In the early hours of the morning, as the windows of Albin O. Kuhn Library begin to reflect the sunrise, UMBC’s faculty and staff are making sure all the campus needs—technology, buildings, streets and sidewalks, lessons, and social media—are ready for students. A close-knit community of over 2,500 faculty and staff is at the heart of UMBC’s vibrant campus, and for the 15th consecutive year, UMBC has garnered the distinction of being on ModernThink’s Great Colleges to Work For list. 

Retriever Nation spoke loud and clear, sharing what makes their work fulfilling on the 2024 Great Colleges to Work For survey. The survey covered 10 categories, including faculty and staff wellbeing, compensation and benefits, and confidence in senior leadership. The resounding feedback secured UMBC a spot on the Honor Roll among the top 10 four-year institutions with an enrollment exceeding 10,000 students out of 75 outstanding workplaces.

“Great workplaces don’t just happen,” says Lynne Adams, UMBC’s chief human resources officer. “They are built through a collaboration of the community, care, connection, and a shared vision. Our culture really does reflect a team working together continuously evolving into an inspiring workplace for everyone.”

Faculty and staff flourish and enjoy sharing their talents and personal journeys, adding to the campus life through events like yoga and other classes at the RAC taught by Joella Lubaszewski ’10, theatre. UMBC gives space for people to be brave and share their whole selves, as executive administrative assistant Melessia Jasper knows. Visit a McNair Scholars information session to see leadership in action with Michael Hunt ’06, computer engineering, and current Ph.D. student leading the pack. The dedication of our faculty and staff allows students to receive support and shine.

“As we nurture an inclusive and welcoming community and support the professional development of our staff and faculty, they see themselves fully in our mission and believe deeply in the transformative power of education,” says President Valerie Sheares Ashby. “Staff and faculty know their work serves both individual students and the public good. They know their work matters and that they are seen and valued.”

Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Systems sector recently donated $30,000 to establish the Northrop Grumman Scholarship at UMBC. Awards of $10,000 will be made to three students who are U.S. citizens studying Computer and Electrical Engineering, which will serve a goal of increasing the quantity of Americans graduating with undergraduate and graduate degrees in those fields. Initial awards will be provided to high-performing sophomores and juniors, who may be candidates for UMBC’s accelerated BS/MS program.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. The scholarship recipients will be eligible for summer internship positions at Northrop Grumman.

“Northrop Grumman is proud to support education programs that will develop tomorrow’s leaders in computer science and engineering. I am very pleased Northrop Grumman is partnering with UMBC,” says Ted Imes, Sector Director, Talent Acquisition at Northrop Grumman Corporation.

UMBC thanks Northrop Grumman for their continuing commitment to our students.

Show your support of UMBC.