Fritzie Charné-Merriwether became Associate Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff in July 2024. She provides leadership for administration, facilities, and auxiliary services across the division, including Student Affairs Business Services; Residential Life, The Commons, and Center for Well-Being facilities; Event and Conference Services; Student Affairs Communications and Marketing; planning and assessment; and technology. Read on to find out why she is your go-to for home and seasonal decorating tips!
What spaces/places on campus or in Baltimore are your favorite?
Honestly, I can’t think of a specific place — for me, it’s more about who I’m with. Anywhere my family is feels like the right space for me. After losing my mom a few years ago, spending time with my loved ones has become one of my top priorities. I’m happiest when I’m surrounded by my kids, husband, and extended family.
What are some of your hobbies/activities outside of work?
I really enjoy all things related to home and seasonal decorating. I have a wreath for just about every month and holiday, and I keep a crafting closet stocked with all my supplies. I love the process of creating something from scratch that's uniquely my own. Having little touches of each holiday or season throughout my home brings me so much joy — it just makes everything feel a little more special.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I love lifting weights. I used to be really into CrossFit, but I had to step away from it as it was taking a toll on my body. Even after moving on from CrossFit, I’ve kept up with lifting — the heavier, the better! I really enjoy the process because it allows me to clear my mind and focus completely. I also love setting goals for myself and seeing steady progress over time. It's such a great release and a powerful way to recharge both physically and mentally.
Anything else you would like to share?
I have a bit of an obsession with crime shows — it’s definitely my guilty pleasure! I love binge-watching everything from body cam footage and serial killer profiles to shows like “Snapped.” There's just something about the storytelling and unraveling of details that completely draws me in.
"Get to Know ELT" is a feature in DoSA Matters, the Division of Student Affairs' monthly newsletter.
Katie Brungard ‘24, a former evaluation interim with the Center for Democracy and Civic Life and Dr. Ricky Blissett ‘11, associate director for the Center presented at the American Educational Research Association's annual conference (AERA) in April.
AERA is the largest educational research association in the United States, and Brungard and Dr. Blissett presented work that Brungard began with the Center while she was an evaluation intern in the 2024-25 academic year. The project, titled "Can You Change the World? Development of a Civic Agency Measure for Democratic Education," was also presented by Brungard at Student Affairs’ 2024 Assessment 360. The research brings together perspectives from civic engagement literature, political science, and psychology to develop psychometric methods for assessing civic agency.
Beyond introducing to the educational research field the concept of civic agency (which has been developed over time by scholars, including Harry Boyte, Peter Dahlgren, and Dr. David Hoffman, Ph.D. ’13, director of the Center) the work seeks to develop practical tools for being able to observe if students have developed said agency. The reception to this work was uniformly positive, with participants expressing excitement about alternative ideas for understanding the impacts of civic education that inspired them to think about the hopeful future of democratic society.
Valentine Anamelechi, Event and Conference Services coordinator, received the Outstanding Campus Partner award at the Center for Women in Technology’s (CWIT) annual Community Awards event in April. The award is given to an individual or department that has actively collaborated with the Center toward its mission and goals.
At the event, CWIT staff noted: “Well, let's be honest, we probably wouldn't be here enjoying this fantastic event space without Valentine! As an Events and Conferences Services staff member, Valentine is responsible for working on event set-ups and logistics for all of campus...and as many of you know, CWIT has A LOT of events! Valentine has emerged as a fantastic campus partner, after CWIT struggled for years to overcome event logistics and troubleshooting with all of the back-and-forth and confusion that can occur in event planning. Valentine has consistently met with the CWIT team every two weeks to analyze all of the staffing, locations, resources, and other minutiae to help our events run more smoothly than ever.
“This is a HUGE help for our department, and to the benefit of all attendees! Valentine is a wonderful professional who brings a sense of humor and fun to all of his interactions with CWIT. We would be lost without him and his dedication to helping us with our events throughout the school year!! Thank you, Valentine - we're honored to recognize you with this award.”
The Division of Student Affairs congratulates Valentine on this award and is grateful for his commitment to our campus partners!
Christine Routzahn, director of the Career Center, received the 2025 Teresa Lupinek Endowment Outstanding Exempt or Non-Exempt Staff Award at the Presidential Faculty and Staff Awards ceremony in April. The award honors a staff member whose work embodies the many outstanding qualities that Teresa Lupinek displayed during her more than 30 years at UMBC. Awardees are selected by a committee of their peers and have worked at UMBC for at least five years.
For over 25 years, Christine Routzahn has brought heart, commitment, and innovation to UMBC. As director of the Career Center, Routzahn finds her greatest joy in working with the UMBC community and partnering with students as they explore, grow, and achieve their career goals.
A passionate champion of programs that expand access and opportunity, Routzahn has led the development of some of Maryland’s most impactful internship models, including the Walter Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership Program, MDOT Fellows Internship Program, Shattuck Family Internship Program for Entrepreneurship, the Sondheim Public Service Law Fellows Program, and the Maryland Technology Internship Program. These programs, all still thriving today, reflect her deep belief in applied learning and equitable access.
Routzahn is known not only for her strategic leadership, but for her warmth, humility, and dedication to collaboration. Under her guidance, the Career Center has become a recognized model for student career readiness, employer engagement, and innovation in high impact experiences.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgetown University and a master of education in human development and psychology from Harvard University.
Photos from the event are available online.
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