UMBC researchers have developed a technique to more quickly analyze extensive data from Arctic ice sheets to gain insight and useful knowledge on patterns and trends.

Over the years, vast amounts of data have been collected about the Arctic and Antarctic ice. These data are essential for scientists and policymakers seeking to understand climate change and the current trend of melting. Masoud Yari, research assistant professor, and Maryam Rahnemoonfar, associate professor of information systems, have utilized new AI technology to develop a fully automatic technique to analyze ice data.

This public impact research is part of the National Science Foundation’s ongoing BigData project. Rahnemoonfar, Yari, and colleagues have published their findings in the Journal of Glaciology.

Rethinking manual techniques

For decades, researchers have kept close track of polar ice, snow, and soil measurements, but processing the large volume of available data has proven challenging. NASA’s processes for collecting, tracking, and labeling polar data involve significant manual work, and changes detected in the data can take months or even years to see. Even Arctic data collected via remote sensing technologies require manual processing.

Maryam Rahnemoonfar

According to Rahnemoonfar, “Radar big data is very difficult to mine and understand just by using manual techniques.”

The AI techniques the researchers are developing can be used to mine the data more quickly. They help scientists get useful information on trends related to the thickness of the ice sheets and the level of snow accumulation in a certain location.

Spotting patterns

The researchers developed an algorithm that learns how to identify objects and patterns within the Arctic and Antarctic data. An AI algorithm must be exposed to hundreds of thousands of examples to learn how to identify important elements and patterns. Rahnemoonfar and her team used existing incomplete and noisy labeled data from the Arctic to train the AI algorithm on how to categorize and understand new data.

The algorithm’s training is not yet complete. Researchers will need to scale it up over multiple sensors and locations to create a more accurate tool. However, it has already successfully begun to automate a process that was previously inefficient and labor-intensive.

The rapid expansion of using AI to understand ice and snow thickness in the Arctic will allow scientists and researchers to make faster and more accurate predictions to inform dialogue about climate change. The rate at which Arctic ice is melting impacts sea levels. If scientists are better able to predict the severity of the melting, society can better mitigate the harm caused by sea level rise.

Featured image: Team members from U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy on the NASA ICESCAPE mission, July 2011. Photo by NASA/Kathryn Hansen.

Story by Morgan Zepp for UMBC.

As we prepare to close the book on 2020, we want to take a look back at some of UMBC’s most important chapters from this past year. Here are our top 20 top memories from 2020:

COVID-19 vaccine

Kizzmekia Corbett ’08, M16, biological sciences, has served as scientific lead for the NIAID team that developed the NIH-Moderna vaccine against COVID-19. President Freeman Hrabowski and his wife Jackie both participated in the NIH-Moderna vaccine trial, showing what leadership looks like in action. In addition, Kaitlyn Sadtler ’11, biological sciences, is leading an NIH study to estimate how many people in the U.S. have been infected with COVID-19, including asymptomatic people.

UMBC’s second Rhodes Scholar

An honor so nice, we did it twice! Sam Patterson ’21, M29, is now the second student in UMBC history to receive a Rhodes Scholarship. Only 32 American students are awarded the prestigious scholarship each year, which supports graduate study at the University of Oxford. Among other prestigious scholarships earned by UMBC students, Jordan Troutman ’21, M29, computer science and mathematics; Dominique Brooks ’21, M29, biological sciences; and Olumide Fagboyegun ’21, M29, biochemistry, were all named Barry Goldwater Scholars.

Preparing for Fall 2020

The cost to attend UMBC was lowered by 22 percent for in-state undergraduate students in fall 2020 to help mitigate the financial challenges caused by the global pandemic. Hundreds of faculty also spent the summer training to create engaging, high-quality virtual classroom experiences for students through a program called PIVOT.

Record Fulbright Awards

UMBC was officially named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution in early 2020. Over 43 percent of UMBC’s Fulbright U.S. Student Program applicants earned awards last year. Eleven recent UMBC alumni are recipients of 2020 – 2021 Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards, including seven from UMBC’s Class of 2020.

Inclusive excellence

Jasmine A. Lee, director of inclusive excellence in UMBC’s Division of Student Affairs, now also leads UMBC’s new Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion and Belonging (i3B). Ariana Wright Arnold joined UMBC as director of the new Office of Equity and Inclusion, which launched an Inclusion Council made up of faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Basketball fans celebrate this season

Through strict adherence to COVID-19 safety guidelines, UMBC men’s and women’s basketball were both able to return to play in winter 2020. Although current precautions prevent fans from attending games, #RetrieverNation is still showing up however they can for our teams.

We have liftoff!

UMBC’s Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter (HARP) was named the Small Satellite Mission of the Year by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. 

New books in the news

Among the many books published by UMBC faculty this year, Elizabeth Patton, media and communications studies, explored how Americans think about the modern home office and why in Easy Living: The Rise of the Home Office. Her article about gender and working from home has been read 150,000 times through CNN, Fast Company, and other news outlets. Marjoleine Kars, history, wrote about a massive rebellion of enslaved people in Berbice in the 1700s in her new bookBlood On The River, featured as one of NPR’s best books of 2020.

Student-led events

Students kept our campus community engaged virtually with HackUMBC and TEDxUMBC, both held fully online and drawing huge audiences. 

Faculty COVID-19 research connects with the public

Zoë McLaren, public policy, published several articles explaining COVID-19 testing and clinical trials, including a piece on the winter surge in COVID-19 cases. Katherine Seley-Radtke, chemistry and biochemistry, and colleagues received a Fast Grant to study antivirals’ effectiveness against COVID-19. Seley-Radtke’s articles explaining drugs used to treat COVID-19 have been read more than one million times.

Lucy Wilson, emergency health services, joined an interdisciplinary team of experts in developing “The Roadmap to Recovery: A Public Health Guide for Governors.” A team of researchers led by Charissa Cheah, psychology, was one of the first to receive an NSF Rapid Response Research award on COVID-19, to examine an increase in racism and discrimination experienced by Chinese Americans during the pandemic. 

Cyber Dawgs take first place

The UMBC Cyber Dawgs took first place in the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, which was held virtually. 

Six feet = seven squirrels

Still having a hard time visualizing how far apart six feet is when social distancing? We pride ourselves on innovation at UMBC, and that’s how we came up with the perfect example: six feet apart is the same as seven squirrels. Researchers have not yet confirmed if this is before or after they ate the fries stolen from your lunch.

Artists get creative

Confronted with a global pandemic, UMBC alumni artists got creative in finding ways to share their work with the world. Comedians, photographers, writers, and more proved that the show must go on, and that art can help make people make it through difficult times.

Inclusive language event with global reach

UMBC hosted “The Evolving World of Inclusive Language” online in June. Nearly 800 people from across the U.S. and around the world registered for the day-long event, and 250-300 participants joined each session. The event was organized by Catalina Sofia Dansberger Duque of UMBC’s Office of Institutional Advancement, funded by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

Lumbee archives

Ashley Minner, American studies, is working with a fellow Lumbee scholar to bring the Lumbee history and archives back to the community. Her work has been featured this year by the Baltimore Sun, Smithsonian, and others.

Essential contributions of women in science

Evangeline Rose, Ph.D. ’20, biological sciences; Karan Odom, Ph.D. ’16, biological sciences; and Kevin Omland, biological sciences, wrote about the key role women have played in revolutionizing our understanding of female bird song, and the importance of diversity in scientific research.

First Generation Network

UMBC faculty and staff who are first-generation college graduates came together to develop the First Generation Network, dedicated to supporting UMBC’s first-gen students, approximately 25 percent of our student body. 

Happy birthday, Chip!

We were thrilled for any reason to celebrate in 2020, and the first birthday of our best girl Chip was one of our favorites. She’ll accept IOUs for any in-person pets you’d like to give her when we’re back on campus.

U.S. News rankings: teaching, innovation

UMBC has advanced to #11 for undergraduate teaching and holds the #9 position on the list of most innovative schools in the nation in the 2021 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges rankings.

Reaching the finish line

With classes predominantly online this fall, former students who’ve had to pause their studies re-enrolled at UMBC through the Finish Line initiative. Roughly a quarter had just one course left to complete, and UMBC celebrated their graduation this month.

We look forward to making new memories with our UMBC family in 2021! Check out these stories and more through UMBC News and UMBC Magazine.

Header image taken by Marlayna Demond ’11 in 2019.

After a year of tremendous change and challenges, UMBC was thrilled to come together virtually to celebrate the winter graduates of the Class of 2020. Although the pandemic prevented us from gathering together in the Event Center, our campus community still turned out to share congratulations and support for our Retrievers. 

Grads celebrated by sharing their photos through  photo templates and a photo booth. And they had a chance to give a virtual good luck nose rub to True Grit, our favorite four-legged friend, complete with confetti. 

During the ceremony, President Hrabowski addressed the graduates saying, “What I challenge you to think about is two things. Number one, how can you give hope to others around you? And number two, to envision yourselves 50 years from now, and know that you will be ready to say, ‘What did I do during that time of trial? I did my best.’ And that’s all we can ask, that you do your best.” 

Gaining confidence, making connections

What will students take away from their time at UMBC? For Raquel Hamner, visual arts, it’s the bonds she made. 

“My favorite memory is one of my first memories of UMBC, during the transfer student trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore two years ago,” says Hamner. “I’d always loved the aquarium, so I figured even if I didn’t make any friends I’d still enjoy myself, but I never would have expected making some of the best friends in my life.” 

Hamner sightsees in Washington, D.C. with friends met through Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) in spring 2019. Photo courtesy of Hamner.

For Maya Isabella Peiris Scheirer, global studies, “UMBC allowed me to stop worrying about what I ‘should’ be doing. Being a Retriever gave me the confidence to know that what I ‘should’ be doing is being myself.”

This December, UMBC also celebrated the achievements of the university’s first Translational Life Science Technology (TLST) graduates. Titina Sirak ’20, TLST, graduated with several job offers for biotech positions, having completed multiple internships. “From those experiences, I got my foot in the door,” she says.

Co-curriculars are often as much of a part of the college experience as academics are. To those looking to join the UMBC community, Fikir Ejigineh, information systems, shares, “I’ve had a great UMBC experience because of what I’ve made out of it. I would never be where I am now if I hadn’t gotten involved.”

Unique journeys

For many graduates, the journey to commencement isn’t a straight line. Christopher Lee, psychology, started his academic career over a decade ago, and returned to UMBC this semester to complete his final coursework, as more UMBC courses were made available online due to COVID-19. 

“Having been a working professional for seven years at this point, I’ve spent more time in the ‘real world’ than in undergrad,” he says. “I understand how the world works in a deeper, more nuanced way. My experiences inform my perspectives on the topics we discussed in class, and I’m better equipped to articulate them now.”

Reflecting on returning to complete his degree, he shared, “At first, I believed I would feel like it was a stigma, since it felt like an achievement I should’ve completed years ago. Thankfully, I got over that, and focused on the fact that my journey is uniquely my own.”

The COVID-19 pandemic created particular challenges for UMBC artists, who could no longer access traditional opportunities for collaboration and performance. For Pramuk Mohanlal-Vargas ’20, music and global studies, it was a time for introspection and reflection.

 “It’s kind of a strange feeling — all virtual, not performing in front of a live audience. That’s what’s made it challenging,” he says. “But it’s also helped me become more grounded, be more still in the moment.”

A time to remember

This year’s graduate ceremony was an especially poignant one for the class of 2020. Shortly before the ceremony, the campus was notified of the passing of Alex Rittle, president of the Graduate Student Association . 

Rittle had the opportunity to address the graduates in a prerecorded video, which was played during the ceremony. Known for his thoughtfulness and empathy, he closed his speech with a charge to his classmates to “love and care for one another like your life depends on it.”  

Graduates and those cheering them on can share memories, well wishes, and photos through #UMBCgrad, and view UMBC’s Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter accounts for coverage of the ceremonies. Videos with captioning from both ceremonies can be found on UMBC’s YouTube page.

