preparations for the fall semester will also give special attention to the diverse needs of faculty, staff, and students. We understand that individuals have varying needs for access and support, and our planning will take that into consideration. There will be continued opportunity for faculty and staff to ask questions and provide input through shared governance and administrative channels.

Finally, we understand that recovery is a dynamic process, not a single milestone. Our Roadmap is based on current knowledge and key assumptions about what is possible. We recognize that our plan may evolve as circumstances change, and we will adapt accordingly.

We understand that many of you would like to have more details and certainty than can be provided at this time. Please know we are committed to continued, frequent communication as plans evolve and more information is available. In the meantime, if you have questions or input, please reach out through covid19@umbc.edu.

Thank you for all you do for UMBC. Stay safe.

President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous

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Dear Faculty and Staff, We deeply appreciate the determination and care you brought to your work this spring and, as the summer begins, we know that you are eager to hear about how UMBC will...

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Dear Students,

We applaud the determination you brought to your studies this spring and understand that even though the summer is just beginning, you are eager to know how UMBC will support your continued progress in the fall semester. While much is still uncertain, we want to share our Retrievers Return Roadmap outlining the principles, assumptions, and strategies underlying our plans for supporting students this fall.

We are planning for UMBC to transition to a gradual return to campus for the fall semester. Most courses will continue to be delivered virtually, with fewer undergraduate and graduate courses offered either fully or partially in-person. The courses offered in-person will meet two specific criteria: (1) courses required for majors and graduate programs that need special spaces, facilities, and equipment; and (2) courses designed to help build a connection between new students and the campus. For public health reasons, there will be reduced numbers of students residing on campus. More information about the factors that will be considered for on-campus housing will be available soon. In addition, research labs, as well as studios and performance spaces for creative work, will be gradually reopened beginning this summer using a phased approach. Additional updates for UMBC Shady Grove students will also be available soon.

The health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community will remain at the forefront of all of our planning considerations. UMBC’s plan to reopen our campus will be grounded in the best available scientific and public health information and adhere to guidance and constraints provided by federal (including CDC and OSHA), state, and local government officials, as well as the University System of Maryland. Our Roadmap is based on current knowledge and assumptions about what is possible, and we recognize that it will likely evolve as the environment changes.

Students will continue to have a distinctive experience centered on their success and well-being. Hallmarks of the UMBC student experience—including innovative teaching and learning, mentoring, career-building experiences, and student organizations and social life—will continue to be available to our students. Given that the majority of fall classes will be fully or partially online, we are taking steps to provide additional resources for students and training for faculty to support the success of our students as they learn in a variety of settings. The Academic Success Center will continue to support students and their progress by providing access to academic advisors and student advocates.

Our preparations for the fall semester will give special attention to the diverse needs of students. We understand that students have varying needs for access and support, and our planning will take this into consideration.

We understand that many of you may be feeling unsettled about your college experience in this unusual time. At the same time, your perspective and talents are needed now more than ever, and your progress toward your degree will lead to a brighter future when this pandemic is behind us. Know that the UMBC administration, faculty, and staff are here for you to answer questions and work with you on individual concerns. You may contact us at covid19@umbc.edu. Additional information is available at covid19.umbc.edu.

We are proud of all you have achieved, excited about all you will accomplish, and look forward to welcoming you back to campus as soon as possible. Stay safe.

President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous

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Dear Students, We applaud the determination you brought to your studies this spring and understand that even though the summer is just beginning, you are eager to know how UMBC will support...

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The completion of UMBC’s annual promotion and tenure process provides us with an opportunity to recognize members of our community who have been promoted in rank based on the excellence they have demonstrated. This rigorous review process serves to uphold our ideals as a scholarly community focused on supporting our students, advancing knowledge, and serving the broader community. Individuals who are promoted have demonstrated wide-ranging commitment to our mission as a research university while reaching significant milestones in their roles as teachers, scholars, and mentors.

This year, we recognize the success of 47 colleagues: teachers and mentors who have found new ways to reach and inspire students; scholars committed to deepening our understanding of humanity and the natural world that surrounds us; and those whose work advances community-engaged scholarship and learning. Like all members of the UMBC community, these individuals have responded to challenging circumstances with grit, creativity, and compassion. Their example inspires us and offers hope.

Please join us in congratulating our colleagues selected this spring for promotion or tenure.

Promoted to Rank of Senior Lecturer
Eric Abele
Elisabeth Arevalo-Guerrero
Melissa Blair
Elizabeth Feeser
Jennifer Hughes
Greggory Schraven
Tracy Smith

Promoted to Rank of Principal Lecturer
Diane Alonso
Steven Caruso
Kate Drabinski
Samir El Omari
Carol Fitzpatrick
Tiffany Gierasch
Sarah Leupen
Eileen O'Brien
Sally Shivnan
Donald Snyder
Brigid Starkey
Susanne Sutton
Alan Wonneberger

Promoted to the Rank of Associate Professor with Tenure
Salem Abo-Zaid
Erin Green
Karuna Joshi
Seung-Jun Kim
Nancy Kusmaul
Michael Lane
Michael Jerome Nance
Shimei Pan
Corrie Parks
Whitney Schwab
Dena Smith

Nianshen Song
Bedrich Sousedik
Meilin Yu

Promoted to the Rank of Professor
Rebecca Adelman
Nilanjan Banerjee
Shawn Bediako
Zhiyuan Chen
Carolyn Forestiere
George Karabatis
Tyson King-Meadows
Kimberly Moffitt
Margaret Re
Carolyn Seaman
John Stolle-McAllister

Obtaining Tenure
Zoe McLaren

Promotion to Librarian II
Aimee Plaisance

President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous

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Dear Colleagues, The completion of UMBC’s annual promotion and tenure process provides us with an opportunity to recognize members of our community who have been promoted in rank based on the...

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