Welcome to the 2026–27 Academic Year
Dear Faculty,
Welcome to the 2026-2027 academic year! As we begin this journey together, I want to extend my sincere gratitude for your continued dedication to inclusive excellence and student success. Whether you are returning to campus or joining us for the first time, your passion and expertise are the foundation of UMBC.
As faculty, you play a central role in supporting our students. Your engagement, empathy, and mentorship has a profound impact. In addition to helping our students thrive, I urge you to be proactive in recognizing when they may need additional support and to refer them to appropriate campus resources when necessary. You should have received an email from our Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Renique Kersh, sharing additional resources. Additionally, if you are not sure where to send students for support, please consult with your Department Chair.
While lifting up our students is critical, we also support you in the classroom. At UMBC, we are committed to assisting you on your professional journey and helping you thrive in the classroom. I encourage you to explore the resources available through theFaculty Development Center, which provides services and resources to aid you in teaching at UMBC.
Academic Leadership Team
We have several new academic leaders joining UMBC or stepping into new roles as we kickoff the fall semester, including Alan Byrd as vice provost for enrollment management and planning; Marc Seigar as dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences; Christia Spears Brown as dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; and Nancy Kusmaul as the interim dean of the Erickson School of Aging Studies and associate dean and chair of the School of Social Work. The executive academic leadership team can be found on the Office of the Provost website. Additionally, a current list of department chairs and program directors is available on the Faculty Affairs website.
Convocation and Community Cookout
There are several events in the coming days and weeks where we will have opportunities to build community and start the academic year strong. I encourage you to attend and participate in the opening Convocation on Sunday, August 23 from 3-4 p.m. Convocation will be directly followed by the Community Cookout. During this event, please find your college table, pick up your Proud UMBC Faculty t-shirt, and connect with students interested in academic disciplines within your college. Faculty are welcome to stay for the soccer game after the cookout as well. Please bring your campus ID.
Provost’s Teaching and Learning Symposium
Please mark your calendars and register for the 10th annual Symposium on Friday, October 2 in the University Center. We are excited to partner with the UMBC Re-Envisioning General Education Faculty Core Committee to center this year’s Symposium around Re-envisioning General Education. This event is a wonderful time to celebrate UMBC’s commitment to student success and to share your work around teaching, learning, and assessment.
Thank you for the work you do every day to inspire curiosity, foster critical thinking, and prepare our students to go out in the world and make a meaningful difference and be the best version of themselves. I look forward to a rewarding and successful academic year ahead.
Warm regards,
Manfred H.M. van Dulmen
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs