The semester is in full swing and we hope your classes and work are going well. A lot is happening on campus these days - take a look! 

NBR Fellowships

The National Bureau for Asian Research (NBR), a think tank in DC, has fellowships available for undergraduate students interested in international affairs and Asian policy. Two programs are currently accepting applications; here is the information from NBR: 

Applications to NBR's Undergraduate Diversity Fellowship are due by March 12, 2023. For Black and brown community college and undergraduate students interested in a career in international affairs or Asia policy, NBR offers paid four-month summer fellowships for students to expand their networks and develop skills in research, event planning, publications, and general office and project management through direct professional experience. Learn more and apply at www.nbr.org/udfp 

Additionally, NBR’s Ellings-Korduba Research Fellowship Program is accepting applications until March 26, 2023. For current graduate or advanced undergraduate students whose degrees focus on issues of strategic importance to the United States in Asia, NBR offers students the opportunity to spend a summer as junior fellows in residence at NBR’s Seattle office, participate in a seminar series featuring high-level speakers from NBR’s network of experts, participate in professional development workshops, and receive guidance from NBR editors. Learn more and apply at www.nbr.org/ekfp.

Dance Performance - This Weekend

The Dance Department at Towson University presents "Kinetic Crossings" this weekend at the Baltimore Theater Project. Intersecting creative pathways, Nicole A. Martinell (Artistic Director of Deep Vision Dance Company) and Saiko Kino (Japanese dancer and choreographer) share an illuminating evening of contemporary dance works. Martinell remakes "In Faith,” a vivid, spiritual journey of friction, connection, and gratitude through the eyes of a Muslim man and a Christian woman. Kino's mesmerizing "Shizuka" revives Shizuka Gozen, a 12th-century mixed-gender dancer known for her extraordinary psychic powers and political influence. 

Performances will take place Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11, at 8pm, at the Baltimore Theater Project (45 W. Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201). For tickets and more information, visit https://theatreproject.ticketspice.com/kinetic-crossings

Retrievercon 2023 - This Weekend

UMBC's Anime Society hosts its annual Retrievercon this weekend in the Commons! From cosplay contests and gaming to trivia events and vendors, the convention takes place all day Saturday, March 11. Check out their announcement on myUMBC for more information!

Freeman-Asia Scholarships - Apply by March 28!

For students with demonstrated financial need who have an interest in study abroad in east or southeast Asia, the Freeman-Asia program from IIE offers an incredible opportunity. Award amounts range from $3000 to support summer study abroad, up to $7000 to support a full academic year. Learn more about the program at its website - if you have questions about applying or would like more information, UMBC's Dr. Brian Souders is a great resource - he can be reached by email here. 

ASCOM Returns! 

The Asian Studies Council of Majors (ASCOM) is resuming their regular meetings this week, starting tomorrow (Wednesday, March 8)! 

ASCOM is a student organization for students with an interest in Asia-related topics, culture, and events to meet and chat. Meetings take place in the Fine Arts building, Room 558, and in Spring 2023 they will be happening at 10am on Wednesdays. 

For more information about ASCOM, stop by tomorrow's session, or contact its current president, Milan R., by email. 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

• March 8 (tomorrow!), 10am - ASCOM meeting, FA 558
• March 11 - Retrievercon (see above)
• March 12 - app deadline, NBR Diversity Fellowship (see above)
• March 19-26 - Spring Break; no classes
• March 27 - Fall 2023 schedule available

Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship - App Deadline March 9

Are you interested in study abroad? Do you receive Pell grants as part of your financial aid? If you answered 'yes' to both of these, you should consider applying for a Benjamin Gilman Study Abroad scholarship! The program offers up to $8,000 to support students' study abroad opportunities, and typically one in four applicants receives an award. 

Don't wait - the application is due March 9th! For more information about the program, email the Education Abroad office! 

URCAD is Coming! Apply by Feb 13

URCAD 2023 will take place on April 12. URCAD is a great opportunity for students to present their research to the UMBC community. Participants gain experience giving a presentation, preparing for a conference, and more! 

If you have been working on a major project this year, consider applying to present your work at URCAD. The deadline to apply is February 13 - more information is available on URCAD's website, or you can email Dr. April Householder if you have a specific question. 

Korean Language Research Presentations This Week

From Tuesday, February 7 through Tuesday, February 14, MLLI & ASIA are hosting a series of presentations on recent research in Korean language study. These events will be hybrid format - attendees can join in-person or online. These sessions will be engaging for anyone with an interest in studying or perhaps teaching Korean language. If you have questions about the sessions or WebEx connection, please contact Carolyn Good in the MLLI department.

• February 7 (today!) - 4pm, Fine Arts 526 or on WebEx: Dr. Jiwon Hwang, "Engaging Korean Language Learners Intercultural Through Authentic, Social and Critical Interactions" 
• February 9 (Thursday) - 4pm, Fine Arts 011 or on WebEx: Dr. Kyung-Eun Yoon, “Analyzing Discourse: From Interactional Linguistics to Sociocultural Analysis”
• February 14 (next Tuesday) - 4pm, Fine Arts 526 or on WebEx: Dr. Sorin Huh, "Learning, Teaching, and Assessing the Korean Language" 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines