Dr. James DeVita (he/him/his) joined Student Affairs in September 2024 as the inaugural Assistant Vice President for Academic Partnerships and High-Impact Experiences. He oversees the Career Center, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, and Student Affairs Success Initiatives. What is one of his most memorable roles? Read on!

What spaces/places on campus or in Baltimore are becoming your favorite?

I'm living in Canton and love the walkability of the area near both the inner harbor and Patterson Park as well as all of the great food nearby. I’m already a regular at Thames Street Oyster Bar in Fells Point.

What are some of your hobbies/activities outside of work?

I like to stay active so lots of sports related things: running, tennis, and soccer primarily, but I’m also a dancer and looking to get connected to and active in the arts community in Baltimore.

Share a fun fact about yourself.

I had the opportunity to perform in my favorite musical as a child, CATS, in the role of Mister Mistoffelees for one summer. 

Anything else you would like to share?

I love to travel, especially internationally, and am always open to new places, new food, and trying new things. I’m also open to meeting and working with new folks, so I encourage anyone to reach out to me to meet.

UMBC’s Interfaith Fellows and Bridge Builders Programs were mentioned in the Interfaith America article, “Working Toward Interfaith Harmony in the US: Advancing Religious Pluralism on College Campuses.” 

In February 2024, UMBC was awarded a $30,000 Advancing Religious Pluralism Grant by Interfaith America to "further interfaith cooperation and learning on campus." UMBC is using the grant to develop two programs: the Interfaith Fellows Program and the Bridge Builders Program, a program co-sponsored with the Center for Social Justice Dialogue.

The article includes descriptions of the two programs: “On the East Coast, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), has developed two bedrock programs that will expand their interfaith offerings. The Interfaith Fellows Program equips students with practical skills and knowledge to help them develop leadership skills and invites them to create programs to shape UMBC’s interfaith community, while Bridge Builders is a cohort-based “difficult dialogue” program that has begun to shift campus conversations around religion and world events and inspired increased collaboration between student organizations on campus.”

Matt Hoffman, director of the new Center for Religion, Spirituality, & Pluralism, serves as team leader for these initiatives. “So far, we have seen tremendous student response to these programs,” Hoffman shares. “Our Interfaith Fellows will be putting on a series of events this semester during Interfaith Week, April 21 through 25, to showcase their learning and personalized approaches to interfaith work. Graduates from the Bridge Builders cohort from the fall are already finding ways to incorporate dialogue work into their engagement on campus, including an upcoming interfaith shabbat event in April. Our second cohort of the Bridge Builders program just launched with eight new students.”

Look for announcement about the Center in the near future.

Name: Dennis Walker Jr.

Pronouns: He/him

Title: Assistant Director of Adult Learner & Veteran Student Success

Years in Student Affairs/UMBC: 1 year and 6 months 

What is something you do as part of your position that people may not be aware of?

Our veterans and Adult Learners have a space! We were fortunate enough to be provided a space for our veterans and adult learners that promotes inclusivity and connectivity amongst the two populations. We understand that our veterans and adult learners have a different experience than what is considered “traditional" so this is a space created for these students to unwind, study, connect, and ask for assistance regarding their specific needs at UMBC. We are located in the University Center, room 201-D.   

What is one of the most important things you’ve learned during your time here?

One of the most important things I have learned in my year and a half of employment at UMBC is that going with the flow may take you to places you didn’t expect to be, but will teach you things about yourself you didn’t know along the way. This past year has had a lot of transition and change, but it has helped me learn that sometimes things have to be fluid in order to truly serve an intentional purpose. I have learned valuable lessons about myself as an employee, a leader of my responsibilities, and most importantly as a person. 

What do you like to do for fun and/or is something you are passionate about outside of work? 

Outside of work, I love to watch anime and sports. I am a big time Philadelphia Eagles fan (GO BIRDS), so this has been a season of joy for me. I also enjoy watching crime documentaries, participating in community service with my local NAACP, playing video games, and spending time with my loved ones!