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This survey is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.
RSVP BY TODAY for our end of the year Celebration & Awards!
Student Belonging (formerly known as Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, & Belonging, or i3b) in the Division of Student Affairs has hosted celebration ceremonies for Latinx, Black, and LGBTQIA+ / queer students for several years. This year, we are excited to add the Asian Cultural Celebration & Awards to the lineup. These three affinity events will honor and celebrate the achievements of UMBC's outstanding community members and graduating students.
The Lavender celebration is in recognition of the achievements of queer / LGBTQIA2+ community at UMBC, which is inclusive of students, faculty, staff, alumni, campus affiliates, and our allies. This year’s graduation celebration will focus on the theme “Power in Queer Joy.”
The 12th Annual Lavender Celebration & Awards
Monday, May 19, 2025
5:30 - 8pm
Skylight, The Commons 3rd Floor
This celebration includes:
Keynote speeches from an undergraduate and graduate student in the community.
An award component in celebration of the efforts and achievements accomplished in the past year. We have redone the awards for this year’s celebration, and our new award line up now includes awards highlighting inclusive and welcoming faculty and staff, up-and-coming students, students engaging in inclusive excellence and activism, students promoting radical love and belonging, efforts promoting the queer community, and graduating students or faculty/staff who have created a legacy worth celebrating.
A creative presentation moment in the celebration that highlights a performance, artwork, or other creative endeavor made in the last year by a queer student. We also have a second student showcasing their work, gallery-style, in the Fireside Lounge throughout the event.
A moment of celebration and farewell for our graduating students, who receive a special token to take forward with them.
Our Lavender Celebration & Awards is just one of countless Lavender events across the globe. According to the Human Rights Campaign, Lavender was created by Dr. Ronni Santo, a Jewish Lesbian who was denied the opportunity to attend the graduations of her biological children because of her sexual orientation. It was through this experience that she came to understand the pain felt by her students. Encouraged by the Dean of Students at the University of Michigan, Dr. Sanlo designed the first Lavender event in 1995.
Dress code: We encourage all attendees and graduates to dress in their "celebration best." While cap and gown are not required, we would be thrilled to see attendees join us in cowboy or western themed apparel (cowboy hats in particular!) in the spirit of this semester’s Pride theme. This is not required, please feel free to come in whatever is affirming and comfortable for you!
For those interested in attending, RSVP HERE (https://forms.gle/7HYsxsAAaJBNKH8g6)! Graduates that RSVP between Monday, April 14th and Monday, April 28th at 6pm will be highlighted during the event and receive honorary graduation cords.
Folx are still welcome to attend even if there is no RSVP. Graduating students can register to be recognized day-of, but food and seating is only guranteed for those who RSVP'ed.
If you have any questions, please email the Lavender Planning Committee co-chairs: Darcie Adams at dadams4@umbc.edu or Zoe Brown at zoebrown@umbc.edu.
This event is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.
This event is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.
Graduate Assistantship Announcement
Division of Student Affairs
Research Assistantship: Graduate assistantship (Master’s or PhD level) will be available starting as early as July 1, 2025 (dependent on student availability) to work with Student Belonging & the Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being in the Division of Student Affairs at UMBC. With the support of the Director of the Center for Religion, Spirituality, & Pluralism who oversees the Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being, the Graduate Assistant will help design systems to collect and interpret data, co-manage marketing and social media, provide logistical support for the Center, and help supervise student interns.
As one of the identity-based centers within Student Belonging, The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being serves as a spiritually-centered space where students and UMBC community members can gather at the intersection of religion, faith, spirituality, and other lived experiences. The Gathering Space prioritizes individual religious practice, opportunities to explore holistic well-being connected to religion and spirituality, and creating spaces to engage across differences, by centering the importance of interfaith work and dialogue. Within the Gathering Space, three core themes are emphasized: radical love & belonging, spiritual well-being, and energetic pluralism.
The duties of the assistantship will fall into the following areas:
Potential Opportunities:
Required Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Stipend: The graduate assistantship comes with a competitive stipend and is designed for up to 20 hours weekly. For more information regarding assistantships visit https://gradschool.umbc.edu/funding/assistantships/
Application: Please apply via Handshake (https://app.joinhandshake.com/stu/jobs/9798066?ref=preview-header-click&search_id=8d0cc551-049f-40af-ac5a-64f1bf2639dd) You will need to provide a cover letter about your interest, CV/Resume, and a list of three references with contact information via Handshake (at least one faculty member).
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This survey is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.
Join us next week to celebrate Interfaith Week from April 21-25, 2025!
Here is a sneak peak of all the events to come!
Monday, 4/21
Interfaith Week Kick Off, 11:30-1:00pm
Tabling Fair on Commons Main Street (11:30AM-1:00PM)
This event will be a religious showcase. Different religious clubs will set up a table in Main Street with a poster explaining their club and the religion they practice. Much like Involvement Fest, each club will be expected to talk about their club but also have an emphasis on the religion itself. The goal is for students to come to each table and learn about the different faiths, traditions, practices, and other important aspects of the religion.
Human Library in Lower Flat Tuesday (11:30AM-1:00PM)
Come to our Human Library, a chance to hear from fellow students about their various religious and spiritual faiths. Ask questions and learn about various beliefs and traditions that you didn't get the chance to learn about before. Don't be afraid to ask questions as long as they are well intentioned. Snacks will be provided.
Tuesday, 4/22
MythBusters, 5:30-6:30 in Lower Flat Tuesdays
Our goal is to host a MythBusters event that includes an interactive event including a Kahoot game that challenges individuals to re-examine their mindset on “myths” or misconceptions that they have/have heard about their religion or another faith. Once the Kahoot is complete, we will follow up with an open discussion about other myths and questions with individuals from various faiths present to participate.
Wednesday, 4/23
Interfaith Candy Bar, 5:00PM-6:00PM in Commons, Main Street
Sweet tooths, unite! Make sure to stop by our interfaith candy bar. Come ready to connect with a diverse set of religious groups/traditions on campus through a sweet treat! This event is open to all members of the UMBC Community.
Thursday, 4/24
Liberty of Leisure: Desegregating Gwynn Oak Amusement Park, 1:30PM in CWB 101
Gathering Space intern, Kayla Brooks, will be presenting the research of her Master’s thesis. This presentation includes history about the interfaith engagement strategies utilized to desegregate Gwynn Oak Amusement Park.
Speed Faithing Event, 5:00pm (Commons 329)
Not quite speed dating– “speed faithing” is an opportunity to participate in an opportunity to engage in numerous 3-5 min. dialogues about faith and spirituality. These will be in moving groups of 3 or 4 and dinner will be provided.
Friday, 4/25
Join for Religious Practices in The Gathering Space!
Yoga: 9:00AM
Catholic Mass: 12:00PM
Jummah: 1:15PM & 2:15PM
Shabbat: 5:00PM
Mindful Nature Walk with Daniela: 3:00pm-5:00pm (meeting in CWB lobby)
Journey through the Herbert Run Greenway with our Gathering Space intern, Daniela. Take some time for personal reflection and mindful journeying.
Ice Cream Social 3:30PM (TGS Kitchenette)
Join us for a midday Ice Cream Social! Non-dairy and kosher options will be available.
These are amazing opportunities to connect with the UMBC community and other religious/spiritual organizations. We hope that you make some time to gather with us and we look forward to your presence and participation.
LET’S GATHER!