]]>
Serena Studivant, assistant director of commuter student success, gave a presentation at UMBC’s recent Black Excellence Summit that was featured on Morgan State University’s Advanced Studies, Leadership and Policy website. Titled "Unleash Your Superpower: Owning Your Story to Defeat Imposter Syndrome," Studivant’s presentation was described as “...an engaging and interactive session designed to empower participants to see their life experiences as the foundation of their superhero origin story.”
"’Sharing my origin story and how it has shaped my creative superpower was both empowering and affirming’" said Studivant. ‘Imposter syndrome often makes us question our worth, but when we own our stories—our struggles, triumphs, and the unique perspectives we bring to the table—we unlock a power that no one can take from us.’”
“In her talk, Studivant reflected on growing up in Baltimore in a close-knit family, discovering an early passion for photography and art that would later shape her unique worldview. As a Black first-generation college student, she shared how her creative lens allowed her to see possibilities in the face of challenges, ultimately becoming a key to her academic and professional resilience.”
Studivant is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Morgan's Higher Education Leadership program in the Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership, and 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.
Matt Wood ‘13, M.P.P ‘15, safety and security coordinator in Residential Facilities, was recently awarded a certificate in industrial hygiene from the Chesapeake Region Safety Council. Wood has worked in Residential Facilities for over 15 years, beginning in 2009 as a student maintenance assistant.
Working through the Chesapeake Region Safety Council, Wood completed over 200 hours of training related to occupational safety in general industry, construction safety, and industrial hygiene. Industrial hygiene is the study of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling hazards that can affect people's health and well-being. Industrial hygienists are known for using objective data and observation to recognize and evaluate hazards.
“The certification better positions Student Affairs to address industrial hygiene issues and concerns,” said Frank Caldwell, acting director, residential facilities. “Matt will continue to apply these skills in Residential Facilities and work closely with UMBC Environmental Safety and Health staff to address resident and employee health and safety concerns.”
Fritzie Charné-Merriwether, associate vice president for administration and chief of staff, will be a panelist at the April 17 Campus ESP virtual webinar, “Save Time, Scale Impact: AI Strategies for Family Engagement.”
Charné-Merriwether says that Campus ESP’s new AI tool is helping to boost family engagement—and ultimately, student success—by increasing personalized content. During the webinar, she will share insights on how UMBC is effectively leveraging AI to strengthen family connections, streamline communication, and optimize limited resources.
Join the conversation to learn how AI can elevate your outreach—without adding to your workload!
UMBC’s Family Connection portal is used as the model platform by Campus ESP staff as they recruit and manage family communications for other institutions nationwide. In recognition of its exceptional use of AI for Family Connection portal content creation, UMBC was recently named "ESP MVP" for the fourth quarter of 2024. Charné-Merriwether has also been a featured speaker at its annual conference on family engagement.
