The College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences is proud to congratulate Sarah Bass, associate teaching professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, on her appointment as faculty co-lead for the University System of Maryland (USM) Digital Accessibility in STEM Community of Practice for 2026 – 2027.

This system-wide group, coordinated through the William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation, brings educators together to tackle the distinctive accessibility challenges of STEM disciplines. Bass and co-lead Cyndi Wiley, at the University of Maryland Global Campus, will lead a cohort of more than 24 faculty members committed to ensuring all students have the opportunity to fully engage with course content.

Bass has long been a champion of inclusive teaching at UMBC. An active contributor to campus and system accessibility efforts, she was named a 2023 Faculty Trailblazer in Accessibility by UMBC’s Office of Disability Access and Resources and has shared actionable strategies through presentations such as “Digital Accessibility in STEM: Practical Fixes.

“I’m honored to have been selected as a co-lead for the University System of Maryland’s Digital Accessibility in STEM Community of Practice,” Bass shares. “This role builds on the accessibility work and advocacy I’ve already been doing at UMBC and gives me the opportunity to take on a broader leadership role across the system. I’m looking forward to working with educators from other institutions to share ideas and develop practical ways to address accessibility challenges in STEM, including complex equations, graphs, diagrams, scientific models, and laboratory materials.”