Department of Africana Studies

Fine Arts Building – Rm 535 South

Job Announcement

Job Summary:

Individual will perform a wide variety of responsible office support and administrative functions in support of the assigned college program, service or department. They require proficiency in the full range of general office services and functions as well as specific technical knowledge and expertise in the services for the department and work assignment.

Office Assistant Job Duties:

• Forwards information by receiving and distributing communications; collecting and mailing correspondence; copying information.

• Maintains supplies by checking stock to determine inventory levels; anticipating requirements; placing and expediting orders; verifying receipt; stocking items; delivering supplies to work stations.

• Maintains equipment by completing preventive maintenance; troubleshooting failures; calling for repairs; monitoring equipment operation,

• Service customers; answering questions; forwarding messages; back-up for Administrative Assistant

• Typing documents; ordering office supplies; answering office phones; other duties assigned

   

  Office Assistant Skills and Qualifications:

  Office Experience - General, Scheduling, Telephone Skills, Typing, Documentation Skills, Meeting Planning, Verbal Communication, Written Communication, Dependability, Attention to Detail, Administrative Writing Skills, and Excel spread sheets, Calculator, Xerox coping machine

   

• Schedule: Mon.-Fri.

•  Hourly wages: $8.25

•  Available Positions: 2

   Required Documents: Cover Letter & Resume

   Contact: To apply for this position, please contact wsoares@umbc.edu with the required documentation listed above. NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE. Only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

   

   

Hello Everyone!

Dr. Lee Williams and Mandi Bailey are conducting research relating to student political attitudes. They randomly selected more than 200 colleges and universities of varied size throughout the country. Our institution was selected. They asked that we share the survey link below with our undergraduate students. They want to reassure all of you that responses and participation in the study will remain completely confidential. While demographic information is being collected, no attempt will be made to associate individuals with their responses. 

The link will remain live until approximately September 25.

Two LLC Representatives Needed for the UMBC Graduate Student Association (GSA) Senate and officers needed for the LLC Graduate Student Organization (GSO)

UMBC is a founding member and partner of a new consortium of 14 institutions to develop strategies to keep urban water systems healthy and address challenges that threaten them both nationally and internationally. The Urban Water Innovation Network, or UWIN, is led by Colorado State University and will build locally on research by UMBC geography and environmental systems professors Andrew Miller and Christopher Swan, with Claire Welty, a professor of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering and associate director of research for UWIN, leading UMBC’s participation in the program.

UMBC was recently featured in The Daily Record for its role in the project. “In the Chesapeake Bay region, there’s a lot of interest in how urban development affects water quality, said Professor Andrew Miller…” the article stated.

“Miller says his own work is concerned with how urban development changes the landscape of an area — such as by flattening hills and diverting surface water underground —  and how those changes can affect water quality…Swan, will look at biodiversity and the impact of green infrastructure projects, such as green roofs and pervious pavement, Miller said.

UMBC’s efforts will contribute to the development of an Urban Water Sustainability Blueprint, which the participating universities will produce in connection with government agencies, nonprofits and private-sector partners, Miller said,” according to the article.

Read more about the project on UMBC’s research news website. Read “UMBC faculty join urban water research project” (subscription required) in The Daily Record.

Mathematics Professor and New York Times Contributing Opinion Writer Manil Suri recently published his latest op-ed about abortion politics and legislation in India. In his column, Suri reacted to an amendment proposed last year by the Indian government that would allow abortions to be performed by specially trained registered nurses and licensed practitioners of traditional and alternative medicine systems. Suri analyzed the ongoing debate in India over the proposal, stating that “the real root of the tension is the government’s promotion of alternative medicine as a medically equivalent but cheaper alternative to allopathic (modern) medicine.”

Providing further context, Suri explained that, “There are legitimate concerns against giving equal status to Ayush and allopathic medicine. Although Ayush treatments can be effective in managing chronic conditions, very few are backed by scientifically rigorous evidence…Nevertheless, Ayush doctors provide invaluable services in rural and impoverished urban areas, where allopathic doctors are reluctant to practice. A long-term government goal, consistent with recommendations from the World Health Organization, is to integrate the two systems. This presents ethical and logistical challenges, so progress can be expected to be slow and marked by bouts of friction.”

Read “India’s Inverted Abortion Politics” in The New York Times.