Dr. Mary Ellen Wade conducted two presentations at the recent NASPA Annual Conference in March. Her first presentation was a poster session on “Exploring Contributing Factors to Undergraduate and Graduate Student Sense of Belonging.” This session focused on research conducted by the Division of Student Affairs in spring 2023 regarding student sense of belonging, specifically, how students define belonging and contributing factors to belonging at UMBC.

Dr. Wade talked about unique considerations in collecting robust demographic information to understand better student belonging and the impacts on the institution as a whole regarding the results. On the whole, students feel a sense of belonging at UMBC; however, more can be done through campus services, supports, programs, and outreach to increase student belonging. Students described belonging at UMBC as the institution feeling like a home, that belonging involves care for others and expectations of self in a community, and having others that support your whole self.

In Dr. Wade’s second presentation titled, “Understanding Undergraduate Student Experiences with Integrative Learning and High-Impact Practices in Co-Curricular Leadership Roles,” she shared the findings of a correlational research study that examined if holding leadership roles in co-curricular experiences impacted the ability of undergraduate college students to demonstrate integrative learning. It explored how well a student can articulate experiences in which they have integrated their learning and sought to understand the extent to which the structures of co-curricular leadership roles exemplify characteristics of high-impact practices.

This study revealed that students experience integrative learning in their co-curricular leadership roles and when describing their integrative learning, student responses reflect areas of the AAC&U Integrative Learning VALUE Rubric and the NACE Career Readiness Competencies. It also shows that students in co-curricular leadership roles are experiencing the characteristics of high-impact practices in their role, highlighting the learning taking place outside of the classroom in leadership experiences.

If you have ever tried to improve your diet and tried to research “healthy foods” or “healthy diets” you’ve probably been confronted with an overwhelming amount of information. Some of it may seem confusing or even seem contradictory. As with many other scientific fields, Nutrition can be relatively complex and nuanced, which unfortunately opens the door to plenty of misinformation. This can range from well-intended professionals who may misinterpret information, to people peddling false information for their own personal gain. Social media and “influencers” are some of the biggest spreaders of nutrition misinformation. March is National Nutrition month and one thing that can benefit everyone’s diet is debunking popular nutrition myths. 

Seed oils

Most liquid cooking oils you see in the grocery store can be classified as “seed oils.” The most common varieties include soy, canola, vegetable, and safflower oil. These oils have come under scrutiny recently and claims against them include that they can cause inflammation, heart disease, weight gain, and a variety of other conditions. Most of these claims range from misleading to blatantly false. Many of these oils are highly processed to remove colors, flavors, and improve the shelf life. This processing does not leave any harmful substances in the oil or remove a significant amount of nutrients. Most oils that are liquid at room temperature are high in types of un-saturated fats, which have been shown to reduce inflammation and be protective against cardiovascular disease. Anyone claiming that seed oils are “toxic” or “pro-inflammatory” should be disregarded. Seeds oils are great for cooking a variety of foods and are often a long-lasting and inexpensive cooking fat.

Artificial Sweeteners

Also known as “fake sugars,” “sugar alcohols,” or “non-nutritive sweeteners” (NNS), these products help to add sweetness to food without adding any sugar. Diet or zero sugar beverages are the most common sources of artificial sweeteners. There are claims that these products increase the risk for certain cancers, and although this myth was popular in the ‘90s and early ‘00s, it has come back around in the past couple of years. Some other myths that have come along with this are that artificial sweeteners also cause blood sugar disruptions and may alter fertility. Artificial sweeteners have been shown to pose no major health risks to humans. These misconceptions comes from a rodent study where the animals were given extremely high doses of artificial sweeteners. Almost any substance (including air and water) can be dangerous in high enough quantities. The FDA recommends consuming 50mg or less of Aspartame (a common artificial sweetener) per day. That would be the equivalent of about 90 packets of Sweet & Low or Splenda. Not only is that unrealistic, but even that amount shows no evidence of negative health effects in humans. Artificial sweeteners can be used to reduce excess sugars in your diet and are especially useful for people with Diabetes who must be very careful about carbohydrate intake.

Sugar is toxic

What is sugar? Simply put, sugar can be classified as a simple form of carbohydrate molecules. These molecules usually are perceived as sweet by our taste buds. Some common types of sugar include fructose, dextrose, sucrose, glucose, and lactose. Some foods have naturally occurring sugars, but a lot of common foods contain an amount of added sugars. Carbs and sugars are commonly vilified in the food and nutrition space, but more extreme claims about sugar have started to emerge. These claims include that sugar is toxic, increases cancer risk, and is highly addictive. Sugar is certainly not toxic or cancer causing, and it is no more addictive than any other type of food. Our bodies need carbohydrates and sugar to function. The main issue with simple carbohydrates (like sugar) is that they are not very filling and can be very easy to overconsume. Excess calories from any nutrient can cause weight gain, and excess sugar intake over time can increase your risk for diabetes. A good practice is to have more complex sources of carbs such as grains & vegetables, and limit foods with lots of added sugars like soda, desserts, and candy. Just remember that almost any food fits into a healthy diet, and foods with sugars are ok in moderation.

Organic Food

Organic is a food label that indicates certain farming and manufacturing practices. Organic food is often marketed as healthier, safer, and less processed that non-organic foods. The truth is that there is no nutritional difference between Organic and non-organic food. Acquiring the organic label is also very expensive for farmers, so many of them do not bother paying for the certification. Another claim is that Organic food does not use pesticides. In fact, they just use “organic pesticides” instead and neither organic nor non-organic pesticides have been shown to have any significant residues on them by the time they reach the grocery store. Organic food is often more expensive, and in some cases has a shorter shelf life than non-organic food. The best thing to focus on is eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, you don’t have to worry if they’re Organic or not. 