Header image: Celebratory Commencement box. Photo by Marlayna Demond ’11.

In 1977, Ricardo Zwaig was nine credits away from completing his degree in Spanish at UMBC. Instead of working toward graduation, he had dropped out and was working at a pharmacy near campus, trying to decide what his next move would be.

That next move came in the form of Louis Kaplan, then interim Chancellor of UMBC, walking up to the counter waiting to be rung up. Zwaig couldn’t have known at that moment that the trajectory of his life was about to irrevocably shift.

“I immediately recognized who he was and asked how things were going at UMBC,” says the Honorable Zwaig, now a judge for the District Court of Maryland in Howard County. “After learning that I had been a student at UMBC, Dr. Kaplan found it inconceivable that I was so close to graduating just to throw in the towel.”

Zwaig was a 2013 UMBC Alumni Award recipient.

Economic hardships had made it nearly impossible for Zwaig to pay for his final semester. In his mind, he was already in work mode. Just one day prior he had interviewed for a job at a lumber yard, having already completed orientation there. Whatever he needed to do next, he thought to himself, it had to produce enough money to live off.

However, speaking with Kaplan about his circumstances as a former student stirred something in Zwaig. “After some more small talk about my situation, Dr. Kaplan told me to call him if I needed help finishing school,” he remembers.

By week’s end, Zwaig was face-to-face with Kaplan’s secretary asking to see him.

Good luck, good karma, whatever you want to call it, Zwaig says, he found himself on the receiving end of generosity and good faith that set him on a whirlwind path to a remarkable career. His meeting with Kaplan instantly became the cornerstone of his time at UMBC—to which he always comes back all these decades later.

Kaplan handed over a check that covered Zwaig’s last semester’s tuition and put Zwaig in touch with a scholarship service in Baltimore. In 1981, in recognition of Kaplan’s contributions to UMBC during his tenure, the Student Government Association established the Louis L. Kaplan Scholarship Fund—an endowment that offers financial support to academically gifted students close to finishing their degrees.

“He covered my tuition, my books, everything,” says Zwaig. “I don’t know why I deserved such kindness and generosity from Dr. Kaplan, but it’s something I have never forgotten and it’s something I’ve always tried to repay in some way.”

Zwaig, along with his brother Michael Zwaig ’81, history—also a lawyer—have been key donors and vocal supporters of the Esperanza Scholarship Fund, established by a group of alumni in 2010. Awarded to full-time undergraduate or graduate students of Hispanic or Latine/x/a/o descent—or those committed to the advancement of minority students—the scholarship provides students with the kind of financial support they need to continue their studies and not feel the economic pressure of having to drop out. Since its launch, the Esperanza Fund has been awarded to 15 students.

“The scholarship may not exactly level the playing field, but it sets the stage for equitable opportunities,” says Zwaig. “It was important for me to be a part of its success after experiencing firsthand the difference someone’s generosity can make.”

Kaplan’s unexpected mentorship and financial support opened doorways for Zwaig to pursue his passion for law—a passion that was admittedly tinged with a bit of romanticism.

“I wanted to practice civil rights law,” he says with a hint of a smile in his voice.

Zwaig earned his J.D. from the University of Maryland in 1982. In 1983, he was admitted to the Maryland Bar.

Civil rights law wasn’t exactly where Zwaig ended up, but he thrived in trial work. After practicing law for 27 years, he applied for judgeship and won it in August 2010, making him the first Latino male judge in the history of the state.

“UMBC has always been positioned to produce great future leaders,” says Zwaig, and the proof is in his life’s trajectory. “My ongoing contributions to the Esperanza Fund are just a small way to ensure those leadership opportunities are just as readily available for minority students.”

— Nikoletta Gjoni ’09

Esperanza Scholarship Fund
Established: 2010
Scholars Served: 15
Committee Members: Jessica Contreras ’98, Roxanna Goodwin ’01, Shivonne Laird ’99, Gustavo Matheus ’90, Joseph Morales ’00, Alfredo Santiago ’08, Michael Zwaig ’81, and Ricardo Zwaig ’77

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Header image: Zwaig outside the Ellicott City courthouse, by Marlayna Demond ’11.

