Camee Maddox-Wingfield, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health, UMBC

On May 22 each year, when the eastern Caribbean island of Martinique observes Emancipation Day, drums beat from sunrise until the break of dawn the next day.

Participants at open-air, starlit gatherings dance, sing, play drums and feast for ancestors who fought to break the chains of bondage. The uprising that eventually led to the abolition of slavery on the island in 1848 was sparked by the arrest of Romain, an enslaved man who refused to comply with his master’s ban on beating drums.

Today, drums are still a symbol of rebellion and freedom. The traditional dances that span the island each May 22, at performances called “swaré bèlè,” are filled with an electrifying aura of reverence and honor.

But the bèlè is not only a genre of ancestral Afro-Caribbean drum-dance practices. Rather, it is “an mannyè viv:” a lifestyle and worldview through which many people find healing and empowerment for themselves and their communities.

My first encounter with bèlè occurred when I was a graduate student in anthropology, conducting fieldwork in Martinique. As a former dancer, I was drawn to how bèlè drummers, dancers and singers experience spiritual and cultural freedom. Performers tell me their participation feels transformative, sacred and otherworldly.

Bèlè linò

Martinique is an overseas region of France in the Lesser Antilles islands. Most of the 400,000 people living there are descended from Africans brought to the islands by the slave trade, whose traditions have left a deep imprint on Martinican culture.

Centuries of history have given bèlè a complex set of symbols, only understood by those deeply immersed in the practice.

Swaré bèlè gatherings typically begin with a few matches of “ladja/danmyé,” a martial art tradition between two combatants in the center of a circle, which warms up the energy of the space as guests are arriving.

The remainder of the event involves an improvised rotation of performers playing and dancing sets from the “Bèlè Linò” repertoire. These square dances use the quadrille configuration, with four pairs of female and male dancers. After the opening sequences, each pair takes turns dancing in a playful exchange in the center of the circle, then dances toward the drummers to salute them.

Bèlè traditions use the “tanbou,” a goat-skinned conical drum. There is also the “tibwa”: two wooden sticks beaten on the side of the drum with a steady tempo.

The ensemble of dancers, drummers and singers is normally encircled by a crowd of spectators who clap their hands, sway their bodies and join in the song’s refrain.

All dancers master the base repertoire. Yet the order and style of interactions between partners is improvised – making it remarkable that the drummers can match their rhythm to the dancers’ intricate footwork.

In the playful, flirtatious and at times competitive game of certain bèlè styles, the woman is the object of her male partner’s pursuit, and she ultimately decides if she will welcome his affections. This aspect of bèlè performance, whereby women are admired and praised for their sensual dance prowess, brings female performers a sense of affirmation.

Repressed, then embraced

Martinique has been under French control since 1635. Even during the post-colonial era, many Black Martinican folk traditions faced repression, as leaders imposed mainland French culture on the population. For example, bèlè practices were often denigrated as “bagay vyé nèg,” “bagay djab” and “bagay ki ja pasé”: primitive, indecent and outdated, in the Martinican Creole language. To many in the church, traditional drumming and dance symbolized heathenism. In a country where the vast majority of people belong to the church, it was difficult for devout Catholics to support bèlè.

Many practitioners see bèlè as a dance of the earth that reinforces human connections with the land, divine spirits and ideals of freedom. Touted as a fertility ritual for both humans and the land, the dance reflects sensuality between partners. Other symbolism suggests sacred connections with the soil, vegetation and water on which Martinicans’ enslaved ancestors labored and survived. Many dance movements represent agricultural labor.

During the 1980s, student activists and youth groups led initiatives to revive traditions that had nearly dissolved as a result of French pressure to assimilate. Today an ever-growing community has embraced bèlè as they challenge the legacy of colonialism and racism in Martinique.

Bèlè performance is increasingly visible in the Catholic Church. “Bèlè légliz” or “Church bèlè” fuses the liturgy with references to Martinicans’ African and diasporic heritage.

Some bèlè activists weave in symbols of ancestor reverence and land stewardship, which are also found in Caribbean religious traditions such as Haitian Vodou, Cuban Santería, Brazilian Candomblé and Quimbois, Martinique’s tradition of folk healing.

