Matthew Kvalheim, assistant professor of mathematics, was one of only about 20 scholars who spoke at a conference celebrating the 95th birthday of Stephen Smale, one of the most influential mathematicians alive today. Held July 21 – 22, 2025, at the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing in Berkeley, California, the invitation to present was an honor for Kvalheim, who joined the UMBC faculty in 2023.

Stephen Smale, a Fields Medalist (an award often likened to a Nobel Prize in mathematics), revolutionized fields like topology and dynamical systems. His groundbreaking work, which Kvalheim uses as a basis for his own research, has shaped modern mathematics. 

Kvalheim’s research explores systems that evolve over time. Specifically, he studies “asymptotically stable” systems—those that naturally settle into a predictable state, like a pendulum coming to rest. Kvalheim’s talk at the conference built on Smale’s foundational discoveries, using them to determine whether certain system behaviors are possible or fundamentally unattainable. 

“It was a great privilege to speak about Professor Smale’s legacy, and in particular the deep impact his work has had on one of my projects funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research,” Kvalheim says. “The result of this project, which relies heavily on Smale’s breakthrough solution of a mathematical puzzle known as the ‘generalized Poincaré conjecture,’ helps us understand limitations in designing stable real-world systems.”

This work has far-reaching implications, from ensuring the safety of autonomous vehicles to optimizing complex robotics. By developing mathematical tools that apply across diverse applications, Kvalheim’s research offers universal insights into what systems can and cannot do, blending creativity with mathematical rigor to tackle fundamental questions with real-world impact. 

Learn more about UMBC’s programs in mathematics and statistics. 

Join the team from PNC Bank for a "Banking in the USA" seminar. 

Following the seminar, the team will be available to help interested students apply for a bank account.

Location: University Center 204

Friday 8/15, 2-3pm
Monday 8/25, 2-3pm
Wednesday 9/3, 2-3pm

***If you are going to apply for a bank account, please bring your I-20, passport, and other documents with you to the event***

Over 10 years ago, Tania Lizarazo met with Justa Mena Córdoba in Chocó, Colombia. Before Mena Córdoba passed away, Lizarazo promised to tell her story as one of the founding commissioners of the Gender Commission of COCOMACIA, Colombia’s largest Afro-Colombian peasants’ association.

With her new book, Postconflict Utopias: Everyday Survival in Chocó, Colombia (University of Illinois Press, 2024), Lizarazo fulfills that promise. “It means a lot to me to publish this book as this was my first collaborative research project,” says Lizarazo, associate professor of modern languages, linguistics, and intercultural communication and global studies. “I promised Justa that I would do my best to share her story and legacy of peace-building amidst decades of ongoing violence by supporting women’s daily work.”

Lizarazo’s interest in Latin American cultural studies and transnational feminist research led her to explore the Gender Commission of COCOMACIA. Curious to learn more, Lizarazo reached out to Mena Córdoba. She invited Lizarazo to her home and the headquarters of the commission, both in Chocó, located in the northwest, bordering Panama and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and where the largest Afro-Colombian community in the country lives. For over a decade, Mena Córdoba served as Lizarazo’s friend, mentor, and fellow researcher.

Many scholars, says Lizarazo, both Colombian like herself, and foreign, research the Colombian Pacific and use ethnography as their main research approach. She notes that while she uses ethnography, her work also places the community on equal footing with researchers. The book documents the collaboration between Lizarazo and the Afro-Colombian women of the Gender Commission. The team used digital storytelling tools to document the commission’s daily efforts to build networks and share resources that strengthen their families, schools, jobs, and communities. 

“Sometimes we highlight protests but ignore the daily mundane actions that build over time and make collective survival possible. This is the case for Black women in the Colombian Pacific,” explains Lizarazo for The Conversation. “Their solidarity is a reminder that peace and justice are a collaborative, everyday effort. As Justa told me in 2012: “One cannot change the world by herself.”

Learn more about Lizarazo’s collaboration with fellow UMBC faculty María Célleri, Yolanda Valencia, and Thania Muñoz to document the experiences of Latinx communities with Latinx communities in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Visit the Walters Art Museum’s new “Latin American Art/ Arte Latinoamericano” exhibit, where Lizarazo contributed her expertise in Colombian history.

Ever wonder what dinosaur poets would write about if they knew their moment of extinction was near? That’s one of the questions poet Tanya Olson, associate teaching professor of English, considered while writing her latest book, Born Backwards (YesYes Books, 2024). As she worked on the collection, Olson reflected on extinction and preservation—of food, objects, experiences, relationships, places, and people, especially butch life in the American South during the 1980s and ’90s. 

“The poems of Born Backwards remember anyone who feels out of place—in a body, a hometown, or a century,” says Olson. “In a time when such histories are again a threat, remembering becomes urgent.”

One of Oslon’s favorite parts of teaching is guiding students through the research process for their writing. Some of Olson’s research for the 20 poems in Born Backwards draws on her life growing up in the South. She shares episodes of her time on her grandmother’s farm doing chores, learning to drive from her father—starting with a push mower—and helping her mom tend a large vegetable garden. Alongside these experiences are reflections on questions of being queer and the decision to leave in search of a more queer-friendly place.

Olson also draws inspiration from the MTV revolution of the 1980s and the country music she heard growing up—artists like Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and Loretta Lynn—as well as the trailblazing career of k.d. lang, a pioneer for lesbian country music artists. Reflecting on extinction and preservation, Olson contemplates what could be lost if she is the last butch to remember smoky lesbian bars and to witness the decline of butch culture, wondering who will preserve these histories in the future.

Get tickets to see Tanya Olson at Profs & Pints Baltimore: Queer Country on Monday, August 18, 2025.

Read more of Tanya Olson’s poetry in Boyishly (Yesyes, 2013) and Stay (Yesyes, 2019).

Header graphic: Design by Jill Blum/UMBC. Book cover and headshot courtesy of Tanya Olson.

If you could develop a treatment to improve the care of millions of people with opioid use disorder (OUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where would you start? For doctoral students like Laurel Meyer, with a passion for serving this community, the answer begins with funded clinical research opportunities and faculty mentorship. 

In 2020, Rebecca Schacht, clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology, and Kevin R. Wenzel, a clinical psychologist and director of research at Baltimore-based Maryland Treatment Centers, welcomed Meyer into the human services psychology doctoral program as a research coordinator in their study. Schacht and Wenzel were conducting a randomized trial of written exposure therapy (WET) for people with PTSD in residential OUD and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment settings. WET is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD in which patients process their trauma by writing an in-depth narrative about a specific traumatic event in five sessions. 

“At the start of the project, I contributed to research design and protocol development. I then collaborated with clinical staff at the treatment facility to identify and recruit eligible patients,” says Meyer, who, along with fellow research assistant Samantha Berg, a fifth-year human services psychology doctoral student, had the opportunity to share the findings as co-authors on the article “A pilot test of Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD in residential substance use treatment” in the American Journal on Addictions. 

“Throughout the trial, I worked directly with participants in several capacities, including assessing eligibility for the study, providing Written Exposure Therapy as a study therapist, and conducting follow-up interviews to understand participants’ experiences,” says Meyer.

Thanks to the team’s rigorous research, Schacht and Wenzel, the co-principal investigator, are scaling up their research with a grant of over $3 million from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to develop and test Written Exposure in Substance Treatment (WEST), an adapted version of WET for use with people with OUD in residential SUD treatment.

“One of the most exciting aspects of grants like this one is that they include funding for Ph.D. students. This project will support at least two doctoral students throughout the six years of the project, including summer funding,” says Schacht, the director of the UMBC Psychology Training Clinic. “Most doctoral students serve as either research assistants or teaching assistants. These positions provide students with mentored professional development and include tuition, health insurance, and stipends to support living expenses.”

The research cycle

Now a sixth-year doctoral student, Meyer is passing the baton to the next generation of researchers in the human services psychology doctoral program, one of whom is second-year doctoral student Alexis Alfano. This summer, Alfano has been preparing assessments by programming measures in Qualtrics, an online survey tool to build and distribute surveys, collect responses, and analyze response data. Because the research involves human participants, Alfano is assisting in developing a detailed plan for participant involvement to submit to the Institutional Review Board for review and approval. She also contributed to the development of the procedure manual and materials used during interviews and focus groups, and assisted with programming forms, transcribing qualitative data, and data entry. 

“I had the opportunity to become involved in Project WEST by being a student in Dr. Schacht’s lab and receiving her mentorship,” says Alfano. “For the last two years, I have participated in a variety of tasks, including recruiting and interviewing both patients and staff at the Maryland Treatment Centers to gather feedback on Written Exposure Therapy.”

Maryland Treatment Centers have a longstanding history of conducting clinical research trials to improve patient care and treatment delivery, with the support of patients and staff, as well as researchers and universities. The seven-year partnership between Schacht and Wenzel offers students a real-world clinical setting to develop hands-on clinical skills essential for treating patients, collaborating with center staff and fellow researchers, and gaining the experience needed to become clinical psychologists and conduct clinical research.

“Patients are at the center of the research. Their experiences, insights, and feedback help us identify which aspects of the treatment are most effective and which need to be adjusted for maximum impact,” says Schacht. “We consider people to be the experts of their own experience, and their perspectives are essential to designing an intervention that’s aligned with their needs.” Schacht hopes that, by the end of the project, the team will have an effective intervention that can be widely implemented, making WEST the gold-standard treatment for PTSD available in residential and other SUD treatment contexts.

The long game

Doctoral training is a years-long process. In the coming year, Meyer is completing her predoctoral internship in an integrated healthcare setting where she is receiving further clinical training in evidence-based treatment for PTSD. She is excited to move closer to her career goal to combine both clinical practice and clinically focused research. 

“My role as research coordinator in Dr. Schacht’s research on Written Exposure Therapy has deepened my passion for clinical research and has been instrumental in shaping my long-term career goals,” says Meyer. “Being part of research that has such a direct impact on clinical care has inspired me to pursue a career in which I can use science and clinical practice to enhance treatment outcomes and quality of life for individuals who have experienced trauma and substance use.”

Learn more about UMBC’s psychology graduate programs.

Boing! Bouncy balls strike the hallway floor as small groups of students measure bounce heights with a meterstick and record data. They repeat the test in a carpeted classroom, then analyze results in Excel, discussing how surfaces affect energy conversion.  

This might sound like a physics laboratory, but it’s actually a math course for high schoolers in Building Science Technology Education Partnerships (STEPs), a college-preparatory program for students from under-resourced high schools in Baltimore City. For two weeks this summer, 21 rising seniors and college-bound students, nine college-student tutors, and instructor Rebecca Kirvan, M.A. ’13, secondary education and teaching, filled the fourth floor of UMBC’s Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building for intensive, hands-on math instruction each afternoon. In the mornings, the students participated in professional development programming, such as a financial literacy workshop and team-based problem-solving challenges.

This is the fifth year of collaboration between Building STEPS and UMBC, but thanks to a deepening relationship between the organization and the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS), this year the summer program came to UMBC’s campus for the first time. In addition, the math portion shifted from traditional tutoring to an adapted version of MATH 110: Math in Action, a unique laboratory-style math course heading into its third year being taught at UMBC. 

“UMBC and CNMS have been incredible collaborators, providing Building STEPs students with accessible and effective math enrichment in an immersive college experience,” says Debra Hettleman, CEO of Building STEPs.

William R. LaCourse, CNMS dean, believes strongly in making math education engaging and relevant for all students, in support of developing their critical thinking skills. “Teaching math in an interactive format shows the students how it relates to their everyday lives,” he says. “Creating opportunities for them to make those connections is so important.”   

From tutoring to hands-on labs

In 2021, Cindy Greenwood, associate director of UMBC’s Center for Women in Technology, coordinated the original tutoring initiative for her capstone project in UMBC’s certificate program in community leadership, after learning from Building STEPs that that was what they needed most. 

Alexis O’Malley ’18, mathematics and psychology, took the lead developing a robust curriculum for the tutors to implement on top of her role as a calculus instructor in CNMS. Until this year, the University of Baltimore hosted the tutoring sessions. For 2025, CNMS hired Kirvan to modify the activities in MATH 110, which O’Malley also originally led with support from math department faculty.

“As a former high school teacher, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to adapt college labs for a high school audience,” Kirvan says. “It’s great to work with this group of students and help them beef up their math skills and get ready for college.”

The students see the benefits.

“It’s been good to review concepts and practice my math skills,” shared Benjamin Kima, a participant from Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School. Sam Boad, also at Mergenthaler, said, “I’m glad they’re giving us a chance to see the content ahead of the school year.” Zaiqah Pinkney, from City Neighbors High School, added, “I like hands-on activities. It helps me learn better.”

“Students consistently rate math as their favorite part of the day,” shares Sheyna Mikeal, chief program officer at Building STEPs. “It challenges them, but the small-group structure, guided by dedicated tutors, builds confidence and encourages real growth.”

Campus immersion and career prep

Beyond providing math instruction, CNMS funded lunches at UMBC’s True Grit’s dining hall, freeing up Building STEPs’ budget for student transportation and enabling greater participation.

“I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to be on a college campus,” shared Brandon Thomas, a student at Mergenthaler.

And beyond the summer program, a larger cohort of Building STEPs students visited UMBC during the semester. They heard presentations from CNMS departments and took a tour of campus. “We’ve witnessed the power of learning on a college campus shifting the students’ perspective,” Mikeal says. “It reinforces that college is not just a goal, it’s an environment where they belong.”

Other Building STEPs activities include visits to companies like Northrop Grumman and Beckton-Dickinson, workshops on searching for and applying to colleges, and one-on-one feedback with volunteer writing advisors.

Strength beyond academics

Students in the program, founded in 2000, are recommended by college counselors and teachers, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA. This past academic year, there were 83 juniors and 83 seniors enrolled, and there are 175 Building STEPs alumni. Nearly 80 percent earn a college degree, and nearly two-thirds earn degrees in STEM. Coming from 15 of Baltimore’s most challenged high schools, 87 percent are first-generation college graduates. Alumni return from college to offer programming to current participants, fostering leadership development.

“Together with UMBC, we’re not only strengthening academic skills—we’re also expanding access to opportunity,” Mikeal says.

LaCourse sees providing space, funds, and effective and engaging math activities to benefit local high schoolers as a natural fit for the college.

“Building STEPs participants are bright, motivated students who just need a little support to reach their potential,” LaCourse says. “It’s a privilege to be able to offer the resources the program needs—from classrooms to curriculum—to enable an enriching summer math and professional development experience. We hope to see some of their faces on campus again soon—this time as UMBC students.”

Yasmine Kotturi, an assistant professor of human-centered computing, was selected by the Computing Research Association (CRA) to be part of the inaugural cohort of Trustworthy AI Research Fellows. The fellowship program, sponsored by Microsoft, supports researchers working to integrate ethical and societal considerations into computing research, particularly in the field of AI. The nine inaugural fellows hail from institutions across the U.S. and bring expertise in the social sciences together with computing knowledge. 

“I’m most excited about building connections with fellow scholars who are reimagining what trustworthy AI looks like—especially across institutions and disciplines—to fundamentally shift how we teach and practice computing,” says Kotturi, whose research focuses on designing and building sociotechnical systems that support worker resilience, especially among those navigating precarious employment and entrepreneurship. “At a time when civic participation feels increasingly urgent, I see this work as essential to preparing technologists to engage with both the technical and social realities of their practice,” she says. 

The researchers began their work with a virtual kick-off meeting in July and will attend a four-day, in-person field school in August. Over the course of the 15-month fellowship, they will engage in collaborative research, contribute to the development of a national trustworthy AI lexicon and framework, and help lead initiatives at CRA partner institutions.

“This inaugural cohort brings a remarkable range of expertise, insight, and passion to the challenges of building more trustworthy AI,” says Mary L. Gray, senior principal researcher at Microsoft Research and the chair of the CRA Trustworthy AI Fellowship Advisory Committee, in an announcement of the cohort selection. “I can’t wait to get started and see what they accomplish together.”

Meet Dann Malihom ’10, M.A. ’16. Dann has spent most of his adult life at UMBC. He is a double alum (with plans to be a triple alum one day), earning both his degrees in sociology. He is a UMBC staff member, serving as the event specialist in the Office of Institutional Advancement. He is an adjunct faculty member in the sociology, anthropology, and public health department. And Dann also serves as the vice president of engagement on the UMBC Alumni Association Board of Directors. Talk about a lifelong Retriever! Take it away, Dann!

Q: What is your WHY? What brought you to UMBC?

A: UMBC was appealing to me because of its authenticity. It felt different from “traditional” colleges, not because it was trying and failing or trying to be intentionally counter-culture. It just was. I immediately felt welcomed and embraced for who I was, academically and personally. In an age when everything feels marketed or insincere, UMBC tells you up front that we are not just aiming for excellence, but inclusive excellence.

Q: Who is someone in the UMBC community who has inspired you or supported you?

A: Christine Mair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health. She was my mentor during my thesis for my master’s in applied sociology. She was the reason I was able to get a position as an adjunct with UMBC in 2017, and was a fantastic support as I learned the ropes of being a professor. She showed immediate faith in me and has always been a valuable resource for me to turn to whenever I need a suggestion, direction, or even just confirmation that I was making the right choices with my teaching pedagogy.

Q: What do you love about sociology?

A: I love teaching in the sociology, anthropology, and public health department. By definition, all of us are connected to sociology due to the fact that we live, learn, and interact with society. The little “ah ha!” moments when students begin to make connections to things that have influenced them never get old. While the course material can sometimes get heavy as we talk about topics like racism, gender inequality, and social stratification, the students always show deep reflection and recognition of these social issues. Even more promising, they take these recognitions of the problems as their first steps toward correcting them.

Q: Tell us about your current job. What do you like most about it?

A: I have worked at UMBC full-time since 2012. I started out as a facilities coordinator in Campus Life Operations before transitioning into my current role as the event specialist in the Office of Institutional Advancement in 2024. I enjoy getting to support milestone events that bring the students, faculty, staff, and UMBC community together in a shared place of belonging. Commencement is a whirlwind of an event that means so much to so many people, such as first-generation students, international students, and non-traditional students. Being able to be a part of that as these individuals walk across stage is so rewarding.

Q: What would you tell someone who is considering a career at UMBC? 

A: UMBC is a special place. This is reflected in the number of alumni who are now staff members. It may not be for everyone, but for many, it is truly a place they love and are welcomed fully.

Q: Where have you found support in the UMBC community?

A: The shared governance aspect of UMBC is a wonderful thing. UMBC truly strives to include all voices and perspectives in decisions, and it shows. Whether it’s through groups like the Exempt Staff Senate or just the accessibility of administration, it is easy to share your opinion and, perhaps more importantly, feel like you’ve actually been heard.

Q: How have you stayed connected with the UMBC alumni community?

A: I have been a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors since 2019. I initially joined at the recommendation of the current president, Nate Dissmeyer ’07, and became a part of the Strategic Initiatives committee. Last year, I was able to become the chair of that committee, and starting this year, I am the vice president of engagement for the board. My positions have afforded me the opportunity to meet and connect with alumni not just from my cohort, but as far back as the Founding Four (alumni from UMBC’s first four graduating classes). 

Q: What drives you to support UMBC?

A: My teaching philosophy that I inherited from my high school philosophy teacher is “You can count the number of seeds in an apple, but you can’t count the number of apples in a seed.” Every year, I give to the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health, the Women’s, Gender, & Equity Center, and the Alumni Endowment Scholarship Fund. Some of the recipients have been students I’ve taught directly. Regardless of whether I know them or not, I know UMBC is developing engaged, empathetic, global citizens, and many of them will go on to change the world. 

Pictured right: Malihom and his son Miles, who are both obsessed with space, got to check out the telescope at the UMBC Observatory as part of the Homecoming celebration.

* * * * *

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals.

Four UMBC faculty and staff members have received highly competitive Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards to teach, conduct research, and forge cross-cultural connections around the world in the coming year.  The recipients span all three UMBC colleges and comprise three faculty members and one staff member. Augusto Casas, an associate teaching professor in information systems, will travel to Colombia; Cynthia Wagner, a teaching professor in biological sciences, will travel to Kyrgyzstan; Irene Chan, a professor in visual arts, will travel to Romania; and Tom Penniston, M.A. ’09, TESOL, Ph.D. ’14, language, literacy, and culture, the coordinator of learning analytics in the Division of Information Technology (DoIT), will travel to Croatia.

“Fulbright Scholar awards are not just a globally prestigious academic award; they are also a centerpiece of public diplomacy,” says Brian Souders, Ph.D. ’09, language, literacy, and culture, M.A. ’19, TESOL, the associate director for global learning in UMBC’s Center for Global Engagement.

The Fulbright Program was founded in 1946 with the goal of increasing mutual understanding and supporting friendly relations between people in the United States and other countries. It is the flagship international academic exchange program sponsored by the United States government. UMBC has had 18 Fulbright Scholars over the past 10 years, not including the upcoming year’s four recipients. Past awardees have taught or conducted research throughout the world, including in Ethiopia, Kosovo, Colombia, Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and China. 

Sharing a passion with international partners

The new UMBC awardees will connect with international partners in areas of shared interest. 

“My primary responsibility at UMBC is to support data-informed pedagogy, and my Fulbright grant aligns directly with this work,” says Penniston, who will be working with colleagues at the University of Zagreb in Croatia on projects such as AI-assisted course redesigns and mapping how learning analytics tools are adopted within and between universities. “I am most excited to dive headfirst into work and be a data wonk,” he says. 

Casas, who is an associate teaching professor in the online M.S. in information systems program at UMBC, will assist the Universidad del Atlántico in Barranquilla, Colombia, in creating an online software engineering degree program to reach beyond the university’s physical campus. He will support creating the curriculum, help select the most appropriate technology, and train their faculty.

Wagner, who recently retired from UMBC after decades of inspiring students in her popular biology courses, will teach biology classes in English to students at Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. She’ll also conduct research searching for novel antimicrobial agents in the soil of Kyrgyzstan. 

Lastly, Chan, a multidisciplinary artist engaged in conceptual work across print media, papermaking, installation art, and storytelling performance, will instruct both undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Art and Design in Cluj Napoca, Romania, utilizing concepts and methodologies she has developed during her tenure at UMBC. Additionally, she will produce a new collection of artist books, focusing on research into fiber art techniques and Romanian folk tales. These books, intended for display in both Romanian and international art collections, will also subtly reference corresponding motifs found within Chan’s own Chinese and American cultural heritage. This recognition of folk art traditions provides a foundation for cultural exchange, Chan says. 

Finding support at home and abroad

Souders, who serves as the Fulbright Scholar Liaison, says most UMBC faculty and staff work with him to hone their application. Casas shares that while he had been interested in the Fulbright awards since he started his academic career in the early 2000s, it wasn’t until he attended an informational webinar by Souders that he realized he was ready to apply. He met with Souders for advice, reached out to colleagues at the Universidad del Atlántico to assess where their needs and his interests overlapped, submitted his application, and “Here I am,” he says.

Penniston credits his supervisors and colleagues in DoIT with supporting his application and the opportunity for him to work remotely from Croatia following his six-month residency at the University of Zagreb. He hopes his time abroad will deepen his understanding of European Union education policy and seed partnerships that will ultimately benefit UMBC students and faculty.

Different scholars find different ways to bring bits of the world back with them when they return to the UMBC community, Souders says. For example, the College of Engineering and Information Technology’s award-winning Global Engineering course, co-taught with faculty at the University of Porto in Portugal, originated with the Fulbright project of Marc Zupan, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Wagner  says it would be amazing to make a discovery that might one day help alleviate the antibiotic resistance crisis in the world. “A good majority of our current antibiotics come from soil microbes,” she says. “Kyrgyzstan has several different ecological niches in which the soil could vary and so could the microbes.”

Across the board, UMBC’s newest crop of Fulbright Scholars is excited to connect internationally and advance projects of shared interest.

“My Croatian hosts have already gone out of their way to make me feel welcome,” says Penniston. “I am thrilled to embark on this immersive intercultural experience, and to share it with my wife and our children.”

Wagner echoes the sense of excitement at a new, horizon-broadening opportunity: “It will be an adventure!” she says. 

Meet Debora Fajer-Smith ’81, political science. Debora is a lawyer with over 40 years of experience, who has received numerous honors for her community involvement, mentoring, and leadership. She was twice named one of the Top 100 Women in Maryland by The Daily Record, honored with the Leader in Law award, and has consistently been voted as a Best Lawyer in the personal injury category by her peers. In summer 2025, she started a new position as Partner at the law firm of Price Benowitz LLP. Earlier in the year, Debora also published her first novel, “Pieces of Gold,” under the pen name Leah Kelly, which was named a “must read” by Naptown Scoop. Debora is also an avid Retriever supporter, establishing the Fajer-Smith Some One Cares (SOCS) Scholarship in 1998. Take it away, Debora! 

Q: What initially brought you to UMBC?

A: I chose UMBC because I wanted to go to a small honors college in the Maryland system. I am a graduate of the class of 1981 and lived on campus in what was then Dorm 2. In my first semester, I ran for student body senate and never looked back. Since that moment, with everything I have done, I have tried to give back to UMBC.

I was a pre-law, political science major, and was nominated from UMBC for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship. I eventually went on to the University of Maryland School of Law, and I have practiced law for over 40 years. I have loved helping injury victims who were hurt and needed help to prosper on their own again. I served on the Maryland Senate House Oversight Committee as an appointed member, as well as the Maryland State Bar Association Judicial Nominating Committee. 

Q: How have you given back to UMBC?

A: It is a gift when you look back at your life and realize how much your university helped shape your goals and prepare you for a wonderful future. UMBC did that for me. Looking back, everything I did in my career, I tried to give back to UMBC or partner with UMBC students. First, I endowed the Fajer-Smith Some One Cares (SOCS) Scholarship in 1998—which supports high school graduates from my hometown community who wish to attend UMBC—because I want my contribution to be a permanent support to the university long after I’m gone. Next, I started the UMBC Law Society, which brings together graduates who became lawyers. Most recently, I worked with the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to grant students an opportunity to gain equity in a new venture called Amron Home and Health, LLC, a brand to help support CPAP users when traveling.

Partnering with UMBC on Amron Home and Health has truly been an honor and a privilege. How special to take students interested in launching a company, winning pitch competitions, and working together for several years to build a company that would not only be profitable but bring about change in people’s lives who suffer from sleep apnea. 

Q: What is your favorite part of Retriever Nation?

A: Retriever Fever never goes away! I stay close with many of my friends and classmates.

Q: Can you tell us about your book?

A: I was always a writer, but I recently had the opportunity to write a children’s book series under the pen name Leah Kelly. In 2025, I published my first adult novel, Pieces of Gold, set in my hometown of Annapolis, Maryland. The book, which has been named a “must read” by Naptown Scoop, centers around four female friends who attended UMBC together. Each woman is distinct from the other, but nothing can break their bond. Melody holds the group together. Kate is the adventurous attorney who explores life after divorce. Dahlia is the proud Latina professional juggernaut. And you’ll root for Winifred, who struggles with her African American family expectations and her deep desire to conceive a baby. 

Pieces of Gold is a delicious romp and a fast, exciting read that sees these women traveling to different parts of the world. It tugs on your heart strings, then brings you into dangerous and very intimate moments. Hold on, especially when Kate learns to fly a small plane with a handsome instructor!

You can learn more at LeahKellyBooks.com.

Photo right: Leah Kelly book signing event at Parole Town Center.

* * * * *

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals.