In 2021, Vice President for Student Affairs Nancy Young, Ph.D., served as chair of the Council on Student Affairs (CSA), part of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU), a research, policy, and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing the work of public universities. During her time as CSA chair, she collaborated with other student affairs leaders across the U.S. to develop and promote practices that enhance students’ experiences and well-being during one of the most challenging times in higher education and student affairs. Young recently ended her term and will now serve in an ex-officio capacity.

David Hoffman, Ph.D. ’13, language, literacy, and culture (LLC), director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life Staff, along with other leaders from ADP and NASPA, led the 2021 American Democracy Project/NASPA Joint Meeting in June 2021.

Facilitating a three-hour workshop, “Together Beyond: Tools for Our Collective Civic Empowerment,” were Hoffman and and Assistant Director Romy Hübler ‘09, modern languages and linguistics, M.A. ‘11, intercultural communication, Ph.D. ‘15, LLC, along with staff at Kent State and Grand Valley State Universities.

Breakout room facilitators included Amelia Meman, assistant director of the Women’s Center; Candace Dodson-Reed ‘96, chief of staff and executive director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion; Jeff Cullen, Ph.D., director of Student Conduct and Community Standards; and Tess McRae ‘22, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s senior intern for civic design and engagement.

UMBC students Erin Kosloski ‘22 and Faith Davis ‘22, M30, along with Fariha Kalid ‘17, M.A. ‘21, and Samantha Fries ‘18, M.A. ‘21, led the workshop, “Improving Basic Needs on College Campuses.”

The National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement’s latest report shows a surge in U.S. student voter participation in 2020, a trend that includes UMBC students. David Hoffman, Ph.D. ’13, language, literacy, and culture (LLC) and director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, stated, “In addition to our 69.2% voting rate for eligible students, it's exciting to see that 83.9% of UMBC’s registered students voted in 2020–a notable jump from both 2016 and 2018 and in line with the national trend. Our greatest gains were among undergraduate students.”

In 2020, UMBC placed ninth nationwide in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge voting pledge competition. More than 600 colleges and universities participate in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which encourages college students to pledge to vote based on evidence that when people make public pledges, they are more likely to follow through. Learn more about the Center’s election programming, which supports UMBC community members in embracing civic involvement as an everyday, lifelong commitment, in their annual report and in UMBC News.

In September 2021, UMBC received a 2021 Best Mid Market Venue Award in Unique Venues’ annual “best of” awards. The award recognizes the work of Campus Life’s Event and Conference Services (ECS) staff and their partnership with Residential Life to provide inclusive event and conference planning for the campus community and external constituents. ECS staff are known for their dedicated advising, expertise in the field, and excellence in providing resources for successful meetings, events, and conferences. Unique Venues is an organization committed to bringing together and promoting one-of-a-kind event venues.

In May 2021, Jasmine A. Lee, Ph.D., director of inclusive excellence, was named one of Eastern Michigan University’s 2021 Outstanding Young Alumni. The award honors alumni whose achievements have been signified by personal honors bestowed upon them by their peers and who have demonstrated the worth of their education through their post-college achievements. Lee also oversees Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Division of Student Affairs. In October, she was a speaker at the 2021 ACPA - College Student Educators International Presidential Symposium. Read a UMBC News interview with Lee about her work in diversity and inclusion.

Brittini Brown, Ph.D., assistant vice president for student affairs, received a 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award from Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural Science Education and Communication in September. The award honors alumni who have demonstrated excellence in industry, academia, governmental service, or other career endeavors through their leadership, community service, and professional accomplishments. At UMBC, Brown oversees Assessment, Research, and Strategic Initiatives; Campus Life; the Center for Democracy and Civic Life; Information Technology; and Off-Campus Student Services.

Samantha Smith, MPH, CHES, Retriever Integrated Health’s associate director of health promotion, shared her doctoral research on the relationship between social movement activism participation and emotional well-being among college students in the fall 2021 issue of the peer-reviewed Mary Christie Institute Quarterly.

The Center for Well-Being and Erickson Hall have reservable, private spaces from which students may participate in virtual appointments with their community-based mental health providers. These are available between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday when the campus is open. To reserve a space, please send an email with your desired reservation date and time to privatecounselingspace@umbc.edu. If we cannot accommodate your request, we will get back to you to discuss other available times. All reservation requests should be made at least 72 hours in advance.