Whether she’s in Jordan or Baltimore, UMBC’s Maheen Haq brings a deep sense of duty to her work with communities facing discrimination. Now, Haq ‘20, global studies and economics, a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar, has been named a Newman Civic Fellow in recognition of her work.

Haq follows in the footsteps of public service-minded Retrievers who have earned the Newman Civic Fellowship across the nine-year history of the Campus Compact program. They include Stephanie Milani ‘19, computer science and psychology; Sophia Lopresti ‘17, global studies; Maxwell Poole ‘18, computer science; economics; and Kelly Cyr ‘12, biological sciences, and M.S. ’13, applied molecular biology.

With support from the Shriver Center, Haq has engaged with local organizations that work to help communities negatively impacted by social and political issues. As a volunteer at the Esperanza Center, she helped teach English to recent immigrants. She has organized clothing and food drives and distributions for people facing homelessness in Baltimore City. Haq has also been able to work with youth managing social and economic challenges and helped organize protests around issues she cares deeply about, combating hate speech, racism, Islamophobia, and fighting for the rights of immigrants.

Internationally, she’s participated in relief efforts for Syrian refugees in Jordan, working closely with UMBC’s study abroad office to connect with local service organizations. She’s also supported women who are survivors of violence in Pakistan. 

Discrimination and privilege

“Because I experienced discrimination growing up, it has opened my eyes to the experiences of other communities who face discrimination,” says Haq.

Haq was born in Maryland after her parents immigrated to the United States from Pakistan. As a Muslim American, she grew up experiencing both subtle and direct Islamophobia, but was also in a position to help others. “In high school, a Syrian refugee visited my mosque asking for support,” says Haq. “I became aware of my own privilege within the United States. I still have access to education, food, and general safety, even while I face discrimination.”

As a student at Smithsburg High School in Hagerstown, this awareness flourished. Haq served as president of the International Awareness Club, Spread the Love Club and the CoExist Club to support students facing any type of discrimination. She also traveled to Pakistan to help with Depilex Smileagain Foundation, a Pakistani organization that helps women who are survivors of acid attacks and ostracization with medical support and workforce development skills.

Recently, Haq advocated against exclusion and prejudice through op-eds in the Baltimore Sun. Her first piece focused on her experience living as a Muslim in the United States, and her faith that the Declaration of Independence’s promise of freedom for all will be fulfilled. Her second piece, written as a letter to the Hagerstown’s mayor, reflects on Islamophobia she experienced growing up in the town. Haq followed her op-eds by helping to organize a community town hall and a rally against hate speech.

Amanah is a word in Arabic that means trust. For me this means that if I have knowledge of oppression, I have been trusted with the task of standing up against it,” explains Haq. “I study very hard so that I can develop the best skills to serve communities dealing with grave injustices because they deserve the best.”

Research for the greater good

Haq has used her time at UMBC to develop research skills and a greater understanding of global issues. Through a course on globalization with Felipe Filomeno, assistant professor of political science and global studies, she developed a research study to better understand the role of faith in helping refugees cope with the challenges of daily life. Haq traveled to Jordan to conduct her study, working with Helping Hand for Relief and Development, an organization that provides services to Syrian refugees.

Through qualitative interviews, I found that the majority of refugees did not leave their faith, but drew strength from it to manage daily survival,” shares Haq. She hopes to use her findings to develop literature to enhance the way aid is provided to the refugee community.

UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski has recognized Haq’s leadership and commitment to social justice as emblematic of UMBC values and the goals of the fellowship program. “Maheen is a charismatic and dedicated leader with a sustained commitment to promoting intersectional activism locally and globally,” he shares. “She is an ideal recipient of the Newman Civic Fellowship.”

Banner image: Maheen giving out toys to children in a Syrian refugee camp.  

All photos courtesy of Maheen Haq with permission from Helping Hand for Relief and Development.

In the decade since she graduated from UMBC, Bethany Meyer ‘08, information systems, has become a rising leader in the online learning field. Meyer, now chief technology officer and co-founder of CourseArc, is also dedicated to identifying and training emerging tech talent for her company. The Maryland Technology Internship Program (MTIP) is helping her move that work forward.

MTIP launched in fall 2018 to increase the number of paid technical internships in the state by providing financial assistance to businesses, as well as state and local agencies, to hire more interns. The goal of the UMBC-based, statewide program is particularly to enable smaller companies to support student interns and retain talent, while giving students a chance to gain experience in technical and creative roles that require science, technology, engineering, and math skills.

Through MTIP, Meyer brought onboard Jessica Hutchinson, a student at Towson University, for a CourseArc internship last fall. “It’s been great having someone on our team who is eager to take on a wide range of tasks,” says Meyer. She notes that Hutchinson has worked on projects ranging from market research and quality assurance, regularly sharing fresh ideas and insights with her team.

Strengthening the pipeline

MTIP made headlines this fall when Technical.ly Baltimore interviewed UMBC’s Christine Routzahn about the program. Routzahn is director of UMBC’s Career Center and the MTIP, which is funded by the State of Maryland and administered by UMBC. She explains that the program is especially beneficial for smaller companies that don’t yet have established internship programs or existing funding to support an intern.

The program is open to current students and recent graduates, who have completed their degree within the past year. To participate, companies must be located in Maryland and must be technology-focused. Through the MTIP, employers can be reimbursed for up to half of an intern’s wages, with a maximum reimbursement of $3000 each year for each intern. Companies also designate a supervisor for each intern, to mentor them throughout the semester.

Career pathways

UMBC’s Sheldon Broedel explains, though his experience, that MTIP is not just a useful tool for companies, but has quickly become “part of our hiring strategy.” Broedel is assistant graduate program director of UMBC’s master’s in biotechnology program, as well as founder and CEO of biotech company Athena. Through MTIP, he was able to hire Stevenson University chemistry major Gavin Burton as an intern at Athena Environmental Sciences, Inc.

Hiring new talent and bringing them up to speed is “an iterative process of training that can be expensive and time-consuming,” says Broedel. He sees MTIP as “a way to offset the risk and lower the risk barrier” of bringing on potential new team members. The program helps students expand their knowledge and strengthen their resumes while reducing the expense to the companies who are doing that training, says Broedel.

During his time at Athena, Burton has developed a stronger understanding of the manufacturing process for specialty pharmaceuticals. He explains that having professional experience outside of a university lab has been incredibly valuable, sharing, “It reassured me that I’m on the right path with what I want to do with my life.”

UMBC students also participate in MTIP, and are regularly recognized through MTIP’s intern of the month.

Banner image: Lauren Mazzoli ’15, computer science, M.S. ‘17, computer science, and Priyanka Ranade ’18, information systems, working together during Ranade’s summer internship at Northrop Grumman, prior to the creation of the MTIP. Photo by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.

UMBC’s Computer Science Education student group recently hosted the third annual Hour of Code event on campus. This popular community event is an opportunity for both local K-12 students and current UMBC students in other majors to learn more about computing through engaging, hands-on activities.

Hour of Code is part of Computer Science Education Week, an international initiative that aims to increase the participation underrepresented groups in computing, including women and people of color. A major aspect of this work is supporting expanded computer science access for K-12 students.

Third- and fourth-grade students from Baltimore’s Lakeland Elementary/Middle School participated in this year’s hands-on activities, including playing music on a banana keyboard. The bananas are connected by wires and when the fruit is touched it completes the circuit and plays a musical note. 

“It’s important for UMBC to have an impact in our local community. UMBC is a public university and we are part of the community,” says Fayo Ojo ‘20, computer science, who helped coordinate the event. “Hosting events like this shows that UMBC is committed to education beyond the courses offered here.”

Ojo, treasurer of the Computer Science Education club, right, helped the visiting elementary school students play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on the banana keyboard. “My favorite part of working with the Lakeland students is seeing how excited they were,” she says.

Members of the Computer Science Education club also set up laptops and guided their guests through coding activities, giving them an introduction to the creative work they might do in computing.

“Most of the students from Lakeland Elementary that visited UMBC for Hour of Code have never been to a college campus before,” says Ojo. She explains, “They received their first glimpse into what post-secondary education has to offer from UMBC. This experience will have a major impact on these students as they matriculate through school and prepare to go to college themselves.”

When it comes to her group’s motivation and broader goals, Ojo shares, “We want to support initiatives that bring programming classes and programs to students at the K-12 level. Working with these students and seeing how excited they were to learn…reminded me why I decided to pursue computer science in the first place: we love to solve problems and we love technology.”

Banner image: A UMBC student guides a Lakeland student through coding activities during the 2018 Hour of Code. All photos by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.

Each UMBC student has a unique journey, including challenges to tackle with tenacity, courage, and grit. For many of UMBC’s newest grads, a culture of community support has made all the difference, enabling them to both claim their future and help others along the way.

Determined to succeed

Jeffrey Inen ’18, graduating with a biological sciences degree this week, grew up down the road from UMBC, but his college journey has had unexpected twists and turns. Support from his UMBC community, particularly faculty mentors, helped him to persevere through significant health challenges. Ultimately, Inen would undergo five rounds of chemotherapy while completing his UMBC degree, doing impactful research, serving as a teaching assistant in cell biology, and holding down a full-time job.

“Enduring my struggles with chemotherapy and trying to obtain my degree felt impossible at times,” says Inen. But after taking some time off and starting anew within the biology department, Inen found the support system that would allow him to not only graduate from UMBC, but flourish academically and personally.

When a teaching assistant recommended Inen to Charles Bieberich’s research lab, his entire academic trajectory shifted.

“Dr. Bieberich has supported me from the beginning. Even when I’ve made mistakes in the lab, he’s never once given up on me,” says Inen. When he became ill earlier this semester and spent several days in the hospital, Bieberich visited almost daily.

“It has been a true inspiration for me having Jeff in the lab, knowing the physical setbacks he has overcome in the past few years,” says Bieberich. “He brings that same determination to overcome any and all obstacles to his work, and that’s exactly what it takes to succeed in biomedical research environment.”

“Despite his ongoing struggles,” Bieberich says, “he just continues to work hard and continues to be grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our research goals. I’ve learned more from Jeff than he has from me.”

Inen has also developed a close connection with Michelle Starz-Gaiano, associate professor of biological sciences and his academic advisor, as well as a mentor. Inen says, “I can’t express how helpful she has been throughout my time here at UMBC. She has given me the guidance and the support to pursue my goal of obtaining my Ph.D.”

“The inspiring thing about Jeff is that not only did he persist in the face of extreme difficulties, he remained optimistic and hopeful throughout,” says Starz-Gaiano. “Jeff faced challenges…that would have derailed most people, but he kept going, and kept improving.”

Inen showed that persistent drive to grow, learn, and discover when he earned a summer 2018 research award through the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program.

After commencement, Inen will continue to work in Bieberich’s lab on his ongoing research. In February, he’ll apply for STAR-PREP, a post-baccalaureate program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Strength in numbers

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria touched down in Puerto Rico. Over 1,500 miles away in Maryland, Paola Rojas ’18, business technology administration, was in the midst of her studies at UMBC. But her heart was with her hometown of San Lorenzo.

An avid athlete and strong student, Rojas quickly made a name for herself when she came to UMBC in fall 2014. She finished her first season with 11 match appearances and was named to the All-Rookie Team. Accolades continued to roll in throughout her career and she managed to secure a place on the All-Conference First Team and All-Conference Second-Team, even after suffering an injury in the 2016-2017 season.

Rojas found a new family of support at UMBC and in the surrounding community. That was never more evident than when disaster befell Puerto Rico.

She and other players from Puerto Rico turned to one another for support while they waited for days to hear news from home, with communications hampered by hurricane damage. After over a week of waiting, Rojas finally heard from her family.

“It was really hard the first time I talked to my mom after the hurricane, on September 27, her birthday, hearing her cry over the phone talking about how Puerto Rico looked like a completely different island and how getting food or gas was beyond hard,” she says. “It broke my heart to know that my family was going through a lot and I couldn’t do anything to make it better.”

Energized by support from teammates and the broader UMBC community, Rojas and friends started a GoFundMe page called Project PRdise to aid in relief efforts in Puerto Rico. Through their fundraising efforts, they were able to raise over $10,000 and gather thoughtful personal messages to support those devastated by Hurricane Maria.

“It was one of the best experiences I’ve had here at UMBC, to see how much people cared and helped,” says Rojas.

Head women’s volleyball coach Cristina Robertson provided mentorship and encouragement for Rojas along the way. “Paola exemplifies the student-athlete model,” shares Robertson. “She’s a great student in the classroom and a phenomenal athlete on the volleyball court.”

One memory of her time with her coach stands out to Rojas, from the team’s Senior Day celebration. “I still remember when Coach Cristina was giving her speech. She delivered a portion of it in Spanish so my family could understand,” says Rojas. “That was one of the best days of my life.”

Rojas leaves UMBC as the ninth all-time player in terms of hitting percentage, tenth in assisted blocks, and tied seventh in single-season assisted blocks. She will play volleyball professionally for Las Changas de Naranjito in the Puerto Rico’s Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino.

Fresh start

This week, Arabia-Iman Tillery ’18, economics, will become the first member of her family to earn a college degree. For a time, she was worried it might not happen.

Tillery started her college career at another university, taking out large loans to pay her tuition. Facing significant debt after just one year, she decided to return home to Maryland and enroll at UMBC. Bolstered by her mother’s support, Tillery rededicated herself to completing her degree. She shares, “I was determined to climb out of that hole…and come out a better person.”

Tillery threw herself into new pursuits on campus, which quickly shaped her day-to-day routine. She’s served as vice president of the Women’s Center’s Women of Color Coalition and a co-founder and president of the Spanish Conversation Club. She’s also interned with Habitat for Humanity and served as treasurer for the UMBC chapter, all while balancing work and her degree.

“With the guidance and support of several members of the UMBC community, I was able to earn great grades while also being involved with other students on campus,” she says.

Tammy Henderson, lecturer of Africana studies and a mentor of Tillery’s, shares, “Arabia is one the most determined and committed students I have had the pleasure of teaching. Her ability to persist despite the obstacles she has had to face makes her a person we should all admire.”

After earning her UMBC degree this week, Tillery will work as a project coordinator for a security company. Thinking back on how much she has achieved and what it took to get here, she shares, “UMBC never, ever gave up on me…UMBC always saw my potential.”

December commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed through both the UMBC Commencement website and UMBC Facebook page. Share well wishes for our grads using #UMBCgrad and #UMBCproud.

Banner image: Jeffrey Inen, right, speaking with his mentor, Javier Guzman. Photo by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.

Lauren and Vibha sit in a conference room deep in the middle of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. They wait patiently as faculty and staff from UMBC; the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB); the University of Maryland, College Park; Baltimore City government officials; and staff from Baltimore-based non-profit organizations fill the round tables.

This is the Research Summit on Violence Prevention and Community Engagement hosted by UMBC and UMB. In a room of about fifty attendees ready to discuss the impact of violence prevention efforts in Baltimore, Lauren and Vibha look at each other, knowing they bring a different voice. Both recent UMBC alumni and graduate presidential fellows at UMB, they are here to speak as young Baltimore researchers, who care deeply about their communities and want to be involved in the research aimed at making their city safer.

“I am the community”

Lauren Highsmith ‘15, education, introduces herself to the room after a conversation about the need to work with the community. “I am the community. Please remember me,” she says. “I am a master’s student in social work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. I was born in West Baltimore and continue to live in the area. Don’t assume the community is just what you see on television. The community are also people like me who are working in the field and doing research.”

Vibha Rao ‘14, biological sciences, M22, claps after her friend’s statement. She is from Gaithersburg, Maryland, but lives, studies, and works in Baltimore. In the last decade, she has earned her undergraduate degree and a medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and she is currently pursuing an M.S. in clinical research.

Rao has been deeply affected by the experiences of her undergraduate and graduate peers from Baltimore whose family members have been killed by gun violence. “Their experience having grown up and gone to college and medical school in Baltimore is starkly different than students outside of Baltimore,” she says. She worries about the normalization of gun violence and wants to be part of research to address it from a medical perspective. She shares, “I don’t want violence to be normal anymore.”

Human- and community-centered research

The research summit was organized by Christine Mallinson, director of UMBC’s Center for Social Science Scholarship (CS3) and professor of Language, Literacy, and Culture, and Kate Tracy ‘03 Ph.D. and ‘01 M.A., psychology and human services, who is associate professor of epidemiology and public health and director of The Richard and Jane Sherman Center for Health Care Innovation at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. As one focus for the day’s work, Mallinson and Tracy asked participants to explore both immediate and long-term supports for communities served through the UMB Community Engagement Center. During the breakout sessions, they asked attendees to identify how they might engage more undergraduate and graduate students from Baltimore, like Highsmith and Rao, in community-facing research on violence prevention.

“We wanted to purposefully use this summit to convene as many researchers as possible to examine, discuss, and share expertise and data,” Mallinson says. “Our intent is increasing collaboration and resources beyond this room, between institutions and the community, to create tangible, applicable and responsive human- and community-centered research in violence prevention with and for Baltimore.”

During the day-long event, UMBC faculty and staff representing the School of Public Policy, media and communication studies, visual arts, The Hilltop Institute, The Shriver Center, Division of Student Affairs, emergency health services, and psychology gathered for group discussion in different areas of violence prevention research. They met as cohorts focused on data, community involvement, K-12 and higher education, clinical interventions, and the intersection of the correctional and health systems.

Responding to the call from the morning discussion, the groups developed ideas for how to support the UMB Community Engagement Center through each of their focus areas, particularly building on existing work by community members. They also identified a timeline to continue the cohort work beyond the conference. 

“Collaboration between academic and community partners is key for successful violence prevention research, and developing the next generation of innovators by harnessing the talents of our undergraduate and graduate students in this process is essential,” shared Lucy Wilson, M.D., graduate program director of emergency health services at UMBC.

As everyone spoke with the artists, and with each other, reflecting on the day, Mallinson took this opportunity to connect with Lauren Highsmith and Vibha Rao. She wanted to hear their perspectives, and their advice, on how to engage and include more undergraduate and graduate students from Baltimore in violence prevention work, to ensure it tackles the most pressing issues, recognizes community work already underway, and can have a lasting impact.

Banner image: Event organizer Christine Mallinson (r) speaks with summit participants. Photo by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.