Detox diets and supplements

This is more of a broad category. A lot of different supplements, diets, herbs, and teas have claims that they are able to “detox” your body and organs. The human body already has a reliable system for removing unwanted substances from the bloodstream and organs. The Kidneys, Liver, and Lungs are responsible for removing unwanted substances and potentially harmful compounds. No special diet or supplement will ever come close to the effectiveness of these organs. Certain supplements like detox teas usually contain either a diuretic or a laxative which just makes you use the restroom more often. They do not remove any excess “toxins” from the body. The other issue with claims for these products, is that the definition of “toxins” is usually quite vague. Many detox diets usually have you eat more fiber, fruits & veggies, and drink more water. This makes most people feel pretty good, especially if they are not meeting their needs for those foods, however, it has nothing to do with the removal of any toxins. The best way to support the organs that already detoxify your body is to drink plenty of water, have a variety of fruits and vegetables, and limit alcohol and other drugs.

With all the information available about nutrition, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. It is a great practice to talk to a healthcare professional before starting any kind of new diet. The Campus Dietitian is also available to answer questions about any nutrition related topics you may have. Happy National Nutrition Month!

By Adam Sachs, RD, CSSD

Three Questions With … is an opportunity to celebrate and learn more about staff in the Division of Student Affairs. This month, get to know Ricky Blissett, associate director, Center for Democracy and Civic Life!

Name/pronouns 

Ricky Blissett '11

they/them and he/him

Title/department

Associate Director, Center for Democracy and Civic Life

Years in Student Affairs

14 months as of March 2024 (As a student I was also involved in Student Affairs-related efforts.)

UMBC alumni information

2011 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology major

Computer Science minor

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

In addition to coordinating several of our major programs, one of the major functions I manage is our evaluation, research, and assessment work. To me, this work is about creating structured and systematic opportunities for reflection on what we do, where the "methods" are less important than the questions we ask ourselves about whether or not we are doing good. I greatly enjoy the opportunity to think creatively about how we can observe, track, and make sense of people's experiences and evaluate whether those experiences align with the type of future we're trying to build together. 

I have a background as an academic and evaluator and this work allows me to make use of those experiences I've had, but related to social and human stories I care more about. As educators, a lot of the things we are trying to create are difficult to define in universal ways, and a lot of the experiences we hope people have as a function of our work are not easily measurable. But the work of being with colleagues who are committed to thinking holistically about what we are doing such that we can find creative ways to understand and reflect on how we're contributing to a better world ... that is what connects me to this community, and my role gives me many opportunities to do this.

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

That there is a shortcut to the Apartment Community Center that doesn't require me to walk all of the way up that hill. Also, for context, I come to this position from a previous career as a professor, so one of the major changes I'm experiencing is much more basic than any broad moral lesson. Being on the staff side of university has been a really enriching experience where I get to learn from the thoughtful colleagues around me. In particular, I have found the team-centric aspect of staff work to be in perfect alignment with how I prefer to operate, and I have been surrounded by kind and caring people who have pushed me to take better care of myself as well, more than I've ever been pushed in this regard. Being a staff member is a whole different world from being a faculty member, and for me, I think I benefit much more and can work in healthier ways in my role now. The people I work with across the Division of Student Affairs have helped with this, and I'm grateful for that care.

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

Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging's Matt Hoffman, assistant director, Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being, has been elected to serve on the board of directors for the Association of Chaplaincy and Spiritual Life in Higher Education (ACSLHE). ACSLHE brings together professionals who are committed to nurturing the religious and spiritual life of students as a critical part of the mission of higher education in the 21st century. 

As someone committed to holistic well-being, Matt feels called to support and inspire college students--from all traditions and backgrounds--as they navigate faith, the demands of school, discern vocation and explore questions of identity and belonging.  Overseeing the Gathering Space--a space utilized by 300+ weekly visitors and 24+ religious and belief organizations--Matt has prioritized programs that lift up spirituality, invite spaces for education and collaboration, and highlight intersectional identities and interfaith work, centering radical love and belonging and energetic pluralism. He is also serving as team leader for a $30K grant awarded to UMBC by Interfaith America.

Prior to UMBC, Matt was the Associate Director for Interfaith Initiatives and Instructor of Religious Studies at Warren Wilson College, near Asheville, North Carolina. There, he co-created a minor in Interfaith Leadership, helped lead religious and spiritual life programming on campus, and taught classes about religion, centering interfaith work, environmental justice, and food access. 

Matt has a B.A. in International Studies and Political Science from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, and a Masters of Sacred Theology from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Additionally, Matt is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The Resident Student Association (RSA) will host the Regional Leadership Conference for the Central Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (CAACURH) from November 8 - 10, 2024. This conference could potentially bring 300-400 student leaders to UMBC.

RSA officers submitted the winning bid to host the conference at the Feb. 2024 CAACURH Regional Business Conference: senior Bailey Berg, president, junior Olapeju Otusajo, national communication coordinator, and sophomore Faith Beande, national communication coordinator-in-training, presented their 45-page bid proposal.

Berg is the conference chair, and Grace Collins, residential education and leadership coordinator for Residential Life, is the conference advisor. They will be recruiting a student lead conference team as well as an advisor team in the upcoming month.

RSA at UMBC has a strong history with the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) and CAACURH, which bring together students passionate about leadership, advocacy and collaboration as they work to improve the quality of life for residential students at their institutions.

CAACURH represents one of eight regions belonging to NACURH. The Central Atlantic Affiliate region includes institutions from Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. 

If you have any interest in supporting the conference or suggestions, please reach out to Grace Collins at gcollins@umbc.edu