An increasing number of practitioners assert that bèlè is a “secular spirituality,” viewing it as a form of social healing from subjugation. Many of the people I have interviewed speak about bèlè as an “otherworldly” experience with unique energy that helps them cope with their society’s shadows of colonialism and slavery, and the post-colonial transition.

Solidarity and hope

The bèlè drum and its associated dances have become the rallying cry around which many bèlè cultural activists organize daily life, such as by teaching classes and participating in mutual aid projects.

Swaré bèlè gatherings are often associated with community, and have become key opportunities for attendees to express cultural pride, political solidarity and hopes for change. These events often pay homage to historical figures who made contributions to struggles for Black liberation, such as poet and politician Aimé Césaire and philosopher Frantz Fanon.

Over the last 13 years, my research has probed how traditional dance expresses resistance, emotions, spirituality and even feelings of transcendence. I have also explored how bèlè complicates black-and-white ideas about what is “sacred” versus what is “secular.”

Bèlè dances on the line between the two, reflecting the complex legacy of colonialism that continues to shape life in the Caribbean.

* * * * *

Camee Maddox-Wingfield, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The six 2022 honorary degree recipients speaking at UMBC’s commencement ceremonies next week have a lot in common. They are each doing amazing things in their respective fields. And they also all happen to be UMBC alumni.

“These honorary degree recipients are wonderful examples of the best of UMBC,” said Greg Simmons, M.P.P., ’04, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “They are brilliant individuals at the top of their fields, who care deeply about making the world a better place, each in their own way.” 

Graduate ceremony speakers

Mark Doms ’86, economics and mathematics, and Kafui Dzirasa ’01, M8, chemical engineering, will speak at UMBC’s graduate commencement ceremony on May 25.

After graduating from UMBC in 1986, Doms went on to earn a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As an economist with a focus on public policy, Doms has held roles in the Federal Reserve system, the executive branch, and the legislative branch, including joining the Obama administration in 2009 as the Chief Economist at the Department of Commerce. In 2013, the United States Senate confirmed Doms as Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Department of Commerce. Currently, Doms serves as the Chief Economist at the Congressional Budget Office, providing high-quality, non-partisan analysis to Congress.

Meanwhile, after leaving UMBC, Dzirasa went on to earn his Ph.D. in neurobiology from Duke University and his M.D. from the Duke University School of Medicine. His ultimate goal is to combine his research, medical training, and community experience to improve outcomes for diverse communities living with neurological and psychiatric illness.

Dzirasa’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2016 and the Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award in 2022. He was inducted into the American Society for Clinical Investigation in 2019, and in 2021 was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine and named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. Dzirasa currently serves as an associate professor at Duke University with appointments in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurobiology, Biomedical Engineering, and Neurosurgery.

Leaders in law and the arts

On May 26, UMBC will host two undergraduate commencement ceremonies. Tiffany Holmes, M.F.A. ’99, imaging and digital arts,and Ricardo Zwaig ’77, Spanish,will speak at the first ceremony, addressing graduates in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the School of Social Work, and the Erickson School. 

Holmes earned her B.A. in art history from Williams College, an M.F.A. from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), an M.F.A. in digital arts from UMBC, and a Ph.D. from the University of Plymouth. Her studio practice explores the potential of art and design to promote environmental awareness, and has exhibited across the globe at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, 01SJ Biennial, Siggraph 2000, Interaction ’01 in Japan, ISEA Nagoya, Microwave Festival, Hong Kong. Holmes is currently the interim vice president of Academic Affairs and provost at MICA, after spending 18 years at the School of Art in Chicago as a full professor and dean.

Judge Zwaig earned his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law after graduating from UMBC. He began his career as a state public defender in Baltimore City before joining the Office of the Federal Public Defender in 1991. He and his brother Michael Zwaig ’81, history, also established the Law Offices of Zwaig & Zwaig, P.A., and helped establish UMBC’s Esperanza Fund in 2008, which offers scholarships for Latinx students.

In 2010, Judge Zwaig became the first Hispanic male appointed to the Maryland Judiciary and was awarded the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Columbia Foundation, taught at Catholic University, Columbus School of Law, and at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy Program at the Georgetown University Law Center. 

Biomedical research innovators

Kizzmekia Corbett ’08, M16, biological sciences and sociology,and Kaitlyn Sadtler ’11, biological sciences,will speak at UMBC’s second undergraduate commencement ceremony, addressing graduates in the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, College of Engineering and Information Technology, and Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

After graduating from UMBC, Corbett went on to earn her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Throughout her more than 15-year career studying infectious diseases, she has received several prestigious awards, including the Benjamin Franklin Next Gen Award and the Salzman Memorial Award in Virology. Her work was also instrumental in the development of mRNA-1273, a leading vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 deployed by industry partner Moderna, Inc. Corbett is currently an assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Shutzer assistant professor at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study, and associate member of the Phillip T. and Susan M. Ragon Institute. She also recently established the Kizzmekia S. Corbett Endowed Scholarship to support students in the Meyerhoff Scholars Program who are emerging leaders at UMBC or in the community.

Sadtler earned her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine after graduating from UMBC. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Sadtler is currently an investigator and chief of the section on immunoengineering at the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, of the National Institutes of Health. Her work has earned her several awards, including a TED Fellowship, an NIH Director’s Award for Mentorship and for her work on COVID-19, as well as inclusion on the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 List in Science and the 2021 MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35 List. Sadtler was also named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2022.

Pride in UMBC

“When I learned of this year’s honorary degree recipients, I was immediately filled with a sense of pride in knowing that they are not only UMBC alumni but that each has been recognized by the community as Alumni of the Year recipients in recent years,” said Stanyell Odom, Director of Alumni Engagement. “The individual and collective stories and the impact they’ve made will continue to inspire me for many years to come.” 

Learn more about UMBC’s 2022 Commencement .

Governor Larry Hogan visited UMBC on Wednesday, May 18, for a ceremony marking the transfer of the Spring Grove Hospital Center campus to UMBC to support the university’s long-term development. 

The Skylight Room in The Commons room buzzed with energy as guests arrived, including representatives from UMBC, Maryland and Baltimore County government, and the Catonsville and Arbutus communities. 

Attention turned to Farah Helal ’24, global studies and political science, newly appointed 2022 University System of Maryland (USM) student regent. Helal took a break from studying for final exams to welcome the group, introducing remarks by Governor Larry Hogan; President Freeman Hrabowski; Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones ’76, psychology; County Executive John A. Olszewski Jr., Ph.D. ’17, public policy; County Councilman Tom Quirk; and USM Chancellor Jay Perman. 

Hrabowski called for a round of applause in recognition of UMBC’s community neighbors. He also thanked the governor, Maryland Treasurer Dereck Davis, visiting legislators, and state employees who worked to make this transfer happen. 

“This is about education—it’s about the future of higher education and the future of Maryland,” Hrabowski said. Honoring state leaders for their commitment to elevating the state through this type of partnership, he noted, “When we are talking about investing in education, investing in universities, we are talking about the future of society.”

Future footprint

Gov. Hogan stepped up to the lectern and thanked President Hrabowski for his 30 years of UMBC leadership, describing this moment as a testament to his “incredible vision for the future of this esteemed university.” 

Speaking to the value of investing in higher education, he noted, “Maryland is proud to be home to one of the most highly educated workforces in America, and it is due in large part to incredible institutions like UMBC, which has consistently been ranked as one of most innovative universities in the nation and as a leader in global social and economic impact.”

“UMBC is a model for undergraduate education, inclusive talent development, and innovation. I’m very excited that its footprint will now be able to grow even further into the future,” he said. “Now, with the transfer of Spring Grove, together we are ensuring that UMBC will continue to play a meaningful role in advancing education, community development, and economic and workforce development here in Baltimore County and throughout the State of Maryland.”

UMBC does not yet have a specific plan for the site. The campus will engage with the State, the County, community leaders, and other partners during its regular master facilities planning process to envision a future for the Spring Grove property that supports the university’s long-term development and enhances both economic development and quality of life in the Baltimore region and Maryland.

Legacy of thoughtfulness

“Today is an exciting day,” said Speaker Jones. She emphasized this moment as an important beginning. “It is the start of a new opportunity for UMBC, and…community input will be a hallmark of the future of the property.”

As a fellow alumnus of UMBC, County Executive Olszewski added, “I can’t help but be excited about the future of our students and what this means for our communities…It is also an incredibly exciting time for the community, as we think about meeting the needs and building a robust ecosystem here.”

Reflecting on UMBC as a community partner, he shared, “There is a legacy of intentionality and thoughtfulness and community engagement that permeates this institution and this culture. So I couldn’t be more excited to work with the leaders of UMBC, with Governor Hogan, the Speaker, the Chancellor, and so many others, to really take this vision and make it real in the years ahead.”

Councilman Quirk joined in that excitement for partnering with UMBC, saying, “One thing with certainty is that the community in Arbutus and community in Catonsville strongly support UMBC, its goals, and its mission. It makes a great difference when we have a great community partner.”

First of many steps

USM Chancellor Perman closed the event by returning to the long-term priorities of the state of Maryland.

“We are lucky to live, learn, and work in a state that values higher education, in a state that has a vision for higher education,” he said. “At the system we serve Maryland together with elected leaders who understand, maybe better than their colleagues anywhere else, what an investment in…public higher education means for a state, for the people of a state, and for the quality of life…we all enjoy, because an investment like this accumulates. It accrues. It comes back to all of us.” 

“This land expands our capacity—UMBC’s capacity—to serve the public good,” he noted. “That’s why this investment…matters. Because it’s not just an investment in this institution or even its students. It’s truly an investment in every single citizen of this state.” 

“I know that that’s something this university…will never forget, that they are the stewards of land meant to benefit all,” he emphasized. “I’m so proud of what UMBC has accomplished, and I’m prouder still that this is just the beginning.”

Micah Thorpe

Degree: B.S., Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Germantown, MD
Post-grad plans: Ph.D., mechanical engineering, University of Michigan

“My mom is a teacher at a Title I school. She’s a huge inspiration for me. She’s always working to expose her kids to STEM, which encouraged me to do the same—and I realized I could do it here at UMBC.”

Micah Thorpe ’22, mechanical engineering, is a Meyerhoff Scholar and member of the Honors College at UMBC. He started working with local students in his first year at UMBC through a program called College Gardens, helping them with homework and other activities. His commitment to the work grew, and by the next year he was a student coordinator for the Walden Circle Community Center, which provides similar programming for students in grades K-8.

Micah Thorpe ’22 works with students at the Walden Circle Community Center. (Photo courtesy of Thorpe)

Thorpe has also served on the executive board of UMBC’s National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE) chapter. In his role as pre-college initiative chair, Thorpe organized tutoring and other activities for students in Baltimore County, Howard County, and Baltimore City.

Moving through his career, “I definitely want to continue doing the same type of work, and spreading knowledge of STEM,” Thorpe says, “giving kids hands-on experiences and showing them what the possibilities are within STEM.”

Thorpe has grown his own passion for STEM at UMBC through conducting battery research in the laboratory of Deepa Madan, mechanical engineering. He is also grateful to Eloise Grose, assistant director of applied learning and community engagementat the Shriver Center, for her mentorship during his outreach work.

Kaitlynn Lilly 

Degree: B.S., Mathematics and Physics
Hometown: Severna Park, MD
Post-grad plans: Ph.D. in applied mathematics, University of Washington

“As a first-generation college student … I didn’t know if going to graduate school would be possible for me, but people believed in me, saw my potential, and gave me the ability to succeed. Being able to give that back to other people has been really powerful for me and has made my UMBC experience very fulfilling.”

Kaitlynn Lilly (left) supports students at Arbutus Middle School. (Image courtesy of Lilly)

Kaitlynn Lilly ’22, mathematics and physics, is a Meyerhoff Scholar, member of the Honors College, and 2021-2022 Goldwater Scholar. She conducted research with Justin Webster, assistant professor of mathematics, and participated in summer research experiences with faculty at Carnegie Mellon University and University of Hawai’i. But more than thinking about those achievements, she often reflects on the support that helped her get there and how she can pay it forward.

When she started working with Webster in her first year, Lilly did not have substantial high-level math experience. But Webster “took me under his wing and made sure that I was learning the important background material that I needed,” she says. “And eventually, I was able to start my own independent project.”

As her skills and experience grew, she got involved in more and more difficult projects. “I think that’s one of the unique things that UMBC has to offer,” she says. “I feel like I’ve definitely made the most of my education here, and it’s been a really great experience being involved in so many different kinds of research.”

UMBC’s 2021-2022 Goldwater Scholars Karan Luthria (l), Kaitlynn Lilly (c), and Joshua Slaughter (r). (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC)

Lilly is a dedicated mentor to middle school, high school, and UMBC students through several different programs, for which she received the Ronald M. Shapiro Excellence in Mentoring Award.

While studying partial differential equations for her Ph.D. at University of Washington, she plans to create a group for women in applied math and contribute to an existing program that supports high school students.

Favour Nwagugo 

Degree: B.S., Biological Sciences
Hometown: Capitol Heights, MD
Plans: National Cancer Institute postbac program

“Every time I look at where I am, I always try to look around and give back to other people and to the community, because I feel like that’s what true success is—to be able to give back, and to use my gifts and talents to help others up any way I can.”

Favour Nwagugo ’22, biological sciences, is a Meyerhoff Scholar and LSAMP Scholar. From his first semester, he has also been a dedicated volunteer with the CHOICE Program at UMBC, working each week with elementary through high school students. He’s introduced them to the college campus environment through eating at True Grit’s dining hall and playing basketball in the Retriever Activities Center, and he’s led activities in science, art, computer coding, and more.

By spring 2020, Nwagugo was chosen to be a student coordinator with the program, which involved organizing volunteers, leading reflection sessions, and relaying information back to supervisors at the Shriver Center. Beginning in fall 2020, he also served as a peer health educator at UMBC, working to educate UMBC students about healthy lifestyles and choices.

Nwagugo completed research with Phyllis Robinson, professor of biological sciences at UMBC, and completed a summer research experience at Brown University. After a postbac at the National Cancer Institute, Nwagugo plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D.

Ashley Delgado

Degree: B.A., Psychology
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Plans: Teacher at Lakeland Elementary/Middle School

“Growing up in Baltimore City, I only saw Hispanic teachers as Spanish educators. As an intern at a city elementary/middle school, walking through and just seeing so many Spanish-speaking teachers who aren’t just teaching Spanish really spoke to me.”

Ashley Delgado ’22, psychology, is a Sherman STEM Scholar and first-generation college student with a focus on early childhood education.

Ashley Delgado teaching at Maree G. Farring Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore. (Image courtesy of Delgado)

She completed research with Jennifer Mata-McMahon, associate professor of early childhood education. Delgado’s work was part of the Breathe2Think Program, a collaboration between the Sherman Center and the Sherman Scholars to teach emerging teachers how to use mindfulness techniques with young children and for themselves.

Already, Delgado has employed these techniques in her internship placements. She plans to continue using them in her teaching career, both with her students and for herself. Especially during a period of constant change, such as the pandemic, these techniques help children regulate their emotions in appropriate ways.

Delgado also prioritizes culturally responsive teaching. In her work, she will seek to “create that environment where students feel they are represented,” she says. She will also work to create “opportunities for them to express who they are and explain their backgrounds and their stories,” both to their instructors and their classmates. 

Both Mata-McMahon and Jackie Peng, Delgado’s supervisor during her internship at Maree G. Farring Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore City, have served as important mentors for Delgado. They have helped her gain confidence in her teaching as she begins her career.

Courtney Coppersmith

Degree: B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Minors: Philosophy and Emergency Health Services
Hometown: York, PA
Plans: Graduate degree in chemistry

“I still talk to professors I had in my freshman year, which I think is really cool and speaks to the fact that this really is a community among faculty, staff, and students.”

Courtney Coppersmith, ‘22, biochemistry and molecular biology, experienced UMBC as a welcoming community on her first visit, and she has devoted her time on campus to paying that welcoming spirit forward.

She is one of the top softball pitchers in the nation. She has set several university records through the championship-winning UMBC softball team, including for strikeouts in a single game. But behind the stardom, her early success and involvement in nearly a dozen campus and community organizations created pressures that felt overwhelming at times.

Coppersmith responded by writing an essay about her experiences with depression, which won the Jackie Robinson Breaking Barriers national essay contest. Soon, teammates and competitors were reaching out to her to say how her story had resonated with them and helped them recognize that they were not alone. 

Coppersmith has continued to support fellow UMBC student-athletes and the broader UMBC community, particularly through mental health and food security initiatives. She has also served as a chemistry tutor and active volunteer in Baltimore. 

Coppersmith looks forward to pursuing a graduate degree in chemistry. She aspires to help develop medications to fight cancer.

Learn more about Coppersmith’s experience and advocacy in a new feature story in The Baltimore Sun.

Story written by David Hoffman, Ph.D. ’13, language, literacy, and culture (LLC), director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, and Romy Hübler ’09, modern languages and linguistics, M.A. ’11, intercultural communication, Ph.D. ’15, LLC, assistant director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life.

Danylo Leshchyshyn

Degree: B.A., History and Political Science (certificate in Security Studies)
Hometown: Columbia, MD
Plans: M.A. in History, University of Toronto

“The most valuable part of my UMBC experience has been learning that I can succeed at what I do—not only that I can succeed academically, but that I can succeed in the social aspects that I struggled with in high school. I can build meaningful relationships. I can even be president of a club. I can do whatever I set my mind to.”

Danylo Leshchyshyn ‘22, history and political science, came to UMBC hoping to receive the support he would need to succeed. He found it in the form of friendly staff members with Student Disability Services, and in strong connections he formed with other students. He remembers “life changing conversations, which I will be forever grateful for” with friends in the Humanities Scholars Living Learning Community. He also found a path to involvement in campus life through a mythology-themed Dungeons and Dragons campaign organized by the Ancient Studies Council of Majors. 

Leshchyshyn quickly became a supportive community-builder in his own right. He helped revive UMBC’s chapter of Delta Alpha Pi, a national honor society for high-achieving students with disabilities. He also co-founded the Autism Spectrum Student Association and actively participated in several other organizations.

Leshchyshyn’s grandparents came to North America from Ukraine after WWII. He is a fluent Ukrainian speaker and still has relatives living in Ukraine.

In the months since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbor, he has connected with others at UMBC who have Ukrainian connections and spoken at a campus program, “Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Historical, Political, and Personal Perspectives.” He plans to pursue a master’s degree in history at the University of Toronto, focusing on Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

Story written by David Hoffman, Ph.D. ’13, language, literacy, and culture (LLC), director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, and Romy Hübler ’09, modern languages and linguistics, M.A. ’11, intercultural communication, Ph.D. ’15, LLC, assistant director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life.

For the third consecutive season, UMBC softball reigns as the America East champions. Sweeping all three tournament games, the Retrievers held their opponents scoreless becoming the first team in America East history to achieve this milestone. After defeating Binghamton in the first round of the tournament on May 12, the Retrievers went on to defeat UAlbany in the final two games.

“It never gets old,” said head coach Chris Kuhlmeyer of the title.  “A three-peat is an insanely hard thing to do. Just the accomplishments that these ladies have achieved this year, the team ball they played, it means everything to me and the coaching staff and I couldn’t be prouder of them.” Leading by example, Kuhlmeyer was named Coach of the Year for the second year. 

With titles in 2019, 2021, and 2022, UMBC is the first team to win three consecutive crowns since UAlbany in 2006-2008. (No championship was held in 2020, due to COVID-19.) The Retrievers will travel to Durham, North Carolina to take on No.12 Duke on Friday, May 20, at 2:30 p.m. for the first round of NCAA tournament play. The other two teams in the double-elimination, four-team pod are Liberty University and University of Georgia. Retriever fans can catch all the action on ESPN+ and on Twitter.

Honors on and off the softball field

Courtney Coppersmith ’22, biochemistry and molecular biology, has been shattering records since she started her athletic career at UMBC. Coppersmith earned victories in all three tournament games, allowing just two hits in 16 innings. Keeping with the three-peat theme, Coppersmith was named America East Pitcher of the Year for the third consecutive year. She’s just the second player in conference history to snag the award three times.

“Every time you come out on the field, you never know when it’s going to be your last time,” said Coppersmith of the team’s mindset. “So let’s go out, have some fun, (and) play the game that we know how to play.”

Coppersmith was also named to the 2021-22 Academic All-District® Softball Team, selected by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). In addition, she earned her second tournament Most Outstanding Player Award, repeating her 2019 accolade. She is the fifth player in America East history to win multiple M.O.P honors. 

Karly Keating ’22, media and communication studies, earned All-Tournament Team honors, alongside teammates Logan Hawker ’22, mechanical engineering, and Ashley Della Guardia ’24, undergraduate studies.

“Winning is an amazing feeling, especially a three-peat. We’re a talented team and we deserve it. And it’s super exciting to be able to travel and compete in the NCAA tournament,” said Keating. 

Story by Kait McCaffrey and UMBC Athletics.