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  

Retriever Essentials was featured in the Feb. 2024 Baltimore Sun Education supplement article (page 2), "Addressing physical and mental health challenges: From food pantries to counseling, colleges step up." Program Coordinator Ariel Barbosa shared information about the resources Retriever Essentials provides: the Essential Space, the free grocery store, free farmer's market, meal recovery program, campus garden, and meal card Save-a-Swipe program.

Barbosa noted, "When we opened The Essential Space, it allowed us to expand the number of students and staff that we could reach. We started recognizing that so many students were struggling ... some were homeless, and some were pregnant and could not afford food or other essentials."

Additional information about Retriever Essentials, including how to make a donation, is available at retrieveressentials.umbc.edu

David Hoffman, J.D., Ph.D. '13, director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, was interviewed for the Feb. 2024 Baltimore Sun Education supplement article, "Shaping tomorrow's leaders: Experiential learning fosters skills, empathy, and professionalism."

BreakingGround, a grant program that supports civic innovations at UMBC, launched in fall 2012. In the article, Dr. Hoffman shares more about how the program helped amplify the innovative work already happening in UMBC classrooms. He explains, "'People were engaging students in creative problem-solving and exposing them to real-world issues, but it wasn't always recognized as civic engagement. BreakingGround was born out of a desire to make these efforts more visible, connect educators, and support impactful experiences.'"

Jafri described examples of how BreakingGround is enriching his classroom experiences. "'Last semester, we worked with a state storyteller through the BreakingGround fund, creating music around classic stories from African American culture. It helped us explore themes of resilience, cultural diversity, and promote these values within our community....We're proving that education isn't just about acquiring knowledge but about making a meaningful impact on the world around us.'"

The Career Center's Christine Routzahn, director, and Jennifer Spencer Heilman, program director for workforce initiatives, wrote guest commentary for Maryland Matters, entitled, "Supporting Md.'s technology growth, innovation, and talent retention by increasing paid technical internships." The March 4, 2024 article focused on the success of the Maryland Technology Internship Program (MTIP), administered by the UMBC Career Center and funded by the State of Maryland. 

Heilman and Routzahn wrote that MTIP "incentivizes technology-based businesses, as well as state and local agencies, to increase their intern hires by providing matching intern funds and additional support. Since its inception in 2018, MTIP has facilitated over 1,000 paid technical internships across Maryland, spanning diverse industries such as biohealth/life sciences, engineering, IT/software solutions, cybersecurity, and manufacturing. This program, in partnership with higher education institutions and numerous employers statewide, underscores the importance of bridging the gap between theoretical classroom learning and practical real-world applications."

They add that, "The Maryland Technology Internship Program represents a significant step towards nurturing Maryland's technical talent pool and supporting its economic growth. UMBC is honored to administer MTIP, showcasing Maryland's commitment to paid internships, support for small businesses, and strategic partnerships that set a promising foundation for its continued expansion and success. As stakeholders continue to invest in initiatives like MTIP, they contribute not only to the professional development of students but also to the sustainable growth of Maryland's workforce. It is critical that we continue to invest in programs like MTIP to secure a successful future for generations to come."