Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s Director David Hoffman, Ph.D. '13, and Coordinator for Civic Design Tess McRae ’22, coauthored “Learning Opportunities Foster Civic Agency, Social Trust,” for the fall issue of Leadership Exchange. Dr. Hoffman and McRae share how the Center has created “learning opportunities through which students develop the confidence, skills, and clarity of perspective to cultivate social norms that foster civic agency and social trust, and to challenge and change norms that inhibit agency and trust. The learning opportunities focus on ‘civic life maxims’ – brief assertions illuminate taken-for-granted assumptions and behaviors that underlie civic life and point to alternative possibilities.” 

The article also includes quotes from UMBC alumna Katie Brungard ‘24, and current student Christian Jassani, who explains, "Learning about these maxims has made me a stronger leader. I can better understand how my choices affect others. I now know how to convey messages in a more personable and effective way that makes change more likely." 

NASPA’s Leadership Exchange magazine helps prepare chief student affairs officers for the most complex management challenges in higher education today. The magazine includes news and analysis on the latest trends in student affairs, insider perspectives from leaders in higher education and management, and tips and tools for managing diverse staffs and an ever-expanding set of responsibilities. 

Center for Democracy and Civic Life director, Dr. David Hoffman, Ph.D. '13, and Musa Jafri '24, former SGA president, wrote, “UMBC students learn hopeful civics lessons from empowering experiences,” published on June 19 in Maryland Matters.

Hoffman and Musa share, “The civics lessons implicit in news coverage and social media posts relating to the 2024 election, the conflict in Israel and Gaza, crime and safety, and other pressing issues are clear. They suggest that the role of a good citizen is to choose sides and speak out, knowing that an election might empower one’s enemies, and that silence might mean complicity. The civic environment driven by our feeds is full of fury and alarm. Yet it is helpful to remember that there can be more to civic life than raised voices. If we are to build a thriving democratic society, it is especially important for young people to discover that in addition to voting and speaking out, they can work across differences in perspectives and roles to make meaningful changes in their communities.”

They describe how the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, “works with UMBC students to establish that experience: the authentic connections, mutual power, and individual and collective agency achieved in the process of promoting and enacting change on campus and beyond.” Through the Center, students have participated in leadership development programs and learned how to build long-term collective civic action to address disparities, while helping to create opportunities and spaces for dialogue on campus and leading educational programming and events around civic engagement, among other initiatives. Many of those who participated in the Center’s, and other UMBC programs, are now alumni leading community centers at area colleges and universities, as well as organizations and initiatives in the private, nonprofit, and public sectors.

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."