The Advancement Coordinator is responsible for providing administrative support to all areas of the Advancement Office, including (but not limited to) the annual fund, membership, events, and grants.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Process all incoming membership payments and maintain member database; manage all membership renewal notices and acknowledgment letters; design and implement membership acquisition and retention objectives

The Young Filmmakers Workshop - youngfilmmakersworkshop.org - voted Best Summer Film Camp in Maryland has a few openings left for

students 9 - 17 years old. On location at the St Paul's School for Girls, the camp begins in less then two weeks. Students shoot three short

films while rotating all film crew jobs including acting. The finished films are shown at the Landmark Cinemas in Baltimore with the

students arriving in limosines. For reservations call 443.632.1083.

Aminata Jalloh ’10, American studies, recently published her first children’s book titled The Biggest Little Brother, a story about the complexities of sibling relationships and immigrant families. Here, the first-generation Sierra Leonean-American shares how her time at UMBC shaped her career in teaching and writing for children.

– Allison Cruz ’18

How did your education at UMBC impact your career in teaching and now writing children’s books?

I was always interested in the experiences of first and second generation Americans, so attending UMBC and majoring in American studies was a natural fit. It was an interdisciplinary area of study which allowed me the scope to go both deep and wide on issues of how race, ethnicity, national origin, and class intersect.

I also opted to add an Africana studies minor to further explore the construction of racial identity by and for people of African descent, and how both shapes their experiences. My studies at UMBC gave me the theoretical framework and the language to articulate the unique experiences many people from black immigrant background have.

The Biggest Little Brother is loosely based on your own childhood experiences as a first-generation Sierra Leonean-American. In what ways is this book based on your experiences and in what ways is it a story you created?

I was the first in my family to be born in the United States. When my parents moved to the U.S.  – my father came first and later my mother came – they were unable to bring my sister. Unfortunately, family separation is more common than it should be in immigrant communities. It was through this lens that I wrote The Biggest Little Brother, through this experience of adjusting to a new family member moving in, and the complexities it brings. I also wanted to normalize family structures like my own.

Why did you choose children as your audience for this story? Have you always had a passion to write for children?

After graduating from UMBC, I began my career in education as a classroom teacher for kindergarten to 3rd grade in Washington, D.C.! Many of my students were first- and second-generation Americans from Central America and East and West Africa. I loved teaching reading and wanted to supplement the core curricular materials with stories that not only reflected their own experiences but also provided opportunities to learn about other cultures.

However, there was an absence in children’s literature with immigrant themes, particularly in stories with African lead characters. I struggled to find children’s stories that captured the unique complexities of immigrant families in a way that was authentic, relatable, and enjoyable to read. This absence inspired me to write The Biggest Little Brother because I believe that every child has the right to see themselves in the books they read.

What do you want your child audience to learn from your book, and what lessons should they come away with?

Children’s literature has the remarkable ability to reinforce and change narratives. I hope with The Biggest Little Brother children will see that every family is unique and special and that we are more alike than we are different.

What goals do you have for the future? Would you like to write more children’s books?

Yes, I would love to continue the story of Sowa and his family! Also, I want to continue promoting children’s literature with dynamic African lead characters! I curated a list of really great titles on my website www.readersinspired.com and I post related content on Instagram via www.instagram.com/readersinspired.

We are moving from our temporary location in the RAC to our newly remodeled digs on the 4th floor of the admin building next week!

Beginning Monday, June 18 we will have no access to phones and limited access to email. We expect to be fully functioning by Wednesday, June 20. The best way to reach us is by email.

Come by to see our new makeover!

Get to know our amazing Writing Center Tutors, who can help you improve any writing assignment for any class.  

Meagan Barrett

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm currently an English major who loves to write fiction, and draw my ideas! I have two cats, and spend most of my time reading and/or binge watching​ Criminal Minds on Netflix. 

Tell us about how you are involved on campus.

On top of tutoring, I'm a copy editor on both the Retriever Weekly and the Bartleby staff. Most semesters I also work as a Writing Fellow for English 100 classes. So there are quite a few places you might see me around campus!

How and why did you get involved in being a tutor?

Funnily enough, I found out about tutoring on campus when I was tutoring my mathematically-inclined boyfriend in English 100. I did such a good job, apparently, that he was recommended to be a Writing Tutor! Before then, I didn't know the Writing Center even existed. He declined, but I decided to follow the instructions on the email myself, and I emailed the Writing Center director to see if I she would consider hiring me instead. 

During my internship in the Writing Center, I discovered that I really enjoy working with and helping others understand writing.  

What is your favorite thing about being a tutor?

My favorite thing about tutoring is that it gives me the opportunity to talk about my biggest passion all the time! Writing is kind of my life's mission, so being able to work with it directly is pretty exciting for me. 

Why should students utilize the tutoring?

I definitely think all students should utilize the Learning Resources Center, and not just if you're on the verge of failing your classes. I think it's hard sometimes, because our culture tends to put a stigma on the idea of "tutoring," so it can be hard to ask for help when you need it. 

But the fact of the matter is that it's normal to need help! And the Writing Center is a place that allows students to get that extra help in a low-pressure, nonjudgmental environment. All of us writing tutors know that writing is hard, and even the best writers make mistakes. So getting an extra set of eyes can make a huge difference to your grade, because they'll probably notice something you didn't!

This is especially true of writing, but can also be true of other subjects as well — getting a second opinion never hurts! 

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a tutoring session?

I think the most important way a student can prepare for a session is by making sure you know what you want to focus on! If you bring a seven page paper to a 30-minute session, I likely won't be able to look at the whole thing. So it's important to prioritize what you need help with, so we can spend our limited time on things that matter to you! (But also — bring two paper copies with you!)

When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center?

I'm available in the Writing Center, located on the first floor of the AOK Library, on Mondays from 12:30-3:30pm this summer.  I'm also available for online tutoring on Sunday nights from 6-9pm. And I'm always happy to help!