Provost Perspective: Oct. 31, 2025

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:24:59 -0400
provost

Happy Friday and welcome to a special spooky and scary edition of the Provost's Perspective. (On second thought, it's probably not going to be spooky or scary. Maybe more of a Goosebumps vibe. I guess you'll have to continue reading to find out.)

Fog slowly wafts from the dark woods surrounding the large, dimly lit home. A single bare bulb glows from a chain in the ceiling as a man sits typing intently when a large crack jolts him to attention…

Halloween was not a holiday that we celebrated growing up in the Netherlands, but as a parent of three emerging adults and after several decades living in the United States I have grown to embrace the revelry that is on full display every October 31st (or at least the mini candy bars).

With my kids past the trick-or-treating stage and my neighborhood on the less-visited end of the spectrum, the candy level in the house this All Hallows Eve is comically low. This led me down a rabbit (candy) hole to determine how the house should be stocked.

My non-exhaustive search has produced more questions than answers. According to a 2024 study, Maryland joins Utah as one of only two states in which candy corn is the most popular treat. I'm not certain what candy corn is, but I have been assured by a trusted colleague that it is definitely not corn and can barely be classified as candy. On a brighter note (and one that I can support), Hershey's mini bars and kisses round out the Free State's top three.

Leave me a comment here about your favorite Halloween candy and I'll list the top three submissions next week.

CAHSS Dean Search Deadline Quickly Approaching

The preferred submission deadline for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences dean search is quickly approaching. If you have a nomination or intend to apply, please do so by November 7. More information about the position and the process can be found here.

Call for Faculty Proposals: IDEA Initiative & CAP Fellowship

I announced last week the IDEA Initiative & CAP Fellowship as part of my goal to foster innovative and interdisciplinary curricular efforts and provide faculty with the resources to create and innovate. Applications for the programs close November 20.

Learn more and apply today!

Coffee with the Provost: Thursday, Nov. 6

Come join me for a cup of coffee or tea Thursday, Nov. 6, from 10-11 in the Fireside Lounge in The Commons (third floor near the Skylight Lounge). This come-and-go hour is a great opportunity to connect in a casual, non-programmed setting. I look forward to seeing many of you there and our conversation together.

Fireside Lounge, The Commons

10-11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 6

First-generation Week On Tap

National First-generation Day, a day that is particularly close to my heart as I am the first member of my family to earn a college degree, is November 8. Leading up to next Saturday, there will be several events across campus celebrating our community's first-generation students. Discover how you can support and celebrate our first-gen Retrievers here.

New Faculty/AOK Library Lunch and Learn a Success

On Friday, September 26, the A.O.K. Library and Gallery hosted the inaugural Lunch and Learn for New Faculty in collaboration with the Office of the Provost, RCAC, DoIt, and the CNMS, CAHSS, and COEIT grant administrators. The event covered open access, special collections, reference services, research computing, teaching and learning technology, and more. The next event will be held in Spring 2026. For more information, contact Michelle Flinchbaugh.

New Faculty Spotlights

Each week we feature the newest faculty members of our community.

Daniel G. Suarez-Forero, Assistant Professor, Physics

Areas of Research/Interest: Condensed matter

Fun Fact About Daniel: I love sports and music.

Chris L. Terry, Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, English

Areas of Research/Interest: Author of the novels Black Card and Zero Fade, and co-editor with James Spooner of the literary anthology Black Punk Now.

Fun Fact About Chris: By the time I turned 25, I'd played music in 10 countries.

Are you a new faculty member? Please take two minutes to fill out the form and submit your bio if you have not already done so.

New Staff Spotlights (Coming Soon)

Are you a staff member who joined UMBC in the last year? Email Aaron Burnett, director of provost communications, to be featured in an upcoming edition of the Provost's Perspective.

Help Make this Newsletter Better

The goal each week of this message is to deepen our connection to UMBC, whether that is learning about an upcoming event, a divisional accomplishment, an innovative program, or an update from the Office of the Provost. If you know of a program or event that should be highlighted, please share it here.

Change Your Clocks, Check Your Batteries

It's fall back weekend. Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour on Sunday. While I applaud promptness, being a full hour early can be overkill. I like to follow the American Red Cross's suggestion to use the biannual time change to also check my home's smoke detectors. Enjoy the extra hour of sleep this weekend.

Until next week,

Manfred van Dulmen