Most of us while away election night in our homes, nervously tapping away at our laptops, anxiously consulting cable TV pundits, and (possibly) eating a pint of ice cream along the way. For students away from home, UMBC has since 2004 created a much more exciting and communal way to spend the evening—an Election Night Extravaganza, to be precise—filling large sections of The Commons with balloons, streamers, and activities to celebrate democratic engagement. 

Thanks to COVID, this year’s celebration was reenvisioned via the online chat platform Discord, complete with chat rooms to match the community found in the #skylight-room, #sports-zone, and other physical spaces everyone was missing this semester. 

Glimpses of this year’s virtual Election Extravaganza.

Never has coming together been more important, wrote David Hoffman, director of UMBC’s Center for Democracy and Civic Life, at the start of this year’s event which drew almost 200 people. “We are a community, and will continue to be a community after the election.”

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Header image from the 2016 Election Night Extravaganza, courtesy of SGA.

We knew this before 2020, but can see even more clearly now, that Retrievers don’t shy away from hard tasks—we’re a community defined by grit. Students continue to redefine success, through scholarships and research. Faculty and staff prove again and again how adept they are when needing to navigate new online norms. Alumni give generously to students in need while many also volunteer time and resources to assist those on the front lines of the pandemic with food or PPE.

We asked the UMBC community to tell us what they wished for the coming year. We look forward to 2021 and beyond, we share a common hope, to once again be in community with one another. 

Designed by Jim Lord ’99.

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Header image by Marlayna Demond ’11, taken in 2019.

When UMBC women’s lacrosse coach Amy Slade received a phone call several months ago but did not recognize the number, she didn’t initially answer. Slade later called back, and it proved to be a good move. 

The caller told Slade she was one of eight people being inducted into the 2020 class of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. This ceremony was originally scheduled for October but has been postponed until mid-to-late 2021 due to COVID-19.

Slade during her time playing as a University of Virginia Cavalier. Photo provided by Amy Slade.

Slade is the fourth person—and the first woman—inducted into the Hall of Fame with Retriever ties. Former men’s lacrosse coach Don Zimmerman, player George McGeeney ’82 and contributor Dick Watts are the others.

Slade will start her 12th season as a coach for UMBC in 2021, including three years as assistant coach. She said this honor means a great deal to her. 

“In the midst of a pandemic, it was really cool to find out,” Slade said. “The fact that the lacrosse world is recognizing me…that’s a cool feeling. It feels really special to be remembered.”

Slade was already well known in the lacrosse world due to her accomplishments while an attacker at the University of Virginia. There, she captured the prestigious Tewaaraton Award—given to the nation’s top player—in 2004. Slade (then Amy Appelt) scored a Virginia-record 90 goals and 121 points as the Cavaliers captured the Atlantic Coast Conference crown and then the national championship. The ACC also picked her as the player of the year. 

Slade left Virginia with the record for goals (258), points (373) and consecutive games scored in (66). 

UMBC director of athletics Brian Barrio believes that some of the success Slade found as a player has helped her as a coach because she reached such high levels. 

“She knows the path up that mountain to being an elite athlete,” Barrio said. “She can show them that. I thought it’s important and that our athletes know. Not all of us have what it takes to get to the top of the mountain…Amy clearly does. She’s unbelievable in a lot of ways.”

Right now, Slade is focused on the 2021 season. She wants good players who also are good people, something she thinks will give the team a strong foundation. Slade feels the 2021 team will have just that.

The Retrievers graduated just one player from the 2020 team that played just six games before the pandemic shut down everything, but they are bringing in 10 new players that Slade is excited about having on the team. Although the schedule for the spring is still being determined, she is hoping this new team can make some noise in the America East.

UMBC women’s lacrosse coach Amy Slade received various awards, including an induction into the 2020 class of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

“I’m thrilled with the types of kids we’re getting,” Slade said. “They’re fast. They’re coachable. From an ability point, the sky’s the limit for them.”

Now, Slade is glad she returned the phone call she didn’t answer, and is looking forward to the Hall of Fame induction.

“I would also like to thank UMBC for the amazing opportunity to continue my passion,” Slade said in a statement. “Six years ago, when the program was at a crossroads, the athletic department and deputy athletics director Jessica Hammond-Graf trusted in my leadership to get this program back on track. UMBC has allowed me to take my love of this game to the next level.”

— Jeff Seidel ’85

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Header image: UMBC women’s lacrosse players huddle around Slade during a timeout. Photo by Jack Miller.

As travel has come to a standstill for many students worldwide, it’s never been quite so crucial to have someone like Adwoa Hanson-Hall on the job. In her work as an international student advisor for the Office of International Education Services (IES), Hanson-Hall knows first-hand how important it can be to have someone who knows the ins-and-outs of immigration and international travel on your side.

Headshot provided by Hanson-Hall.

UMBC Magazine: What is your favorite thing about the work you do at UMBC, and why? 

Adwoa Hanson-Hall: Advising international students often consists of addressing non-immigration concerns like culture shock, interpersonal relationships, and more. I immigrated to the U.S. as a child and have also studied and lived outside the U.S. before my time at UMBC. I really enjoy being able to connect with students through shared experiences to help them navigate any frustrations related to adjusting to and studying in a new culture. 

UMBC Magazine: Can you tell us a little bit about the work you do in the International Education Services office?

Hanson-Hall: Of course! I work mainly with new and current international students at UMBC. This includes immigration advising related to F-1 visa requirements, general support for our international student population regarding cultural adjustment, and outreach to newly admitted international students who are still abroad. I also coordinate our You Are Welcome Here (#YAWH) Scholarship program.

UMBC Magazine: Why do you feel that service is so important, especially now?

Hanson-Hall: As I mentioned above, moving to a new country can be very jarring. Additionally, adjusting to an academically rigorous university like UMBC while navigating cultural nuances has its challenges. Our work mitigates the stress related to following immigration rules and provides support services so our students can focus on thriving academically and personally while engaging meaningfully as part of the UMBC community. In the current climate, this support is even more necessary.  Our students are juggling academic and personal responsibilities, COVID-19-related anxiety as well as increased unpredictability regarding the state of immigration rules.

For example, a recent proposal by the Department of Homeland Security would mean a dramatic shift in the length of time a student can remain in the U.S. to complete their academic program. This is on the heels of another proposal that was struck down in July which would have barred international students from attending classes virtually and jeopardize their immigration status if their schools decided to switch to a remote learning model during COVID-19. In addition to our day-to-day advising, the outreach and education efforts of the IES office has been instrumental in keeping our students informed of their rights and responsibilities and planning next steps that impact their academic and career goals.

UMBC Magazine: What are you missing most about the office during the pandemic?

Hanson-Hall: That’s a tough one. I usually rode UMBC Transit to and from work—it was a nice time to relax or chat with other members of the UMBC community. That was also my unofficial way of keeping up with what was happening on campus outside of my work area so I do miss that a lot.

UMBC Magazine: Who would you want to thank for making a difference in your life at UMBC?

Hanson-Hall: My team! I’m thankful to have people that share my passion and commitment to our work and who also encourage me to explore professional goals and interests without sacrificing my personal life.

UMBC Magazine: What else would you like people to know about your work?

Hanson-Hall: I mentioned earlier that over the past six months international students are facing some uncertainty. In the midst of all these changes, UMBC has really rallied to support international students in our community. From President Hrabowski and the University leadership, to colleagues at the graduate and undergraduate levels, individual professors, and student organizations like the SGA and GSA, each facet of our UMBC community has shown care and concern in some way. It’s been encouraging to see this level of support from all facets of the campus community especially considering everyone is adjusting to new work and study structures during COVID-19. Thank you everyone!

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Header image of The Forum in 2018 by Marlayna Demond ’11.

When Ashwag Alasmari, M.S. ’15, Ph.D. ’21, information systems, was pursuing her undergraduate degree in Saudi Arabia, she was breaking new ground in many ways. The computer science department at King Khalid University had just opened to women. Alasmari herself was one of the first women in her family to seek a degree. 

Two things stuck out to Alasmari as she blazed this path: she noticed how few opportunities existed for her to connect with her peers outside of the classroom and she realized that as “the first” in so many of her endeavours, she would have a hard time finding like-minded mentors.

Alasmari attended a Google student retreat where she was part of the “Women Techmakers Scholars” group.

Now only a few months away from finishing her Ph.D. at UMBC, Alasmari says her experience as a student in Saudi Arabia inspired her to build an online community for women pursuing computer science degrees as a way to facilitate connections and hopefully build paths to mentorship.

In October 2020, the American Association of University Women—one of the world’s oldest leading supporters of graduate women’s education—awarded Alasmari an international fellowship for her work in leading innovative community projects to empower women and girls.

Connections and community

As a master’s student at UMBC, Alasmari found that an important element of the academic experience was being a part of the community and making connections with her peers and instructors. 

Alasmari was drawn to UMBC not only for its geographic location near Baltimore and Washington D.C., but also because of the range of courses in computer science, health informatics, and human-centered computing that she could take as a student. UMBC’s proximity to many regional hospitals, federal agencies, and prominent research organizations was also appealing to Alasmari, who was eager to conduct research related to patient care and use of technology. 

In 2013 and 2016, Alasmari attended the Grace Hopper Celebration, an annual conference that brings women in tech together for presentations, panels, and professional development events that highlight the contributions of women to computing. She was struck by how valuable the networking opportunities were at these events. Most importantly, it was there that Alasmari learned the organization was looking to expand and establish chapters around the world, including in the Middle East. With her interest piqued, she was inspired to get involved and make a difference where she grew up.

ArabWIC leaders at the 6th ArabWIC conference in Morocco.

Today, Alasmari manages the online Women in Computing in Saudi Arabia community, which is now 3,000 members strong. “I appreciate that I am part of this work,” she says, adding, “I’ve been growing with the community.” 

The Women in Computing in Saudi Arabia chapter officially launched in December 2015 with a one-day event at Badir Technology Incubators at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event, which Alasmari organized, featured women from academia and industries who shared their experiences and knowledge with attendees. 

“Our organization helped to bridge the gap between local context and the international community,” she says, noting that the community provides support to members through funding to attend conferences, and annual meetings highlight the important work being done by women in computing in Saudi Arabia. 

Passion for human computer interaction

While Alasmari continues to brainstorm ways to connect women in tech, her dissertation focuses on how people with multiple chronic conditions share information in online health information portals, combining her interest in human computer interaction and information retrieval. “I seek to understand how patients formulate their health-related information needs on online questioning and answering communities such as WebMD and PatientsLikeMe, and what factors significantly contribute to the quality of the information needs,” Alasmari explains, adding that she focuses primarily on kidney disease and COVID-19.

At UMBC, Alasmari is advised by Anita Komlodi, associate professor of information systems (IS) at UMBC, and Lina Zhou, a former IS faculty member who is now at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She says that they both provide mentorship to her and give her room to grow as a student. It was under their guidance—the very thing Alasmari was seeking in Saudi Arabia—that she began to understand how leadership and community involvement were integral to the academic experience.

Representation in computing

As a female computer science student at King Khalid University, Alasmari had access to few scholastic resources outside of the classroom. Her only opportunity to access the internet was through one-hour increments she signed up for in advance. But things will be different for the current generation of students—Alasmari has paved the way for change. Her program Women in Computing continues to grow a larger audience, providing mentors and support to women across Saudi Arabia interested in technology. 

Alasmari explains that her specific background has helped shape her character, and impacted her path. “Those unique experiences always inspire me and spark my motivation to elevate the status of women in my own country and the entire world,” says Alasmari. 

“I hope the community will grow into more collaboration with international and regional tech organizations. I hope for a more inclusive and diverse environment within the field of computing that especially supports the participation of women and underrepresented minorities.”

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All images, including header, provided by Ashwag Alasmari.